Prologue to the Book of Revelation (10)—The Alpha and Omega - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:8 NKJV

Prologue to the Book of Revelation (10)—The Alpha and Omega
In verse 7, John had just mentioned that the Lord Jesus is coming and will be revealed in glory. Here in today’s verse, we hear from him how this blessed One who is coming will be revealed! Some have described this as the Lord Jesus putting His signature on the prophecy of His return, while others feel it is God the Father speaking. But some suggest the One speaking is the Lord God, Jehovah Elohim. This would take in both the Father and the Son, making no distinction between the two. But perhaps the words of another may give insight: “We listen here not to the voice of Christ as man, but God Himself is the speaker. He announces His own titles and glories” (Walter Scott).

Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. Some suggest that this is reminding us that He is everything from A to Z for us, which is true. But to this we could add that it might be speaking to us of our God’s omniscience. Just as all knowledge is conveyed to us through letters that make up words which make up sentences, He has all knowledge, and, in this text, He knows the certainty of the coming of the Lord!

This declaration of His coming concludes with the title “Almighty” being used. In the book of Revelation, this designation appears at least nine times and is always seen as “the Almighty.” This would remind us that He who is speaking is the omnipotent One and, since He is all-powerful, nothing can or will keep His coming from taking place!

These lovely titles bring the prologue of the book of Revelation to a close. These verses (vv. 1–8) set forth the greatness and the glory of the One who is revealed throughout this book and cause our hearts to say, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

-- Tim Hadley, Sr.