Alpha and Omega

Print 🖨 PDF 📄 eBook 📱

Alpha and Omega

There are arguments that this term, “Alpha and Omega” is a title-name that is used by both Jesus (Yeshua) and Jehovah (Yahweh). So some conclude that they must be the same being. But is that so? Others strongly disagree, for various reasons. This paper investigates, in great detail, the time and events of each occurrence of the phrase. This helps to put the fire out concerning this “hotly” contested phrase with the cool refreshing water of truth.

Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet.

Omega is the last letter in the Greek alphabet.

Translations are: (NIV, KJV)

  • Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
  • (Revelation 1:11) As in the King James Version; “I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last…” However, this phrase is not here in the older manuscripts. It had been added. Thus, most up to date translations are correct to not include it.
  • Revelation 21:5-7 “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End… 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my Son.”
  • Revelation 22:12-13 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

What did the stating of the first and last letters signify, in ancient times?

The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible footnote for Revelation 1:8 and in conjunction Rev. 21:6 and 22:13; “The Alpha and Omega…the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet… (some Jewish writers did the same with the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, [Aleph and Taw]).

When the first and last letters were used by Jewish writers, in a similar manner, it denoted the entirety of the subject or action at hand. From the beginning of the subject to the end of the subject.

  • As an example, before Jesus was born from Mary, it could have been truthfully stated that the Messiah was coming and that he would fulfill prophesy, from A to Z (regarding his time on earth). From start to finish. From beginning to end. Even Jesus himself proclaimed when he had fulfilled all the needed prophesy concerning his time on earth at John 19:30, “When he received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” From that aspect, Jesus fulfilled all prophesy, from beginning to end, concerning his time on earth until his death. Just because Jesus did this, does not mean he is the Almighty. It just means he thoroughly completed his task at hand. From beginning to end.
  • It can be said, with 100% certainty, that when Jesus comes again, the remaining prophesies will be fulfilled, from A to Z. From start to finish. From beginning to end.
  • A modern-day phone-texting example is when someone texts a message with a “100%” after the subject at hand. This denotes that they agree completely or are going to do something completely. Examples could be; “I love u. 100%” or, “I am going to do this! 100%!”

What time-periods do the statements “come/coming” apply that include the phrase “Alpha and Omega?”

Interestingly, only Revelation 1:8 and Revelation 22:12-13 use wording to denote coming:

  • Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
  • Revelation 22:12-13 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
  • These two verses simply are statements made to the apostle John at the end of the first century. They apply to that point in time: The “coming” has yet to happen.

The time-period that the words at Revelation 21:5-8 apply is after the coming! This is very evident in the surrounding verses. Notice the carrying out of judgments in verse 8:

  • Revelation 21:2-3 “I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”
  • Revelation 21:5-7 “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End… 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my Son.”
  • Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

The time periods before Jesus comes and after he is here are foretold in Malachi 3:

Malachi 3:1-5 “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.  Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says [Yahweh] the LORD Almighty. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD [Yahweh] will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD [Yahweh], as in days gone by, as in former years. 5 “So I will come near to you for judgement. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD [Yahweh] Almighty.

  • Notice in verse 1, “Suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple.” This reflects what Jesus prophesied about his followers. They would not be expecting him, at the time of his coming. Matthew 24:44 “So you must also be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Compare Matthew 24:36-51; Luke 12:35-48. (Interesting side point…For anyone who claims to know the date or time of Jesus’ return (coming) is a false prophet, according to Jesus. He stated that his followers would not know at the time of his coming!)
  • Malachi 3:1 brings out that the Lord that they are seeking will arrive suddenly. This Lord is Jesus. It is Yahweh who sends him to judge His people.
  • Malachi 3:2-3 Denotes a time of cleansing when Jesus comes. This will be a time of straightening one’s worship as mentioned in Daniel 11:33-35. After the straightening, Michael (Jesus) “Stands up” and the resurrection also begins. This point in time is found also at Revelation 11:15. As Daniel 12:11 mentions, this cleansing lasts for about 3.5 years. Compare Revelation 11:1-3; Their worship is purified to be acceptable to Yahweh, as mentioned in verse 4.
  • Notice Malachi 3:5 where this judging method is from Yahweh. Jesus (Yeshua) is acting in Yahweh’s behalf.

Jesus and Yahweh are two different entities yet unified in purpose.

Who is stating “Alpha and Omega” in each occurrence?

As mentioned earlier, to state the first and last letter of the alphabet was to drive a point home. Whatever was being talked about was sure to happen or did happen. Either Yahweh or Jesus could use this method to drive a point home. It does not mean that just because they use the same method that they are the same being.

  • Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” – This denotes Yahweh. He alone is the Almighty. Ps. 83:18; Exodus 6:3
  • Revelation 22:12-13 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” – At first, this sounds like it could be Jesus speaking here. He does not claim to be the Almighty. Yet, we see at Malachi 3, that he is sent by Yahweh to cleanse God’s people so that they are to be acceptable to him. He is sent with Yahweh’s authority, in this matter. It does appear that verses 12-15 most likely are from Yahweh. Malachi 3:2-4 shows Jesus judging and refining God’s people under Yahweh’s direction. The question is, is verse 5 showing Yahweh judging directly or is it indirectly through his Son? Does it matter? Revelation 21:23 states that Yahweh and Jesus (the Lamb of God) are New Jerusalem’s “temple.” Verse 24 states that Yahweh is its light and Jesus is its lamp. They are working together. Revelation 11:15 describes the change of rulership of the world to God’s kingdom as; “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” Jesus and his Father Yahweh will rule together, similar to the days of old. Jesus rules under his Father as shown in Psalms 110:1 and Psalms 2.
  • Revelation 21:5-7 “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End… 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my Son.” – This God would be Yahweh. He is the one who has the “sons.” Jesus has “brothers.” Compare when Yahweh spoke to king David as recorded in 1 Chronicles 28:6 (WEB); He said to me, ‘Solomon, your son, shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
  • The term “the first and the last” at Revelation 22:12-13 is referenced by many to Isaiah 44:6; 41:4; 48:12. However, the NETS (New English Translation of the Septuagint) translates these passages as:
    • Isaiah 41:4 “… I, God, am first, and for the things that are coming, I am.”
    • Isaiah 44:6 “… I am first, and I am after these things; besides me there is no god.”
    • Isaiah 48:12 “… I am the first, and I am forever.”

It should be noted that the Septuagint was the first serious translation from Hebrew to Greek some 1000 years earlier than the Masoretic Text (MT) of which many translations are based upon. There is no mention of the term “last” in these passages.