Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega

by Whitney V. Myers

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Nags Head Beach Sunrise with Revelation 1:8 - Photo by Whitney V. Myers

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)

"When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man.  And He placed His right hand on me, saying, 'Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.' " (Revelation 1:17-18)

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Revelation 22:12-13)

This lesson is the seventh and final in the series on the "I AM" statements of Christ.  Today's lesson discusses Jesus' statements, "I am the Alpha and the Omega" and "I am the first and the last." 

     Consider.  Jesus said, "Do not be afraid, I am the first and the last, and the living One" (Revelation 1:17-18).  Consider these comforting words.

Revelation Defined

     The writer begins, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John ..." (Revelation 1:1).  The Greek word for revelation is apokalupsis.  Apokalupsis means uncovering or unveiling of truth and divine things previously unknown (Ref. 1).  The One who is providing the revelation of things to come is Jesus Christ.  The Apostle John is the writer, Jesus Christ the author, of the book (Ref. 2).

"I am the Alpha and the Omega."

     Revelation 1:8 begins with the words, "I am."  The words "I am" refer to the name of God.  When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, Moses asked God his name.  God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:13-14).   Then God said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you' " (Exodus 3:14).  Jesus used the same language in John 8:58, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."  Jesus, the speaker of "I am the Alpha and the Omega" in Revelation 1:8, is the same God who appeared visibly to Moses in the burning bush and said "I AM WHO I AM."  Jesus used the same "I am" language when he spoke "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12) and his other "I AM" statements we have studied in this series.  For more information about who Jesus is, click on "Who is Jesus?" - Ref. 3.  To see a list of the "I AM" statements of Christ, click on Ref. 4.

Alpha (Α) is the first letter, and Omega (Ω) is the last letter in the Greek alphabet.  The use of these letters signifies that Christ is the first and last (Ref. 5).  In Revelation 22:13, Jesus says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."  The language in these verses denotes eternity in the being to whom it is applied (Ref. 6).  That language can be used only in reference to the true God.  "It means that he is the beginning and the end of all things; that he was at the commencement, and he will be at the close" (Ref. 6).  

"Do not be afraid, I am the first and the last."

     Jesus appeared to John in a vision when John was on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9-16).  John describes the being that he sees as one "like a son of man" (Revelation 1:13).  "His face was like the sun shining in its strength" (Revelation 1:16).  In the vision, Jesus said to John, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades" (Revelation 1:17-18).

Jesus' statement in Revelation 1:17 makes the divine claim, "I am the first and the last."  Think about who Jesus is stating he is when he says "I am the first and the last."  Read these divine claims in Isaiah:

• "I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last. I am He" (Isaiah 41:4)
• "I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me" (Isaiah 44:6)
• "Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last" (Isaiah 48:12)

When Jesus spoke to John in Revelation 1:17, he placed his right hand on John and comforted John with the words, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last." The words, "Do not be afraid," are translated as "Fear not" in the King James Version (Revelation 1:17 KJV).  "Fear not" is Jesus' comforting message to us.  We are to fear not, that is, not be afraid, because for those who believe in Jesus, there is life beyond the grave.  Jesus said, "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" (Revelation 1:18 KJV).

     Apply.  Jesus said, "Do not be afraid, I am the first and the last, and the living One" (Revelation 1:17-18).  Believe that Jesus is who he says he is. Put your faith and trust in him.  Receive the comfort and assurance that only Jesus provides. 

References
1.  https://biblehub.com/greek/602.htm
2.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/revelation/1.htm
3.  http://www.ScriptureWay.com/home/who-is-jesus
4.  http://www.ScriptureWay.com/bible-verses-i-ams-of-christ
5.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/revelation/1.htm
6.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/revelation/1.htm