The Alpha and Omega

"Alpha and Omega" found in Revelation 1:8, 21:6-7, 22:12-13 are the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet which do not exist in the Hebrew text. The New Testament were originally written in Greek, the Old Testament in Hebrew.

From the text of Revelation it is clear that this title belongs to God Almighty.

“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 (ESV)

Therefore, Trinitarians would quote these verses to proof that Jesus is the "Alpha and Omega" then it would mean Jesus is the Almighty Lord God.

Out of context, it seems this scripture refers to Jesus as we know Jesus will return one day and there are a lot of references to Jesus in the earlier verses.

Firstly some bible translation omit verse 8, because they believe that this verse was added afterward.

However, even if that verse was original, we still need to study it in the context of verse 6:

To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood [Jesus], and has made us kings and priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. -- Revelation 1:6 (NKJV)

So in this context "God" refers to God the Father of Jesus, so we have to assume that "God" in verse 8 still refers to the same "God of Jesus".

Furthermore, Jesus never claimed the title “Who is and Who was and Who is to come” nor “the Almighty.” anywhere else in the Bible. There are no other scripture that confirms that Jesus made this claim.

The title that was added by the Bible translators directly below this verse also adds more confusion. It creates the idea that verse 8 should be read as part of verse 7 which refers to Jesus and that the subject only changes after verse 9 where the title introduces a break. However, verse 7 ends with an "amen", signaling: at the end of sentences may be paraphrased by: So let it be

This means verse 8 is already the start of a new subject, in this case he quotes someone's words. Unfortunately John only specified that these words were spoken by "the Lord God" and some Bible translations like the KJV or NKJV even omits the word "God" in this verse.

The book of Revelations was originally written in Greek and because of that God's name was replaced with the English word "Lord", but "Lord" could also refer to Jesus, an Angelic being, or an important human leader.

Another challenge is that the Greek pronounce and adjectives were replaced with "Him" and "His" which in English could refer to any male in the sentence depending on how you interpret the context. Both John, the angel, Jesus and God are all males which makes this even more challenging.

The Bible translations that include the word "God" in verse 8 affirms that these are the words of Jesus' God and Father (verse 6), but the Bible translations that omits the word "God" in verse 8 causes confusion here, because John called Jesus "Lord" in Revelation 22:20.

Furthermore, John already identified the One "who is and who was and who is to come" to be someone other than Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace from

1. Him who is and who was and who is to come, and
2. from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and
3. from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness...

-- Revelation 1:4-5 (NKJV)

Of Whom is Jesus Christ, the faithful witness?

John already provided the answer:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show His servants... -- Revelation 1:1

Again, God is distinct from Jesus Christ. A revelation to oneself is no revelation at all, neither is a testimony of oneself any worthy testimony as a testimony require at least 2 distinct witnesses (2 Corinthians 13:1).

The First and the Last

Both Revelation 4:8 and Revelation 11:17 "Who was and is and is to come" refers to "Lord God Almighty", and also Revelation 16:5 "O Holy One, Who is and Who was" which refers to "Lord God Almighty" in Revelation 16:7.

We know from Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, 48:12 that the LORD (YHVH) is the "The First and The Last".

And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be My son.” -- Revelation 21:6-7 (ESV)

However, here it is easy to confuse Jesus with the "water of life" so that Jesus seems to be the "Alpha and the Omega", but it says "I will give from the spring of water of life...".

It is also important to note that the next verse speaks of the "conqueror", known as God's son. It is generally believed that Jesus is "God's son" and Jesus is the "conqueror". Therefore, these verses proof that "the one who conquers" is not the "Alpha and the Omega" as they are mentioned as distinct persons.

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense (reward or punish) with me, to repay each one for 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 (ESV)

It is also easy to confuse Jesus with the Holy One who will return and the judge. While it is true the Jesus will return and the Jesus will also judge the world, it does not necessary mean that this specific verse is referring only to Jesus because if you read the whole chapter you will notice:

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. -- Revelation 22:1

This means God will also return and live in the city. It is more likely to God the Father who will reward each one as Jesus explained himself (Matthew 6:1-34).

However, Revelation 1:17-18 most likely refers to Jesus:

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” -- Revelation 1:17-18 (ESV)

We know Jesus (not God the Father), died and was resurrected by God and had received the keys of Death and Hades.

However, the title "the first and the last and the living one" is not the same as "the Alpha and the Omega", "the beginning and the end", "who was and who is".

Possible translations between Hebrew and Greek which is then translated again to English:

Titles given to God (YHVH) in context of the rest of the Bible:

However, Revelation 1:17 does refer to Jesus, which only contains the title: "the first and the last". Therefore, "the first and the last" is the only exception where the title was given to both God and Jesus. This proof by no means the divinity of Jesus, because the same title was also given to other human kings:

1 Chronicles 29:29 gives this same title to "David the king":

Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer.

2 Chronicles 35:26-27 gives this same title to "Josiah":

Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the Lord, and his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

Worship of every creature

And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain... -- Revelation 5:6 (NKJV)

Note that the Lamb is not sitting on the throne of God, he is standing in the midst of the throne, the four living creatures and the elders.

Because of Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 53:7), John the baptists remarks (John 1:29,36), Paul's letter (1 Corinthians 5:7) and Peter's sermon (1 Peter 1:19), most scholars agree that Jesus is "the Lamb".

However, this Lamb:

...having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. -- Revelation 5:6 (NKJV)

Trinitarians belief that the "seven Spirits of God" refers to the Holy Spirit. However, in this verse it stated that the "seven horns and seven eyes" are part of the Lamb, yet they also "are the seven Spirits of God". So they would quote this verse to proof that the Holy Spirit, God and the Lamb are one and the same Godhead.

This does not make sense because in the next verse John state:

Then he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. -- Revelation 5:7 (NKJV)

This means that God and the Lamb interacted with each other as two separate persons. However, John previously wrote only "One was sat on the throne" (Revelation 4:2). Further:

• John only noticed the Lamb for the first time in Revelation 5:6
• The Lamb was standing and not sitting like God
• The Lamb was in the midst of the creatures and elders and not on the throne like God

Trinitarians often quote the next passage to proof that Jesus should be worshipped:

Now when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”

-- Revelation 5:8-10 (NKJV)

However, John did not mention even mentioned the word "worship". He wrote "fell down" which is a way of showing respect to a king.

Then millions of angels joined them, but with the assumption that they only joined in praise because nothing is mentioned of them falling down too:

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

-- Revelation 5:11-12 (NKJV)

Then every creature joined them, but this time they gave honor and glory and power to God first and then to the Lamb as well:

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

-- Revelation 5:11-13 (NKJV)

Some trinitarians would argue that the Lamb is worshipped here, because every creature gave him honor, glory and power.

However, there is a difference between "worship and serve" a god and submitting under the authority of a king. God can delegate authority to whomever He wishes without turning that person into an idol. In this case every creature submitted (gave blessing, honor, glory and power) to the Lamb in "the midst of the creatures" who received his authority from God "who sits on the throne".

In the next verse the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders turns to God and only worship Him:

Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. -- Revelation 5:14 (NKJV)

Note that John mentions the word "worship" for the first time when they worshipped Him (singular God) "who lives forever and ever". The interlinear translation reads "who lives for the ages of the ages", i.e. "who had always existed" which could refer to Daniel's vision about the Ancient of Days.

Instead of mixing these actions as one event, we actually have a build up events:

1. 4 creatures + 24 elders shows respect to the Lamb as a king
2. Millions of angels praise the Lamb
3. Every creature submit (bless, honor, glory and power) to God and the Lamb
4. 4 creatures + 24 elders worship God who lives forever and ever