Why the Spirit and the Bride and the Christ Say “Come”

Introduction

At the time the book of Revelation occurs, many changes have happened. Many of these changes have been good. The church has expanded further into the world, more people have been saved, and lives have been changed. However, the church still has struggles too.

You will never pastor a church without struggles. People are still broken and sinful. People are flawed. There are no new sins. There are only new manifestations of that sin.

But, just as people are still sinful and will still make mistakes - so our God is still Lord. Christ is still the King of Kings. The Holy Spirit is still at work.

For the next seven sessions, we are going to see seven churches. And these churches will have different strengths and different weaknesses. But they have the same God. And that God has chosen to speak to them that they might grow in the knowledge of Him and walk in holiness.

I want to read some Scripture with you. Will you please stand with me as we read from God’s Word.

Read Revelation 1:4-8, 22:6-21.

Revelation 1:4–8 ESV

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 22:6–21 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.” 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.” 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.” 12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 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 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.” 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. 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. 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.

Explanation

Context: Three things will help you read and understand the book of Revelation.

Revelation is a prophecy about things to come.

Revelation is apocalyptic - it intentionally uses word pictures.

Revelation is a letter.

John wrote a letter to these seven churches. As one church would read it, they would then send it to the next church.

While Revelation shares some things that we might think are scary, it is ultimately meant to be a message of hope. In the middle of the worse uncertainty, God is still God. Jesus is still on his throne. You should read Revelation and be encouraged.

This letter is ultimately a letter from Jesus - who is God Almighty. We need to talk about who God is.

John describes God the Father.

Revelation 1:4 “4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,”

God the Father is the creator of the Universe, he is ruling the universe even now, and he is present over every circumstance.

God the Father is not a small God. In fact, everything in the universe can be categorized in one of two ways - creator or created.

God is not centered upon man. Man must be centered upon God. God loves you, but he does not exist for you. You exist for Him. He does not exist to boost our self-esteem or make us wealthy. He exists for His glory. And we exist to worship Him.

John describes the Spirit.

Unusual phrasing: the seven spirits who are before his throne.

There are not seven Holy Spirit’s, but One! Why use this phrase?

Seven, to the Hebrew people, was a number that represented completeness and perfection.

Seven Spirits refer to the Holy Spirit working perfectly in the seven churches.

Seven Stars refer to the seven angels who are watching over these churches.

Seven Lampstands are the seven churches entrusted with the “light” of the message of teh Gospel.

Revelation 1:20 “20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

The church in Revelation is the place where the Spirit of God is at work.

The church is made up of people that God convicted, converted, and called our of the Kingdom of darkness and placed into the Kingdom of the Son.

John describes God the Son, Jesus Christ.

Two Scriptures will help us: Psalm 89:27 “27 And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.” Psalm 89:37 “37 Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies.” Selah”

A faithful witness

Jesus came to bear witness to the truth about salvation, His father, Himself, his work, and his death for our salvation.

Jesus has spoken the truth about himself and you.

We can rest in the truth that Jesus gives us.

We use the words of Jesus as the filter by which everything else goes.

The firstborn from the dead - Jesus is not a created being. Instead, he is a kind of first-fruits, that all who are in Christ can enjoy. Just as he triumphed over the grave, so we will triumph over the grave as we are in Him.

The ruler of the kings on earth

Jesus rules over the earth. Abraham Kuyper once said, “There is not one square inch of all of creation that Jesus doesn’t rightly say, mine.”

Jesus does not depend on elections. Earthly rulers are not our hope. Everything has been placed under His Lordship. Rulers carry out the bidding of Christ - sometimes they are blessings and sometimes they are judgements.

Why is Revelation relevant?

Revelation highlights the difficulties of every age that Christians face.

Ephesus shows us that you can lose your first love - Christ.

Smyrna shows us that we can be tempted to fear in the midst of persecution.

Pergamum tells us how dangerous it is to accept false teaching.

Thyatira tells us of the danger of being too tolerant of sin.

Sardis tells us of the danger of hypocrisy - outwardly looking good with inward rot.

Philadelphia encourages those who are week and struggling, but hanging on to be faithful.

The letter to Laodicea tells us of the danger of apathy that comes with wealth and affluence.

How Can We Be Conquerors?

We must have confidence in the truthfulness and authority of God’s Word.

Revelation 22:6 “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.””

The Scriptures that you hold in your hand have been decreed by Jesus, Himself as having the authority of God, Himself.

We study diligently to know the Scriptures.

Revelation 22:7 “7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.””

Blessed does not mean prosperity. Blessed means “to be satisfied” or “to be happy.”

If you want to be blessed, satisfied, or happy in the Lord - obey the word.

In Revelation 22:8-9, John is tempted to worship the angel, but the angel warns him against it. Although magnificent and powerful, he is not God.

You are either creator or created. There is only one Creator, and He is God.

This great and glorious angel recognizes in humility he’s not God. There is an angel/Creator distinction.

In Revelation 22:18-19, John says not to take naything from this book. Don’t take anything and don’t add anything.

There is also a deliberate paraphrase of the covenantal language in Deuteronomy 4:2 “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.”

Jesus warns against two dangers: legalism and liberalism.

Legalism is adding to God’s Word and making rules where God didn’t make them.

Liberalism is talking away from God’s word.

“contemporary people can’t believe these things anymore.”

“Paul was simply addressing these people - not us”

“this doesn’t fit with our cultural views and practices”

We submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. (v11-16)

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega

The Son is eternal.

The Son is independent - he is dependent on no one and nothing.

He is God, Himself.

He is the fulfilment of the promises to David of a kingly lineage.

He is the bright morning star, which means he is the beginning of a new age. He brings about the dawning of a new age.

In light of Jesus, we must examine ourselves. Jesus is seen as meek and gentle in the New Testament, but he is also mighty. He will return victorious. And we must give an account for the lives we have lived. I tell my congregation often that my great goal is to prepare them for the moment that they stand before Jesus. The days in the hospital, the preaching, the prayers, the love and care, the discipleship all serve that purpose - to know and worship Jesus and await his return.

There are two designations of people - saved and unsaved.

Saved - their robes are washed.

This isn’t moral behavior or good thinking or positive affirmation - this washing of the robes that represent their lives - is only done through the blood of Jesus.

Washed in the blood of Jesus.

Our preaching centers on Christ - nothing else.

Unsaved

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.”

Among this list - represented in Ch 21 - liars.

Jesus is coming again.

Jesus says soon. This means that we are to be watchful and waiting. Hebrews 3:12 “12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.”

There are two “calls” to Jesus - the Spirit and the Bride.

The Spirit and the Bride are calling to Christ. Both the Spirit of God and the Church call for Christ to return. What a beautiful thought!

Christ will come again. We long for that day - and this study of Jesus words to the seven churches - will help us to understand whether ourselves and our churches are ready.

Invitation