The Obligation of the Prophet John
"Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."
The Source of his Obligation is Christ
This voice identifies himself as the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. Cf. Rev. 22:13; 21:6. cf. Exodus 19:16, 19; 20:18 - Voice of God. Same voice that spoke from Mt. Sinai. The Voice came from the Lord Jehovah Who is here revealed as the Lord Jesus Christ Who died and is alive forevermore and revealed in Rev. 1:18. Jehovah Witness must come to grips with the fact that the true Lord Jehovah died and came back to life as here revealed in Rev. 1:18.
The Source of his Obligation is Christ
This voice identifies himself as the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. Cf. Rev. 22:13; 21:6. cf. Exodus 19:16, 19; 20:18 - Voice of God. Same voice that spoke from Mt. Sinai. The Voice came from the Lord Jehovah Who is here revealed as the Lord Jesus Christ Who died and is alive forevermore and revealed in Rev. 1:18. Jehovah Witness must come to grips with the fact that the true Lord Jehovah died and came back to life as here revealed in Rev. 1:18.
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."
"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."
"And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled."
"And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice."
"And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off."
"I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
The Substance of his Obligation is the VisionThis vision must be written down. "What thou seest, write in a book."The problem is this: were the things which John saw.
Objective or Subjective?
"I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
The Substance of his Obligation is the VisionThis vision must be written down. "What thou seest, write in a book."The problem is this: were the things which John saw.
Objective or Subjective?
Most certainly the personal Christ was there. And the picture of these judgments were there. Both of these were objective. These were signified by an angel, that is, that angel was the exhibiter, though God was the producer. By a supernatural method all this could have been made to pass before the eyes of John outside of him. On the other hand, he could have been made to see these things in his mind's eye within him. It seems best to insist that John saw these things external to himself, and thus the careful language of verse 10.
"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet."
This record must be sent to Seven Churches.
This record goes beyond the seven letters in chapters 2-3. It contains all that John saw, Rev. 1:12-17; 4:1-22:5. If these seven churches represent the whole of the church age, then this book is universal in its destination.
12 "And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;"
13 "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle."
14 "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;"
15 "And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters."
16 "And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."
17 "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last."
This record must be sent to Seven Churches.
This record goes beyond the seven letters in chapters 2-3. It contains all that John saw, Rev. 1:12-17; 4:1-22:5. If these seven churches represent the whole of the church age, then this book is universal in its destination.
12 "And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;"
13 "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle."
14 "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;"
15 "And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters."
16 "And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."
17 "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last."
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