Revelation 21:6; Beginning and the End

Revelation 21:6 (KJV)  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. 

Something like “beginning and the end” occurs in Isaiah 44:6 as a self-description of God.

Isaiah 44:6 (KJV)  Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I amthe last; and beside me there is no God. 

Colossians 1:18 sees Christ’s role as “the beginning” in reference to the church, and Revelation 3:14 does the same in reference to the world. Here, however, God is the first cause and the finality as in Romans 11:36 and Ephesians 4:6.

Colossians 1:18 (KJV)  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 

Revelation 3:14 (KJV)  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Romans 11:36 (KJV)  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. 

Ephesians 4:6 (KJV)  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 

The same is true of Christ according to Revelation 22:13.

Revelation 22:13 (KJV)  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

The use of telos in the New Testament to means “end” or “goal” is rare, but 1 Timothy 1:5 and Romans 10:4 approximate this meaning. Since God works through Christ, the title applies to both persons (cf. John 1:3; Colossians 1:12-20; Hebrews 1:2-3).

1 Timothy 1:5 (KJV)  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and offaith unfeigned: 

John 1:3 (KJV)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 

Colossians 1:12-20 (KJV)  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 

Hebrews 1:2-3 (KJV)  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 448]