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(ATS) Creation in the book of Revelation
- Thread starter Adventist Dissident
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- Nov 21, 2008
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Creation in Revelation 3:14
Creation appears for the first time in Revelation in 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. . . ’” (NASB).1
Allusions to creation are found throughout the messages to the seven churches, but here the noun creation (ktisis) is used directly. Ktisis means “creation” but describes also everything that has been created—every creature.
Jesus calls Himself “the beginning (archē) of God’s creation.” The designation archē has multiple meanings—for instance, “beginning” (Luke 1:2), “beginner”/“origin”/ “first cause” (Rev. 21:6), and “ruler”/“authority” (Luke 12:11). To determine the correct meaning in a given case, one must consult the context. The most important shades of meaning are “beginning” and “ruler.” In the Johannine literature, the term appears 21 times and—apart from Revelation 3:14—always has the meaning “beginning.” However, “beginning” can be understood actively or passively, namely “beginner” or “beginning.”
In Revelation 21:6, the term archē is applied to God the Father. God is “‘the beginning and the end.’” This does not mean that God had a beginning but that He is the originator of all things. The same is true for Jesus, who likewise is called “the beginning [archē] and the end” (22:13). Revelation 3:14 should be understood in this very sense: Jesus is the beginner, the originator of God’s creation.
Creation appears for the first time in Revelation in 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. . . ’” (NASB).1
Allusions to creation are found throughout the messages to the seven churches, but here the noun creation (ktisis) is used directly. Ktisis means “creation” but describes also everything that has been created—every creature.
Jesus calls Himself “the beginning (archē) of God’s creation.” The designation archē has multiple meanings—for instance, “beginning” (Luke 1:2), “beginner”/“origin”/ “first cause” (Rev. 21:6), and “ruler”/“authority” (Luke 12:11). To determine the correct meaning in a given case, one must consult the context. The most important shades of meaning are “beginning” and “ruler.” In the Johannine literature, the term appears 21 times and—apart from Revelation 3:14—always has the meaning “beginning.” However, “beginning” can be understood actively or passively, namely “beginner” or “beginning.”
In Revelation 21:6, the term archē is applied to God the Father. God is “‘the beginning and the end.’” This does not mean that God had a beginning but that He is the originator of all things. The same is true for Jesus, who likewise is called “the beginning [archē] and the end” (22:13). Revelation 3:14 should be understood in this very sense: Jesus is the beginner, the originator of God’s creation.
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