Revelation 1 | Alpha and Omega

Revelation 1 Commentary by Allen J. Huth

Today, we begin the Book of Revelation, the last book in the Bible. We will look at my English Standard Version Study Bible book introduction to help us as we begin Revelation. Revelation 1:1 announces both the book title and its divine author, Jesus Christ. The book comes to us via an angel through the Apostle John.

John presents himself more as a recipient and a recorder of visions than as an author. Written about 96 A.D., Revelation unveils unseen spiritual forces operating behind the scenes in history and controlling its events and outcome. It opens our eyes to Old Testament prophecies in Daniel, Ezekiel, and Zechariah. Yet, it is also prophecy itself as it predicts future events yet to come.

What Is Invisible War in the Bible?

Revelation unveils the unseen spiritual war between God and Jesus, and Satan and his demons. In the conflict, Jesus has already won the victory by His death on the cross at Calvary and His resurrection from the dead. But the church still faces the onslaught of that old dragon.

Revelation reveals the spiritual battle behind the trials and tribulations of the church. It affirms the certainty of Jesus Christ’s victory over Satan, and, by doing so, fortifies the church to endure suffering and stay pure while awaiting the ultimate final victory.

Many people like to read the last chapter of their books to see how the story is going to end, then read the rest of the book. For the next twenty-two days, a chapter a day, we will do just that. However, this book will remind us no one knows the day or the hour when Jesus will come again. So we should live each day as if it could be our last. Who knows? It could be today.

I used to think Revelation was too hard to understand. Yet, over the years, the message has become more clear to me. Let’s see what God has in store for us as we peer into the future through the eyes of John and the Book of Revelation. Please read or listen to Revelation 1.

To help us through the Book of Revelation, I selected three of my personal Bible reading journals; the year 1995, the year 2008, and the year 2013. Those years represent various ages and stages in my own spiritual life.

As we consider the Book of Revelation, my goal is not to teach the Scriptures. I go to church so pastors can teach me the Word of God. My hope, as we go through the Book of Revelation, is we get an understanding of the Scriptures we read, but also, just as importantly, we understand how it applies to our daily lives. Let’s jump into Revelation 1.

How Is the Veil Removed in the Bible?

In 1995, when I was forty years old, I read Revelation chapter 1 (NASB) and wrote, “Revelation basically means taking away the veil. Revelation was given to Jesus by God and communicated by His angel to John. God to Jesus, Jesus to the angel, angel to John, to seven churches.” Then I looked at verse 7, “Theme of the book: ‘Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him’.” Next, I referred to verse 17, “‘And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead     man’, the reaction to seeing Jesus.” Then verse 20, “Each church has an angel? Seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.”

Why did John Fall at Jesus’ Feet?

In 2008, at fifty-three years old, after reading Revelation 1 (NASB), I wrote in my personal Bible reading journal, “God gave this to Jesus who communicated it by His angels to John. It is from the Trinity. ‘Behold, He is coming . . . and every eye will see Him’ (v. 7). John knew Jesus on earth. I think He appears quite differently in His heavenly glory. Jesus speaks directly to John. John, His close friend on earth, falls at His feet like a dead man.”

What Is the Meaning of Revelation 1:4?

In 2013, I took the Book of Revelation a little bit slower breaking it into pieces. I read Revelation 1:1-8 on one day and 9 through the rest of the chapter on the second day. Concerning the first eight verses, I wrote, “Revelation to Jesus from God through an angel to John, the author. Jesus, ‘who is and who was and who is to come’ (v. 4). Jesus freed us from our sins by His blood.” Then I wrote, “Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, referring to Jesus.”

Does Revelation Say Every Knee Shall Bow?

The next day, I finished the rest of the chapter and wrote, “John and his environment on Patmos, ‘I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day’ (v. 10). We should be, too. He describes, ‘one like a son of man’ (v. 13). Whatever Jesus looks like, we will be amazed like John was, ‘When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead’ (v. 17.) We will fall at his feet, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.” I finished with, “Does each church have an angel?” referring to verse 20.

Who Gave the Revelation to John in the Bible?

Let’s look briefly at this opening chapter. In each of my journals, I remind us of where this book came from. It is, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him” (v. 1), and it came to John through angels. It is the revelation of God through Jesus to us, the church. And let’s not skip over verse 3, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it”. There is a blessing in store for us as we go through the Book of Revelation.

What Does Alpha and Omega Mean in Revelation?

Verse 4 reminds us of the eternity of Jesus, “him who is and who was and who is to come”. Verse 8 says it again, “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’”. Remember those were the beginning and the last letters of the Greek alphabet, in other words, from the beginning to the end. “’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty’” (v. 8).

When Did John Receive the Revelation?

In verses 9-10, John reminds us he was on the island of Patmos. He was in the spirit on the Lord’s day when he heard a loud voice that told him to write what he sees in a book, and thus we have the Book of Revelation. Then, he describes Jesus. Certainly, His appearance was different than the Jesus he knew when he walked with Him on the earth:

and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength (vs. 13-16).

What a picture John paints of Jesus! And John’s response is recorded in verse 17, “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead”. It reminds me of the verse I quoted in one of my journals, “every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).I hear people say, “When I get to heaven, I’ve got a few questions for Jesus.” Good luck with that. I think our response is going to be much more like the Apostle John when he saw the Son of Man.

What Is John’s Message to Us?

What are our take-a-ways from Revelation 1? First, this Revelation is given to us, preserved for us, by God through Jesus, through His apostle John, by angels. That is amazing. That makes me want to read the Book of Revelation. Next, it is the same Jesus John walked with on earth. He knew Him, he was His friend. Jesus is in glory, in heaven. He waits for us there in heaven. Lastly, He has a message for us. He wrote this to the churches. If we are part of the body of Christ, we are part of His church. So let’s get excited, and let’s read or listen to the rest of the Book of Revelation.

Prayer

Father, we have a spirit of anticipation, a spirit of excitement, as we start the last book of the Bible. We look forward to what You will reveal to us, not only through Your Word, but through Your Holy Spirit. You will teach us, You will touch our hearts through this book. Holy Spirit, give us eyes to see and ears to hear as You speak to us through Revelation. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen.