Is "The Alpha and the Omega" Attributed Only to God? A Biblical and Historical Refutation of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Claim that Jesus Is Not God

Introduction

One of the most common arguments raised by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) is that Jesus cannot be God because only the Father is called God.

However, the Book of Revelation contains one of the strongest declarations of Christ's divinity through one extraordinary title:

"I am the Alpha and the Omega."

The real question is:

Can this title belong to anyone besides God?

The biblical evidence gives a clear answer.

No.

Nowhere in Scripture is Alpha and Omega ever used for a prophet, apostle, angel, king, or any ordinary human being.

Instead, it is a uniquely divine title.

Even more remarkable, Revelation applies this same title to Jesus Christ.

---

What Does "Alpha and Omega" Mean?

Alpha (Α) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet.

Omega (Ω) is the last.

Thus,

Alpha and Omega

means

The Beginning and the End

or

The One who encompasses everything from eternity to eternity.

It signifies:

• Eternal existence
• Absolute sovereignty
• Creator of all
• Lord of history
• The One who completes all things

Only God possesses these attributes.

---

Old Testament Background

The phrase originates from Old Testament descriptions of Yahweh.

Isaiah repeatedly records God saying:

"I am the first and I am the last."

Isaiah 41:4

"I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he."

Isaiah 44:6

"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel...

I am the first and I am the last;

besides me there is no God."

Notice the connection.

"I am the First and the Last"

is immediately followed by

"Besides Me there is no God."

This is an exclusive claim of deity.

---

Isaiah 48:12

"I am He;

I am the first,

and I am the last."

Again,

this belongs only to Yahweh.

No human being ever says this.

---

Revelation Applies the Same Divine Language

Revelation 1:8

"I am the Alpha and the Omega,

says the Lord God,

who is and who was and who is to come,

the Almighty."

This clearly refers to God.

No debate.

---

Revelation 21:6

Again God says

"I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the Beginning and the End."

Again,

God Himself.

---

Revelation 22:13

Now comes the crucial text.

Jesus declares:

"I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the First and the Last,

the Beginning and the End."

The INC often argues that this speaker is still the Father.

But the surrounding context proves otherwise.

---

Who Is Speaking in Revelation 22?

Look carefully.

Revelation 22:12

"Behold, I am coming soon."

Who is coming?

Jesus.

---

Revelation 22:16

Just four verses later:

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel..."

The speaker identifies Himself explicitly.

The one speaking throughout this section is

Jesus Christ.

Therefore,

the One saying

"I am Alpha and Omega"

is Jesus.

---

Internal Evidence

The flow is uninterrupted.

Verse 12

"I am coming."

↓

Verse 13

"I am Alpha and Omega."

↓

Verse 16

"I, Jesus..."

The speaker never changes.

---

Jesus Also Calls Himself "The First and the Last"

Another decisive text.

Revelation 1:17-18

Jesus says:

"Fear not,

I am the First and the Last,

and the Living One.

I died,

and behold I am alive forevermore."

Ask:

Who died?

Only Jesus.

Therefore,

Who is

"The First and the Last"?

Jesus.

Yet Isaiah says

only Yahweh is

"the First and the Last."

The conclusion is unavoidable.

Jesus shares Yahweh's divine identity.

---

Greek Study

Alpha

Greek:

Ἄλφα

First letter.

Represents origin.

---

Omega

Greek:

Ὦ

Last letter.

Represents completion.

---

Revelation 22:13 Greek

Ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ Ἄλφα καὶ τὸ Ὦ

"I AM the Alpha and the Omega."

Notice

Ἐγώ εἰμι

"I AM"

echoes God's self-identification (cf. Exodus 3:14 in the Septuagint, where God reveals Himself as "I AM"; John also records Jesus' use of the absolute "I am" sayings, e.g., John 8:58).

This is deliberate.

John presents Jesus with divine language.

---

Can Any Human Be Called Alpha and Omega?

Search the entire Bible.

You will never find:

• Moses
• Abraham
• David
• Elijah
• Peter
• Paul
• John
• Mary
• any prophet

called

Alpha and Omega.

Why?

Because it is God's title.

---

Comparison Table

Person	Called Alpha and Omega?
God the Father	Yes
Jesus Christ	Yes
Holy Spirit	Never explicitly, though fully divine in Trinitarian theology
Moses	No
Abraham	No
David	No
Peter	No
Paul	No
Angels	No
Any human	No

The Bible reserves this title for deity.

---

INC Objection #1

"Only the Father is speaking."

Answer:

Revelation 22:12–16 is one continuous discourse.

Jesus identifies Himself in verse 16.

No textual marker indicates a speaker change between verses 12–15.

Therefore,

verse 13 belongs naturally to Jesus.

---

INC Objection #2

"Jesus merely represents God."

Representation cannot explain why Jesus bears titles that Isaiah reserves exclusively for Yahweh, such as:

• First and Last
• Alpha and Omega
• Beginning and End

Isaiah 44:6 declares:

"Besides Me there is no God."

If Jesus were merely a representative, then attributing Yahweh's exclusive divine titles to Him would blur the very distinction Isaiah insists upon.

---

INC Objection #3

"Jesus received authority from God."

Catholics fully agree that, in His incarnate mission, the Son receives authority from the Father (cf. Matthew 28:18). But receiving authority according to His mission does not negate His divine nature. The New Testament also teaches that the Son shares the Father's eternal glory (John 17:5), is worshiped (Hebrews 1:6), and possesses the divine name and identity (Philippians 2:9–11).

---

Additional Biblical Evidence

Jesus possesses titles belonging only to Yahweh.

First and Last

Isaiah 44:6

↓

Revelation 1:17

---

Lord of Glory

Psalm 24

↓

1 Corinthians 2:8

---

Savior

Isaiah 43:11

↓

Titus 2:13

---

Judge of All

Joel 3

↓

John 5:22

---

Worshiped

Only God receives worship.

Yet

Matthew 14:33

Matthew 28:9

Hebrews 1:6

show Jesus receiving worship without rebuke.

---

Witness of the Early Church Fathers

St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. A.D. 107)

"Our God, Jesus Christ..."

—Letter to the Ephesians 18.2.^1

---

St. Irenaeus (c. A.D. 180)

Christ is

"God and Lord and eternal King."

—Against Heresies III.19.2.^2

---

Tertullian (c. A.D. 210)

The Son shares

the Father's divine substance.

—Against Praxeas 2.^3

---

St. Athanasius (4th century)

Only God can rightly be called the First and the Last.

The Son possesses these divine titles because He is eternally God.

—Against the Arians.^4

---

Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus is fully God from all eternity.

CCC 454

"The title 'Son of God' signifies the unique and eternal relationship of Jesus Christ to God his Father."^5

CCC 590

Jesus identified Himself with the divine name and exercised prerogatives belonging to God alone.^6

CCC 663

Christ shares the Father's divine glory and reigns eternally.^7

---

Historical Timeline

c. A.D. 30 – Jesus claims divine prerogatives.

c. A.D. 95 – Revelation identifies Jesus as Alpha and Omega.

107 – Ignatius calls Jesus "our God."

180 – Irenaeus teaches Christ's full divinity.

325 – The Council of Nicaea affirms the Son is "of one substance" (homoousios) with the Father, defending the apostolic faith against Arianism.

---

Theological Significance

If Alpha and Omega belongs only to God,

and

Jesus is Alpha and Omega,

then

Jesus possesses the divine identity.

This does not mean the Father is the Son.

Rather,

Father and Son are distinct Persons who share the one divine nature.

This is the foundation of the doctrine of the Trinity.

---

Conclusion

The Bible never attributes Alpha and Omega to any ordinary human being.

It is a uniquely divine title rooted in Yahweh's self-revelation in Isaiah and Revelation.

The Book of Revelation applies this title to both God and Jesus Christ. Likewise, Jesus calls Himself "the First and the Last," a title Isaiah explicitly reserves for Yahweh alone. These texts, together with the witness of the early Church and the Church's constant teaching, provide strong evidence that the New Testament presents Jesus not merely as God's representative but as sharing the divine identity.

Therefore, the claim that Jesus cannot be God because only the Father is God does not adequately account for the biblical data. The scriptural evidence consistently points to Christ's full deity while maintaining the distinction between the Father and the Son within the mystery of the Trinity.

---

Chicago-Style Inline Footnotes

1. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Ephesians 18.2.
2. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies III.19.2.
3. Tertullian, Against Praxeas 2.
4. Athanasius of Alexandria, Against the Arians.
5. Catechism of the Catholic Church, §454.
6. Catechism of the Catholic Church, §590.
7. Catechism of the Catholic Church, §663.

 

From A.D. 33 to the Modern Era: The Ages and Origins of Major Global Religions

For history buffs, theologians, and the deeply curious, tracking the timeline of world religions offers a fascinating look at how human faith has evolved. If you have ever wondered exactly how long the world’s major Christian denominations and religious movements have been around, this comprehensive guide lays it all out.

Using the current year 2026 as our baseline, let’s travel back in time to calculate the exact ages and uncover the historical origins of these major global faiths—ordered from the oldest to the most recent.

1. The Early Church / Christianity

• Founded: Circa A.D. 33

• Age Today: Humigit-kumulang 1,993 years old

According to Christian tradition and historical consensus, Jesus Christ established His Church in Jerusalem around A.D. 33. While Jesus formed the foundation of the Church during His earthly ministry with His Apostles, its official "birthday" is recognized as the Day of Pentecost (recorded in Acts 2), when the Holy Spirit descended upon the believers.

Historians and theologians generally place this milestone between A.D. 30 and A.D. 33. This means that in just seven years, the global Christian community will celebrate its monumental 2,000th anniversary (Bicentennial).

Calculation: 2026−33=1993 years

2. The Catholic Church

• Founded: Circa A.D. 33 (Theologically) / A.D. 313 (Secular Institutionalization)

• Age Today: 1,993 years old (Faith-based) or 1,713 years old (Secular history)

From the Catholic perspective, the Catholic Church is the original Church founded by Christ in A.D. 33, with Saint Peter designated by Jesus as the first Pope. The Church traces an unbroken line of leadership from Peter to the current Pope Francis through a doctrine known as Apostolic Succession. The term "Catholic" (from the Greek katholikos, meaning "universal") was first recorded around A.D. 110 by St. Ignatius of Antioch to describe this global body of believers.

Secular historians, however, often mark the formal institutionalization of the Roman Catholic Church at the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, when Roman Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity, allowing it to transition into a structured imperial institution.

Secular Calculation: 2026−313=1713 years

3. The Lutheran Church

• Founded: October 31, 1517

• Age Today: 509 years old

The birth of the Lutheran Church marks the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. On October 31, 1517, a German Catholic monk and professor of theology named Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

Luther’s original intent was not to start a new religion, but to reform financial and theological practices within the Catholic Church. However, the rift led to his excommunication in 1521, causing his followers to formally organize into what became the Lutheran Church, solidifying their doctrine in the Augsburg Confession of 1530.

Calculation: 2026−1517=509 years

 

Calvinism (Reformed Theology)

• Founded: March 1536

• Age Today: Humigit-kumulang 490 years old

 

Calvinism, or Reformed Theology, represents the second major wave of the Protestant Reformation. While early reforms in Switzerland were sparked by Huldrych Zwingli in 1519 (making the Reformed tradition 507 years old), the movement’s definitive theological structure was established by French theologian John Calvin.

In March 1536, Calvin published his seminal work, "Institutes of the Christian Religion" in Basel, Switzerland. Calvinism became the theological foundation for Presbyterian, Reformed, and Puritan churches worldwide, widely known today for its focus on the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation, summarized by the famous acronym T.U.L.I.P.

Calculation: 2026−1536=490 years

 

 

5. The Presbyterian Church

• Founded: August 1560

• Age Today: 466 years old

While Presbyterianism embraces Calvinist theology, it became a distinct national church in Scotland under the leadership of John Knox in 1560. In August of that year, the Scottish Parliament rejected Papal authority and adopted the Scots Confession, creating the Church of Scotland—the world's first official Presbyterian denomination.

The name "Presbyterian" refers to its unique form of governance, derived from the Greek word presbyteros (meaning "elder"). Rather than being ruled by bishops or the entire congregation, the church is governed by democratic councils of local elders.

Calculation: 2026−1560=466 years

 

6. The Baptist Church

• Founded: 1609

• Age Today: 417 years old

The Baptist movement emerged out of the English Separatist movement in the early 17th century. The very first official Baptist church was established in 1609 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, by English pastor John Smyth. Smyth and his followers rejected infant baptism, arguing that baptism should only be administered to conscious believers who have personally confessed their faith (believer's baptism).

By 1612, Thomas Helwys established the first Baptist church on English soil in Spitalfields, London. The movement later spread rapidly to America, splitting into various subgroups but remaining anchored to the core principles of believer's baptism by full immersion and the autonomy of the local congregation.

Calculation: 2026−1609=417 years

 

7. The Mormon Church (LDS)

• Founded: April 6, 1830

• Age Today: 196 years old

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as Mormonism) was officially organized by its prophet, Joseph Smith, on April 6, 1830, in Fayette, New York.

The movement's history actually points back to 1820 (206 years ago), when a 14-year-old Smith claimed to receive his "First Vision" of God the Father and Jesus Christ. By March 1830, Smith published the Book of Mormon, which he claimed to have translated from golden plates revealed to him by an angel. Following intense persecution and Smith's murder in 1844, his successor Brigham Young led the pioneers west to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah in 1847, where their global headquarters remains today.

Calculation: 2026−1830=196 years 

8. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church

• Founded: May 21, 1863

• Age Today: 163 years old

The Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) was formally established in Battle Creek, Michigan, on May 21, 1863. The denomination grew out of the "Millerite movement" of the 1840s, led by Baptist preacher William Miller.

Following a period of theological re-examination, pioneers like Ellen G. White (whom Adventists recognize as possessing a prophetic gift), James White, and Joseph Bates officially organized the church. The name highlights two core beliefs: keeping the literal seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) as a day of rest, and eagerly awaiting the imminent Second Advent (return) of Jesus Christ.

Calculation: 2026−1863=163 years

 

9. Jehovah’s Witnesses

• Founded: 1870 (Movement) / July 26, 1931 (Official Name)

• Age Today: 156 years old as a movement / 95 years old by name

The roots of Jehovah’s Witnesses go back to 1870 when Charles Taze Russell formed an independent Bible study group in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Originally known simply as the "Bible Students," they incorporated the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in 1884 to print their materials.

The movement underwent major organizational changes under its second president, Joseph Franklin Rutherford. On July 26, 1931, at a convention in Columbus, Ohio, the group officially adopted the name Jehovah’s Witnesses (based on Isaiah 43:10-12) to cleanly distinguish themselves from other Bible student factions.

Movement Calculation: 2026−1870=156 years

Name Calculation: 2026−1931=95 years

 

10. The Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ)

• Founded: July 27, 1914

• Age Today: 112 years old

The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) was officially registered with the Philippine government by Brother Felix Y. Manalo on July 27, 1914. INC doctrines state that the church is the re-establishment of the original Church of Christ that fell into apostasy, prophesied to emerge in the "Far East" (the Philippines) in the concurrent timeline of the ends of the earth.

Brother Felix Manalo began preaching his message in Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila in late 1913 before registering the church the following year, coinciding exactly with the outbreak of World War I. Today, the church will celebrate its 112th anniversary this coming July, boasting a global presence spanning over 160 countries.

Calculation: 2026−1914=112 years

 

11. The "Born Again" (Evangelical / Charismatic) Movement

• Founded: Early 18th Century (Theological Roots) / 1906 (Modern Charismatic Era)

• Age Today: Approximately 120 to 292 years old

Unlike traditional denominations, the "Born Again" movement cannot be traced to a single calendar date or founder. It is a broad, global trans-denominational movement centered around the experience of spiritual rebirth (being born again).

Historians measure its age in three waves:

1. The Theological Roots (292 years old): Traced back to the First Great Awakening around 1734, where preachers like John Wesley popularized personal conversion experiences.

2. The Modern Charismatic Era (120 years old): Sparked by the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles in 1906, which birthed the modern Pentecostal expression of worship, energetic praise, and global evangelical movements.

3. The Pop-Culture Boom (Approx. 50-60 years old): The phrase "Born Again" exploded into global pop-culture dominance during the 1970s, fueled by massive Billy Graham crusades and high-profile media coverage, giving rise to independent megachurches worldwide.

 

Conclusion

History provides an important safeguard against anachronistic interpretations. The Gospel of Matthew was written in the first century for Christians living within the apostolic Church. Christ's warnings in Matthew 24 first addressed those disciples and continue to warn every generation against deception. They are not a coded prediction identifying the Catholic Church—already rooted in apostolic leadership—as the enemy. Rather, Scripture, the earliest Christian witnesses, and Catholic teaching consistently point believers toward perseverance in the apostolic faith, vigilance against false teachers, and fidelity to the Church Christ established.

---

Selected Bibliography

1. Eusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History.
2. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrnaeans; Letter to the Philadelphians.
3. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies, Book III.
4. Flavius Josephus, The Jewish War; Antiquities of the Jews.
5. Catechism of the Catholic Church.
6. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary.
7. Introduction to the New Testament.

Chicago-Style Inline Footnotes

1. Eusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History 3.39, citing Papias of Hierapolis.
2. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Philadelphians 3; Letter to the Smyrnaeans 8.
3. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 3.3.1–3.

One Body, One Faith: Debunking the Protestant Defense of Denominationalism

Is Christian division part of God’s plan or a modern deception? Discover how Romans 16:17-18 exposes denominationalism using Scripture, Church Fathers, and history.

A common narrative among modern Protestant communities is that Christian denominationalism—the fragmentation of believers into thousands of distinct sects—is a healthy expression of "diversity within the Body of Christ." Some go so far as to claim that these divisions are God’s will, a deliberate scattering intended to spread different perspectives of the Gospel across the globe.

But when we view this claim through the lens of Sacred Scripture, Apostolic Tradition, and Church history, a starkly different reality emerges. Scriptural division (pagka bahinbahin) and spiritual scattering (pagkatibulaag) within the Body of Christ are never attributed to the Holy Spirit. Instead, Scripture identifies them as works of human pride and diabolical deception.

The Exegesis of Romans 16:17-18

To understand the biblical perspective on division, we look directly to St. Paul’s final warnings to the Church in Rome:

St. Paul warning the Early Church against theological deviations. Source: Photos.com / Getty Images

"I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simple." — Romans 16:17-18 (RSV)[^1]  

When St. Paul demands that believers "take note of" and "avoid" those who create dissensions (pagka bahinbahin), he provides three explicit criteria that directly debunk the concept of multi-denominational Christianity:

    The Standard is Received Doctrine: Division is defined as being "in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught." True unity cannot exist where doctrines are compromised or altered.

    The Source is Self-Serving: Paul explicitly notes that the creators of these divisions do not serve Christ, but "their own appetites" (kaugalingong kahakog). It is an act of human pride, not divine inspiration.

    The Method is Deception: These groups recruit through "fair and flattering words," appealing to personal sentiments rather than established Apostolic truth.

The Origin of Scattering: From Babel to Pentecost

To determine whether scattering is the will of God or the work of the enemy, we must trace the theological evolution of this concept from the Old Testament through the New Covenant.

The Tower of Babel: Scattering as a divine judgment against human pride. Source: Pictures from History / Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
 

The Old Testament Foundation

In Genesis 11, humanity attempted to build the Tower of Babel to make a name for themselves apart from God. God responded by confusing their language and scattering them across the earth. Here, scattering (pagkatibulaag) was a punishment for pride and rebellion.[[^2]]

The New Covenant Restoration

If Babel represents the scattering of humanity due to sin, the New Covenant represents the gathering of God's children into visible unity. At Pentecost (Acts 2), the Holy Spirit reversed the curse of Babel. People of different nations and tongues heard the Apostles preach a single, unified message, bringing them into one visible community.[[^3]]