--- title: Jesus as Alpha and Omega url: https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/alpha-omega/ markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/alpha-omega.md type: argument perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching topics: [Deity of Christ] challenges: [Jesus Is a Created Being] verses: [Revelation 22:12, Revelation 22:13, Isaiah 44:6, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 22:16, Revelation 22:6, Isaiah 41:4, Isaiah 48:12, Isaiah 48:13, Revelation 1:17, Revelation 1:18, Matthew 16:27, Revelation 1:4, Revelation 1:5, Romans 1:7, Isaiah 40:10, Revelation 2:23, Revelation 22:20] strength: Strong tone: Excellent attribution: Jeff Durbin added: '2026-03-15' last_reviewed: '2026-10-11' index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt --- # Jesus as Alpha and Omega *Revelation 22:12–16* ## Doorstep Question > "In Revelation 22:13, someone calls himself the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. Then in verse 16, he says 'I, Jesus.' If only Jehovah is the First and the Last (Isaiah 44:6), what does that make Jesus?" ## JW Claim Jehovah alone is the First and the Last. ## Strategy Establish JW agreement that only Jehovah holds this title. Then show Revelation 22 where Jesus explicitly takes it upon himself. The self-identification 'I, Jesus' makes it impossible to argue this is the Father speaking. ## Key Insight Jesus takes upon himself the very title that Jehovah says belongs to him alone. ## JW Responses & Counters ### Response 1 **JW says:** "I'd have to look that up." **Counter:** Most JWs have not closely examined Revelation 22. The text is clear: 'I, Jesus.' There is no ambiguity. ### Response 2 **JW says:** "Jehovah gave Jesus all authority." **Counter:** Authority delegation does not transfer divine identity titles. ### Response 3 **JW says:** "Revelation 1:8 isn't Jesus speaking — that's Jehovah interrupting. The speaker shifts mid-passage. Jesus is described in 1:7, but 1:8 is the Father's own declaration of himself." **Counter:** There is no marker in the text for a speaker shift. Verse 7 says "Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and those who pierced him." Verse 8 continues without break: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, says Jehovah God, the one who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty." Even granting that 1:8 might be ambiguous, Revelation 22:12-16 removes the ambiguity entirely. There Jesus himself says "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End... I, Jesus, sent my angel." The same divine title that 1:8 claims for the speaker, 22:13 places explicitly in Jesus's mouth. If the JW reading of 1:8 forces Jesus and the Father to share an exclusive divine title, the conclusion is not that the speaker shifts — it is that Jesus and the Father share the divine identity. ### Response 4 **JW says:** "Revelation 1:4-5 separates them. John wishes kindness and peace from "the One who is and who was and who is coming" and from Jesus Christ. That "and" shows Jesus isn't the Almighty of verse 8." **Counter:** Look at who is on that list: "the One who is and who was and who is coming," "the seven spirits that are before his throne," and Jesus Christ. John names them together as the source of undeserved kindness and peace, which is a blessing only God gives. Paul opens his letters the same way: kindness and peace "from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:7). Christians agree the "and" marks a real distinction, because the Son is not the Father. What it doesn't do is put Jesus on the creature side of the line. Nobody asks for grace from an angel. And a few verses later the same Jesus says, "I am the First and the Last" (Revelation 1:17), the title Jehovah claims for himself in Isaiah 44:6. Would John pray for grace and peace from someone who was only a creature? ### Response 5 **JW says:** "Revelation 22:12-13 is Jehovah speaking. The cross-reference to Isaiah 44:6 shows the Alpha and Omega is the Father, not Jesus." **Counter:** Let's follow the cross-references all the way through. Verse 12 says, "I am coming quickly, and the reward I give is with me, to repay each one according to his work." Isaiah 40:10 does say of Jehovah, "His reward is with him." But who did Jesus say would come and repay? Matthew 16:27: "For the Son of man is to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will repay each one according to his behavior." In Revelation 2:23 the Son of God says, "I will give to you individually according to your deeds." And the chapter answers the question itself: "Yes, I am coming quickly." "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus" (22:20). The one who is coming is Jesus, and the one who is coming says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega." The Isaiah links don't move the words away from Jesus. They show that Jesus speaks Jehovah's words as his own. If the Son of Man is the one who comes to repay, who is saying "I am coming" in verse 12? ## What to Avoid Don't get tangled in debates about Revelation 1:8. Stay on Revelation 22:16 where Jesus self-identifies. ## Homework Read Revelation 22 in any English translation, alongside Isaiah 44:6. ## Next Moves - [King of Kings and Lord of Lords](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/king-of-kings.md) - [The Lamb Receives Identical Worship to God](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/revelation5-lamb-worship.md) - [Jesus' Eternality](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/psalm102-hebrews1.md) - [Jesus Receives Worship](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/worship-of-jesus.md)