Question:  Hello again Greg.  In studying the book of Revelation I have come upon something I need to ask you about.  Could it be when something is described as “what was, and is not, and is to come” could that be because we in this physical realm are constrained by time and those in the spirit world are not?  In other words, can God and the angelic realm look over the complete arena of creation including all of time?

            If I have not been clear with my question please forgive me.  I trust you enough if you do not understand it you won’t think I’m going off the deep and.

            Thanks in advance.

            Ron

Answer:  Dear Ron,

            Revelation presents the “was, is not, and is (to come)” sequence in chapter 1 verses 4 and 8 (verse 8 includes Christ’s title of Alpha and Omega).  In this chapter this description is further defined in verses 17 and 18—Jesus is the First and the Last, the Living One who was dead and is now alive forever.

            Given the literary style of Revelation as well as its purpose we would be wise in evaluating any other similar phrasing in the light of its first chapter, Christocentric emphasis.

            We read this same phase again in chapter 4, verse 8, a description of the heavenly throne room and the refrain the living creatures never stop singing, “who was, and is, and is to come.”  Once again, the phrase is a description of deity—as you mention, deity not constrained by time or space.

            Thus, when we arrive in chapter 17 and read of the mysterious beast, and read verses 8 and 11, it would seem that God is telling us that there are physical counterfeits that yearn for power and authority, who position themselves in divine-like ways, but are, at the end, merely mortal creatures.  Jesus:

1.      is God, was uncreated, and existed from eternity

2.      lived as a human, having a human beginning, while continuing to be God

3.      died as a human

4.      rose again with the same human body, now glorified

5.      lives forever

All others—all pretenders—whether they be Pharaoh's magicians, some mysterious beast who exalts himself against the one true God are:

1.      created, having a human beginning

2.      live a life as a human

3.      will die, going into the “pit”

4.      may claim to be resurrected “from the dead”, with another incarnation, etc.—

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht