Revelation 22:6 – 9 “Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.” “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book. ” And I am John, who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. But he said to me, “Do 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!”
The vision is coming to an end, and John is stunned at what he has seen and heard. Little wonder that John feels he should fall at the feet of the angel who has shown him these things to worship him and to thank him! But the angel warns John, as angels have warned so many before and since, that he (the angel) is only a fellow servant.
“Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book. ” Ever since John recorded this vision and it began circulating among believers, people have wondered, “How soon, Lord?” Millennia have rolled by and the vision is still there, seemingly unfulfilled. Hundreds of years earlier, the Prophet Habakkuk complained to the Lord because all he saw was chaos. Here was God’s answer: “For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end, and will not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and not delay.” Many times we are CERTAIN that now God should act….and yet he doesn’t. But we cannot see behind the scenes. God is still giving as many people as possible the opportunity to come to Him. Jesus is speaking and promising that He WILL come.
v. 10 – 15 “Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near. Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.”
“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. “
Jesus is continuing to speak, warning that He will come back, and that He will reward each according to their actions, separating the righteous from the vile. Jesus is quite specific about those who will be excluded from the holy city.
v. 16 – 17 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.”
Here is one of the most wonderful invitations ever offered! Jesus, the Son of David, the Messiah, the bright Morning Star, is inviting anyone who is spiritually thirsty to come! There are no restrictions, if we will only respond. One old hymn says “The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.” None of us can earn our way into heaven. We can only confess our sins and call on Jesus to save us!
v. 18 – 21 “I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in 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 this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints.”
That crusty old fisherman, John, is giving the most heart – felt testimony of his life and warning us all at the same time! “ If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.” We are not to add to the words of the vision. This vision came straight from God and is not to be toyed with! “And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” WATCH OUT! Jesus is putting up heavy electric fence with barbed wire around the words of Revelation! Anybody foolish or arrogant enough to try to chop off the parts he or she refuses to accept will pay the penalty of eternal damnation.
And John’s heart – felt response at the end of this is, “Amen.” ”Let it be so.” “Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints.”
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, imprint every word on our hearts! Do not allow anyone who reads this to go away unmoved or unchanged. Lord, do come quickly and let your grace be with all of us. Amen!
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