Portraits of Christ
E. J. Davis
Jesus Christ said of Himself at least 4 times in the book of Revelation – “I am Alpha and Omega.”
The first is Rev. 1:8 - “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Christ is saying, He is the beginning and the ending, nothing before Him or after Him. He encompasses everything. All things would go to pieces if not for Him. Col. 1:15-19 – Jesus Christ “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.” “By Him all things consist,” in heaven and in earth, visible and invisible, governments and powers, everything.
The last part of V. 8, “Saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Showing His eternal being, He had no beginning and he won’t have an end. Our natural mind cannot grasp that God always was, but “…God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” – I Cor. 2:10. We receive it by faith. Did not Jesus say to the Jews, “Before Abraham was, I am” – Jn. 8:58. Also the prophet Micah said of the coming Messiah, “Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).
Let us compare Isa. 41:4 – “Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.” Thus describing the Father, the eternal “I am,” but it belongs equally to the Son, eternal and unchangeable. So Christ who is the express image of the Father, is “the same, yesterday, today and forever” – Heb. 13:8. He was with the Father before the world was, He is now at the right hand of the Father - (Jn. 17:5; Eph. 1:20; I Peter 3:22).
The second pronouncement is in verse 11 of this first chapter. “Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last…”. He is the first, because all things took their beginning from Him. He is the last, because in Him shall all things have their consummation. He is the Preeminent One, the Chief One and the culmination. “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” – Eph. 1:10. He will bring everything into completions. “The kingdoms of this world and the principalities in heaven, shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ” – Rev. 11:15. The Man Christ Jesus will be the supreme Ruler of the universe for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:6).
The third we read this statement is in chapter 21:5-6 – “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” He will make all things new, never to be old any more. It will always be new. Again the natural mind cannot understand this, but the Lord verifies it, “these words are true and faithful” For they are the words of the “Faithful and true One” as He is called in Chapter 19:11. We have a faithful God and what He says will come to pass. We can believe it. What is done? Judgment is done, everything is done. The Alpha and Omega is reigning. He is not only the beginning and end, but all in between. He is everything and gives to all who thirsts, the water of life, freely, His gift.
The forth statement is in chapter 22:13 – “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. None can supersede Him in any way. He is the Alpha, the beginning, the first. He will truly be the Omega, the ending, the last. It leaves nothing which is not put under Him.
