Revelation 22 - "Come Lord Jesus!"

Revelation 22 - A Complete Restoration Is Coming and It Is Coming Quickly: Come Lord Jesus!

Today we will be looking at the last chapter of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. By my count by the end of this sermon there will have been 50 sermons related to the Revelation from 22 chapters. If you set that beside the series from Romans I think we did pretty well because there were only 16 chapters in Romans and there were 49 sermons. In Romans it averaged out to 3.063 sermons per chapter and in Revelation is it will be 2.27 per chapter. That means absolutely nothing but is it is a fun fact I suppose. So let’s put an end to the silliness and pray then we will get started.

Like I said we will finish our look at the Revelation but there will be in reality two separate sermons this morning. The first will complete our look at life in the New Jerusalem along with the end of the prophecy itself and the second will be an encouragement and admonition to the church. But since the first 5 verses of chapter 22 completes the description of the New Jerusalem let me give you a little review of what we saw last week.

One of the things we saw was that you cannot describe the indescribable, so much of the description John gave us like jasper stone being clear and gold being a clear as glass must be more than just stone and gold but John did not have the words to properly describe it. However there are some principles that we can see from the description of the holy City that is the wife of the Lamb. First: The curse of the fall of man is over (we will see more of that today). Second: By the description of the wall around the city we can know that there is security in the Lamb for His wife. We are secure in Christ. Third: By the dimensions given of the city we can know that there is an eternal place for all of the wife of the Lamb. There is a place for all who believe. And fourth: By the fact that apostles of the Lamb names are on the foundations of the wall and the names of the twelve tribes are on the twelve gates and we are all in the presence of God and the Lamb we know there is unity for the wife of the Lamb and that unity is in the Lamb. The redeemed of God are one people. That leads us into the first part of our passage this morning. Revelation 22:1-5 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.[1] Back in chapter 21 verse 6 Jesus said: 6 “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. [2] Now here in chapter 22 we see where this free water of life comes from; it flows from the throne of God and the Lamb. The words “proceeding from” is in the present tense indicating that there is always a flow whereby there is always living water for those who thirst. The essential meaning of this river is found in Jesus’ declaration to the woman at the well in John 14: “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life”. The river, flowing as it does from God’s throne, can only portray that eternal life is entirely due to God’s gracious gift.[3] All life proceeds from God and the Lamb. Then we are told that John sees something that has not been seen by mankind since Genesis 3, he is looking at the tree of life whose fruit is continually ripe and ready for use. The tree of life and the river of the water of life is alluded to in Psalm 92, Ezekiel 47 and Zechariah 13 and in Revelation 2 there is the promise that those who overcome will eat of the tree of life. Just as drinking from the water of life symbolizes everlasting life, so eating the fruit symbolizes all the divine blessings of the eternal state.[4] Not just that the curse is gone but the blessings have been restored. In Revelation this is fulfilled by the Tree of Life. There will be fruit at all times for the entirety of the wife of the Lamb, unending blessing. All the citizens of New Jerusalem will drink from the water of life and take nourishment from the fruit of the tree but also the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. The meaning is that all will enjoy full, wholesome, robust health. Just as the death of Christ made possible the water of eternal life (spiritually), so his death also provides the leaves that completely remove all the consequences of sin forever (physically)[5]for every tribe, tongue, ethnicity and color.

In the Garden in Genesis 3 the curse of the fall of mankind started but in the New Jerusalem with the river of life and the tree of life with its fruit and leaves for healing the curse is gone, no more rebelling against God only eternal service (worship), His servants will serve Him. Eternally in the holy City, the wife of the Lamb will never be bored. We cannot imagine exactly what it will mean for us to serve and worship God throughout eternity so we really don’t know what we would want that to be. The implication, however, is of great activity, not passive religiosity. In this life we, his servants truly serve him, though sometimes we do so halfheartedly and often with incomplete obedience. In eternity this will change to perfect service.

In chapter 21 it was clear that the Lamb and God would be with His people in the holy City, the wife of the Lamb with the Lamb. But here in verse 4 we can see an intimacy found nowhere else in all of Scripture. We will see His face. Moses longed to see God but He only allowed Moses to see His back side. While Christ walked the earth His disciples and others got a glimpse of God through Him. But in eternity with the curse removed, all God’s servants will see him face-to-face. Again, we cannot begin to imagine what this means, only that it surpasses the most wonderful spiritual experience of God that anyone in this life can have. Not only will we see His face in an intimate way but we will be have the assurance of being His by being sealed with His name. This includes all the redeemed throughout eternity. The seal or name of God on someone authenticates that person as genuine, guarantees God’s protection, and is a token of his reward to His overcomers.

In chapter 11:15 we read that the seventh angel sounded his trumpet and announced: “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and he will reign forever and ever”. And here in verse 5 with the completion of the final vision in the Revelation we see this fully accomplished – but he fulfills it by sharing his rule with His servants.

I told you from the beginning that I wasn’t nearly as interested in telling you what was going to happen in the future as I was in showing you the principles we need to live today. I think that one thing we can know for sure from our look at Revelation is that what went wrong in the garden has been made right. Let me show you what I mean.

In the Garden:

• Human beings, given the opportunity, rebelled against their Creator.

• In the garden and since then the serpent continually attempts to beguile people away from God.

• The curse on the human race includes banishment from paradise and the presence of God.

• Since that time pain and suffering are the lot of mankind.

• People are absolutely barred from access to the Tree of Life and death reigns.

• One day “the seed of the woman” will prevail.

Throughout human history this has been played out with much turmoil and struggle. But by the time the final vision of Revelation ends, these have all been resolved.

• God’s people serve him forever, for all rebellion has ceased.

• The serpent has been thrown into the fiery lake, hell, forever.

• “No longer will there be any curse” (22:3).

• God has removed all pain and suffering from his people.

• The Tree of Life appears once more, with its fruit and leaves freely applied.

• Jesus “the seed of the woman” rules from eternity’s throne.[6] And his redeemed rule with Him.

If there is nothing else we have learned from the Revelation it is that we are to worship God, be holy, avoid His judgment, trust Jesus to be our Savior because in the end He will reign.

Now let’s take a look at the encouragement and admonition. Revelation 22:6-21 6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. 7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” 12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” 14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. 16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. 18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.[7]

If there was one thing that stood out in those 16 verses what would you say it was? Five separate times in verses 6, 7, 10, 12, and 20 it is explicitly stated that the time is short. “Things which must shortly take place.” “Behold I am coming quickly.” “for the time is at hand.” “I am coming quickly.” “Surely I am coming quickly.” What this tells us is that His return is imminent. The best way I can describe that is to picture a tree that has been notched on one side and sawn into on the other side. Its fall is imminent. There is nothing that needs to happen before it falls. Christ’s return is an impending event, nothing need happen before He returns. In verses 6-7 the angel told John that everything that has been revealed to him is completely trustworthy, faithful and true and has been show to him so that he could relate what would shortly take place. Then Jesus says to John and us “I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of this prophecy.” What are the words of the prophecy that we are to keep? I think the first is found in verse 9; “Worship God”. When John took his eyes off of the revelation of Jesus and put it on the glory of a part of creation, the angel, he was warned to worship God. We are warned all the way through this revelation of Jesus that we are to not be deceived or led astray by the harlot or the beast or the false prophet, that our physical life is not worth our eternal damnation. All the challenges to overcome and be faithful to the Lamb—to the point of death, if necessary—are parts of the prophecy that every Christian may keep. No matter how we interpret various disputed aspects of Revelation, at the heart of the book are commands to keep.[8]

In verse 10 John is told not to seal up the prophecy because the time is at hand. And in verse 11 the reason is given why we have to be warning folks, it’s because those who are unjust and filthy will remain that way unless we warn them of the coming judgment. Those who are righteous and holy should be warned as well so that they continue to strive to be obedient to the commands in the Revelation.

In verse 12 again Jesus says that He is coming quickly but this time He says that His reward is with Him and He will give to each one according to his work. Rewards are not just good things, it literally means what a person has earned. For those who keep His commands the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End, First and Last says they will be in the gates of the city, they will be the wife of the Lamb and have a right to eat of the tree of life. But those who do not keep his commands, the dogs or male prostitutes, the sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters and liars will not enter the city. There are only two eternal destinations, heaven and hell. The account of the judgment before the great white throne in chapter 20 portrayed these destinations as either being written in the book of lifeor as being thrown into the lake of fire. Here, the imagery is slightly different, though the truth is the same. The blessed will enter the city while the damned are described as outside.[9]

In verse 16 Jesus identifies Himself as the beginning and the end of the Davidic covenant, the King that would sit on the throne and rule His people in righteousness forever. And when He calls Himself the Bright and Morning Star He is declaring again that the time is near for Him to consummate all that has been prophesied because the morning star is brightest just before sun rise of a new day. And with that new day arriving soon we see the most evangelistic statement in all of the Revelation; “Come!”. Ultimately, many wicked people will refuse to repent. In the end unrepentant sinners will be banished outside the city (v. 15). But right now opportunity still remains for the world’s people to come to Christ. The four invitations are addressed to the world, not the churches. [10]The Spirit and the Bride (the Holy Spirit and the church) say, Come, those who hear say Come, those who thirst come, take of the living water freely, the cost has been paid by Christ, come. Every person who hears and comes to Jesus will begin enjoying heavenly benefits of the water of life immediately.[11]

When we come to verses 18-19 we can be sure that we know that John considered this Revelation of Jesus Christ was indeed given from God. He gives a very stern warning not to add too or take away from this letter of prophecy to the Church, the wife of the Lamb. Those who add to it or take away from it are willfully changing the word of God means that they are not the redeemed of God and they will experience His judgment.

John makes it very clear why he was content to make that last warning to those who would change God’s word. It is Jesus who testifies to them. This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ and He makes it clear that He is coming quickly. To that John almost explodes with; “Amen, I know its true! Come Lord Jesus! I have to stop here and ask: Can you say that along with John? Does knowing that He is coming quickly with the reward for your works make you excited or fearful? I can’t answer that question for you, only you know.

From this last chapter of Revelation we are left with these things to add to our understanding: The curse of the fall of man is over. The garden has not been restored but the relationship of mankind to God and the Lamb has been and it makes no difference where that is because we will see God face to face. We have not yet realized the benefit of it in the here and now but time is short. These things will shortly take place, I am coming quickly, for the time is at hand, behold I am coming quickly My reward is with me, I am the Bright and Morning Star; come, surely I am coming quickly. Those are the dominant last words that Christ left for us through the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Those are my last words to you as well, His return is imminent, can you say with joy along with John; “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Let’s pray.

[1] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 22:1–5). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. [2] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 21:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. [3]Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation(Vol. 12, p. 414). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers. [4]Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation(Vol. 12, p. 415). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers. [5]Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation(Vol. 12, p. 415). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers. [6]Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation(Vol. 12, p. 413). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers. [7] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 22:6–21). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. [8]Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation(Vol. 12, p. 418). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers. [9]Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation(Vol. 12, p. 421). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers. [10]Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation(Vol. 12, pp. 422–423). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers. [11]Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation(Vol. 12, p. 423). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.