How does Isaiah 44:6 connect with Revelation 1:17's depiction of Jesus? Setting the Stage: Two Powerful Declarations • Isaiah 44:6 — “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of Hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.’” • Revelation 1:17 — “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.’” Comparing the Titles: “First and Last” • Same words, same claim: “I am the first and I am the last.” • In Isaiah, the speaker is unmistakably Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God of Israel. • In Revelation, the speaker is the glorified Jesus, revealing Himself to John. • The shared title shows Jesus fully participates in the divine identity of Yahweh. The Shared Identity: Yahweh and Jesus • Only one Being can rightly claim to be both the first (origin) and the last (consummation) of all things. • By using Yahweh’s own self-designation, Jesus openly identifies Himself as God. • This confirms the unity of Father and Son while maintaining their personal distinction (John 10:30; John 17:5). • It upholds the literal truth that Scripture never contradicts itself: Jesus is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Attributes Embedded in the Title • Eternal existence — before anything was created and after all has run its course (Micah 5:2; Hebrews 13:8). • Sovereign authority — the Alpha and Omega determine history’s beginning and end (Revelation 22:13). • Absolute uniqueness — “there is no God but Me” leaves no room for rivals (Isaiah 45:5). • Perfect redemption — the Redeemer of Isaiah becomes the risen Lord who holds “the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18). Other Scriptures Echoing the Link • Isaiah 41:4 — “I, the LORD, am the first, and with the last I am He.” • Isaiah 48:12 — “I am He; I am the first, I am also the last.” • Revelation 2:8 — Jesus to Smyrna: “These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life.” • Colossians 1:16-17 — “All things were created through Him and for Him… in Him all things hold together.” • John 1:1-3 — “In the beginning was the Word… all things came into being through Him.” • Hebrews 1:8, 12 — The Father addresses the Son: “Your throne, O God, endures forever… You remain the same.” Why This Matters for Us Today • Assurance: The same Lord who authored creation stands at its finale, holding every moment of our lives. • Stability: Because Jesus never changes, His promises never fail. • Worship: Recognizing Jesus as “the First and the Last” moves us to honor Him with the reverence reserved for God alone. |
    |