The follwing is adapted from the site Adventist Defense League with the permisiion of the author Edwin M. Cotto. Please click here to see the original article.
We'll begin by quoting from the Watch Tower booklet, “Should we believe in the Trinity?” On page 13 of this booklet, in the section entitled, “Not a plural God,” we read the following comment:“That is why nowhere in the Bible is anyone but Jehovah called the Almighty. Otherwise, it voids the meaning of the word ‘almighty.’ Neither Jesus nor the holy spirit is ever called that, for Jehovah alone is supreme.”
We are most interested in the point made that Jesus is never called the “Almighty” in the entire bible. Let us now turn to Revelation 1:8:
Revelation 1:8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, says Jehovah God, the One who is and who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.
Clearly, he who is Alpha and Omega, and who is also “the Almighty” is “Jehovah God” himself. Now we direct your attention to verse 12 and beyond, which read:“And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me, and, having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands (13) and in the midst of the lampstands someone like a son of man, clothed with a garment that reached down to the feet, and girded at the breast with a golden girdle.”
Now we read of another voice that John heard speaking, which said, “What you see, write in a scroll…” –verse 11. This voice, when John turns to see him, he sees one “like unto a son of man.” Now notice the context from here on… from verses 14 through 16 he is describing how this “son of man” looked. Now this same son of man says in verses 17 and 18…“…And he laid his right hand upon me and said: ‘Do not be fearful. I am the First and the Last, and the living one; and I became dead, but, look! I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.”
We notice, that the “son of man” is the same person who, according to verse 17 and 18, is the “First and the Last” and who also “became dead.” Who else is this but Jesus Christ, who is constantly referred to through scripture as the “son of man” and who “became dead.” You have to say that the one speaking in verses 17 and 18 is Jesus, because you do not believe God can die.
Now if it is true that this is Jesus, how is it that he is also called the First and the Last, which is the same as the Alpha and the Omega?And since God is the one claiming to be the “Alpha and Omega” in verse 8, Jesus Christ, who also claims this title in verses 17 and 18, must therefore be the same one who spoke in verse 8. Now this poses a problem because he who spoke in verse 8 said that he is the “Almighty.”
There is another reason to believe that the one speaking in verse 8 is the same person who speaks in verses 17 and 18. Verse 8 says that Jehovah God is the one… “who is coming.” There is another verse which also shows that God is the one coming:
Revelation 22:6-7 There words are faithful and true, yes, Jehovah the God of the inspired expressions of the prophets sent his angel forth to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. And, look! I am coming quickly.
Take note that it is “Jehovah the God” who is “coming quickly.” Also note that this same Jehovah God, who is coming quickly, sent forth “his angel.” Now read verse 12:“Look! I am coming quickly and the reward I give is with me, to render each one as his work is. I am Alpha and Omega, and first and the last, the beginning and the end.” –verse 12.
Again, reading down from verse 6 through 12 we note that God again says that he is coming quickly, and also that he is Alpha and Omega. Now read the rest of the chapter, and note carefully verse 20, which reads:“He that bears witness of these things says, ‘Yes; I am coming quickly.’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.”
We now find, that he who we have seen is coming quickly in Revelation 1:8, in Revelation 22:6-7 and in Revelation 22:12, claiming to be the “Alpha and Omega” and claiming to be the one who sends” his angel” is none other then Jesus Christ according to verse 20!
Let us now see how it is “Jesus” who” sends forth his angel… read verse 16:
“I, Jesus, sent my angel to bear witness to you people of these things for the congregations.” –verse 16
We therefore note the following parallels:
-God claims to be the Alpha and Omega –Rev. 1:8
-Jesus claims to be Alpha and Omega –Rev. 16-17
-God is coming quickly –Rev. 1:8, 22:6-7, 22:12
-Jesus is coming quickly –Rev. 22:20
-God sends his Angel –Rev. 22:6
-Jesus sends his Angel –Rev. 22:16
As a response, one JW told me that the reason why Jesus has the same title of Alpha and Omega as does the father is because God shares his glory with him. But let us read yet another verse, from their own translation of the bible, which reads:
Isaiah 48:11 For my own sake, for my own sake I shall act, for how can one let oneself be profaned? And to no one else shall I give my own glory.”
Heres another similar verse:
Isaiah 42:8 I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else will I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images.
If God shares his glory which belongs only to him, how is it that God himself says here in Isaiah 48:11 that he does not share his glory with anyone? Since we can clearly see that the one who says he is Alpha and Omega in Revelation 1:17-18 is the same one who spoke in Revelation 1:8, and in Revelation 1:8 he calls himself the “Almighty,” isn’t it true then, that despite what the Trinity publication told us before, that indeed Jesus is called the “Almighty” in verse 8? And who else is almighty but Jehovah God?