Return of THE KING

Introduction:

Scripture: Revelation 22:6-21

Summary: In Revelation 22:6-21, the Apostle John emphasizes the immediacy of Jesus' return and the importance of being prepared for His coming. This passage concludes the Revelation with a strong declaration of God's promises and encouragement to remain faithful as we await the fulfillment of all things.

Application: This passage reminds Christians to live with urgency and hope in light of Christ's imminent return. In a world filled with uncertainty and trials, the promise of His coming instills perseverance and motivates believers to share the Gospel, encouraging them to strengthen their faith and share the hope found in Christ with others.

Big Idea: Stay awake and alert; Christ's return is imminent, and the fulfillment of God's promises gives us hope and a mission in a disorienting world.

How to Stay Awake and Alert?

1. Trust in His Word:

Revelation 22:6–7 CSB

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

It’s been over 2,000 years since Christ first came, where is He?

Matthew 24:36–44 CSB

“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son—except the Father alone. As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding grain with a hand mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

2 Peter 3:8 CSB

Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

We may not exactly know when Christ is coming, but we must live as if He could return any day. If Christ fulfilled many prophecies already, including rising from the dead, what makes us think He won’t fulfill everything else? Besides, there are many more people that need to be saved! (Both Jewish People and Gentiles).

Romans 11:25 CSB

I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

2. True Worship Matters:

Revelation 22:8–9 CSB

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”

Illustration: Small Group Study and the heart being like a magnet.

In this season, we must guard our hearts from not being attracted to worship things not of God.

Proverbs 4:23 CSB

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

What you allow to attract your heart will ultimate bear fruit of what you worship.

3. Choose Your Path:

Revelation 22:10–11 CSB

Then he said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy still be filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; let the holy still be holy.”

We are all putting our faith in something, the question is who or what are we putting our faith in?

Are you putting your faith in yourself?

Are you putting your faith in this world system?

Are you putting your faith in our government?

Are you putting your faith in media?

Are you putting your faith in your works?

Have you considered putting your faith in Jesus Christ and the work He has done to save you from your sins?

Matthew 25:31–46 NLT

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

4. Christ's Reward Awaits:

Revelation 22:12–16 CSB

“Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

Our reward is that we will be with Christ for all of eternity!

5.Share The Coming of Jesus Christ:

Revelation 22:17–21 CSB

Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely. I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, which are written about in this book. He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone. Amen.

We have a responsibility to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those we come in contact with because eternity is at stake.

2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”