Isa 41:4 "Who has performed and accomplished it, Calling forth the generations from the beginning? 'I, the LORD, am the first, and with the last. I am He.'"
Rev 22:13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
In Isaiah God the Father claims to be the first and the last.
In Revelations Jesus claims to be the first and the last.
Either we have two firsts and two lasts or Jesus and God the Father are both God.
How can we resolve this logical dilemma given the propositions taken from the scripture?
2007-12-01 07:06:38 · 12 answers · asked by Miguel 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Good one -- I use this against Jehovah's Witnesses all the time, since it refutes their belief that Jesus isn't God. However, they usually come up with a lame answer like "Jesus was the first creation; Jehovah was the first God" (remember, JWs think Jesus was "a god," but not "God").
2007-12-01 07:13:22 · answer #1 · answered by Suzanne: YPA 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Unlike man, God is eternal and does not change. (Malachi 3:6) In Revelation, Jehovah declares: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13) Before Jehovah there was no almighty God and after him there will be none. He is the Supreme and Eternal One, the Creator. His “hand”—his applied power—established the earth and stretched out the starry heavens
It is true that when the angel speaks for Christ, at Revelation 1:17, he states: “I am the First and the Last.” But a check of the context shows this “First and Last” was with definite limitations, was relative to just the matter of Christ Jesus’ death and resurrection, as verse 18 shows. Christ was the first one raised in the first resurrection, and the last one that will be raised directly by Jehovah God. Others who follow in that resurrection will be raised by God through Christ.
So we must be reasonable. When we see an expression that is applied to Jehovah several times in its unlimited sense, and then come across it again but not specifically indicated as applying to Jehovah, we cannot become flighty and switch the expression to Christ Jesus; and especially when we note that it is applied elsewhere, not in its unlimited sense, but only with definite limitation of meaning. Trinitarians try to capitalize on this expression to show it was used indiscriminately for either God or Christ, and in this way show God and Christ are the same. But logic and reason do not allow this, no more than do many other texts in the Bible.
2007-12-01 07:44:36 · answer #2 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You'll love this answer:
According to Mormon belief, Christ was the God of Abraham before he was made man. So there is a God the Father and a Jesus (and of course, the Holy Ghost) and they were seperate. When God appeared to Moses or spoke to Isaiah, it was Christ as a spririt.
That would make the scripture correct if Christ was quoted both times.
Yes yes... I know the can of worms this opens :)
How's the weather in Ecuador big brother?
2007-12-01 10:08:03 · answer #3 · answered by Mickey P 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Rev 1:7
7Behold, 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.
8I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty
Rev 21
3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
2007-12-01 07:19:57 · answer #4 · answered by Homegrown Budds 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit are one, yet 3 distinct persons of the trinity.
2007-12-01 10:30:58 · answer #5 · answered by electroprayer 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus is the "I am" of the Old Testament. He is the Lord to whom Isaiah refers. He is Jehovah. There is no problem. This still doesn't, however make Him his Father. Heavenly Father, Elohim, is a distinct personage.
2007-12-01 08:40:28 · answer #6 · answered by Isolde 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Where God is, is where Jesus Christ is also. Just like heaven is where ever God is. The earth we live on will
be the the new Heaven in the end times. After the 7th trumph.
( 7 means spiritual completeness) God made earth as beautiful as it is...he is not going to destroy it. He will only destroy the rudiments (evil) that's in it. The
6th trumph, is when the Anti-Christ (Satan) appears claiming to be Christ. (In Jeruseluem) He will come in peace. Everyone will think he
is the true Christ.
We are now living in the 5th trumph!
7 meaning LAST. 7th trumph is when the TRUE CHRIST appears.
2007-12-01 07:21:30 · answer #7 · answered by Tenac33 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You got it, man, you got it.
I am Jo, the mother; was Jo, the wife; am Jo the grandmother; was Jo the daughter; I was Jo the sister. Man, I was/am a lot of people, but to these people I am different in each role.
2007-12-01 07:13:19 · answer #8 · answered by mesquiteskeetr 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
2007-12-01 07:20:35 · answer #9 · answered by sego lily 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where's a JW to explain this when we need one?
That should be interesting to hear but I know you can't pigeonhole one. Ever. You'll learn if you haven't already. lol
2007-12-01 07:13:35 · answer #10 · answered by Kerbang! 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋