Part II
Revelation 22:10-13
Purpose: To command believers to spread God's truth.
Aim: I want the listener to urgently live and proclaim God's salvation.
INTRODUCTION: You might remember an old road sign that said, "Seat belts. Not just a good idea, it's the law." You may have seen a bumper sticker spoofing that sign: "Gravity. Not just a good idea. It's the law!" Rejecting the message of this book does not make the message untrue.
Since we have studied the book of Revelation, Jesus wants to make it clear that we must now urgently apply what we have learned. In fact, Jesus began this book by telling us: "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).
I think we would all agree that one thing that Christians lack today is a sense of urgency. God's return to earth to forever defeat Satan and his followers, to wipe the world clean of all sin, and its effects, and to reward His followers and establish an eternal kingdom on earth is an unmistakable reality. Not only that, but it could happen very soon. The stakes could not be higher. If that is true then why do we live as if it is not true? We must ask ourselves: Do we really believe what we have learned in this book?
Notice how the Amplified Version translates Paul's words to young Timothy: "Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching. For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions. As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry" (2 Timothy 4:2--5).
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
22:6-21 E. The responsibilities of those going to heaven
Vs.6-7 1. Be alert
Vs.6a a. God's message is true "words are faithful and true"
Vs.6b-7a b. God's judgment will come quickly "I am coming quickly
Vs.7b c. Obedience brings blessing "Blessed is he who heeds"
Vs.8-9 2. Worship God alone "Worship God."
LESSON:
Vs.10-11 3. Spread God's message
The book of Revelation concludes with nine responses that we should have to this glorious book. If we really believe what this book is saying then we will want to:
Vs.10 a. Explain this book "Do not seal...the prophecy"
"To seal here means to postpone disclosure." [1] This is very interesting in light of Daniel's prophecy in the OT.
"The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true; but keep the vision secret, for it pertains to many days in the future"(Daniel 8:26).
"And I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, O my lord, what shall be the issue and final end of these things? And he [the angel] said, Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be tried, smelted, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but the teachers and those who are wise shall understand" (Daniel 12:8--10).
The meanings of Daniel's visions were to be kept sealed, or unexplained. But, the book of Revelation is NOT intended to be shrouded in secrecy. Revelation (which means that which reveals) explains what Daniel did not understand. This explodes the idea that the book of Revelation cannot be understood. The basic message of Revelation is clear when it is read carefully. The very first words set the unmistakable tone: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place..." (Revelation 1:1).
Paul understood the importance of urgently displaying Christ. "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed" (Romans 13:10--11).
This book reveals Jesus Christ in a full and glorious way like no other book in the Bible, and we need to be sharing that with a broken and dying world.
Vs.11 b. Trust God's sovereignty "still do wrong...still
practice righteousness"
At first glance we might think that Jesus is saying that there is no hope for those who are not following Him. The context proves this wrong. Look down at verse 17: "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 " (Revelation 22:17).
This verse is a message to believers, specifically the seven churches in Asia Minor. Jesus is reminding us that conversion is His work. We must proclaim the message, but we cannot change people's hearts.
What does the Bible say on this subject? "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12--13).
"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit..." (John 15:16).
"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit " (2 Corinthians 3:18).
If you love sin now, you will always love sin unless you throw yourself on God's mercy and ask for His forgiveness. You cannot change yourself! Your only hope is that God will accept you into His family. "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44). If you sense that the Lord is convicting you of sin and inviting you to come to Himself, you had better respond or it could be eternally too late. "for He says, 'At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.' Behold, now is 'the acceptable time,' behold, now is 'the day of salvation' " (2 Corinthians 6:2).
The preaching of the Cross of Christ ALWAYS has an effect on the hearers. Some will be softened and drawn to Christ. Others will be hardened to the message. "The same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay." "To the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life..." (2 Corinthians 2:16). "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).
The second half of this verse is a promise to believers. If you really love Jesus now, you will love Him for all eternity. When someone falls away from following Jesus it proves that his love for Jesus is superficial and his love not rooted in the true message of the Cross. Real believers, on the other hand, may fail Christ in many ways, but they will never stop loving Christ. "And put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth" (Ephesians 4:24). "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).
Trust is God's sovereign control.
Vs.12-13 4. Live in light of God's presence
Jesus is now going to give us two reasons why we should passionately and urgently spread His message.
Vs.12 a. The promise of rewards "My reward is with me"
Six times in this book the Lord promises that He will "come quickly." Four times it is given as a promise, twice it is given as a warning as in verse 7: "And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book" (Revelation 22:7).
The wicked are judged for their works, believers are rewarded for their works. Both are unavoidable. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men ..." (2 Corinthians 5:10--11).
The rewards are based on the quality of serving Christ, not the quantity. "Each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire" (1 Corinthians 3:13--15).
Paul talks about both of these judgments in Romans 2: "But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. " (Romans 2:5--10).
Imagine a group of children gathered around a Christmas tree. They are all eagerly waiting to open presents. An adult starts handing out the presents to one child at a time. Some children wind up getting a lot of presents, some get a few, and some get none at all. Think about how the children getting no presents would feel. Will you feel that way Jesus hands out rewards when we are gathered around His throne?
Vs.13 b. The Person who rewards "I am..."
(1) Christ is everything "I am the Alpha and the Omega"
This is the fourth time that Jesus uses this title for Himself. Two are near the beginning of the book and two are near the end of the book. This means that Jesus is the Creator of all things and the one who is the end of all things.
This is the same title that God applies to Himself: "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me' " (Isaiah 44:6). So Jesus is God!!
When Jesus begins to work in us, He will finish that work. "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).
What the Lord starts He finishes!
"For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified" (Romans 8:29--30).
(2) Christ is eternal "the first and the last"
"He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything" (Colossians 1:18).
(3) Christ is exalted over all "the beginning and the end"
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God" (John 1:1--2).
CONCLUSION: If you are not sure if you have eternal life, please listen to the words of Jesus Christ: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15).
If you know that you have committed your life to Jesus Christ then listen to what Jesus says to you: "Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. Therefore, be on the alert--for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning-- in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert!' " (Mark 13:33--37).
What would you do differently if you knew that Jesus would come back next Sunday? Like a child who is left home at home alone and is told that his parents won't be back until 10 pm. When does he start cleaning up the mess he made during the day? Nine forty-five pm?
Whom are you going to serve this week? What should you do this week in order to invest your life in Jesus Christ?
"Faith is to believe what we do not see;and the reward of this faith
is to see what we believe."
Augustine [2]
[1]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Re 22:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[2]Galaxie Software. (2002; 2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.
