How Is Jesus The Alpha And The Omega In The Bible?

Why is Jesus referred to as the Alpha and Omega in the Bible? What does this mean and how is He described in this way?

What are the Alpha and the Omega?

Jesus referred to Himself in Revelation22:13 as “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” The Alpha and the Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet so it’s like Jesus is saying that I am the A to Z and everything in between. Everything that’s ever existed and will yet exist, He is the “all in all.” Take every word you could ever write and whatever that is, He is that since He created it all. If you have a dictionary, think of everything in it from A to Z and He is the consummate of it all as He is the Creator of it all. Jesus is everything in every encyclopedia that’s ever been written or even thought of. He is our all and all. He is everything because He created everything as John 1:2 says “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” He was in the beginning (John 1:1) and is from everlasting, meaning He is God without an end and is eternal, and has and will exist forever just as the author of Hebrews writes “But to the Son (Jesus) He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions” (Hebrews 1:8-9). Jesus also describes Himself 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.” In summary then, Jesus was, is, and is to come (Rev 1:4). He always has been and always will be and so He is the Alpha (beginning) and the Omega (ending) and absolutely everything in between.

Before the Beginning

Jesus was the Creator and even though it was all of the Trinity that participated in the creation (as “elohiym” is plural, e.g. Gen 1:1), it is written of Jesus “For by Him [Jesus] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16) and it is “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever” (Rom 11:36). Paul writes about himself that he was sent “to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things” (Eph 3:8-9). The author of Hebrews declares about Jesus that “in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe” (Heb 1:2). As the Creator we are to “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Col 3:10). I think is abundantly clear then that Jesus is the Creator and so He was before the earth and the universe existed, He was.

Other Scriptures

There are so many Scriptures that refer to Jesus, Who is God, as being the ending and the beginning, and the first and last that it was difficult to decide which ones to select and which ones not to include. Isaiah may have more on this subject than anyone else in the Bible except for John and he writes “This is what the LORD says– Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God” (44:6). This verse speaks clearly about Jesus since He is the Redeemer. Further, the “Great I AM” declares “Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD–with the first of them and with the last–I am he” (Isaiah 44:4). Isaiah, in writing to Jacob (or Israel since Jacob’s name was changed to that) he writes “Listen to me, Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am he; I am the first and I am the last” (Isaiah 48:12). The many “I AM’s” in the gospels, Jesus always takes to Himself so He is also the Great I AM.

Jesus’ Messages to the Churches

When the Apostle John saw Jesus Christ in his vision, he did what we would all do “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last” (Rev 1:17) and then to the “the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again” (Rev 2:8) however John’s not finished yet in referring to Jesus as the first and the last as he writes “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation” (Rev 3:14). Finally, at the consummation of the kingdom of God, Jesus says to John “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life” (Rev 21:6).

Conclusion

It is abundantly clear that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end; the first and the last; He is both and all and everything in between; He is the mighty God and He is coming again to judge the world “for it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God” (Rom 14:11) and that means “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Phil 2:10) and that includes ever believer and every one who has rejected Him in this life that has ever lived and is yet to be born. There are no exceptions. Either you will bend the knee and bow to Him and confess Him as Lord as your Savior and King or as your Judge and Executioner (Rev 20:12-15; Rev 21:8). I beg you to make it be the former.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon.