Revelation 3:14
Revelation 3:14
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
Question: What did Jesus mean when He said that He was “the beginning of the creation of God”?
Answer: The Jehovah’s Witnesses of the Watch Tower Society believe that it means that Jesus was the first of God’s creations, that is, His first created angel. Others say that this really means that Jesus is the beginner, rather than the beginning, of God’s creations, as the Creator. However, there is a way to know what this means from the context of Revelation.
The Watchtower states: “Some take the view that what is meant is that the Son was ‘the beginner of God’s creation,’ that he was its ‘ultimate source.’ But Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon lists ‘beginning’ as its first meaning of ar×khe’. (Oxford, 1968, p.252) The logical conclusion is that the one being quoted at Revelation 3:14 is a creation, the first of God’s creations, that he had a beginning.” (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1989, p.409, emphasis mine)
The Watchtower states: “‘Beginning’ [Greek, ar×khe’] cannot rightly be interpreted to mean that Jesus was the ‘beginner’ of God’s creation. In his Bible writings, John uses various forms of the Greek word ar×khe’ more than 20 times, and these always have the common meaning of ‘beginning.’ Yes, Jesus was created by God as the beginning of God’s invisible creations.” (Should You Believe in the Trinity?, 1989, p.14, emphasis mine)
The book of Revelation is somewhat of a mystery book presenting many puzzles with embedded secrets. The book of Revelation tells you exactly what Revelation 3:14 means. For instance, what do you notice about Jesus’ messages to the churches in chapter’s 2 and 3? Isn’t there a certain form to it? In each message Jesus says: “And to the angel of the church in [such and such], write: ‘[the One who is such and such],’ says [this].” Each time when Jesus describes Himself as ‘[the One who is such and such],’ He consistently quotes from one of His own descriptions found somewhere in the first chapter, as far back as the introduction. Although the quoted descriptions may be worded slightly different, each still carries the same meaning. Consider each example:
It’s the same with each address, and Revelation 3:14 is no exception. However, let’s go through each address:
What does all this mean? It means that “the Amen” of Revelation 3:14 is linked to “Jesus Christ” of Revelation 1:5, that “the faithful and true witness” of Revelation 3:14 is linked to “the faithful witness” of Revelation 1:5, and that “the beginning of God’s creation” of Revelation 3:14 is linked to “the first-born of the dead” and “the ruler of the kings of the earth” of Revelation 1:5.
Question: But how is that? How is “the beginning of God’s creation” linked to “the first-born of the dead” and “the ruler of the kings of the earth”?
Answer: “He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.” (Colossians 1:18) Jesus is the first to rise from the dead, to first to receive the new, never-dying resurrection body. At Colossians 1:15, the “first-born of all creation” refers to Jesus being the “heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:3), while at Colossians 1:18, the “first-born of the dead” refers to Jesus being the first to rise from the dead (Acts 26:23), that is, the first the first fruits of those that sleep (1st Corinthians 15:20), to receive the new, never-dying resurrection body. (1st Timothy 6:14-16)
Therefore, “the beginning of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14) is linked either to Jesus being the “ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5), as the “first-born of all creation” (Colossians 1:15) as the “heir of all creation” (Hebrews 1:3), or as being the “beginning” of the “first-born of the dead.” (Colossians 1:18)
Revelation 2:1 (Message to Ephesus)
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this....”
Revelation 1:12-13, 16 (Vision of Jesus)
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. ... In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
Revelation 1:8, 17-18 (Vision of Jesus)
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” ... When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.”
Revelation 2:8 (Message to Smyrna)
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this....”
Revelation 1:16 (Vision of Jesus)
“In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.”
Revelation 2:12 (Message to Pergamum)
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this....”
Revelation 2:18 (Message to Thyatira)
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this....”
Revelation 1:14-15 (Vision of Jesus)
“His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.”
Revelation 1:4, 16 (Vision of Jesus)
“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne. ... In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.”
Revelation 3:1 (Message to Sardis)
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this....”
Revelation 1:8, 17-18 (Vision of Jesus)
“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’ ... When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.’”
Revelation 3:7 (Philadelphia)
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this....”
Revelation 1:5 (Vision of Jesus)
“...and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.”
Revelation 3:14 (Laodicea)
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this.....”
