Jesus is the ALPHA and OMEGA – who is GOD – Rev. 1:18

The First and The Last – both God the Father AND God Jesus Christ

Alpha and omega, are of course the first and the last letters respectively of the Greek alphabet. The beginning and the end. This applies to our Creator God who is eternal.

The Book of Revelation starts out with the words  ”The revelation of Jesus Christ”, and the very last things that Jesus says are ”I, JESUS have sent mine angel to testify unto you all these things”. Jesus provides both good advice and warnings from his own heart and also talks about himself as someone who is part of both history and future.

We should not be afraid to call Jesus GOD, because God the Father does so himself in Hebr. 1:8 despite that we know from Isaiah that God does not share his glory with anyone. If Jahve calls someone by his own name (God) and declares that angels will come and serve this person, this is divine glorification of the highest degree. If God the Father can call his son GOD, then so can we and the Bible is clear that there is only one true God. The trinity easily resolves this problem, which is not a problem to start with.

Both God the Father and Jesus Christ use the names/terms ”I am the first and the last” and ”alpha and omega”. Either Jesus is not God at all and only uses these terms for himself to confuse us and to trick us into worshiping him (much like Satan), OR he really IS God. Only the latter option eliminates Bible contradictions.

Isa 44:⁶ Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Isa 48:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

God is not a liar. If there is no God beside him (at least not a true Creator God), then it would be wrong to suggest that also his son is God (Hebr. 1:8). We can only solve this issue by suggesting that Jesus must be one of many false gods (with other words no god at all), or the trinity is true. The last option is what the Bible teaches.

Isa. 48:¹⁰ Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.¹¹ For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.¹² Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.¹³ Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.

Above we can see Jahve is calling himself the first and the last. He claims to have made the foundation of the earth, but interestingly this applies also for his son Jesus Christ. Jahve will not give his glory to anyone else, and yet we can read “Phil. 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth”. What glory on behalf of Jesus!

Rev. 1:⁵ And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,⁶ And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.⁷ Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.⁸ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, THE ALMIGHTY.⁹ I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,¹¹ Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.¹² And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;¹³ And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.¹⁴ His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;¹⁵ And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.¹⁶ And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.¹⁷ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:¹⁸ I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

There is no doubt that the above concerns Jesus Christ. He is the one was pierced for us and he is the one who washed us from our sins in his own blood. He is the one who was dead (not his Father), he is the one who looks like a son of man and he is the one we can expect to see returning in the clouds on Judgment Day. This means that he is also the alpha and omega which the text is talking about. This is a term which applies to God alone.

Rev 21:⁵ And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.⁶ And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Rev. 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Jesus also said “Joh. 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”.

Rev 22:¹² And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.¹³ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.—¹⁶ I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Jesus emphasizes his connection to King David, and that he is the particular bright morning star (also Rev. 22:16).

Rev. 19:⁹ And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.¹⁰ And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Rev. 22:⁸ And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.⁹ Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

Acts. 10:²⁵ And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.²⁶ But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

John 9:36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

Mat. 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

Jesus is often called the lamb, and a marriage supper with him is the highlight for all his children. When John proceeded to fall down to worship the angel (see Rev. 18:1), he immediately prevented him from doing it with the explanation that he is a fellowservant. A fellow servant should not be worshiped, but the angel also told John to worship GOD. As we know, Jesus constantly allowed himself to be worshiped (see examples above), which means that he must be God. Jesus had many chances to stop people from falling down to worship him (getting rid of any false ideas that he is God), but not once did he do this. Jesus is part of the trinity. 

Jesus is certainly both the first (he is said to have created the earth) and the last (will live for ever more)

Rev. 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Who is he above that liveth for ever and ever? It could be about either God the Father, Jesus Christ, or both. Jesus Christ, the lamb, the root of David is the one worthy of opening the Book. We can read further about him:

8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;—12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

The lamb above was apparently slain among other things to get honor and glory. Glory, which Jahve does not share with anyone! We can read that everyone worshipped “him” that liveth for ever and ever. We know that Jahve lives for ever and ever, and Jesus Christ is also constantly spoken about as the one living for ever and ever. Since both the Father and the son are members of the same unity and godhead, the pronoun “him” still makes sense.

Read more about Jesus Christ, who was before all things, and who will live for ever and ever:

Colossians 1:16-17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created BY HIM, and for him: And HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS, and by him all things consist.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; AND WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANYTHING MADE THAT WAS MADE.10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.—14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John. 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee BEFORE THE WORLD WAS.

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; —.8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.—10 And, Thou, Lord, IN THE BEGINNING HAST LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH; and THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF THINE HANDS

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, THE MIGHTY GOD, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

Either the Bible does not mean what it says, or it is clear and Jesus Christ is the Messiah which the Scriptures talk about, which means that is he God in flesh. No wonder Satan tries to fool the world by twisting this important message.

2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.