In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:1-3). He it is who revealed Himself as the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, walking in the midst of the seven candlesticks, which are the seven churches. He was clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and His hairs were white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. In His right hand were seven stars, which are the angels of the seven churches, and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword; and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. Says He, I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen: and have the keys of hell and of death (Revelation 1:11-20). This same God is He, of whom to Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, revealed Himself as the God of Israel: who had under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in His clearness (Exodus 24:9,10). In contrast, the Ancient of Days, whose garment is white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: whose throne is like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire, is the Father. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousands times ten thousand stood before Him: where the judgment was set, and the books were opened. The Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and was given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:9-14).
Christ the same is the image of the invisible God, and the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven (Colossians 1:13-20). For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth; For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. … For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man (John 5:20-27). There is One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (Ephesians 4:5,6). Says He, I am in the Father, and the Father in me; I and my Father are one (John 10:30; 14:11).
The Son of God, prophesied through the seed of Abraham by the promise, was decreed: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten Thee, and, a body hast Thou prepared Me (Psalm 2:7, Hebrews 10:5). Out of Jacob was brought forth a Star, and a Sceptre out of Israel, who would smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. Says Jacob, Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up. … The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be, who would wash His garments in wine, and His clothes in the blood of grapes (Genesis 49:9-11; Numbers 24:17). Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him (Matthew 2:2).
He was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shone in darkness; but the darkness comprehended it not. … He was the True Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, yet the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name, born of God (John 1:4,5, 9-14). For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:16,17). He is the Light of the world: He is the Bread of life: He is the Living Bread which came down from heaven, which if any man eat of, he shall live for ever. Whoso eateth His flesh, and drinketh His blood, hath eternal life: and He will raise him up at the last day. For His flesh is meat indeed, and His blood is drink indeed (John 6:32-55).
Slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, prevailed. Says the Revelator, A Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne. And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb and sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. … Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. … Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever (Revelation 5:5-14).
He it is with whom the enmity between the woman’s seed and the serpent’s seed would bruise the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). The woman with child, clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars, is the virgin who follows the Lamb whithersoever He goeth; redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. In their mouth is found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God (Revelation 12:1; 14:4,5). By faith have they subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mocking and scourging, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided something better for us [who remain], that they without us should not be made perfect (Hebrews 11:33-40).
Thenceforth did the dragon, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world, stand before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her Child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her Child was caught up unto God, and to His throne. Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:4-12, 17).
The Lamb of God is the Lion of Judah, and the Son of God is the Son of man. Fear God and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters (Revelation 14:6).
