A serious questions for the Jehovah's Witnesses on these threads.

[Ronald Nolette]

And yet you still make excuses…..what part of “come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you"....do you not understand? SMH.

Key words...."come out from among them and be ye separate" and "touch not the unclean thing"...think about those...

No, you are being evasive and refusing to answer my questions. I will repeat them in case you missed them.

Is putting a pine tree in your house to celebrate Jesus birth sinful in and of itself ?

Is celebrating Jesus birth on 12/25 ore any day for that matter, sinful in and of itself?

Is giving gifts on 12/25 and decorating a home to celebrate Jesus birth , in and of itself sinful?

If you say yes- what makes it sinful? It is not worshipping Bacchus or Saturn so why is it sinful?

Key words...."come out from among them and be ye separate" and "touch not the unclean thing"...think about those.....

So you believe that pine trees and tree decorations and string lightrs and gifts on 12/25 are sinful in and of themselves. Ok then.

“A rose by any other name is still a rose”…sewerage is still sewerage even if you call it rose petals…..false worship with a “Christian” label is still false worship.
Whatever takes up the major part of your time and attention.....what receives your devotion in life, is your god.

So show by specifics how celebrating Jesus birth with the Christmas trappings is sinful and idolatry.

“Three separate persons”…..”three unique individuals” = 3 gods. That is polytheism. There is no such God in any verse of the Bible. (Deut 6:4)
The Jews did not know any such God and neither did Jesus.

No three "persons" who share the one nature! that is biblical.

Read it again…..it says “THE SMOKE of their torment” ascends…..in a symbolic book like Revelation, there is little that is literal, so what is the symbolism of the ascending smoke? Have you ever stood in a place that was burned by wildfires that wiped out whole communities? I have……and the smoke of the shouldering ashes and burned out trees, keeps ascending as a reminder of what happened there.…it can go on for some time.
Since there is no immortal soul taught in the Bible, this is not what Revelation is saying. There is no conscious soul to torment.

That is the lying excuse all cult members use to throw away passages that should be read literally. Yes there is a lot of symbolism in Revelation, but a lot of literalism as well. Neither you , nor I nor the Watchtower or any group has the right to decide what a passage means. That is forbidden by God when He inspired Peter.

If it is symbolic then explain what teh smoke means if not smoke
what torment means if not torment when no rest day nor night forever and ever if not for an eternity without rest.
what does the angel mean flying warining people to not take the mark if it doesn't mean what it says.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT FOR THOSE WHO TAKE THE MARK THEY WILL SUFFER THE WRATH OF GOD if it dsoesn't mean what it says.
What does it mean they will be tortured in the presence of the Lamb and His angels if it doesn't mean what it says.

It is part of several chapters of parables.

You need to read Luke again! Luke 15 are parables. But 16 and 17 are not!

Scripture please….there is no such thing as “an eternal soul” in the Bible….a “soul” is mortal, it can die. (Ezekiel 18:4)….and if you go back to Eden and God’s instructions to Adam, you will not find any “eternal soul” mentioned. Adam “became a soul” when God started him breathing. He was never told about heaven or hell as alternative destinations for the dead. He was told that death was death...the end of life. That is what being "mortal" means.....you can die.

I gave them to you but you pooh-poohed them away.

But here is another from Paul:

2 Corinthians 5

King James Version

​

5 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Now you are forbidden to go outside of watchtower material but if you did a word study and parsed the verbs and nouns, you would find Paul said this in todays vernacular:

When I die (absent from the body) I go home to be with Jesus (present with the Lord) present tense not some wish for the future.

To suggest that this is not a parable but should be taken literally, is ridiculous. Are heaven and hell in speaking distance of one another and can a drop of water on a man’s finger going to bring relief to someone who is in a fire? Seriously?

Well your error is you are thinking with a 21st century gentile mind and ot understanding the afterlife as Jews of Jesus day and Jesus did.

this is not the lake of fire and heaven.

Both places are in hell (the grave/sheol/hades)

Prior to Jesus physical ascension in to heaven there were three compartments to the grave or world fo the dead.

1. Tartarus, where the angels of Genesis 6 are now confined awaiting the lake of fire.
2. Where lost individuals go awaiting the lake of fire.
3. Abrahams Bosom/ Paradise, where the righteous souls of the dead went awaiting Jesus to shed His blood and rise physically from teh dead.

As it says in ephesians, When Jesus ascended on high, He led captivity with Him ( He emptied Paradise and brought all those souls with HIm.)

The writer of Hebrews confirmed the souls in heaven by writing 12:1 which by that word "wherefore" refers back to all those in chapter 11 which are all dead physically but their souls and spirits are in heaven.

I do not lie just because I disagree with what you want to believe.....I post scripture to support my view....I notice that scripture is a bit thin in your posts.

No you post a Scripture and then define it with the reinterpretation the Watchtower orders you to believe or suffer the consequences.

I have, very thoroughly, because unlike some people I don't swallow down anything that is not proven to me. I read the whole Bible, not just the verses that say what I want them to say. If what you believe isn't supported by the entirety of scripture then you have no understanding of what it teaches....it is one story. Everything fits.

Obviously not thoroughly enough!

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Ronald admits to being a member of the SBC...."Southern Baptists"?

I admit it proudly! But your point is?????

 

[Ronald Nolette]

I have, very thoroughly, because unlike some people I don't swallow down anything that is not proven to me. I read the whole Bible, not just the verses that say what I want them to say. If what you believe isn't supported by the entirety of scripture then you have no understanding of what it teaches....it is one story. Everything fits.

Just for you :

I told you that the Watchtower taught that be reading the bible alone will cause one to revert to teh teachings of Christendom like the trinity, hellfire, immortal soul, etc.:

By the Way all the material on my next two posts are direct from watchtower material and thus approved reading for you!

"From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude...They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such 'Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching ..." Watchtower 1981 Aug 15 p.29

1. “Let us face the fact that no matter how much Bible reading we have done, we would never have learned the truth on our own. We would not have discovered the truth regarding Jehovah, his purposes and attributes, the meaning and importance of his name, the Kingdom, Jesus’ ransom, the difference between God’s organization and Satan’s, nor why God has permitted wickedness,” (Watchtower, Dec. 1, 1990, p. 19).
2. “All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the “greatly diversified wisdom of God” can become known only through Jehovah’s channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave,” (Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1994, p. 8).
3. ” . . . the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty’ (Revelation 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership, is already commenced,” (The Time Is at Hand, 1908 edition, p. 101).
4. “The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914,” (Watchtower, Sept. 1, 1922, p. 262).
5. “Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge,” (Watchtower, Apr. 1, 1923, p. 106).
6. “Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord’s provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon,” (Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1941, p. 288).
7. “Why are you looking forward to 1975?” (Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1968, p. 494).

Former practices and teachings of the "faithful and discreet slave class".

• Using the symbol of the sun god Ra on the cover of his books.5.
• Using the Masonic Knights Templar logo of the Cross and Crown on his issues of Zion’s Watchtower.6.
• Teaching that he was the “Faithful and Wise Servant” of Matt. 24:45-51, which resulted in many of his followers actually worshipping him.7.
• Teaching that “the forming of a visible organization … would be out of harmony with the spirit of the divine plan.” “Beware of ‘organization.’ It is wholly unnecessary.”8.
• Teaching that Christians “are divine beings — hence all such are Gods, thus we have a family of God … in the resurrection we will rise in our true character as Gods.”9.
• Teaching that “the whole body of Christ the ‘Mighty God’ … shall share in the work of restoring the life lost in Adam, and therefore be members of that company which as a whole will be the Everlasting Father to the restored race.”10.
• Teaching that the Lord Jesus should be worshipped and that he is not Michael the archangel.11.
• Celebrating birthdays and holidays such as Christmas.12.
• Teaching that one can join the military as long as he did “not shoot anybody.”13.
• Teaching that white skin is better than black skin and that “the white race exhibits some qualities of superiority over any other.”14.
• Teaching that the shape of one’s brain determines his responsiveness to God.15.
• Teaching that Jehovah “governs his universe” from the star “Alcyone” in the Pleiades constellation.16.
• Teaching that the “Great Pyramid of Gizeh” was “God’s stone witness” which proved Russell’s claims that “the time of the end” embraced a period from 1799-1914, with Jesus’ invisible presence beginning in 1874, and the destruction of present government in 1914.17.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

I have, very thoroughly, because unlike some people I don't swallow down anything that is not proven to me.

"Even while being trampled on, these loyal ones do not cease to be Jehovah’s faithful witnesses. Hence, the prophecy continues: “‘And I will cause my two witnesses to prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days dressed in sackcloth.’ These are symbolized by the two olive trees and the two lampstands and are standing before the Lord of the earth.”—Revelation 11:3, 4. These faithful anointed Christians needed the quality of endurance, for they had to prophesy “in sackcloth.” What did this mean? In Bible times sackcloth often symbolized mourning. Wearing it was a sign that the person had been brought low in sorrow or distress. (Genesis 37:34; Job 16:15, 16; Ezekiel 27:31) Sackcloth was associated with the mournful messages of doom or grief that God’s prophets had to proclaim. (Isaiah 3:8, 24-26; Jeremiah 48:37; 49:3) The wearing of sackcloth could indicate humility or repentance in view of divine warning. (Jonah 3:5) The sackcloth worn by the two witnesses appears to indicate their humble endurance in announcing Jehovah’s judgments. They were witnesses proclaiming his day of vengeance that would bring mourning also to the nations.—Deuteronomy 32:41-43. The John class had to preach this message for a definitely stated time: 1,260 days, or 42 months, the same length of time that the holy city was to be trampled underfoot. This period seems to be literal, since it is expressed in two different ways, first in months and then in days. Additionally, at the beginning of the Lord’s day, there was a marked period of three and a half years when the hard experiences of God’s people matched the events prophesied here—starting in December 1914 and continuing to June 1918. (Revelation 1:10) They preached a “sackcloth” message concerning Jehovah’s judgment of Christendom and the world. The fact that they were symbolized by two witnesses confirms to us that their message was accurate and well founded." Revelation, It's Grand Climax At Hand! p.164

"The purpose of Awake! is stated clearly on page 4 of each issue: "This magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away."" Our Kingdom Ministry 1993 Oct p.8

"The plain truth is that we cannot say that we trust in Jehovah if we do not trust in his earthly representatives — those whom Jehovah trusts. Today Jehovah leads the earthly part of his organization by means of "the faithful and discreet slave."" Watchtower 2022 Feb p.4

"No man can properly interpret prophecy, and the Lord sends his angels to transmit correct information to his people." Watchtower 1936 Feb 15 p.52

"The Watchtower is not the instrument of any man or set of men, nor is it published according to the whims of men. No man's opinion is expressed in The Watchtower. God feeds his own people, and surely God uses those who love and serve him according to his own will. Those who oppose The Watchtower are not capable of discerning the truth that God is giving to the children of his organization, and this is the very strongest proof that such opposers are not of God's organization." Watchtower 1931 Nov 1 p.327

"Jehovah God has made known to his anointed ones in advance what these Scriptures mean." Watchtower 1931 Jun 1 p.160

"… the truths I present, as God's mouthpiece…" Zion's Watch Tower 1906 Jul 15 p.230

 

[The Learner]

No, you are being evasive and refusing to answer my questions. I will repeat them in case you missed them.

Is putting a pine tree in your house to celebrate Jesus birth sinful in and of itself ?

Is celebrating Jesus birth on 12/25 ore any day for that matter, sinful in and of itself?

Is giving gifts on 12/25 and decorating a home to celebrate Jesus birth , in and of itself sinful?

If you say yes- what makes it sinful? It is not worshipping Bacchus or Saturn so why is it sinful?

So you believe that pine trees and tree decorations and string lightrs and gifts on 12/25 are sinful in and of themselves. Ok then.

So show by specifics how celebrating Jesus birth with the Christmas trappings is sinful and idolatry.

No three "persons" who share the one nature! that is biblical.

None of those items involve pagan worship to true Christians.

"
Second Corinthians 6:17 says, “Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you” (CSB). The clause come out from among them is a reference to a passage in Isaiah.

Isaiah 52:11 speaks of the Israelites who are returning from exile in Egypt. (When Jerusalem fell, many of the people were carried away to Babylon, but some of the people fled to Egypt, thinking they would be safe there. Jeremiah warned them not to do this, but many of them went to Egypt anyway, and they took Jeremiah with them against his will. See Jeremiah 42 – 43.) In Isaiah 52, God is promising to call back to the Promised Land the descendants of those who went down to Egypt. The command to “come out from among them” is also an effective call. The people of Israel are commanded to forsake any idolatrous habits they may have picked up while in Egypt and to return to the Promised Land; at the same time, it is a promise that God will be the one to bring them back when the time is right.

Paul quotes this passage from Isaiah in reference to the Corinthian church. He is taking familiar wording and giving it meaning in a fresh context. Just as the Israelites in exile were to put off any idolatry they may have picked up while living in Egypt, so the Corinthian believers are to lay aside the idolatry and sexual immorality that they were steeped in by virtue of living in Corinth. They must be separate from the sin of the world.

Leading up to 2 Corinthians 6:17, Paul tells them, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers” (verse 14). We often apply this to a believer marrying an unbeliever, but it has a much wider application. In the context of the Corinthian church, it seems to have to do with participating in idolatry.

As a further rationale for the prohibition against being yoked to unbelievers, Paul asks a series of rhetorical questions. The implied answer to all of these is a big NOTHING!:
“What do righteousness and wickedness have in common?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
“What fellowship can light have with darkness?” (verse 14).
“What harmony is there between Christ and Belial [the devil]?” (verse 15).
“What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” (verse 15).
“What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?” (verse 16).

This final question gets to the heart of the matter. If there is no fellowship between the temple of God and idols, then the Christian should have nothing to do with idol worship: “For we are the temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16). Then to further support the idea that Christians are the temple of God, Paul quotes from Leviticus 26:12, which is also alluded to in Jeremiah 32:38 and Ezekiel 37:27: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16). The temple of God is where God dwells, and He says He will dwell among His people, making them the temple.

Since believers are in fact the temple of God, Paul concludes, “Come out from them and be separate. . . . Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” Christians are supposed to separate themselves from idol worship of any kind.

The concept of “separation” became one of the major teachings of fundamentalist Christianity in the United States in the 20th century. There was a lot of focus on “coming out and being separate” from the world in all sorts of ways, many of which may not have been warranted by Scripture. Many Christians were taught that they should separate from anything that looks at all like what “the world” was doing—attending movie theaters, playing cards, and dancing were commonly forbidden.

The biblical admonition of 2 Corinthians 6:17 is not so all-encompassing. Paul wants believers to be separate from idol worship in all its forms, but he never calls for a complete separation from pagan idol worshipers, whom they should attempt to win to Christ. Paul clarifies the matter of separation in 1 Corinthians 5:9–11: “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.”

Yes, the Lord wants His people to “come out from among them and be separate.” That means, first, that we should be separate from participation in sin. Second, we are to be separate from professing believers who are living in sin. Beyond that, Christians are called to not get involved in entangling relationships with unbelievers, which would lead to compromise (and thus being “yoked” with an unbeliever). Balancing that is the biblical understanding that we cannot completely remove ourselves from the world of unbelievers, as that would cause us to lose all influence. In the United States, if the 20th century was marked by believers being so separate from the world that there was not enough interaction with it, the 21st century may be marked by Christians being so involved with the world that it is hard to tell the difference between the two. Either way, evangelism is hampered. There must be a balance that cannot be summarized by a set of “dos and don’ts.” Every Christian has to decide if he or she is influencing the world or if the world is influencing him or her and then make choices accordingly."

The proof texts she referred to do not even relates to the questions.

What does it mean to come out from among them (2 Corinthians 6:17)? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to come out from among them? What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 6:17?

www.gotquestions.org

 

[Keiw]

No it is a plural noun. The singular of Elohim is Elowah or sometimes simply written as a prefix- "el", as in El shaddai

How about El ijah?--Elohim is Jehovah. Israel-NEVER served a trinity God while serving the true God= 100% undeniable fact.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

How about El ijah?--Elohim is Jehovah. Israel-NEVER served a trinity God while serving the true God= 100% undeniable fact.

No the tri-unity of God was not fully revealed in the OT, just like how Jesus was to die and many other mysteries of the Old revealed in the New. but they knew God already had a specific son as per JOb, Knew there were two beings called Yahweh etc. So if you wish to live in the OT go ahead, but we now live in the New and many of the secrets hidden in the old have now been revealed in the new!

 

[Wrangler]

By the Way all the material on my next two posts are direct from watchtower material and thus approved reading for you!

I'm afraid this has crossed the line for me. Whereas, we were having an in-depth conversation, JW's like Aunty Jane received (read) fairly intense scrutiny AND responded admirably, thoughtfully and respectfully. This I like. This I love. This I respect.

Now, you are posting a litany of all kinds of things implying JW's are wrong unless they can defend, not what they themselves had said, but what the organization they belong to has ever written AND do so to the n-th degree. This has devolved into a witch hunt, from questioning to prosecuting to persecuting. I'm going to ask the mods to shut it down.

 

[Rita]

I see no reason to close the thread down at this time

 

[Keiw]

No the tri-unity of God was not fully revealed in the OT, just like how Jesus was to die and many other mysteries of the Old revealed in the New. but they knew God already had a specific son as per JOb, Knew there were two beings called Yahweh etc. So if you wish to live in the OT go ahead, but we now live in the New and many of the secrets hidden in the old have now been revealed in the new!

There aren't 2 beings called YHWH. He alone is the true God=The Father.

 

[RR144]

Well as I moved from New England to S. Carolina seven months ago, my new church is an SBC church. I do not know all there is about the SBC, but my local pastor is a great man of God and is a great preacher/teacher of the Word and has a wonderful vision.

I take it that means Southern Baptist Church?

So you want to expose the Watchtower and other groups for what they teach and do? The SBC has one thing in common with the Watchtower, the Roman Catholic Church and Mormons; are you aware of the sex scandal, where hundreds of leaders sexually abusing members, and the leadership were ignoring, disbelieving, intimidating survivors and their advocates? The SBC was formed as a result of their racist past as they were pro slavery. 87% are white, 6% black, 3% Hispanic. They lost over 2 million members since 2006. SBC believe "once saved, always save" that a Christian cannot lose their salvation, which goes against Scripture.

My past 2 churches were:

an unaffiliated Baptist church in New England for 25 years

an independent non- denominational church for over 19 years

Well, I'm sure we could find controversies among them too.

 

[Keiw]

I take it that means Southern Baptist Church?

So you want to expose the Watchtower and other groups for what they teach and do? The SBC has one thing in common with the Watchtower, the Roman Catholic Church and Mormons; are you aware of the sex scandal, where hundreds of leaders sexually abusing members, and the leadership were ignoring, disbelieving, intimidating survivors and their advocates? The SBC was formed as a result of their racist past as they were pro slavery. 87% are white, 6% black, 3% Hispanic. They lost over 2 million members since 2006. SBC believe "once saved, always save" that a Christian cannot lose their salvation, which goes against Scripture.


Well, I'm sure we could find controversies among them too.

Not to mention the segregation and hearts filled with hate because a mans skin color was not the same as theirs. All over the south, proving Jesus is NOT with that religion. Jesus=Love, peace, unity--Antichrist= hate, war, division. Its not to difficult to see reality.

 

[ElieG12]

To my witnesses brothers and sisters: stop exchanging dialogue with the filthy apostates.

 

[Cassandra]

To my witnesses brothers and sisters: stop exchanging dialogue with the filthy apostates.

So they are not allowed to give a reason for the hope they have within them?

Do you not realize that the members here are not the only ones to reads the posts? This is, more or less, an outreach ministry.

Posting things might do some good for someone.
filthy apostates? Who is filthy? All our righteousness are as filthy rags. that is everybody.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

There aren't 2 beings called YHWH. He alone is the true God=The Father.

The bible says the Watchtower is a liar!

Isaiah 44:6

King James Version

​

6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

I take it that means Southern Baptist Church?

So you want to expose the Watchtower and other groups for what they teach and do? The SBC has one thing in common with the Watchtower, the Roman Catholic Church and Mormons; are you aware of the sex scandal, where hundreds of leaders sexually abusing members, and the leadership were ignoring, disbelieving, intimidating survivors and their advocates? The SBC was formed as a result of their racist past as they were pro slavery. 87% are white, 6% black, 3% Hispanic. They lost over 2 million members since 2006. SBC believe "once saved, always save" that a Christian cannot lose their salvation, which goes against Scripture.


Well, I'm sure we could find controversies among them too.

yes you could. any church the has people will have issues! BUT BUT BUT the enormous and critical difference is that outside of the RCC these other churches do not publicly in their materials to be Gods sole channel of Communication to people, Gods prophet and the only organization one can belong to, to be saved. Also according to the Watchtower, to contradict them is to contradict God! So when they come out with declarations, they are supposed to be straight from God.

It is not about a pastor falling into sexual sin or stealing funds, it is about making proclamations and saying it is from God and to not submit tot heir proclamations is to defy god!

 

[Keiw]

The bible says the Watchtower is a liar!

Isaiah 44:6​

​

King James Version​

​

​

6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

44:6-- This is what YHWH has said, the king of Israel and the repurchaser of him, Jehovah of armies. I--( NOT WE) am the first and the last, and beside me( not we) there is no other God.

 

[The Learner]

The bible says the Watchtower is a liar!

Isaiah 44:6​

​

King James Version​

​

​

6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Revelation 1:11
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.

Revelation 1:17
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:

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

Isaiah 41:4
Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.

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

Isaiah 48:12
Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

 

[The Learner]

Jesus is the one speaking in Revelation.

Revelation 1:8
King James Version
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.

Jesus is who is coming back, "which is to come, the Almighty".

 

[The Learner]

"ἈΠῸ Ὁ ὬΝ, Κ.Τ.Λ. Description of the divine name יהוה,[553] but not under the cabalistic presupposition, that in that name itself, in a mystical way, the three tenses are indicated.[554] As to the form of the expression, neither is the manifestly intentional combination of the nom. ὁ ὤν, κ.τ.λ., with ἀπό to be impaired by the insertion of τοῦ,[555] or by supplying τοῦ λεγομένου ὁ ὤν, κ.τ.λ., τοῦ ὅς ὁ ὤν, κ.τ.λ., τοῦ θεοῦ ὅς ὁ ὤν, κ.τ.λ., etc.;[556] nor is the irregularity, that, in the absence of a necessary preterite participle in the formula ὁ ην, the finite tense is treated as a participle, to be accounted for by the false conception that ὁ stood for ὅς;[557] nor, finally, is ὁ ἐρχόμενος to be taken as precisely equivalent to ὁ ἐσόμενος[558] by an accommodation of the use of הכָּא, perhaps with an allusion to Mark 10:30, John 4:21; John 5:25; John 16:25; John 16:31 : but, in that inflexible firmness of the divine name,[559] there is something mysterious;[560] viz., an intimation of the immutability of the eternal God [see Note XVII., p. 122], who, as is shown also by the idea itself of eternity, and especially by the Ὁ ἘΡΧΌΜΕΝΟς,[561] rules the destinies of his people, as well as of the hostile world, brings his prophecy to fulfilment, and especially holds in his firm hand the entire development of the judgment. Accordingly, John writes not Ὁ ἘΣΌΜΕΝΟς, but with living reference to the fundamental thoughts of the book,[562] Ὁ ἘΡΧΌΜΕΝΟς, as also Revelation 1:8; Revelation 4:8. [See Note XVIII., p. 122.] The question whether, by the formula Ὁ ὬΝ Κ. Ὁ ἩΝ Κ. Ὁ ἘΡΧΌΜΕΝΟς, the triune God, or only God the Father, be designated, can be answered only in connection with the two following members of the sentence."

Revelation 1:4 Commentaries: John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,