Revelation 1:7d – So It Is to Be

by Jon Buck

Rev 1:7 is a summary statement of the entire Book of Revelation. Christ will return with the clouds, every eye will see Him, and there will be widespread repentance as the nation of Israel and the Gentile nations recognize Him as the King. John finishes his summary statement with the phrase “So it is to be.” In the Greek, this phrase is one word meaning “yes”. It is consent to the previous assertions, agreeing these things prophesied by Zechariah are true, and it carries the message to let it be and let it come to pass. The point is clearly that nothing will stand in the way of God’s plan. 

John concludes the sentence with the word “Amen”, praising and glorifying God for the affirmation that He is sovereign and good, and it will happen as written. This section links to Rev 22:20 and forms and umbrella over the book, as John writes in v20 “Come, Lord Jesus” and “Amen.” These events will occur, we can pray for His return, and we can praise God for His culmination of the story of redemption.

Rev 1:8 is a summary statement of the sovereignty and eternality of God. “I am the Alpha and the Omega” and it is repeated in Rev 22:13 as John expands to say He is “the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” These are descriptors of Jesus Christ, He is God. The phrase comes from Is 41:4 where the context is a message of comfort for Israel as they endure trials, that the Lord is the first, and the last. He is sovereign over history and will bring everything to pass in the future. He is eternal. 

John also states He is the Almighty, which is the word Pantokrator in Greek, meaning Panto – all and krator – power (where we get our word ‘Democracy - power for the people. However, in this case, all power belongs to Jesus!). Together the word means God is the absolute and supreme power over all. He is the pantokrator over all of history and the future. Knowing that Christ will bring it all to pass as written, and that He will accomplish His purposes with certainty is encouraging and comforting for us as we encounter hard things in this life. He is the Almighty, the Pantokrator, and the end is coming with Christ’s return as it is God’s will.

God’s plan of redemption has implications for how we live today. Paul tells us to walk and please God (1 Thess 4:1). First, be sexually pure and abstain from sexual immorality (4:3), to love one another and excel even more (4:9), and to “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, attend to your own business, and work with your hands” (4:11).  Paul says to focus on your own walk before the Lord, and to let the future be as God ordains (4:13-17). Paul tells us to not grieve for the dead as if we had no future hope, but instead, have hope! Know God’s future plans for the return of Christ, trust the Lord in everything, and live life now for His glory!