The Anticipation of Christ's Return
Philadelphia Baptist Church
4/1/2007 Sun. p.m.
The Anticipation of Christ’s Return
Revelation 22:6–21
Revelation 22:6–21 calls Christians everywhere to “look up.” It is a call to get out of the smallness of our individual circumstances and start acting with reference to the magnitude of eternity.
The point at the end of the book of Revelation is the same point that John has made all the way through: the Lord’s victory is certain. His future return is the hope that enables us to remain faithful in the face of trial. It is important, though, that we understand the meaning of hope. In modern English this word often means something like “wishful thinking,” as in “I hope I win a new car.” But hope in biblical contexts means something more like “expectation.” Christian hope is not wishful thinking but rather is confident expectation. As the writer of Hebrews notes, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
Thus, Christian hope is our certainty that the Lord will indeed return. If we know friends are coming for dinner, we are expecting them and that means action is required. An important aspect of expectation is the way that our awareness of what is to happen affects how we prepare for that event. Christian hope reveals its true colors in how we live our lives in the here and now.
I. Trust This Message (Revelation 22:6–10)
A. Nature of the Message (vv. 6–9)
And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
The point John now makes is one he has made before: the Word of the Lord is reliable. It is faithful and true (Revelation 3:14; 19:11; 21:5). Christians of all eras can stake their lives on the truth of this prophecy!
While all of Revelation is faithful and true, the context requires us to observe what the angel has in mind specifically at this point. The angel is about to show John the things which must shortly be done. The idea of shortly (mentioned four times in Revelation 22) normally can refer either to a brief interval of time (as in “soon” or “without much delay”) or to speed (as in “quickly” or “swiftly”). It’s another way of saying that something must indeed take place.
We recall that “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). This cautions us against imposing our view of time on God. Rather than computing time lines, we will do well to focus on how faithful and true the Lord’s words are.
Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
It is possible to be confused by a potential reference to speed in the phrase I come quickly. What was true of shortly in the previous verse is true of quickly here. The Greek words in these two instances have the same root and should be read in essentially the same way. The overall point is that Jesus will certainly return.
Many have attempted to calculate the exact date of Jesus’ second coming; all have failed. Some who think they have pinpointed that date have even quit jobs, sold homes, and gathered together to wait idly, only to be sadly mistaken and disappointed. Most of us can remember a certain amount of “end-time frenzy” as the year 2000 approached.
The fact or certainty of Christ’s future return is what stimulates the Christian to action! Constant vigilance is to mark our lives as we wait for that return (Mark 13:35–37). Constant vigilance doesn’t mean standing around looking up at the sky (Acts 1:11); it does mean that we want to be found faithful until our death or until the return of Christ (Matthew 24:36–51).
The person for whom Jesus’ return will be a blessed occasion is the person who is prepared. Such a person pays attentions to and keeps the message of the book of Revelation. For anyone not prepared, Jesus’ return undoubtedly will be “too quick” (Matthew 25:1–13).
And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
John is overcome by the experience and makes the mistake of attempting to worship … the angel. Even given all that the apostle John has seen and experienced, he still makes mistakes! Even when we try our best, we too will make mistakes.
John undoubtedly knows of the occasions when Cornelius bowed down to Peter (Acts 10:25, 26) and when villagers tried to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:11–18). Thus it is interesting that John makes his mistake not once but twice (Revelation 19:10).
A person may be sincere while being sincerely wrong. Just because we mean well does not mean that our actions are correct.
Preachers, youth ministers, or Christian musicians all can get caught up in the moment and begin to revel in the praise they receive. Although this may not be outright worship of the person, it is a short step from there to pride that leads to the fall of the servant of God.
The servant or messenger of God, as well as the follower, has a responsibility to keep this problem in check. First, the follower must not become so caught up in admiration of the leader that God is forgotten. And the leader must make sure that praise received is not producing pride. An accountability partner can help.
B. Urgency of the Message (v. 10)
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
Interestingly, this is the exact opposite of the instructions given to the prophet Daniel. After receiving a magnificent vision, that prophet was told, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end” (Daniel 12:4). The directions that John receives speak to the very heart of the book of Revelation: it is a revelation from God for us. We bear a responsibility to study this message and gain from it what the Lord wants to give to us.
That John refers to the time being at hand should lead us into thinking in terms of “soon.” The author of Hebrews refers to “these last days” (Hebrews 1:2). The apostle John speaks of his day as “the last time” (1 John 2:18). There are those who will say, “Where is the promise of his coming?” (2 Peter 3:4).
A mistake of some readers of the Bible is to think that they can predict when the Lord will return. Every one of them has failed (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:1, 2). The point is that it will happen. Thus our appropriate response is not to guess when but to be ready for it. We are to expect it!
Coming Sooner, or Later?
In one sense, time is static: it moves forward second by second for everyone. But in another sense, time seems to be relative: the pace of life has not always moved as rapidly as it seems to do for most of us today.
Think about automobile speeds. In the early twentieth century when the automobile was a new invention, people were amazed at how fast they could go. The fact that this was not very fast was demonstrated in 2003 by a cross-country parade of Model T Fords in celebration of the Ford Motor Company’s one-hundredth anniversary. Fifty of the antique cars traveled from southern California to Dearborn, Michigan, taking 19 days to do so. Their top speed was 45 miles per hour.
Today we routinely travel much faster when we are able to break free from the gridlock of large cities. Yet in the early 1900s, some speculated that people would die, perhaps from a heart attack or asphyxiation, if they were to exceed 60 miles per hour.
The insistence of some that Christ will return soon—meaning “by such-and-such a date”—is an example of how rapidly we expect things to move. The fact that 2,000 years have elapsed since Christ’s first coming makes some folks impatient. That seems like a long time, relatively speaking.
II. Choose Your Destination (Revelation 22:11, 12)
A. Beyond the Point of No Return (v. 11)
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
If we’re not paying attention, we can easily misread this verse to mean that God has no interest in allowing people to be transferred out of “the power of darkness” and “into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). John is seeing the final outcome of all things; there will be at a certain, particular point in the history of salvation no opportunity for second thoughts. It will all be finished.
The end result of those who are not faithful, who prefer to be unjust, is that they remain unjust. The end result of the faithful, who are made righteous, is that they also remain in that state. This verse thus views eternal destinies from a perspective that is past the point of no return.
B. Before the Point of No Return (v. 12)
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
John starts by repeating the quickly (or “certainty”) theme, and then he moves to the subject of Jesus’ reward. The point is that the certainty of Jesus’ return will be accompanied by the certainty that He will repay each according as his work shall be. This is not “works salvation” but is a recognition that our works demonstrate our faith—or lack thereof (James 2:14–26).
The promise of reward or recompense occurs frequently in the Bible (Psalm 28:4; 62:12; Isaiah 40:10; 59:18; 62:11; Ephesians 6:8).
III. Expect Christ (Revelation 22:13–15)
A. Identity of He Who Comes (v. 13)
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
For the last few verses, John has described the final outcome of the decisions we make in this life. Now John puts the spotlight on the God of history; this is the God who declares “the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10; 44:6; 48:12). He knows our past, present, and future. This imagery reaffirms the power of God to do exactly what He says He will do: repay all people according to the choices made in this life.
B. Identity of the Blessed (v. 14)
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
While John’s vision is in the spirit and of the future, everything he writes is for the benefit of his readers in this world. We’ve now read that the Lord will certainly come. By the time the end comes there will be no chance of changing our minds. He will certainly repay us according to our choices in this life. Thus we understand the significance of the verse before us: we will be blessed if we choose the Lord now while we have a choice. For those who remain faithful, their reward from Jesus will be the blessing of the tree of life and entrance into the holy city. This means eternity with our creator, never to be separated again.
C. Identity of the Cursed (v. 15)
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Here we have the flip side of the situation. Those who persist in making unholy choices in this life will not enter the eternal city. They will not experience abundance and security. They will not experience the eternal presence of God. If you choose God in this life, then your identity will be blessed. But if you choose yourself and your own desires in this life, then you will be identified for all eternity as having made that choice.
IV. Listen to the Final Words (Revelation 22:16–21)
A. Testimony (v. 16)
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Most of the announcements in Revelation come from divine messengers sent from God. But this is one of the occasions in which the Lord himself speaks. It is further confirmation for the reader that this is a reliable message. This brings Revelation full circle, since it is a repetition of how the book began (Revelation 1:1, 2).
During Christ’s earthly ministry, people generally expected that if He were the Messiah, then He would mount some kind of political or military campaign (Acts 1:6). That He did not do so probably was a disappointment to many. However, when Jesus now announces that He is the root and the offspring of David, His kingship is beyond doubt. We have to appreciate that the culture of the ancient Jews understands this phrase to be a reference to a warrior Messiah.
The reference begins in Isaiah 11:1–10, where the prophet refers to a new growth springing up from Jesse, the father of King David. The image there is of a felled tree, most likely referring to the apparent end of David’s line of kings. But there is still life in these roots and they allow for the growth of a successor: the Messiah. “The root of David, hath prevailed” (Revelation 5:5). Jesus is indeed a victorious warrior, but not in the way many in the first century expect.
The title bright and morning star has been rather difficult for many commentators to explain. It seems best to understand this title as being based on Numbers 24:17. That verse was understood by Jews to be a reference to a coming Messiah who would destroy God’s enemies. Thus, both of these titles refer to Jesus as a victorious, conquering Messiah. This divine warrior-king blesses those who accept Him, but He also punishes those who don’t.
B. Plea (v. 17)
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Much has already been said to the reader of Revelation, and much has been repeated for emphasis. Throughout the book we’ve heard the warnings of eternal death that come with rejecting the truth of Christ. We’ve heard of eternal blessings that are available for all who embrace that truth.
The book of Revelation is a message of hope. Hope enables us to remain faithful, and our faithfulness ensures our hope. Our hope is in Christ’s ability to secure us for eternity. Our hope is in Christ and His victory over sin and death. This is what impels us to come and to say, Come to others who are athirst. Who can turn away from such a plea?
C. Warning (vv. 18, 19)
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
To ignore the words of the book of Revelation is bad enough. How much worse will it be for the one who hears the words of Revelation then obscures or abuses that message! Such a person will be cursed.
D. Affirmations (vv. 20, 21)
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
We come to the last words of the Bible. The final point is that the one who is behind the revelation of this message will certainly come again. (Note our earlier discussion concerning shortly and quickly.) The importance of this fact is embedded deeply within the fabric of this book. The Lord really will return, and all that we have read really will come about.