Revelation 1:8

The Alpha and the Omega (to Alpa kai to O). The first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet, each with its own neuter (grammatical gender) article. This description of the eternity of God recurs in Revelation 21:6 with the added explanation h arch kai to telo (the Beginning and the End) and of Christ in Revelation 22:13 with the still further explanation o prwto kai o escato (the First and the Last). This last phrase appears also in Revelation 1:17 ; Revelation 2:8 without to Alpa kai to O. The change of speaker here is unannounced, as in Revelation 16:15 ; Revelation 18:20 . Only here and Revelation 21:5 . is God introduced as the speaker. The eternity of God guarantees the prophecy just made. The Lord God (Kurio o qeo). "The Lord the God." Common phrase in Ezekiel ( Ezekiel 6:3 Ezekiel 6:11 ; Ezekiel 7:2 , etc.) and in this book ( Revelation 4:8 ; Revelation 11:17 ; Revelation 15:3 ; Revelation 16:7 ; Revelation 19:6 ; Revelation 21:22 ). See Revelation 1:4 ; Revelation 4:8 for the triple use of o, etc. to express the eternity of God. The Almighty (o pantokratwr). Late compound (pa and kratew), in Cretan inscription and a legal papyrus, common in LXX and Christian papyri, in N.T. only in 2 Corinthians 6:18 (from Jer 38:35) and Revelation 1:8 ; Revelation 4:8 ; Revelation 11:17 ; Revelation 15:3 ; Revelation 16:7 Revelation 16:14 ; Revelation 19:6 Revelation 19:15 ; Revelation 21:22 .