The Beginning and the End (Revelation 1:4-8)

"John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:4-8 NKJV)

The revelation is given to the seven churches. There were more than the seven churches in Asia, but they are the representative churches throughout the ages. The words of God are the revelations of the mystery of God. The revelations are the prophecy of Christ which must take place. 

Christ is the One who came and died and now is and will come as King and Judge with tens of thousands of angels and the great trumpet call. Christ ministers out of the seven Spirits throughout the ages and times. It doesn't mean there are seven Spirits but the seven ministries of the Spirit. "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11:1, 2 NKJV)

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. Christ is the owner and possessor of the resurrection from the dead. Christ is the Giver of eternal life to those who believe in Him. He is so merciful and gracious that whoever comes to Him through the faith in the blood of the cross receives the resurrection life as many as he comes unto Him. The well of eternal life is never gone dry but overflows out of rivers of living water.

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37-39 NKJV)

This marvelous grace of our Lord Jesus is always and abundantly available to those who have been loved and purified from all sins in His own blood. We have been liberated and made kings and priests to God. To Christ be glory and dominion forever and ever. Christ crucified, buried, and raised from the dead ascended into heaven and seated at the right hand of God and will be coming with the clouds and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.

Christ will come again as Judge and Lord of all. Everyone is accountable to Him who is all in all and through all and in all. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Nothing was made without Him. He holds the key to the mysteries of God. He is the beginner and the finisher of life. He created all things with His words of mouth. We do not yet see everything subject to Him but see Jesus who is seating at the right hand of God until He has put all His enemies under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:25). Christ is the ultimate solution to humanity. Christ crucified and raised from the dead is the One worthy to open the scroll.  

“And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.” (Revelation 5:1-7 NKJV)