Starting Points: Revelation 21: 1-6

On our journey through Revelation we have learnt that the Risen Christ is the Son, the Lamb of God, and is co-equal with the Father.  We have learnt that, in his one sacrifice once offered he has redeemed all of creation. 

 We now come to the final chapters (21 and 22) of Revelation and “John’s” vision of the new creation, when all is made whole.

  “I am the Alpha and the Omega”, the beginning and the end.  At the end of time all things will be made new in God.  The language and imagery here is interesting.  The sea is no more, so creation will not revert to chaos; rather God will work with what is, water is the symbol of the eternal life of the new creation coming continuously from God; symbolism also found is Isaiah (49: 10 and 55:11). 

In a direct link with John’s Prologue, dwelling of God is skene – tent/tabernacle, the same idea as is found in the Prologue to John when the Word tabernacles or pitches his tent in created time.  This time though it is in the New Jerusalem, the created world redeemed perfected in which God will dwell among his peoples.

 His peoples, the laoi (from which we derive laity), everyone, rather than the ethnoi, which in a New Testament context, refers to anyone who isn’t of Israel.  Now Israel and the nations are gathered into one as the New Israel, the people of God.

This passage emphasises that God is creator, all creation is encompassed in him from its beginning to its renewal and all things are good in his sight.

 Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet the beginning and the end.  When, at the beginning of the Vigil Service on Holy Saturday the priest says: “Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end.  Alpha and Omega, all time belongs to him and all ages; to him be glory and power through every age and forever.”  they not only declare the divinity of Christ but reminds us that Christ the Word was there at the beginning and Christ the Word will be there at the end.