Category: Studies in Revelation

Final

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)

You All Come – 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.(1) 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.(2)

Root, Offspring and Morning Star – God the Father is the root of David. Jesus the Son, is David’s offspring.(3) The morning star probably alludes to Numbers 24:17, which pictures the Messiah as descended from Jacob (Israel) and destined to reign and crush the enemies of God’s people.(4) 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.(5) 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 (compare 2 Peter 1:19).(6)

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).(7) In response to the voice of Jesus just heard,(8) the Spirit and the bride join in testifying to the truth of the gospel.(9)

FINAL WARNING – I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)

As the visions in Revelation conclude, a warning is directed against anyone perverting it. The warning, while not specifically directed at the rest of the New Testament or the Bible as a whole, may be equally true there also.(10) The words of a divinely instituted covenant or book are not to be trifled with or altered (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:5–6). They often include curses against those who break them. Such claims of completeness or inspiration of books were often made in later times to uphold their authority or to secure them against later editors inserting their own ideas—a practice common in books that were not treated as sacred Scripture or otherwise inspired writings.(11) In John’s day, books were copied by hand, and the copyist might have been tempted to edit (add or subtract) or alter the material. Even today, people add their theories, traditions and heresies to God’s Word or strike from it whatever does not fit into their scheme of theology. Satan loves for men to add to the Word or take from the Word. But to do so is to invite judgment.(12) Eve added to the Word of God (Genesis 3:3), which opened the door for the serpent to take away from what the Lord had said (Genesis 3:4). Ultimately this led to the fall and a curse. The bookend effect of Revelation looking back to Genesis infers that this curse for altering Scripture should be viewed as the last Biblical word about tampering with God’s Word,(13) as many are now doing.

FINAL WORDS – He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. (Revelation 22:20-21)

Here Jesus is again introduced as speaking. He is primarily brought in as the “expert” witness to supplement the final attestation of John. At the same time, He indirectly appears as a witness for the whole Apocalypse. He sums up His testimony in the all-corroborating and all-embracing affirmation: “Yes, I am coming soon.” John, in turn, replies to the Word of the Lord with a grand and simple prayer: “Amen; come, Lord Jesus.”(14) The phrase “Come, Lord Jesus” is the Greek equivalent to the Aramaic expression Maranatha (Our Lord, come – see 1 Corinthians 16:22). This became the rally cry of the early Church, particularly as it began facing persecution under the Roman Empire.(15) It was an acknowledgment by early believer’s in universal recognition of Jesus’ deity,(16) long before any Church council or creed affirmed it.

John’s benediction of grace may seem an unusual ending for the apocalypse that details so much of God’s wrath. But it is suitable for one that was meant to be read in the churches (Revelation 1:3).(17) Elsewhere, grace is a typical benediction, especially in the Paul’s letters (see Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 16:23; Galatians 6:18).(18) For those who believe that Christ in His first coming provided salvation, there is the wonderful promise of His coming again to bring full and final deliverance and reward. As the book began by introducing a revelation of Jesus Christ, so it ends with the same thought that He is coming again.(19)

As we conclude these studies in Revelation, it is might be helpful to remember what the very first verse of the book says about it. It is a revelation that God gives to His Church, a revelation of Jesus Christ. The greatest purpose of the book is to show us Jesus Christ. A suffering Church does not need a detailed forecast of future events. It needs a vision of the exalted Christ to encourage the weary and persecuted believers. We see Jesus Christ standing in the midst of the churches. We see Him portrayed as the Lamb of God who died for the sins of the world. We see Him as one who rules and reigns. He is the one who takes His Church to be with Him in the new heavens and the new earth, where we will worship Him forever and ever.(20) The Church must have ears to hear what the Spirit has said (Revelation 22:16–17). The people of God must, by His grace (Revelation 22:21), persevere in the hour of tribulation (when the gates of hell appear to be prevailing), knowing that Jesus will soon return in triumph.(21) Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

The Beginning…
Hope To See You There!!!

References

  1. Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Re 22:17). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.
  2. 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.
  3. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2485). Peabody: Hendrickson.
  4. Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Re 22:16). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  5. 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.
  6. Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 460). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.
  7. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2485). Peabody: Hendrickson.
  8. Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Re 22:17). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.
  9. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2485). Peabody: Hendrickson.
  10. Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Re 22:18). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.
  11. Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Re 22:18–19). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  12. Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 858). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
  13. Cabal, T., Brand, C. O., Clendenen, E. R., Copan, P., Moreland, J. P., & Powell, D. (2007). The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (p. 1918). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
  14. Lange, J. P., Schaff, P., Moore, E., Craven, E. R., & Woods, J. H. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Revelation (p. 399). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
  15. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Re 22:20). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
  16. Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Re 22:20). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  17. Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Re 22:21). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.
  18. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Re 22:21). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
  19. Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 990). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
  20. Sloan, R. B. (1998). The Revelation. In D. S. Dockery (Ed.), Holman concise Bible commentary (p. 680). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
  21. Dockery, D. S., Butler, T. C., Church, C. L., Scott, L. L., Ellis Smith, M. A., White, J. E., & Holman Bible Publishers (Nashville, T. . (1992). Holman Bible Handbook (p. 804). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
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