‘”I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty‘”
God now signs the Book of Revelation. No other book of the Bible has the imprimatur of God. This is God’s autograph. Jesus signs in as God Almighty.
I am the Alpha
The “Alpha” is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. The New Testament uses Alpha as the first in a series with the idea of significance or importance. Secular literature designated Alpha and Omega as the entire universe. This title could mean that Jesus holds dominion over the entire universe. He is the “A” and “Z” of everything. Revelation uses Alpha and Omega of both the Father (21:6; cf. 22:13) and the Son (1:17; cf. 2:8).
Alpha then is a title of Christ (1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13). It is both a designation of God (1:8; 21:6) and of Christ (22:13) with the same parallel (first and last). This affirms the deity of Christ. What the Holy Spirit applies to the Father, He applies to the Son. These terms refer to the eternal God. It comprehends His dynamic activity in all creation.
“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).
and the Omega,
Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. God is the end of all things. God is both the beginning (Alpha) and the end of all things. God is both the source and the goal of all creation. Nothing transcends Him. He is absolute God. Omega figuratively means “last.” God is both the beginning and the end of all things. God’s glory is the goal of all creation.
The title Alpha and Omega refers to the all-comprehensiveness of Christ (Revelation 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13). He is all-inclusive in His sphere of authority and status. Only John uses this name for God (1:8; 21:6). He also applies this term to Jesus (22:13; cf. 1:17; 2:8). Jesus calls Himself “Alpha and Omega” four times in the Book of Revelation.
the Beginning and the End, says the Lord,
The use of Alpha and Omega with the “first and last” defines its meaning. God is the beginning and the end of all things. “First and last” occurs in Isaiah 41:4; and 44:6.
This statement is similar to “Alpha and Omega.” Jesus is the start and finish (1:17; 21:6).
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
Jesus originates and consummates our faith.
Principle:
Jesus Christ is the goal of all creation.
Application:
The purpose of creation is that we recognize God’s glory in the world. That is the purpose of our individual lives. We should make God known to the world for what He is. His glory is majestic; we should make it majestic to those we know.
Dear Richison,
In the face of Christ is the glory of God. Christ is the goal of all creation and Him being the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ who is to come, the Almighty, Then He is God.
MAY I Kindly ask, is He the Father externally God who spoke to Moses in that burning bush? Is He the same God of Abraham who was manifest in the flesh died on that cross rose on the third day and ascended to His Majestic throne? Is He the one who will come again to take us up to Himself?
My brother I was born a Muslim. by God’s grace I am a child of God. I love Chris Jesus as my personal saviour and Lord. It is my deep heart desire to Know Christ, His work and to make Him known.I am a man under authority and under me, I have quite a number of men and women who are also eager disciples.
With Love
EDWARD
Edward, thanks again for your comments.
I would not use the title “Father” because that confuses the first person of the Trinity and the second person. The appearing of Christ in the burning bush is what we call a “theophany” (a physical appearing of God). All theophanies are christophanies, that is, all appearances of God in the Old Testament is Christ, not the Father.
Christian theology states that God is one in essence (that is, there are not three gods but all three share the same attributes) but three in person (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who share the one essence). Remember Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am.” He is speaking there of his deity. We should never confuse Jesus’ deity and humanity. He was undiminished deity and perfect humanity. His humanity was located in one spot on earth in Palestine. His deity is everywhere present, all knowing, all powerful.
thanks. Please Bear with me,when Christ Came in a human Body (John 1:1,14)was that also a theophany? What about God's fullness in Him?
Edward, thanks again for your blog.
The word "theophany" is classically used for a manifestation of God in the Old Testament. In the strict sense the birth of Christ was not a theophany. However, in a looser sense, Christ in His person manifested God personally to men. In that sense we can say He was God manifested to man (not His physical but His person).
Edward, also, when Christ became a man He set aside the voluntary use of His incommunicable attributes (attributes which only God has–everywhere present, all knowing, all power, etc.). Communicable attributes are attributes which God shares with man such as love, justice, etc. His incommunicable attributes did not cease to exist or He would have ceased to be God but He set aside the voluntary use of those incommunicable attributes while in His humanity on earth.
The Father is not a Son as vice versa So, they are different spirit being.The father is above all. 1 cor. 15:24…
herminio, the Trinity is one in essence but three in person. There are not three everywhere presences but one. However, as stated here, the Son is the “Almighty.” See next study: http://versebyversecommentary.com/revelation/revelation-18b/
Hi Grant,
I have a KJV that indicates that Jesus is speaking in Rev: 1:8.
When I pointed this out to a JW he said that that is not true. Can you please help me understand why he would be incorrect in saying that Jesus Christ is not the Almighty. Thanks in advance.
Robert, verse 8 refers to Christ. ‘I’ is emphatic here. Jesus is speaking both here and in 21:6. The references to Alpha and Omega refer to Jesus as being God’s revelation to men in written form. Jesus is also spoken of as the Word of God (19:13). It is the Scriptures that bear witness to Christ (John 5:39). The one speaking here is called the Lord God (1:8). Go back to verse 7. Clearly it is Jesus Christ who was “pierced” (1:7) and the one “who is coming” (1:7). In verse 8 the passage continues stating again that He is to come (1:8). This ties verses 7 and 8 together tightly. It is one and the same person in both verses. Since it is Jesus Christ in verse 7 who “is coming” (1:7), it is also Jesus Christ in verse 8 who is to come (1:8). Jesus Christ is therefore the Alpha and the Omega (1:8), and therefore the Lord God (1:8). In addition, the phrase the Almighty (1:8) is clearly another powerful title of deity. Jesus Christ rightly bears both these titles. “The saying ‘who is, who was, who is to come,’ with the addition of ‘the Almighty,’ occurs as a fourfold attestation of God’s deity, eternity, presence, and power (1:8; 4:8).
For further development of this go to Bass, R. E. (2004). Back to the Future: a study in the book of Revelation (p. 83). Greenville, SC: Living Hope Press.