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There's A Man Going 'Round Taking Names • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewThe closing of the book/ The river and the tree of life.
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Hi and welcome to this episode of Pastor’s Corner. I am Thomas Hogan Senior Pastor of Amazing Grace Church of The Nazarene in Walla Walla Wa.
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Well this is our last lesson in the Book of Revelation in our Series There’s A Man Going ‘Round Taking Names.
Let us read Revelation 22:1-5
1 And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,
2 in the middle of its street. And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His bond-servants shall serve Him;
4 and they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
5 And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever.
As chapter 21 draws to a close we find that in this new city there will not be a temple and the sun and moon will no longer be needed.
They play a significant role as placeholders of light in our world.
N.T. Wright, “They are yet another pair of signposts to the ultimate truth, that God himself is the light of his people, shinning and radiant.”
For the majority of Revelation nations and kings have been hostile. They shared in the violence, economic hardships, and idolatry of Rome.
Rome in revelation is signified by Babylon.
They opposed the people of God and rebelled against God.
Yet in chapter 22 the give glory into the city and walk by the light of God and the Lamb.
N.T. Wright, “It’s a bustling community, filled with activity, as the nations come to worship and do homage.”
Notice that John is careful adding a warning that this is not for those who are unclean, or practice an abomination, or liars.
That which ruins the beauty of the and holiness of God’s new city is ruled out.
They are not allowed entrance. We also read of the reappearance of the Tree of Life.
The tree forbidden to Adam and Eve once they we expelled from the garden.
Here the tree not only brings healing to people but a much larger vision in its leaves giving healing to the nations.
This new city is not the total of the new creation but is at its center.
N.T. Wright, “It is the fountain from which there flows freely all that the world could need. It is not the holy of holies, but actually the whole earth is to be full of God’s glory, is to be the ultimate temple.”
It is the new eden. It has all the elements of a garden but enshrined and enhanced with in a city.
This is eden minus the curse. This is creation and relationship restored.
John is then told that these words are trust worthy and true. This is the reality of all that has been said.
These things will also be taking place soon. Meaning what he has written in regards to what God’s people in the churches of John’s day will face, what will happen to Rome, what will happen to the world of that day, will take place soon.
John states that he has recorded everything that he has heard and seen. Writing as witness to these things.
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 one who does wrong, still do wrong; and let the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”
This reveals agains the character of those who reject God and the Lamb.
Gordon Fee, “Hence the concluding admonition is to the wicked, first regarding their conduct and then regarding their character, since their future has already been spelled out in Revelation 20:7-15. They are headed for the last battle, after which they will join Satan and the two beasts, in the lake of fire.”
Also a final encouragement to those who follow the lamb is also given Revelation 22:12-13
12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
In Scripture these are also the final words of Jesus.
A final reminder that he is returning quickly or soon. He is bringing with him his reward. A promise to his faithful who reject Satan and Empire.
N.T. Wright, “The urgency we hear repeated over and over. This is a book of urgent prophecy. How easy it is to hear and walk away. How easy to dismiss them as cheerful cacophony.”
He is trying to tell us that these things are trustworthy and true.
This chapter also contains one final invitation. In this invitation we find that the Spirit has been present through out the book.
Gordon Fee, “In a culture where water is as precious as food itself, John himself offers the invitation, let those who are thirsty come, which is followed by the ultimate drink, the free gift of the water of life.”
AS the book closes there is a very strict warning in regards to what is in this book
18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book;
19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
The book ends as it began. A declaration that it should be heard as a message from the risen Christ himself.
The final affirmation regarding the content of the book comes from Christ.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The book ends with optimistic grace.
Gordon Fee, “As always grace is the basis of Christian faith and experience, and therefore is what is desired for those to whom one writes, as was the case regularly for the Apostle Paul.”
So the book ends. Let us remember, God Almighty is sovereign and sits on the throne.
Jesus is the Lamb of God and is coming soon.
Above all else Revelation is a book of hope.
It contains promises that are precious to those who follow the lamb and hold fast to their faith.
We know how the story ends!
Stan is defeated, ultimately the curse will be no more and those sealed with the blood of the lamb look forward to the life to come. There is no fear in death.
With how much ever time we have we share the good news of an eternal gospel. There is still time for repentance. However, Jesus is coming soon.
I hope our time in Revelation has been a blessing, I know it has for me. Stay tuned for more in Pastor’s Corner to come soon.
Thank you for joining me in the Pastor’s Corner.