ALPHA AND OMEGA This phrase "ALPHA AND OMEGA" is used four times in the Bible and all four are found in the book of Revelation. The purpose of this study is to find if these verses prove without a doubt that Jesus IS God Almighty, one and the same with the Father. Please keep in mind that IF these verse do in fact teach that Jesus IS Almighty God, then this would NOT prove the DOCTRINE of the trinity, but would rather be more supportive of the false doctrine of ONENESS which teaches that Jesus IS the FATHER. Let us begin this study in God's word by reading Revelation 1:8 which says, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, SAYS the Lord, which is, which was, and which is to come, THE ALMIGHTY.” The word of God makes it perfectly clear that the one speaking and saying that he is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending is the Lord God Almighty. We know this again by comparing scripture with scripture. Take a look at the last part of Revelation 4:8 which says,
".....Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, which is, and which is to come."
The phase or words "which was, which is, and which is to come" always refer to Almighty God the Father in the word of God.
The next time this phrase containing the words "Alpha and Omega" is found is in
Revelation 1:10,11 where John says, “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 you see, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia.” Again the one speaking in this verse is ALSO Almighty God, The Father. Some may argue with this because in some Bibles the words are in red to show that Jesus is speaking. HOWEVER, they are printed in red by the translator to signify that Jesus is the one speaking, and in this particular case this is an error concerning this verse as I will plainly show by reading the context along with another verse spoken by John. First I want to draw your attention to verse 10 that we just read where John hears BEHIND him a great voice as of a TRUMPET. With that in mind now let's continue to read Revelation 1:12-15 that says, “And I turned to SEE the VOICE that spoke with me. And being turned I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks one like the Son of man clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in the furnace; and his voice as the sound of MANY WATERS.” You see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, there were TWO DIFFERENT voices. The FIRST voice that was behind John that was a great voice as of a TRUMPET, which was the voice of Almighty God the Father, and the SECOND voice that was as the sound of many waters, which was the voice of the Son of man, Jesus. You see, the FIRST voice as of a TRUMPET John ONLY heard the one who was speaking, but John did NOT actually see the one who was speaking that had the voice of a TRUMPET. This is in complete harmony with God's word that says, NO man has seen God. Pay attention and notice how as John turned to SEE who was speaking he INSTEAD saw one like the Son of MAN and when he heard HIS voice it was DIFFERENT than the FIRST voice. You may be thinking that I am reading to much into this, but if you keep reading you will see otherwise. John confirms that there were TWO different voices in Revelation 4:1 where he says, “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the FIRST voice which I heard as it were a TRUMPET talking with me; which said Come up hither, and I will show things which must come hereafter.” So in this verse you can see that John is finishing telling us what he saw and heard when he was in the Spirit on the Lord's day back in Revelation 1:10. The word "FIRST" used here lets us know that there were no less than one other voice. The word "first" demands that there be a no less than a SECOND voice, but not necessarily a third or four voice and so on. Again the FIRST voice as of a TRUMPET was Almighty God the Father's voice which said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last.” Now let's look at the third time that this phase "Alpha and Omega" is used which is found in Revelation 21:6 where John says, “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 a thirst of the fountain of living water of life freely.” This verse is ALSO referring to Almighty God the Father. The context makes it clear that it is God the Father saying, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” Back up to verses 3-5 which reads, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and he shall be his people, and God HIMSELF shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that say upon THE THRONE said, Behold I make all things new. And HE said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And HE (the one who sits upon THE THRONE) said unto me, it is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end....” The word of TRUTH, the Holy Bible teaches us that it is Almighty God HIMSELF that sits upon THE THRONE and Jesus HIS SON is seated at his right hand. Please read Revelation 5:1 along with verse 7 which says,
"And I saw in the right hand of HIM that sat on THE THRONE a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.........
........And he (speaking of the Lamb, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David) came and TOOK the BOOK out of the HAND of HIM the sat upon the THRONE."
The word of God leaves no doubt that it is Almighty God HIMSELF that sits upon the THRONE. So in all three of these verses it is Almighty God the Father which says that he is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Before we look at the fourth and final time we find this phase "I am the Alpha and the Omega", let's go to Isaiah 44:6 and take a look. “Thus says the Lord the King of Israel, and HIS REDEEMER the Lord of hosts; I am the first and the last; and beside me there is NO God.” In this verse we clearly see that Almighty God tells us himself that there is NO other God beside him. In other words, there is but ONE God, who is the Most High God. Also notice that Almighty God, the Lord of hosts, the Lord the King of Israel is HIS REDEEMER. So who is the HIS that this verse is referring to? In verse 1 we see that it is Jacob his servant and Israel whom he has chosen that is being spoken to. “Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant: and Israel, whom I have chosen.” Now let's back up in the previous chapter Isaiah 43:1-4 and learn more of who Jacob and Israel are symbolically representing. Who they are FORESHADOWING to come. Many passages in the Old Testament give both a historical account of what is happening and also a PROPHECY of what will take place yet in the future. “But now thus says the Lord that CREATED YOU, O Jacob, and FORMED you, O Israel, Fear not: for I have REDEEMED you, I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you. For I am the Lord YOUR God, the Holy One of Israel, YOUR SAVIOR: I gave Egypt for your RANSOM (the price you paid) Ethiopia and Seba for you. Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honorable, and I have loved you: therefore I will give MEN for you, and PEOPLE for YOUR LIFE: (your RANSOM the price YOU paid to redeem them)” Now Jesus is the ONLY ONE that I know that God gave for a RANSOM for mankind. Egypt is a type of shadow of the world or mankind. God gave MEN or MANKIND to his Son for the price he paid to redeem mankind back to God. So this verse is telling us that Almighty God is the Lord God and SAVIOR of Jesus, and that Almighty God the Father CREATED and FORMED Jesus. Then the word goes on and says that God Almighty gave Egypt, which is to say the world or all of mankind in return for Jesus being a RANSOM. Jesus gave HIS LIFE in return for our freedom from Satan. Jesus set the captive free by his RANSOM, his death and resurrection. God prophesies and says, I will give MEN for you, speaking of Jesus his SON, and PEOPLE for YOUR LIFE. Jacob and Israel are types and shadows of Jesus. Now with this in mind let's take a look at the last or fourth time the phrase "I am the Alpha and Omega" occurs in the Bible. Look at Revelation 22:12, 13 which says, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” It seems pretty clear that this is Jesus speaking here, saying that he is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. But just because Jesus says these words which Almighty God says about himself prove that Jesus is Almighty God and that the Son the Father are one and the SAME? Those that teach the trinity and that Jesus is God claim that this verse definitely shows that Jesus and God the Father are one and the SAME, because Jesus says, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." which is the same thing the Father says of himself.
If one is to accept this deduction and line of REASONING as being the ONLY way to interpret this verse then they must THROW OUT all the other verses of the Bible that clearly show that Jesus is the SON of God and NOT Almighty God HIMSELF. Jesus was, is and ever shall be UNDER Almighty God the Father and SUBJECT to his God his Father.
Now if my father were to say “I am a carpenter” and then me also being a carpenter would say the same thing, “I am a carpenter” does this make me and my father to be one and the SAME person or being? Obviously, NO it does not. Neither does this verse prove that Jesus is God just because he say the same words as his Father. Especially in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of God, we can plainly see that this is NOT the case. And AGAIN, IF Jesus simply saying these words, I am ALPHA and OMEGA which are the same words that Almighty God also spoke, IF just saying these words were to make Jesus to BE ALMIGHTY God, then this would support the false ONENESS DOCTRINE more so that the doctrine of the trinity which teaches that Jesus is NOT the Father. Now it may be interpreted that Jesus is speaking here in behalf of his Father. It may be that BOTH the Father and Jesus are speaking in this verse, where Jesus is speaking first by saying, "Behold I come quickly, and then Almighty God the Father finishes the verse by saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending." You see, when Jesus comes again Almighty God the Father is coming with him, or more precisely Almighty God the Father is BRINGING his SON, Jesus WITH him. The reason I say that it may be that Jesus is speaking for God the Father when he said “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last,” is because of the very next verse. Again taking in account the CONTEXT. Revelation 22:14 which says, “Blessed are they that do HIS commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates of the city.” If Jesus were truly God as some falsely teach, then he would have said, “Blessed are they that do MY commandments.” So it is my conclusion that just because Jesus seems to say of himself that he is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last does NOT prove that he is God, being FULLY God in the flesh and the one TRUE God, Almighty God the Father. Even IF the word of God clearly shows that Jesus says he is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last it would still have to be ASSUMED that Jesus and the God the Father are one and the same on the basis that they both said they were Alpha and Omega. However in doing this, I again say that one would have to IGNORE the rest of the word of God that CLEARLY and without a doubt teaches us that Jesus is God's SON and the Son of MAN. These scriptures that clearly show Jesus himself calling Almighty God the Father HIS GOD simply CANNOT be interpreted any other way.
But rather on the other hand EVERY verse that is used by those that teach the trinity and that Jesus is God can be interpreted in another way.
Whereas there are multiple verses the CLEARLY and PLAINLY show that Jesus is the SON of God, the Son of MAN, the Christ or anointed one, that he could do nothing of himself, where he did not know the day or the hour, but God the Father knew, that he was the servant of God, a fellow servant with us, our brother, that he had a will of his own that was different from his Father, that he was tempted whereas God cannot be tempted, and many many more plainly stated facts that without a doubt prove that Jesus was not, is not, nor ever shall be God or even equal with HIS God and Father. And NOT ONE, NO NOT ONE that clearly and plainly states that Jesus IS the ONE TRUE and ALMIGHTY God.
Please read the quick list of reasons why Jesus is not God entitled “19 THINGS TO PONDER ABOUT JESUS” and the other following studies which deal with all the WHOLE word of God and not just a few vague isolated verses:
Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you seek to know the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God. Yours in Christ Jesus, Now and forever, Mark. RETURN TO HOMEPAGE AT |