Rev. # 80~22:1-21 CLOSING REMARKS AND WARNING 11-27-10
Well today I suppose will be the last of our study in this great book of Prophecy, Revelation is the only book of prophecy in the N.T., there’s many prophetic verses in the N.T, but the Book of Revelation is entirely prophecy.
This is the 80th week of our study in the Revelation, and we’ve tried to present the truths of the book the best we know how, although I’m sure if we started over again next week the Lord would without doubt revile even more to us.
I’ve read and searched out subjects and verses from many sources trying to establish the meaning, and I’m sure that when we do the study next time we’ll have even more light on the book, that is if there is a next time, according to what we have read in this study and the ever day happenings that we see on the news ever thing is set and in place, the Lord could call His Church away at any time and that would certainly be alright with us.
Ø Let me pass this along to you; if you have excess to the internet you can read and hear all these studies again, go to “Sermons Central.com” and look for “contributors” and then when the names pop up look for “William D. Brown” and there you’ll see and hear them again if you so desire. Have you a pen and paper ready and I’ll give you that web address again at the close of the broadcast.
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Well last time we read and made some comments on verses 1-5 here in chapter 22, the remainder of the verses pretty well explains them selves.
Ø Listen as I read the 1st 5 verses again.
1And he(the angel) shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2In the midst of the street of it, (the city) and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.***
—Let me remind us again that “The nations” are made up of the “Sheep” as the Lord calls them back in Matt. 25:31-46, He places them on His right, as He set’s on His Throne of Glory which will be just after the Tribulation, but just before He set up His 1000 year Kingdom, the SHEEP as He refers to them, gave aid to the Jews some how or other during the 7 year tribulation, so they make up the people from among the nations that will populate the Millennial Kingdom of the Lord Jesus for the 1000 years and remember their in their natural bodies, and these Sheep will have natural born children, and they and their saved off spring will inhabit the New earth after this old one has been destroyed by fire.
Mankind is responsible for its destruction because of depravity and sin, not because of misuse; so don’t worry about Al Gore’s global warming, global warming will eventually be global burning whenever God the Creator decides it.
And also the people in the tribulation period that was the Jews enemies the Lord calls “GOATS” and their placed on His left as He is seated there on His Throne of Glory judging from among the Nations, these are cast into outer darkness, they wind up in the lake of fire.
So the leaves of the tree of life were for the healing of the nations. Lets realize that these people will not have glorified bodies as the Church will have and so these leaves of the tree will be for their health and well being at that time.
-----------------Then in verses 3 & 4
3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it;(city) and his servants shall serve him: 4And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
You and I that are saved and are part of His church will serve the Lord some place among the nations all over the world in the Millennium, and perhaps in the New Earth as well, or could even have some thing to do with other planets.
The prophet Isaiah revealed in chapter 9:7 that of the increase of His Government, there will be no end.
Let’s realize that the kingdom of God rules over the entire universe in its ever-expanding vastness.
What astronomers are learning is God is still creating things. And He will continue to create forever. It is His nature to create. We, who are His children by the blood of His Son Jesus Christ, will continue to both witness and enjoy His creative works forever.
Galaxies are believed to be in the billions, and there are just too many stars to even attempt to count.
The Government will be on His shoulders and of HIS Kingdom there will be no end, I am of the opinion that if we will be faithful to Him now on this side of the rapture, He’ll allow many to be in charge of different territories and cities in the 1000 year reign and even in the New Creation. We’re told that we will reign with Him forever, and forever is a pretty good while.
5And there shall be no night there;(the city) and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Let’s notice that we’re not told that there’ll be no Sun, but that this City, New Jerusalem would have no need of it.
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Ø In these last few verses of the Revelation, we hear parting words from several different voices, and It’ not always easy to know who is speaking, now lets read beginning with verse 6.
6And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
--- These words are faithful and true:
The angel that has shown these things to John declares it to be true and the things which must shortly be done.
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And then Jesus Himself says with a reminder to all that He is coming quickly.
The word ’quickly’ can also mean ’suddenly’—when it’s time for Him to rapture His Church, and even at the 2nd coming it will be suddenly.
7Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
This reminds us that prophecy is for us to keep, not just something interesting to talk about. The main intent of prophecy is to lead us to trust and obey God, and apply His truth to the way we live.
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8And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
This is the 2nd time that John does this, the 1st time was in chapter 19:10, and both times John is rebuked by the angel, and tells John that he himself is like John and all other servants of God, that only God is to be worshipped. I’m sure that John knew that but he became so over whelmed at these things that he just had to get on his knees.
No created being should ever be worshipped.
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Ø And then we have a warning, either by the same angel or by Jesus.
10And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
The last days started when the Lord Jesus appeared on the scene, when He came He brought grace and truth according to
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
And we all know that the grace dispensation is the 6th one, and at it’s end the rapture of the True church.
A man once told me that the book of Revelation was for preachers to read and study, and that is certainly true, but the rest of the church is not to seal it up and keep it closed, this book is not to be sealed but read and studied by all.
We’re told; He who is unjust, let him be unjust still . . . he who is righteous, let him be righteous still:
It is the hopelessness of the final state of the wicked, which is here pictured. The states of both the evil and the good are now fixed forever. There is no word here about a ’second chance.
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12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
His message is always “be ready” Jesus will give to everyone according to his work, that don’t mean that we’re saved by our works, but show that living faith will have good works with it.
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
We don’t do good works to save us or to keep us saved, but we do good works because we are saved.
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13I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Here He reminds us just who He is. If we really know and understood who Jesus is, we will not have any trouble being ready for His return, we are longing for that glad day.
The term Alpha and Omega is applied to God the ALMIGHTY in 1:8; and here alone to Christ, and this is proof of Christ’s deity.
These terms together mean that Jesus is the beginning, middle, and end for the Christian.
Spurgeon said, “There is no gospel worth thinking of, much less worth proclaiming in Jehovah’s name, if Jesus be forgotten."
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14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
: Doing His commandments does not earn us eternal life, but it is evidence that we have been granted eternal life.
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15For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
But outside are dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers:
This don’t mean literal dogs, but the morally impure . . . Dogs in the Oriental cities are looked upon as scavengers by most.
Philippians 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers---
We shouldn’t think that outside the walls of the City multitudes of the lost will be gathered, longing to get in.
This don’t mean that in the eternal state all manner of wicked men will be living just outside the heavenly city. But It describes the future of the wicked sinners that we know of today.
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16I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.
Ø With these solemn words, Jesus authenticates the entire book.
I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Jesus is the ROOT of David, meaning, because of Jesus being the Creator, David excites.
And Jesus is also (the off spring of David) –meaning that because of David “the MAN JESUS was born. Read His genealogy in Matt. 1:
--And He is the -- the bright and morning star.
Meaning the coming day in His role as the One who comes for the church in the rapture, joy cometh in the morning.
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17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, (here is a warning)-- If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. --
20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. And then John say’s Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
And here is the web address again if you’re interested in reading, copying, or listening to them again.
Sermons Central.com
Contributors
William D. Brown
