Okay, let's begin. Verse 8 states
As you may know, Alpha and Omega are the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet. The context signifies some unique office singularly occupied by Jesus, one that he was “the first” and one that he is to be “the last” to possess. Two such roles already exist in which Jesus meets these requirements.
First, Jesus is “the beginning and the ending” in that he is God’s “only [directly] begotten Son,” “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature” (John 3:16; Col. 1:15). “The beginning” in the text does not refer to the beginning of the existence of Jehovah, the God, the Father, because He is “from everlasting to everlasting,” and never had a beginning (Psa. 90:2; 106:48). However, Jehovah’s work of creation did have a beginning. Jesus, “the faithful and true witness . . . the creation of God,” did not create himself but was begotten of his Father (Rev. 3:14). Since Jesus was the first (beginning) and only (ending or last) direct creation of God, all other
sentient beings—human and angelic—were subsequently created “of” the Father but “by” or “through” the Son (John 1:3; 1 Cor. 8:6; Rev. 1:17; 2:8). “Let us make man in our image” (Gen. 1:26). “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible” (Col. 1:16).
Second, the title “Alpha and Omega” refers to a position occupied solely by Jesus among those who are called by God to joint-heirship upon the divine plane of glory, for God sent Jesus to be the everlasting head over the Church, his body. “He is the head of the body, the church: who 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” (Col. 1:18,19). Accordingly, Jesus issued a caution to his followers: “Be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your [spiritual] father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ” (Matt. 23:8–10). Indeed millions of professed followers of the Master unwittingly disobey this injunction whenever they address local parish priests as “Father.”
In the introductory remarks of Revelation, Jesus calls himself the Alpha and the Omega in order to emphasize that the true Church of God is neither man-made nor man-ruled, that its members are enrolled not on earth but in heaven (Heb. 12:23). The Church has but one head: Jesus. His word is its law. The Church is built upon the testimony of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ himself being its chief cornerstone. Not only are Christians to be cut off from institutional heads, synods, and authorities; but they are to cease to have heads and wills of their own, and to accept instead the headship, the will, of the Lord Jesus. Although Jesus is meek and lowly of heart, he does not intend to shirk the honor and responsibility of office conferred upon him by the Father; rather, he intends to take complete charge in the fulfillment of his role as the spiritual guide and caretaker of the Church. The Lord’s people are to look
to Jesus alone for direction in the present life because “thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (Heb. 1:9).
"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 verse interrupts John’s narrative and the opening theme of the Book of Revelation. It's an interjection of thought by Jesus himself to personally confide some important truth; namely, that he is the “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending” and that he is declared to be such by no less an authority than the great Jehovah, the Almighty God, the One “which is, and which was, and which is to come.”
As you may know, Alpha and Omega are the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet. The context signifies some unique office singularly occupied by Jesus, one that he was “the first” and one that he is to be “the last” to possess. Two such roles already exist in which Jesus meets these requirements.
First, Jesus is “the beginning and the ending” in that he is God’s “only [directly] begotten Son,” “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature” (John 3:16; Col. 1:15). “The beginning” in the text does not refer to the beginning of the existence of Jehovah, the God, the Father, because He is “from everlasting to everlasting,” and never had a beginning (Psa. 90:2; 106:48). However, Jehovah’s work of creation did have a beginning. Jesus, “the faithful and true witness . . . the creation of God,” did not create himself but was begotten of his Father (Rev. 3:14). Since Jesus was the first (beginning) and only (ending or last) direct creation of God, all other
sentient beings—human and angelic—were subsequently created “of” the Father but “by” or “through” the Son (John 1:3; 1 Cor. 8:6; Rev. 1:17; 2:8). “Let us make man in our image” (Gen. 1:26). “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible” (Col. 1:16).
Second, the title “Alpha and Omega” refers to a position occupied solely by Jesus among those who are called by God to joint-heirship upon the divine plane of glory, for God sent Jesus to be the everlasting head over the Church, his body. “He is the head of the body, the church: who 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” (Col. 1:18,19). Accordingly, Jesus issued a caution to his followers: “Be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your [spiritual] father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ” (Matt. 23:8–10). Indeed millions of professed followers of the Master unwittingly disobey this injunction whenever they address local parish priests as “Father.”
In the introductory remarks of Revelation, Jesus calls himself the Alpha and the Omega in order to emphasize that the true Church of God is neither man-made nor man-ruled, that its members are enrolled not on earth but in heaven (Heb. 12:23). The Church has but one head: Jesus. His word is its law. The Church is built upon the testimony of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ himself being its chief cornerstone. Not only are Christians to be cut off from institutional heads, synods, and authorities; but they are to cease to have heads and wills of their own, and to accept instead the headship, the will, of the Lord Jesus. Although Jesus is meek and lowly of heart, he does not intend to shirk the honor and responsibility of office conferred upon him by the Father; rather, he intends to take complete charge in the fulfillment of his role as the spiritual guide and caretaker of the Church. The Lord’s people are to look
to Jesus alone for direction in the present life because “thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (Heb. 1:9).
