The Past and the Future

“I am the Alfa and Omega,” says the Lord God,” who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8) In the book of Revelation, Alpha (Α or α) and Omega (Ω or ω), the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, is a title of Christ and God. Theologically, as the Alpha and the Omega, Jesus refers to Himself as eternal. From beginning to end, Jesus has always existed and always will exist. This is an attribute unique to God, meaning Jesus equates Himself with the eternal God the Father.

As you may recall, in posts 5 and 6 we discussed the past in terms of Alfa events. These occurrences were based upon recalling facts in the context of historical events, remembrances and moments of meditation. In addition, they were identified as flashbacks in time.

In the last post, number 7, we began to consider Omega as a symbol or image of what is to come in our future existence. This post and several others to come will expand the various nuances and meanings of the future as a flashforward.

The Future as a Flashforward

An Image of a Flash

In the literature and the performing arts, a flashforward is a scene that take places chronologically after the current action and shows what is to come. Flashforward examples can be real, imagined, projected, or expected scenes that will happen later. A flash forward is synonymous with the term, prolepsis; taken from Greek, prolambanein: pro-, before; + lambanein, lēp-, to take.] which means to take before or to anticipate.

The idea behind prolepsis is quite simple. Merriam-Webster defines it primarily as “the representation or assumption of a future act or development as if presently existing or accomplished.” According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, prolepsis is a “figure of speech in which a future act or development is represented as if already accomplished or existing.”

In the next post we will continue to expand the various nuances and meanings of the future as a flashforward.

Clay

         

This is a current photo of Clay’s and Rose Marie’s home in Rockwall Texas showing the national flag of the United States. The flag is a powerful symbol of Americanism and is so revered and loved because it represents the land of the free.

Without appearing to be super patriotic, the Henrys try to honor it by flying it only in the daylight. They first learned about the symbolism of the flag in a high school course called Civics. Unfortunately, this nationalist attitude of honoring Old Glory seems to be waning in today’s modern culture.

So, how does all this relate to Christmas? Both scenarios have to do with meanings; one symbolizes honoring and revering something, a flag, and the other a person. One is the US flag and the other is Christ the Messiah.

For Christians, Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas. Sadly, it too has lost some of this meaning. Christmas is recognized as the time God gifted freedom to all mankind (John 8:36). When accepted by faith, His followers also received a new life that extends into eternity (Romans 6:22, 23). Therefore, they can heartily and cheerfully celebrate this time-honored occasion.

Considering all, we and our immediate family, Leticia, Denise, and Vonna are doing quite well as are our grandchildren, Rebecca, Jessica, William and Lexi. We trust that you, your relatives and friends will experience a delightful and merry Christmas. hencarm@gmail.com, 115 Maywood, Rockwall Tx 75032, www.clayahenry.org