Alpha & Omega

What comes to mind when you think of first and last? I think of a competition. I think of a winner and one or more losers. I think of winning a poetry contest in middle school, and I think of my San Diego Padres losing twice in the World Series. Our human nature is to consider first as good and last as bad, but God’s perspective is vastly different from ours.

This week as we continue meditating on the different names of Jesus, we will study His title of Alpha and Omega.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”[1]

Revelation 22:13

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”[2]

Revelation 1:8

And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.[3]

Revelation 21:6

We are going to dive into Greek a bit today, but I promise it won’t be too painful. Alpha (A) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Alpha is used to represent the first or the beginning. Jesus is first because He was before all things. He is the Creator.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.[4]

Colossians 1:15-17

Jesus is “The firstborn of all creation.” We usually think of firstborn in a chronological way like a firstborn child. By this definition, Jesus would be a created being and not God. Jesus can’t be created and be the Creator (verse 16). If being the first created is what Paul was conveying, he would be agreeing with the heretics of his day. Paul is speaking to Jesus’ preeminence (supremacy) and right of inheritance over all of creation. Jesus existed before creation, and He is exalted above it.

Verse 16 starts with For (or because). Jesus is preeminent over creation because He is the One who did the creating. Everything that is and has ever been was created by Jesus.

Omega (Ω) is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. Omega is used to represent the last or the end. Jesus will accomplish all that God has purposed. The new heaven and earth, the final judgement, eternal life – Jesus will bring about all these things. This life is not the end. Satan’s little victories this side of heaven are not the end. Your pain and suffering are not the end. Jesus and His accomplished will are the end.

In Revelation 1:8 (as well as Isaiah 41:4), Alpha and Omega pertain to God the Father. The use of this title by Jesus in Revelation 22:13 confirms His deity. Jesus is Alpha and Omega because He is God.

This title of Alpha and Omega is used four times in Revelation. It conveys the Father’s and Jesus’ sovereignty, transcendence, omnipotence, immutability, preeminence, and eternality (who was, and who is, and who is to come). Jesus is outside of time. Creation would not and cannot exist apart from Him.

In 1:8, the title of Alpha and Omega sets the tone for the book of Revelation. God is the beginning and the end. With all the things that God will reveal to John in his vision, I can imagine it was a comfort to have this reminder of who God is – that He was, is and is to come.

In 21:6, the coming new heaven and earth are revealed to John. God will make all things new. Then God speaks to John, “It is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” I think of those first three words, “It is done!” because God is the Alpha and Omega. What God has purposed, He will do. Again, that must have been comforting to John. He could trust that all God revealed to Him would come to pass.

In 22:13 we have the final, breathed-out words of God. Jesus tells John that He is coming soon in judgment. “I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Jesus’ return is imminent and yet John (and we) can take comfort because Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. He will return for those who belong to Him, so we can be with Him forever, and for those in Christ, we need not fear the judgment. We are clothed in Jesus’ righteousness. We will dwell for all eternity with the Alpha and Omega.

Reflection

1. Jesus’ title of Alpha and Omega reflects many of His attributes – creator, sovereign, transcendent, omnipotent, immutable, preeminent, and eternal. How does Jesus as Alpha and Omega give you comfort?

2. How does Jesus as Alpha and Omega give you hope? Be specific.

3. How does Jesus as Alpha and Omega instill joy? Spend time thanking and praising the Alpha and Omega.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Re 22:13. [2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Re 1:8. [3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Re 21:6. [4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 1:15–17.