It is an expression many people of various nationalities have used, "It's Greek to Me." A person whose nationality actually is Greek might not use this expression as we do. This phrase is one used often to describe a situation, a concept, a teaching, or perhaps even words we do not think that we adequately comprehend.

Considering this, I thought back to my childhood and a period of time in which I know I irritated my two sisters, especially my twin. Having a keen interest in science, electrical and electronic devices intrigued me greatly. I thought I had some understanding of how common household devices worked. I thought my sister should be able to explain how a television worked before she turned it on. Barb had little interest in electrons, cathode ray tubes, and electromagnetic radiation. Even if she could have explained how a simple light switch worked she absolutely no intention of letting her obnoxious brother quiz her on it before flipping a switch.

With all the technological advances of the last forty to fifty years, I would be severely limited if I had to know all about how something worked before using it. When it comes to all the computerized devices of our days we might exclaim, "It's Greek to me."

When it comes to the Revelation of St. John and the doctrine of the second advent of Christ, and eschatology many could say, "It's Greek to me." While that statement maybe accurate for some of you I would like to give you a very brief lesson in Greek as we look at a few verses from the book of Revelation. Unless you came as an expert in eschatology, do not expect to go home as one today. By the way, in case you do not know, eschatology is the study of the last things.

On this first Sunday in Advent 2009 I would like to have us focus on these words of our Lord, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is, who was and who is to come, the Almighty." This provides the outline I am using today, He Is, He Was, He Is to Come, focusing on the last.

If you have learned any Greek at all, you may have read about the , and the . is the first letter in the Greek alphabet. is the last letter. To say these words, our Lord has to exist. We could simply say:

I. He Is

Yes, God exists. He is for real. God is now. Our Lord claiming He is or I am may remind us of the words of God to Moses many years ago. "I am who I am." The God who is, has revealed Himself down through history, through Old Testament history. The God who is includes the Son, Jesus Christ, who walked in human history, the God who loves us, whose blood was shed to release us from bondage to sin, who has made us to be His kingdom, to be priests, the One who gave John this revelation of Himself. To do so, He must exist. He is.

II. He Was

The God who revealed himself to Moses as I am who I am, who came in human flesh as the Christ child, was in the beginning, not just before Jesus' birth. John opened his Gospel, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." John 1:1&2. When the Scriptures describe God as He was, the , the first letter of the Greek alphabet, they describe the God who always was, who was in the beginning. Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning …." What a marvelous God, who always was. This infinite God boggles my finite mind. But even though I may not fully comprehend this awesome God, I believe in Him. I really believe He is, He was, and He is to come.

III. He Is to Come

Greek Alpha speaks of the beginning. Greek Omega speaks of the end. The beginning and the end. The eternal includes the beginning, the end, and all that is in between. Alpha and Omega, indicates a God who is perfect and complete.

George Eldon Ladd wrote, "God is the absolute beginning and the end, and therefore Lord of all that happens in human history.…As the one who is to come, he will yet visit men to bring history to its divinely decreed consummation. The Almighty can better be translated, "the all ruler."

In the previous verses John was describing Jesus Christ, then we come to verse 7.

Behold He is coming with the clouds and every eyes shall see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. Even so. Amen.

Both the Old and New testaments are filled with promises of Jesus' coming again.

• Over 1800 reference in 17 Old Testament Books.
• Of 260 chapters in the New Testament. there are 318 references to the second coming of Christ.
• 23 of 27 New Testament Books refer to the Second coming.
• There are eight times as many prophesies of Jesus' second advent than the first advent. We celebrate advent because Jesus did in fact come to Bethlehem and He is coming again.

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