Who is the Bible speaking of when it says “I am the Alpha and Omega?”
Four times in the book of Revelation, we find the expression, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.” This is found in Revelation 1:8, 1:11, 21:6, and 22:13. Alpha and Omega are words used to describe the beginning and the end because they are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. In Revelation 1:8 we read, “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.” This shows us exactly who Alpha and Omega is, it is “the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
This is a clear description of Christ as Jehovah, who is self-existent, unchangeable, and eternal.
In Revelation, chapter 1, we find the Apostle John banished to the Isle of Patmos. John writes in verse 10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.” This thundering voice announces in verse 11, that He is “Alpha and Omega, the first and the last” and gives John instructions about writing to the seven churches in Asia. We read in verses 17-18, “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
The Lord again declares that He is the first and the last. Here, though, He says of Himself, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore…” This makes it absolutely certain that this is the Lord Jesus Christ speaking and calling Himself Alpha and Omega. Throughout past eternity, Christ is the One that was alive, yet there came a time when He was dead. When was that? Of course, it was when He suffered death for us on the cross to save us from our sins. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 14:8-9, “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.” And now, this One who literally ‘became dead’ is alive and lives for evermore, never to die again. Hebrews 7:25 tells us that Christ now, “…ever liveth to make intercession for (us).”
Although we do not have the expression ‘Alpha and Omega’ in the Old Testament, we do have the Lord describing Himself as ‘the first and the last’ three times in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 44:6 says, “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” Surely this speaks clearly to our Spirit filled hearts that Jesus is Jehovah, He is the King of Israel, He is the Redeemer, and He is the Lord of hosts! (180.9)