In Revelation 22:13, God says "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Originally, there was neither a 'beginning' nor an 'end' to God. God exists before and after eternity; He Himself is limitless space. For Him neither the limit of time nor of space exists. Then, what is the reason He says this? By understanding the spiritual meaning of this verse, let's feel the boundless and endless love of God the Trinity and become His true children quickly.
God the Father who is the Alpha and the Omega of human civilization
Alpha and Omega are the first and the last characters of the Greek alphabet. At the time Apostle John was writing this "Book of Revelation," the Hellenic civilization was in full flourish. So, "the Alpha and the Omega" does not only refer to the languages that mankind uses to express knowledge, but it refers to the beginning and the end of knowledge.
There is a close connection between human civilization and language. In order to develop and pass on civilization, there had to have been a literary form of language. Even though a generation has outstanding knowledge and skills, if there is no literary language to record it, it's difficult to pass it on to its future generations.
When God created man, He gave him the ability to store knowledge. From the time of Adam, people have amassed knowledge and developed civilizations. However, the knowledge and civilizations of mankind won't develop without limit. Just as the beginning of civilization was already set in the plan of God who created Adam, its end is surely set as well. The course of human history actually began and will end under the sovereignty of God.
Then, why did God the Creator give knowledge to people and allow them to develop civilizations? Only when there was literary language could the Word of God be recorded and correctly passed on to following generations. Also, only when there is development of civilization can this gospel be preached to every corner of the world. When God said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega," it specifically refers to the attribute of God the Father. It is to express God the Father who allowed for all the knowledge and civilization of mankind from beginning to end.
God the Son who is the first and the last of human salvation
Next, "the first and the last" is for God the Holy Son, Jesus Christ. It is related to the providence of the salvation of the cross, which is the secret hidden before the ages. The Lord is the first and the last in the ministry of the salvation of human beings, who were sinners, and leading them to eternal life.
Here, "the first" in the Scripture means that the Lord became the firstfruit of resurrection after the crucifixion by overcoming death, becoming resurrected, and opening the way of salvation for mankind. This is well-explained in 1 Corinthians 15:20.
After the first man, Adam, disobeyed the Word of God and committed sin, mankind was destined to go the way of death. But after Jesus took all the sufferings and was crucified and became resurrected, anyone who believes Him can reach salvation.
Jesus Christ was the firstfruit of resurrection and He has yielded countless fruit (Colossians 1:6). By the way, when a fruit is first borne, it contains a seed of life. Those of you who heard the holiness gospel and received life, you are the beautiful fruit of the Lord. You then become the seeds of life that are 'planted in the ground', and bear many more fruits. It shows the fact that since the Lord resurrected into life, countless souls can receive salvation in the Lord and join the resurrection.
Then, what does it mean by saying Jesus Christ is "the last"? It means that the providence of human redemption comes to an end as the Lord comes in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is how the Scripture describes the Lord as "the last" who will end the providence of redemption by the Second Advent.
Just as a farmer harvests all the crops and later does the gleaning, the salvation of 'gleaning' will be done during Seven-year Great Tribulation after the providence of human salvation is finished.
God the Holy Spirit who is the beginning and the end of human cultivation
The reason God created mankind and governs the history of human beings is to gather the souls who are the 'good grains'. The good grains are the true children of God who resemble the good and holy God. It is to gain true children who love God. So, the beginning and the end refer to the beginning and the end of human cultivation and it explains God the Holy Spirit among God the Trinity.
Originally, Adam the first man's heart was clean without sin and evil. But after Adam's transgression, men became servants who are obedient to sin and became servants of the enemy devil and Satan. In order to become true children whom God wants, they should cast off the fleshly attributes and sinful natures, and recover the original clean heart.
God will give the Helper the Holy Spirit as a gift to anyone who accept Jesus Christ, realize his sins, and repent thoroughly of them and He will help them gain the right, authority, and blessings to become God's children. Unless we receive the help of the Spirit, we cannot pray in the power of the Spirit, realize the Word of God, and receive strength to act by the Word of God written in the Bible.
Only when we receive the Holy Spirit by believing Jesus Christ can we become God's true children through human cultivation. When we obey the Word of God by the help of the Spirit, life and peace will come upon us and joy and grace will overflow. But when we disobey the Holy Spirit, in our hearts lamentation and distress are felt. Even then, the Spirit prays on behalf of believers and helps them receive grace and strength (Romans 8:26).
The Holy Spirit worked with God when God created men and started the human cultivation and did many things even in the time of the Old Testament. Since the Lord's resurrection and ascension, He has worked in earnest. He helps people circumcise their hearts, cultivate them, achieve sanctification, and become true children. However, the work of the Helper the Holy Spirit will not continue forever. We should know it will stop when the Lord comes in the air. By realizing this, believers should endeavor to adorn themselves as the brides of the Lord.
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