Have you ever found yourself reflecting on the immense magnitude of our Creator God? God is so much more than we could ever really fathom or imagine with our finite human brains. What do we know about God?
God is Eternal. This means that God has existed FOREVER, without beginning and without end. Okay, I think we can sort of grasp eternal life, or life that has no end, but no beginning? That is really difficult for us to wrap our minds around. God has always existed. No one created God, He just was. God is outside of time and space. In-fact, God created time and space. God created everything that exists, both seen and unseen. God is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the end. The only example I can give for something without beginning and end is a circle. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that God uses cycles and patterns to teach us important truths. Actually, the infinity sign is a really cool visual that represents something eternal, everlasting, having no beginning and no end.
Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and is defined as “something that is first.” It is often used figuratively to describe superiority or dominance. Omega is the 24th, and last, Greek letter, and means “the final part; the end.” In the book of Revelation, God tells us that HE is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. In Hebrew, this would be the Aleph and the Tav.
The phrase “the beginning and the end“, is called a merism. A merism is a figure of speech which references parts that comprise a whole. To say this another way: a merism expresses opposite edges and unity at the same time. For example, to say that “they searched high and low” indicates they searched EVERYWHERE. A merism is often used to express the whole range of experience. The expression “night and day” represents a 24-hour cycle, a whole.
God Almighty is the Alpha and the Omega, He is the Beginning and the End, and everything in-between. Like the Father, Jesus Christ IS the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Father and Son, along with Holy Spirit, is One God existing as 3 persons… they are Echad (One).
Like a rope, intertwined together, The God-Head (Trinity) Three persons existing as ONE Eternal God
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:14: And the Word became flesh, and dwelt (tabernacled) among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John *testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
Jesus Christ EXISTED in the Beginning WITH GOD because HE IS GOD. JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD.
John 14:1 tells us that Jesus IS the Word of God made FLESH, and that JESUS IS GOD. In the well-known prophetic statement in Isaiah 9:6, the SON is called “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father.” Jesus, Himself ADMITTED TO the Scribes and the Pharisees who were continually hounding HIM that JESUS IS the GREAT IAM!
Isaiah 9:6: For a child will be born to us, a SON will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
John 8:56: Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” 59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.
THE WORD OF GOD CREATES and SUSTAINS
Jesus IS the GREAT IAM! He IS GOD! Everything that has been created has been done THROUGH HIM. Jesus is NOT a created being. Jesus Christ IS the Creator. He IS the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega. The Bible describes Him as the Word of God who ETERNALLY existed in the Bosom of the Father.
Psalm 33:6: By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
God created all things through HIS WORD (Logos/Revelatory thought). God SPOKE the UNIVERSE into EXISTENCE through His Word, the DIVINE LIGHT. This is something that we have difficulty understanding. When God speaks, things happen. God’s Word is Powerful, Creative, Beautiful, and ACTIVE. In Greek philosophy, the word “Logos” (Word of God) is related to Universal, Divine reason, Creative Order. The Logos or Word of God is the Revelatory thought or the MIND of God. In John 1:18 we learn that the Word of God exists in the bosom of the Father. God is telling us that the Word of God, the Logos of God, is not just His MIND, but His HEART. The Word of God is not only God’s thoughts, God’s Speech, God’s CREATIVE ACTION, but also His LOVE. God’s Word has eternally existed along with God, but is also a part of God.
If you’re having trouble comprehending this, don’t worry, it is because we cannot fully grasp God’s Eternal, Divine nature with our tiny human minds. God exists as 3 persons, unique, separate, and yet ONE GOD..FATHER/SON/HOLY SPIRIT.
The Word of God (Jesus Christ) Eternally exists in the bosom of the Father. The word “bosom” is the Greek word kolpos which means “the front of the body between the arms or the hollow of a garment such as a fold or a pocket.” Kolpos (bosom) is the Greek word that is used to describe the extremely intimate, LOVING relationship between God and His Word. The Father describes the Word of God as His Son. This is the best analogy for us humans to gain some appreciation for this intimate, loving, and very close relationship. Unlike a human son, God’s Word or Son is actually One with God, and yet He is also somehow unique, separate, different.
The Word of God is creative. The Word that proceeds from God’s mouth has the power to create everything that it proclaims. God’s word has such power that when He spoke, dry land appeared, plants sprouted, flowers blossomed, fruit trees flourished, and animals sprang forth.
God not only CREATED everything that exists through the power of HIS WORD, but He sustains and upholds it through HIS WORD, as well.
Hebrews 1:1: God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He (JESUS) is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Colossians 1:15: He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Scientists have revealed how they had discovered evidence to show the existence of the elusive Higgs Boson a particle said to be responsible for holding other particles together and thus giving mass.
What one can observe here is a great amount of precision and planning in what seems to be a purposeful design.
The Bible says that there is an active, binding force that literally holds all the matter of the universe together. THE BIBLE identifies that force as the Word of God. A literal translation of Hebrews 11:3 says, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed by the (spoken) Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.“ In Colossians 1:15-17, Paul also identifies that binding force: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation… all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.“
The Bible accurately described molecular concepts and forces that scientists only began to encounter and understand in the mid-20th century. But then, since the Bible was inspired by the Creator Himself, that should come as no surprise.
THE WORD OF GOD REVEALS
God MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN to mankind through the REVELATION OF HIS WORD. God’s Word is revealed in His Creation (Heavens and earth).
Psalm 19: The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
2 Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
It has long been suggested that the constellations are God-given illustrations of gospel truths. Indeed, constellation names go far back into mankind’s history. The Jewish historian Josephus said that the stars were named by Adam’s son Seth. The Bible says that God assigns His own names to the stars (Psalm 147:4). Theologian Chuck Missler’s video “Signs in the Heavens” details how some of the ancient constellations spell out Gods plan of salvation written in the stars starting with Virgo (representing the virgin birth of the Messiah) and ending with Leo (the Lion of the tribe of Judah). This is known as Biblical astronomy and not to be confused with astrology which is the study that assumes and attempts to interpret the influence of the heavenly bodies on human affairs. Astrology is forbidden in the Word of God because it takes the focus off of the Creator God and puts it on the Heavenly Host. It is considered a form of divination and NOT to be practiced! For this reason, I don’t spend alot of time on trying to understand the Gospel that God wrote in the stars, but it is there and declares God’s Glory. I look forward to the day when we are in the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ Himself can teach us about all of these DIVINE MYSTERIES.
God also REVEALS HIMSELF through HIS Written Word (Bible), through the Old Testament Prophets, and ultimately through the Lord Jesus Christ, who IS the WORD OF GOD, the Logos of God, made flesh. Actually, the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation is the written revelation of the WORD OF GOD (GOD’S SON JESUS).
Isaiah 9:6: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
John 5:46: For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me (Jesus), for he wrote about Me.
Luke 24:27: Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself (Jesus) in all the Scriptures.
John 5:39: You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me (Jesus);
The early Church Father Iraneaus of Lyons confirmed the Biblical account that Jesus Christ IS the Eternal Word of God, the Alpha and the Omega in his book “Against Heresies” written around 180AD.
“Against Heresies” (Iraneus of Lyons, c 180AD)
“There is therefore ONE GOD, who by the WORD and WISDOM created and arranged all things; but this is the Creator (Demiurge) who has granted this world to the human race, and who, as regards His greatness, is indeed unknown to all who have been made by Him(for no man has searched out His height, either among the ancients who have gone to their rest, or any of those who are now alive); but as regards His love, He is always known through Him by whose means He ordained all things.
Now this is His Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, who in the last times was MADE A MAN among men, that He might JOIN THE END TO THE BEGINNING, that is, MAN TO GOD.
Wherefore the prophets, receiving the prophetic gift FROM THE SAME WORD, ANNOUNCED HIS ADVENT ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, by which the blending and communion of God and man took place according to the good pleasure of the Father, the Word of God foretelling from the beginning that GOD SHOULD BE SEEN BY MEN, and hold converse with them upon earth, should confer with them, and SHOULD BE PRESENT WITH HIS OWN CREATION, SAVING It, and becoming capable of being perceived by it, and freeing us from the hands of all that hate us, that is, from every spirit of wickedness; and causing us to serve Him in holiness and righteousness all our days, Luke 1:71, 75 in order that man, having embraced the Spirit of God, might pass into the glory of the Father.”
Iraneaus of Lyons, “Against Heresies”
God’s Word, God’s Mind or Revelatory Thought literally clothed Himself in Humanity to TABERNACLE along mankind. Through the Word of God, God not only CREATES and SUSTAINS everything that exists, but HE also REVEALS HIMSELF… HIS GREAT LOVE, MERCY, HOLINESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, POWER, COMPASSION and FAITHFULNESS to mankind.
God’s Word is ETERNAL, and was with God and was God from the Beginning. Everything that exists was created THROUGH HIM. However, at a particular point in time, at the perfect time, God’s Word took on the LIKENESS of HUMAN FLESH – WITHOUT the SIN NATURE. God did this to REVEAL HIMSELF to mankind and to REDEEM /SAVE mankind from our current FALLEN STATE. This was the PLAN from the very beginning.
John 1:14 And THE WORD BECAME FLESH, and dwelt (tabernacled) among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John *testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, FOR HE EXISTED BEFORE ME.
THE WORD OF GOD SAVES
James 1:21: Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
Jesus Christ is the Word of God made Flesh. Only through His death and Resurrection can any man or woman receive salvation and ETERNAL LIFE. You see, Jesus Christ IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. Without Jesus, there is NO LIFE. If we REFUSE to cling to the Creator and Savior of mankind, we will DIE. Once we receive the Word of God (Jesus Christ) into our hearts as our own personal Savior and Lord, we receive the GIFT of the HOLY SPIRIT, which is also the Word of God in Spirit form, come to live and dwell within the believer. The Word of God brings ETERNAL LIFE!
Ephesians 5:26: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
1 Peter 2: Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:17: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Psalm 119:11: Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
Luke 8:11: “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
The Holy Spirit uses the power of the Word (JESUS CHRIST) to save souls and then to give them spiritual strength (Holy Spirit) to be mature soldiers for the Lord in fighting this corrupt and evil world we live in. The more we know and understand the Word of God, the more useful we will be in doing the Will of God and the more effective we will be in standing against the enemy of our souls.
THE WORD OF GOD JUDGES
Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. Picture a court scene. This is what we’re dealing with. Scripture is clear that Jesus Christ will judge all of mankind. The Father has given ALL AUTHORITY to THE SON of GOD, and He will be our judge at the end of the age. Jesus will judge us according to the Will of the Father. Those who believe in Jesus Christ, who have put their FAITH and TRUST in the saving power of HIS BLOOD shed at Calvary’s Cross, will not have to endure the judgment and condemnation of sin because there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. However, believers will appear at the Bema Seat judgement of Christ to receive recompense (reward) for faithfulness to His New Covenant. Non-believers will be judged by Jesus Christ at what is known as the “Great White Throne Judgment”. They will go before the judge with their list of “good works”, but it will NOT be enough to save them. This is why this particular judgment is also known as the judgment of the damned.
Hebrews 4:12: For THE WORD OF GOD is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
John 5:22: For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,
2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (tfj: Bema seat judgment for believers, not condemnation)
John 5:30: “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
John 5:26: For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
John 12:48: He who rejects Me (Jesus) and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I (JESUS) spoke is what will judge him at the last day.
Revelation 20:12: And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 3 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (tfj: The LAMB’S book of LIFE)
THE WORD OF GOD IS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA
In the book of Revelation, we discover that Jesus Christ is described 4 times as the Alpha and the Omega, twice at the beginning of the book of Revelation and twice at the end. Jesus is the beginning and the end, and everything in-between. Jesus is the Word of God who was WITH GOD and WAS GOD in the BEGINNING. Jesus Christ is the CREATOR of everything that is seen and unseen. Jesus Christ (the Word of God) is the One who BREATHED LIFE (HOLY SPIRIT) into Adam’s nostrils, and He BREATHED LIFE into His Disciples nostrils in the same way after the Resurrecton. Garden of Eden – Lost and restored.
All things were not only created THROUGH Jesus Christ (Word of God), but they are also SUSTAINED through HIM. He really does HOLD the whole world in His Hands. Every breath we take is because Jesus Christ is literally sustaining us. If He chose to (which He will not), He could snuff out the entire Universe in a single instant with one thought. Thank God, He does not!
Jesus Christ is the REVELATION of God to mankind. As prophesied in the stars, written in the Word (Bible), and spoken by the Prophets, the Word of God BECAME FLESH and TABERNACLED among mankind. Fully man and fully God, HE is the exact representation of the Love, Mercy, Righteousness, kindness, Holiness, Perfection, and Grace OF THE FATHER. Jesus Christ took on the likeness of human flesh to SAVE HIS Creation from the evil clutches of satan who tricked mankind into rebelling against our Creator.
All of Creation worships and reflects the Glory of God
Romans 1:18: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature (GODHEAD), have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
The only part of God’s creation that does not worship THE SON are the deceived and rebellious ones who have used their God-given FREE WILL to REJECT the Son of God (Messiah) and follow satan (the adversary). Human beings have been given GRACE and the ability to receive God’s FREE GIFT of salvation. We have FREE WILL…we can CHOOSE LIFE. Those who CHOOSE LIFE will receive HIS HOLY SPIRIT, the Word of God living as the Good Seed in our hearts. The Word of God SAVES, but the Word of God WILL ALSO JUDGE and CONDEMN those who REFUSE God’s FREE GIFT of GRACE.
Revelation 1:8: I AM Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 1:10: I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
Revelation 1:17: 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: 18 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.
