Was Jesus the Alpha And Omega?
While John the apostle was in exile on the Island of Patmos, Jesus revealed to him in a vision the events that will occur in the last days. In the vision, John describes the following incredible scene:
“Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him—even those who pierced him….’I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord God. ‘I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come, the Almighty One.’”
So who is this Person who is called “the Alpha and Omega,” “the Lord God,” “the Almighty One”? We are told that he was “pierced.” Jesus is the one who was pierced on the cross.
Then John sees Jesus on a throne, judging people from every nation. “And I saw a great white throne, and I saw the one who was sitting on it. . . . And the one sitting on the throne said . . . ’I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End.’” (Revelation 20:11; 21:6)
It is the Lord Jesus Christ who reigns from the great white throne. Jesus had already told his disciples that he would be the final judge of men. Then, Jesus removes all doubt about whether or not he is God.
“All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.” (Revelation 21:7)
So, did Jesus claim to be God? He did so by calling himself, I AM. He did so by calling himself the Son of Man. He did so by calling himself the Son of God. He did so by forgiving sin. He did so by accepting worship. And he did so here in Revelation by saying, “I will be their God.”
C. S. Lewis concludes that the true identity of Jesus Christ is both God and man.
What is beyond all space and time, what is uncreated, eternal, came into nature, descended into His own universe, and rose again.[13]
Why did God come to earth?
The question is: “Why?” “Why would God descend into his own creation to become one of us?” In John 3:16 we are given the answer:
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
In other words, it was God’s great love for us that caused Jesus Christ to come to earth, become a man, and die for us on the cross. His death made it possible for our sins to be forgiven, and his resurrection gives us assurance of eternal life with him. It is a staggering truth that our loving Creator wants to have a personal relationship with us that will last forever!
Lewis discovered that a personal relationship with Jesus gave his life meaning, purpose, and joy that surpassed all his dreams. But it’s a choice that each of us must make for ourselves. Lewis never regretted his choice. What about you? Have you made your choice?
Some believe that being a Christian is following a list of rules. Others believe one must go to church to be a Christian. But what did Jesus really say about God, about himself, and about us?
Click here to learn about Jesus’ message to you personally in the article “Why Jesus?”
Did The Apostles Believe That Jesus Is God?
If Jesus is God, then we would expect his closest followers to proclaim his deity in their written testimonies. Did the apostles really believe Jesus is God? Click here to find out.