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We use a calendar that has 12 months and 365 days in it. As it nears December 31st, we feel as though something is getting close to an end, and yet on January 1st it feels like a new beginning. Our life is composed of many endings and beginnings. We may live one life, but within this one life we have many different journeys.

(References: Habakkuk 3:17)

44. Verses 9-11. I John, who also am your brother and partaker in the affliction and in the kingdom and [patient] expectation of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the spirit on the Lord's day: and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last; and, what thou seest write in a book, and send to the churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and Smyrna, and Pergamum, and Thyatira, and Sardis, and Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

9. "I, John," signifies doctrine respecting the Lord. n.45); "who also am your brother," signifies and respecting the good of love to Him (n. 46); "and partaker in the affliction," signifies the truth of faith infested by falsities (n. 47); "and in the kingdom," signifies in the church where truths are n. 48; "and the [patient] expectation of Jesus Christ," signifies where there is a knowledge of the Divine in His Human (n. 49); "was in the isle that is called Patmos," signifies revelation to the Gentiles n. 50; "for the Word of God," signifies that Divine truth may be received (n. 51); "and for the testimony of Jesus Christ," signifies and that the Lord's Divine Human may be acknowledged n. 52.

10. "I was in the spirit," signifies a spiritual state when there is revelation n. 53; "on the Lord's day," signifies Divine influx then (n. 54); "and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet," signifies manifest perception of Divine truth, revealed from heaven n. 55.

11. "Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," signifies who governs all things from firsts through ultimates and thus all things of heaven to eternity (n. 56); "and what thou seest write in a book," signifies that the things revealed may be for posterity (n. 57); "and send to the churches which are in Asia," signifies and then to all, who are in the light of intelligence (n. 58); "unto Ephesus, and Smyrna, and Pergamum, and Thyatira, and Sardis, and Philadelphia, and Laodicea," signifies in each case according to reception (n. 59).