Revelation 1:8 kjv

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 nkjv

"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 niv

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Revelation 1:8 esv

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Revelation 1:8 nlt

"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."

Revelation 1 verses

Revelation 1 8 Meaning

Revelation 1:8 declares the ultimate sovereignty and eternal nature of God, presenting Him as the source, sustainer, and final arbiter of all existence. It asserts His unique identity as the Alpha and the Omega, symbolizing His beginning and end over all things. The verse also highlights His immutable nature across all time—past, present, and future—and His absolute omnipotence, ruling as the Almighty. This self-proclamation from God establishes His authority over the entire prophetic revelation given to John.

Revelation 1 8 Context

Revelation 1:8 serves as a pivotal declaration near the beginning of John’s prophetic vision. The preceding verses introduce John, establish the source of the revelation (from God to Jesus, then through an angel to John), and offer a doxology to Jesus Christ. This verse immediately follows a blessing and declaration about Jesus' return ("He is coming with the clouds"). Therefore, verse 8 acts as God the Father’s explicit and foundational self-affirmation, validating the divine origin and authoritative nature of the entire revelation that follows. In the historical and cultural context of Asia Minor, where Christians faced persecution and the omnipresent demands of the Roman imperial cult (worshipping the Emperor as divine, "Lord and God"), this verse stands as a profound counter-claim. It directly refutes the claims of earthly rulers to ultimate power or divine status, emphatically declaring that only the Lord God is truly the "Almighty" and "who is and who was and who is to come," asserting His unparalleled authority over all history, human institutions, and even death itself.

Revelation 1 8 Word analysis

• "I am" (Greek: Egō eimi – ἐγώ εἰμι): This phrase echoes God’s self-designation to Moses in Exod 3:14 ("I AM WHO I AM") and Jesus' divine claims throughout John's Gospel. It asserts a unique, eternally self-existent being, identifying the speaker as the Lord of creation and history.
• "the Alpha" (Greek: ho Alpha – ὁ Ἄλφα): Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Symbolically, it signifies the absolute beginning, origin, and primacy of God. He is the prime mover and ultimate source of all things.
• "and the Omega" (Greek: kai ho Omega – καὶ ὁ Ὠμέγα): Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. This signifies the absolute end, the completion, and the ultimate destination. God is not only the Creator but also the One who brings all things to their designed conclusion.
• "says" (Greek: legei – λέγει): Indicates a direct divine utterance, underscoring the authority and truth of the statement.
• "the Lord God" (Greek: Kyrios Theos – Κύριος Θεός): A powerful combination of titles. Kyrios denotes sovereign Master or Lord, often used for Yahweh in the Septuagint. Theos is the general term for God. Together, they proclaim His ultimate, universal authority and divine nature.
• "who is and who was and who is to come" (Greek: ho ōn kai ho ēn kai ho erchomenos – ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος): This profound descriptor emphasizes God's eternal and transcendent nature. He is simultaneously present in all time—He exists now, He has existed perpetually, and He will continue to exist infinitely into the future. It captures His active involvement across all of history and His unfading relevance.
• "the Almighty" (Greek: ho Pantokratōr – ὁ Παντοκράτωρ): This title means "all-ruling" or "all-powerful." It asserts God's supreme omnipotence and universal dominion over everything in creation. In a world where empires claimed absolute power, Pantokrator establishes God as the one true, unstoppable, and unrivaled power. It connects Him to Old Testament titles like "El Shaddai" (God Almighty) and "Lord of Hosts" (Yahweh Sabaoth).

• "I am the Alpha and the Omega": This phrase encapsulates God's absolute totality and exclusivity. He encompasses all things from start to finish. There is nothing outside of His being or control. It signifies His unchanging nature and sovereign oversight over time and creation.
• "says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty": This group of words solidifies the identity of the speaker and the nature of the authority behind the Revelation. It unequivocally declares that the messages to follow originate from the singular, eternal, sovereign, and omnipotent God, thereby guaranteeing their truthfulness, infallibility, and ultimate fulfillment.

Revelation 1 8 Bonus section

• Christological implications: While Rev 1:8 is widely understood as a statement by God the Father, the titles "Alpha and Omega," "the First and the Last," and even "who is and who was and who is to come" (compare with Rev 1:4 concerning the Father, and later with Jesus in Rev 21:6, 22:13, and His eternity claims in John) are also explicitly attributed to Jesus Christ later in Revelation and other New Testament books. This interchangeability points towards the co-equality and shared divine essence of the Father and the Son within the Holy Trinity. It reveals that the power, eternity, and sovereignty expressed by God the Father are also fully resident in Jesus Christ, solidifying His divine identity and authority in the final events.
• Polemic against Imperial Cult: The titles used here, especially "Lord God Almighty," directly counter the blasphemous claims of Roman emperors who demanded worship as "Dominus et Deus" (Lord and God). John's message vehemently denies any rival deity, reaffirming Yahweh as the only true, supreme authority and controller of history, sending a message of defiance and hope to persecuted Christians who faced pressure to acknowledge Caesar as divine.
• Theophany: This powerful self-identification can be understood as a theophany – a visible manifestation of God – in word form, establishing His character before the commencement of the profound visions.

Revelation 1 8 Commentary

Revelation 1:8 is a foundational theological statement that grounds the entire book in the immutable nature and supreme authority of God. It is God the Father Himself making this grand proclamation, which lends absolute weight and credibility to the prophecies and visions that follow. The title "Alpha and Omega" reveals God as the originator and consummator of all reality, ensuring that His divine plan will unfold exactly as intended from creation to new creation. His tri-temporal designation, "who is and who was and who is to come," emphasizes His eternal presence, active participation throughout history, and certain future arrival for judgment and redemption. Coupled with "the Almighty" (Pantokrator), this verse offers immense assurance to believers facing trials, signifying that no earthly power, suffering, or evil can ever truly challenge or undermine the ultimate sovereignty of God. It encourages trust in His omnipotent control over all circumstances and promises the eventual triumph of His perfect will. This verse thus stands as a bold declaration of God's unrivaled supremacy, offering both comfort to the faithful and warning to those who oppose Him.