Final Invitation

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22:16-17, NIV 1984).

My Musings – This gracious all-encompassing invitation provides a measure of cheer after the gloomy picture of the doomed and the damned. The warnings against the dragon and the two beasts with all their dreadful consequences are meant to deter men from falling prey to the devil’s devices. The door leading to God’s mercy still stands wide open today, for the end has not yet come. The series of John’s visions are over. The future consummation of all things has been pictured as if it were a present reality.

Now he falls back to the present age before he saw the visions of the end. Now, for a time, all who hear and see are still invited to come and drink of the water of life that continues to be freely offered by the Lamb of God. This is a wonderful invitation that is extended to every individual from every generation up to the coming of Christ. Those who recognize their need and realize that Christ is the provider of salvation are exhorted to come while there is yet time before the judgment falls, and it is too late. As the Scriptures make clear, the gift of eternal life (here called “the water of life”) is free. It has been paid for by the death of Christ on the cross and is extended to all who are willing to receive it in simple faith.

God the Father is the root of David. Jesus the Son is David’s offspring.  The morning star probably alludes to Numbers 24:17, NIV 1984, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel,” which pictures the Messiah as descended from Jacob (Israel) and destined to reign and crush the enemies of God’s people.  The morning star that ushered in the day of grace in the beginning of this present dispensation will usher in the everlasting day of glory at its close. 

Symbolically, the star was the ancient emblem of sovereignty (see Numbers 24:17; Matthew 2:2) and was therefore the fitting and necessary complement of the dreadful attributes that had gone before. For the King came not only to judge and punish, but also to illuminate and bring cheer. “We have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19, NIV 1984).

The invitation is confirmed by the joint testimony of the Spirit of God (that lives in all the true members of the Church) and the bride (which is the Church). ^[vii]   In response to the voice of Jesus just heard, the Spirit and the bride join in testifying to the truth of the gospel.

My Advice – Répondez s’il vous plaît. Please respond. Some will reply in the affirmative. Some will reply otherwise. Still others will fail to reply at all. Only one of these will permit one to “take the free gift of the water of life.” It’s time for affirmative action.

Resources:

Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Re 22:17). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.

Walvoord, John F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 989). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2485). Peabody: Hendrickson.

Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Re 22:16). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 604). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 460). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.