Five times in the Book of Revelation, Jesus, God the Son, says He is the “First and the Last.” What is Jesus claiming? The first time God uses this designation of Himself is in Isaiah 41:4. Whenever the New Testament uses a phrase, a name, a symbol, or any other figure that has its origins in the Old Testament, we should study to discover what the original intent of it is. In this case it is obvious from the context of Isaiah 41:4 that God is claiming Himself sovereign over history. In Revelation Jesus claims Himself the First and the Last, thus claiming to be the Sovereign Lord over history.