Jesus and God ... the First and Last ... the Alpha and Omega
Revelation 22
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
v.13 Clearly teaches that Jesus is First and Last, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End. This is not a claim that any man can make.
v.16 Jesus is the "root" of David ... the Davidic King was established by Jesus (God chose Abram, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and anointed David).
Jesus is the "offspring" of David ... who but God could be the founder of a dynasty and its last, eternal member.
v.20 In case there was any doubt, v.12 opens with "I am coming soon" and v.20 repeats "I am coming soon" followed by "come, Lord Jesus"
Isaiah 41:4
Who has done this and carried it through,
calling forth the generations from the beginning?
I, the LORD—with the first of them
and with the last—I am he.”
v.4 God claims to be tho one who controls generations from first to last. From Revelation 22, Jesus is the God of the house of David.
Isaiah 44:6
“This is what the LORD says—
Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;
apart from me there is no God.
v.6 God alone is the First and Last. From Revelation 22, Jesus is the First and Last. For both to be true, Jesus must be God.
Isaiah 48:12-13
12 “Listen to me, Jacob,
Israel, whom I have called:
I am he;
I am the first and I am the last.
13 My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,
and my right hand spread out the heavens;
when I summon them,
they all stand up together.
v.12 The 'First and Last' called Israel (that would be God who called Israel)
v.13 The 'First and Last' made the Heavens and Earth ... from John 1, that would be Jesus, the Word.
Jesus, the Word, the 'First and Last' must either be God or a blasphemer. The Jews understood what he was saying and wanted to stone him because they rejected his words.