Revelation 22:14-16
Purpose: To lift up the glory of Christ’s forgiveness.
Aim: I want the listener to praise God for the privileges of salvation.
INTRODUCTION: When John wrote the book of Revelation Jesus’ resurrection had happened about sixty-five years earlier. Most of the people who knew Jesus personally are now dead, and a second generation of Christians has grown up. The gospel claims that Jesus is King of the world and is coming back soon to claim His domain. But the years pass, and still He does not come.
Now a madman has become emperor of Rome who actually believes the poets’ praises that he is a god incarnate. He likes to be addressed as "Our Lord and God." He has decreed that anyone who holds public office, anyone who testifies in court--which means practically everyone--must offer a pinch of incense to the emperor’s guardian spirit and declare "Caesar is Lord." If a person refuses to worship the emperor, he may lose his job, his home, or even his life.
This is not the only threat to Christians in 95 AD. Within the churches are some members who want to take control and twist the gospel to suit them. Danger without and danger within--is God really in control? In part to answer this question for the embattled Christians in the first century and every century since, God gave a series of visions to the last living Apostle named John. It is called "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).
The promised coming of Christ gives us confidence that God IS in control, and it also gives us the motivation to get busy serving this wonderful Lord.
So far we have seen four of the nine responsibilities that Christians have in light of His soon return. Today we will look at two more.
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 "I am coming quickly"
Vs.8-9 2. Worship God alone "Worship God."
Vs.10-11 3. Spread God’s message "Do not seal...the prophecy"
Vs.12-13 4. Live in light of God’s presence "I am the Alpha and the Omega"
LESSON:
Vs.14-15 5. Rejoice in the blessings of salvation "those who wash their robes"
This verse points back to chapter 7 verse 14: "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14).
The word ROBES refers to long stately robes. [1]
Christians are pure and clean because they have been immersed in the blood of Christ: "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14).
"...be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. " (2 Corinthians 5:20--21).
How do believers respond to this robe of righteous?
Vs.14a a. Believers are happy "Blessed"
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds" (Titus 2:11--14).
The garments of salvation cover all of our sin: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account" (Romans 4:7--8). The Gospel should be our greatest joy everyday.
"I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels" (Isaiah 61:10).
Jesus goes on to describe the three great and awesome privileges that these happy believers possess.
Vs.14b b. Believers have a right to eternal life "right to the tree of life"
For centuries man has hunted for a fountain of youth. God gave one (the tree of life) to Adam and Eve in the Garden, but then He took it away when they sinned. When sin is erased from this earth then God will make it available again.
Believers are happy because they now have a right to live in paradise forever. That right is a GRANTED right, not a EARNED right. "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" (John 1:12).
Paul rejoiced because he knew his life was safe in Christ "not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, " (Philippians 3:9).
Before we can have access to the Tree of Life, though, we must "enter by the gates."
Vs.14c c. Believers have access to the presence of God "enter by the gates"
Jesus has promised us: "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:3).
"See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is" (1 John 3:1--2).
Vs.15 d. Believers are forever separated from sin "Outside are..."
This verse is both a warning and a blessing. It is a warning to those who still love sin, and a blessing to those who no longer love sin because the temptation to sin and existence of sin will forever be gone.
This is the third list of sins given to us in the book of Revelation: "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). "and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life" (Revelation 21:27).
In today’s text we see six examples of the kind of people who will never see the New Jerusalem.
DOGS were never considered lovable pets in the Bible. In fact, to be called a dog was one of the most offensive insults that could be given. The Bible uses the term "dogs" to refer to male prostitutes (Deut.23:18); false teachers (Phil.3:2); false shepherds ["His watchmen are blind, all of them know nothing. All of them are mute dogs unable to bark, dreamers lying down, who love to slumber" (Isaiah 56:10). ]
The original Greek word for SORCERERS is translated "pharmacy" in English. A sorcerer was someone involved in magical arts who used drugs, potions, spells, and enchantments. "Albert A. Bell Jr. suggests that the word referred to ’those who supplied drugs to induce abortions’". [2]
The original Greek word for IMMORAL gives us the word "pornography" in English. It refers to sexual relations outside of marriage.
The list rounds out with MURDERERS, IDOLATERS (those who treasure anything in this life more than God), and EVERYONE WHO LOVES AND PRACTICES LYING (which is the only sin that is named in all three lists).
"Jesus told the Pharisees, "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. . . . there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it" (John 8:44). The coming of the lawless one, the Antichrist, was with all power, signs and lying wonders (2Th. 2:9). [Don’t be naïve, leaders lie]Those who continue to lie will ultimately fall prey themselves to lies: they will not come to the truth (2Th. 2:11-12). Eventually, their own conscience becomes seared (1Ti. 4:2). All who reject salvation are ultimately liars: "Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?" (1 Jn. 2:22). The truth of God has been made known to men through general revelation, but men actively suppress the truth (lie) in unrighteousness. Knowing the truth, they promote false ideas such as God doesn’t exist or that His existence cannot be known (Rom. 1:18).[3]
Against the back drop of the wicked, Jesus stands out in all His holiness and purity.
Vs.16 6. Exalt Jesus Christ
Jesus used this truth to confound His enemies. "Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: ’What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?’ They said to Him, ’The son of David.’ He said to them, ’Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ’Lord,’ saying, ’The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet" ’? ’If David then calls Him ’Lord,’ how is He his son?’ No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question. " (Matthew 22:41--46). Is the Messiah David’s son or David’s Lord?
At first glance this sounds like one of those difficult riddles, but the answer is simple if you accept what Jesus said about Himself. Jesus is both. He is the God who created all things and the man who is physically descended from David.
a. Jesus is the creator "root of...David"
Jesus created David, and everything else. "All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being" (John 1:3).
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:15--17).
b. Jesus is our king "descendant of David"
This would have to be a reference to: "Then a shoot will spring from the stem [or stump] of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord " (Isaiah 11:1--2).
God will keep His promise to David: "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever" (2 Samuel 7:13).
Paul told us to, "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel" (2 Timothy 2:8). "He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh" (Romans 1:2--3).
This is why Matthew begins his gospel with "The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1).
Jesus claimed to be King: "Therefore Pilate said to Him, ’So You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ’You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice’ " (John 18:37). Jesus is your Creator--will you acknowledge Him as your king?
c. Jesus shatters the darkness "bright morning star"
Venus is called the morning star. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky and it never appears to be far from the Sun. It reaches its maximum brightness shortly before sunrise or shortly after sunset, for which reason it is often called the Morning Star or the Evening Star.
Jesus is the "bright morning star" because He is "...the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man" (John 1:9).
"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob ..." (Numbers 24:17).
First, Jesus shatters the darkness in our hearts before He comes to shatter the darkness of this world. "So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts " (2 Peter 1:19).
When this life is over we will experience Christ in all of His fullness. "He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations...and I will give him the morning star" (Revelation 2:26, 28). Jesus IS our reward!
The Morning Star (Venus) shines brightest when the sun and moon have set and the dawn is about to break. Our world may dwell in darkness, but we know that the sun will soon come into view because the Morning Star has appeared.
CONCLUSION: Have you decided to follow Jesus Christ? That is a hard decision, but it is much easier to make when we look at the advantages of following Christ and the what happens if we turn away from Christ.
The ceiling of the Sistine chapel in Rome was painted by Michelangelo. This required him to lie flat on his back. But this posed a problem because Michelangelo had a bad back and lying on it for any length of time cause excruciating pain. He also had some kind of nasal obstruction which made breathing very difficult when he lay on his back. In spite of these problems he lay on his back all day long, every day, for twenty months. In fact, he usually slept in his clothes so he could get back to his painting quickly. And of course he painted one of the greatest masterpieces of all time.
If Michelangelo could decide to endure so much for a painting, we should be willing to endure much more for the glories of heaven that are waiting for us.
Are there things you could do to serve the Lord here in this church, or at home by having a servant’s heart or in your neighborhood by sharing the message of the Cross with others?
The world is in deep darkness, but that is when Jesus can shine the brightest. I love the way Spurgeon put it in one of his sermons. He was commenting about those who would tell him that they couldn’t serve God where they were because they lived in a very wicked place. Then Spurgeon quoted where Paul says: ". . . That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15). So we are to shine "in the midst" of a crooked and perverse generation. Then Spurgeon said:
...the worse the people are among whom you live, the more need have they of your exertions; if they be crooked, the more necessity that you should set them straight: and if they be perverse, the more need have you to turn their proud hearts to the truth. The worse your position is, the more thankful you ought to be that you are in it. Where should the physician be but where there are many sick? Where is honor to be won by the soldier but in the hottest fire of the battle? Do not blame your position if you are an unprofitable servant, but lay the blame upon yourself. If you find it hard to do good where you are, it will be harder anywhere else. As the bird that wanders from her nest so is the man that wanders from his place. Lazy workmen find fault with their tools and employers. [4]
The Lord is looking for servants, are you willing to be one of them?
When the night is the darkest Jesus shines the brightest.
[1]
[2] (Exploring the New Testament World, p. 249) Custer, S. (2004). From Patmos to paradise : A commentary on Revelation (264). Greenville, S.C.: BJU Press.
[3] Online commentary by Tony Garland Copyright © 2004-2009 www.spiritandtruth.org/teaching/Book_of_Revelation/commentary/htm/032108.htm#3.21.8
[4]Positivism 1 John 5:18 20 from Spurgeon’s Sermons, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft
