When God Speaks from Heaven

Three of the many titles of God appear in verse 8, where we see one of the only two times God speaks directly in the entire book of Revelation (see 21:5-6). These titles serve as a revelation of His person and power. They also serve as a confirmation and guarantee that these things will surely come to pass. The “Amen” of verse 7 affirmed this. This divine confession settles it!

First, “‘I am the Alpha and Omega,’ says the Lord God.” These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. We would say “the A to Z.” The phrase is expanded in 22:13 and applied directly to Jesus. What is said of God can be said of Him because He is God. There we read, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” The emphasis in 1:7 falls particularly on God’s omniscience. “He knows . . . the certainty of this promise” (MacArthur, Revelation 1–11, 34).

The second title, “The One who is, who was, and who is coming” (see v. 4), indicates that our God is the eternal and everlasting One. There never was a time when He was not, and there will never be a time when He is not. Stephen Smalley notes the phrase “is repeated from verse 4, and forms an inclusion at the end of the address with its opening.” Further,

The advent theme of verse 7 centered in the returning Christ, is picked up here once again, and set within the total context of the judgment and salvation brought by the living Godhead. . . . John is saying that God is in control of his world, and of all the human activity within it; he is the eternal origin and goal of history in its entirety. (Revelation, 58)

Third, our God is “the Almighty” (Gk pantokrator), a claim that appears 10 times in the New Testament. Nine of those are in Revelation (1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7,14; 19:6,15; 21:22; see 2 Cor 6:18 where it is in a quotation). The title again emphasizes God’s sovereignty and omnipotence. This God has absolute authority, control, and power. He is “in control of this world and the next” (Osborne, Revelation, 72). This is no finite deity. This is no God in process on the way to completion and perfection. These titles leave no room for “open theism” and a God who is not absolutely omniscient in the fullest sense that word can bear. It is hard to imagine how God Himself could make this clearer!

Several years ago a colleague told me about an interesting experience he had on the mission field when ministering to an underground and persecuted church in a totalitarian country. Out of curiosity he asked, “What are your favorite books in the Bible?” To his surprise the answer was Daniel and Revelation. When he asked why, they said, “Because they teach us in the end our God wins!” Those faithful brothers and sisters in Christ are right. Revelation, in particular, teaches us that Jesus is “the ruler of the kings of the earth” and that “the glory and dominion” are our God’s forever. He is “the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.” This is a God who is victorious. This is a God you can trust. This is a God who will do what He promises. This is what we learn when God speaks from heaven.

Excursus: A Run Through Revelation: An Overview/Outline

Introduction: The Christ of Communication (1:1-8)

(He is the God who reveals His will to His people.)

Vision 1: The Christ of the Churches (1:9–3:22)

(He is the God who rebukes and refreshes His churches.)

To Ephesus He says, “Remember your first love.” (2:1-7)

To Smyrna He says, “Remain faithful to your God.” (2:8-11)

To Pergamum He says, “Repent of false teaching.” (2:12-17)

To Thyatira He says, “Remain fast among false teachings.” (2:18-29)

To Sardis He says, “Repent from incomplete service.” (3:1-6)

To Philadelphia He says, “Rest in the promise of God.” (3:7-13)

To Laodicea He says, “Repent from your indifference.” (3:14-22)

Vision 2: The Christ of the Cosmos (4:1–16:21)

(He is the God who reclaims the earth for His kingdom.)

The vision in heaven (4:1–5:14)

The destruction on the earth (6:1–16:21)

The seal judgments (6:1-17)

Detailed explanation (7:1-17)

The 144,000 Jewish evangelists The trumpet judgments (8:1–9:21)

Detailed explanation (10:1–15:8)

The two witnesses (10:1–11:18)

The war in heaven (11:19–12:17)

The beast and false prophet (13:1-18)

A description of the end (14:1–15:8)

The bowl judgments (16:1-21)

Vision 3: The Christ of Conquest (17:1–21:8)

(He is the God who repays the ungodly for their sin.)

Judgment on false religion (17:1-18)

Judgment on evil commercialism (18:1-24)

Justice in Christ’s return to the earth (19:1-21)

Justice in Christ’s reign on the earth (20:1-6)

Justice in Christ’s consignment of Satan and sinners to the lake of fire(20:7-15)

Joy in Christ’s call of His saints to the new heaven and new earth(21:1-8)

Vision 4: The Christ of Consummation (21:9–22:5)

(He is the God who reigns for all eternity.)

The description of eternity (21:9-27)

The delights of eternity (22:1-5)

Conclusion: The Christ of Challenge (22:6-21)

(He is the God who requests all to come to Him.)

He invites the church. (22:5-9)

He invites the world. (22:10-19)

He invites the individual believer. (22:20-21)

(Adapted from Tenney, Revelation, 32–41)