I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Revelation 1-3.

I think we should spend more time thinking about the end days, but I struggle deciphering God’s message for us in the apocalyptic writings of the Bible.  However, I really like the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation.  John uses some phrases which convey some basic truths in a way which conveys the mysticism which they truly contain.  The first of these (taken from the NIV) is

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

He could have written something like, “God is eternal”.  That would have said the same thing, but does not convey the same sense of immediacy that God is present at every moment in history, even those which have yet to happen.  All of time is laid bare to God.  When He acts today it is with full knowledge of what will happen tomorrow, just as His actions yesterday were based in part on what He knew would happen today.

The other phrase (also taken from the NIV):

I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Another example where the idea could have been conveyed with more pedestrian phrasing.  John begins by connecting the being he saw in his vision to God, the Creator.  The phrase used here, “the First and the Last,” also makes sure that we understand what is meant by the phrase, “the Alpha and the Omega.”  The rest of the phrase communicates both the basic, essential Christian dogma that Christ lived, died, and rose from the dead and shows us what that means for us.  Because of Christ, those who put their faith in Him need not, should not, fear death.  He holds the keys both to death and to the place of the dead.  He can, and will, free us from death.  Even if we die, He holds the ability and willingness to raise us once more to life.  Death holds no power over Jesus, therefore we do not need to, and should not, allow it to hold any power over us.