Come, Receive Life!
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Transcript
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Revelation 22:7
7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Jesus says, “I am coming soon,” six times in Revelation. He says twice, “The time is near.” What does he mean when he says, “I am coming soon,” or, “The time is near”?
It has been 1,933 years since he said these words in Revelation. This urgency is not only expressed in Revelation, but it is a theme that runs through the whole of the New Testament.
So how are we to understand this?
There are basically two options.
The first option is the preterist, partial-preterist, and post-millennial view that he returned in 70 A.D. with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. This view interprets “soon” and “near” in their most literal meaning.
For the preterist and partial-preterist, Jesus then inaugurated his rule in heaven for an undisclosed amount of time before he brings about the consummation of the ages, which we have been referring to as the eternal state.
For the post-millennial, Jesus then inaugurated his reign through the church, which through evangelism and discipleship will bring about a golden age, to which Christ will return to rule, bringing us into the eternal state.
The second option is the dispensational view that the triune God does not account for time in the same way we mortals do. The passage for this line of thinking is 2 Peter 3 which is speaking of the Day of the Lord and the reckoning of time. I would encourage you to read the whole chapter, but for the sake of brevity I will read for us 2 Peter 3:8-9.
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Peter makes it clear that the passage of time for the Lord is not the same as the passage of time for us. We, then, are not to count him as slow or delayed in his timetable, but are to live in the urgency and expectation of his return.
He is coming. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
In the second half of Revelation 22:7 we have the sixth proclamation of blessing. This blessing is one of action. We are to hear the words of Revelation and apply them to our lives. In doing so we will have the fortune and happiness of God upon us.
Revelation 22:8-9 .
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me,
9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
John has been given the Revelation of Jesus Christ and he is getting confused, worshiping the messenger rather than God.
How often do we idolize the good gifts God gives us?
We idolize God’s gifts all to often.
We need to repent and worship God alone.
It makes me think of the song, “Heart of Worship,” by Matt Redman, especially this line:
I'm comin' back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
Let us worship God alone.
Revelation 22:10.
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.”
Here John is given the exact opposite command given to Daniel in Daniel 12:3-4, 9 .
9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.
Daniel did not understand the prophesies written because they were for the time of the end, also known as the last days. The NT defines the last days starting at the death of Christ and continuing into the present. We have been in the last days, the time of the end, for 1,991 years. The words are not sealed as in the time of Daniel, for the book of Revelation is for now. The only prophesy that is sealed is the prophecy spoken in the seven thunders (Revelation 10:4), reminding us that mystery belongs to the Lord.
Jesus is coming back. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Revelation 22:11 .
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.”
Why is the angel encouraging everyone to keep doing as they had always done?
I would think the cry of John the Baptist would be appropriate: “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand,” or the the call of the triune God to come drink of the water of life without price (Rev. 22:17). So, what is going on here?
The angel is referencing Daniel 12:10, which gives us insight into what his intent is.
10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.
Concerning this, Beale writes:
“The Daniel text predicts that during the latter days false members of the covenant community will not understand the dawning fulfillment of prophecy (alluded to in Rev. 22:10) and consequently will continue to disobey God’s laws, whereas the godly will have insight and discern the beginning of the fulfillment of prophecy occurring around them. They will respond by obeying God’s word. The change from prediction in Daniel to imperatives in Rev. 22:11 expresses awareness that Daniel’s prophecy is beginning to be fulfilled in John’s own time and that genuine believers should discern this revelation and respond positively to it. This tone of inauguration fits nicely with Rev. 22:10 and the repeated exhortations in the letters to the readers to “hear with the ears.” (Beale, G. K. The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text. W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 1999.)
Revelation 22:12 .
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
Here we are reminded that he is coming in judgement. For us to be ready we must do the work of God and that work is to believe in Jesus (John 6:29) - to believe in his birth, death and resurrection. These were all done for our redemption.
Jesus is coming! Are you ready? Have you done the work of God by believing in Jesus? Today is the day to believe.
How do you believe?
Confess with your mouth Jesus as the boss, believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you will be saved (Romans 10:8-10). This is how one believes.
Jesus is coming, so believe. Come to him and receive the water of life.
Revelation 22:13 .
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Jesus in worthy to judge. Jesus’ word is true. He, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, is coming. Are you ready?
Revelation 22:14 .
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.
This is the seventh and the last “blessed” in the book of Revelation. God’s fortune and happiness rest upon those who wash their robes.
The million-dollar question then is, “How do we wash our robes?” For all our righteousness is as filthy rages (Isaiah 64:6).
Revelation 7:14 gives us the answer. We wash our robes in the blood of Jesus. He, then, in the power of the Spirit, transforms us and gives us his own righteousness.
This reminds me of the hymn, “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus,” especially verse one and the refrain:
1 What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain:
O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Revelation 22:15 .
15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
What does it mean to be outside?
“Outside” is reference to the lake of fire also know as hell, the final dwelling place of all who do not believe. You do not want to be outside. Please, believe in Jesus.
This is a stark reminder of the consequence of unbelief, prompting us to think of Hebrews 3:12 -13.
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Lord, may we walk in belief and the humility of the truth, awaiting your return.
Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Revelation 22:16 .
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.”
The testimony is from Jesus, who is the fulfillment of the OT. It is for us, the Church. So may we hear and obey his message.
Revelation 22:17 .
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.
What is the summation of the message?
Chris Rice’s song, “Come to Jesus” sums it up well. “Come to Jesus and live,” for he is the living water.
The Spirit invites you to “Come to Jesus and live.”
The Church invites you to “Come to Jesus and live.”
Your friends and family invite you to “Come to Jesus and live.”
Your conscience invites you to “Come to Jesus and live.”
Will you come to Jesus and receive eternal life without price?
Revelation 22:18-19 .
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.
This is a hefty warning for how we treat the message of Revelation. If you have been with me through the year we have spent in Revelation, then you have a greater understanding of Revelation than most seminary graduates. I do not say this to scare you for you have been equipped to handle this book well. May we all do so by God’s grace.
Revelation 22:20 .
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
His testimony is trustworthy and true. He is coming. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Revelation 22:21 .
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
Come to Jesus, then go in the grace of God, watching and waiting for his coming.
Come, Lord Jesus, come!