The Real Deal

He was known by Scotland Yard as the creator of “the biggest art fraud of the 20th century.” John Myatt painted more than 200 forgeries that were sold by some of the world’s largest auction houses. But eventually, brazenly selling counterfeits led to his capture.

One of the primary messages of Revelation is a repeated warning about the deceptive efforts of the beast to copy God. Satan has gone to great lengths to swindle people into thinking that he is Jesus Christ or another divine being. Seven times in Revelation, the devil is described as one who deceives (12:9; 13:14; 18:23; 19:20; 20:3, 8, 10). In fact, his entire religious system is a forgery. Many will be fooled by the serpent who is described as one “who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9).

Today’s text is meant to affirm in John’s mind that the prophecies of Revelation are not counterfeits. They come from Jesus, who is “the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. It acknowledges Christ as the center of Scripture and history, from Genesis to Revelation.

Jesus is also “the Beginning and the End.” That is, Christ is the Creator of all things and everything made owes their existence to Him. Paul agrees: “By Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16).

Christ is also “the First and the Last.” This title, along with the other two, upholds Jesus as the center of the plan of salvation. The true and genuine Maker is also the Redeemer who will carry out every part of the great strategy to save humanity from the deceiver.

Revelation begins with these same titles (1:8, 17) and now ends with them. Jesus is assuring John—as well as us—that nothing falls outside His powerful and loving hands.

Jesus, You are everything to me. My life, my salvation, my gifts, my future—all are in Your hands.

For Further Study: Isaiah 41:4; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:1, 2

Key Bible Texts

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (Revelation 22:13 KJV)