What does "I am the First and the Last" reveal about Jesus' nature? Context: John’s Awe-Filled Moment “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…’” (Revelation 1:17) John, exiled on Patmos, meets the risen Christ in unveiled glory. The response—collapse in holy fear—shows that the One speaking is unmistakably divine. What “the First and the Last” Declares • Eternity: Jesus exists before the first moment and beyond the last moment of time. • Self-existence: He depends on no outside source for life (John 1:4). • Sovereignty over history: The story of creation, redemption, and consummation begins and ends in Him (Colossians 1:16-17). • Unchangeableness: Because He spans all time, His character cannot alter (Hebrews 13:8). Old Testament Echoes of the Title “Thus says the LORD… ‘I am the First and I am the Last, and there is no God but Me.’” (Isaiah 44:6) “Listen to Me… I am He; I am the First and the Last.” (Isaiah 48:12) The same words reserved for YHWH are now used by Jesus. Scripture therefore equates the Son with the covenant God of Israel. A Clear Claim to Deity Revelation 1:8 records the Father’s voice: “I am the Alpha and the Omega… who is, and was, and is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 22:13 repeats the identical title on Jesus’ lips: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Because Scripture is literally true, two different beings cannot both be the one eternal First and Last unless they share the very nature of deity. Jesus is fully God. New Testament Confirmation • John 1:1-3—“In the beginning was the Word… Through Him all things were made.” • Colossians 1:15-17—“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” • Hebrews 1:3—“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature.” Together they affirm His pre-existence, creative power, sustaining authority, and divine essence. Why It Matters for Us • Security: The One who began our salvation will finish it (Philippians 1:6). • Worship: Only the eternal God deserves absolute devotion (Revelation 5:12-14). • Perspective: History is not random; Christ stands at both ends guiding it toward His kingdom. • Courage: “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17). The eternal Lord holds the keys of death and Hades (v. 18), so no circumstance outruns His authority. Jesus’ self-identification as “the First and the Last” therefore unveils His eternal, sovereign, unchanging, and fully divine nature. |
    |