“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. – Revelation 11:17

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 25, 2015): Revelation 11

Paul Revere’s Midnight ride on April 18, 1775 has captured the imagination of story teller’s ever since it happened. And the story has evolved ever since Paul Revere took his ride. One of the famous mistellings is in the words that Paul Revere used to warn people during the ride. Revere never actually called out “the British are coming! The British are coming!” And there was a good reason why. The countryside that Revere was riding through was populated by British Citizens, and they were people who still called themselves British. They identified with the homeland, no matter how they felt about the current political situation in the Colony. The words “the British are coming” would not have made any sense – the British were already there.

And so as Revere travelled the countryside, the most reliable sources report that he told people (he shouted to no one – there was simply too much danger of being overheard by the enemy) that “the regular army was coming out” – meaning that established army, the British Army, was advancing. And that meant that it was time to for the Colonial Forces – the Patriots - to begin the defence of the colony.

What is interesting about John’s words here is that he diverts from the normal formula that we have come to expect when talking about God, that he is the One who was and is and is to come. In this passaged the words “is to come” are conspicuously missing. John simply says the one who is and who was. And there is a good reason for John’s words. He was standing in the presence of the Lord God Almighty, he couldn’t be the one to come because he was already here.

John also says that the One who is and who was has already begun to reign. It is has been noted that John is talking in the past tense. In fact, the Lord God Almighty has always reigned, he has never ever left the throne, not for an instant. The sovereignty of God has never been compromised. He is the One who was, and that phrase is not limited in any way. He was and he is – and nothing else really matters.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Revelation 12