4 From: Yochanan
To: The seven Messianic communities in the province of Asia:
Grace and shalom to you from the One who is, who was and who is coming; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; 5 and from Yeshua the Messiah, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the earth’s kings.
To him, the one who loves us, who has freed us from our sins at the cost of his blood, 6 who has caused us to be a kingdom, that is, cohanim for God, his Father — to him be the glory and the rulership forever and ever. Amen.
7 Look! He is coming with the clouds![Revelation 1:7 Daniel 7:13]
Every eye will see him,
including those who pierced him;
and all the tribes of the Land will mourn him.[Revelation 1:7 Zechariah 12:10–14]
Yes! Amen!
8 “I am the ‘A’ and the ‘Z,’” says Adonai,
God of heaven’s armies,
the One who is, who was and who is coming.[Complete Jewish Bible]
---------------------"Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come." These words of comfort from our God, given to us through the author of Revelation, remind us that God is indeed eternal--is, was, and is to come. God has existed before time and will exist long after this earth is gone. God has held all of creation together throughout all of eternity and, with Jesus the faithful witness as our Savior, we are made members of a kingdom that will also last throughout and beyond time. We can find comfort in knowing that Jesus reigns now and forever, whether in the good times or the not so good times. And we can rest assured knowing that Jesus loves us and frees us from the grasp of sin so that we can serve others.
Gracious God, you are indeed the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Help us to know your peace and to be comforted by your grace so that we may share your love with those in need. Amen.
Tracy Hinkel
St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, Northglenn, Colo.
Master of Divinity , 2009
Revelation 1:4b Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."[New Revised Standard Version]
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