Aleph & Tav: The Beginning and the End
The majority of this month’s letter was written by Anna Beth, my long time friend and associate. At the end of the letter we have a special ministry announcement to make. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Messiah and the beginning of the New Year, enjoy Anna Beth’s amazing teaching on two very special Hebrew letters...
Advent & Revelation
During Advent, as we look ahead to the Christmas season, our hearts naturally turn toward the beginning of Jesus’ life on earth: His miraculous first coming, born as a helpless baby in the little town of Bethlehem. But this year, I’d like to look toward His second coming: the return of the conquering King.
The story of the Baby in Bethlehem began way back in Genesis. And it is moving towards a climactic ending. This is the ending all of us are waiting for – the one every human heart is programmed to want. Even our favorite stories echo it (think The Lord of the Rings, The Avengers, or Mission Impossible). Just when it seems darkness is going to win, the hero steps onto the scene and destroys evil once and for all. For the end of the story, we need to turn to the Book of Revelation.
Revelation may seem like an unusual choice for Advent. True, a highly symbolic book describing the final events of history isn’t exactly easy reading. But bear with me. This often-misinterpreted book tells of the ultimate triumph of God and His Messiah over the Evil One, and the final establishment of His long-promised Kingdom.
Alpha & Omega
At its core, Revelation is about the faithfulness of God: His promise to accomplish His glorious plan on the earth, despite our constant faithlessness.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who was and who is and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” Revelation 21:6
These words bookend the message of Revelation. Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the last. When Jesus declares Himself the “Alpha and Omega,” He is saying that He stands before all things and after all things. He was there at creation, and He will be there at its renewal – the beginning and the end of the story. Both the source and the conclusion of human history.
As someone who loves languages, I’m always curious about what deeper meaning might lie beneath a familiar phrase. And as a bit of a Bible nerd, I can’t help but remember that Jesus’ everyday language wasn’t Greek. It was Aramaic, a language closely related to Hebrew, written with the Hebrew alphabet.
While the New Testament was recorded in Greek (to be shared widely across the Roman Empire), the events happened in a Semitic world. Jesus and His disciples thought, spoke, and prayed in Aramaic and Hebrew. So when Jesus spoke these words to John (His beloved disciple who shared that heart language), I doubt he said “Alpha and Omega” at all. I imagine He said, “I am the Aleph and the Tav.”Aleph & Tav
Hebrew words are like icebergs—so much meaning lies beneath the surface! The Hebrew alphabet developed from an ancient pictographic script called Paleo-Hebrew, in which each letter was a picture representing concrete objects, conveying conceptual meaning. The letters retain this meaning today. Let’s look at the first and last letters: Aleph and Tav.
Aleph (א) originated as a picture of an ox’s head, symbolizing strength, power, and leadership. The ox also represents humility and trustworthiness: a strong yet gentle animal that bears heavy burdens. Fittingly, Aleph is a silent letter. I can’t help but see humility even in that silence. Jesus described Himself as “gentle and humble in heart,” inviting us to take his “yoke” upon ourselves (Matthew 11:29). He is our strong yet servant-hearted leader who silently bore our sins like the lamb led to slaughter (Isaiah 53:7).
Tav (ת) was originally shaped like an X or a cross. It represented a mark, sign, or signature – something that sealed ownership or covenant. In ancient Jewish writings, Tav is said to be the mark placed on the foreheads of the faithful in Ezekiel 9:4–6, a striking parallel to the “seal of the servants of God” in Revelation 7. The truest covenant sign, of course, is found in the cross of Jesus – the mark of His love and sacrifice.
When Jesus says, “I am the Aleph and the Tav,” He reveals Himself as the strong and humble sign of God’s covenant. He is the ultimate demonstration of God’s faithfulness: the Word made flesh who dwelled among his people (John 1), the promised Son of David (Isaiah 9:7) and the King of Kings who will reign forever (Revelation 19:16).
Hidden in Plain Sight: The Little Word “Et”
There’s a tiny word in Hebrew, spelled with just these two letters: Aleph and Tav. It’s pronounced “et” (תא) and has no direct translation in English. Grammatically, it marks the direct object of a verb. You can see it twice in the very first verse of the Bible: “In the beginning, God created [et] the heavens and [et] the earth.” (Genesis 1:1). It’s there, quietly linking the Creator with His creation. The rabbis have often marveled at this mysterious word. And how fitting that it’s made up of the first and last letters – the beginning and the end!
In a sense, Jesus is that “et.” The direct object of all creation. The central point of everything that exists. As Paul writes in Colossians 1:16–17: “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth… all things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
From Beginning to End
As we approach Christmas, we celebrate the beginning – the Word made flesh, the baby in the manger, the first light of redemption dawning in the darkness. But Advent also calls us to look ahead and to remember that the story isn’t over.
One day, the same Jesus who came in humility will return in glory. The child who was laid in a feeding trough will come riding on the clouds. The One who bore our sins will wipe every tear from our eyes. He is the Aleph and the Tav: the Beginning and the End. The strong and humble covenant-keeper. The One who holds all things together and will make all things new.
This Advent season, let’s rest in the assurance that He is trustworthy and true. From the manger to the throne, from the first word to the last, Jesus is the story – its beginning, its middle, and its glorious end.
Important Year End and New Year Announcement
It is with sadness that we are saying goodbye to Anna Beth as a part of our Light of Messiah Ministries team in December 2025. Anna Beth has been faithfully serving the Lord vocationally since college. She has been with our team for 8 years and now feels the Lord moving her in new directions.Anna Beth’s love for the Lord, contribution to our ministry, and faithfulness of service cannot be overstated. Her gift of languages, excellence in teaching, and ability to bring people together to learn God’s word is unequalled. Her love for Israel and the Jewish people has inspired many. We are going to miss her tremendously.
I am confident that the Lord is going to continue to use Anna Beth in mighty ways. Our entire team loves her, as does everyone who has met her at ministry events or speaking engagements. She is leaving us to follow the Lord, but she will always be with us through our love and in our hearts.
Please pray for Anna Beth as she transitions to a new phase of life. Pray for our ministry as we continue building bridges between the church and the Jewish community, fighting antisemitism, and sharing the message of our Messiah Yeshua, Jesus.
