A Glimpse Of Glory 21

Warning & Hope

Text: Revelation 22:13-21

Introduction

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

This “Revelation” has given us a lot of details about how things will play out between Heaven and earth following the rapture of the church. It has been full of descriptors regarding Jesus reclaiming planet earth, the emerald-like brilliance surrounding the throne of God, Satan’s plot to deceive the remaining world, judgement, wrath, plagues, war, but most importantly GRACE! We have been given a glimpse into what awaits those who choose King Jesus over Satan the false prince: There will be a time of rewards, celebration, a marriage feast, ruling with Christ, and ultimately enjoying a new heaven and earth!

What have we already learned from verse 12?:

We have learned already that Jesus Himself is testifying that He is coming quickly. When He does come, He will come with His reward for those who have labored for Him.

1) Jesus Testifies To The Churches

VERSE 12-13

The One who is coming quickly is the One who end caps eternity.

Jesus describes Himself here as:

Alpha and Omega

Beginning and the End

The First and the Last

This description stresses the fact that “all” things have their beginning and end with Him.

“Eschatology” is the study of the “end times.”

Jesus and Him alone will bring everything to their final conclusion.

A. Only God’s children have access to God’s eternal resources. (V14-15)

This is the final beatitude of the entire Bible.

We easily deduce from scripture that our entrance into the place where Christ will be is by “grace through faith.”

John 3:5 “5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

John 3:16 “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

What could John possibly mean when he says, “those who do His commandments?”

This seems to be speaking of a particular group of people who would on earth doing His will.

Q — What title of people would you consider to be following Jesus as Lord? ANS — Christians/Believers.

We have already stretched our minds as to what exactly is the “water of life” and the “tree of life.”

In some sense, it is as if this life source coming from this river and tree “feed” or maintain our eternal health.

We do have new bodies of which we are told we will be eating there. If we don’t eat or drink down here, we will expire from our physical bodies. It does make some sense as to needing nourishment while on the new earth.

Now we are reminded that entering this eternal paradise with these endless life-giving resources comes with a CONDITION FROM THE ALPHA AND OMEGA!

B. Authorship belongs to Jesus (V16)

Jesus sent an angel to relay the message, but the message belongs to Jesus.

Jesus’ desire was for the churches to receive this revelation!

“root and offspring of David”

“Roots” are the life source that is under the dirt.

As the Root of David, he is the One from whom David himself came and to whom David owes his existence and purpose. As the offspring of David, Jesus became a man in the incarnation and was born to the line of David as promised by the prophets. Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 383.

(the root of David) What the Jewish religious leaders couldn’t grasp was the Son of David was the One who lived forever as God before David’s existence.

“the bright and morning star”

Reference to the hope people can have only in Jesus.

It also gives us this image of Christ coming back for His church.

Malachi 4:1–3 “1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; And all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: And the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, That it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise With healing in his wings; And ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet In the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.”

C. A sincere invitation is given (v17)

Q — How many of believe this to be a sincere offer being made?

I don’t believe our God makes cruel jokes and neither do I think that our God would speak in some kind of code regarding the most important theology in the canon of scripture.

Quote: “The extensive warnings of the wrath to come that grace the book of Revelation on every page, as well as the gracious provisions of God for forgiveness and salvation occurring with almost equal frequency, are the grounds for extending this sincere invitation to all.” Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 384.

If that was the message of the early church, should it not be the message of every church today?

2) A Warning To The Hearer

VERSES 18-19

Reference back to verse 7.

To attempt to do something other than abide by its message, either explaining it away or adding to its message, only results in a deception that makes one the recipient of the plagues who has lost any opportunity for access to the tree of life and the holy city. This seems to be the best understanding of this final warning. Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 385.

It was customary in ancient days for writers to put this kind of warning at the close of their books, because the people who copied them for public distribution might be tempted to tamper with the material. However, John’s warning was not addressed to a writer, but to the hearer, the believer in the congregation where this book was read aloud. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 625.

3) Jesus Says “I am coming quickly”

VERSES 20-21

When Jesus once again concludes that he is coming soon, John’s response from his island observatory is immediately one of affirmation, “Amen. Let it be so.” Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 385.

John adds a little prayer, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

2 Peter 3:1–7 “1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

2 Peter 3:8–10 “8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”

How many of you are like John and your heart is ready and eager for Jesus to return?

“Amen” is endcapping this entire revelation.

Conclusion

As we have read multiple times in this series, “These words are faithful and true.”

Should this not provoke ministry and evangelism?