From The Alpha To The Omega

Issues – November 2012 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Looking To The New Year
From The ALPHA To The OMEGA

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” — Revelation 22:13

Next month we will celebrate a new year, a time of beginnings and endings, or “the Alpha and the Omega” which is one of the titles of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:8; 21:6; 22:13 NV ). As alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and omega is the last, this title means “the first and the last” or “the beginning and the end” and everything in between. It signifies the whole alphabet, “A to Z”, or completeness. An equivalent analogy in time would be “24/7” with regard to a week or “January 1 to December 31” with regard to a year. So “the Alpha and the Omega” is a poetic way of saying that God and Jesus are eternal.

This interpretation is confirmed by the related titles which Jesus used to refer to Himself – “the First and the Last” (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13) and “the Beginning and the End” (Rev. 21:6; 22:13). This truth is introduced in the Old Testament where God is said to be with the first generation of mankind and with the last, and the Creator and Sustainer of the universe (Isa. 41:4; 48:12-13). In this regard He is unique (Isa. 44:6). He exists in the distant past, the present and the distant future, as the One “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty” (Rev. 1:8). He alone knows everything, including the future.

Jesus spans all time and all history. He was there at the very beginning of time and history, and He will be there at the end of time and history. When all of God’s purposes on earth are achieved and His work of salvation is completed, Jesus will say, “It is done” (Rev. 21:6). This is consistent with the fact that He created time, He controls history and He is eternal.

When John was afraid, being exiled on the isle of Patmos, Jesus said to him: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades” (Rev. 1:17-18). He was assured that his destiny was controlled by the living God. Later Jesus encouraged John by the prospect of rewards for faithful service: “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” (Rev. 22:12-13).

Jesus is also described as “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2), which also conveys a sense of beginning and ending. Besides being the founder and originator of the Christian faith, He also finished His work of salvation and is a perfect example of the life of faith.

As we near the end of one year and the beginning of another, let’s remember that Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega. Whatever He says in the Bible about the past, present and future is trustworthy. Let’s trust Him and allow Him to reign in our lives.

By George Hawke

Jesus Says:
“Do not be afraid.
I am the First and the Last.
I am the Living One; I was dead,
and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!
And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
— Revelation 1:17-18