Revelation - Chapter 22

This is the conclusion of the book of Revelation, with Chapter 22. It discusses the river of life flowing through the new heaven, and the importance of heeding the words of the prophecy. It emphasizes that the prophecy is from God, and that Jesus is God. The book also warns against worshiping anyone or anything other than God. It encourages believers to continue practicing righteousness and to stay faithful until Jesus comes again. The passage also mentions the two groups of people, believers who are washed by the blood of the Lamb and have access to the tree of life, and non-believers who engage in immoral behavior. It concludes with Jesus saying that he is coming soon, and a warning against adding or taking away from the words of the book. The book ends with a prayer for Jesus to come, and a blessing of grace to all believers. The host also thanks her listeners and announces her plans for the next year, which includes reading through the books of the Bible in chronological order. I'm Julie Callio, your host, and thanks so much for taking time out of your busy, busy schedules to tune in with me today. By chance you want to contact me, you can do that at theab.bc.pc at gmail.com. Today we're finishing up Revelation with Chapter 22. Woo-hoo! Verses 1 through 5 were included in Peter Gentry's last list of seven visions of the end of the age and the new creation, and it spoke of the river of life flowing through the new heaven. From verse 6 on, Gentry labels it as the epilogue with, I am coming soon. Verses 6 and 7 read, And he said to me, These words are faithful and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must soon take place. And behold, I am coming quickly. he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. These words of faithful and true are listed in Revelation chapter 3, verse 14, chapter 19, verse 11, chapter 21, verse 5, and here in chapter 22, verse 6. We also find in these words that this prophecy, as with all biblical prophecy, is from God. And since it is saying, I am coming quickly, it is also saying that Jesus is God. This passage also reminds us that God sent his angel to show, which means through signs and symbols, what must soon take place. Jesus says he is coming quickly. And then we have the sixth blessing found in Revelation. We are blessed when we heed the words found in this book. This means to keep or observe continuously. If we are to heed the words, we are to do what is found in this book, which means it is not just futuristic, it is for us today. Verses 8 and 9, I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. But he said to me, Do not do that, I am a fellow servant of yours, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God. This is like Revelation chapter 19, verses 9 and 10, with the fourth blessing. John the apostle of Jesus Christ was overwhelmed by what he saw and he fell down to worship. Again we see that those who keep the words of this book are the faithful servants of God. One thing this book commands us to do is to worship God alone, for He alone is worthy. Verses 10 and 11, And he said to me, Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the one who does wrong still do wrong, and the one who is filthy still be filthy, and let the one who is righteous still practice righteousness, and the one who is holy still keep himself holy. In the book of Daniel chapter 12, he was to seal up what was written, because it was not for them at that time. Here these words are for us to heed. Here we see two groups, the non-believers who do wrong and are filthy, and the believers who are righteous and holy. And this is telling us to keep doing what we are doing. Keep being faithful until he comes again. Verses 12 and 13, Behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Peterson said salvation is not in view here, because salvation is a matter of what God has done and not what a human can do. However, once people experience the grace of God and salvation, everything else they do is counted unto them as rewards or else taken from them as loss. And he references 1 Corinthians chapter 3 about the wood, hay, and stubble that will be burned up. In Isaiah chapter 44 verse 6 and in chapter 48 verse 12, the Lord declares that he is the first and the last. And this book, this whole amazing book of the Bible, begins and ends with God. It tells one story. Verses 14 through 15, 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. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices lying. Again we see the two groups, those who are washed by the blood of the Lamb, and it is only through him that we have access to the tree of life. Jesus said in John chapter 11 verse 25, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even if he dies. Then there are the attributes of unbelievers. And it seems that this book also tells us not to be like this. Believers in Jesus are not to have anything to do with sorcery, immorality, murder, idolatry or lying. Verses 16 and 17, I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. 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 wishes take the water of life without cost. First we see that this message is for believers, the church. Then Jesus quotes from Isaiah chapter 1 verses 1 through 10 to remind believers that he is a descendant of King David. He was fully human and fully God. Now some people interpret verse 16 to say that the church is inviting others to come to Jesus. And others see it as if they are asking Jesus to come. Isaiah chapter 55 verse 1 says come everyone who is thirsty, come to the waters, come and buy without money, without cost. Both in Isaiah 55 verse 1 and here in Revelation chapter 22 verse 17, the word come is used three times. Jesus told the woman at the well in John chapter 4 verse 10, Jesus answered and said to her, if you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you give me a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water. Ladies, if you are thirsty, only Jesus can truly satisfy. Verses 18 and 19, I testify to everyone who hears the word of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city which are written in this book. Some people believe this is a warning to those who copied the scriptures. But the warning is to every person who hears the words. There is a similar warning found in Deuteronomy chapter 4 verses 1 and 2 with the giving of the commandments. Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it that you may keep the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I command you. I also wonder if it does not apply to people's interpretations of Revelation. Now the last verses of the book of Revelation and of the Bible are verses 20 and 21. He who testifies about these things says, Yes, I am coming quickly, Amen. Come Lord Jesus, the grace of the Lord Jesus be with the saints, Amen. In other words, let it be so. This is the third time in this section that Jesus said, I am coming quickly. Verse 7, verse 12 and here in verse 20. Again when an author repeats words or phrases, it is for emphasis. One thing I like about verse 20 is that John is praying to Jesus to come, which affirms to me that it is okay to pray to Jesus as well as to the Father. John ends with a blessing of grace to all believers, so be it. The Apostle Peter said in his second letter, chapter 3 verses 8 and 9, But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. The Lord has not come yet, but he is coming, are you ready? Is there someone that the Lord is laying on your heart to share the good news of Jesus this year, so that they too can come to repentance? Through our reading of Revelation, what do you need to heed? Ladies, let us be faithful until he comes again, so that he will say to us, well done, my good and faithful servants. Well ladies, we have done it. We have read through the Bible in one year, and I have learned a lot, and I hope you have too. I want to say a special thanks to my faithful listeners. I had no idea how much time it would take to do this, and on the days I was exhausted and I thought about waiting until tomorrow, I knew there were at least one or two of you that listened early in the morning each day, and you helped me to keep going, and I want to say thank you so very much. One of my faithful listeners called me and asked me to keep on going for the next year, so I have decided to read through the books of the Bible in chronological order next year, which I have never done before. Since I have explained each book this year, this next year I will probably be doing daily devotionals in the books that we are reading. I am hoping by next Monday to have next year's reading schedule ready, so if you want a copy, just email me at theab.bc.pc at gmail.com and I will send you a copy, or each week on Facebook I will share what we are to be reading. What I do know is that we will begin in January with the oldest book of the Bible, Job. Now may the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you. Until next time, and thank you so very much for listening.