“Jesus is coming back! What does this mean for us and how ought we respond?” | Rev 22:12-21

Sermon Text:

New Living Translation Chapter 22

12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. 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. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. 15 Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. 18 And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.

20 He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.

Context:

John receives a vision from an angel, telling him of things to come in the future.

John had been exiled (or kicked out) of Rome to the island of Patmos.

Through a series of visions of the world groaning in pain and evil appearing to get worse, Gods final judgement is released on the earth.

This last chapter takes place after the earth has been inflicted with plagues and death, the anti-christ has come and been defeated, the saints have been raised with Christ as he returned a second time, and those who are not in Christ have been separated and bound in hell with Satan and the fallen angels - for all eternity. This brings us to the New Heaven and the New Earth: a place that John describes, beginning in ch 21. Chapter 22 is the final passage of Scripture - the call to those who are reading to beacon the coming of Christ, along with those who are yet to be in Christ, quench their thirst and be found in HIm.

Exegesis:

V.12 - Christ is coming quickly, and is coming with a reward. This reward is eternal life, peace, victory, and being in his full presence - among a plethora of things.

V.13 - This is Christs grand declaration. This is the “I AM that I AM,” of the New Testament. He is the Alpha and Omega. He is the first and the last. He is the beginning and the end. Christ essentially says in three distinct (and possible different ways), that He is everlasting.

V.14 - Blessed (or happy), are the ones who are in Christ. Blessed are the one’s who wash their robes (I think of the imagery of Christ washing us with his blood, and Paul referencing us putting on the new man). “So that,” those who are in Christ may be allowed to enter into heaven and partake of the tree of life [is the the actual tree of life, like the one in Eden, or is this a new, fulfilled tree of life?]. Being in Christ gives us the “right” to the tree of life and gaining access into the city.

V.15 - Those who are not in Christ will not enter the kingdom of God. They will be cast away with Satan and the fallen angels in the lake of fire. (Extra: The Jewish context for calling someone a “dog” is to be regarded as “the most despicable, insolent and miserable of creatures Michel, O. (1964–). κύων, κυνάριον. In G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley, & G. Friedrich (Eds.), Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed., Vol. 3, p. 1101). Eerdmans.) Christ will separate them like chaff from wheat.

V.16 - Christ has sent his angel to testify (“To solemnly assert”) the things that are to come. This is for the churches. Christ then declares himself the source (the root) and the product (the descendant) of David, again, showing that He is everlasting - the Alpha and the Omega.

V.17 - The Holy Spirit along with the Church yearn for the coming of Christ. In unison, we and the Spirit say, “Come!” Next is the one who hears the gospel (any person). They are beckoned to “come.” The one who acknowledges that he is thirsty (in need of spiritual saving), who God has begun to soften his heart, is urged to “come.” Finally, the one who wishes (perhaps the one who is in a similar state as the one who has acknowledged his thirst), is invited to take part in eternal life, without cost - for Jesus has paid for their sins.

V.18-19 - (Quickly), we are to obey the words found within Revelation, and the Bible itself. Adding or subtracting them will lead to massive consequences. I wonder if this is similar to being a false prophet?

V.20 - Finally, we reach the pinnacle of the Scriptures. “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Christ confirms that he is coming quickly. We, the church, agree with this reality by our Amen, and echo, “Come, Lord Jesus.”

Application:

“How are we too respond to the return of Christ?”

Excitement, Prayer, and Thanksgiving:

Jesus is coming back! We should be excited.

[ask kids] “Do you ever get excited when your friend is coming over to play, or have a sleep over with you? Are you ever excited when your dad gets back from work?” “How do you feel? When we pray, we ought to thank God that he is coming soon, and that we will be with him in heaven!”

As we pray, we ought to thank God for promising to come back. We can thank him that we trust him and that he will come someday, and make everything perfect.

And we should be thankful that God is coming back to make all things new. [Ask kids] “Have your parents ever come back from the store, and brought you back a new toy or game? What did you say when they gave it to you?” Christ is coming back and brining a reward (v.12) with him. Throughout the day, lets thank God for Jesus and that he is coming back.

Action:

Jesus hasn’t come back yet and we don’t know when that will happen. Jesus himself in v.20 says that he is “coming soon.” What do we do in the meantime? Matt 24 says that only Jesus knows the day and time he will come back. Peter says that Jesus will come back in a flash! [Have a kid turn to Matt:28:16-20] “But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””

Jesus tells us to go and make disciples. He asks us to tell others about him. As you go throughout your day, tell people about Jesus! Tell people about your excitement about him coming back to make the world perfect.

There are so many other things we can do too! We can read our Bible, help our friends, be obedient to our parents,

[Have kids repeat after me] “So friends, what ought we do as we wait for Jesus to come back? Do you remember?” [Help kids with saying, “Excited, praying, being thankful, and telling people about Jesus.”

Close & Activity:

[Have a kiddo pray].

[Jill leads the activity]