Revelations 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ Ἄλφα καὶ τὸ Ὦ, λέγει κύριος ὁ θεός, ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος, ὁ παντοκράτωρ.
The Book of Revelation begins with the declaration of God’s sovereignty. Alpha and omega are the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet. By using this designation, John is showing the completeness of God. Revelation ends with a similar declaration for Jesus in 22:13. God’s timelessness is asserted with the phrase “who is and was and is to come.” God is beyond time but becomes involved in time through the Son. First, God is. God defines all other existence. God is present with us now. God is the “I am” of the Old Testament who is beyond description and definition. Second, God was and always has been. There was never a time when God was not. God has been involved in human history and experience and more broadly with creation. Third, God is coming. We can be assured of the future because of the past. God’s promises are true, therefore, we can have peace knowing what our destiny will be. Fourth, God is Almighty, all powerful, nothing beyond God’s control or influence. This statement of God’s complete sovereignty at the beginning of this book should give assurance to the readers about everything that follows. In our day to day activities, we should go around as people who overcome because we have given our lives to the one who overcomes.
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