The birds sing. Sirens blair. Thunder rumbles. Babies cry—all of these sounds are the sounds of everyday life.
The author of the last book of the Bible, Revelation, heard a different sound, a voice. The heavenly voice was one that John recognized. It was the Lord speaking. Now the tone of Jesus’ words we’re authoritative. The Book of Revelation describes the risen Lord’s vocalization like a trumpet (Revelation 1:10) announcing something new. The following description of his words was loud, like the sound of many waters in a waterfall (Revelation 1:15).
John worshipped every Lord’s Day while in exile for his crime—preaching the gospel of redemption. Even as a man in his nineties, he ignored his confining circumstances on an isolated prison island. This disciple’s priority was Jesus. Only the residents of heaven knew his Sunday appointment. John worshipped the Lord, and the Almighty received John’s worship in a revealing way.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega.” The scripture’s symbolism of the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet is significant. Jesus is picturing the beginning and the end of all good things everywhere. The Lord added the term Almighty as if the former words were not all-inclusive.
The voice that John heard encouraged him to write to the seven churches of Revelation Two and Three. The voice John heard may not sound like the one you sense. Yours will be a quiet voice, not audible to the ears, but to your heart. God has a way of speaking personally to every individual. God’s method may be a prevailing thought, a concern for someone, or an unexpected sum of money someone else needs. Whenever God speaks, listen, and, then, do his bidding.
