#DailyDevotion Jesus Is The First & The Last, The Living One
Rev 1:7-9 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. (8) “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (9) I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
Rev 1:12-13 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, (13) 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.
Rev 1:16-18 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. (17) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, (18) and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Just as they looked upon Jesus, the one whom they had pierced at his resurrection, so now too, our Lord Jesus Christ is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, as everyone will be raised from the dead on that day. All the tribes of the earth shall wail on that day because they will have to give an account to him for the lives they had lived and what they have done to that point will not be enough. They had rejected his grace in this life and shall not receive it on that day. God speaks, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” God is saying here, he is eternal. He also is the source of all being. Apart from him there is no other God.
John was on Patmos, in exile when he received this vision. He was in exile there because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. He must have arrested for teaching the Roman world about Jesus Christ. It was part of his suffering that he had to endure following in the steps of Jesus. Since Christ had been crucified the world has entered into the time of tribulation and the persecution of the Church. While the Church has had pockets of well-being here and there, it has always experienced persecution somewhere in the world. Those who trust Jesus should expect trials and tribulations because of their faith in their Savior Jesus Christ.
John then sees who is speaking to him. It is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is a pretty scary looking spectacle. His image speaks the glory of God which no man can handle except for the grace of God, as we see throughout the Old Testament. Indeed, John falls at his feet as though dead. But Jesus comes to John in grace and peace. He speaks those gospel words, “Fear not!” There need not be fear for those whose righteousness is the Lord Jesus Christ.
He further identifies himself as the First and the Last. Just as the Lord God is the Alpha and the Omega, so too, Jesus is one with the Father. He also is the Alpha and the Omega. Jesus of Nazareth also is the one who is and who was and who is to the Come. Jesus is the Living One. Not only living having been raised from the dead but Life itself. He is the risen one who will never died. We who trust need not fear Death or the Grave, for Jesus holds its keys and opens heaven for us.
Heavenly Father, you, your Son and the Holy Spirit are the one who is, who was and is to come, the First and the Last, the only true existence and being. Grant us such faith in your Son Jesus Christ that on the day of his return we need not fear the judgment because our judgment was with Christ on the cross. Grant we may persevere unto the day of his second coming. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.