Revelation 22:6-9
Purpose: To challenge believers to stay focused on God.
Aim: I want the listener to worship God intently.
INTRODUCTION: How can we be content in a world where there is so much suffering and pain, especially when it looks like it's only going to get worse? Even if the world doesn't get any worse we know we are all going downhill as we get older. Dr. James Dobson put it this way, "About the time our acne clears up our minds start going fuzzy." Bill Feather said, "Life begins at 40, but so do fallen arches, lumbago, faulty eyesight, and the tendency to tell a story to the same person three or four times."
Notice how Abraham stayed motivated to follow God in spite of many hardships. The Bible says that Abraham, "lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God " (Hebrews 11:9--10).
"Heaven is more than a destination; it is a motivation." Warren Wiersbe
As a matter of fact, all of the heroes of the faith mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11 stayed faithful to God because they saw that this life was not permanent. "All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them" (Hebrews 11:13--16).
Bible believers are sometimes criticized because they believe in heaven instead of facing the real world. The truth is the opposite. Heaven is more real than this present life because it is permanent and this life is temporary.
REVIEW:
1:1-20 I. John's Vision of the Past "the things which you have seen"
2:1-5:14 II. Christ's Vision of the Present "the things which are"
Ch.6-22 III. John's Vision of the Future "things which will take places"
6-7; 12-14 A. Satan's war against God's creation- the first six seals
8-11; 13:11-18; 15-18 B. Savior's war against Satan: The wrath of God- the seventh seal
Ch.19-20 C. The worship of God
Ch.21-22:5 D. The wonder of eternal bliss
LESSON:
22:6-21 E. The responsibilities of those going to heaven
Today I want us to learn that: Contentment in this life increases the more we are focused on the glories of the next life.
Today we will begin by looking at the first two of nine ingredients to real contentment.
Vs.6-7 1. Be alert
Vs.6a a. God's message is true "words are faithful and true"
FAITHFUL means that what God says can be trusted. TRUE means that God's Word is sincere or genuine.
John had seen so many wonderful and glorious things that it was important for him to hear that he wasn't just dreaming. The things he saw were real. Notice the words he used in verse 8: "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" (Revelation 22:8).
Back in chapter 19 Jesus is called "Faithful and True" (Revelation 19:11) and here we learn that His words are also "faithful and true."
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away" (Mark 13:31).
If our loving, sovereign God tells us something that should be enough for us. "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23).
By the way, notice that the message of the book of Revelation is primarily for Christians. It begins by being addressed to seven churches. Here John says that this book is to show God's "bond-servants the things which must soon take place." Then in verse 16 Jesus says, "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches...." (Revelation 22:16).
Vs.6b-7a b. God's judgment will come quickly "I am coming quickly"
These are the words of the angel who has been showing John these visions since chapter 21 verse 9: "Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, 'Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb' " (Revelation 21:9). So, the angel of judgment is warning that when he comes he will come quickly.
The word QUICKLY can mean that which happens soon or fast. Either way we take this word it is true. In light of eternity the coming of Christ is soon. In light of the way Christ will come it will happen suddenly.
Jesus has already told us that His coming would be sudden. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be " (Matthew 24:36--39). " Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming" (Matthew 24:42).
These words were first given to us in the first verse of this book: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John" (Revelation 1:1).
John repeats this phrase again in verse 12 and then verse 20.
"For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay" (Hebrews 10:37).
Vs.7b c. Obedience brings blessing "Blessed is he who heeds"
This is the sixth of seven beatitudes in the book of Revelation. This repeats the first one in the first chapter: "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near" (Revelation 1:3).
To HEED the words means to watch over, guard, or to preserve intact.
What are the words from this book that we should heed? Compare verses 7 and 9.
* Don't be fearful 1:17; 2:10
* Repent and do the first works 2:5
* Stop compromising with the world 2:16
* Cling to God's truth 2:24-25
* Remember God's grace 3:3
* Exalt God's worthiness 5:9,12,13
* Trust God's salvation alone 7:10
* Fear of God 14:7
* Separate from sin 18:4
* Praise the Lord 19:1,4,5
Are you keeping these commands? If you are then you are blessed which means God has pronounced the highest good for you.
The 2nd ingredient that brings great contentment is:
Vs.8-9 2. Worship God alone
John made a similar mistake earlier. "Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, 'Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy' " (Revelation 19:10).
Here it does not say that John was trying to worship the angel, but that he feel down at the angel's feet to worship, presumably God. Even the appearance of worshiping anything or anyone other than God is NOT acceptable.
Paul has warned us to avoid any substitute for the worship of God. "Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind " (Colossians 2:18).
In Acts chapter 12 Herod was eaten by worms because he accepted worship by those who were calling him a god. In the Old Testament (Daniel chapter four) God drove Nebuchadnezzar insane because insisted on being worshiped as God. Sin itself was born when one of the archangels named Lucifer (now known as Satan) wanted to be worshiped as God.
"Then Jesus said to him, 'Go, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only' " (Matthew 4:10).
Any worship that is not centered on Jesus Christ is false worship! "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You'? And again, 'I will be a Father to Him and He shall be a Son to Me'? And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, 'And let all the angels of God worship Him.' And of the angels He says, 'Who makes His angels winds, And His ministers a flame of fire.' But of the Son He says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness above Your companions.' And, 'You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands; they will perish, but You remain; and they all will become old like a garment, and like a mantle You will roll them up; like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end' " (Hebrews 1:1--12).
These two verses in Revelation serve as proof that we don't need any physical thing in order to worship God. We don't need candles, beads, special buildings, statues, or incense. The worship of God should never be tied to something God created. "For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen" (Romans 1:25).
Jesus made this very clear when He said, "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).
We need to be reminded that the greatest prophet depends on God's grace for forgiveness and even a powerful angel is just a servant of the Most High God.
Our worship of God should be steadily increasing. "not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. " (Hebrews 10:25).
CONCLUSION:
How does studying the book of Revelation help us in our everyday lives?
#1 We learn that God is greater than circumstances
Trusting God's plan for the future brings great peace because we know that there are no circumstances that can ever slow down the will of God. No matter how bad the world gets, we know that we are on the winning side and that "...God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
#2 We learn that the eternal is more real than the physical
When we are confident that we have an eternal, glorious home it doesn't matter that much when we have to live in unattractive home here. We will see the reality that the things of this world are temporary.
#3 We learn that God's love for His own is limitless
Last time we learned that not only will we be serving Christ in perfect bodies in a perfect place for all of eternity, we will also rule with Him. God's "hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5).
"But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior " (Titus 3:4--6).
Are you spending some time every day thinking about God's glory, His gift of Christ and His suffering for your sin, and the joys that are waiting for you in heaven?
We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at His unspeakable love. John Owen
