The Last Messages

Revelation 22:8-21

 

INTRO: "Genesis is a book of first, and the book of Revelations is a book of lasts" (Lockyer 317).

With Revelation 22:8-21, we have the last messages of the Word of God.

 

I. VSS 8-9, THE MESSAGE OF THE REALITY OF JOHN’S VISION

A. Vs 8, Note in this verse the verbs of experience. "I" : saw, heard, fell.

1. These verbs of experience give credibility to the authenticity of the Revelation.

2. John is not writing what someone else told him or something he thought he heard. He is writing about what he had personally seen, heard, and felt.

a. Every true Christian can say by experience, "I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" (Job 19:25).

b. Paul said in II Timothy 1:12: "...I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded...."

3. Being overwhelmed, John fell at the angel’s feet.

B. Vs 9, The angel refused to let John worship him saying: "I am thy fellowservant."

1. "Fellowservant" is the Greek word sundoulos– excluding independence, humble, without pride. The human servant of God is fellow servant with the angels (Heb 1:14).

2. All those who keep the sayings of this book are fellow servants with John’s brethren, the prophets, and the angels (19:10).

3. The angel tells John to "worship God."

a. We are to walk and talk with God.

b. We are to give our desires to God.

c. We are to worship and adore God for He alone is worthy of worship. He does not want second place; we are to love Him with all our heart, soul, strength, mind, spirit, and body. Our whole being is to worship God.

d. We are to do all things to the glory of God (I Cor 10:31).

e. We are not to worship angels, preachers, prophets, or saints. We are to worship God.

 

II. VS 10, THE MESSAGE OF AN OPEN BOOK

A. Because there is a blessing for those who keep the sayings of the Revelation, John is commanded not to seal the book (Rev 22:7). This book is to be proclaimed!

B. The Revelation of Jesus Christ (1:1-3) is open to all who will receive it, believe it, and be blessed by it.

 

III. VS 11, THE MESSAGE OF FINALITY

A. This verse indicates the final state of the lost and the saved.

B. At this point in God’s economy, man’s eternal position is sealed.

1. The unjust, the lost, will continue in an eternal state of being unjust. The filthy will be forever unclean for they are not washed in the blood. Their sinful desires will not be satisfied or eased.

2. The righteous and holy will forever live in the presence of a Holy God. Glorification will be a reality. The saved are righteous because Christ has made us so (II Cor 5:21).

 

IV. VSS 12-13, THE MESSAGE OF THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST

A. Vs 12, For the second time in this great chapter, Jesus says: "Behold, I come quickly...." (Vs 7).

1. When Jesus comes in the clouds, He will bring His reward with Him. This reward is for the saved and will be varied according to the quality, stewardship, and character of the child of God. He is mindful of our service.

2. Jesus will not overlook the faithfulness of His own.

B. Vs 13, Here we have a strong affirmation of deity. Jesus Christ is God, not a god.

1. "The three pairs of titles given in verse 13 all connote the same truth that Christ is the beginning and source of all things as well as the goal and consummation of all, in a word, the eternal God" (Walvoord 337).

2. Christ is creator and life giver.

 

V. VSS 14-15, THE MESSAGE OF BLESSING AND OF WOE

A. Vs 14, There are three references in the Revelation concerning God’s people keeping His commandments– not to be saved, but because they are saved. One here and in Revelation 12:17 and 14:12.

1. Cleansing, by the shed blood of Christ, makes the believer worthy of:

a. The tree of life.

b. The New Jerusalem

c. The New heaven and the new earth.

2. Because of the blood, the believer will one day enter the gates of the city of God.

B. Vs 15, Here we have those who cannot enter in. Those who have been excluded from the blessing of the heavenly city, excluded form heaven, sentenced to hell.

1. Dogs

a. Sin lovers– II Pet 2:22

b. Cruel– Psa 22:16-17.

2. Sorcerers– witchcraft, demons, drugs, etc.

3. Whoremongers– fornicators, adulterers.

4. Murderers– hatred, violence, slaughter.

5. Idolaters– serving and worshiping the creature and not the creator.

6. Lie– those who shut out the truth of God, refusing to be sincere about the Son of God.

 

VI. VS 16, THE MESSAGE OF TESTIMONY

A. "I Jesus"– Jack Van Impe says: "the message of the revelation is true because Christ inaugurated and guarantees it. Who would dare question Him?

B. The churches here are local, visible bodies of baptized believers.

C. Christ is the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

1. Root– means of the earth and symbolizes His humanity (Mt 22:41-46).

2. Star– He is from above, speaking of His deity.

 

VII. VS 17, THE MESSAGE OF INVITATION

A. "The Spirit and the bride says come...."

1. The Holy Spirit invites men to Christ.

2. The bride, the local church, invites men to believe the Gospel.

B. "Let him that heareth say come...." The individual believer invites the lost to Christ.

C. "Let him that is athirst come...."

1. Salvation is by free grace (Rom 5:15-18).

2. "Freely" is the Greek word dorean meaning, "without a cause in us, why it should be given."

 

VIII. VSS 18-19, THE MESSAGE AGAINST TAMPERING WITH THE BOOK

A. Although the solemn warning given here deals specifically with the book of Revelation, it is wise to accept the whole Bible as inerrant.

B. We are not to add to or take away from the Word of God.

 

IX. VSS 20-21, THE MESSAGES OF PROMISE AND PRAYER

A. Vs 20, John’s prayer echoes the heartfelt desire of multitudes of saints throughout the ages: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

B. Vs 21, Oliver B. Greene said: "Life eternal begins in grace, continues in grace, and comes to its final fullness in grace’ (542).

 

 

CONCLUSION: May we carefully consider those important messages of Revelation 22.

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