Revelation study #7

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October 5, 2011 -A STUDY OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION- (7)
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Continuing our series of lessons....through the book of Revelation:
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LETS GO TO....... Revelation 1:8
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As I said earlier....we learn things about Jesus in Revelation:
That can not be found anyplace else in Scripture:
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And tonight in Verse 8.....we come to some of those things!
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V.8A “I am Alpha and Omega,”
-HERE THE LORD JESUS.....STARTS TO DESCRIBE HIMSELF-
(In great detail...
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These are.....the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet:
But they mean....much more than that:
When referenced...to the Lord Jesus Christ:
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As we are going to see in Verse 11
There...they are a reference to the...first & the last:
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But here we are going to look at:
The other side of their meaning.
I.e. (“From one end” ... “to the other”!)
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“Alpha”
Alpha...is a reference to the “best of things”:
(In everything that Jesus is
He is the best:
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He is in.....the highest places!
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His 3 titles: “Prophet” and “Priest” and “King”:
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➀ The greatest Prophet:
(Giving us more light about the future than any other
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➁ The greatest Priest:
(A higher High Priest...than that of the Levitical priesthood
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➂ The greatest King...the world has ever known:
(He is....King of kings and Lord of lords)
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“Omega”
Omega....is a reference to the “least of things”:
(Jesus also found Himself to be...in the lowest places
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➀ He was made lower than the angels:
See Hebrews 2:9
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death,
crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
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➁ While on the cross He was the lowest of men:
See Psalms 22:6-8
V.6 But I [am] a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
V.7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying],
V.8 He trusted on the LORD [that] he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
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➂Then he descended to the lower parts of the Earth;
See Ephesians 4:9-10
V.9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
V.10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
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Note: This made His ascension..that much greater:
Because of the depths...He had experienced.
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V.8B “the beginning and the ending,”
-HERE THE LORD.....DESCRIBES HIS “NATURE”-
(As best as He can...for our limited understanding
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This “nature”....is a deeper look than His two primary natures:
(Being “All God” and “all man”)
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As God....He has no beginning and no ending:
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Also as God....He “knows”....the beginning:
As well as.... “the ending”;
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This “could be” the source...of God’s omniscience!
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V.8C “saith the Lord,”
-AN IMPORTANT REMINDER....OF WHAT WE ARE READING-
(More than simply.....the Bible
But actually....the Words of God Almighty:
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This is something.....to think about!
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-THE GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE....OF THE REST OF THIS VERSE-
I know some people have trouble:
Seeing these words....as coming out of the Lord’s mouth:
Just like with parts of Scripture attributed to Moses.
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But don’t let that rob you...of the blessing:
Of taking the Lord at His Word!
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V.8D “which is, and which was, and which is to come,”
-THE LORD’S........ETERNALLY ACTIVE EXISTENCE-
(This is the crown jewel....of God’s deity
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-BRAKING.....THIS STATEMENT DOWN-
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“Is” (Jesus is now the Savior of the world)
Coming to judge the world!
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“Was” (He was also the Savior of the world
In the Old Testament:
Seen.....in every act of salvation in History:
From Noah’s ark....to the rock in the wilderness...
to the forth man in the fire!
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“Is to come”(He will be the Savior of the world
In the future...as He sets on the throne in Jerusalem!
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-ANOTHER STATEMENT......ESTABLISHING HIS DEITY-
He is the.... “Self-Existing One”:
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Just like God’s statement in Exodus 3:14
“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM:...”
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And the Lord’s statement in John 18:5-6
When Jesus said “I am” to Judas & his solders:
And an invisible force...pushed them down!
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-ALSO ASSERTING....ANOTHER “ATTRIBUTE OF GOD”-
His “Unchangeableness”:
Qt. Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
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-STILL ANOTHER STATEMENT....IDENTIFYING THE SON WITH THE FATHER-
This same phrase is used.. “of God the Father” in Rev.1:4
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Establishing the fact...of the deity of Christ!
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V.8E “the Almighty.”
-JESUS IS ALSO.....OMNIPOTENT-
(The most powerful individual...in existence
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“the Almighty” Lit.(the ruler of all)
(“He who holds sway...over all things!”)
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