Introduction
Who is the Almighty of Revelation 1:8? This question arises because many people interpret this verse as a reference to Jesus. However, when we look at the context of the chapter, we realize that there is a distinction between Jesus and the one who is called “Almighty“. In this article, we will carefully examine the context and understand who is actually being mentioned in Revelation 1:8.
The Passage of Revelation 1:7-8
Revelation 1:7-8 – “Behold, he is coming with clouds; and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all tribes of the earth will wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.“
Many people use the text above to show that Jesus is the Almighty God presented in the Scriptures. In fact, when we read verses 7 and 8 of the first chapter of Revelation, we can come to this conclusion, since verse 7 clearly speaks about Jesus, for He will come with the clouds of heaven and every eye will see Him, in addition to being the one who was pierced.
Analyzing the Context
To understand who the Almighty is in Revelation 1:8, I need to analyze and understand the context of this passage.
Could it be that Christ spoke the words of verse 8, since the previous verse mentions him as the main subject of the context? To clarify this doubt, we need to read more than just the verse that precedes the passage in question. Let’s read what the entire context says:
Revelation 1:4-8 – “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, and the firstborn of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so. Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.“
Notice that in verse 4, John describes that the “grace and peace” come to us from the side”of him who is, and who was, and who is to come” and also on the part of the “seven spirits“. Verse 8 also uses these same words to refer to Almighty God. Could verse 4, which we just read, be referring to the person of Jesus and the seven spirits? The next verse answers this question when it says: “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth“.
Verse 5 adds another person different from the one introduced in verse 4. When verse 4 mentions “him who is and who was and who is to come” it does not refer to Jesus, for the next verse adds him separately. This makes it clear that they are different people.
Conclusion: Who is the Almighty?
Therefore, as we read verse 8 again, it is clear that Jesus did not speak these words, but rather another being, who is Almighty God. Although the previous text refers to Jesus, it concludes what it says about Him in verse 7 and concludes the general subject with the words of His Father in the following verse.
No text of Scripture applies the title “Almighty” to Jesus, but only to His Father.
Thus, we can conclude that the answer to the question “ Who is the Almighty of Revelation 1:8? ” is the person of the Father! Only God the Father receives the title of “Almighty” in the Scriptures. And within that context, Jesus appears as a person distinct from Him.
May God bless the reader.
