the ALPHA AND OMEGA
The title the Alpha and the Omega does share a similarity to the titles the Beginning and the End and the First and the Last; but I believe each of these three titles provide a unique perspective of who Jesus is. This title is used only twice in the Bible, both times in the Book of Revelation; above in reference to Jesus; and below in reference to the Father:
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away." And He who 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 the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give unto him who is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely. He who overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be His God, and he shall be My son."" (Revelation 21:1-7)
Alpha : the Greek letter 'A' -"the first letter of the Greek alphabet."
Omega : the Greek letter 'Ω' -"the Last letter of the Greek alphabet. (equivalent to the english letter 'O', but symbolically equivalent to the last english letter 'Z')"
This title, the Alpha and Omega, uses the names of the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet; and thus by implication the whole alphabet. Alphabets are used to express and communicate information, of any kind, through the written word! In context, since this is a title of both the Father and the Son, this title represents all that can be 'expressed' and communicated by the Father, or through His Son Jesus - even the will of God: all Knowledge, all understanding, all wisdom, all truth, all judgement, all prophecy; the whole principle of divine thought and reason and creative power and order; all the Word of God that speaks of Christ Jesus, and through Christ Jesus; the perfect "Logos" - all the Word that was God in the beginning; and the Word that became flesh: even Jesus our Lord! (see John 1:1-5) God was the first to speak, when all things were created; and He will be the last to speak when all people are Judged before His Son Jesus!
Consider the following verses:
"Then He (Jesus) said unto them, 'Oh fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?' And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He explained to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself." ( Luke 24:25-27 - from the disscussion that Jesus had with the two disciples along the road to Emmaus after His ressurection from the dead)When Jesus explained to the two disciples 'all' of what the Bible scriptures had to say about Himself; He may have very well begun with the first letter in the books of Moses, where it says,
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) And He may have concluded His detailed disscussion with the last letter of the prophecy of Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, where it says,"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." (Malachi 4:5-6) (a Messianic prophecy concerning John the Baptist, who served as Christ's forerunner.)
In essence, Jesus was using all the scriptures to explain that He was the complete fulfillment of the scriptures; and thereby, in the Book of Revelation, able to claim. along with the Father, the unique right to the title the Alpha and Omega! Please also consider this passage:
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, who has made us qualified to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. And He has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son; in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. And He (Jesus) is the Image of the Invisible God, the Firstborn of Every Creature. For through 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 through Him, and for Him. And He (Jesus) is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the Body, the Church. He 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. And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven!" (Colossians 1:9-20)
Please also see this short outline comparing these three similar titles: "the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last" from Revelation 22:13.
Jesus is ...
the Alpha and Omega,
the Word made Flesh
the Beginning and the End
the First and the Last,
The One who will give to all who do His commandments,
the right to eat from the Tree of Life!!
Father, in Heaven, You are the Alpha and Omega!
Jesus, in Heaven seated at the Right hand of the Father, You are the Alpha and Omega!
You are my God, and I am Your child!
Truly and Truly, Amen and Amen!
My hope and prayer is that this devotional will help draw you close to the Lord Jesus as you spend time in personal meditative thoughtfulness on what this title or name means in regards to your own relationship with Jesus!
If you have been blessed by this devotional, then perhaps prayerfully consider
who you might share this web page with.
May Jesus the Alpha and Omega bless you with the right to the Tree of Life - forever and ever!
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