This letter is for those who have been hurt. It speaks to those who know what it is to be pierced by the death of a loved one; or the suffering of illness or some closed door experience. Those who struggle to be a Jesus follower in their world and for those who pay the consequences for doing so, this is for you.
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1 v 7-8)
The one who is hurting today needs reassurance in 2 ways:
- The eternal plan is still active – Jesus is returning!
John was the only one still alive who had heard these words by Jesus: “… And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3). The contemporaries of John had died believing these words. John is hurting (we will soon see why) and he needs the reassurance.
Jesus reminds John of the prophecies of old:
He is coming with the clouds, he will be seen. “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Daniel 7:13)
Those who hurt Him and His followers will see Him. “They will look on me, the one they have pierced.” (Zechariah 12:10).
- Sovereignty still exists – Jesus is Almighty!
At the time Caesar was the powerful force opposing every Jesus follower. John was hurting because of Caesar. Today who is Caesar for you? What/who is hurting you? It seems unmovable doesn’t it? It appears at times that you just had to adjust and get on with it. This will never end. But it will and it does because Jesus says so! The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, Alpha and Omega, encapsulating every single word possible, are here at the beginning of the letter and at the end of it (22:13). For those who need a verse to show that Jesus is God, here it is. This who is, who was, who is to come, spoken of by God the Father in verse 4 is repeated here in verse 8 by Jesus, the Lord God. Jesus and the Father are one and Jesus and the Father are Almighty God! The Caesar of your life and every hurt, pain, question mark, confusion and doubt sits in between the Almighty Alpha and Omega!
So be reassured today: Jesus is coming back to set the records straight and absolutely everything of your life is held in the hands of the Almighty, He has you.
Missions Paul 