The Alpha and Omega
3 Passages Showing Jesus Is the First and the Last
"Alpha and Omega" and "First and Last" are titles that belong exclusively to Yahweh — yet Jesus claims them for Himself.
The Old Testament Background
"Thus says Yahweh, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, Yahweh of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.'"— Isaiah 44:6
"Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last."— Isaiah 48:12
In Isaiah, Yahweh declares that He alone is "the first and the last" — this title emphasizes His eternal existence and His uniqueness as God. If there is "no God besides" Yahweh, then anyone else claiming this title is either a blasphemer or is Yahweh Himself.
Revelation 1:8 — The Lord God, the Almighty
“'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'”
— LSB
Why It Matters:
This verse establishes that 'Alpha and Omega' is a divine title belonging to the Lord God Almighty. This is the standard by which we evaluate the following passages.
Revelation 1:17-18 — The First and the Last Who Died and Lives
“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, 'Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.'”
— LSB
Why It Matters:
Jesus is 'the first and the last' — the same title Yahweh claims in Isaiah 44:6 and 48:12. But this 'first and last' was dead and is now alive — identifying the speaker as the crucified and risen Christ. Jesus claims Yahweh's exclusive title for Himself.
Key Points:
- •'The first and the last' — Yahweh's title from Isaiah
- •'I was dead' — This identifies the speaker as Jesus, who was put to death
- •'I am alive forevermore' — The resurrection
- •'Keys of death and of Hades' — Divine authority over death
Revelation 22:12-13 — Jesus Is the Alpha and Omega
“'Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.'”
— LSB
Why It Matters:
The speaker is clearly Jesus (see v. 16: 'I, Jesus' and v. 20: 'Come, Lord Jesus'). Jesus claims to be the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end — all titles that belong to Yahweh alone in the Old Testament (Isaiah 44:6; 48:12).
Key Points:
- •Verse 16 confirms the speaker: 'I, Jesus, have sent My angel'
- •Verse 20: 'Come, Lord Jesus' — the church responds to Jesus as the one who is coming
- •The Watchtower acknowledged in its October 1, 1978 issue (p. 15) that Revelation 22:12-13 refers to Jesus
The Logic Is Inescapable
- 1.Isaiah 44:6 — Yahweh says "I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me"
- 2.Revelation 1:17-18 — Jesus says "I am the first and the last... I was dead, and behold, I am alive"
- 3.Revelation 22:13 — Jesus says "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last"
- ∴If there is "no God besides" the First and the Last (Isaiah 44:6), and Jesus is the First and the Last, then Jesus is Yahweh.
What These Passages Prove
"The First and the Last" is not a generic title — it's Yahweh's exclusive claim to eternal existence and sole deity. When Jesus claims this title, He is claiming to be Yahweh. There is no middle ground. Either Jesus is a blasphemer for claiming Yahweh's title, or He is Yahweh Himself. The resurrection proves His claim is true.