Alpha and Omega

Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. They are names given to Jesus Christ to symbolize that Christ is the beginning and the end.

God first declares, “I am the Alpha and the Omega” (Revelation 1:8). A second time, after saying “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” He adds, “I am the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 21:6). Then, the Lord Jesus also declares, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” “I am the Beginning and the End,” and adds, “I am the First and the Last” (Revelation 1:17; Revelation 2:8). These titles show that Jesus Christ is God, just like the Father, and therefore has the authority to be the final judge (Revelation 1:12).

Jesus Christ is both the revealer of “the words of this prophecy” (Revelation 1:1) and its fulfiller. He will personally bring to pass everything that is foretold in this book. He is the “Beginning” and He is the “End”; He starts, and He finishes. Everything that began in the first three chapters of Genesis finds its ultimate conclusion in the last three chapters of Revelation:

Genesis: God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1-31). Revelation: God ends the old creation and remakes a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 20:11; 21:1, 5).

Genesis: God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27). Revelation: Man is restored as a son of God (Revelation 21:7).

Genesis: God created man as a living being with a spirit (Genesis 2:7). Revelation: Man can live forever and ever in God’s presence (Revelation 22:5).

Genesis: God established the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8). Revelation: God builds the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2).

Genesis: A river in Eden divided into four branches to water the garden (Genesis 2:10). Revelation: A river of the water of life flows in the New Jerusalem to provide life (Revelation 22:1).

Genesis: There was a Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9). Revelation: The Tree of Life is found on both banks of the river of the water of life (Revelation 22:2).

Genesis: Man had a promising job in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15). Revelation: Man finds a new and even more promising job in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:3, 5).

Genesis: The marriage of the first Adam (Genesis 2:22-25). Revelation: The marriage of the last Adam (Revelation 19:5-9).

Genesis: Satan tempted man (Genesis 3:1-5). Revelation: Satan is thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).

Genesis: Sin entered the world (Genesis 3:6-7). Revelation: Sin is eliminated from the world (Revelation 21:27).

Genesis: Man hid from the face of God (Genesis 3:8). Revelation: Man will see the face of God (Revelation 22:4).

Genesis: God called out, seeking lost man (Genesis 3:9). Revelation: God finds the lost and personally dwells with man (Revelation 21:3).

Genesis: A curse came upon creation (Genesis 3:14-19). Revelation: There will be no more curse (Revelation 22:3).

Genesis: Death and sorrow entered the world (Genesis 3:16, 19). Revelation: There will be no more death or sorrow (Revelation 21:4).

Genesis: Man was cast out of Eden and lost his inheritance (Genesis 3:23). Revelation: Man returns to the New Jerusalem to inherit these things (Revelation 21:7; 22:3-5).

Genesis: Man lost his share of the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:24). Revelation: Man will once again partake of the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:2, 14).