Revelation is more than just the end of the Bible. It is more than the end of time, or the end of the world. A revelation is a new realization of something you previously had not known or understood. It could be revealing of a secret. A revelation is definitely a gaining of knowledge you can use to apply to your life.
Here we are at the end. The last week of our study. The omega…the last. There are seven more “I AM’s” for us to look at this week. As we conclude our study together, we find that four of them use the term “Alpha and Omega”. The word nerd in me had to look these up for us. Let me show you a couple of things I have learned. (Warning: This will be cheesy!)
- The New Testament was written in Greek, the Old Testament in Hebrew (mainly). Alpha and Omega are the first and the last letters in the Greek alphabet and signify the “beginning and the end” or eternity. The Greek “alpha” was derived from the Hebrew “aleph.” (Doing a Happy Dance!) The Hebrew name for aleph sounds like “eleph” or ox. An ox is a leader and leads the other letters in the alphabet. (Get it? The alpha – bet?)
- Ox comes into play in our culture, too. How many times have we signed a greeting card with oxoxox? Did you know you were actually sending God’s love to that person? These are Christian symbols introduced through the ages, based on the Bible and the Great I AM. Don’t get me started on crossing your fingers….
- The Hebrew word for truth – “emet” is made up of the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This kind of consistency makes me dance with joy. Our God is a God of order. No matter what language or dialect you speak, His TRUTH will always be the same. He is “I AM”.
From the Prophet Isaiah, “I AM the first and the last” (Isaiah 44:6) to the Psalmist, “From everlasting to everlasting thou art God” (Psalms 90:2), to John, “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), the message of the Bible DOES NOT CHANGE.
This “I AM” is important because Jesus is telling us He was before creation and will be after the end of time. He is eternal. When we see or hear Alpha and Omega (AΩ or ox) we are seeing the “I AM”. Because of our relationship with Jesus (The Great I AM) we can claim the “Truth.”
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions, made alive together with Christ
(by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him,
and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”
Ephesians 2:4-6
As a member of God’s family, seated in the heavenly places because of Jesus, we are in His KINGDOM. A kingdom is where the king is. The Kingdom is where the KING lives. If you have received the gift of salvation offered by Jesus, you are in the Kingdom and the King lives in you. Did you hear that? The KING lives in YOU!!! The Kingdom is not a far away land, it is here now. If the King lives in you, the kingdom is here…on earth. The kingdom is not broken down into small factions of fighters in their own corners doing their own thing. We are ONE Church, ONE body of believers, living in the Kingdom of God RIGHT NOW!!!! Let revival begin with us!
We have received a revelation over the last seven weeks. Now, we have a responsibility to share the good news with others. Listen to the prayer of our hearts as we declare our allegiance to the King of Kings.
Heavenly Father, King of Kings,
We praise You for the HOPE You have placed in our hearts as we have drawn closer to You. We thank You for the great LOVE You have shown us that while we were yet sinners, You wanted us. Lord, we want to let this fire burning within us to be seen by the world. Heal our hearts and heal our lands so that we may serve You. We ARE the Church…Send us out to do Your work while we are here on earth. We are YOUR church…One Body, unified for Your purpose. Live in us. Bring Your Kingdom now. We are ready. We love You, Lord.
AMEN
About Teresa Bolme
My favorite quotes from this blog: “Our God is a God of order. No matter what language or dialect you speak, His TRUTH will always be the same. He is “I AM”.”
“The KING lives in YOU!!! The Kingdom is not a far away land, it is here now. If the King lives in you, the kingdom is here…on earth. The kingdom is not broken down into small factions of fighters in their own corners doing their own thing. We are ONE Church, ONE body of believers, living in the Kingdom of God RIGHT NOW!!!! Let revival begin with us!”
The last statement expresses exactly how I feel after this study. I feel like I have been to revival, experienced revival, and carry it in my heart. Teresa, it has been such a blessing and honor to be taught by you each week. This has been such an eye-opening study and I will continue to use it to more deeply understand the I AM. Thank you so much for sharing your love and dedication to your Lord and Savior through this study. Thank you for encouraging us to better understand the “I AM.” This study is such a blessing!!!
Thank YOU for your encouragement and support through our study. Let me know how God uses you, this study, and the revival in our hearts. Your life is a blessing!
Teresa, this is the icing on the cake! This has been a great study and has made a big positive difference in my life, and today’s lesson is like my favorite icing-so yummy I can’t resist sticking my finger in it! 🙂 I have to print this out and put it in my book. I must not forget that “The King live in You! If the King lives in you, the Kingdom is here…”
The Great I AM is our “A to Z.” He is The All Sufficient One–everything is included!
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Amen. (Rom 15:13)
“Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!”
Bring the Kingdom! Our hearts are ready to receive and to share it with others.
week 7?!! just amazing! how good and kind the Great I AM has been to us along this journey…and how graciously He has taught us through your writings, teresa!
and to finish up with reminding us of and pointing us toward the HOPE!!! what a week this will be! as my sisters clella and coLLeen, my heart thrilled reading of your encouragement. after reading those wonderful verses in ephesians chapter 2, i loved where you wrote, “We are ONE Church, ONE body of believers, living in the Kingdom of God RIGHT NOW!!!! Let revival begin with us!” THAT is the Great I AM’s perspective…may we hold to His vision! <3
You have the vision. You are sharing the vision. The Kingdom is HERE! Love you friend.
ox! <3
Thank you Teresa. For opening my eyes to so much more of the Great I AM. to know Him is to love Him. And that I do. What a way to wrap it up. Hope abounding.
You are awesome, Ms. Kim. Thank you for your faithfulness throughout our study and in leading these women. You are an OX!
Teresa, God has used you in a BIG way throughout this study! You were a willing vessel, and He was able to do mighty things in the lives of others, because YOU were willing to be used by Him! I appreciate you so very much! I appreciate this study so very much! May the good Lord BLESS you in ALL that you put your hands to, in Jesus’ precious Name, AMEN!!! THANK YOU just doesn’t seem to be enough!!! xoxo
Thank you for the opportunity to serve in this ministry with you and the other women. It is truly a blessing in my life. I have learned and continue to learn much through interaction with women all over the world. We serve a mighty God. To Him be all the glory. He is the Great I AM!!!