The Invitation to Come

In eternity God’s people will enjoy perfect fellowship and communion with God in His perfect city.

Introduction

Now we know that God has come to dwell with His children in the Garden of the Lord that has the Tree of Life at its center.

We now come to the Epilogue of Revelation and find a connection with the prologue in 3 ways.

(1) The book is an authentic prophecy from God.

(2) Jesus  Christ’s return is imminent

(3) Those who obey the His word will be blessed.

Revelation 22:6–7 ESV

6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” 7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

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Who is speaking here: notice these are almost the same words. Revelation 21:5b

“Write these words down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

‌Why are the words in this book that contains 66 books written by approximately 40 authors over the course of about 1500 years. ‌Think about 66 books written by 40 different authors over 1500 years in different continents and place of the world with one central theme.

This book is all about Jesus and God’s rescue plan for humanity. What are the chances that this could happen. What is the chance that all 66 books could be in perfect harmony with each other with 40 authors from various backgrounds and experiences. ‌It is a statistical improbability.

Note: The words of Revelation are Faithful and True, dependable and reliable, and you can trust them.

‌Why are the words reliable and trustworthy?‌Because of the authentication of the words that have been given to us. ‌Notice the one who authenticates the words that are being given is none other than the Lord God Himself.

The Lord clearly refers to Yaweh the one who initiated the covenant with his people. ‌

Those who work to authenticate the real currency from the fake, or an authentic piece of art from a forgery you would think spend pain staking time studying the real thing. ‌

However, we are told from those who work in the fraud department of our government spend the majority of their time studying the things that are not authentic or a fake to be able to discern the genuine article. 

‌As Christians how do we know the truth from what is false. I think yes, we look at whether what is being taught is from the one only one who is absolutely trustworthy and true, but, we also must study and recognize the things that are not trustworthy and true.

Note: “The spirit of the prophets” refers to the natural properties of the prophets that were raised and quickened; by the Spirit; therefore, the method by which this word comes to the church is through divine revelation of God, not man.”

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1. He is coming soon, so, Keep the Words of God.

This book is not an apocalyptic puzzle or code to be figured out.

Rather, “it is a source of divine blessing for God’s suffering people as they “keep” the ways it instructs them to live them out.”

What does it look like to keep God’s word?

The call to “Come”

‌Appears 7 times in this final text of Revelation. What is the significance of the word to “come.” ‌This is a word of urgency to the imminent return of Christ that is coming soon! ‌What should we do in response to this continued call to come. John writes that we are to keep the words of the book, we are to head and obey what God has commanded us to do.

Westminister’s Catechism:

“Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him Forever.”

Note: How do we show true glory to God the most? When we are walking in obedience to His word.

‌We are called to keep lots of things in this life. When we get married we are called to keep the marriage covenant by being faithful to our spouse. ‌

When we join the military we take an oath to be faithful to defend this country against all foes both foreign and domestic.‌However, there are lots of things in this life that we may say we promise to keep but no sooner do the words leave our mouths then we fall out on our promise.‌We know that God keeps his own that no one can snatch you out of the Fathers hand.

The good shepherd keeps his sheep and not one slips through His hands and the one request He makes of us here is to keep His word.

Why do we struggle so much to keep God’s Word?

Maybe it is because we do not know His word. 

Maybe it is because we are apathetic to God’s word.

Maybe it is because we would rather change God’s word.

Maybe it is because we are not saved.

1 Corinthians 2:10–11 ESV

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

Are you Experiencing this Blessing? If not, why not?

What do you want the Lord to find you doing when He returns?

‌Here is how we should anticipate the returning of the king. We should wake up every morning allowing the word of God to saturate our lives. Allowing scripture to guide your ever waking thoughts and motivations as it transforms you into the image of Christ.

‌What does it take for a person to assimilate into a new culture? You must immerse yourself into that culture, learn its language, customs, and laws. ‌

Why should it be any different for the believer. Its like our children, how do they learn to speak English? Do you talk to your kids in a different language hoping somewhere along the way they will learn English.

No, you immerse them in the English language. ‌The problem with most professing believers is that they have never truly been immersed into scripture, therefore, we fail to live a life of obedience to the King of glory. 

‌Dennis Johnson in his commentary of Revelation ‌Exalting Jesus in Revelation (Invitation 1: Obey the Word of God (Revelation 22:6–7)

Scripture is not a passive cadaver, waiting for curious medical students to dissect it in their quest for information.‌

It is a living, double-edge sword that proceeds from the mouth of the triumphant Son of Man and pierces the thoughts and intents of our hearts. ‌It is a hammer that shatters, a seed that grows, rainfall that never returns to its Giver without accomplishing the mission on which he sent it. Scripture has a job to do in us. (Triumph of the Lamb, 334)

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

‌The word of God has 2 significant purposes.‌

1. Cut to the Soul of humanity. ‌Major uses of the soul communicate: Desire, individual being, conscious self, emotional state.‌

2. Cut to the spirit of Humanity‌ God’s spirit transforms people to reflect his character.

James admonishes us in.

James 1:22 “But be doers of the Lord and not hearers only so deceiving yourself.” He equates it to the man who looks at his face in a mirror and then walks away, forgetting what he looks like.

“We all tend to have spiritual amnesia.” (the bigger problem is our identity) Note: many of the men coming through Mighty Oaks struggle with identity.

Look what Paul writes to the Church at Corinth: The Problem.

1 Corinthians 3:1–3 ESV

1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

Paul desires to give the Church at Corinth the prime rib, the grade “A” beef of the word.

However, they have never moved beyond the milk stage of infancy. (what would happen if our children never grew physically and were always dependent on mom and dad for everything). What a miserable existence that would be for us as parents.

Note: Notice the urgency of John’s words because

“the Lord is coming soon.” The Lord is returning and scripture tells us that it is at an hour we least expect it to happen. John’s call is for us to rise above the chaos and get ready because the doors of heaven have been flung wide open, and the king of Glory stands ready to return.

The Church in every age is to wait for the imminent return of Christ patiently. We are reminded in 2 Peter 3 says that with the Lord one day is as 1,000 years and that He is not slow in fulfilling his promises as some people count slowness.

‌God Alone is the only one Worthy to be Worshiped

‌Interesting that John again apparently falls down to worship the angel. I think this shows the natural inclination of man’s heart at times is to worship things other than God. When John falls down at the feet of the angel he commits idolatry one of the sins that is addressed in the book of Revelation.‌

1) we worship at the feet of Religion;

2) We bow at the feet of religious leaders;

3) Peter’s feet in the Vatican are almost worn off from people coming to pay honor and worship at his feet. ‌

This is also a reminder that runs throughout all the book of Revelation that there is only one worthy  of all our worship, honor and praise, and it is not the emperor, the angel, or the antichrist, it is only the Lord of hosts who deserves the unadulterated worship of his people.

Revelation 22:10–11 ESV

10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”

2. He is coming soon, so do not Hold Back from speaking the Truth.

Look at the difference in the Prophecy Daniel is Given

Daniel 12:4 ESV

4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

Note: We now see the uncovering of the once-hidden truths of God now laid bare and open for all to see. The veil has now been removed and we are responsible for speaking the truth.

‌Why are we now not to seal up the Prophecies? 

‌ 1. The Time is Near: eternity is drawing closer for all of us, so, for all of us it is only a heartbeat away. ‌We dare not silence the word of God by laziness, indifference, or neglect. We must be ready in season and out of season to share the gospel. 

‌ 2. There is coming a time very soon when the call and opportunity to respond to the gospel of Christ will be over.

Hebrews 9:27 ESV

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

vs. 11 “Let evil doers still do evil, and the righteous still do good.

The state of good and evil will find their way, and God will have the final word.

The rebellious and apostate members of the church and the pagans, are warned that they will soon cross the face of an angry God.

We see in 22:14 and 17 that there is still time to “wash their robes,” “hear,” and “come” to the “water of life.”

‌ Our job as Christians is not to stem the tide of evil in the world. ‌

We know from what we have read in Revelation that things are not going to get better on planet earth. ‌

The terms “wicked” and “filthy” are used to sum up this evil world around us. Because of the harness of humanities heart the day is coming when the evil will remain evil and the righteous will be righteous. ‌

We are not called to act as moral policemen for the world but to proclaim the word of God and do His work.

*Proclaim the Truth of His Recompense

‌How do we Enter the gates of Heaven?‌ Unrepentant disobedience disqualifies us from the Kingdom of God. We have read all through Revelation about the hardness and unrepentance of peoples heart that leads to death.

Recompense: to repay — verb. to give recompense for someone’s behavior or actions, whether good or bad.

We are given what we earn or deserve. “for the wages (what is owed) is death.

Deuteronomy 32:35 ESV

35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’

‌These two developments came together in the NT, which advances the doctrine of the afterlife, where one would receive retribution not received in one’s lifetime. ‌

In Rev. 22:12 misthós refers to an everlasting “recompense” one receives from God, which ultimately settles accounts justly.

That criteria for Salvation will not be forgotten or ignored or changed for millions but will be re-established on the day of judgment, for he is the last as well as the first, the end as well as the beginning.

Revelation 22:14–16 ESV

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

*Proclaim the truth to those who are outsiders and insiders.

‌The insiders have washed their robes in the blood of the lamb and now have the right to the tree of life. ‌

He calls the outsiders dogs, sorcerers, sexual immoral, murderers, and idolators, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. ‌

You are either washed in the blood of the lamb or you are not. You are either an insider or outsider. There is not middle ground with God. We like to try and take a neutral position with the truth of His word.

You do not get in on the account of your goodness.

The blessing is theirs solely because they have washed their garments in the blood of the lamb of God, slain from the foundations of the earth.

‌Alister Begs Sermon‌

The thief on the cross was crucified and placed on one side of Jesus. While the thief on the other side of Jesus and those below the cross were reviling and ridiculing Jesus, this one thief came to the realization of Jesus true identity and requested that He remember Him when He comes into His kingdom. ‌

In essence he was requesting that the very blood being poured out on that Judean mountain side would cleanse his blood soaked garments and get him into the kingdom of God. ‌

Jesus responded that today you will be with me in paradise. He did not know what propitiation meant, He did not have all the theology in place. When asked why He should have entrance into the kingdom of God He in essence said, “the man on the center cross said I could come.”

“He is calling you to come today.”

Revelation 22:17 ESV

17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

3. He is Coming soon so, we must Invite People to Come.

The Holy Spirit says come. The Bride, the Church of Jesus says come. The one who hears is told to extend the Invitation to come. The thirsty one is invited to come.

The one on the center cross said I could come to the thief on the cross. It doesn’t matter how sinful you are or what offense you have made.

The worst sinner . All greatest offender of God can be saved all they need to do is come to the foot of the cross of Christ and be saved.

‌Here is the problem: We assume people know that they need to be saved and what they need to be saved from.

The Holy Spirit draws, calls, and saves people from sin and death.

John 6:44 ESV

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

John 16:13–15 ESV

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

No one would ever come to Christ unless he drew him there. Why? because man is born a sinful creature, as in Adam, all of us are dead men and women walking. No life, only death.

The Spirit and the Bride are called to invite people to come.

‌The Effectual Calling of Christ. ‌The effectual call to a sinner so overwhelms his natural inclination to rebel that he willingly places faith in Jesus Christ.‌We the Church, the bride of Christ are called to be ministers of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18 ESV

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

‌The call of every believer is to proclaim the gospel to the world.

The “bride” here must be seen not just as the church (19:7–8) but as the end-time church entering the New Jerusalem (21:9–10).

But what is the difference between “the bride” and “the one who hears” (and says, “Come”) in the next phrase?

What John is concluding at the end of Revelation is that the whole book has missed its purpose; it has missed its mark if it does not lead to repentance and salvation.

‌We read throughout scripture Jesus calling those who have ears to hear to come. ‌Ears are a feature shared by all of humanity—to not have ears would be an unnatural occurrence.

Therefore, when Jesus addresses those who have ears, He refers to all who have been given His words—no matter their age, ethnicity, language, or status.‌There is a difference between having ears, and having ears that hear.

Jesus gave the parable of the sower and the seeds as he defines the different kind of hearers. ‌“For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open” (Mark 4:22).

Seeking God’s truth takes energy and focus; it takes a willingness to be challenged and changed. ‌While the way of God’s truth is not the most convenient or fun path to take, we can be assured that it is the best one (John 1:4; 10:9; 14:6). And so He invites us to, “Come.”

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The Thirsty is called to come.

John 7:37 ESV

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Isaiah 55:1 ESV

1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

‌Jesus and the Samaritan Woman‌

She is never named, yet her encounter with Jesus is the longest between the Messiah and any other individual in the Gospel of John. Representing the lowest of the low — a female in a society where women are both demeaned and disregarded, a race traditionally despised by Jews, and living in shame as a social outcast — she not only has a holy encounter with Christ but also receives eternal salvation.

And her testimony convinces an entire town to believe, too.‌What was the significance of the woman at the well, and why is her tale important to Christian believers?‌

Around noon while his disciples were in town searching for food this Samaritan woman comes to the well where Jesus was waiting. ‌While her name is never mentioned we know that she had 5 husbands and that the one she was living with was not her husband.

The fact that she was drawing water alone in the middle of day indicated that she was an outcast. ‌There are several questions that are important to her story. ‌

1) When Jesus asked her for a drink from the well she puzzled why a Jew would ask a Samaritan woman for a drink. ‌

2) Jesus responded that if she knew the gift of God and the one who is talking to you would ask him and he would give you living water.

It shows Jesus' love for His creation.It shows that Salvation is available to all who thirst for living water. It shows the importance of offering our testimony when given the opportunity.

‌This week at mighty oaks we experienced men who were thirsty for living water. They came to the Woods Ranch downcast, hopeless, and alone, and left with living water that brings eternal life.

Psalm 42 "As the deer pants for water, so my soul, for you Oh God. My soul thirsts for God the living God."

Revelation 22:18–19 ESV

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

‌Final Warning and Judgement

‌ 1) do not add to this book or He will add plagues on you. ‌2) do not take away from this book or He will take away the Tree of Life in His Holy City. 

‌ We live in a church culture today that is constantly messing with the plain meaning of scripture by either taking out what is written or adding to what is written. ‌

What happens when we interpret scripture through the cultural leans of the world. People will excuse such behavior by saying well the God of the Old Testament was the pre-adolescent junior high God, not he is much more mature and in high school. They will say that was then and this is now. ‌

Or we downplay the reality of hell and teach a God who does not display his wrath or judgment on sin. ‌Or we consider certain things as lesser sins or more acceptable like patience, envy, greed, gluttony, gossip, divisiveness and the list goes on and on. Or what about marital apathy, being unequally yoked with an unbeliever, or simply living together in sin rather than getting married.

Deuteronomy 4:2 ESV

2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.

Proverbs 30:5–6 ESV

5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

Or look what Paul says in 2 Timothy

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

What a loving, caring, and gracious God we have, that He gave us His words and commands to follow.

The nation of Israel continued to play the part of the whore and chase after other gods from other cultures. They still worshiped Yahweh but condoned the worship of other Gods playing the part of the whore.

Hosea 4:12 ESV

12 My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore.

We are responsible for interpreting the scripture as it was intended to be interpreted. Nothing was added to and nothing was taken away.

We should pray for God’s Return.

Revelation 22:20-21

Revelation 22:20–21 ESV

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Revelation and the Bible are at their end. One last time the risen Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ speaks.

His last words are brief but sure. Coming in the form of testimony, our God and King promise, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Certainly, without a doubt, His coming is imminent, so be ready.

‌After all, we sometimes forget that this world is only temporary (and so is its evil). We get all wrapped up in the present, and we think things will never change. ‌

We may even wonder sometimes if God has even forgotten us. Like some in Peter’s day, we may be tempted to say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? … Everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation”

(2 Peter 3:4).‌But make no mistake the door to heaven is standing open and the righteous judge and king of the universe is standing at the door waiting to return and judge the living and the dead.

CONCLUSION

YES, we pray for His return to vindicate His Holiness against this evil, sinful, and wicked world.

Note: At the very beginning of scripture, after the fall, God initiates grace through the seed of the woman who will crush the head of Satan.

And now, at the end of scripture, the invitation is to accept the Grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

THE QUESTION IS: WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN?

C.S. Lewis - Mere Christianity

“The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were “gods,” and He is going to make good His words.

If we let Him—for we can prevent Him, if we choose—He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, a dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine.

This bright stainless mirror reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and, in parts, very painful, but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said.”