Gr. pantokratōr, “ruler of all.” The title recurs frequently in Revelation (chs. 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, translated “omnipotent,” 15; 21:22). In the LXX of Hosea 12:5pantokratōr translates the Heb. ṣeba’oth, “hosts,” commonly used with Yahweh as an OT designation for God (see Vol. I, p. 173). This title stresses the omnipotence of God. Compare 1 Sam. 1:11; Isa. 1:9; Jer. 2:19; Amos 9:5).
Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the reading “Lord God.”
The beginning and the ending.
Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) the omission of these words here and in v. 11, but they stand fully attested in ch. 22:13.
Alpha and Omega.
The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, loosely comparable with the expression “A to Z.” The phrase indicates completeness, comprehensiveness, and is the same in meaning as “the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (ch. 22:13). In this instance the speaker is “the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come,” identified in ch. 1:4 as God the Father (see comment there). However, in vs. 11-18 the expression “Alpha and Omega” is clearly identified with Christ, who also declares Himself to be “the first and the last.” In ch. 22:13 the phrase “Alpha and Omega” refers to Christ, as is evident from v. 16. The Father and the Son share these timeless attributes (see Additional Note on John 1).