Revelation 18–22: The Alpha & The Omega

Read the Bible in 2011 ◊ Week 52: Friday

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Revelation 21:3–8

Friday’s Bible reading is Revelation 18–22. These last chapters of Revelation—and of the Bible—give assurance and comfort as well as warning of judgment as they foretell the end of this present world.

Christians will realize our hope of glory:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Romans 8:18

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
2 Corinthians 3:16–18

These chapters encourage us to persevere and not to lose heart. God will wipe away our tears. No longer any death—mourning—crying—pain, and glory far beyond all comparison. Remember all Paul endured and how he suffered, yet he said it was momentary, light affliction. Be encouraged and with your love encourage other believers.

With the severe warnings of future judgment of those who are unbelieving in their sin and rebellion, there is also an invitation to come, take of the water of life.

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
Revelation 22:16–21

G. R. Beasley-Murray writes of the last verse in the Bible, Revelation 22:21:

“The benediction reminds us that the prophecy is in reality a letter, its lessons to be personally appropriated. Only by the grace of the Lord Jesus can that victory be gained which shall receive the recompense portrayed in this book. Let us not receive it in vain.”¹

Here is my story of how I became a Christian. Think on these truths. Jesus’ invitation to drink of living water is for you.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 3:16

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Isaiah 42 Photograph: ChristianPhotos.net – Free High Resolution Photos for Christian Publication
Alpha Omega Window: welshbabe, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. Fountain of Water: FreeFoto.com.
¹G. R. Beasley-Murray, “Revelation,” The New Bible Commentary: Revised, D. Guthrie, J. A. Motyer, eds., A. M. Stibbs, D. J. Wiseman, contributing eds., p. 1310.