The Alpha and Omega
Today’s passage: Revelation 22:12–16
Focus verse: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13)
This passage in Revelation records Jesus’s words, and it’s his final teaching in the Bible. As such, it deserves our careful attention.
Jesus comes with his reward, to give each person what they deserve based on what they’ve done. This comes as a surprising declaration, implying that we’ll receive salvation through our actions.
Aren’t we saved by grace through faith? Yes, we are. Isn’t salvation a gift that we can’t earn? Yes, it is (Ephesians 2:8–9).
Then why will Jesus look at what we’ve done? Though we may remember our many sins and cringe with shame at the recollection, God blots out the sins of those who follow him, remembering them no more (Isaiah 43:25).
Through him we have a clean slate.
This means that God’s record of what we’ve done is far different than our own recollection. To him we are his pure, spotless bride (Ephesians 5:27).
When we follow Jesus, we need not wallow in worry over our past mistakes because through him we are made right (Romans 5:19).
This restored standing gives us the right to eat from the tree of life. We may enter the new Jerusalem through the city gates where we’ll become Jesus’s bride. Nothing impure will be able to enter (Revelation 21:27).
Yet not all will have this confidence when they see Jesus coming at the end of time.
He says that the practitioners of magic arts, the sexually immoral, murderers, and idolaters, along with all who persist in lying will remain on the outside looking in. He’ll bar their entrance into the new Jerusalem.
Does this list sound familiar?
God gave a similar itemization in Revelation 21. God’s list is a bit longer, but he includes everything Jesus mentions.
The people who do these things will end up in the fiery lake that burns with sulfur. This is the second death (Revelation 21:8).
In his message, Jesus also reveals some names for himself.
He is the Root of David, as well as his Offspring, both preceding and following Israel’s second king. Jesus is the bright Morning Star. And Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega. That is, he is the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
This is a reminder that just as Jesus is present here in Revelation at the end of time, he was also present at the beginning of creation (Genesis 1:26 and John 1:1–4).
Through him we are, and through him we will be. He created our physical bodies, and he saves our spiritual selves.
Questions:
- Are we holding on to the sins Jesus has forgiven?
- Do we dishonor God by remembering what he has forgotten?
- Though we may not feel pure, how does knowing that Jesus sees us as pure encourage us?
- How can we better respond to Jesus as the Alpha and Omega?
- What do we think about Jesus taking part in creation?
[Discover more about the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, in Revelation 1:8, 1:17, 2:8, and 21:6. Read more about the morning star in 2 Peter 1:19 and Revelation 2:28.]
Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.
Read more in Revelation Bible Study: Discover Practical Insights from John’s Epic Vision.
Discover practical, understandable insights from the book of Revelation.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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