Pastor Nathan and today we are concluding our study of the book of
Revelation. Yeah, after 13 months and 47 individual messages, we have arrived at
the end of the end, the final piece of the final chapter of the final book in
the Bible. And you know what a blessing it has been to study the book of
Revelation. It's one of the promises in chapter one that those that read this
book are blessed. And I'm sure you have been blessed with this revelation of
Jesus Christ. And as we're closing this study today, you know, I want you guys to
just kind of reflect and ask yourself the question, how has this study affected
you? How has this study affected your life? Specifically, when you think of
your future as a believer, are you excited for what's to come? The promises
that God has for those that are His, are you full of hope? Are you full of joy? Are
you full of anticipation? These are things that come from the blessing of
reading and studying the book of Revelation. You know, as we've learned,
there's a lot to come in the future. There's a lot of bad to come in the
future, but there is also a lot of good. This book has taught us that judgment is
coming. Judgment is coming. It will fall upon this earth. Will fall upon sin and
sinners and those who've rejected Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. But it's
also taught us that Jesus is coming. And so is a new heaven and a new earth and a
new Jerusalem. And that is so exciting to look forward to. Now this truth, the
truths that are taught in this book, they can either excite you or they can cause
you fear and worry. Because the truths taught in the book of Revelation beg
the question, are you prepared? Are you ready for the coming of Jesus Christ? Now
the Bible, although it's true history of past, present, and future, it reads sort
of like a novel. It starts with an exciting opening where the characters
are introduced and the villains introduced and the hero is introduced,
right? In Genesis, the next book we're gonna start, we have the story of
creation and there we're introduced to Adam and Eve and introduced to the
serpent and introduced to the promised one who will come and crush his head. And
then from there as you study through the Bible, the plot unfolds and you have all
the ups and downs and the twists and the mysteries and the intrigue. How's it
gonna end as we read through this story of God's Word? We think, will they obey
God? Oh no, they don't. The curse enters in, sin and death enters in. And then you
proceed through chapter after chapter of Israel's disobedience and then Israel's
obedience and then Israel's disobedience and through it all there's longing for
the promise to come. Then we get to the New Testament, the Messiah arrives.
He's here, but he dies. But he rises from the dead, but he's leaving, but he
promises that he's coming back. And this is the story of Scripture. He will return
one day and so after his ascension, the rest of the Bible unfolds, the church is
born and his people watch and wait for his return. And then it all wraps up as
we're given this revelation of Jesus Christ. The plot lines are resolved. The
future is revealed to his people. And it's all a book-ended story, right? In
Genesis 1, you have everything lost is restored. Paradise is lost. In Revelation,
we have paradise regained, but it's different. It's better. Genesis 1, God
creates the heavens and the earth. Revelation closes with God creating a
new heaven and a new earth. In Genesis 1, God creates the sun and the moon. In
Revelation 21 and 22, there's no need for the sun. There's no night because the
Lamb is the light. Jesus is the light of glory for all eternity. Genesis 1, the
seas are created. Revelation 21, there's no more sea. Genesis 3, the curse is
announced. Revelation 22, there's no more curse. Genesis, man is driven from the
tree of life in the paradise of God. In Revelation 21 and 22, access to the tree
of life is granted anew. In Genesis, we see sorrow and pain begin. In the end of
Revelation, it tells us there is no more sorrow, no more death, no more tears, for
all of that is over. And so today, we come to the epilogue of the story. The epilogue
at the end of this great story, if you read books, often you'll see at the
conclusion of the story when all the details are wrapped up, there is an
epilogue. There is that and happily ever after and into the future, that wrap up
to the thought, a final summary of what the story was telling us. And we're
coming to that today, the final concluding remarks, the application. Or the
bigger question is, what now? After you study the book of Revelation and you
get to the end of it, what now? How does it affect your life today? How do you live
today? After the story is told, after history, after tribulation, the second
coming, the millennial reign of Christ, the new heaven, the new earth, the new
Jerusalem created. We're at the end of the story where the King of Kings now
sits on the throne, reigning forever and ever in eternity. And so what are the
final words that we get in the book of Revelation? What is the last thought in
this last book of the Bible that God wanted us to have? Well, Revelation ends
by reminding us of the absolute certainty of the return of Jesus Christ.
That not only is it coming, but it is coming soon. It reminds us of the absolute
certainty of this future we've been studying and more importantly, the
necessity of our response to these truths. That's what we're going to be
looking at today, but first we're going to worship God. We praise him for what
he's done in our lives. We praise him for who he is. We praise him for what he is
going to do. And we praise him for the future promise that is in store for his
people. Amen? Let's pray. Father God, we love you. We're so grateful God, for who
you are. We're grateful for your word God. Genesis to Revelation as it reveals to
us who you are. It reveals to us who we are. It reveals to us the reality of our
sinful condition and the solution that you provided by coming to this earth and
clothing yourself in humanity. Dying on the cross for our sin. Raising from the
dead that those who would put their faith and trust in you would also defeat
the sting of death in their life. Not just physically, but eternally. God your
word teaches us how to live as your people in this church age and it shares
with us the future Lord of what is to come for those who trust in you and what
is to come for those who don't. The Lord is your people. We are encouraged by the
hope of heaven. We are motivated by the hope of heaven God. Lord we long as your
people to be with you in the light of your glory forever without any hindrance.
So God as we close this study of Revelation today, Lord speak to us.
Encourage us. Challenge us God because really this closing epilogue of
Revelation really asks the question what now and what are we gonna do with these
truths? And so Lord may we be people today that hear your voice as your
spirit speaks to us. To be people that would leave here today changed. Walking
in obedience to your word. Living the lives that you've you've commanded us to
live, but taught us how to live and example us. Example for us how to live.
That we would be people who shine the light of glory into this lost and dark
world God. That we would share the hope that is in you. God the glimpse of it
that we see in this world is but a glimpse of what is to come. And so Lord
may we live as people anticipating your return. Looking forward to your return in
eager expectation of your return and the time where we will be with you in
eternity. But Lord also motivated to be people who will tell everybody we
possibly can about the hope that is in you today. The Lord we want to worship
you. We want to praise your name and we know this is what we're gonna be doing
into eternity God. And so Lord be blessed. Be blessed as your people proclaim your
name. We love you. We love you so much and we thank you for everything. It's in
Jesus name we pray. Amen. We are in Revelation chapter 22 concluding our
study here of Revelation. We're gonna be starting in verse 6 and so this as I
said in the intro this is the epilogue to the conclusion of all things. And this
epilogue begins this way. Verse 6, then he 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. Now the he he was referring to
there is likely the angel that was introduced to us back in Revelation 21
9. If you remember there if you want to look back there it was one of the seven
angels who had held one of the seven bowls of judgment. Those final seven
bowls of judgment there and it was that angel that said was the one introducing
John to the vision of the New Jerusalem. And so it's likely it's that same angel
we don't know for sure but some people are like who's speaking here? I think it
was that angel. And this angel said to John these words are faithful and true.
That is a summary statement of the entire book of Revelation. Everything
from the very first verse of Revelation to the last verse of Revelation is
summed up as faithful and true. What the angel is telling to John is hey John all
of this stuff you've seen and heard it's reliable it's trustworthy it's true
it's accurate. John you've seen some pretty wild stuff you've heard some
pretty wild things. John you're not hallucinating you didn't make this up
you're not on drugs this isn't a bad dream. John everything you have seen and
heard is faithful and true. And it just makes sense that this angel would need
to say that to John after everything because what we've studied through it's
amazing startling supernatural unearthly stuff that John has got to see through
this book of Revelation. And so I mean if you or I saw this it might be easy we
might be tempted to go oh that was that was just a dream you know I just I had
bad Taco Bell right it's you know I just it was just a fantasy you know it was
just some imagination that I was having or as as some do and and again I
disagree with some of this interpretation people go oh this is all
just purely symbolic allegory. And the angel is saying John what you've seen is
faithful and true. Those words faithful and true he's he's telling him it's it's
real it's accurate it's it's not fake it's not pretend it's real. And so
essentially what this angel is telling John here at the end of this Revelation
is that look the Lord God that you know John as a as a Jewish man who grew up in
that and then who met Jesus and who believes he's the Messiah that God who
who moved on the hearts of the Old Testament prophets right he says these
words are faithful and true the Lord the God of the spirits of the prophets have
sent his angel and so he's saying John that God who moved on the Old Testament
prophets who gave them words to speak and prophesied of things is the same God
who spoke to the New Testament writers all those letters that you and your
contemporaries John have written it's the same God who delivered this vision
to you John. And so he's going so like remember and we have to remember some
very important things when we study this Revelation right that the God who
predicted that Israel would be taken captive was faithful and true because
they were. The God who predicted that their captivity would only last seven
years it wasn't symbolic and allegorical they were taken captive for 70 years. The
God who predicted that they would return to the land of Israel well they did
didn't they? The God who said the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem he was. That
same God predicted that there will be a tribulation there will be. That same God
predicted that there will be an Antichrist there will be. That same God
predicted a new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem there will be. And
that God who came in the flesh and died and rose again and predicted that he
would return one day he will. That is really what this is all about. This whole
book it's why it's called the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It's about him it's
about his heart his will his character it's about his return and that is the
one of the most real truths that has ever been. It is the foundation of our
entire walk that we know him that we believe in him that we trust in him for
salvation and we believe he's coming back. It's not an allegory it's not
symbolic it's faithful and it's true. And so this angel goes on to to speak to
John but in verse 7 we see now Jesus himself the lamb speaks to John and says
look I am coming soon. Now this is repeated again in verse 12 look I am
coming soon and it's repeated again in verse 20 yes I am coming soon. Do you
think he wants us to pay attention to that? How many of you have ever had to
repeat yourself to someone? Why do you do that? Because they're not listening
right? Those of you that had kids? I've got to repeat myself over and over right?
Sometimes it's spouses sometimes it's friends right? He repeats it three times
Jesus speaking assuring John and assuring us of the certainty of his
return. He's coming back people. You know five times in the New Testament we were
told that when Jesus comes back for his church five times we're told this that
it's gonna be like a thief coming in the night. What that phrase means is that
when Jesus returns for his church it's gonna be unexpected. He's gonna come
unexpectedly. That's how a thief appears in the night right? A thief a robber does
not call you in advance and go hey I'm gonna be there at two. He doesn't notify
you of the timeline of when he's gonna arrive he expects you to be unaware of
the timing of his arrival and so when Jesus says here I'm coming soon and
those five other places in the New Testament where it says he's gonna come
like a thief in the night what does that mean? Because it's easy for people to
read soon and go well Jesus died 2,000 years ago. What does he mean by soon
right? We have to understand that that word soon in the original language it
means suddenly. Look I will come suddenly. The word in the original Greek is not a
relation to when but it's speaking of how he will come. So basically what Jesus
is saying when he says look I'm coming soon he goes when I come whenever that
is it'll be suddenly. It'll be like in a flash it'll be quick and that lines up
with what the church is told over and over and over throughout the New
Testament. What are we told? Be ready because he will come suddenly. He will
come when you're not expecting it. Yes we have signs right? The disciples are like
hey how are we gonna know when you're coming? He goes well these are the types
of things that are gonna be happening in the earth but no one knows the day or
the hour and so we have parables and we have stories about being ready for his
coming because when he comes it's gonna come suddenly it's not gonna be a long
drawn-out thing. The picture of the New Testament churches that we see
throughout the New Testament is that they lived in expectation that Jesus
could return any moment. That's how they lived. They lived in the way of going
look he could come now he could come tomorrow he could come the next day we
don't know so we need to be ready right? In 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verse 7
Paul was teaching the Corinthians about hey while you're here now this is how to
use the spiritual gifts God's given you and these are some of the things we're
gonna be talking about at the men's conference but he says that while you're
using your gifts use them as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus
Christ. That word revelation means revealing. It means revealing so while
you were actively waiting for the return of Jesus Paul is then like this is how
you conduct yourselves with the gifts of the Spirit right? At the very end of 1st
Corinthians in chapter 16 verse 22 the very close of his letter he closes it
this way if anyone does not love the Lord a curse beyond him
oh Lord come. That phrase oh Lord come is in the original language Maranatha you
may have heard that it's one of those Christian words that nobody really
knows what it means and it's not used a whole lot anymore but early in the
Calvary Chapel days they had an entire music division that Chuck Smith put
together called Maranatha music right? It was where a lot of the early Calvary
Chapel worship songs came from. Maranatha. What does Maranatha mean? Oh Lord come.
It was a it was a greeting that the early Christians used to say to each
other when they would greet each other right? Like today I go sup dude okay
when we leave we'll go see you later right? We have our phrases we say when we
greet people whether it's showing up or leaving well the phrase in the early
church was Maranatha when they would show up they go Maranatha when they'd
leave they go Maranatha what were they saying to each other? Every time they
said hello and goodbye they were saying the Lord's coming soon the Lord's coming
soon it was on the forefront of their thinking it was on the forefront of
their mind. In Philippians 3 20 Paul says our citizenship is in heaven and we
eagerly wait for a Savior from there the Lord Jesus Christ. First Thessalonians
1 10 wait for his son from heaven whom he raised from the dead Jesus who
rescues us from the coming wrath. I believe that's talking about the
tribulation time the wrath of God that is gonna come upon the earth as we've
studied through Revelation but the early church was eagerly waiting for Jesus to
come to rescue them from the coming wrath. Jude verse 21 it says keep
yourselves in the love of God waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ for eternal life. So you got these verses and there's many others in
the New Testament that show us that the church expected Jesus to return at any
moment and then of course you have first Thessalonians chapter 4 where Paul's
talking about the rapture of the church and he goes through and he says his
phrase that we who are alive at his coming will be caught up in the air
right. Now in other words Paul is saying that when Jesus Christ returns as a
thief in the night unexpectedly as we see elsewhere in the New Testament that
there's gonna be some of us who are still alive when that happens. Some of us
will still be living when that happens we see that. So any natural reading of
the New Testament I believe if you just read it naturally without trying to
start with a premise and force it to match what you think it should say just
read it naturally it's clear to see that the early Christians believe that Jesus
could return at any moment and Paul in his teachings over and over said church
live in that expectancy. Go about your daily lives in that expectancy that
Jesus could return any moment and then now at the very end of Revelation the
epilogue of all things what do we see Jesus saying? I am coming soon. I am
coming suddenly. Now sure there's a point of reference to time in that idea of
soon right. We understand the Bible tells us that a thousand days or a thousand
years is a day to the Lord right. So for us we're like it's been two thousand
years and into the Lord he's like two days right. So but the focus is on the
how he's gonna come and that's why I believe in a pre-tribulation
rapture right. I believe it fits the layout of Revelation. I believe Revelation
1 19 that's the very outline of the book but I believe that throughout Scripture
what we see here especially in this concept of his coming as a thief right. A
thief doesn't say here's a very detailed list of specific things that have to
happen right before I come back. Here I don't know let me give you a seven-year
detailed timeline before I return. That's not how a thief comes. A thief
comes unexpectedly and that's why I think the church will be raptured prior
to the tribulation. Now it's telling us that the prophets spoke of this. We just
looked at the early church anticipated this but really the what now is so
should we. This is how we should live as Christians in this world today. An
expectation of his return. Paul's letters speak of the return of the Lord 50 times.
50 times. It was an important topic. So that bears the question that why isn't it
at the forefront of our minds more often. Maybe it is or some of you maybe it
isn't. We get caught up in life. We get caught up in work. We get caught up in
business and relationships and paying bills and you know we get caught up in
things and these are all real things that we're all really experiencing. We
have our ups. We have our downs. We have our good moments, our bad moments but
above all of that is this expectancy that we're called to live in that Jesus
could return right now. Why don't we do that? Why do we find ourselves sometimes
living as if the return of Jesus is a later thing? Why? Well I believe it's
because the devil does not want us to live with that kind of urgency and
expectancy. The devil doesn't want us to live with that expectancy that the Bible
encourages because the moment we take hold of that truth that we could be
raptured in the very next moment everything this world has to offer us
loses its luster. If we internalize and when we internalize and I know it's a
process that we keep working towards to internalize Jesus could come at the next
moment. Everything this world has is kind of like well does it really matter?
Because if Jesus takes me out of this world in five minutes does it really
matter? Now yes Jesus says I'm coming and until I come be wise be a good steward
right we got all that teaching but those things are secondary to the reality that
Jesus might come back right now and so we've opened this with this idea that
these words are faithful and true that Jesus is coming soon that's trustworthy
it's accurate and so what should our response be and that's what I believe
the rest of this epilogue is about. We look in verse 7 again it says blessed is
the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book so our response to
the fact that Jesus is coming soon should be one of obedience that's what
it means there to keep the words of the prophecy of this book. You see God didn't
give us this book of Revelation specifically just to feed our curiosity
about the future right it's not something just to go oh that's really fun
it's not given to us so we could all work and build eschatological
timelines and make cool posters that's all fun and that's all good stuff but
that's not why we have this book he gave us the revelation of Jesus Christ that
we would learn today to walk in obedience to Jesus Christ that's what
it's all about. What that means is that as a church today we should receive and
apply the instructions to the churches that we find in chapters 2 & 3. That
means that we should heed and respond to the warnings of what's to come in
chapters 6 through 19 to know that that's what's in the future and so make
sure you are right with Jesus here and now today we should live in light of his
return in the hope of the promise of the coming millennial and the millennium in
the new heaven and the new earth and all of it should be applied to our life in
the present and translate into an obedient walk. That's the idea here
that's what keeping the words of the prophecy of this book means. Those of you
that like to take notes if you want to underline or highlight or whatever that
word keeps this is what it means persist in obedience. Persist in obedience. That
means don't stop being obedient. Persist in obedience and when we do that we are
blessed. Blessed is the one. We are blessed that word means oh how happy.
Right we find the true joy of the Lord when we persist in obedience to his
way his will his everything. You know I've often said and I was talking to
someone the other day it's like everything would be great if everybody
just did what God says to do in every case. Right wouldn't life be so much
easier if everybody just did everything God's way. Every husband was godly every
wife was godly every child was godly every boss was godly every employee was
godly there was no lying no stealing no cheating no selfishness. Wouldn't life be
wonderful. You know what that's called heaven. That's our hope but not here
because we're still living in a fallen sinful world. Now prophecy use the way
God intended should purify us. What I mean by that is is when we're about to
do something say something make a decision and we're not sure if it's
pleasing to God or not. Prophecy especially the book of Revelation should
make us think things like well if Jesus returns while I'm doing that maybe I
shouldn't do that. If you think oh I wouldn't want Jesus to catch me saying
this doing this looking at this watching this Jesus wouldn't want to I wouldn't
want Jesus to catch me treating my spouse this way treating my kids this
way. I wouldn't want Jesus catching me being a bad steward with the resources
he's given me of my time or my money or my or my talent right. If it's like oh
no I wouldn't want Jesus to catch me then you shouldn't be doing it. It's
pretty simple it's pretty clear and that's how prophecy is supposed to work
in this life. In fact this is what John the same author of Revelation wrote
about in 1st John chapter 3. He said this in chapter 3 of 1st John verse 2
Dear friends we are God's children now and what we will be has not yet been
revealed. We know that when he appears we will be like him because we will see him
as he is and everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is
pure. The hope of Jesus's return the hope that it could be any moment is a factor
in purifying yourself especially if you apply it to the hmm do I want Jesus to
catch me doing that and it works both ways. Would I want Jesus catching me
giving this gospel tract to somebody? Oh yeah I'd love him to catch me doing that.
Reading my Bible, worshiping him, talking to somebody, glorifying his name yeah I'd
love Jesus to catch me doing that then then then do that then do that. Peter in
his writings he talked about the elements will burn and dissolve one day
and then he says so it's clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct
and godliness as you wait for the day of God. Knowing that he's gonna return
knowing that all things are gonna be judged knowing that he goes you know
then what type of people you should be and what we've read in Revelation it
really should change the way we live it should make us more eternal in our
choices and again I asked the question how has this study changed you? How has
this study changed your your life your marriage your singleness? How has it
changed your family your business your friends? How has it changed your walk?
That's the question to ask and if tribulation is gonna be as bad as
described and heaven is gonna be as great as described it should affect us.
So verse 8 now John here pipes in I John am the one who heard and saw these
things when I heard and saw them I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel
who had shown them to me but he said to me don't do that I am a fellow servant
with you your brothers the prophets and those who keep the words of this book
worship God. So the first response to the truth that Jesus is coming is obedience
we should walk in obedience the second response should be one of worship it
should be one of worship now John reaffirms the truth in the faithfulness
of the word here right he he affirms it by his eyewitness account he affirms it
by his ear witness account he says I saw and heard and then we see him fall down
to worship at the feet of the angel some people go back and forth and go he was
worshiping the angel and that's what specifically what he gets rebuked for
other people go no he just fell down in worship there but he was really trying
to worship God but the angels like no it looks like you're worshiping me and and
he fell down at the feet of the angel to worship and the angels that don't do
that so to me I read this that he was trying to either like worship the angel
in some way or the angel as God's representative or he was just so
overwhelmed by the moment that he had to just fall down and worship the the the
thing that was representing God before him it's it's it's unclear but this is
the second time John has done this this is the second time he's been overwhelmed
by everything he's seen and hearing and he falls in worship before an angel or
before the representative of God the first time it was when he was told by
the angel blessed are those who are invited to the marriage feast of the lamb
and he fell fell down in that truth and the angels like get up dude you know
better than that don't worship me and again here we see the angels say don't
worship I'm a fellow servant with you right the Bible tells us that we were
made a little lower than the angels but at the end of all things we're gonna be
sitting as co-heirs with Christ but the point is is not who's what the angel
says look I'm a fellow servant with you like God is God and we are not all who
keep the word of his book we're all in the same level of serving God so
worship him worship him alone and it's just this picture again being reminded
that no created being or created thing is ever to be worshiped only God the
creator of all things is to be worshiped in our lives and that means given our
attention and given our service and given priority and given just our all
right but in the face of all that's going on in the world today and in
humanity and the sin and the wickedness we see when you hear about the return of
Jesus Christ and you you you read about the coming kingdom of Jesus Christ and
we read about his victory over all the enemies of the earth and over sin and
over death and and over all of it forever really how can we not fall in
worship of who he is and what he's done really that's the response that should
be welled up within us it's one of the reasons why we we start our service with
with worship right I give an introduction and stuff but that's really
for YouTube people go to a YouTube video they want to know what the video is
about in the first five seconds and so that's one of the reasons why we do the
intro here but it's also to let everybody know this is what we're going
to be studying today but first let's worship let's worship God and it's not
just to like okay well we got to do that and so that the study is good like if
we don't worship it'll be terrible and well I got to get my headspace in the
right spot and all that yeah that's an element to it but we worship God because
he deserves worship period and so if we did the worship set in the beginning of
service or we did the whole thing at the end of service it doesn't matter if we
stopped right in the middle right now and I said worship team come up and do
another 30 minutes of song praise God I'm not gonna do that to you guys I
promise but one day maybe I don't know well but it doesn't matter when and how
the purpose is just to worship God for who he is what he's done what he's going
to do right that's why it's not something you just do on Sunday it's
something you do all the time it's a habit it's something that should be a
part of our lives and so we worship now we praise we praise God that all evil
and sin and selfishness will one day be done away with right praise God that one
day righteousness and what is good and and everything that is pure and right
and noble and lovely will be the description of everything everywhere
praise God for that praise God that he saved us and cleansed us with his blood
and has promised us the hope of heaven those who trust in him and worship
should never be a duty or an exercise or an obligation it should it should always
be looked at as an opportunity a privilege that we have to worship God
and then here in Revelation it's just this picture that this is God this is
Jesus Christ this is God's plan that we have studied this is God's plan that that
they put together that he's prepared for you and me so verse 10 says then he said
to me don't seal up the words of this prophecy or the prophecy of this book
because the time is near so our first response to the truth that Jesus is
returning in was returning soon and will return suddenly is obedience the second
one is worship the third one here is witness proclamation right John the angel
says the message that you have been given this vision this revelation of
Jesus Christ don't hide it don't seal it up instead proclaim it share it tell it
to people the truth of the gospel and salvation and judgment to come and heaven
and hell that's a message that is meant to go out to all people yes it motivates
us yes it's for us but it's a message that we're called to take out and
deliver he says don't seal it up don't keep it to yourself it's not a private
personal thing right that was how my parents kind of grew up oh you do two
things you don't talk about politics and religion right faith is a private thing
faith is a personal thing you keep that to yourself
well that's unbiblical that's unbiblical now yeah we're not called to go out and
be obnoxious jerks which some are and that's unfortunate right but we're
called to go out in love and compassion and obedience and boldness and to let
people know that God is real his name is Jesus Christ he came to this earth he
died for you he loves you he is the answer to every problem he is the
solution to every challenge and he is the hope for everyone's future that is
Jesus don't seal it up it's not a private thing it's a public thing it's a
corporate thing because salvation is for all because all need salvation so don't
seal it up and much of what we read in Revelation specifically the tribulation
is is is meant to move us to warn people about the judgment to come now for each
of us individually the question is then is this book going to remain sealed in
your life or is it going to be open as you leave today guess what you are
heading out into your mission field when you leave church today you are hereby
oh ordained as missionaries all right the sound that's what made it official
okay you are ordained as missionaries in your community in your family and your
friend and social groups that is the reality you are leaving boot camp
trained equipped readied for spiritual battle and so don't keep the words of
this book don't keep the words of the gospel truth sealed in any way that's
why we have an evangelism ministry that does a lot of training every Thursday
night it's training it's it's teaching you how to evangelize so that you could
then go out and evangelize our team hosts trips of almost every weekend
somewhere to go hand out tracks and to talk to people and if you can't do those
trips the intent is that you're trained and equipped to do it on your own at
work in your life wherever you may be so verse 11 let the unrighteous go on in
unrighteousness let the filthy still be filthy let the righteous go on in
righteousness and let the holy still be holy the idea here is coming off of the
idea of not sealing up the the words right the idea here is is is as you go
out and as you share the truth and as you just be a witness of the gospel
truth and everything that this book in particular is teaching and warning the
idea is that we're not responsible for the response of others you're just
responsible for delivering the message okay understand that you are not
responsible for the response of others a person who hears the truth and continues
to reject it and say no to it and they're just gonna keep doing wrong and
living sinfully despite all the warnings guess what the Bible teaches that God
will honor their free free will choice God will honor that now what that means
is that they will come under his judgment but God doesn't force anybody
to be saved it's the individuals decision so none of us are responsible
for any individuals decision but we are responsible for delivering the message
and when it says there that the unrighteous will go on in
unrighteousness right and then it uses the word they will still be there are
some scholars that say that phrase go on and still be should actually be
translated more so it should read let the unrighteous be more unrighteous let
the filthy be more filthy conversely let those that pursue godliness be more
godly right the idea is that those that want to continue in sin will persist in
sin and will continually become more sinful but judgment will come that's the
warning but those who trust in God and pursue him will become more godly it's
the work of the Holy Spirit he does that in our lives and each is responsible
individually for their response to the gospel and since Jesus is coming
suddenly since Jesus is coming like a thief the idea is that there's not going
to be time for change when he comes right some live that way I'll get my
life right tomorrow after all Jesus isn't coming till next week right some
of us think that like we'll have time you know the trumpet sounds Jesus is in
the air we're like oh wow but he's he's over Florida okay cool I got 30 seconds
kumbaya you know and no it's not gonna be like that when he arrives it's time
verse 12 he says again look I am coming soon and my reward is with me to repay
each person according to his work so our first response obedience our second
response worship our third response witness our next response to the fact
that Jesus is coming is to run the race to win the prize that's what Paul wrote
about right Jesus is speaking here and he says my reward is with me that word
reward literally means recognition by God for the moral quality of our actions
the reward that God has for us is recognition of the moral quality of how
you lived were you living godly are we living sinfully he says my reward is with
me to repay that word repay means recompense it means an earned reward or
what we would call a price what is the prize God recognizing you you see in
Philippians 314 it says I pursue is my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly
call in Christ Jesus now you might think well heaven is a reward and heaven is
part of the reward right we could go to heaven but that's not all of it we
understand that we're not saved by our works but we are recognized by God we
are celebrated by God for the life we live for him and that prize the prize
that is being talked about here is to stand before the holy perfect God
Almighty to stand before Jesus Christ in all his glory and hear him say well done
good and faithful servant now enter into the joy of your Lord and in our sinful
state I know some of us go that's it I thought I was getting a mansion made out
of gold and we think that's gonna mean something there the streets are made out
of gold it's asphalt the reward is to stand before the holy perfect creator
and have him look at you and go good job you lived for me you glorified my name
you obeyed me you strove to do it yeah you weren't perfect that's why I died
for you my blood covered it all but I saw you I saw your intention I saw that
your your the goal of your life was to glorify God and good job enter into the
joy of your Lord you know Jesus is the one that said store up your treasures
in heaven we're gonna be talking about this in our giving thing but guess what
now is the time to save for retirement not later our retirement our eternity in
heaven now is the time to store up the treasures for that and it's those good
works that obedience we live for the Lord we're safe we're going to heaven
but there's a reward that is called into this and it's that recognition of God and
so verse 13 he says I am the alpha and the omega the first and the last the
beginning and the end these are just three ways of Jesus referring to himself
as the everything right the alpha and omega those that's the first and last
letter of the Greek alphabet and so when in the Greek language of ancient times
when you refer to the alpha and the omega since it was the beginning letter
in the last letter of the alphabet it was an idea of saying everything it was
an idea of referencing the totality of things right and so this was applied to
God incidentally in Revelation verse 1 or chapter 1 verse 8 and 21 verse 6 it
was applied to God Almighty Jesus is here applying it to himself what does
that tell us Jesus is God he's not a God he's God then he says the first and the
last in the beginning and the end this is just again Jesus tying himself to God
Almighty because in Isaiah chapter 41 verse 4 this is God Almighty speaking he
says I am the Lord the first and the last I am he and then Jesus Christ the
lamb says I am the first and the last again Jesus is God and so the idea of
him identifying himself this way is although we will be rewarded in heaven
the motivation to obey God to be and do what is right to be the people he's
calling us to be the motivation to be ready and prepared for his return is
Jesus it's who he is it's not the prize in that sense it's him he is the
ultimate prize to be with him in perfection everything is about Jesus
honoring him glorifying him pleasing him praising him right get this understand
this and the things of the world will lose their luster it becomes easier to
trust when you get it it's all about him it becomes easier to give of time and
money because it's all his anyways it gets easier to step in faith when it
doesn't make sense I don't understand but it's all for him Jesus is the
beginning and the middle and the end of every Christian so choose to live that
way that's the idea here verse 14 blessed are those who wash their robe so that
they might have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates
outside are the dogs the sorcerers the sexually immoral the murderers the
idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood that phrase wash
your robes it's a euphemistic way to refer to being cleansed from sin right we
see multiple times in Revelation and other places where the idea of being
clothed in white robes is a picture of purity it's a picture of righteousness
it's a picture of being cleansed by the blood of Christ and being cleansed of all
sin now we know that faith and trust in the atoning work of Jesus is what saves
us and so he goes blessed are those who are cleansed from their sin that they
may have the right to the tree of life that word right also means they may have
the authority to access it they have the right and the authority to eternal life
in heaven it's it's the idea of having proper clearance you have the
credentials to enter you have the right and authority and so we previously
mentioned in our study of the New Jerusalem that when we enter the gates
of the New Jerusalem each one of the 12 gates or one huge pearl right we talked
about that in a previous study where a pearl is is a thing of beauty created
through the suffering of the flesh it's the only precious gem that does that and
so again we see here that that our salvation it's a thing of beauty created
through our trust in the suffering death of Jesus Christ and that's how we enter
into God's glory now verse 15 there when it says outside are the dogs and that
it's not suggesting that in heaven there are unsaved people outside Jerusalem
knocking on the gates it's rather a warning for the readers of this
revelation today it's a warning to all those who have rejected Jesus Christ
today that stand unsaved and unwashed and they have no right to eternal life
no right to the entrance into heaven it's a warning to them and some people
look at this and go oh hey look dogs are in heaven that's not what it's getting
at right and I don't have time to get into a whole thing is my dog gonna be
in heaven with me talk to me after if you want to talk about that okay but
dogs was an Old Testament way it was in the Old Testament dogs were equated
with workers of evil so it's referring to those workers of evil those unclean
scavengers is the idea here and so verse 16 I Jesus have sent my angel to
attest these things to you for the churches I am the root and descendant of
David the bright morning star and so it's with these solemn words that Jesus
himself authenticates the entire book of Revelation he authenticates everything
that's written here within regardless of how fantastic it is regardless of how
unbelievable it seems regardless of how too good to true too good to be true
some of it may seem he says it's all faithful and true it's right it's
trustworthy it's accurate and he authenticates it by his messianic titles
here he says I am the root and descendant of David that's one of the
things that was that was proof of the Messiah right it was written about in
David Jesus mentioned it in the Gospels he's the root of David meanings that he
is the the creator of David right Jesus created David and then he says I'm also
the descendant of David and that was a part of the whole picture that Jesus is
God right but him being born of the lineage of David was claimed kingship
was the legal proof that he was the king that was promised to sit on the throne
of all mankind right that was the idea there and then when he says I'm the
bright morning star that was another title used throughout the Old Testament
for the Messiah the promised Savior and ruler of all things the one who would
bring light to all humanity and so Jesus is authenticating this letter by his
titles by saying I am the Messiah right I am the promised one to come verse 17
both the Spirit and the bride say come let anyone who hears say come let the
one who is thirsty come let the one who desires take the water of life from
freely I love how it's saying the Spirit and the bride here because that speaks
of the work we're called to today and how that work is accomplished today you
know the bride is often a reference to the church right Ephesians chapter 5 this
whole picture of a husband and a wife it says that the bride is the picture of the
church we are the bride of Christ in John chapter 16 verse 8 it tells us that the
Holy Spirit has a ministry in the world and that ministry in the world comes
through the church through his people to declare Jesus Christ and to point to
Jesus Christ now interestingly interestingly enough
verse 16 is the first time the word church is used in Revelation since
chapters 2 & 3 and it's one of the reasons why I believe the church is not
present during the tribulation we're not there we see that the Saints do return
with him during the Millennial Kingdom and then we see here in eternity that is
the church the bride of Christ the redeemed the believers that are with
Jesus forever but he is what it's all about it's the invitation here it's the
clarion call going out here from the Spirit and the bride the church that is
filled with the Holy Spirit equipped and enabled and gifted to go out and preach
the gospel and to tell people about Jesus this is the call come to Jesus come
to Jesus if you're thirsty for spiritual refreshment come if your desire is for
salvation if you desire to be forgiven of your sins if you desire eternal life
to be saved from the wrath to wrath to come come to Jesus if you want to be
washed clean forgiven and enabled and empowered to live a holy and a righteous
life now come to Jesus that's the clarion call here at the end of this
letter here's what it's all about has always been about and will always be
about come to Jesus come to Jesus for healing come to Jesus for forgiveness
Jesus he is the one that the church proclaims through the power of the Holy
Spirit he is the one that saves there is no other name by which man will be saved
no other name by which we are saved but the name of Jesus it is only and ever
Jesus which explains the closing warning here look at verse 18 I testified
everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book if anyone adds to
them God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book and if
anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy God will take away
his share of the tree of life and the holy city which are written about in
this book now I don't believe this is talking about losing your salvation per
se the idea of this warning at the end of this book is what I just said this
revelation was about who Jesus Christ scripture is about who Jesus Christ it's
about God and who he is it's about God coming to this earth as the son it's
about God the spirit dwelling within each one of us after the son ascended
back to the right hand of the father all of that is about who he is and what he
did what he did was something only he could do only Jesus could die for the
sins of all mankind because Jesus is God he is the only perfect atoning
sacrifice right it's all about him and so commentators aren't sure who's
speaking here something it's John speaking something it's an angel
something it's Jesus but if you have a Bible that has red letters in it you'll
notice it's not in red letters right that's because the interpreters there
didn't think it was Jesus speaking I don't think it matters but you don't
mess with the word of God that's the idea here you don't mess with the word
of God why because the word of God tells us who Jesus is it tells us the story of
God the son coming to this earth born as a man living as a man that we may know
the unknowable and that he may understand us and we would know that he
understands us in every way the word of God tells us about our sinful condition
it tells us of our hopeless situation before the holiness of our Creator and
it tells us of the judgment to come upon sin and sinners because of his holy
justice and then it tells us how he solved the problem of our sin for us
because he loves us revelation is about Jesus Christ God Almighty come in the
flesh to die for you so is the rest of Scripture and the price for tampering
with God's Word the price for altering it changing it the price for rewriting it
so that it is says something different about who Jesus is that he's just an
angel that he's the brother of Michael the archangel that he's the brother of
Lucifer that he he is Michael the archangel that's one of them that he's
just a God that he was just a good man but he wasn't God any reinterpretation
any rewriting of that and then how that affects who we are before him and how
we're saved and how we get the promise in the hope of heaven all of that it's a
very very high price and God takes it deadly serious because his word teaches
us the truth about who he is tampering that truth tampers with
everything and God takes that very seriously there is no truth more
important than who Jesus is and what he did for us and what that means for us so
the book closes here in verses 20 and 21 he justifies about these things says yes
I am coming soon that is definitely Jesus John closes here with amen come
Lord Jesus the grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone amen Jesus is coming
and it will be sudden it may be soon on our calendar we don't know could be
another thousand years but when it happens it'll be sudden amen come Lord
Jesus that is our hope and so I close this letter with a question do you know
him as your Lord and Savior is he your Lord and Savior has he washed you clean
of all of your sin by the blood of his sacrifice he does that through your
faith and your trust in him yielding your life to him turning your life over
to him saying God I'm gonna live obedient to you help me do that through
the power of the Holy Spirit have you done that you'll notice earlier it
didn't say whoever understands all doctrine and theology come and take of
the water of life it didn't say whoever feels they are worthy come and take of
the water of life it doesn't say whoever feels like they're able to live as a
Christian then come and take the water of life it says whoever is thirsty
whoever is thirsty that's a way the Bible talks about recognizing your
spiritual lack recognizing that that without him you're spiritually dead
recognizing that without him if you die in your sins it'll be judgment because
God is holy and you are a sinner that's what thirsty means but then it says
whoever desires whoever desires to change whoever desires to be changed do
you desire to be washed clean of your sin do you desire to to have the hope
of heaven do you desire to have a new heart a new spirit that that lives for
what is good and righteous do you desire these things then come come to Jesus
come to Jesus and receive forgiveness receive salvation receive an a new life
be born again a new heart and then to know that when he returns that he's
coming for you to take you to heaven if this is your desire then you are freely
invited to come to him freely that's the truth of the gospel if you are willing
he will receive you there is no barrier between you and Jesus except maybe your
own stubborn will but there's no barrier that God has put up so let it go receive
Jesus Christ receive salvation take freely of the water of life and be
saved today the Bible says today is the day of salvation Jesus is either gonna
return or you will pass away in this life either way one day you will
suddenly be in his presence and the only thing that matters in that moment is
whether you know him as your Lord and Savior or you don't and if you don't the
promise of God's Word is that you will be judged in your sin and there is
nothing you can do to pay the price for the sin that you've committed except
apply the blood of Jesus Christ who died to forgive you of all of it let's pray
father we trust you God so much if you're in this room today while we're
praying heads bowed and eyes closed or if you're watching online and God has
been speaking to you and you know you need to come to Jesus today you know you
need to receive him as your Lord and Savior and maybe you've been resisting
it maybe you've been coming to church for a while and God's been tapping on
your shoulder and you've been saying no not yet not yet but today God has spoken
to your heart and revealed to you that he is coming he is coming soon and it
will be a sudden return and he has spoken to you about your desperate need
to be ready to be clothed in a washed white robe of righteousness granted to
you by your Creator washed clean by his shed blood on the cross as he atoned and
paid the price for all of your sin and if today you realize I want that I need
that I desire that I'm thirsty for that I just want you to pray with me right now
whether you're here in our room or online and say Lord I desire to be saved
give me a new heart cleanse me from all of my sin I'm thirsty to be spiritually
refreshed I desire Lord to give up my sins I desire to yield my life to you
I desire to be a Christian a follower of Jesus Christ I desire to believe and I
desire to obey but God I know I have no strength to do this on my own so please
fill me with the Holy Spirit I can't do it on my own Lord but I desire to do it
give me the power to do so save my soul in Jesus name I pray amen you know if
you prayed that prayer today we want to just celebrate with you and help you on
this relationship you've just begun with God and we have these things called new
believers packets or these little white envelopes here at the front or as you go
out the back you can ask one of the elders out there hey I got saved today
I need a new believers pack and it's just a collection of resources to help
you now on this relationship but I will tell you this and now that you know
Jesus Christ your your life's gonna be different temptation still gonna come
and you're still gonna struggle and that's why you need the church around
you the church to help hold you hold you accountable to your decision to help
hold your arms up and to pray for you and to strengthen you to get into your
Bible I encourage you read the Bible if you don't have a Bible we have a card
in here to connect you to a Bible app and just read and say God speak to me
he'll do that listen to worship music we got worship playlists in this new
believers pack for you so you could just praise God for who he is and whether you
plug in here at Hosanna as your church or it's somewhere else God leads you to
make sure it's a place that teaches the Word of God and lifts the name of Jesus
high that you would know him more and more and be ready to be blessed because
knowing Jesus is the greatest blessing of all and for the rest of us I hope
this study of Revelation has been a blessing to you I hope it's caused your
walk to be better I hope it's brought you closer to Jesus Christ because he is
our everything and let's be people who live lives and commit to living lives
and of obedience to him not expecting to be perfect but walking in the spirit
that we would sin less and glorify him more and to be people who tell others
around us that don't yet know him about the hope that is in Jesus Christ amen
God bless you guys