A Title of Christ in Revelation: The Amen

A Title of Christ in Revelation: The Amen. 

“The revelation of Jesus Christ…” (Rev. 1:1). John the Divine left no doubt about the purpose of his Book of Revelation. His very first words in his prologue were that his vision was an unveiling of Jesus. His baffling and otherworldly writings in this book were not primarily about future events, or the destiny of human life on planet earth, or all those mysterious activities in the heavenly sphere. John was writing first and foremost about the Person of Christ, and he intended everything in the book to point back to Him. Revelation was a lifting of the veil on the full identity and activity of Christ. It is a revelation of Jesus, from God, concerning Christ Himself. The Godhead is both the primary source of John’s vision and its main subject. Everything in this extended vision that came to John straight from heaven is to be understood through the prism of Christ. Regardless of how dramatic, puzzling or profound its contents, everything in John’s vision is intended to help us discover more of Christ and deepen our knowledge of and love for Him. All these events in Revelation that seem to pique the reader’s curiosity are nonetheless streams that are meant to lead us back to the River of Life. Perhaps it would do us all well if we continue to remind ourselves of Paul’s declaration as we read John’s vision… “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

“These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness…” (Revelation 3:14).

AMEN: A Hebrew word related to the same root as the word for truth.

1. A positive assent to a truthful statement or prayer; “And all the people gathered as one at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Teachings of Moses (the Pentateuch) which the Lord had given to Israel. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, ‘Amen! Amen!’ while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.” (Nehemiah 8:1, 5, 6).
2. This Hebrew word has many similar English meanings; Yes!; I/we agree; this is absolutely true; this is certain and true; this is trustworthy and assured; so be it; let this be true; I/we heartily approve; I/we believe this with all our heart and soul!’ “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ Hallelujah. (Psalm 106:48); “And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever! Amen!” (Revelation 7:11-12).
3. A word of affirmation that concludes a section of the Psalms (Ps. 42:13, Ps. 72:19), an epistle (Galatians 6:18), and the New Testament (Rev. 22:20).
4. An OT word to confirm an important announcement (1 Kings 1:36).
5. A formal way to conclude and affirm a Jewish blessing. Jewish law requires individuals to answer Amen whenever they hear a blessing recited.

AMEN, AMEN: A phrase from Jesus that increased the intensity of what is about to be said; Jesus is saying the listeners better pay attention, for what He is about to say is most assuredly true. “Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, Amen, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM!’” (John 8:58). “Jesus’ peculiar use of Amen in John is an affirmation that what He is about to say is an echo from the Father.” (Raymond Brown).

CHRIST IS THE AMEN. A descriptive divine title Christ gave to Himself in Revelation 3:14 (see above verse).

1. A fulfillment of the prophetic title given to the Lord in Isaiah 65:16, “The God of Amen.”  (translated widely as “The God of truth”).
2. By giving Himself that title, Jesus is declaring that, not only is He full of truth (John 1:14), and that He came into the world to testify to the truth (John 18:37), but also that He is The Truth, Truth incarnate, Truth-in-the-flesh; He is the final accomplishment of the promise of God; He is the most certain fact in the universe, the world’s sure thing; He is the fulfillment of God’s purpose and will; He is the ultimate Yes! to questions about truth; He is the concluding Word of God; He is the Blessed Assurance; He is the Last Word; He is the Great Amen to all the godly prayers ever spoken; He Himself is the word of approval that completes the Father’s plan.

Second Corinthians 1:20: “All of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding Yes! And through Christ, our ‘Amen’ ascends to God for His glory.” (New Living Translation); “Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In Him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen. God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting His Yes within us. By His Spirit He has stamped us with His eternal pledge – a sure beginning of what He is destined to complete.” (the Message).