The Holey Trinity - The First and The Last

The more I meander around the Internet the more topics I find to address. The really neat thing about this subject, the trinity, is there is no topic to fear. There is nothing I will come across that will make me stop and think, "Oh man, God IS a trinity!" So when someone gets into a theological debate with me, I get intrigued. This happened merely 2 days after I started this blog. I was sent a comment by a gentlemen, I will call him "Jay", telling me I "need Jesus". I told him that I am well aware of who Jesus is and I'm aware that he isn't the only one we need. I proceeded to quote him Jesus' very own words at John 17:3 which says:

"This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ."

This context of this verse clearly shows Jesus separating himself from the one he says is "the only true God". Because he is speaking to his Father in prayer we know he is talking about Jehovah. Despite the nonsensical nature of his argument he insists that Jesus and Jehovah are the same. It is a biblically proven fact that Jehovah is the Father (Isaiah 63:16) so he is under the impression the Son IS the Father which is a direct violation of Trinitarian dogma. However, the only way this doctrine can make any sense is through the fallacy of equivocation. By forcing this scripture to read "the only true God the Father". "Jay" further tries to prove this by quoting several scriptures he believes are applying the words "the first and the last" to both Jesus and Jehovah which, using Trinitarian Logic, proves they are the same. So this is where we will start.

We already know that just because Jesus is called a shepherd and elders in the congregation are called shepherd that doesn't make Jesus and Paul the same person. It is a logical fallacy. But we will put that aside and address these scriptures head-on.

"Alpha and Omega" (in Greek meaning "the first and the last) is used as a title three times in Revelation (1:8; 21:6; 22:13). Revelation 1:11 in the KJV is just one of many spurious additions in that translation, so there is no need to give it any credence. (For more info on spurious additions to the KJV, GO HERE)

One of the most important things Trinitarians disregard is context (they will make the argument otherwise, but you will find that to be inaccurate if you haven't already). Before getting to verse 8, John makes some introductions:

"4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth..." Revelation 1:4,5 (ASV)

Jesus is grammatically excluded from being "him who is and who was and who is to come" because at verse 5 John introduces him by saying "and Jesus Christ".

Now, in all 3 instances in Revelation (1:8, 4:8, 11:17) the title of "Alpha and Omega" is attributed to Jehovah. How do we know this? Because all the way back in Exodus Jehovah revealed himself as the Almighty God

"and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Jehovah I was not known to them." - Exodus 6:3 (ASV)

Jesus was never attributed this title. It would be spurious to attribute him this title without any scriptural backing. Additionally, at 1:8 and 11:7 "The Lord God" says these things. There is not a single instance in the New Testament in which Jesus says something and it is followed by "The Lord God". However, since Jehovah's name was removed here, as it was in many translations of the Hebrew Scriptures, it was replaced with "The Lord". And in those translations there are several hundreds, if not thousands, of times where you will read "The Lord God" when Jehovah is the subject. Since the Alpha and Omega is grammatically separated from Jesus, and the seven spirits, it is impossible for Jesus to be the one addressed as such.

The book of Revelation also identifies "the One sitting on the throne" to be the same as "the Alpha and the Omega".

"5 And the One seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new.” Also he says: “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 And he said to me: “They have come to pass! I am the Alʹpha and the O·meʹga, the beginning and the end. To anyone thirsting I will give from the spring of the water of life free." - Revelation 21:5,6 (NWT)

"The one seated on the throne" (Isaiah 6:1, ASV) is said to be handing a scroll to "a lamb" (Jesus, John 1:29) that "seemed to have been slaughtered". The lamb, Jesus, then took the scroll from "the One seated on the throne".

"1 And I saw in the right hand of the One seated on the throne a scroll written on both sides...6 And I saw standing in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders a lamb that seemed to have been slaughtered...7 At once he came forward and took it out of the right hand of the One seated on the throne." - Revelation 5:1,6,7 (NWT)

So we have the Alpha and Omega, who is the One sitting on the throne, handing a scroll to Jesus. Contextually, then, Jesus cannot be the one sitting on the throne; therefore he cannot be the Alpha and the Omega; because he cannot be the One handing the scroll to himself.

So there are 2 evidences that grammatically and contextually eliminate the possibility that Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. As if that is not enough evidence, there is yet more.

The "Alpha and Omega" is explicitly defined as being the "Almighty". In all 9 occurrences of the word "Almighty" in Revelation, Jesus is contextually excluded from being the One called Almighty!

Interestingly enough, there are also instances in which the equality of the Trinity is proven to be erroneous. In Revelation 1:1 it is said that Jesus was given this revelation by God. It very clearly does not say he was given this by his Father. It says God. Trinitarians, using what is called equivocation, will actually change God to mean Father in order to keep their doctrine intact. This is a grammatical fallacy. Further, at 2:26,27 it is said that Jesus had to be given authority. In an equal and triune God, there would need to be no transfer of power. Almighty authority would eternally and equally belong to all 3 persons (which contradicts the very idea of being Almighty). Revelation 1:6 repeats a common theme throughout the Greek scriptures, that is, that Jesus has a God. The Almighty God cannot, by definition, have a God. There can be nobody in which an Almighty God has over him. Jesus clearly does. Finally, in Revelation 5:12, the Lamb is said to be worthy of receiving "power and wisdom". This "power and widom" could not possibly be increased if Jesus were the Almighty God. Additionally, Jesus would not need to "receive" this "power and wisdom" from anyone if he was the Almighty God!

To even FURTHER this point, Jesus, HIMSELF, explicitly states that he in fact has a God several times. Something that an Almighty God could not possibly have! In addition to 1:2 and 3:2...

"He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name." - Revelation 3:12 (ASV)

Four times in one verse Jesus explicitly says "my God"! To deny that Jesus has a God is to either accuse Jesus of lying or deny that the Bible is God's Word. Either way, it is clear. Jesus has a God, therefore cannot BE God.

Finally, the most contested occurrence of the Alpha and Omega. It has already been proven that Jesus cannot be the Alpha and Omega. However, Trinitarians seem to have the idea that verses that they think support their doctrine trump the proof that denies it.

At Revelation 22:13 it is presupposed that Jesus is the one talking. First, if you will, take a look at the context:

"Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is." - Revelation 22:12 (ASV)

Who is speaking? Whose "rewards" is he speaking of?

"Behold, the Lord Jehovah will come...his reward is with him, and his recompense before him." - Isaiah 40:10 (ASV)

Who is the "I" that is to "render each man according to his work"?

"Also loyal love is yours, O Jehovah, For you repay each one according to his deeds." - Psalm 62:12 (NWT)

Now we have 2 scripturally based reasons to believe that Jehovah is actually the one talking when he says "I am the Alpha and the Omega". It is simple presupposition that would cause one to say it is Jesus talking since Jesus declares himself as the speaker at verse 16.

"‘I, Jesus, sent my angel to bear witness to you about these things for the congregations. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright morning star.’" - Revelation 22:16 (NWT)

Scripturally, however, when someone introduces themselves in the manner that Jesus does it is actually the sign of a new speaker. For example at Revelation 1:9 John says "I, John" when he starts speaking. At verse 8 the "Alpha and Omega" is speaking. Then at verse 9 John introduces himself using the same syntax as Jesus does at verse 16. Keep in mind, John is the writer of this book. His writing style and habits are not going to change. Using the Trinitarian Logic that since Jesus is talking at 22:16 then he must be the one talking at 22:12. We MUST then apply that same logic to 1:8 and 1:9. Meaning, John MUST be the Alpha and Omega. Well, either that, or that logic is faulty.

John did the same thing at Revelation 22:8, again indicating a change of speaker. The same thing can be said here. Since the syntax matches that of 1:9 and 22:16 then John must be the one talking previous to verse 8. But once again, that logic doesn't make sense.

Scripturally, grammatically, and contextually it is evident that Jesus is NOT the Alpha and Omega and is NOT the Almighty God. To deny this is to deny what the Bible says