He Is the First and the Last

 

God calls Himself in the book of Isaiah the “First and the Last,” a unique title reserved for Him that reveals some of His attributes. Jesus also calls Himself the first and the last while speaking to the apostle John as is written in the book of Revelation. This is a clear example among many others showing that Jesus Christ is Jehovah God and possesses all of His attributes; in the meaning of the phrase “the first and the last,” we see evidence that it points to the full deity of Christ as the everlasting Creator. 

 

“Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” –Isaiah 44:6 

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last…” –Revelation 1:10-11

“And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:” –Revelation 1:7

 “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.” –Revelation 1:8 

 

What Might It Mean

“I am the first / I am alpha / I am the beginning”

This is the first meaning I extract from the words, “the first, alpha, the beginning:” Jesus is Jehovah God, the great “I AM,” the sovereign Creator of the universe who is from everlasting to everlasting. God has simply always been, as He never came into existence. He is eternally self-existing, and this equally applies to Jesus.

“And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” –Colossians 1:17 (speaking of Jesus)

 

“I am the first and the last.”

The next thing I notice is that Jesus is the first and last human to ever be born of a virgin (conceived of the Holy Spirit), and to live a completely sinless life from start to finish. He is also the first human to be raised from the dead directly by God into a glorified body.

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead…” – Revelation 1:5

 

Another fulfillment of this phrase that I see is how all things were made by God, corresponding to the first/alpha/beginning, and all things were made for God, corresponding to the last/omega/ending. We know that God is the first because he is the only one who existed outside of any space and time since eternity. Then He made creation, and the purpose of all things in creation is to glorify and exalt HIM. He is the way creation came to be, and He is the purpose it came to be.

“…All things were made by Him, and for Him:” – Colossians 1:16 (speaking of Jesus)

“…For thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” – Revelation 4:11 (speaking to God)

 

Lastly I see this meaning also: Jesus can be seen throughout all of the holy scriptures from the beginning in Genesis to the end in Revelation. He is foreshadowed and prophesied of in the law, then He is revealed in the gospels and John’s prophetic vision. He is concealed in the character and lives of many prophets and men of God, then He is plainly shown in the record of His life, death and resurrection. From being the sacrificial Lamb per Genesis chapter 4 to being the meek Savior of Israel per Exodus, He is the Alpha of God’s word and He is the Omega of it. He is the Word of God. He fulfilled all of the law, prophets, and psalms, because everything is and always was about Him.

“…for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. “ – Revelation 19:10