What does "the First and the Last" reveal about Jesus' divine nature? Setting the Scene in Revelation 2:8 • “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life.” (Revelation 2:8) • Jesus addresses a persecuted congregation by highlighting His title “the First and the Last,” immediately pairing it with His death and resurrection. • The verse neatly stitches together two truths: His eternal identity and His historic, bodily triumph over death. The Title "the First and the Last" Explained • “First” (πρῶτος) and “Last” (ἔσχατος) bracket everything that exists—time, space, history, and creation itself. • Only One who stands outside creation can honestly claim both extremities. • By adopting this title, Jesus declares Himself uncreated, eternal, and sovereign over every moment in between. Identification with Yahweh of the Old Testament • Isaiah 44:6: “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of Hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.’” • Isaiah 48:12: “Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called: I am He; I am the first, and I am also the last.” • The same exclusive divine wording is now used by Jesus. Scripture doesn’t allow two separate “First and Last” beings; therefore, Jesus shares Yahweh’s identity. Eternal Pre-existence and Future Sovereignty • Revelation 1:17-18: “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever!’” • Jesus existed before creation (John 1:1-3) and will outlast the present universe (Hebrews 1:10-12). • His sovereignty is not limited to origin; it guarantees how history ends (Revelation 22:13). Authority Over Life, Death, and Resurrection • The title in Revelation 2:8 is paired with “who died and returned to life.” • Only the eternal God could voluntarily lay down life and take it up again (John 10:18). • His resurrection proves He is master over death, a power uniquely attributed to God (Hosea 13:14). Creator and Sustainer • Colossians 1:16-17: “For in Him all things were created… all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” • As “First,” He initiates creation; as “Last,” He holds it together until its consummation. Unchanging Faithfulness • Malachi 3:6 affirms, “I, the LORD, do not change.” • Jesus, as “First and Last,” is the same “yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). • This steadiness grounds persecuted believers like those in Smyrna; the unchanging One secures their future. Why This Matters for the Church in Smyrna—and for Us • Persecution had them facing possible martyrdom; the One who defeated death reassures them. • His eternal nature guarantees their present suffering is bounded, but their future with Him is limitless. • Every believer can rest knowing the One who began all things will also bring them to their divinely ordained conclusion—safely, victoriously, and eternally in His presence. |
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