Message summary: Jesus is alive forevermore!

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“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living One. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore" (Revelation 1:17,18).

This week we have been considering the teaching of Christ's resurrection in each major section of the New Testament. Today we will conclude the study of this truth from the final book, the Revelation.

What great assurance the truth of Christ’s resurrection brings to the follower of Christ. Many mysteries abound in this life. There is so much we just don’t understand and I am frankly convinced we won’t till the other side (if needed in that setting and in the scheme of eternity).

The Bible records ten resurrections*. Probably the most famous (apart from Jesus) is Lazarus' recorded in John 11. However, all but one person eventually died the second time. Can you imagine what must have been going through Lazarus' mind when his second death loomed on the horizon? It surely was not the same as that of his first death.

But after Jesus was resurrected on the third day He ascended back to heaven and is "alive forevermore".

Let us consider John when he wrote Revelation. Tradition asserts that all the other original  disciples were martyred for their faith, the first recorded being James, who was beheaded in Acts 12. John is the only one of the original twelve disciples to have died a natural death. Although we are unaware of the extent of communication at that time I wonder what John felt like being the last living disciple of the original twelve. Surely his eyewitness memory of Christ’s resurrection was a bulwark to his faith.

Yet in our daily text Jesus appears to him again and reminds him that He is alive forevermore!

A simple chorus comes to mind that some of our readers may recall:

We may not necessarily associate resurrection teaching with the Book of Revelation, a prophetical book that reveals the future. But since the resurrection is foundational to the Gospel we shouldn’t be surprised to see John, who also wrote the Gospel of John and three letters in the New Testament (1,2,3 John), revealing this truth early in the book. Actually the two verses used today are direct quotes from the Lord Jesus Christ, whom John describes as “the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth” (Revelation 1:5).

Theologian Henry M. Morris writes concerning the importance of the resurrection: "The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. Everything else that was said or done by Christ and the apostles is secondary in importance to the resurrection. If the resurrection did not take place then Christianity is a false religion. If it did take place, then Christ is God and the Christian faith is absolute truth."

Today let us especially consider the phrase, "Behold I am alive forevermore". Christ says, "behold", emphasizing that His demonstration of life beyond the grave is of paramount importance, for Christ’s resurrection bears witness that those who trust in Him will likewise rise from the dead (John 14:19; Romans 6:8-9). If not for the fact of the resurrection—without the "Living One" - Christianity would be meaningless (1 Corinthians 15:12-17).

But He is alive forevermore! Other versions state; “alive forever and ever” (NIV) “alive for timeless ages!” (Phillips), “I am alive now and for all the ages - even ages to come” (Voice). The literal Greek expression is aionion to aionion (ages to ages or eons to eons). That sounds like a long time to me – without end!

Due to our finite being here on earth it's hard to imagine living forever, and how that would change our day to day living, or should I say millennium to millennium living. After all, from the time of the Bible history all through the ages, it has been appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment, a beginning to life and an ending. Let us rejoice that Jesus is alive forevermore and that we will join those in the air who also live forevermore.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber