Connect Isaiah 48:12 with Revelation 1:8; how do both affirm God's sovereignty? Setting the Scene • Isaiah 48:12 — “Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I have called: I am He; I am the first and I am the last.” • Revelation 1:8 — “ ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.’ ” The Divine Self-Identification • “First and Last” (Isaiah) = “Alpha and Omega” (Revelation). • Both titles stake an unchallengeable claim: the LORD alone spans every moment from beginning to end. • Exodus 3:14; Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; Revelation 1:17-18; 22:13 repeat the same theme—God simply “is.” Alpha and Omega—First and Last • Alpha (Α) = first letter of Greek alphabet; Omega (Ω) = last. • “First and Last” in Hebrew thought points to origin and completion. • Together they announce: God wrote the opening chapter, authors every line in between, and pens the final sentence. Sovereignty Unveiled • Absolute rule over TIME – “who is and was and is to come” (Revelation 1:8). – Hebrews 13:8; Colossians 1:17. • Absolute rule over HISTORY – He called Israel, directed exile, promised restoration (Isaiah 48 context). – Ephesians 1:11—“works out everything by the counsel of His will.” • Absolute rule over SALVATION – The same voice in Revelation is the risen Christ (Revelation 1:17-18), proving deity and authority to redeem. – Isaiah 48:17 couples “I am the LORD your Redeemer” with “First and Last.” Why This Matters Today • Confidence: The God who began creation holds the last word on current events. • Stability: His unchanging nature steadies believers when cultures shift. • Worship: Titles that belong only to God are spoken by Jesus, calling for wholehearted adoration of the Son. • Obedience: If He reigns from start to finish, every moment in between is His rightful domain—including our decisions, relationships, and service. |
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