For much of the last year, our focus has been on seeing Jesus through the Gospel of John. We looked at the seven “I AM” statements and the seven miracles of Jesus in John’s writings. Today I want to take a look at the phrase that Jesus is “the Alpha and Omega,” which is found in the book of Revelation. The descriptions of Jesus that the Bible writers used tell us much about the character and nature of Jesus and how we should view Him. Show More
The book of Revelation is the last book of the New Testament and is largely prophetic in nature, and most of it describes the “End Times.” Theologians call this subject “End Times,” Eschatology. Eschatology is defined as: “the part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind.”
Prophecy is always forward-looking; true prophecy is the revelation of God’s will, which He will perform. Prophecy is always easier to understand looking back on an event than before the fulfillment of the prophecy. Jesus would often say to His disciples, “But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them, and these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you” (John 16:4).
I say all this to remind you that the Book of Revelation is primarily prophetic in nature and very difficult to understand because it speaks of future times and events. However, one thing is sure, Jesus is at the center of the Book of Revelation and the “End Times.” How Jesus is described helps us to see how awesome and powerful He is. Isn’t it wonderful to know that the same Jesus lives in us and through us by the Holy Spirit?
The Alpha and Omega
In a vision, the apostle John describes Jesus as the “Alpha and Omega!” We see this term used in the following verses: Revelation 1:8, 1:11, 21:6, and 22:13. The word alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and omega is the last letter of the alphabet. In other words, Jesus is the beginning and end of all things. He was in the beginning when the Father created the world, and He will be at the end when the world as we know it will be destroyed and a new heaven and earth is established.
In the Beginning (Alpha)
Several places in the New Testament show that Jesus’ existed before He came to earth. Remember, when Jesus walked the earth, He was God incarnate, which means He took an earthly form. Jesus said, “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was” (John 17:5). This verse alone should be enough to convince one of the eternal nature, past and future, of Jesus. However, it is just one of many such passages.
Jesus Himself plainly taught His own existence with the Father even at Creation, look at John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made.” How much more evidence does one need? But for the skeptics, there are the following passages.
- Jesus said that He existed even before Abraham’s birth in John 8:58-59. “Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” That was about 1800 years before Abraham.”
- In Romans 8:3, Romans 8:3, “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh” You see, Jesus was sent by the Father; therefore, He was with the Father.
- Again, we see in Galatians 4:3, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
- Colossians 1:16-17, “For by Him 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. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”
- Hebrews 1:1-2,” God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.”
These scripture passages are just a few of the many that point to the pre-existence of Jesus Christ, our personal Savior.
And the End (The Omega)
Just as Jesus was at the beginning of creation and our creation, He will also be at the end of all things. I take great comfort in knowing that when I take my last breath, I will see Him face to face. You should also take comfort in that truth found in 2 Corinthians 5:6, “So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” Simply put, when we reach our end, we will start anew face-to-face with Jesus. Hearing the words, “Well done good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21 & 23)
Jesus is also present at the end of time. At the end, there are two judgments described in scripture, the Judgment seat of Christ (also called Bema Judgment) for Believers and the White Throne Judgement for non-believers.
The Judgment Seat of Christ
The Judgement seat of Christ, the word seat in the original Greek is “Bema,” which is why some call it the Bema Judgement. In any case, this judgment is reserved for all believers and is not a judgment of condemnation. Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” This judgment is for rewards based on how you lived your life for Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:9, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
The Apostle Paul gives an illustration of this judgment in 1 Corinthians 3, beginning in verse 12, “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” I hope you can see that this judgment is for blessing and rewards in heaven.
The White Throne Judgment
This is the judgment of wrath poured out on the unbelievers of all times. This will take place at the end of time after the beast, the antichrist, and the devil are cast into the “Lake of Fire and brimstone”, Revelation 20:19. Listen to these verses from Revelation 20:11-15, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
The scriptures clearly speak for themselves, no unbeliever escapes the White Throne Judgment, but we can rest in assurance because we are His, and we will be safe; our names are written in the Book of Life. This truth should also make us aware of our responsibility as Christians to share the Good News of the Gospel wherever and whenever we can.
Other Names of Jesus in Revelation
In Revelation, Jesus is also described by other names, such as the Almighty One (Rev 1:8), which means that there is no authority greater than He and no power greater than Jesus. Jesus is described as the “King of kings” in Rev 17:14 and Rev 19:16. Jesus is also described as the “King of kings” in 1 Timothy 6:15. The meaning is clear there is no one greater than our King, King Jesus! Then in Rev 19:11, Jesus is called “Faithful and true.” Jesus is faithful in that He will never leave us nor forsake us; our salvation is guaranteed. We can trust in His faithfulness because Jesus is the embodiment of truth; he cannot lie.
In Closing
The writer says in Hebrews 12:1-2, “and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” I hope you can see that we could rephrase this verse as “Jesus is the alpha and omega of our faith,” In other words, Jesus is the foundation of our faith and Him alone. As Believers scriptures tell us that He has given us a “measure of faith” to begin with, and He will complete our faith as we look to Him. Philippians 1:6 says, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
When we continually remind ourselves of the fact Jesus is the rock of our foundation in Christianity, we build confidence and faith in Him. This is so important when we face the trials and tribulations of life. Here is some advice instead of being anxious, fearful, or panicking, focus on Jesus and remind yourself that Jesus is greater than the problem you face. Too many times, we focus on the problem or the devil instead of the one who loved you, gave His life for you, and rose again so that He could send His Holy Spirit to you. We serve an awesome God, and you are an awesome person because of Jesus your King, the Alpha, and Omega!