I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Jesus declares himself to be the eternal One from beginning to end, everlasting and omnipotent, the first and the last beside whom there is none else. The titles affirm His supreme and complete authority over every soul, over the church, and over the final reckoning and outcome of all things. He speaks them together with the promise to come quickly and bring His reward with Him to give every person according to his work, judging by purity of motive and obedience rather than profession. He joins them to the blessing on those who do His commandments, giving them right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city, regaining what Adam lost through disobedience. Therefore the declaration stands at the close of probation, when intercession ends and character is fixed forever, and forces a present choice to repent, obey, and prepare now while mercy still lingers.
Speaker and Immediate Setting
The speaker is Jesus Christ declaring himself as the beginning and the end, the first and the last. He is the one who never lies, the true witness, the bright and morning star, the root and offspring of David. He speaks as the eternal and complete authority who comes quickly and brings each person's reward according to work.
The same titles are also declared of God as the beginning and end, the first and last. He is the great first Cause and benefactor, the beginning and source of every temporal and spiritual blessing for the universe. His tender mercies are over all his works, providing for every living thing and satisfying its needs, having made human affections capable of embracing eternal realities to be kept pure and holy.
The saying stands in the last chapter of Revelation, voiced through John on Patmos in the closing chapter of the New Testament. It belongs to final unsealed prophecy to be carefully studied because it concerns people living in the last days. It belongs to the closing scenes of earth's history and to the proclamation of the final warning and threefold message, combining the first and second messages and binding them with the third.
It is spoken together with the promise to come quickly and to bring reward with him to give every person according to work. That coming brings judgment and reward, with every deed in review before God and weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, judging not by profession but by purity of motive and obedience to law. The saying thus divides the world into two parties, those who worship the beast and his image and those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
It is spoken at the close of probation when eternal destiny is forever fixed. Then mercy folds its wings and steps from the throne above the ark, intercession ends with the trumpet-like proclamation that it is done, and the decree fixes the unjust and filthy and the righteous and holy forever. Then it is too late to use light, so thorough work for repentance, giving account of stewardship, loving light, seeking truth, receiving the Spirit's aid, and maintaining integrity under his banner must be now while forbearance lingers.
It is spoken alongside the blessing on those who do his commandments, giving right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city. It stands with the invitation to take the water of life freely, with the Spirit and the bride saying Come, and with his testimony by his angel to the churches. It stands with the counsel to the Laodicean church to buy gold tried in the fire, which is faith and love.
Meaning of Divine Titles
The titles declare the speaker to be the eternal One from beginning to end, everlasting, omnipotent, the living conqueror, whose everlasting authority guarantees the certainty of the final reckoning when He comes quickly with reward to give every person according to work. The same declaration is also applied to God as the beginning and end, the first and last, affirming His eternal supremacy. The self-declaration is made by the One who never lies, spoken when probation closes and eternal destiny is forever fixed, calling every person to give an account of stewardship and judging not by profession but by purity of motive and obedience to law. It divides between the blessed who do His commandments and therefore have right to the tree of life and entry through the gates into the city, and those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark.
The titles affirm supreme and complete authority, placing His authority at the center of the church's message and its final warning to the world. He is the origin and completion of all things, and in the setting of promised swift return and reward for each according to works this assures that He has authority over the final events, reckoning, and outcome. He is the eternal Christ who searches works and brings the reward at His coming, after every deed has passed in review before God and been weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and after the heavenly decision fixing the unjust and filthy and the righteous and holy. He is the Alpha and Omega of all things, the only One to whom kingship belongs and beside whom there is none else, so that human beings who claim kingship for themselves set aside His rightful authority. As consecrated workers impart to others what they receive, He entrusts them with more to impart, and their enabled success leads them to ascribe all glory to Him, with divinity and humanity working together while God works in them to will and to do of His good pleasure.
He is the Alpha of Genesis and the Omega of Revelation, the beginning and end who carries the story of redemption through the ages. He is the same Jesus who gave the Sabbath, offered Himself to redeem the fallen world, rose from the dead, ascended, and now serves as Advocate in heaven, placing Christ at the center of both the Old and New Testaments. He is the Alpha, the first link, and the Omega, the last link, of the gospel chain, with prophetic history from Genesis to Revelation joined link by link in Him and completed in Revelation. The Genesis of the Old Testament and the Revelation of the New meet in Him, and as second Adam He obeyed, overcame Satan's temptations, and redeemed Adam's failure and fall, so that the two Adams will meet and embrace in Paradise while those who reject opportunity and remain disloyal will be shut out.
He is first and last, beginning and end, the source and finisher of faith, the Author and Finisher of faith to whom Moses and the prophets point, speaking truth about past, present, and future with authority of personal knowledge that no age or popularity of opposing error can overturn. He is the beginning and end of salvation in every soul, the Author of redemption, with human effort alone having no power to overcome, turn toward God, or repent, and no one able to take even first steps toward the Saviour without divine aid and the Spirit's work, while people must actively cooperate through diligent effort and look beyond Satan's power to Christ who is mighty to save instead of relying on own righteousness. He is the first and last, the beginning and end of God's creation, and those who sincerely work for salvation of souls will improve capabilities to the utmost and receive divine assistance as they work unselfishly. As Creator and Redeemer embracing the world in arms of infinite love, all things belong to Him by original creation and by mediatorial redemption, He is the efficiency of everything, all value in any human being is from Him and belongs to Him, and all that people have was entrusted to fulfill His mediatorial plan.
He is the beginning and source of every temporal and spiritual blessing, and as first and last the benefactor of the universe and great first Cause, whose care provides for every living thing and satisfies its needs with tender mercies over all His works. He is the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end, who holds in His keeping the destiny of every soul. He made human affections capable of embracing eternal realities, to be kept pure and holy and free from all earthliness, yet human beings have lost eternity out of reckoning and forgotten Him, supposing themselves mighty in knowledge and wisdom while letting themselves down to the lowest level in His sight. All glory for good accomplished through consecrated service belongs to Him, for human ability comes through His grace as He works in them to will and do what pleases Him in their serving and working together with God.
Alpha and Omega means the beginning and the end and the whole of knowledge and wisdom. Bible truth has God as its author, so its deep and far-reaching truths are not human sophistry, and those who choose to understand them can know their real meaning. Christ is the Alpha and Omega of wisdom, and the Bible contains His words as the one book essential for all to study with reverence and godly fear, because its pages hold truth without sophistry and give knowledge of God and of Christ sent to live and die for sinners. The many books in earth's great libraries confuse the mind more than they aid understanding, and money and years spent on them would be better spent gaining knowledge of Him, for to know Him aright is life eternal and only those gaining this knowledge will at last be complete in Him. The Bible is to be taken as the study book, its instruction can be understood by all and keeps from speaking or writing anything at variance with the teachings of the Word.
Christ in Redemptive History
He is the same Jesus who gave the Sabbath, offered himself to redeem the fallen world, rose from the dead, ascended, and now serves as Advocate in heaven, carrying the story of redemption through the ages as the Alpha of Genesis and the Omega of Revelation. Before coming in human form he was already the light of his people and of the world, the first light to pierce the darkness of sin from whom every ray of heaven's brightness on earth comes. He is the second Adam who obeyed where the first Adam failed, overcame Satan's temptations, redeemed the fall, and reconciled Adam and God, so that the two Adams will meet and embrace in Paradise while those who reject opportunity and remain disloyal are shut out.
As mediator between God and humanity he presents what the Father makes known to him, for divine revelations come to humanity through him who has all light and life in himself. He reveals heavenly things, makes known what is to come, unfolds how he will govern his church, foretells what will come upon the churches, and gives them messages to prepare for trying times. He gives the message and counsel to the Laodicean church to buy gold tried in the fire, which is faith and love greatly needed in the last days to be strengthened and established in present truth and to be calm, collected, and reasonable in considering what truth demands.
He is the beginning and end of the great plan of redemption and the Author of redemption, in whom all the great truths of Scripture center and to whom, when rightly understood, they all lead. Preaching and Bible teaching must therefore weave him in and place him at the center, unfolding truth in a way people can receive so as to build confidence in God and his Word and encourage personal study. The third angel's message in particular must present him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and not be proclaimed as a dry theory, for proclaiming him as first and last brings the bright and morning star of hope, mercy, forgiveness, and peace into hearts, represents the character of God in Jesus Christ, gives the last message of mercy to the world, and prepares people for the nearness of his second coming. This truth about Christ is what God's people are called to preach.
He is the beginning and end of salvation in every soul and the source and finisher of faith, and salvation is entirely of him. No human effort alone has power to overcome or repent, and no one can take even the first steps toward the Saviour, turn toward God, or repent apart from his influence and the Spirit's work, while God's favor leads to repentance and pardon. People remain in sin when they fail to see his full work and rely on their own righteousness, so they must look beyond Satan's power to him who is mighty to save, see his love shown at Calvary drawing them to repentance and forgiveness, and actively cooperate with him through diligent effort while he supplies what is needed.
Paul was converted to believe him as first and last, Alpha and Omega. The light and power and glory that arrested Paul at his conversion kept working in him afterward, making him an effectual missionary worker who proclaimed the truth as it is in Jesus as a clear, eloquent speaker, with a religion from God whose heavenly light no earthly power could extinguish.
Judgment Reward and Division
He comes quickly with his reward to give every person according to his work, dealing justly in rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked. Every deed has passed in review before God and been weighed in the balances of the sanctuary before that reckoning, and the judgment is not by profession but by purity of motive and obedience to law. This righteous repayment is made possible because he gave himself for humanity, so that through obedience and love to God people may escape the world's corruption.
His self-declaration as Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, guarantees the certainty of that final reckoning and divides the world into two parties. The last warfare is between those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark and drink the wrath of God, and those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus with the patience of the saints. That division belongs to the closing scenes of earth's history and to the proclamation of the third angel's message, which binds the first and second messages with the third, setting those who keep the commandments against those who make void the law. Keeping the word of his patience in the approaching hour of test means conscientiously keeping God's commandments and refusing to bow to an idol sabbath, an institution of the papacy, in contrast to worshiping the beast and receiving his mark.
His testimony as Alpha and Omega gives authority to the warning in the last chapter against false teaching. Teachers who present doctrines not contained in God's Word stand under that condemnation. Altering his words, or making even one word spoken by God seem nonessential, brings the threatened plagues written in the book and removal from the book of life and from the holy city.
Perversity carried into religious experience, continued sin, and delay place a person outside the city of God. Those outside are the unjust and filthy, the dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters and liars, left in sorrow and darkness. Delay brings heavier condemnation and the bitter lamentation of a soul not saved.
The declaration therefore forces a present choice while forbearance still lingers, calling every person to give an account of stewardship and to choose the righteousness of Christ rather than continue in sin and accept its awful results. Now is the time to work as soldiers under his banner, to love light, seek truth, receive the celestial aid of the Holy Spirit, and impart what is gained in Christian experience before it is too late to use light. It calls for deep individual cleansing and transformation of heart, thorough humbling of the soul before God, and immediate doing of work long left undone, so fruit appears in proportion to light given. The last chapter is to make an impression upon heart and life and character, calling for earnest prayer and untiring work without delay, most thorough repentance, purification of the soul by heartfelt repentance and confession of unfaithful discharge of duty, leaving the unprepared state, and opening the door of the heart for him to enter. Diligently maintaining integrity under his banner now is what gives right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city instead of exclusion outside.
Commandments Tree and City
Those who do and keep his commandments are blessed with right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city. The same blessing carries the crown of immortal glory and seeing the King in his beauty when he comes in power to be admired by all who believe. It stands joined to his swift coming with reward to give every person according to his work, after character is forever fixed with the unjust and filthy remaining so and the righteous and holy remaining so. The titles declare his supreme and eternal identity from beginning to end, and the saying divides the world into two parties at his coming, those who worship the beast and his image and those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Perversity carried into religious experience places a person outside the city in sorrow and darkness, while only those who know the way of the Lord in quietness, patient forbearance, long-suffering and patience find assurance, peace, deliverance and strength for successful work.
Only the loyal and true regain what Adam lost through disobedience. When access to the tree of life was cut off it was guarded by angels with flaming swords so disobedient men would not become immortal sinners. Men are now on test and trial to regain that loss by doing and keeping God's commandments, and only such will have right to the tree and enter through the gates into the heavenly city. The disobedient have no place there and rebellion can never enter.
Keeping the commandments is evidence of love for Jesus, not bondage under the law. Human traditions, customs and outward forms are set aside as powerless to sanctify or save the soul from death. The burden is put on keeping the law of God by loving God with all heart, mind, soul and strength and loving neighbor as self. He declares this way of eternal life as the true witness with full divine authority from beginning to end, voiced through John on Patmos for the benefit of believers.
The last chapter answers whether a person can be saved without keeping the Sabbath, giving the promise to commandment doers of right to the tree and entrance through the gates. It belongs to the closing scenes of earth's history and to the proclamation of the third angel's message, which combines the first and the second messages and binds them up with the third. It shows the great and last warfare between two classes, those who keep the commandments of God and those who make void the law of God. Keeping the word of his patience in the approaching hour of test and trial means conscientiously keeping the commandments of God and refusing to bow to an idol sabbath and worship an institution of the papacy, in contrast to those who worship the beast and receive his mark and drink the wrath of God. He himself warns believers to hold fast what they have so no one takes their crown, and the last message of mercy is to be lifted up as the standard of truth before the people by all who love God and keep his commandments, even while false teachers teach fables to counteract it.
The message is made so plain that none need make mistakes: keep his commandments. With it stands the invitation for everyone who thirsts to come and take the water of life freely, in language echoing Isaiah's promise of salvation and reward. Those who taste that life have the privilege to say to others, Come, because the whole soul is imbued with the love of Christ, becoming a link drawing toward heaven and a channel through which Christ communicates to the world. He is eternal, omnipotent, the living conqueror and defense of those who make him their refuge, who will deal justly in rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked according to works. The verse therefore calls all to take a decided stand for the right, to come out from the world and be separate, to turn from conformity to the world, worldly ambition and selfish indulgence, and to accept his invitation to come for rest and peace and light. He testifies this by his angel to the churches as the root and offspring of David and the bright and morning star, joined by the Spirit and the bride saying Come, while delay brings heavier condemnation and the bitter lamentation of a soul not saved, so that eternity demands immediate decision on the Lord's side in the closing scenes of earth's history.
Christian Life and Mission
He is with his people at the beginning of their work and brings it to completion as they continue by faith following his leading. This was seen in the work at Washington in moving the publishing work from Battle Creek and laying plans for a sanitarium, where the beginning was visible and he would also be the end as workers trusted God, moved forward without losing time, carried out laid plans, and others were brought in to do their part. The meetinghouse there stands as representation and memorial of a faith that has him as its Alpha and Omega, a faith belonging to heaven's kingdom rather than this world, with other laws than the world honors and obeys and with enjoyment and power of a higher order than men possess. It is also a memorial of truth and a sign of a law-keeping people who acknowledge him as supreme Ruler.
Those who represent him must obey God's commandments as he obeyed them, and this outlines their duty and doing God's will in connection with his coming quickly with reward to give each person according to work. He must be made first and last and best in everything, first, last, and supreme in everything, the Alpha and Omega kept ever in view, the one on whom believers depend as all in all and everything and in all. As abiding presence he is to control thoughts, ideas, and actions, and as his words take possession believers are shaped in whole life and character, leaving no room for haphazard work, self-centeredness, pretense, or hypocrisy. Those with no desire to follow him bring his shame, and for them he prepares no mansion in the city of God, will not accept them as his, and they can never be acknowledged as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ to the immortal inheritance. The call is to seek God's glory, cleanse from sin, and press toward the high calling in Christ.
Looking constantly to Jesus with holy desire to live his life brings advantage, for pressing close to his side and holding communion with the risen, ascended Saviour changes followers to become like him. Through the transforming power of his Spirit heart and life are changed into the same image from glory to glory, with his words engraved on the tablets of the soul, so that believers represent him as his witnesses in daily life, which is the only true religious life that forms Christlike character. By the gospel he shapes obedient believers through the Holy Spirit to take the perfect image of its Author. The declaration together with the blessing on those who do his commandments, giving right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city, is incentive not to rest satisfied with a low standard but to reach perfection and increase in fervency and genuine love.
Success in spreading the truth comes only through his strength, for divinity and humanity work together as men become laborers together with God. As consecrated workers impart to others what they receive he entrusts them with more to impart, and enabled success leads them to ascribe all glory to him, working out salvation with fear and trembling while God works in them to will and to do of his good pleasure. His authority stands at the center of the church's missionary work and final warning, calling to choose righteousness before character is fixed and to prepare now before each condition is fixed. His promised swift return with reward for each according to works is incentive to heed God's word and supports the urgent call to proclaim the truth, including the last threefold message of warning to the world by ministers with the gospel's power.
He is Guide and Counsellor, Rock higher than human strength, sun and shield of his people, wisdom to all who desire to be wise, and the might by which believers conquer. He is wisdom, sanctification, and righteousness, ready to receive all who come in sincerity, keeping hearts daily in the love of God by his power alone; his righteousness saves and his truth abiding in the soul sanctifies. He as first and last is worthy of all honor, majesty, and praise, in contrast to human fame which is fleeting and easily erased so that those seeking praise from people forfeit God's commendation, while a lasting name is one written in the Lamb's book of life. He is the Alpha and Omega of all who know God and recognize his claims, high or low, establishing in every place communication between heaven and earth, valuing each faithful witness, and knowing every soul who bears his name.
Jesus declares himself to be the eternal One from beginning to end, everlasting and omnipotent, the first and the last beside whom there is none else. The titles affirm His supreme and complete authority over every soul, over the church, and over the final reckoning and outcome of all things. He speaks them together with the promise to come quickly and bring His reward with Him to give every person according to his work, judging by purity of motive and obedience rather than profession. He joins them to the blessing on those who do His commandments, giving them right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city, regaining what Adam lost through disobedience. Therefore the declaration stands at the close of probation, when intercession ends and character is fixed forever, and forces a present choice to repent, obey, and prepare now while mercy still lingers.
Speaker and Immediate Setting
The speaker is Jesus Christ declaring himself as the beginning and the end, the first and the last. He is the one who never lies, the true witness, the bright and morning star, the root and offspring of David. He speaks as the eternal and complete authority who comes quickly and brings each person's reward according to work.
The same titles are also declared of God as the beginning and end, the first and last. He is the great first Cause and benefactor, the beginning and source of every temporal and spiritual blessing for the universe. His tender mercies are over all his works, providing for every living thing and satisfying its needs, having made human affections capable of embracing eternal realities to be kept pure and holy.
The saying stands in the last chapter of Revelation, voiced through John on Patmos in the closing chapter of the New Testament. It belongs to final unsealed prophecy to be carefully studied because it concerns people living in the last days. It belongs to the closing scenes of earth's history and to the proclamation of the final warning and threefold message, combining the first and second messages and binding them with the third.
It is spoken together with the promise to come quickly and to bring reward with him to give every person according to work. That coming brings judgment and reward, with every deed in review before God and weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, judging not by profession but by purity of motive and obedience to law. The saying thus divides the world into two parties, those who worship the beast and his image and those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
It is spoken at the close of probation when eternal destiny is forever fixed. Then mercy folds its wings and steps from the throne above the ark, intercession ends with the trumpet-like proclamation that it is done, and the decree fixes the unjust and filthy and the righteous and holy forever. Then it is too late to use light, so thorough work for repentance, giving account of stewardship, loving light, seeking truth, receiving the Spirit's aid, and maintaining integrity under his banner must be now while forbearance lingers.
It is spoken alongside the blessing on those who do his commandments, giving right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city. It stands with the invitation to take the water of life freely, with the Spirit and the bride saying Come, and with his testimony by his angel to the churches. It stands with the counsel to the Laodicean church to buy gold tried in the fire, which is faith and love.
Meaning of Divine Titles
The titles declare the speaker to be the eternal One from beginning to end, everlasting, omnipotent, the living conqueror, whose everlasting authority guarantees the certainty of the final reckoning when He comes quickly with reward to give every person according to work. The same declaration is also applied to God as the beginning and end, the first and last, affirming His eternal supremacy. The self-declaration is made by the One who never lies, spoken when probation closes and eternal destiny is forever fixed, calling every person to give an account of stewardship and judging not by profession but by purity of motive and obedience to law. It divides between the blessed who do His commandments and therefore have right to the tree of life and entry through the gates into the city, and those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark.
The titles affirm supreme and complete authority, placing His authority at the center of the church's message and its final warning to the world. He is the origin and completion of all things, and in the setting of promised swift return and reward for each according to works this assures that He has authority over the final events, reckoning, and outcome. He is the eternal Christ who searches works and brings the reward at His coming, after every deed has passed in review before God and been weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and after the heavenly decision fixing the unjust and filthy and the righteous and holy. He is the Alpha and Omega of all things, the only One to whom kingship belongs and beside whom there is none else, so that human beings who claim kingship for themselves set aside His rightful authority. As consecrated workers impart to others what they receive, He entrusts them with more to impart, and their enabled success leads them to ascribe all glory to Him, with divinity and humanity working together while God works in them to will and to do of His good pleasure.
He is the Alpha of Genesis and the Omega of Revelation, the beginning and end who carries the story of redemption through the ages. He is the same Jesus who gave the Sabbath, offered Himself to redeem the fallen world, rose from the dead, ascended, and now serves as Advocate in heaven, placing Christ at the center of both the Old and New Testaments. He is the Alpha, the first link, and the Omega, the last link, of the gospel chain, with prophetic history from Genesis to Revelation joined link by link in Him and completed in Revelation. The Genesis of the Old Testament and the Revelation of the New meet in Him, and as second Adam He obeyed, overcame Satan's temptations, and redeemed Adam's failure and fall, so that the two Adams will meet and embrace in Paradise while those who reject opportunity and remain disloyal will be shut out.
He is first and last, beginning and end, the source and finisher of faith, the Author and Finisher of faith to whom Moses and the prophets point, speaking truth about past, present, and future with authority of personal knowledge that no age or popularity of opposing error can overturn. He is the beginning and end of salvation in every soul, the Author of redemption, with human effort alone having no power to overcome, turn toward God, or repent, and no one able to take even first steps toward the Saviour without divine aid and the Spirit's work, while people must actively cooperate through diligent effort and look beyond Satan's power to Christ who is mighty to save instead of relying on own righteousness. He is the first and last, the beginning and end of God's creation, and those who sincerely work for salvation of souls will improve capabilities to the utmost and receive divine assistance as they work unselfishly. As Creator and Redeemer embracing the world in arms of infinite love, all things belong to Him by original creation and by mediatorial redemption, He is the efficiency of everything, all value in any human being is from Him and belongs to Him, and all that people have was entrusted to fulfill His mediatorial plan.
He is the beginning and source of every temporal and spiritual blessing, and as first and last the benefactor of the universe and great first Cause, whose care provides for every living thing and satisfies its needs with tender mercies over all His works. He is the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end, who holds in His keeping the destiny of every soul. He made human affections capable of embracing eternal realities, to be kept pure and holy and free from all earthliness, yet human beings have lost eternity out of reckoning and forgotten Him, supposing themselves mighty in knowledge and wisdom while letting themselves down to the lowest level in His sight. All glory for good accomplished through consecrated service belongs to Him, for human ability comes through His grace as He works in them to will and do what pleases Him in their serving and working together with God.
Alpha and Omega means the beginning and the end and the whole of knowledge and wisdom. Bible truth has God as its author, so its deep and far-reaching truths are not human sophistry, and those who choose to understand them can know their real meaning. Christ is the Alpha and Omega of wisdom, and the Bible contains His words as the one book essential for all to study with reverence and godly fear, because its pages hold truth without sophistry and give knowledge of God and of Christ sent to live and die for sinners. The many books in earth's great libraries confuse the mind more than they aid understanding, and money and years spent on them would be better spent gaining knowledge of Him, for to know Him aright is life eternal and only those gaining this knowledge will at last be complete in Him. The Bible is to be taken as the study book, its instruction can be understood by all and keeps from speaking or writing anything at variance with the teachings of the Word.
Christ in Redemptive History
He is the same Jesus who gave the Sabbath, offered himself to redeem the fallen world, rose from the dead, ascended, and now serves as Advocate in heaven, carrying the story of redemption through the ages as the Alpha of Genesis and the Omega of Revelation. Before coming in human form he was already the light of his people and of the world, the first light to pierce the darkness of sin from whom every ray of heaven's brightness on earth comes. He is the second Adam who obeyed where the first Adam failed, overcame Satan's temptations, redeemed the fall, and reconciled Adam and God, so that the two Adams will meet and embrace in Paradise while those who reject opportunity and remain disloyal are shut out.
As mediator between God and humanity he presents what the Father makes known to him, for divine revelations come to humanity through him who has all light and life in himself. He reveals heavenly things, makes known what is to come, unfolds how he will govern his church, foretells what will come upon the churches, and gives them messages to prepare for trying times. He gives the message and counsel to the Laodicean church to buy gold tried in the fire, which is faith and love greatly needed in the last days to be strengthened and established in present truth and to be calm, collected, and reasonable in considering what truth demands.
He is the beginning and end of the great plan of redemption and the Author of redemption, in whom all the great truths of Scripture center and to whom, when rightly understood, they all lead. Preaching and Bible teaching must therefore weave him in and place him at the center, unfolding truth in a way people can receive so as to build confidence in God and his Word and encourage personal study. The third angel's message in particular must present him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and not be proclaimed as a dry theory, for proclaiming him as first and last brings the bright and morning star of hope, mercy, forgiveness, and peace into hearts, represents the character of God in Jesus Christ, gives the last message of mercy to the world, and prepares people for the nearness of his second coming. This truth about Christ is what God's people are called to preach.
He is the beginning and end of salvation in every soul and the source and finisher of faith, and salvation is entirely of him. No human effort alone has power to overcome or repent, and no one can take even the first steps toward the Saviour, turn toward God, or repent apart from his influence and the Spirit's work, while God's favor leads to repentance and pardon. People remain in sin when they fail to see his full work and rely on their own righteousness, so they must look beyond Satan's power to him who is mighty to save, see his love shown at Calvary drawing them to repentance and forgiveness, and actively cooperate with him through diligent effort while he supplies what is needed.
Paul was converted to believe him as first and last, Alpha and Omega. The light and power and glory that arrested Paul at his conversion kept working in him afterward, making him an effectual missionary worker who proclaimed the truth as it is in Jesus as a clear, eloquent speaker, with a religion from God whose heavenly light no earthly power could extinguish.
Judgment Reward and Division
He comes quickly with his reward to give every person according to his work, dealing justly in rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked. Every deed has passed in review before God and been weighed in the balances of the sanctuary before that reckoning, and the judgment is not by profession but by purity of motive and obedience to law. This righteous repayment is made possible because he gave himself for humanity, so that through obedience and love to God people may escape the world's corruption.
His self-declaration as Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, guarantees the certainty of that final reckoning and divides the world into two parties. The last warfare is between those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark and drink the wrath of God, and those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus with the patience of the saints. That division belongs to the closing scenes of earth's history and to the proclamation of the third angel's message, which binds the first and second messages with the third, setting those who keep the commandments against those who make void the law. Keeping the word of his patience in the approaching hour of test means conscientiously keeping God's commandments and refusing to bow to an idol sabbath, an institution of the papacy, in contrast to worshiping the beast and receiving his mark.
His testimony as Alpha and Omega gives authority to the warning in the last chapter against false teaching. Teachers who present doctrines not contained in God's Word stand under that condemnation. Altering his words, or making even one word spoken by God seem nonessential, brings the threatened plagues written in the book and removal from the book of life and from the holy city.
Perversity carried into religious experience, continued sin, and delay place a person outside the city of God. Those outside are the unjust and filthy, the dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters and liars, left in sorrow and darkness. Delay brings heavier condemnation and the bitter lamentation of a soul not saved.
The declaration therefore forces a present choice while forbearance still lingers, calling every person to give an account of stewardship and to choose the righteousness of Christ rather than continue in sin and accept its awful results. Now is the time to work as soldiers under his banner, to love light, seek truth, receive the celestial aid of the Holy Spirit, and impart what is gained in Christian experience before it is too late to use light. It calls for deep individual cleansing and transformation of heart, thorough humbling of the soul before God, and immediate doing of work long left undone, so fruit appears in proportion to light given. The last chapter is to make an impression upon heart and life and character, calling for earnest prayer and untiring work without delay, most thorough repentance, purification of the soul by heartfelt repentance and confession of unfaithful discharge of duty, leaving the unprepared state, and opening the door of the heart for him to enter. Diligently maintaining integrity under his banner now is what gives right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city instead of exclusion outside.
Commandments Tree and City
Those who do and keep his commandments are blessed with right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city. The same blessing carries the crown of immortal glory and seeing the King in his beauty when he comes in power to be admired by all who believe. It stands joined to his swift coming with reward to give every person according to his work, after character is forever fixed with the unjust and filthy remaining so and the righteous and holy remaining so. The titles declare his supreme and eternal identity from beginning to end, and the saying divides the world into two parties at his coming, those who worship the beast and his image and those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Perversity carried into religious experience places a person outside the city in sorrow and darkness, while only those who know the way of the Lord in quietness, patient forbearance, long-suffering and patience find assurance, peace, deliverance and strength for successful work.
Only the loyal and true regain what Adam lost through disobedience. When access to the tree of life was cut off it was guarded by angels with flaming swords so disobedient men would not become immortal sinners. Men are now on test and trial to regain that loss by doing and keeping God's commandments, and only such will have right to the tree and enter through the gates into the heavenly city. The disobedient have no place there and rebellion can never enter.
Keeping the commandments is evidence of love for Jesus, not bondage under the law. Human traditions, customs and outward forms are set aside as powerless to sanctify or save the soul from death. The burden is put on keeping the law of God by loving God with all heart, mind, soul and strength and loving neighbor as self. He declares this way of eternal life as the true witness with full divine authority from beginning to end, voiced through John on Patmos for the benefit of believers.
The last chapter answers whether a person can be saved without keeping the Sabbath, giving the promise to commandment doers of right to the tree and entrance through the gates. It belongs to the closing scenes of earth's history and to the proclamation of the third angel's message, which combines the first and the second messages and binds them up with the third. It shows the great and last warfare between two classes, those who keep the commandments of God and those who make void the law of God. Keeping the word of his patience in the approaching hour of test and trial means conscientiously keeping the commandments of God and refusing to bow to an idol sabbath and worship an institution of the papacy, in contrast to those who worship the beast and receive his mark and drink the wrath of God. He himself warns believers to hold fast what they have so no one takes their crown, and the last message of mercy is to be lifted up as the standard of truth before the people by all who love God and keep his commandments, even while false teachers teach fables to counteract it.
The message is made so plain that none need make mistakes: keep his commandments. With it stands the invitation for everyone who thirsts to come and take the water of life freely, in language echoing Isaiah's promise of salvation and reward. Those who taste that life have the privilege to say to others, Come, because the whole soul is imbued with the love of Christ, becoming a link drawing toward heaven and a channel through which Christ communicates to the world. He is eternal, omnipotent, the living conqueror and defense of those who make him their refuge, who will deal justly in rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked according to works. The verse therefore calls all to take a decided stand for the right, to come out from the world and be separate, to turn from conformity to the world, worldly ambition and selfish indulgence, and to accept his invitation to come for rest and peace and light. He testifies this by his angel to the churches as the root and offspring of David and the bright and morning star, joined by the Spirit and the bride saying Come, while delay brings heavier condemnation and the bitter lamentation of a soul not saved, so that eternity demands immediate decision on the Lord's side in the closing scenes of earth's history.
Christian Life and Mission
He is with his people at the beginning of their work and brings it to completion as they continue by faith following his leading. This was seen in the work at Washington in moving the publishing work from Battle Creek and laying plans for a sanitarium, where the beginning was visible and he would also be the end as workers trusted God, moved forward without losing time, carried out laid plans, and others were brought in to do their part. The meetinghouse there stands as representation and memorial of a faith that has him as its Alpha and Omega, a faith belonging to heaven's kingdom rather than this world, with other laws than the world honors and obeys and with enjoyment and power of a higher order than men possess. It is also a memorial of truth and a sign of a law-keeping people who acknowledge him as supreme Ruler.
Those who represent him must obey God's commandments as he obeyed them, and this outlines their duty and doing God's will in connection with his coming quickly with reward to give each person according to work. He must be made first and last and best in everything, first, last, and supreme in everything, the Alpha and Omega kept ever in view, the one on whom believers depend as all in all and everything and in all. As abiding presence he is to control thoughts, ideas, and actions, and as his words take possession believers are shaped in whole life and character, leaving no room for haphazard work, self-centeredness, pretense, or hypocrisy. Those with no desire to follow him bring his shame, and for them he prepares no mansion in the city of God, will not accept them as his, and they can never be acknowledged as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ to the immortal inheritance. The call is to seek God's glory, cleanse from sin, and press toward the high calling in Christ.
Looking constantly to Jesus with holy desire to live his life brings advantage, for pressing close to his side and holding communion with the risen, ascended Saviour changes followers to become like him. Through the transforming power of his Spirit heart and life are changed into the same image from glory to glory, with his words engraved on the tablets of the soul, so that believers represent him as his witnesses in daily life, which is the only true religious life that forms Christlike character. By the gospel he shapes obedient believers through the Holy Spirit to take the perfect image of its Author. The declaration together with the blessing on those who do his commandments, giving right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city, is incentive not to rest satisfied with a low standard but to reach perfection and increase in fervency and genuine love.
Success in spreading the truth comes only through his strength, for divinity and humanity work together as men become laborers together with God. As consecrated workers impart to others what they receive he entrusts them with more to impart, and enabled success leads them to ascribe all glory to him, working out salvation with fear and trembling while God works in them to will and to do of his good pleasure. His authority stands at the center of the church's missionary work and final warning, calling to choose righteousness before character is fixed and to prepare now before each condition is fixed. His promised swift return with reward for each according to works is incentive to heed God's word and supports the urgent call to proclaim the truth, including the last threefold message of warning to the world by ministers with the gospel's power.
He is Guide and Counsellor, Rock higher than human strength, sun and shield of his people, wisdom to all who desire to be wise, and the might by which believers conquer. He is wisdom, sanctification, and righteousness, ready to receive all who come in sincerity, keeping hearts daily in the love of God by his power alone; his righteousness saves and his truth abiding in the soul sanctifies. He as first and last is worthy of all honor, majesty, and praise, in contrast to human fame which is fleeting and easily erased so that those seeking praise from people forfeit God's commendation, while a lasting name is one written in the Lamb's book of life. He is the Alpha and Omega of all who know God and recognize his claims, high or low, establishing in every place communication between heaven and earth, valuing each faithful witness, and knowing every soul who bears his name.