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Scripture
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1.8, ESV)
And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.” (Revelation 21.6, ESV)
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Revelation 22.13, ESV)
Story
A monk went to his abbot. “Father,” he asked, “do some persons go to hell after they die?” The abbot replied, “Son, persons go to hell or heaven before they die.” Asked the monk, befuddled, “Why is that so?” Answered the abbot, “Because in Christ prior is now and later is now, also.”
Note: The story above assumes a hellish state, which can be of varying degrees of severity now and beyond physical death, but does not assume a literal view of hell and one based on a linear historicism, as a forever burning in fire, like an everlasting fireplace. I would not be a Christian if I had to believe in a God that would even create such an everlasting fireplace. However, the theological concepts hell and heaven have deep implications and are relevant to this life and what we call the afterlife.
Comments
Greek Orthodox theologian John D. Zizoulas, in Being as Communion, comments that the New Testament way of understanding truth appears to contradict the Jewish and Greek ideas of truth. The New Testament way is Christological. Zizoulas remarks, “By referring to Christ as the Alpha and Omega of history [First and Last…], the New Testament has transformed radically the linear historicism of Hebrew thought, since in a certain way the end of history in Christ becomes already present here and now.” This means that the Hebrew idea is to anticipate the Kingdom of Heaven, or a Paradise yet to be, while the New Testament idea is that in the Word that which could be anticipated is already here, now. Likewise, while the Greeks tended to remove truth from history, Christology embeds truth in history. However, within the history, even now, is that for which the Hebrews longed for. In Christ the fullness of what is to come is present as regards all the intents of the Divine for Creation, you, and me. How that is, is part of the Mystery of our faith, a Mystery that leads us more to wonderment than to answers.
Reflection
How might one live in hell now?
How might one live in heaven now?
How might hell and heaven point to present and future states?
What is meant by linear view of history?
What evidence do you see that many Christians follow a Hebrew view of history rather than a Christological view of history?
How might a Christian have a Greek view of history, as pointed to by Zizoulas, rather than a Christological one?
Did Jesus point to a spiritual reality all round and within us or one we are to wait for at the end of life or history? Did he, also, point to a future fulfillment? Explain.
Consider, if you are not already, sponsoring a child through Compassion International. You can find out more about Compassion International by going to www.compassion.net to read about sponsoring, in the name of Jesus, children living in poverty. Thanks! Brian K. Wilcox
To contact Brian, write briankwilcox@comcast.net .
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