Message: The Alpha and The Omega / Revelation 1:4-8

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Look! He is coming with the clouds;
 every eye will see him,
 even those who pierced him;
 and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.
So it is to be. Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

 

Today is Reign of Christ Sunday, the last Sunday of the liturgical year. Just as there is joy in celebrating the beginning of a journey, there is also something meaningful about reflecting on its conclusion with gratitude and hope.

On this special day, I want to take a moment to acknowledge each of you for being part of our journey throughout the past year within this congregation. It has truly been a privilege to serve alongside you and to grow together as a community of faith. Your presence, support, and dedication have made this year a blessing, and I want to express my thanks to every one of you.

Today, we reflect on the first Scripture reading from the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible. It was written by John, a leader in the early Church, while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. This book is addressed to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia, which is now part of western Türkiye (Turkey). Revelation is unique in the New Testament because it is written in a style called apocalyptic literature, which uses vivid images and rich symbolism.

Apocalyptic writing appears during times of turmoil and despair. It gives hope for a new world when oppressive rulers are in power and the righteous face suffering. This type of writing uses dramatic metaphors and poetic visions to show that God’s reign is coming. In the Hebrew Bible, the Book of Daniel, written during the Babylonian exile, is a good example. Similarly, Revelation was written during a time when Christians were facing severe persecution under the Roman Empire.

The situation for Christians in the late first century was very challenging. Under Roman emperors like Nero, many Christians were killed or imprisoned. John himself was among those who faced persecution. Yet, even in exile, his faith remained strong. Even in his darkest moments, John firmly believed that God is the eternal ruler of the world. With this faith, he wrote to encourage others who were also suffering, reminding them of the hope and love found in God.

John begins his letter by offering grace and peace from the Triune God. First, he describes God as the One “who is and who was and who is to come.” This description echoes God’s response to Moses in Exodus. In the burning bush, God called Moses to liberate the Hebrews, who were slaves in Egypt. When Moses asked for God’s name, God replied, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). The verb used here (yiqtol - imperfect verb) indicates an action that is not finished and keeps going. This can be understood to mean, "I am the One who always exists by Myself." This name reveals that God is eternal and self-existent. God was present in the past, God will be present in the future, and God is here with us in this very moment. For God, time is no barrier.

Next, John refers to the Holy Spirit as “the seven spirits who are before God’s throne.” In Revelation, the number 7 is a significant symbol of "completeness" or "perfection." Therefore, “the seven spirits” can be understood as the complete Spirit, the Holy Spirit. Throughout Scripture, the Holy Spirit comes to people at crucial moments. For the judges facing powerful enemies, the Spirit grants courage and strength; for the prophets who awaken foolish leaders, the Spirit provides wisdom and prophecy; and in times when the gospel needs to be proclaimed, the Spirit brings confidence and passion to those who follow Christ. Isaiah describes the work of the Spirit in this way:

     “The spirit of the LORD shall alight upon him:
      A spirit of wisdom and insight,
      A spirit of counsel and valour,
      A spirit of devotion and reverence for the LORD.
     He shall sense the truth by his reverence for the LORD.” (Isaiah 11:2-3a / Tanakh)

Finally, John mentions Jesus Christ as “the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.” Jesus faithfully proclaimed the Gospel of God’s grace and love through both words and actions. He bore witness to God’s vision for humanity, even to the point of death. However, his crucifixion was not the end but the beginning of something new. Through his resurrection, Jesus Christ transformed the tomb from a place of despair into a gateway of hope. In this way, he became the ruler of the universe, offering true peace based on compassion and justice.

John declares that the Triune God is “the Alpha and the Omega.” In the Greek alphabet, Alpha is the first letter and Omega is the last. This means that God is present at the beginning of all things and will remain at the end.

However, it is also true that there are moments when it feels like God is absent. When the vulnerable suffer under injustice, when the wicked seem prosperous, when we lose loved ones unexpectedly, when everything feels meaningless, when we face health issues, or when we are betrayed by someone we deeply trusted, these moments of darkness can make us question where God is.

I sincerely hope that none of you here will face suffering. I pray every day that you and your loved ones will not go through any challenges. However, we all know that no one lives without difficulties.

In such moments, John encourages us to look up to the sky. It is there that we see God, the Alpha and the Omega, who is always watching over us and caring for us. Think about the stars in the sky. During the day, they are hidden, but as the night deepens, they become visible. Likewise, in the dark moments of our lives, we can see the light of God’s presence more clearly. This is not meant to provide an easy answer to the problem of suffering. Instead, it shows how the Almighty God loves us. Through Jesus Christ, God entered into the depths of human pain. God does not stand apart from our suffering but shares in it, giving us the courage and strength through the Holy Spirit to keep going until the sun rises.

The Chinese philosopher Confucius (551–479 BCE) once said, “When the year-end cold comes, we know that the pine and cypress are the last to lose their leaves” (The Analects 9.27) He lived in a time of chaos, division, and conflict among many states. His own life was not easy either. He travelled from country to country, trying to bring about political reforms and create a moral society, but his efforts met with little success. Still, he never gave up on his dream of a peaceful world built on benevolence and justice.

Confucius believed that “Riches and honours without righteousness are like drifting clouds” (7.15) and “The wise have no confusion, the compassionate have no worries, and the courageous have no fears” (9.28). Those who look for something more profound and meaningful are not easily shaken. People who depend on power, wealth, or fame are like grass that withers quickly, even with a little cold. But those with wisdom, compassion, and courage keep their green leaves, even in the snow.

In today’s passage, John reminds us that Jesus Christ, who loves us and has renewed us, has made us priests in our society for the ultimate hope (v. 6). This calling is not limited to a few; it is for all of us. The reformer Martin Luther (1483–1546) also stressed the priesthood of all believers, arguing that there is no spiritual hierarchy within the church. Like lighthouses guiding ships through dark seas, we are all called to shine the light of Christ, helping others find their way to God’s presence.

As we conclude this year and look toward a new horizon, let us remember that our hope rests in the Triune God, the Alpha and the Omega who is, who was, and who is to come. May we live as God’s light in the world, reflecting God’s eternal love and peace in every corner of our lives.

Thanks be to God. Amen.


Rev. Min Hwang
Reign of Christ Sunday, 2024
South Stormont Pastoral Charge
(Ingleside-Newington United Church and St. Andrew's-St. Mark's United Church)

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