One problem we have when we come to the Bible is that we look at it through religious eyes

THE FIRST AND THE LAST

by Ivan Maddox

West End Bible Fellowship

Atlanta, Georgia

One problem we have when we come to the Bible is that we look at it through religious eyes. One result of this is that some things we would understand almost instinctively in a different context can baffle us when used concerning God and Christ. For instance, we tend to look for some lofty or mysterious meaning for "the right hand of God" when the scriptures tell us that Jesus is seated there; yet, when James and John asked if they could be seated at Jesus' right and left hand in his kingdom, we have no trouble understanding that they are asking for the second and third positions in the kingdom. Even today the term "right hand man" is commonly used and easily understood.

In Isaiah 44:6 God calls Himself “the first... and the last.” However, that is not all He says about Himself there. Let's look at the verse.

6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I [am] the first, and I [am] the last; and beside me [there is] no God.

Here the verse itself explains the meaning of the phrase. Jehovah is the first and last God. There is no other God beside Him. This verse clearly and explicitly teaches that God is strictly one. It is not alone.

Now let's look at Revelation 22:13, where the risen Christ refers to himself as “the first and the last.”

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Notice that three equivalent terms are used here. Jesus is called "Alpha and Omega" (that would be "A and Z" in English), "the beginning and the end," and "the first and the last." Notice what is missing here: there is no statement about him being the only God, or about him being God at all! In fact, just a few verses down, Jesus identifies himself as the promised descendent of David.

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star.

Both of these are titles that bring glory to Christ, but which would be deadly insults to God. "the root and offspring of David" identifies Jesus as having human genes and parentage (on his mother's side, of course!). "The bright and morning star" identifies Christ as greater than the angels, the greatest of whom are called "morning stars."

Since there is no mention of godhood here, what is meant when Jesus is called "A and Z, the beginning and the end, the first and the last?" We can get a clue from a most unlikely source: a secular song by Barry White. Several years ago, he did a love song called, "My First, My Last, My Everything." No one had any illusions that he was using a "divine title" for this woman. They understood instead that he was saying to her, "You are everything to me."

When Jesus is called "A and Z," "the beginning and the end," "the first and the last," the meaning is pretty much the same. He is our Everything. We have no access to God except through him. We do not hear from God except through him. Our prayers do not get to God except through him.

But both Jesus and the scriptures are pretty explicit in declaring that Jesus has a God.

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God.

22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

I Corinthians 8:5-6.

5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

6 But to us [there is but] one God, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom [are] all things, and we by him.

It should be clear to all that someone who HAS a God cannot BE God. Jesus himself referred to his Father in John 17:3 as "the only true God."