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INTRODUCTION
Last words matter.
They reveal a lot about our character and our priorities.
Last words are meant to make an impact and leave a lasting impression.
We even have the phrase “famous last words.”
Benjamin Franklin: Daughter told him to change position in bed so he could breathe more easily.
He replied, “A dying man can do nothing easy.”
Pete Maravich: “Pistol" Pete collapsed during a game.
His last words: “I feel great.”
Groucho Marx: “This is no way to live!”
Winston Churchill: “I’m bored with it all.”
Leonardo da Vinci: “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.”
If that’s true for us, how much more so for God’s words.
In Revelation 22 we have the last words not only of Jesus but of the entire Bible.
These are words that Jesus wants us to remember so that they might frame how we live in the days preceeding his return.
Is it any surprise that the famous last words of Scripture make up a great invitation for sinners to come and experience salvation?
I’m not surprised by it whatsoever.
It’s central to God’s character and heart.
Our God has a great evangelistic heart and impulse in all that he says.
This morning we’re going to examine those famous last words and draw out seven final invitations from Jesus to us.
As with most epilogues - the content of this final section is also a great review of the major themes of the entire book.
Read The Text
Revelation 22:6–21 (CSB)
6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.
The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
7 “Look, I am coming soon!
Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.
When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that!
I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book.
Worship God!”
10 Then he said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.
11 Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy still be filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; let the holy still be holy.”
12 “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work.
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.
15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches.
I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
17 Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”
Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!”
Let the one who is thirsty come.
Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.
18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book.
19 And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, which are written about in this book.
20 He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone.
Amen.
Seven Final Invitations
As you can see from these final words of Jesus out God delights in inviting people to himself.
To experience deliverance and salvation in his name.
Our God is a missionary God.
He’s always inviting people in.
You can see this theme developed in both Old and New Testaments.
(Psalm 66:5-6; 95:1-2; Isaiah 1:18; 55:1-3; Matthew 4:19; 11:28-30; 25:34; Mark 10:21; Revelation 3:20)
To keep with the theme of revelation I want to try and draw out seven invitations from God to his people here at the conclusion of our study of this great book.
These seven invitations are all shaped by the main point of this section which falls under two basic headings: (1) God’s words are reliable and true.
(2) Jesus is coming soon.
Be Obedient to the Word of God
Here’s how John begins in verses 6-7.
Revelation 22:6–7 (CSB)
6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.
The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
7 “Look, I am coming soon!
Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
The first invitation is to be obedient to (or keep) the Word of God.
John ends the book of Revelation the same way he started.
(Rev 1:1-3)
He establishes Revelation as an authentic prophecy from God.
He establishes a link between God’s blessing and our obedience.
Finally he establishes the nearness of Christ’s return.
First, He establishes God’s Word as dependable and true.
God’s words are dependable and true because GOD HIMSELF is dependable and true and he is the one who has inspired the words of this book.
When the Bible speaks, God speaks.
The Holy Spirit spoke to and through the servants of God who perfectly recorded what God wanted his people to know.
God has chosen to reveal himself through His Word.
Secondly, John establishes a link between God’s blessing and our keeping of his Word.
Did you see that in verse 7? Blessed is the one who “keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
It’s the same blessing that John placed at the beginning of this book.
(Rev 1:3) (there it was a blessing on reading and hearing in addition to doing.
This time it’s only “doing.”
Now that we’re at the end of the book keeping is all that’s left to do!)
God’s blessing on your life is attached to your keeping of his Word.
Blessing and keeping always go together.
(There’s a blessing in hearing.
There’s a blessing in speaking.
But the greatest blessing is on keeping or doing the good as revealed by our heavenly Father.”)
Finally He establishes the nearness of Christ Return.
What is the motivation for keeping God’s Word?
It’s the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Since Jesus is coming soon we ought to commit ourselves to keeping his Word.
It’s a central theme of the entire book of Revelation.
More Than Just “Doing”
Notice also the word “keep” and not just the word “obey.”
I think the word obedience is fine to covey John’s meaning but keeping entails more than obeying the commands of Scripture.
To keep God’s Word means to have your mind shaped by it’s truth.
Having your worldview formed by the worldview of the Bible.
Having your mind shaped into the mind of Christ.
Listen to this quote, “Scripture is not a passive cadaver, waiting for curious medical students to dissect it in their quest for information.
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