The Revelation Concludes

Transcript

GR 1573
06/20/10
The Revelation Concludes
Revelation 22:6-21
Gil Rugh

Our study of the book of Revelation brings us to the closing verses of the last chapter. Awesome when we consider and we will be reminded of it, that this is God's final word to the churches. With the conclusion of this revelation of Jesus Christ given through His angel to John, the word of God to man is concluded. So for the last 2000 there has not been any new word from God. The body of the book of Revelation concluded with chapter 22 verse 5 and ends on a glorious note, talking about the blessings for those who have experienced redemption in Jesus Christ, the glorious city, the New Jerusalem where we will dwell on the new earth. The free access to the tree of life and the water of life; verse 3, His bond servants will serve Him; verse 4, they will see His face, His name will be on their foreheads. There will no longer be any night, they won't need the light of the lamp, the light of the sun because the Lord God will illumine them. They will reign forever and ever.

Now we move to the conclusion or the epilogue to the book of Revelation. And as you might expect much of the material in this conclusion to the book of Revelation is very similar to what was found in the first eight verses of chapter 1 which formed the introduction to the book. So it ties the book together and we'll have some of the same emphases given.

This conclusion has at least three major emphases. The first, there's an emphasis on the genuineness of the prophecy of this book. This is a genuine word from God. Verse 6, these words are faithful and true; verse 7, blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. This book is a prophecy, it is a word from God, it is faithful and true. Down in verse 16, I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I, Jesus, unique way that Christ refers to Himself here. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things for the churches. The book of Revelation does not refer to the church as one group but refers to the churches. It started out with that message to the seven churches. Then down in verses 18-19, 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 which are written in this book; if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy God will take his part from the tree of life, from the holy city which are written in this book. You see this is a genuine word from God, it cannot be tampered with. This is a prophecy from God, it cannot be changed, altered, condensed, expanded. This is it. There is nothing else to be said, there is nothing less that can be said. So this conclusion has a strong emphasis—this is a genuine prophecy from God.

There is much discussion about the genre of the book of Revelation, is it apocalyptic genre. And scholars get on to comparing extra-biblical literature and put the book of Revelation in that category of literature. We ought to let the book speak for itself, it's a prophecy, it is a word from God. There is nothing else like it outside the scripture. There basically is nothing to compare it to in that sense. Almighty God, the eternal God has spoken. He has spoken with a clarity that is to be understood and heeded, as we'll see in the emphasis.

A second emphasis in this conclusion is on the imminence of Christ's return—the any time, any moment return of Jesus Christ. In verse 7, behold I am coming quickly. And at the end of verse 6 he said, these are the things which must soon take place. As we'll note in a moment when we walk through some of the details of these verses, that word soon and the word quickly are the same word. These are the things which must soon take place. Behold I am coming quickly, I am coming soon. Verse 10, the time is near; verse 12, again, I am coming quickly, or I am coming soon; down in verse 20, yes, I am coming quickly or soon. That repeated reminder of the imminence of Christ's return. He is to be expected, His arrival could be at any time.

A third emphasis in this conclusion is on the clear contrast between the believer and the unbeliever. And in this there is a gracious invitation that there is still time for unbelievers to come and partake of the salvation that God has provided in His grace. In verse 11, let the one who does wrong still do wrong, the one who is filthy still be filthy, let the one who is righteous still practice righteousness, the one who is holy still keep himself holy. Behold, I am coming quickly; My reward is with Me to render to every man according to what he has done. So those in their behavior in verse 11 reminded that Christ is coming to mete out the fit rewards for what they have done. So that contrast in verse 11—filthy, the one who does wrong contrasted with the holy and the one who practices righteousness. Down in verse 14, blessed are those who wash their robes. They may have the right to the tree of life, may enter the gates to the city. Contrast—outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the immoral persons, the murderers, the idolaters, everyone who loves and practices lying. So that contrast between those who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and those who are excluded from all that God has promised to those that love Him.

Verse 17, the Spirit and the bride say come, let the one who hears say come, let the one who is thirsty come, let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. I testify to everyone. And we read these verses. Anyone who adds, anyone who takes away comes under the judgment of God. So this contrast between the believer and the unbelievers, those who experience God's salvation, those who do not, and the consequences of that.

So let's walk through some of the points of this conclusion, picking up with verse 6. And He said to me, these words are faithful and true. Back in chapter 19 verse 9, these are true words of God; chapter 21 verse 5, write, for these words are faithful and true. Now again we are reminded as the book is drawing to a close, these words are faithful and true. One writer has noted there is no book of scripture which is more pointedly attested, more solemnly safeguarded or more urgently recommended for study and observance than the apocalypse. Isn't it interesting, what book causes more confusion among readers than the book of the Revelation. Yest these are faithful and true words, God has spoken, these words are to be trusted, they are to be believed. And as we'll see in a moment they are to be heeded.

And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets sent His angel to show His bond servants the things which must soon take place. So behind this revelation is the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets. So the same God who communicated through the prophets back through Old Testament history right down through our New Testament, holy men of old spoke as they were moved by the Spirit of God. So here the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets sent His angel to show to His bond servants the things which must soon take place. So this is a further revelation as we'll see when we get to verse 9. John is referred to as a prophet, he is called one of the brethren of the prophets. The prophets are his brethren, he is himself a prophet. The word of God has been communicated to him, the intermediary here was an angel from heaven who was given the message to give to John. It is God's word coming directly from God through the angel to John.

These are things which must soon take place, the end of verse 6. Go back to Revelation 1. Note how the book began, verse 1, the revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to show to his bond servants, note, the things which must soon take place. That word soon is the same word as I mentioned we have translated quickly. We will have it that way in the next verse in chapter 22. But it means soon. Our translators have gone back and forth between soon and quickly for variety. But we're talking about what God says will soon take place. Well they haven't taken place yet and in the plan of God we are to be expecting it. That's why we talk about the imminence of Christ's return, His return is imminent, it can happen at any time because the scripture says to be living in light of the soon return. These things must soon take place.

So he picks up that same emphasis back in chapter 22 verse 6 that he began with. And this was to show to His bond servants. This is a revelation for the people of God. It is not amazing that so many men have written commentaries on Revelation and they are totally confused, they don't have a clue what they are talking about because this is a revelation to His bond servants. But it is a revelation, it is to show to His bond servants the things which must soon take place. This is not a book to confuse us, it is a book to open up our understanding so that we can know what is going to take place in the prophetic plan of God.

Look at verse 7, behold I am coming quickly. And as we noted that word quickly is the same word that we have translated soon at the end of verse 6. I am coming soon, His imminent return. Come back to Revelation 2, just note this repeated emphasis on the soon return, the near return. Verse 5, therefore remember from where you have fallen, the message to the church at Ephesus, and repent and do the deeds you did at first, or else I am coming to you. A word of warning. I'm coming to you, there will be consequences if you have not been obedient. Down in verse 16, the church at Pergamum, therefore repent or else I am coming to you quickly, soon. Again a word of warning. A reminder to the church that holiness and godliness of life is required and we must be conducting ourselves as those living on the edge of the return of Jesus Christ, His soon return. And that is a serious matter because we will be called to account and judgment at that time. In Revelation 3:11, the message to the church at Philadelphia, I am coming quickly, soon. Hold fast what you have so that no one will take your crown. Over to Revelation 16:15, behold I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and so on. You see that, living in expectation of the return of Christ because He is coming soon, coming when people would not expect Him. But believers are to be ready and alert and aware. We don't know if Jesus Christ is coming tonight, but if He would come it shouldn't be a surprise to us, should it. We've been expecting You, we've been looking for You. Sort of like when someone is coming to visit you. They say, we'll be arriving about .......... But you don't know exactly when so you sort of look out and see or wait for a call. But when they knock on the door you don't say, I wasn't expecting you. You say just the opposite—we've been expecting you, we're waiting for you, we've been looking for you. That's the way we are to be about the return of Jesus Christ. Do I know He's coming tonight? No. Will I be surprised if He does? No. What does that mean for the way we are living? That's the point on this repeated emphasis.

Come back to Revelation 1:3, blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heed the things which are in it. Note, for the time is near. This is the way the book of Revelation started out, it's the way it ends. We're going to see this same basic beatitude repeated in a moment in Revelation 22. So we'll be back to chapter 1 in a moment.

Come back to Revelation 22. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. That's what we just read in Revelation 1:3. You know it is a book that is to be taken in, understood and lived in light of. So the book of Revelation is not a book to be closed, it is an unsealed book, as we'll see in a moment. So God gave it so we would understand it, know what it means, and it would have its proper impact on the way that we live so that we heed and keep the words of the prophecy of this book. Some people think, prophecy, we shouldn't get too caught up in that, let's trust the future to the Lord and concentrate on our responsibility today. But our responsibility today is governed by what He says about His future plan. That's the beatitude here, blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. Blessed is he who heeds it. Well if I don't have any idea what he is talking about, it's a confused book, if everybody gets something different out of it, He hasn't spoken very clearly. But He has. It's men who have made it confusing. That doesn't mean that there aren't details there that we don't yet fully understand how it will be carried out, but the basic message has been clear as we have moved through it. Parts of it are more than our finite minds at this point are able to grasp, the judgments with their severity involving the destruction of billions of people on this earth stagger us. But what God says is clear. And that ought to shape the way that we live. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. That's a great encouragement to me as I come to study a book like this. God intends me to understand it. He didn't say it to confuse me, He said it to give me clarity.

Verse 8, I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. That's the way that the message was communicated—verbally to what he heard and visually to what he saw. We saw the visions through the book, what he saw. John recorded what he was told. So that combination comprises the book. John didn't make it up. People think, he was writing in that period of time, and apocalyptic literature was this style literature and John would have been influenced by these things. No, he wrote what God said to him through the angel, what God showed him. That's how it came to be.

When I heard and I saw. He is overwhelmed. I mean, think of the staggering revelation that has been given to him. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. I mean, what an awesome being this angel must be that this revelation has come through the angel. John did the same thing back in chapter 19 verse 10, after the revelation concerning the preparation for the Second Coming, the marriage of the Lamb and the marriage supper of the Lamb. The statement at the end of verse 9, these are the true words of God. Then I fell at his feet, the angel's feet, to worship him. I mean, what a being must be worthy of my worship who brings such a revelation to me. And the angel immediately told him in chapter 19 verse 10, do not do that. I am a fellow servant. You don't worship the fellow slave. I am a fellow servant, a fellow slave of yours, your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus. I mean, angels with all their glory, all their splendor, they are fellow slaves with John, and as we'll see in a moment, other believers. Worship God. That's it. There is only one being to be worshiped—God. The most majestic angels given the greatest revelation are not fit objects of worship. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. I mean, God is behind the prophecy, God the Father, God the Son.

So when we come back to chapter 22, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, verse 9, but he said to me, do not do that. Same thing he was told back in chapter 19. I am a fellow servant of yours and of our brethren the prophets, and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God. I'm a fellow servant of yours, your brethren the prophets. So you see John is classed with the prophets. Your brethren the prophets, and of those who heed the words of this book. That's you and I, believers, the churches who heed the words of this book. We hear it, we pay attention to it, we live in light of it. I mean, think about it. We're put in that category with the angels and the prophets. Not that we're getting revelation, but he is a fellow servant of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God. The simplicity and clarity of what God has to say and our responsibility again is encouraging.

He said to me, do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book. Why? For the time is near. Now remember, go back to Daniel 12. Daniel received great revelation from God but it was a revelation that could not be clearly understood. It would take further revelation for clarity to come. So in Daniel 12:4, but as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time. Come down to verse 9, you'll note what precipitates verse 9, look at verse 8. As for me I heard but could not understand, so I said, my Lord, what will be the outcome of these events? He said, go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end of time. Daniel said, I don't understand. What does all this mean? How does it all come together? Daniel, it is not for you to have understanding of this at this point. The book is sealed. In other words it is closed, it is not open for understanding.

But now we come to the end of Revelation, chapter 22 verse 10, and the angel says to John, do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book. For the time is near. So now it is the time for it to be understood fully. And we've been back to the book of Daniel a number of times through our study of Revelation because Revelation gives a clarity as it is unfolded in chronological order end time events. And a clarity has been given that was not present before. So with the first coming of Christ, His accomplishing the work of redemption, the establishing of the church, now the unfolding of the complete plan of God, we have an unsealed book. What a blessing. You think about it, we are here with more understanding and knowledge of the plan of God than Daniel had. And Daniel was a prophet after Isaiah with his great prophecies. So think about it, Daniel got further revelation and prophetic insight from God than Isaiah had received, and yet Daniel couldn't understand it. But here we live with unsealed prophetic revelation now, for our understanding and knowledge. Why? The time is near, we are at the end of prophetic revelation. So there is no new prophetic revelation coming for the churches. So we are to be living in light of this, it's God's intention now that we put it together and understand it.

That provokes rather solemn injunctions. They are given as imperatives, but the translation let gives the idea. Verse 11, let the one who does wrong still do wrong, the one who is filthy still be filthy. In contrast to that, let the one who is righteous still practice righteousness, and the one who is holy keep himself holy. You see the division between the two camps or categories of mankind—the wicked and the righteous, the unsaved and the saved. The time is near and we are on the edge of the fixed state, if you will. Precariously close to the time when there will be no opportunity for change. So it's a word of warning, if you will, and a reminder of what is going to happen. The time is near and when Christ returns things will be fixed. Now there is grace because down in verse 17 and invitation still goes out to partake of the water of life. But you understand this is not something to be delayed. Well, I'll think about it, see what I think. The time is near to that time. The one who does wrong, still does wrong; the one who is filthy, is still filthy. And you continue as you are. And the consequences of that.

Because you come to verse 12, and Christ Himself speaks. Behold, I am coming soon. So you see the end of verse 10, the time is near; verse 12, I am coming soon. My reward is with Me to render to every man according to what he has done. That's a solemn reminder in light of verse 11, those who practice sin and those who practice righteousness and holiness. We are on the brink of the return of the One who will judge all men. I am coming soon, My reward is with Me. The reward of the wicked will be an eternity in hell, the reward of the righteous will be the eternal glory of the presence of God. So the solemn reminder, that exhortation basically given of the seriousness of the time.

Go back to Isaiah 40, that's the background for what is said in Revelation 22:12. Verse 10, behold, the Lord will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him. Doesn't that sound like Revelation 22:12? I am coming soon, My reward is with Me to render to every man according to what he has done. Isaiah 40:10, the Lord will come with might, behold His reward is with Him, His recompense before Him. And you have that reminder of that well known verse in Isaiah 40:6, what shall I call out? All flesh is grass, all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows upon it. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. In this context, similar to what we are talking about in Revelation 22.

Go to Isaiah 62:11. And the context again, God bringing glory to Zion. Verse 2, the nations will see your righteousness, all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will designate. And so on. You come down to verse 11, behold the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth, say to the daughter of Zion, lo your salvation comes. Behold His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him. With the coming of the Lord there will be a day of reckoning, a day of judgment, a day of meting out the fit reward. And remember the wages of sin is death. That will be the reward of the wicked.

Come back to II Corinthians 5. We as believers don't want to lose sight of this, either. This is a message to the churches. We'll see in a moment there are unbelievers throughout these churches, the seven churches in Asia, that have to be confronted. But believers need to be reminded to wake up, be alert. Paul addresses this in II Corinthians 5:9, therefore we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, whether we continue on in this body or we leave this body in death, to be pleasing to Him. Why? For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or evil. What we do in these bodies is of great importance. We are not saved by our works, but we are judged on the basis of our works. Paul says, our ambition as believers is to be pleasing to Him. Why? For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. That's how the book of Revelation is drawing to a conclusion, that's the impact that this prophetic book is to have upon us. It's not a book satisfying some desires we might have to know the future, it's a book that tells us about the future so that it can shape the way that we live, live in light of the soon return of the judge of all men.

Stop in Revelation 2. And the message to the church at Thyatira which gets strong rebuke. Verse 23, I will kill her children with pestilence and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. A warning of serious chastening judgment in the church at Thyatira and all the churches are to learn from this. God's provision for us is complete, but God's requirement for us is very clear. We must not become lax, indifferent, careless in living our lives.

So come back to Revelation 22:12, behold I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me to render to every man according to what he has done. As we have noted, all the judgments of scripture are based on works. No one is saved by works, we are saved by grace through faith. But the judgments are based on works because works reveal us. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, Jesus said. So He said we would be judged by our words. Why? Our words are revealing the condition of our hearts. Out of the heart of a man, Mark 7 says, proceed all these things and he lists all these sins. Why? They reveal the condition of our hearts. Those who practice righteousness reveal the saving work of God in their lives, those who practice sin reveal that they have not experienced the saving work of God in their lives. So the judgments are based on works, that's true for unbelievers as well as believers. Remember for the unbeliever, just back up to chapter 20 verse 12, the Great White Throne judgment. I saw the dead, the great and the small standing before the throne. The books were opened, another book was opened which is the book of life, and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books according to their deeds, their works. But anyone who is not in the book of life, verse 15, the Lamb's book of life, is going to hell. So they are not saved by their works but they are judged on the basis of their works. And we saw that in II Corinthians 5 for believers.

Back in Revelation 22:13, Jesus speaking, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. These are the titles that identify Him as the eternal God. They are titles that are used of God the Father and God the Son in the scripture. He is the eternal God. There is nothing before Him, there is nothing after Him. So the Alpha and the Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, the first and the last period, the beginning and the end. I mean, He has told through the prophets, there is nothing before Me, nothing after Me. I am the sovereign, eternal God. He is the One who dwells in eternity. And Micah the prophet said the One who was born at Bethlehem would be the One who dwelt in eternity. I mean, how do you express that to created beings whose very ability to think is bound by a beginning and an end? And here we have the One, I am the beginning and the end. Because our beginning was caused by Him and the end is caused by Him, but He is eternal. I can't grasp that. What did God do a hundred billion trillion quadrillion forever years ago? I can't even begin to think about it. How do I even start to think about that? I don't, it's inconceivable. And no end. I will have no end now because the eternal God has created me for eternal fellowship with Him. That's amazing.

He is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. You see how solemn this message is from God, the closing word to the churches, to His servants. Back in verse 6, He sent His angel to show His bond servants, those who heed the words of this book, verse 9. Understand the solemn, awesome God. This message given to the churches. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Any wonder when he says that I am coming soon, the end is near, My reward is with Me, this One who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last is the One that I will stand before. I don't fear being rejected by Him because of the wonder of the salvation I have experienced, but I ought to fear displeasing Him. As Paul said in II Corinthians 5, we have as our ambition to be pleasing to Him. Why? We must all appear before the judgment seat. If that doesn't cause you to sit up, you are in a deadened condition. And He is coming soon. I'll get it straightened out, I have plenty of time. Says who?

Verse 14, blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter by the gates into the city. This is the last of seven beatitudes in the book of Revelation. We saw the next to the last in verse 7, blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. And we noted how that connected back to chapter 1 verse 3, blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. In addition to that, we're not going to look at them, chapter 14 verse 13, chapter 16 verse 15, chapter 19 verse 9, chapter 20 verse 6. You can chase them down in your cross references. The concluding beatitude, blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life, may enter by gates into the city. These are those who have been cleansed by faith in Christ.

Come back to chapter 7 verse 14. And here are some who were saved out of the great tribulation. He said to me, these are the ones who come out of the great tribulation. Now note this, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Some of our hymns that use this terminology of being cleansed by the blood of Christ, a fountain filled with blood, picturing that. What is the picture? Well what does His blood convey? His death. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission. The wages of sin is death. And so it's the death of Christ and when I believe in Him I am cleansed, washed clean by the effects of His death. So I am washed clean by His blood. Washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, because it was through faith in His death that they are cleansed from all the defilement of sin.

Come back to Revelation 22. This blessing is for those who are cleansed by the blood of Christ, faith in His death. They have the right to the tree of life, we saw that back in chapter 22 verse 2, for example, and they may enter into the gates of the city. Remember the twelve gates in the New Jerusalem? These are the saved, the redeemed. They live for eternity, they have free access into the presence of God who dwells in the New Jerusalem for all eternity. They are the blessed ones. Awesome reminder.

Verse 15 contrasts outside, outside the city, excluded from the city are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices lying. They are excluded from the city, they are condemned to an eternal hell. There are only two options as we have seen as you come to the end—eternity in hell and eternity in the presence of the God who dwells on the new earth in the New Jerusalem. And if you are excluded from the New Jerusalem you are cast into hell. Now there will be people that go outside and inside through the gates, and we have that in verse 14, that they may enter by the gates into the city, those who have washed their robes, but those excluded don't just live outside the city, they have been cast into hell.

Back up to Revelation 21:8, again the contrast. Verse 7, he who overcomes will inherit these things. I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. And we saw that at the end of chapter 20 with the Great White Throne judgment. So to say they are outside the city, another way of saying they have been cast into hell. Those are the only two options—living on the new earth with freedom of access into the New Jerusalem or dwelling for eternity in outer darkness in the lake of fire, which is the second death. So that's the contrast here.

Back in Revelation 22. This is just a sampling of the sins. Dogs refer to those who are filthy, defiled. The dogs, scavengers, were not the lovable household pets that we think of so often, these were the mangy scavengers of the streets in biblical times and you see God's view here. He is talking about people, the dogs, they are the defiled, they are unworthy, they are unclean. The sorcerers, just samplings, immoral persons. How many people who are living in immorality and say, I know I'm saved. How clear can God be? Outside the city immoral persons. I know I'm a Christian. But you've been living in immorality. Yes, but I know I'm saved. It's a terrible thing to be deceived on such an important matter, isn't it? And these other things, these are just samples. We've looked at other lists. As you study scripture we come to different lists, no list is complete. We looked at a rather extensive one at the end of Romans 1, but it is by no means complete. These are just examples, what comes out of the heart of an unbeliever.

Everyone who loves and practices lying. It just becomes an acceptable way of life. Where does it come from? You are of your father the devil, he was a liar from the beginning and you always want to do his desires. He's a murderer and you want to do his desires. He's showing their true spiritual condition.

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things for the churches. You ought to underline that, for the churches. This is church truth, it's for us to understand. Now the church did not appear after chapters 2-3, until we got over to chapter 19 and saw the bride. We were talking about events after the church is removed, but God intends the church to understand this prophetic truth and heed it, have its conduct and behavior shaped by it so it is characterized by righteousness and holiness, living with the expectation of the soon return of the Lord, a return which is near.

I have sent my angel to testify to you these things for the churches. Wouldn't it be terrible for him to testify to these things for the churches and yet he said it in a way that no one could understand in the churches? As though this is a sealed, closed book, God has a message, Jesus Christ has a message He has revealed for His churches but He did such a confusing job of communicating that everybody gets something different. That's just prophetic truth, take it as it is. We've moved through it.

I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright and morning star. He is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, and He is the One who will sit on the throne of David. He is the bright morning star. Back in the letters to the churches in chapter 2 He gives a promise, He'll give Him the bright morning star. He is the bright morning star, the brightest of the stars. In the New Jerusalem there will be no need for the sun because God the Father and God the Son illumine the city. God is light and in Him there is no darkness. And the reality of the light of His presence in Jesus Christ. He shares that as God.

Then you have that gracious invitation. The Spirit and the bride. The Spirit is the Holy Spirit of God, the bride is the church. The bride of Christ, we saw in chapter 19. They say, come, let the one who hears say come. The one who has heard and responded to that message joins in giving out the invitation. And let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. We won't take time to go back to Isaiah 55:1 where this comes from. Ho everyone who is thirsty come. Buy bread and so on without cost, partake of the water freely. Jesus promised the woman at the well, I'll give you water. If you drink of this water you'll never thirst again. I mean, this is the promise, this is the reality. You can have the water of life, He is the water of life. Salvation is in Him, you drink of Him, you partake of life in Him. And the invitation that the church is giving out is come, come. Let the one who is thirsty come.

You see if we understood and put into practice what is taught in the book of Revelation, it would clarify and clear up a lot of the silly goofiness going on in the church. We are out on rescue programs. I was listening to a man on television the other day and we're going to rescue some of these children that are being sold into slavery. I'm not saying that's not a tragedy, but it's not the greatest tragedy. The greatest tragedy is people are going out into an eternal hell, people are living godless lives. I can't clean that up by moral reformation. We come to call them to come to Christ. Come unto Me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give your rest. Come partake of the water of life. I mean, this is too serious for the church to get caught up in other things. Isn't this good? Isn't this good? That's not for me to decide, God has decided what the ministry and message of the church is. We join with the Spirit. I'm not free to run off and do my own thing. The Spirit and the bride say come, and everyone who hears and responds to this call becomes part of the group that now calls others to come. Come. If you are thirsty, you have a desire for God's salvation, come. Take the water of life without cost. We offer you a free salvation, not because it is ours but because we represent the God who has entrusted the message to us in these earthen vessels.

You know this is a message to the churches. You know what this says. There are unbelievers in those churches. This message is sent to testify to the churches, this is for the churches. That doesn't mean we're not reaching out beyond the churches, but in the churches as we studied those seven churches, some of them were in sad condition. Immoral people in those churches, people functioning in a godless way. They needed to hear this message as well. Come, take the water of life without cost. Is that what we talk to people about? Is that what we turn the conversation to? Is that what we draw their attention to? There is a living God, He is going to bring judgment on every single person. Our only hope for escaping condemnation, eternal separation from God in hell is to accept the gracious free gift of life in His Son.

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 which are written in this book; if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy God will take away his part from the tree of life, from the holy city which are written in this book. This is the last word. Now this prophecy is referring to this book, the book of Revelation. But think about it, you can't add anything to it, you can't take away anything from it. There can be no new prophetic revelation. This is it. If you add anything to this you are going to hell; if you take away from any of this you are going to hell. There is no new prophetic revelation. That says something about those who claim to be prophets and have revelation from God, have new additional revelation. If you add to his revelation, it's complete, it's done. I can't add anything more. ________________ away from it ________ I have revelation from God. This has changed nothing, this is done. So here as we come to the concluding word from God from heaven for the churches, we're reminded this is the final word. There is no room for another prophet to come. You can't add to it, you can't take away from it. And the seriousness of it. That reveals character. People that are loose with the word of God, that think they can ........... Remember Deuteronomy 4 gave the similar command—you cannot add, you cannot take away from the words that God speaks. And scholars and so on think that they can take apart and claim to be believers and evangelicals but they dismantle the word of God. Serious matter.

He who testifies to these things says yes I am coming soon. Amen. John's response, come Lord Jesus, amen. I mean, I am coming soon. You have that serious concluding word. What I have said here is fixed. Don't you change it in any way, but you better heed it. And I am coming soon, I'm coming soon. Verse 12, I am coming soon and my reward is with me to render to every man according to what he has done. Better shape up, examine yourself to see if you are in the faith. Don't grow weary in well doing. Continue to live in righteousness and holiness. If you are living in filthiness, if you are living in sin, heed the call. He is coming soon. We are at the brink of eternity. Come take the water of life, experience the cleansing that that brings.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all. Amen. For God's people there is the ongoing provision of His grace. That's what sustains us, that's what enables us, that's where our sufficiency is in the grace of God and all He has provided for us in grace to live lives of righteousness and holiness. Isn't that a great honor? Here we are in a world of turmoil, confusion and people get so worked up and can't stop talking about what is going on politically and what they are doing to our country. I say, have you ever read the book of Revelation? I mean, we're living in light of the book of Revelation. I'm not particularly worked up about what these transitory passing governmental decisions are done. I can pray for leaders so that we can have opportunity for continued ministry, but everything is put into perspective, isn't it? And like we say, we've read the last chapter and it is good for us as believers. So I can go to bed tonight, have a good night's sleep, hoping that the Lord's soon return will be tonight. If not I will get up in the morning and His grace will be with me and that will be the enablement that I need to live for Him tomorrow.

Let's pray together. Thank you, Lord, for your grace. Thank you for the provision of your word. Thank you for the riches of the book of Revelation. How privileged we've been as your people to move through this book, to see the awesome unfolding of what you said will be brought to pass in your plan, and how we thrill to have come to the ultimate end of glory that you have promised to all who experience cleansing through faith in Christ. May these great truths be heeded by each one of us individually and by us as a church. May we live in light of them, be a testimony for a world that needs to hear the invitation to come, partake of the water of life without cost. Thank you for your grace that enables, sustains, and is our sufficiency every moment of every day. We praise you in Christ's name, amen.