Revelation for Now & Future Part 34
Revelation for Now & Future • Sermon • Submitted
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1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
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.
The Culmination of the New Jerusalem
The Culmination of the New Jerusalem
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
A river as a picture fulfilling the Prophecies of Zechariah 14:8, Ezekiel 47:1-9, & Joel 3:18
8 On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter.
18 “And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Shittim.
Both prophets foretell the idea of a River flowing from Jerusalem and its temple.
Life giving property of the water
But what about the river all the way back in the garden of Eden.
10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.
Ezekiel 47 reminds us that living water flows from the temple, but now God and the Lamb are the temple.
The second half of vs. 2 points to Ezek. 47:12
12 And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”
NO longer a death curse...
3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
The death ends and the presence of God and His face is shone upon His people and they worship.
Notice they worship.
What else could they do, what else should they do…for they are in the presence of God.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
This is an intimate fellowship
His presence will be providing all that is necessary
Nothing else is needed.
It is Heaven because He is there.
The Authority in Prophecy
The Authority in Prophecy
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.”
We should be mindful that the Lord desired the words of this letter/Revelation to be communicated quickly.
For He speaks of the “soon” nature of the events.
Some of the events occured within the life of the original readers.
Jesus also spoke of the necessity to “keep” the prophecy.
Notice that the book gives the ideas revealed which are not just knowledge but command and challenge.
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.”
John confirms his authorship and the Lord’s message
The events were so awe packed that John falls down to worship the messenger only to be rebuked.
Why would John fall and worship? Scholars believe that the events were so real to John that he thought the messenger was no mere angel, but Jesus.
The angel quickly rebuked him.
Do Not Cover the Truth
Do Not Cover the Truth
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.”
Speak the Truth so the people can hear.
It is almost like the Lord is saying so there is no excuse.
His Coming Will Be Unexpected, But a Blessing
His Coming Will Be Unexpected, But a Blessing
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.
He comes and those who are ready enter into His Provision.
A Reminder of Not All Entering
A Reminder of Not All Entering
15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
One way or the Other… there only two places one may go.
Certified
Certified
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.”
I John has been used to let us know who the writer is.
Now we get the certification of whose message was written.
It Will BE Sooner Than Some Think
It Will BE Sooner Than Some Think
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.
An Invitation
A Curse
Walking Away, But In...
Walking Away, But In...
Notice the idea of our eternal station as priests before God.
The End should remind of the beginning…perfection as God designed.
Wash your clothes.