Revelation Ch 22

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Today's August 4th, Monday, and today and tomorrow will be the last two days when where we uh read and meditate together on the book of Revelation. It's been a journey, and I think it's been a great journey, if you ask me. And I have I think almost all of the passages meditated and recorded on our homepage. So I hope you take advantage of that by going back to it at times. And this week also we have our annual summer retreat beginning on Friday. And I know that some of you have um basically ruled off attending the retreat for a number of reasons, and I'm sure those reasons are good, but uh you're welcome to change your mind at the last minute and to attend, even for uh for a day, and perhaps joining us on uh Sunday on site or coming coming down on Saturday to enjoy um the the retreat experience with the rest of us on that day. So I hope you come. Alrighty, so so let's take a look at uh the book of Revelation, chapter 22, verses 6 through 21. Now this passage uh serves as the epilogue for the final vision as well for the entire book of Revelation, and I dare even say for the entire Bible. So very important passage. Three times uh Jesus declares, Behold, I am coming soon. Verse 7, verse 12, and verse 20, uh affirming the certainty and urgency of his return. The angel assures John that these words are trustworthy and true. Verse six, 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. A blessing is pronounced on those who keep the words of his of this prophecy, and a warning is issued not to seal up the book, for the time is near, verse ten. And verse eleven underscores the moral polarization that will accompany the end. Those who are evil will continue in evil, and the righteous will continue in righteousness. Jesus identifies himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the root and the descendant of David, and the bright morning star as well. A final invitation is extended in verse seventeen. The Spirit and the Bible a bride say, Come, those who thirst are invited to receive the water of life freely, and the book uh closes with a severe warning against adding to or taking away from this prophecy a prophecy. And a final benediction, the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen. So let's dig a little deeper, shall we? God is faithful and true, the Alpha and the Omega, and the one who will bring all things to completion in Jesus Christ. Christ is both the promised descendant of David and the radiant hope of the new dawn. He is not only the judge who comes with repayment for us, but also the giver of living water. Verse 17. He speaks with authority, yet he also invites with tenderness. God is sovereign over history and intimately involved in the salvation of his people. He is coming soon. He did not forget us. He will come back with certainty to fulfill the promises of the Bible. Um what is our guilt? Verse 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. 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. Our guilt lies in our spiritual complacency and indifference to the promise of Christ's return. Though Jesus says, I'm coming soon, we often live as if his return is either irrelevant or far off. We delay obedience, we neglect worship, and we treat God's word as optional. Like those who ignore prophecy or alter a scripture, we sometimes reshape truth to fit our preferences or culture that surrounds us. We resist the call to holiness and urgency, and we silence the spirit's invitation to come. Verse 17 Um 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. So here grace shines in the open invitation, let the one who is thirsty come. This call goes out not just to the strong or the righteous, but to the thirsty, to those who know their need. Grace flows freely without payment because Christ has already paid the price. The blessing in verse 7 promised joy to those who keep God's word and even Christ's final word, surely I am coming soon, is not meant to instill fear but to strengthen our hope. Grace assures us that history is not spiraling out of control, it is moving toward consummation in Christ Jesus. Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, you are the Alpha and the Omega, the root of David and the bright morning star. You have promised to return and your word is trustworthy and true. Forgive us for living as if this world is all there is. Forgive us for our delay, our distractions, and our distorted versions of your word. Thank you for the invitation to come and drink freely of the water of life. Thank you for the assurance that you are coming, not to destroy us, but to complete the work of redemption in us. So help us, O Lord, to live with urgency, holiness, and longing. Let us join the Spirit and the Bride in saying, Come, Lord Jesus, come. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.