From The Alpha To The Omega

Revelation 1:4-8

I learned many things during my New Testament studies that I had to forget some of them in order to remember most of it. (Thank you, Harry, for filling my brain. I mean it.) One of those things I've forgotten but am able to recall is how the term alpha and omega would have been recognized at the time the book of Revelation was written.

Some, or most, or maybe all of you will know that alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and omega is the last. When used in the Euro-Western way of thinking we are urged to interpret its meaning as the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Therefore, once again in the Euro-Western way of thought, according to Revelation God is it, the end, nothing more, that's all there is; no room for any other way of thinking.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

If we read verse 8 in its entirety we'll see that the writer also says that our Lord God is "who is, who was, and who is to come." Please note that in this idea of time there is a beginning and there is no ending. Please also note that there is a middle. Time, in the Jewish way of thinking, is what the scholars call circulinear. Not to be confused with the math term, circulinear time-lines have a beginning, but have no end, rather it circles around as it moves forward. Maybe the best example I can give is that of a coil of wire that goes on forever (think never-ending slinky).

With this understanding of time let's take a look at the Hebrew alphabet, more so how it's used in this passage. When the Hebrew people used their alphabet in this way, alpha and omega, they meant it to be an all-inclusive term. The correct way to interpret this is to say alpha to omega, and everything in between.  When the writer follows the use of the alphabet in this way with their idea of how time is understood what the writer is really saying is that God is an all-inclusive God which has been around since the beginning of time, is here now, and will be here forever.

We combine this thought with the understanding that through the love of our Christ Jesus and his unselfish act at the cross, God's true intention of all of humanity living as one people, or under one kingdom as verse 6 reminds us, is the goal we should all be working towards. It's time we begin doing our best to help fulfill God's intention, don't you think?

Accept all people as God accepts us. Love others in the way Jesus loved. Live in a way that says we are one people.