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<h1>&nbsp;Who Wrote The Epistle to the Hebrews?</h1>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">"The nearest approach to a &lsquo;tradition&rsquo; is one quoted by Tertullian as current in North Africa at the close of the 2nd century<em><strong> ascribing the epistle to Barnabas</strong></em>." (<a href="http://www.renaissance.com.pk/noderef972.html">New Commentary on Holy Scriptures</a>.)&nbsp;</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Tertullian writes: "Hebrews,<em> a work of Barnabas</em>...." See Tertullian, <em>De Pudicitia</em> (Latin &amp; French translation by A.Picard)(1906 edition) at <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=1fKmkDvdIAcC&amp;dq=tertullian%2C%20de%20pudicitia&amp;pg=PA184#v=onepage&amp;q=barnabas&amp;f=false">184</a> (Latin) and <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=1fKmkDvdIAcC&amp;dq=tertullian%2C%20de%20pudicitia&amp;pg=PA185#v=onepage&amp;q=barnabas&amp;f=false">185</a> (French)</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Tertullian does so again in <span style="text-decoration: underline;">On Modesty</span> <a href="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf04.iii.viii.xx.html">XX</a> (ca. 207 AD):</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">"For there is extant withal an<strong> Epistle to the Hebrews under the name of Barnabas</strong>&mdash;a man sufficiently accredited by God, as being one whom Paul has stationed next to himself in the uninterrupted observance of abstinence...."</span> </span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Tertullian is clearly referencing our Epistle to the Hebrews 6:1, 4-6 in the NT for he next quotes -- the key passage relied upon later by Arminius:</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">"Warning, accordingly, the disciples to omit all first principles, and strive rather after perfection, and not lay again the foundations of repentance from the works of the dead, he says:&nbsp; &ldquo;For impossible it is that they who have once been illuminated, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and <em><strong>have participated in the Holy Spirit</strong></em>, and have tasted the word of God and found it sweet, when they shall&mdash;their age already setting&mdash;have fallen away, should be again recalled unto repentance, crucifying again for themselves the Son of God, and dishonouring Him.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">More proof is as follows. Because this epistle to the Hebrews has the most excellent Greek in the NT, and Barnabas was known to have such erudition (being from Cyprus which was renown for excellence in writing Greek)(Barclay:<a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=LcXwedfaPhUC&amp;lpg=PA8&amp;ots=n_4gcQjaGD&amp;dq=tertullian%20says%20barnabas%20wrote%20hebrews&amp;pg=PA8#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false">8</a>), many Christian authorities support Barnabas as the author. These include:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">i) &nbsp; &nbsp; A.M. Stibbs, V. Principal, <em>The New Bible Commentary</em> (Oak Hill Theological College, London)&nbsp;at 1088</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">ii) &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr. Allan J. McNicol, Prof. of N.T., &nbsp;<em>Harper&rsquo;s Bible Dictionary</em> (Bangalore,&nbsp;Inst. for Christian Studies, Austin, Texas,&nbsp;1994) at 94.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">iii) &nbsp; &nbsp; Myles M. Bourke, <em>The New Jerome Biblical Commentary</em> (Bangalore, 1994) at 920.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">iv) &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr. Robert W. Ross, Dept. of History, N. W. College, Minneapolis, Minn., <em>The Wycliffe&rsquo;s Bible Commentary</em> (1987) at 1403 f.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">v) &nbsp; &nbsp; William Smith, <em>A Dictionary of the Bible</em> (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1988) at 238.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">vi) &nbsp; &nbsp; Dr. F. F. Bruce, Ryland&rsquo;s Prof. of Biblical Criticism &amp; Exegesis, Manchestor University, in Peake&rsquo;s<em> Commentary on the Bible</em>, (Thomas Nelson Ltd, London, 1967) at 1008.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Source: "<a href="http://www.renaissance.com.pk/noderef972.html">Barnabas, His Gospel, Credibility</a>."</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Bruce says Tertullian does not attribute the epistle to Barnabas as if he were merely expressing opinion, but rather as if it were a commonly held ascription among those of his circle. Thus, Tertullian attributes it to Barnabas as a matter of fact.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><span style="font-size: 24pt;"><strong>Different Teachings than Paul</strong></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">However, in the later 200s, Origen said no one knows who wrote Hebrews. Then even later, in the 300s, many began saying Paul wrote it. Many today say this is unlikely because of the following differences in soteriology and Christology:</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>P</strong><strong>aul's Patterns</strong></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Hebrew's Presentation</strong></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Christ being the&nbsp;<em>Head</em> of the&nbsp;<em>Body </em>of believers (I Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:22,23; 4:14,15; 5:23; Col. 1:18; 2:10,19).</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Christ is the&nbsp;<em>High Priest</em> over the&nbsp;<em>People of Israel</em> (Heb. 2:17; 3:1; 4:14,15; 5:5,20; 9:11,12,19-23; 13:11,12).</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Believer's&nbsp;<em>unconditional </em>eternal union with Christ (Rom. 8:26-36; I Cor. 5:5; Eph. 1:3-5,13,14; 2:5-9; 4:30).</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Believer's&nbsp;<em>potential to "fall away"</em> from eternal union with Christ (Heb. 6:4-6,9-12; 10:26-39).</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Preoccupation with showing the e<em>qual status between Jew and Gentile as the people of God </em>(Rom. 1:16; 3:9-11, 22,23; 4:9-12; ch. 9-11; I Cor. 1:24; Gal. 3:28; Eph. 2:11-22; 3:6; Col 3:11).</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Preoccupation with showing&nbsp;<strong><em>Israel as THE PEOPLE of God </em></strong>(2:17; 4:9; 5:3; 7:5,11,27; 8:8,10; 9:7,19; 11:25; 13:17).</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Use of the word WORLD over 40 times</em> with special reference to the global aspect of Christ's redemption (II Cor 5:19; Col. 1:4-6; I Tim. 3:16). Paul uses kosmos in a broad manner. It is a common Pauline term.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Not one usage of the word WORLD</em> is in reference to Christ's act of redemption. <strong><em>Rather Israel is seen as the only beneficiary</em></strong> (2:17; 7:27; 13:12). Kosmos used only 5 times in a narrow context.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Israel's FALL</em> into a state of "Lo Ammi" (Rom. 11; Eph 2).</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Israel's <strong>RISE</strong></em> into the promised Covenant (8:8-13; 10:16,29; 12:24; 13:20)</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Source: "<a href="http://www.experiencegrace.com/Authorship_of_Hebrews.html">The Authorship of the Book of Hebrews</a>"</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><span style="font-size: 24pt;">Conclusion</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">This study of authorship gives us some idea of what caused Barnabas and Paul to split. Barnabas was pro-Israel (and perhaps empathized with the Jerusalem Jewish leaders of the church),&nbsp; but Paul was perceived as anti-Israel, and hence not friendly toward the role of the Jewish leaders of the Jerusalem church. </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">However, Barnabas was clearly as much an apostate under Deuteronomy 13:1-5 as Paul, no doubt influenced by his close association with Paul mentioned in Acts. For Barnabas taught:&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #333333; padding-left: 60px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">18</span>&nbsp;The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: bold;">19</span>&nbsp;(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. (<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/hebrews/passage/?q=hebrews+7:18-19">Hebrews 7:18-19 NIV</a>.)</p>
<p style="padding-left: 90px;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #333333; padding-left: 60px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">7</span>&nbsp;For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. (<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/hebrews/8-7.html">Hebrews 8:7 NIV</a>.)&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #333333; padding-left: 60px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">13</span>&nbsp;By calling this covenant &ldquo;new,&rdquo; he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. (<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/hebrews/8-13.html">Hebrews 8:13 NIV</a>.)</p>
<p style="padding-left: 180px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;"></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Incidentally, it is astonishing that Barnabas could read the promise of a New Covenant in Jeremiah was to abrogate the Torah. The passage says what is new is that TORAH will now be written on our hearts, and not that it would be done away with. Jesus was the mechanism, for we listen to Jesus, and Jesus in Matthew 5:17-20 put it on our hearts, telling us the Law is not done away with until heaven and earth disappear. See our article&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.jesuswordsonly.com/topicindex/609-does-new-covenant-mean-new-law.html"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Does New Covenant Do Away with the Prior Covenant?&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Also incidentally, Barnabas ridiculously relied upon the old versus new covenant to do away with the Law, but this made no sensee because the covenant with Abraham was not done away with when the new covenant of the Law came into being.&nbsp; Covenants merely mean mutual promises. God can make new promises without abrogating older ones. In fact, God's promises always remain, for He does not change, as James sas.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Barnabas also taught the clearly heretical view that the new covenant is actually a new "testament" - hence the title of the entire book we commonly reads derives from Barnabas. But we are never told what Barnabas meant. It is horrific when you study it in depth. You will learn something so fundamental and basic to why the book is titled New Testament is never explained.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">A testament meant a last will and testament. The testator was Yahweh in the way Barnabas explains the prior covenant. Then Barnabas implies that the God of Sinai (meaning&nbsp; Yahweh) has died, because the new testament cannot live while the testator still lives. Barnabas then says that the new God we enjoy was disclosed as the second creating Lord in the (polytheistic) Septuagint Greek translation of Psalm 102. Barnabas then relates this to Jesus, and unquestionably calls Jesus God. Barnabas thus believed Jesus was the only God who survived the death of the testator whose death makes possible the new testament. (The Septuagint of 257 BC was commissioned by a pagan ruler, Ptolemy, of Egypt.) </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Does this summary sounds incredible? Unfamiliar to you?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Then please read:</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;"><a href="https://www.jesuswordsonly.com/topicindex/745-duality-of-god-the-son-and-father-in-paul.html">Duality of God the Son and God the Father in Paul and Hebrews.</a>&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.jesuswordsonly.com/topicindex/203-son-as-creator-in-epistle-to-the-hebrews.html"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Duality of Two Creator Gods in Hebrews &amp; Paul Derives from Mistranslated Psalm 102 They Both Reference</span></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.jesuswordsonly.com/topicindex/203-son-as-creator-in-epistle-to-the-hebrews.html"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: large; background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></p>
<hr />
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; color: #0000ff;">Study Aids</span></strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Hebrews also shares other common ideas with Paul. </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Paul taught, as the Pharisees were known to teach, that the Law was given by angels. Now the book of Exodus says it was Yahweh. But the Pharisees contended it was angels. This unbiblical view appears in Paul's words to the Galatians 3:19: "<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Wherefore then&nbsp;</span><em style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">serveth</em><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">&nbsp;the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made;&nbsp;</span><em style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">and </em><strong>it was</strong><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><strong>&nbsp;ordained by angels</strong> in the hand of a mediator." (KJV)</span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">The same idea appears in Hebrews 2:2-3.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/hebrews/2-2.htm" target="_blank" style="color: #0092f2;"><strong>2</strong></a></span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">For if the<strong><em> message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment</em></strong>,&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://bible.cc/hebrews/2-3.htm" target="_blank" style="color: #0092f2;"><strong>3</strong></a></span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? (KJV)</span></span></p>
<hr />
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff; font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Hebrews Lacks Inspiration As Contradicts Facts in Book of the Law.&nbsp;</span></span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">Heb 11:11 reads:</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed</strong>,&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;">and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">This is wrong! Sarah did not believe, and instead laughed at the promise of God which Abraham relayed to her. It was Abraham who believed. Sara then lies to Abraham that she had not laughed at the possibility, and Moses adds she lied out of "fear," not faith! God even tells Moses that Abraham's wife had laughed at the promise to God's obvious sore displeasure. So how can one say "through faith Sara herself received the strength to conceive seed?" We read in Genesis:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Gen 18:10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah <em><strong>thy wife shall have a son</strong></em>. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Gen 18:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Gen 18:12 Therefore<em><strong> Sarah laughed within herself</strong></em>, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Gen 18:13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Gen 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Gen 18:15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Another inaccurate passage is Heb 11:27:</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;"> By faith he (Moses) forsook Egypt, <em><strong>not fearing the wrath of the king</strong></em>: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;" data-mce-mark="1">Hebrews 11:27 is not true. Moses was convicted of murdering one of Pharaoh's officers and Pharaoh's court sentenced Moses to death. Moses received the death penalty for murder. Moses did not want to die so Moses fled in fear for his life to the land of Midian.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;" data-mce-mark="1">Exodus 2:14 plainly says that "<strong><em>Moses feared</em></strong>," however, the writer of Hebrews plainly says the opposite.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Heb 11:27 By faith he (Moses) forsook Egypt, <em><strong>not fearing</strong></em> the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">This is thanks to <a href="http://www.bernardharland.com/">Bernard Harland's</a> work.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p>
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<h3><span style="font-size: x-large; color: #0000ff;" data-mce-mark="1"><strong>Alpha &amp; Omega Argument for Trinitarianism</strong></span></h3>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde';" data-mce-mark="1"><strong><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">Issue Presented</span></span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;" data-mce-mark="1"><strong><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;" data-mce-mark="1">Can God be the Alpha and Omega, and Jesus be the Alpha and Omea, and Jesus not necessarily be God? In other words, can the same title be used for Jesus and God, without signifying Jesus is God too?</span></span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino;" data-mce-mark="1"><strong><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><strong><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">Let's Address Another Familiar Title Used for Both Jesus and God &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">When God is called Lord, and Jesus is called Lord, does this mean Jesus is God?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">No, unless the word Lord necessarily means God.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">This is because the word Lord in the NT - the Greek word KYRIOS -- equally applies to humans such as lords over servants, lords over nations, and lords over slaves. See the article <a href="/component/content/article/9-bible/688-trinitarian-fouls-to-the-bible-text.html">Trinitarian Fouls to the Bible Text</a> on our website.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">Hence, just because God has the attribute of Lord does not mean Jesus being called Lord means Jesus is God. The attribute Lord equally applies in the NT to land owners, slave owners, and the Emperor of Rome. Hence, this attribute of Lord can be shared in common by God and Jesus without necessarily implying Jesus is God.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><strong>Why Does This Answer The Alph Omega Argument?</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">The same issue comes up about God affirming He is the Alpha and Omega, and Jesus equally affirming he is Alpha and Omega. (<a href="http://biblehub.com/kjv/revelation/1-8.htm">Rev. 1:8</a><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation+1%3A8&amp;version=NIV">,</a> the "Lord God" says he is the Alpha and Omega; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation+22%3A13&amp;version=NIV">Rev. 2:13</a> "<span data-mce-mark="1"></span><span data-mce-mark="1">I am the Alpha and the Omega,</span><span data-mce-mark="1"></span><span data-mce-mark="1">&nbsp;the First and the Last,</span><span data-mce-mark="1"></span><span data-mce-mark="1">&nbsp;the Beginning and the End." <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2022&amp;version=NIV">Rev. 22:12</a>, Jesus says "I am the Alpha and Omega, <span data-mce-mark="1">the First and the Last,</span><span data-mce-mark="1"></span><span data-mce-mark="1">&nbsp;the Beginning and the End</span>.")</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">The first problem with this contention is this time unlike with the word LORD, we do not know for sure what is meant by Alpha and Omega. Many theories abound but none are decisive. See the excellent article on Revelation 1:8 at Biblican Unitarian at <a href="http://www.biblicalunitarian.com/verses/revelation-1-8">this link</a>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span data-mce-mark="1">I personally believe the Alpha and Omega means one speaks Prophecy. This is based upon <a href="http://biblehub.com/isaiah/46-10.htm">Isaiah 46:10.</a>&nbsp;For Alpha is the beginning of the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the end of the Greek alphabet. The spirit of prophecy is described in Isaiah 46:10 in the same manner: "<span data-mce-mark="1">I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.'" Jesus was not just any prophet, but&nbsp;</span></span><span data-mce-mark="1">the Prophet of Deuteronomy 18:16-19 whose every word comes from Yahweh. Peter explains this in his speech in Acts chapter three. This title of Word of Prophecy is likely described by the Metaphor of Alpha and Omega.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">Regardless, even if this is not convincing, one can see that the solution, whatever it is, proves one cannot claim this title proves Jesus is God unless one knows what Alpha and Omega means. And no one has a convincing answer.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">As a result, rather than Alpha and Omega meaning Jesus is God, it is as equally likely that Alpha and Omega means an attribute that two different beings can share without being the same being, in particular God, just as the attribute Lord can apply to both God and Jesus without implying Jesus is God. Trinitarians suppose incessantly this is not possible about the words Alpha and Omega, but this relies upon using the mysteriousness of the words Alpha and Omega to their naive readers' disadvantage.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">However, it turns out we can exclude as a possibility for Alpha and Omega that it could mean Jesus was God. For Jesus clearly says in Revelation 1:18 that he, the "first and the last" -- which is equated in Revelation 2:13 &nbsp;and 22:12 with the Alpha and Omega, <strong><span data-mce-mark="1">died</span></strong>. As a result, because we know from Deuteronomy 32:40 ("I live forever") and many other passages that God is immortal (incapable of dying), that Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, is inconsistent with a meaning that necessarily means one is uniquely God. &nbsp;Here is Revelation 1:17-18:</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">&ldquo;<span style="font-size: 18pt;">Do not be afraid.<span data-mce-mark="1"></span>&nbsp;I am the<em><strong> First and the Last</strong></em>.<span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">18&nbsp;</span>I am the Living One; <em><strong>I was dead</strong></em>,<span data-mce-mark="1"></span>&nbsp;and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!<span data-mce-mark="1"></span>&nbsp;And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%201&amp;version=NIV">Rev 1:18 NIV</a>.)</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">In Genesis 3:22 et seq., God said he had to keep man from eating the fruit of the tree of life, or otherwise, man would become like God - immortal. In Deuteronomy 32:40, God says "I live forever."</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">Furthermore, God revealed His nature always was permanent life eternally, incapable of death when Moses revealed: "<span data-mce-mark="1">The <em><strong>eternal</strong></em> God is your refuge, and underneath are <em><strong>the everlasting</strong></em> arms....&rdquo; (</span><a href="http://ebible.com/query?utf=8%E2%9C%93&amp;query=Deuteronomy%2033%3A27&amp;translation=ESV&amp;redirect_iframe=http://www.AllAboutGOD.com/bible.htm" target="_blank" class="vl-anchor" style="color: #1c70bf; font-family: Arial, san-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" data-passage="Deuteronomy3327">Deuteronomy 33:27</a><span data-mce-mark="1">). God cannot die. God is eternal - both in the past, present and future. (Psalm 90:2.)</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">Paul even said so. Paul, familiar with Jewish prayers that always addressed the father as "Eternal King," wrote Timothy about the<em><strong> unseen invisible one and only God</strong></em>:</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span><span data-mce-mark="1">Now to the King eternal, <em><strong>immortal,</strong></em> <strong><em>invisible,</em> the only God</strong>, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (<a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/1-17.htm">1 Timothy 1:17 NASV.</a>)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">Cf. Col.1:15 (Paul says Jesus is the "image of the <strong><em>invisible</em> </strong>God").</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">The New Living Translation is more emphatic on what it means to say the "only God" is "immortal." This God is one who can "never die."</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1">All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen <em><strong>one who never dies</strong></em>; he alone is God. Amen &nbsp;(<a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/1-17.htm">1 Timothy 1:17 NLT</a>.)</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">Even if you had no passages to read, please imagine if God truly died at any point. Who then would resurrect God? He would be dead. So immortality of God is not only in the Bible, but no other outcome makes sense. Hence, when Jesus said he was the Alpha and Omega, and says in the same context that He died, then Jesus could not be claiming in context that "I am God, and I died and now am alive again." That would be nonsense.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Trinitarians avert this problem by saying God "willingly subjected himself to death" but "his spirit never ceased to exist." (<a href="http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=12&amp;article=3566">E. Lyon's Apologetics Press</a>.) This is a contradiction. If God was alive the entire time, then God never died. Jesus the man died, but God himself never could have died. God is eternal, immortal (as even Paul recognizes), and incapable of death. The universe is held together by an everlasting eternal God. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Trinitarians' solutions to dilemmas always end up in self-contradictions yet they accept them due to the compulsion of their erroneous assumption that God is three persons of separate minds and wills who each are God yet are one Being.</span><br /><br /></span></span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">The Angel Says "I am Alpha and Omega" Too</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">However, there is one more problem saying that "I am Alpha and Omega" means one is proclaiming they are God. For it is clear at the outset that Apostle John has met and sees an Angel who reveals the words and message of Jesus to John. In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation+1&amp;version=KJV">Revelation 1:1-2</a>, we read:</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-30699" class="text Rev-1-1" style="font-size: 18pt;">1 and he sent and signified it by<strong> his angel</strong> unto his servant John:</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-30700" class="text Rev-1-2" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="versenum" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">2&nbsp;</span>Who <strong>bare record</strong> of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">This means that the angel may be quoting Jesus, but sometimes is speaking on its own. This is what we find clearly in Revelation 22. First, we need to read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation+22&amp;version=KJV">Revelation 22:6-9</a> to see the angel is clearly speaking words that if you didn't know better, you would think are Jesus speaking:</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-31087" class="text Rev-22-6" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="versenum" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;"></span>And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets<strong> sent his angel</strong> to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-31088" class="text Rev-22-7" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="versenum" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">7&nbsp;</span>Behold,<strong> I come quickly:</strong> blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-31089" class="text Rev-22-8" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="versenum" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">8&nbsp;</span>And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, <strong>I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel</strong> which shewed me these things.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-31090" class="text Rev-22-9" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="versenum" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">9&nbsp;</span>Then saith he unto me, <strong>See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant,</strong> and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: <strong>worship God.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">So the Angel said "I come quickly." And that is meaningful for earlier various angels come with cups of God that have different judgments. But at first, we might think it is Jesus speaking. Yet, it is clear from verse 9, it was the angel speaking, and not differentiating itself from Jesus.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">The angel then tells John not to worship him, but worship God alone. In this passage, the Angel speaking of himself next says "I am the Alpha and the Omega":</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-31091" class="text Rev-22-10" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span id="en-KJV-31091" class="text Rev-22-10">10&nbsp;</span>And <strong>he</strong>&nbsp;[the Angel who is a fellow-servant and not God] saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 60px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-31092" class="text Rev-22-11" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="versenum" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">11&nbsp;</span>He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 60px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">12&nbsp;</span>And, behold, <strong>I come quickly [i.e., the Angel]</strong>; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. [NOTE: Still the angel, who previously is depicted among angels bringing 'rewards' in the process of judgment on mankind. The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Rev/Visions-Angel">IVP Commentary </a>notes: "<span data-mce-mark="1">This angel is 'one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues' (21:9; compare 15:1, 6),</span>]</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 60px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-31094" class="text Rev-22-13" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="versenum" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">13&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #ff0000;">I am Alpha and Omega,</span> the beginning and the end, the first and the last.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 60px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-31095" class="text Rev-22-14" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="versenum" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">14&nbsp;</span>Blessed are they that do <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">his</span> </strong>commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 60px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-31096" class="text Rev-22-15" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="versenum" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">15&nbsp;</span>For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">Here, the Angel says "I am Alpha and Omega," and refers to "his commandments," after having told Apostle John to "worship God," not the angel himself. Nor can "his" in this verse mean Jesus is being quoted by the Angel for Jesus would not refer to his own commandments as "his commandments." If they are Jesus' commandments, he would say "my commandments."</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">Only after that statement does the speaker potentially change, and is no longer solely the angel's words. Next the angel once more transmits words from Jesus. To do that, the angel breaks in with "I, Jesus...." Let's pick up with the next verse:</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-31097" class="text Rev-22-16" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="versenum" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">16<span style="color: #ff0000;"></span></span><span style="color: #ff0000;">I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you</span> these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 60px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-31098" class="text Rev-22-17" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="versenum" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">17&nbsp;</span>And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 60px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-31099" class="text Rev-22-18" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="versenum" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">18&nbsp;</span>For <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">I testify unto every man</span></strong> that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 60px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-31100" class="text Rev-22-19" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="versenum" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">19&nbsp;</span>And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 60px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; color: #000000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span id="en-KJV-31101" class="text Rev-22-20" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="versenum" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">20&nbsp;</span>He which <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly</span></strong>. Amen. Even so, <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">come, Lord Jesus</span></strong>.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">Thus verse 16 is the first possibility that the primary voice is changing. But even then it appears to be a single statement of Jesus confirming the angel's testimony. The importance in any event is the "I am Alpha and Omega" was the angel speaking in the prior verse 13, not Jesus.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">It is likely possible we are to believe the angel resumes speaking at verse 18 for the notion of "testimony" or a "witness" is the primary role of the Angel, not Jesus, up to this point. So when verse 18 says "I testify unto every man" it appears to be a role of an angel, not Jesus, to testify of what the angel heard and saw. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">This is reiterated in verse 20 which certainly is not a saying of Jesus (the words "come Lord Jesus"), but the angel's words. The angel in the same verse says "he which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly" -- the angel who previously said "I come quickly" in verse 12 - which is part of the prophecy earlier in Revelation that the angels come quickly with cups of judgment. To repeat, the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Rev/Visions-Angel">InterVarsity Press </a>commentary notes: "<span data-mce-mark="1">This angel is 'one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues' (21:9; compare 15:1, 6)."</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">This strongly supports that Alpha and Omega cannot mean deity. Because the angel applied it to himself, and the angel denied he was God, it could not thus likely signify one is claiming Deity.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;" data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1"><span data-mce-mark="1">END</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<hr />
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">Another Solution to the Alpha and Omega Mystery</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">Many people suggest it means the role of creator, that God is eternal, etc. &nbsp;May I add to the list what seems another possibility -- it means unsullied by sin, pure, etc. Here's why.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">Twice, these are obviously explained as the "first" and the "last" in Rev 1:18 and 2:13.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">One time, but only in reference to Jesus, Jesus says he is "the beginning" and the "end" -- this is in Revelation 2:13.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">If one is simultaneously both the first and the last, and you suppose this is about geometry, then any point along a circle or eliptical shape is always both the first and last point equally. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">The <strong>small version</strong> of the Greek letter alpha and the omega each have round or eliptical shapes which you can obtain by stretching a straight line into an unbroken object, e.g., a circle, an eliptical, etc. Any point you fixate on in the lines of the letter is both the first and last point as they are identically the same to each other. For example, any point along a circle is both the first and the last point where a straight line meets when curved to form a circle.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">If this theory is correct, then an unbroken line that connects to itself, e.g., a circle, an elipsis, is the image we are suppose to see when we hear these words.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">The image of an unbroken circle really means the line is unbroken. Once you identify a beginning and end, and say it is there, it is truly nowhere, as the same is true of every other point of the circle. Just as the Alpha begins the alphabet, and Omega ends the alphabet, they are repeated in exercises starting over, and hence it is a circle, with no true beginning or end.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">Hence, Alpha and Omega may symbolize an unbroken circle.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">What is unbroken about God? About Jesus? About the Angel who never fell who speaks in Revelation 1 and 22? What do they each share in common about unbrokenness?</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">Jesus was "without sin" (<a href="http://biblehub.com/1_peter/2-22.htm">1 Peter 2:22</a>) which is equally true about God. As the author of Hebrews says, Jesus was tempted in every way which we are, but did not sin.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">Hence, I believe the meaning of Alpha and Omega may be perfection -- an unbroken line formed inside the Alpha and the Omega. Any point along the lines are the first and the last, the beginning and the end. There is thus no true beginning or end of a circle. That unbroken line is because Jesus obeyed the command Jesus gave us - "be perfect even as your heavenly father is perfect."</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">Hence, Jesus can be a human who lived a perfect life without being God. This is what Peter said about Jesus - "he committed no sin." (1 Peter 2:22.) By being tempted in the flesh in the same way we are, but resisting, as the author of Hebrews said, Jesus became the Alpha and Omega who died and is alive again, while God is eternally the Alpha and Omega -- a perfect unbroken line that encircles the soul or spirit of God.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">Consider that a circle is a universal spiritual symbol, typically meaning perfection:&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">The circle is a universal symbol with extensive meaning. It represents the notions of totality, wholeness, original <span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><strong>perfection</strong></em></span>, the Self, the infinite, eternity, timelessness, all cyclic movement, God ('<em><strong>God is a circle</strong> </em>whose centre is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere' (Hermes Trismegistus)). (University of Michigan, <a href="http://www.umich.edu/~umfandsf/symbolismproject/symbolism.html/C/circle.html">Symbolism Project</a>.)</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">This quote of Hermes' Trismegistus is from the <em>Book of the 24 Philosophers.</em> See <a href="https://dialinf.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/a-circle-with-the-center-everywhere/">link</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">Now consider that a sphere reflects perfection -- unbrokenness, and later we will return to the Greek letters Alpha and Omega after listening to this:</span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">In Plato&rsquo;s&nbsp;</span><em style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">Timaeus&nbsp;</em><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">we read that the sphere is the <em><strong>most <span style="color: #ff0000;">perfect</span> and most uniform shape,</strong></em> because all points in its surface are equidistant from the center. ("<a href="http://www.filosofiaesoterica.com/ler.php?id=1355#.Vq2zv_krLZ4">Pascal's Sphere</a>," Philosofia Esoterica.)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">In the eastern religions, a circle likewise symbolizes perfection:</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left: 30px;"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">The term &ldquo;mandala&rdquo; comes from the ancient Indian language called Sanskrit and means circle, circular, round. The symbol of <em><strong>a circle symbolizes <span style="color: #ff0000;">perfection</span>, wholeness, oneness</strong></em>. A circle is a sign of the absolute, concentrated in itself with no beginning and no end.&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.mandalavaga.si/en/mandala/the-circle-symbol.html" style="font-size: large; line-height: 1.3em;">http://www.mandalavaga.si/en/mandala/the-circle-symbol.html</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">So the unbroken line of a circle is symbolic of&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><strong><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><em>perfection</em></span></strong> -- here implying a moral perfection.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1"><span style="font-size: large;" data-mce-mark="1">END</span></span></span></span></p>
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