The Revelation of Jesus Christ and the Trinity

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Now, let’s spend some time in the book of Revelation and how it relates to the Trinity doctrine.  Many Christians will quote from it to try and prove the Trinity, but I believe that a careful examination will reveal that it denies the Trinity. 

Let’s start with the origin of the book.  God (one person) gave Jesus (another person) the Revelation which Jesus would have known already if he was God: 

Revelation 1:1

᾿Αποκάλυψις ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἣν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός, δεῖξαι τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ ἃ δεῖ γενέσθαι ἐν τάχει, καὶ ἐσήμανεν ἀποστείλας διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου αὐτοῦ τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ ᾿Ιωάννῃ,

 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.”

Revelation 1 gets very interesting and is often used to prove that Jesus is God.  Let’s look at verses 4, 5 and 8.

Revelation 1:4-5,

Ιωάννης ταῖς ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαις ταῖς ἐν τῇ ᾿Ασίᾳ· χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἑπτὰ πνευμάτων, ἃ ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου αὐτοῦ,

καὶ ἀπὸ ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ μάρτυς ὁ πιστός, ὁ πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν καὶ ὁ ἄρχων τῶν βασιλέων τῆς γῆς. τῷ ἀγαπῶντι ἡμᾶς καὶ λούσαντι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ αἵματι αὐτοῦ,

“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, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten 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,”

Εγώ εἰμι τὸ Α καὶ τὸ Ω, λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεός, ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος, ὁ παντοκράτωρ.

Revelation 1:8, “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 verses 4, 5 say “Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come…And from Jesus Christ,” making them separate entities.  Since the Alpha and Omega in verse 8 is identified as the one “which is, and which was, and which is to come”, it is a separate entity from Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:10-13,

ἐγενόμην ἐν πνεύματι ἐν τῇ κυριακῇ ἡμέρᾳ, καὶ ἤκουσα ὀπίσω μου φωνὴν μεγάλην ὡς σάλπιγγος

λεγούσης· ὃ βλέπεις γράψον εἰς βιβλίον καὶ πέμψον ταῖς ἑπτὰ ἐκκλησίαις, εἰς ῎Εφεσον καὶ εἰς Σμύρναν καὶ εἰς Πέργαμον καὶ εἰς Θυάτειρα καὶ εἰς Σάρδεις καὶ εἰς Φιλαδέλφειαν καὶ εἰς Λαοδίκειαν.

Καὶ ἐπέστρεψα βλέπειν τὴν φωνὴν ἥτις ἐλάλει μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ· καὶ ἐπιστρέψας εἶδον ἑπτὰ λυχνίας χρυσᾶς,

καὶ ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἑπτὰ λυχνιῶν ὅμοιον υἱῷ ἀνθρώπου, ἐνδεδυμένον ποδήρη καὶ περιεζωσμένον πρὸς τοῖς μαστοῖς ζώνην χρυσῆν·

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.”

Now this is often used to show that Jesus is the Alpha and Omega.  The oldest manuscripts don’t contain the phrase “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last,” in verse 11.  For an example of this, look at http://codexsinaiticus.org.  There you can see the oldest nearly complete Bible in the world.  It simply reads: “I was in-spirit on the Lord's Day and heard behind me a voice great as that of a trumpet, saying: What thou seest write in a book”.  This means that the oldest manuscripts don’t connect the Alpha and Omega with Jesus.  They are separate beings, if you go by the oldest manuscripts. 

I don’t believe major doctrines should be derived from questionable texts, especially if there are other texts that contradict said doctrine.  For example, Revelation clearly states that the Lamb is not the one that sits on the throne.  And it states that the one who sits on the throne is the Alpha and Omega.  It also portrays worship being directed to the One on the throne and not the Lamb.

Revelation 4:2-11

ευθεως εγενομην εν πνευματι και ιδου θρονος εκειτο εν τω ουρανω και επι τον θρονον καθημενος

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

και ο καθημενος ομοιος ορασει λιθω ιασπιδι και σαρδιω και ιρις κυκλοθεν του θρονου ομοιος ορασει σμαραγδινω

3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

και κυκλοθεν του θρονου θρονοι εικοσι τεσσαρες και επι τους θρονους εικοσι τεσσαρας πρεσβυτερους καθημενους περιβεβλημενους ιματιοις λευκοις και επι τας κεφαλας αυτων στεφανους χρυσους

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

και εκ του θρονου εκπορευονται αστραπαι και φωναι και βρονται και επτα λαμπαδες πυρος καιομεναι ενωπιον του θρονου α εισιν τα επτα πνευματα του θεου

5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

και ενωπιον του θρονου ως θαλασσα υαλινη ομοια κρυσταλλω και εν μεσω του θρονου και κυκλω του θρονου τεσσαρα ζωα γεμοντα οφθαλμων εμπροσθεν και οπισθεν

6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

και το ζωον το πρωτον ομοιον λεοντι και το δευτερον ζωον ομοιον μοσχω και το τριτον ζωον εχων το προσωπον ως ανθρωπου και το τεταρτον ζωον ομοιον αετω πετομενω

7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

και τα τεσσαρα ζωα εν καθ εν αυτων εχων ανα πτερυγας εξ κυκλοθεν και εσωθεν γεμουσιν οφθαλμων και αναπαυσιν ουκ εχουσιν ημερας και νυκτος λεγοντες αγιος αγιος αγιος κυριος ο θεος ο παντοκρατωρ ο ην και ο ων και ο ερχομενος

8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

και οταν δωσουσιν τα ζωα δοξαν και τιμην και ευχαριστιαν τω καθημενω επι του θρονου τω ζωντι εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων

9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

πεσουνται οι εικοσι τεσσαρες πρεσβυτεροι ενωπιον του καθημενου επι του θρονου και προσκυνησουσιν τω ζωντι εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων και βαλουσιν τους στεφανους αυτων ενωπιον του θρονου λεγοντες

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

αξιος ει ο κυριος και ο θεος ημων λαβειν την δοξαν και την τιμην και την δυναμιν οτι συ εκτισας τα παντα και δια το θελημα σου ησαν και εκτισθησαν

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 5:1-14 ASV

και ειδον επι την δεξιαν του καθημενου επι του θρονου βιβλιον γεγραμμενον εσωθεν και οπισθεν κατεσφραγισμενον σφραγισιν επτα

1  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals.

και ειδον αγγελον ισχυρον κηρυσσοντα εν φωνη μεγαλη τις αξιος ανοιξαι το βιβλιον και λυσαι τας σφραγιδας αυτου

2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

και ουδεις εδυνατο εν τω ουρανω ουδε επι της γης ουδε υποκατω της γης ανοιξαι το βιβλιον ουτε βλεπειν αυτο

3 And no one in the heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look thereon.

και [εγω] εκλαιον πολυ οτι ουδεις αξιος ευρεθη ανοιξαι το βιβλιον ουτε βλεπειν αυτο

4 And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look thereon:

και εις εκ των πρεσβυτερων λεγει μοι μη κλαιε ιδου ενικησεν ο λεων ο εκ της φυλης ιουδα η ριζα δαυιδ ανοιξαι το βιβλιον και τας επτα σφραγιδας αυτου

5 and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof.

και ειδον εν μεσω του θρονου και των τεσσαρων ζωων και εν μεσω των πρεσβυτερων αρνιον εστηκος ως εσφαγμενον εχων κερατα επτα και οφθαλμους επτα οι εισιν τα [επτα] πνευματα του θεου απεσταλμενοι εις πασαν την γην

6 And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.

και ηλθεν και ειληφεν εκ της δεξιας του καθημενου επι του θρονου

7 And he came, and he taketh it out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne.

και οτε ελαβεν το βιβλιον τα τεσσαρα ζωα και οι εικοσι τεσσαρες πρεσβυτεροι επεσαν ενωπιον του αρνιου εχοντες εκαστος κιθαραν και φιαλας χρυσας γεμουσας θυμιαματων αι εισιν αι προσευχαι των αγιων

8 And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

και αδουσιν ωδην καινην λεγοντες αξιος ει λαβειν το βιβλιον και ανοιξαι τας σφραγιδας αυτου οτι εσφαγης και ηγορασας τω θεω εν τω αιματι σου εκ πασης φυλης και γλωσσης και λαου και εθνους

9 And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,

και εποιησας αυτους τω θεω ημων βασιλειαν και ιερεις και βασιλευουσιν επι της γης

10 and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth.

και ειδον και ηκουσα φωνην αγγελων πολλων κυκλω του θρονου και των ζωων και των πρεσβυτερων και ην ο αριθμος αυτων μυριαδες μυριαδων και χιλιαδες χιλιαδων

11 And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

λεγοντες φωνη μεγαλη αξιον εστιν το αρνιον το εσφαγμενον λαβειν την δυναμιν και πλουτον και σοφιαν και ισχυν και τιμην και δοξαν και ευλογιαν

12 saying with a great voice, Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might and honor, and glory, and blessing.

και παν κτισμα ο εν τω ουρανω και επι της γης και υποκατω της γης και επι της θαλασσης [εστιν] και τα εν αυτοις παντα ηκουσα λεγοντας τω καθημενω επι του θρονου και τω αρνιω η ευλογια και η τιμη και η δοξα και το κρατος εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων

13 And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things are in them, heard I saying, Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honor, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever.

και τα τεσσαρα ζωα ελεγον αμην και οι πρεσβυτεροι επεσαν και προσεκυνησαν

14 And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshipped.

Revelation 7:10-12

και κραζουσιν φωνη μεγαλη λεγοντες η σωτηρια τω θεω ημων τω καθημενω επι τω θρονω και τω αρνιω

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

και παντες οι αγγελοι ειστηκεισαν κυκλω του θρονου και των πρεσβυτερων και των τεσσαρων ζωων και επεσαν ενωπιον του θρονου επι τα προσωπα αυτων και προσεκυνησαν τω θεω

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

λεγοντες αμην η ευλογια και η δοξα και η σοφια και η ευχαριστια και η τιμη και η δυναμις και η ισχυς τω θεω ημων εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων [αμην]

12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Notice that the above verses clarify that the elders and angels and beasts are directing their worship to God sitting on the throne.  Both God and the Lamb are present, but they are not directing their worship to the Lamb.

Revelation 21:5-6,

Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ καθήμενος ἐπὶ τῷ θρόνῳ· ἰδοὺ καινὰ ποιῶ πάντα. καὶ λέγει μοι· γράψον, ὅτι οὗτοι οἱ λόγοι πιστοὶ καὶ ἀληθινοί εἰσι.

καὶ εἶπέ μοι· γέγοναν. ἐγώ τὸ Α καὶ τὸ Ω, ἡ ἀρχὴ καὶ τὸ τέλος. ἐγὼ τῷ διψῶντι δώσω ἐκ τῆς πηγῆς τοῦ ὕδατος τῆς ζωῆς δωρεάν.

“And 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.  And 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.”

A lot of people read Revelation 22:13 as a reference to Jesus as the Alpha and Omega.  But let’s look at the whole context. 

Revelation 22:8-16

Κἀγὼ ᾿Ιωάννης ὁ ἀκούων καὶ βλέπων ταῦτα. καὶ ὅτε ἤκουσα καὶ ἔβλεψα, ἔπεσα προσκυνῆσαι ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ποδῶν τοῦ ἀγγέλου τοῦ δεικνύοντός μοι ταῦτα.

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

καὶ λέγει μοι· ὅρα μή· σύνδουλός σού εἰμι καὶ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου τῶν προφητῶν καὶ τῶν τηρούντων τοὺς λόγους τοῦ βιβλίου τούτου· τῷ Θεῷ προσκύνησον.

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

καὶ λέγει μοι· μὴ σφραγίσῃς τοὺς λόγους τῆς προφητείας τοῦ βιβλίου τούτου· ὁ καιρὸς γὰρ ἐγγύς ἐστιν.

10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

ὁ ἀδικῶν ἀδικησάτω ἔτι, καὶ ὁ ῥυπαρὸς ῥυπαρευθήτω ἔτι, καὶ ὁ δίκαιος δικαιοσύνην ποιησάτω ἔτι, καὶ ὁ ἅγιος ἁγιασθήτω ἔτι.

11 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.

᾿Ιδοὺ ἔρχομαι ταχύ, καὶ ὁ μισθός μου μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ, ἀποδοῦναι ἑκάστῳ ὡς τὸ ἔργον ἔσται αὐτοῦ.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

ἐγὼ τὸ Α καὶ τὸ Ω, ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατος, ἀρχὴ καὶ τέλος.

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Μακάριοι οἱ ποιοῦντες τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ, ἵνα ἔσται ἡ ἐξουσία αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τὸ ξύλον τῆς ζωῆς, καὶ τοῖς πυλῶσιν εἰσέλθωσιν εἰς τὴν πόλιν.

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

ἔξω οἱ κύνες καὶ οἱ φαρμακοὶ καὶ οἱ πόρνοι καὶ οἱ φονεῖς καὶ οἱ εἰδωλολάτραι καὶ πᾶς ὁ φιλῶν καὶ ποιῶν ψεῦδος.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

᾿Εγὼ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἔπεμψα τὸν ἄγγελόν μου μαρτυρῆσαι ὑμῖν ταῦτα ἐπὶ ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις. ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ῥίζα καὶ τὸ γένος Δαυΐδ, ὁ ἀστὴρ ὁ λαμπρὸς ὁ πρωϊνός.

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Now, either Jesus is the angel that told John not to worship him, or there is more than one speaker here.  I believe scholars universally agree that there are multiple speakers.  The question is, is Jesus the Alpha and Omega speaker.  Verse 16 says, “I Jesus.”  But notice that immediately after the Alpha and Omega phrase it says, “Blessed are they that do his commandments.”  Whose commandments?  God’s, of course.  And it refers to God in the third person.  So, either we have switched speakers (before the “I Jesus” in verse 16), or this Alpha and Omega is not God.  And note a few verses earlier.  Verse 9 is undeniably the angel speaking, who protests being worshiped.  In verse 12 we either have the same angel saying that he is coming quickly or we have abruptly switched speakers and Jesus is speaking, which is what all red letter Bibles indicate.  So we have abrupt switches between verses 11 and 12 and between 13 and 14.  Now, the question is, is there any evidence for a break between verses 12 and 13?  The sudden breaks immediately before and after it lend to the possibility, while remaining consistent with the rest of the text.   

There still remains the question of Jesus being the First and the Last and if that makes him God.  It says in

Revelation 1:17,

Καὶ ὅτε εἶδον αὐτόν, ἔπεσα πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ὡς νεκρός, καὶ ἔθηκε τὴν δεξιὰν αὐτοῦ ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ λέγων· μὴ φοβοῦ· ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατος

“And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last.”

God can certainly be rightfully called the First and the Last.  But God is also called love.  Does this mean that everyone that loves is God?  No.  People generally assume, however, that “the first and the last” must be a sign of divinity.  Maybe we should let the Bible interpret itself.

Isaiah 48:12-16

שׁמע אלי יעקב וישׂראל מקראי אני־הוא אני ראשׁון אף אני אחרון

אף־ידי יסדה ארץ וימיני טפחה שׁמים קרא אני אליהם יעמדו יחדו

הקבצו כלכם ושׁמעו מי בהם הגיד את־אלה יהוה אהבו יעשׂה חפצו בבבל וזרעו כשׂדים

  אני אני דברתי אף־קראתיו הביאתיו והצליח דרכו

קרבו אלי שׁמעו־זאת לא מראשׁ בסתר דברתי מעת היותה שׁם אני ועתה אדני יהוה שׁלחני ורוחו

 “ Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.  All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? The Lord hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.  I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.  Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.”

Isaiah 41:4,

מי־פעל ועשׂה קרא הדרות מראשׁ אני יהוה ראשׁון ואת־אחרנים אני־הוא

4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

The phrase, “the first and the last” is used several times in Isaiah and Revelation.  However, this is the only time an explanation is given.  In the second passage we see that it does not always mean first and last in existence.  Sometimes it refers to calling the generations to God.  Does this description fit Jesus?  Might this be what he meant in Revelation 1:17?

Note that, although the speaker in the second quote is God, the speaker in the first quote appears to be someone sent by God, not God himself.  So, that speaker is following God’s example.  This speaker is following God’s example and calling the generations and this speaker is sent by God and His Spirit.