The names of Jesus in the Book of Revelation – Part 15

Those who practise falsehood are mentioned three times: (1) All liars “shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone” (Rev 21:8); (2) those who “practise a lie” will not enter God’s eternal city (Rev 21:27); (3) those who love and practise falsehood will be outside God’s eternal kingdom. Lying is the last sin condemned in the Bible, possibly because it was a lie that brought the fall of the human race (Gen 3:1-5; cf. John 8:44). Let these solemn words be a warning to all, who believe that God tolerates lying and deceit. (12) “The Amen” (Rev 3:14)

“‘These things says the Amen.” (Rev 3:14)

“The Amen,” “Amen” is a Hebrew word meaning “surely” or “truly.” In the Gospels, Jesus used the word most often to introduce an important saying, and it draws attention to His divine authority. Paul often used it at the close of a prayer. He also used it to emphasise that the promises of God are “Yea” in Christ (2 Cor 1:20). To the church in Laodicea, Jesus called Him “the Amen, the faithful and true witness.” This reflects Is 65:16, “the God of truth [Heb amen].” Jesus as “the” Amen guarantees the truth of God’s promises—promises that are still available to us today.

AMEN is Transliteration of Hebrew word signifying something as certain, sure and valid, truthful and faithful. It is sometimes translated “so be it.” In the OT, it is used to show acceptance of the validity of a curse or an oath (Num 5:22; Deut 27:15-26; Jer 11:5), to indicate acceptance of a good message (Jer 28:6), and to join in a doxology in a worship setting to affirm what has been said or prayed (1 Chron 16:36; Neh 8:6; Ps. 106:48). “Amen” may confirm what already is, or it may indicate a hope for something desired. In Jewish prayer “amen” comes at the end as an affirmative response to a statement or wish made by others, and is so used in the NT epistles (Rom. 1:25; 11:36; 15:33; 1 Cor. 16:24; Gal. 1:5; Eph. 3:21; Phil. 4:20). Paul ended some of his letters with “amen” (Rom. 16:27; Gal. 6: 18). Ancient authorities added “amen” in other letters, but translations reflect this only in their notes.

In the Gospels, Jesus used “amen” to affirm the truth of His own statements. English translations often use “verily,” “truly,” “I tell you the truth” to translate Jesus’ “amen.” He never said it at the end of a statement but always at the beginning: “Amen, I say to you” (Matt. 5:18; 16:28; Mark 8:12; 11:23; Luke 4:24; 21:32; John 1:51; 5:19). In John’s Gospel Jesus said “Amen, amen.” That Jesus prefaced His own words with “amen” is especially important, for He affirmed that the kingdom of God is bound up with His own person and emphasised the authority of what He said.

Jesus is called “the Amen” in Rev. 3:14, meaning that He Himself is the reliable and true witness of God. Perhaps the writer had in mind Isa. 65:16 where the Hebrew says “God of Amen.”

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.” (Rev 3:14)

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Gen 1:1)
See the discourse on Jesus is called the “Creator” in the subsequent discourse.

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