Revelation 3:14; 22:13
The first three titles of this article come from the words of the Lord Jesus to the church at Laodicea. As with every church, the Lord presents Himself to the assembly in a way which speaks directly to the pressing spiritual needs of the saints. Christ is the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, and the Beginning of the (new) Creation of God. This is what Laodicea should have been for God, but she had failed. She should have been a faithful and true witness to the spiritual and heavenly promises which are secured in the Amen; instead, she was consumed by the material riches and goods of this world. She should have displayed the spiritual character of the new creation; instead, she became an expression of the natural creation, full of nauseating self-sufficiency and pride. Nevertheless, if these saints could grasp something of the glory of the Person of Christ, they could rise above the prevailing conditions of the day. And so can we.
The Amen
This title is an implicit reference to the deity of the Lord Jesus. Though the title is not used of Christ elsewhere in Scripture, it is used of God twice in the Old Testament. In Isaiah 65:16, God is the “God of truth,” literally, the God of the “amen.” In Deuteronomy 7:9, the God that delivered Israel from Egypt and keeps His covenant promises is “the faithful God,” or the “amen” God. The Lord Jesus is therefore reminding those at Laodicea that His word is true, unchangeable and reliable (hence the familiar phrase “verily, verily” as recorded in John’s Gospel). He is also declaring that every promise God has made will be faithfully fulfilled in and through Him: “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God” (2Co 1:20 KJV).
When we say “Amen” at the end of our prayers, we are saying to God, “Let it be so”; we have presented our desires and requests in keeping, we trust, with the will of God. Thankfully, God knows better than us, and what is better for us, thus some of our requests remain unfulfilled. In contrast, when God says “Amen,” He is saying, “It shall be so!” There is no doubt. An omniscient God makes no mistakes, and the purposes of an omnipotent God will never fail.
The Faithful and True Witness
The book of the Revelation describes an end-time trinity which will include the “false prophet” (Rev 16:13). He will “deceive them that dwell on the earth” (13:14) and bear false witness to the Man of Sin. But the Lord Jesus is no false witness. His witness was faithful towards God. He never misrepresented His Father, only ever speaking those things He heard of Him (Joh 8:26) and only doing those things He saw His Father doing (5:19). Consequently, His witness was true towards men. It was a perfect, full and reliable witness which could be fully trusted.
This is where Laodicea had grossly failed. The church should have been faithful and true witnesses to Christ (cf. Act 1:8), boldly affirming the promises of God in Him. But she had forgotten her heavenly calling. Material wealth had affected her spiritual health; she did not even recognise her spiritual deficiency without Christ. No wonder the church is called “wretched” and “miserable” (Rev 3:17) – a church on life-support, pathetic and pitiable. Sadly, the witness of many a local assembly today is a similar story. And the saints are none the wiser.
The Beginning
The title “Beginning” does not mean the Lord Jesus is a created being. In fact, it declares the opposite. The word “beginning” (archē) means “first cause” or “source.” The Lord Jesus is therefore “the Originator of God’s creation” (NET). Far from being created, He is the Creator (Joh 1:3) – and supreme over creation!
In Colossians 1, Christ is presented as the Creator in two senses. First, He is the creator of the natural creation, being pre-eminent over that creation because He made it (vv15-16). Second, He is the creator of the new (spiritual) creation, being pre-eminent over that creation because He is the Firstborn from the dead (v18). This new creation is in view in Revelation 3:14. Christ is the Head of a new order of spiritual manhood; “if anyone be in Christ, there is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new” (2Co 5:17 JND). Sadly, Laodicea had set too much value on the first (material) creation and lost the distinctive mark of the new creation.
Alpha and Omega
A further three highly significant titles of the Lord Jesus are found together at the end of the book of Revelation (22:13). Here, the Lord Jesus declares Himself to be the Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. It is the Lord God Almighty who is described as Alpha and Omega at the beginning of the book (cf. 1:8); now that honour belongs to Christ. He is the Lord God Almighty.
“Alpha and Omega” is a title which indicates a “whole,” what is comprehensive and complete. Here, Christ is the full and complete revelation of God. All truth is revealed in Him. As such He must be omniscient.
Furthermore, Christ is “the Beginning and the Ending.” As the Beginning (as in 3:14), He is the source and origin of all things, for all things were made by Him. As the Ending, He is the purpose for which all things were made, for all things were made for Him (Col 1:16). This title highlights the omnipotence of Christ.
Finally, as “the First and the Last,” Christ is before all things (in time) and will remain after everything else has passed away. He is unoriginated and underived. Christ is omnipresent.
It is obvious to see why such precious titles are used at the end of the book of Revelation. This is a book which brings the 66 volumes of the divine library to consummation. This same book makes large promises about coming judgment, a glorious future kingdom, and an eternal new heaven and new earth. Who is able to fulfil such promises? Who can possibly bring all this to pass? Only One who is Alpha and Omega (omniscient), Beginning and Ending (omnipotent), and First and Last (omnipresent). He is God’s “yea” and “Amen”!
