The Grand Conclusion
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Tonight, we conclude our study of the Book of Revelation.
Studying Revelation has taken us from the days of the early church in the past all the way into eternity in the future.
The Lord has shown how the church age will end. It will end with the church in apostasy, cold and dead, with Jesus on the outside…We are seeing this unfold today right before our eyes.
The Lord has shown us what will follow after the church is removed from the world. There will be a terrible tribulation period that will engulf the world. Billions will die from war, disease and the tragedy of divine judgment. This age will also end with the Antichrist and Satan judged and sentenced to an eternity in the Lake of Fire.
We have even been given a glimpse of our own future. We have seen a place called Heaven, where death, disease, sin and Satan will be prohibited. We have been given a small foretaste of that wonderful place we will call home some day.
In our text tonight, we have arrived at the end of the book. The verses before us serve as the Lord’s conclusion to the book of Revelation.
In this conclusion, we find several exhortations that we should be mindful of, so tonight, let’s look at the responses we should have concerning the conclusion of the Book of Revelation.
First of all, we are told to:
I-Keep God’s Word
I-Keep God’s Word
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
In the last chapter of the last book of the Bible the word of God reminds us of its truthfulness. The word of God is faithful and true. You can depend upon the word of God, you can trust in the word of God, you can try the word of God! It is faithful and true because the God of the Word is faithful and true.
David Levy wrote, “Faithful’ in the sense of its accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness; ‘true’ in the sense of being the whole truth from God. The reader should have complete confidence in this revelation and in no way try to reduce it to allegory or meaningless symbols.”
Let me say as well—the Bible is God’s inerrant, infallible Word. The Bible can be trusted fully, completely, and confidently. The Book of Revelation is the faithful and true word of God.
We are to keep God’s Word!
Verse 7 tells us that blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
If you are faithful to hear and heed God’s Word, you will be blessed!
“Keep” means to watch over or preserve. It’s a dangerous thing to tamper with or alter the Word of God.
Many people today are watering down Scripture to the point that it loses it’s potency and power, and true meaning.
Many twist it to make it say what they want it to say.
God said what He meant, He meant what He said...
Verses 18 and 19 deal specifically with this.
We have no right to add to or take away from this Book!
Let me give you some examples of how this has and is happening...
– The Jehovah’s Witnesses have taken the trinity out of the Bible. They deny the torment of Hell.
– The Mormons add that the universe is inhabited by other gods. The add baptism for the dead.
– The Presbyterian church USA is taking out the parts that condemn homosexuality and women clergy.
– Roman Catholics add a sinless Mary, add the infallibility of the Pope, add purgatory, take away salvation by grace and add works, and baptize babies to take away the stain of original sin.
Let me tell you, the Bible laying in your lap tonight needs no improvement, it needs no correcting, it’s not missing anything, it’s finished!
The Words it contains simply need to be kept!
How do we keep the words of the prophecy of this book?
John MacArthur wrote, “It is a general command to long for Christ’s return and our eternal fellowship with Him. It calls on believers to desire heaven, to desire holiness, to desire to see Christ vindicated and triumphant over His enemies, to desire the end of the curse, and to desire the glories of Christ’s earthly kingdom and the new heaven and the new earth.”
These words are certain, faithful and true—we can rest assured that Jesus is coming again and those who keep the words of the Book of Revelation will be blessed for it.
The second thing we are told to do:
II-Be True to the Worship of God
II-Be True to the Worship of God
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
I’m not going to say a lot about this since we covered it back in Revelation 19:10...
Again, we find that John was overwhelmed and bowed before an angel in worship.
In the same way, the angel reminded John that only God is to be worshipped, and they the angel and John were both playing for the same team, so to speak.
John was to “see” to it that he not worship the wrong one! You and I have the same responsibility—
We are not to worship a song, the singer, but the Savior!
We are not to worship a pastor, but Master!
We are not to worship the place of the Lord, but the Person of the Lord!
It is important how we worship, but it is also important Who we worship! We can have the “how” down and miss the “who!”
The third thing we are told to do is:
III-Walk In Obedience
III-Walk In Obedience
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Verse 11 seems a little odd, but the thought here is probably “since Jesus is coming so suddenly, there won’t be time for change.” There will be no time for last minute repentance, but there is time now.
If what you have read in Revelation hasn’t changed you, there isn’t much hope!
Verse 11 actually shoots down the idea of purgatory.
There is no improvement of condition in hell or in heaven. It is either eternal punishment, or eternal peace. Along with the absence of God’s goodness, hell will be torment because sinners will have all of their same evil cravings with no capacity to satisfy them. Sinners will be confined to their evil character and their lostness. They will not be able to do anything about their deeds or their destination.
The point is that because you can’t change later, you should change now.
We can never miss the note of urgency and warning in all what Jesus tells us about His coming…His message is always this: BE READY!
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
The Lord Jesus is coming back to take back, take down, take over, and take names, but He’s also coming to give out! He is bringing His reward with Him.
He is the Alpha and the Omega and He’s coming back!
The Lord gives a word of encouragement to those who know Him, love Him, obey Him, and serve Him.
Blessed are they that do his commandments...
Salvation is of grace, but rewards are according to works. God gives us His salvation, but He pays us for our good works. In view of Jesus Christ’s soon return, Christians should be diligent to lay up treasure in heaven, while we have the time.
We are encouraged to walk in obedience...
The fourth and final thing we are told to do is:
IV-Expect Christ’s Return
IV-Expect Christ’s Return
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Three times in this passage, Jesus declares that He is coming quickly.
Twice it is preceded by the word “Behold,” a term intended to grab our attention.
The message of Revelation is that Jesus is coming – are you watching? I didn’t say waiting, but watching!
Look again at verse 17. “Come, and let him that is athirst, come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
How do you know if God has worked in your heart? Go through a little checklist. Have you heard? Are you thirsty for God and eternal life? Do you want Him? Then come!
I like that fact that all through the Bible and right on through the closing pages, it is a “whosoever will” gospel! God’s grace to anyone and everyone who would receive it is extended from cover to cover!
For godly people who are watching for His return, the promise of “I come quickly” is always answered with the petition, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” John says “Amen” to it.
The final words of the Bible tell us to keep the words, walk in obedience and keep our lives clean, and to keep watching. You know, we will need to the grace of God to do that.
Look at verse 21...The last words of the Bible are saturated with grace.
God’s Riches At Christs’ Expense
Grace…don’t live on earth without it and don’t leave earth without it.
Grace is only found in a Person and His name is Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Conclusion
There’s a lot of last things in this last chapter of the Bible...
The Bible’s last Beatitude (14)
The Bible’s last Invitation (17)
The Bible’s last Warning (18–19)
The Bible’s last Words of Jesus (20)
The Bible’s last Promise (20)
The Bible’s last Prayer (20)
The Bible’s last Benediction (21)
The Bible’s last Word: Amen (21)
Let us be faithful to the Lord and rely fully on the Lord! His grace will be with us as we seek to walk with Him, live for Him, and look for Him!
Stay faithful to the Lord Jesus and do not give up on Him, do not lose heart and grow weary in well doing!
Stay focused on the Lord Jesus and His will for your life!
As the darkness closes in all around us let us shine for Jesus and let us serve the Lord Jesus with all our hearts! Let us pray, ‘Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
Are you ready for His coming?
Do you believe that He’s coming again?
Has the fact that He is coming again changed you?
Are you praying for the lost—who will face the horrors of the tribulation without the Lord?
Are you fearful for those who rebel against God and do not know God?