Revelation 1:8

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.”

The scripture says it was the “Lord God” according to most translations, so it is clearly referring to the Father. But some argue that it is talking about Jesus because the context or verses before this one are in deed talking about Jesus. So let’s dig deeper and see if this means that Revelation 1:8 is also talking about Jesus.

In the beginning of the book in Revelation 1, it says that there is an actual angel speaking the words of the Revelation and it is this angel who quotes Jesus, who in turn quotes the Lord God.

Revelation: 1-1
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Then in verse 4 & 5 we see this snippet:
4 Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
5 AND from Jesus Christ,

So it is clearly talking about God and then Jesus as another. It then continues to talk about Jesus right up to verse 7 and so the argument goes that verse 8 is also Jesus. However, it clearly identifies “The Lord God” as being the one who is the Alpha and Omega. And we know that Jesus got his revelation from this God.

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.”

But let’s imagine for a minute that it is actually referring to Jesus even though it clearly is not. Even if that were the case it still doesn’t teach the Trinity. Either way you argue it, neither view teaches the Trinity. The term first and last can have many contexts. I could be the first and the last regarding this web site. I was definitely the first to post here, and if I outlive all of the active members here, then I would be the last. So the term first and last certainly doesn’t make me God or part of a Trinity does it.

However, as has been clearly demonstrated above, it is the Father who is the Alpha and Omega in verse 8 of the Book of Revelation.

← Go back to ‘Supporting the Trinity Doctrine‘.

Discussion

This topic has 401 replies, 22 voices, and was last updated 4 years ago by GeneBalthrop.

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August 22, 2013 at 1:52 pm#782065
michael
Guest
The problem with your answer is that you are taking away the fact that Jesus is coming back, and now stating that God is the one coming back, making them two seperate beings..
When Jesus clearly states in several places in the NT that He and the Father are one and the second coming of Christ.
I use KJV, NKJV, NIV, and NASB to study. These are all translations of translations, so there is possibility for error in your translation as well..
Christianity is going to have to figure out who’s translation is correct, because all the debating pushes non Christians away because denominations cannot come to an agreement on which is right.
Even the KJV was altered and edited..
I’m not writing this to argue, but merely point out that scripture is written by man inspired by God..
It is either right.. or completely wrong. Man is fallible, not Christ.
November 27, 2013 at 11:18 pm#782066
Admin
Keymaster
Not sure what you are getting at here, but suffice to say that Jesus and the Father are one, and Jesus prayed to the Father that we may be one too, and one with them. This is a unity and just as Jesus is one with God, so we can too.
November 28, 2013 at 12:38 am#782067
Anonymous
Inactive
HI
I think and understand that God and Jesus ,are both the alpha and Omega,and so both the beginning and the end ,
but we have to look it from two different beginning and two different ends
like ;all started with God’s creation (beginning);but Christ the son being the first of God’s creation,(beginning);the end will be for Christ when he turn himself to his father ,and then also will his father end to be hostile toward all of his creation and starting to create new things the old things will be gone ,
April 24, 2015 at 7:09 am#795513
DavidL
Participant
Those who deny the Divinity of Christ have a real problem with this verse..
t8 tries to make a distinction between the “Lord God” and Jesus (who is to come)..because to him it doesn’t make sense to call Jesus “Lord God,” like Thomas…
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
but compare this verse to Rev 22:12,13..and see who is speaking…??
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
v16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
(Note: Jesus has angels like God…?!? interesting..!!)
April 24, 2015 at 7:45 am#795517
NickHassan
Participant
Hi davidl,
So do specify who said the words of Rev 22.
Was it God, Jesus or the angel who was guiding him?
April 24, 2015 at 8:45 am#795526
kerwin
Participant
DavidL,
It is a title. Don’t assume only one individual has that title. A individual claiming they are the A and the B are telling you that they are the only one of some group. Jehovah tells us he is first and last God in the old testament. Repetition is used as emphasis.
Jehovah is the first and last God in the God group and Jesus is the A and the Z in the Heir, aka the Son, group.
If I use the argument that the same title means the individuals are the same then I could argue that Emperor Hirohito is Emperor Nero. It would not be a rational argument though.
May 12, 2015 at 5:33 am#797143
DavidL
Participant
interesting to see how much confusion abounds with those who deny the Deity of Christ…!!!
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (1:8)
Who is the One to come..?
Jesus Christ of course…!!
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (22:12)
Who is speaking..? “I, Jesus..” (v 13)

“For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done.” – Matthew 16:27

So here in one verse we have the revelation of Jesus Christ as “the Lord God” and “the Almighty.”
which of course only confirms the testimony of Scripture..
(Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…before Abraham was, I AM etc etc).
May 12, 2015 at 6:46 am#797148
NickHassan
Participant
Hi davidl,
But you taught from scripture that the fullness of DEITY was IN HIM.
Now you say he is that DEITY??

So confusing.
May 12, 2015 at 7:15 am#797158
DavidL
Participant
so you like to promote confusion when it suits your own deceitful agenda to do so..??

How can you be the exact image of God without being seen as God..?
The Word was WITH God – the Word WAS God.
I and the father are ONE.

Let go of your confusion and let the Spirit illuminate your understanding.
May 12, 2015 at 7:48 am#797164
NickHassan
Participant
Hi davidl

“How can you be the exact image of God without being seen as God..?”
Is the image
according to your human reasoning
exactly the same as what is imaged?

So no trinity now?
May 14, 2015 at 1:26 am#797352
DavidL
Participant
“Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” John 17:5
just an image..?
May 14, 2015 at 6:28 am#797369
NickHassan
Participant
Hi Davidl,
Indeed the Word was with God and was God.
But the Word is not God.
The SON of God.
May 19, 2015 at 6:56 pm#797937
Proclaimer
Participant
Yes DavidL, he is the image of the invisible God. That means he is not God, but his image.
If you say he is God, then you deny that he is the image of that God
If you say that he is God, then you have to deny that he is the son of that God.
If you say that he is God, then you have to deny that God made him Lord.
Can I state the obvious? Denying what is written to preserve philosophy is not a good idea.
May 19, 2015 at 7:54 pm#797944
Ed J
Participant
How can you be the exact image of God without being seen as God..?
Hi DavidL,
When you look into a mirror is that you you see? No, it is a reverse image of you. And
if you look at a picture of you is the you you see? …more so than in the mirror, but is still not you.
Jesus is God’s Son and not God himself.
He looks like God because he is “God’s Son”!
_______________
God bless
Ed J
May 20, 2015 at 4:56 am#797961
UMB5
Participant
Hi Davidl
I can understand how one can derive that Jesus and God are the same by using the scripture at John 10:30 “I and the Father are One”.. especially if that has been your understanding your entire life; however it does not say they are “one God”….compare John 17:22 “The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as we are one.” Here he talks about the Christian congregation being one (in what way should they be one?) just as he and God are one. If Jesus is saying here that he and God are the same people (part of trinity) when he says “they are one…than he is saying that he gave the Christian congregation the glory to be part of the Trinity and to be God as well. Jesus and God are one in will and purpose just like he is saying the Christian congregation will be one in will and purpose, being united…etc. Just like a husband and wife are one..You can also compare John 17:11 “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one” Again…One in purpose, figuratively, not numerically. The bible translates itself. It would also be a good idea to research the word “one” being used. It is the Greek word “hen” and is neither masculine or feminine in eithr 17:22 and 10:30. This will further show that the word “one” used here is meant figuratively.

May 21, 2015 at 1:28 pm#798118
Proclaimer
Participant
Yes EdJ.
If my son is the spitting image of me, then no one is going to think my son is his Father (me).
Basic stuff, and amazing that we even have to spell this out. But spelling things out is actually required when people have been brainwashed.
It takes time for the old to be replaced with the new. But they have to be willing.
May 22, 2015 at 3:20 am#798160
DavidL
Participant
t8
Yes DavidL, he is the image of the invisible God. That means he is not God, but his image.
If you say he is God, then you deny that he is the image of that God
If you say that he is God, then you have to deny that he is the son of that God.
If you say that he is God, then you have to deny that God made him Lord.
Can I state the obvious? Denying what is written to preserve philosophy is not a good idea.
Jesus states in 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.”
If you deny He is God..then you are the one denying what is written to preserve your own anti-trinity philosophy..!!
By rejecting Scripture, you have actually created your own fraudulent teachings..
Teachings based on flawed philosophical reasoning.
May 22, 2015 at 3:30 am#798163
bodhitharta
Participant
@DavidL
Perhaps you missed the opening of the chapter where it says:
Rev1:1 Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to shew to his bondmen what must shortly take place; and he signified [it], sending by his angel, to his bondman John,
This says that God gave this to Jesus Christ, what does that mean to you? Now keep in mind it doesn’t say The Father gave it to the Son or anything like that it literally says GOD gave it to Jesus Christ.
May 22, 2015 at 5:03 am#798170
kerwin
Participant
David,
Jesus states in 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.”
No, John says that as part of his introduction. He does talk about Jesus is the previous verse as Jesus is the most important one that comes in the clouds.
May 22, 2015 at 5:27 am#798172
DavidL
Participant
…THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST…
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and WHO IS TO COME, the Almighty.”
Who is this One we wait for..???
As if we don’t know – the previous verse tells us plainly..
“Look, He is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of Him.” So shall it be! Amen”
This must be the clearest verse in the whole Bible to reveal the Deity of the Son..
(Unless you think it is the Father returning…?!?)
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