Living In the Expectation of His Return
Revelation 22:7, 12-20
Jimmy Modha, who was raised in a devout Hindu home in Leicester, England, enraged his family by coming to Christ and converting to Christianity. He told them his sins had been forgiven because he had found God.
“Which god?” shouted his father.
“It’s Jesus Christ,” replied Jimmy. “Actually He came and found me. He died on the cross for my sins; I am a Christian.”
His mother fainted, his father threw him out of the house, and his brother Jay prayed for the gods to kill him. “We would mourn his death,” said Jay, “but at least our family would not be dishonoured.”
Jay, a brilliant student working on his Ph.D. in parasitology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine disowned his brother and refused to talk to him. In parting, Jimmy said, “Jay, if you are ever desperate and no one is there to help you, remember Jesus loves you, and His hand is on your life. Call to Him and He will save you.”
Jay was furious, but Jimmy began praying earnestly for him.
Shortly Jay began having disturbing dreams. “It was as if I was awake in my bed at three in the morning when suddenly a blinding light broke through the roof and ceiling of my bedroom. In that light I could see a cloud descending from heaven, bearing three awesome, fiery men-like creatures. The first blew a trumpet so loud that I was sure the whole world could hear its thunderous sound. I knew whatever was coming was universal in consequence. The second creature cried out, ‘Prepare ye, for the Lord is coming to reap the harvest!’ Then the third swung a scythe over the earth and cried, ‘Now is the earth ready for harvest!’
“I tried to wake up from the dream because I felt I was going to have a heart attack from sheer fright. But I could not. Then, in the middle of the cloud, I noticed a Person who looked completely different. The brilliant light was coming from Him. His face shone so radiantly that no features were clear except for eyes that looked like blazing flames of fire. A robe went from His neck to His feet, which were like white-hot metal. He was dreadful in His beauty and terrible in His splendour.
“As He descended, He looked at me. I was completely undone, absolutely terrified. I could not bear to look at Him any longer, so I turned my head. To my amazement, there beside me was my brother Jimmy, who was not scared at all. In fact, his face was joyous, and he was reaching out as if to embrace the figure.
“When I gained the courage to look at Him again, He addressed me saying, ‘Jay, what are you going to do when this happens?’ Then everything vanished, and I woke up.”
It took Jay an hour to calm down, and he prayed for understanding.
A few days later, Jimmy called and, hearing of Jay’s dream, said, “Jay, what you saw is the Second Coming of Christ. Can I send you a Bible so you can read about it?” Jay hung up. But more dreams disturbed his sleep, and one night he awoke horrified to realize that he had been dreaming of praying to Jesus. In time, Jay received his doctorate and was awarded a prestigious research fellowship in Japan. But in Japan, his mental state deteriorated and one night, standing on his balcony, he nearly leaped to his death. But at the last minute, he pushed himself away from the railing, vowing to find out if Jesus was, in fact, the living and true God. For two years, God pursued him and every waking moment Jay felt the wrath of God hovering over him. At length, he dug from a cupboard a dust-covered old Bible and began to read in the Gospels. When he got to the Lord’s words from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they do,” Jay realized that he was a sinner for whom Christ had died. He prayed for forgiveness and the burden of his guilt lifted.
Jay grew quickly and, moving to Glasgow, joined a church and in time began teaching and preaching. Concluding that God was calling him into the ministry, he enrolled in Reformed Theological Seminary to prepare to preach the Gospel he had once so fervently resisted.
One of the foundations the Christian faith is based upon is the return of Jesus Christ. We read in Acts 1 that after Christ ascended into Heaven, two men in white robes address the disciples that were left there staring into the sky. “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? Jesus, whom you saw taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go.” Acts 1:11, New Century Version
John Wesley, the man whose picture hangs in the basement, has been quoted as saying the following: “The Spirit in the heart of the true believer says with earnest desire, Come, Lord Jesus.”
We say that we want Him to return. We all long for heaven. We want to leave this place of sorrow and pain behind. Just like Thomas, we want to touch the Master. Some of us here have lived their entire life looking forward to the day that Jesus parts the Easter sky, and sets His foot upon the Mount of Olives once more.
While we long for that day, the question that begs to be answered is are our lives being lived in such a fashion? We say that we believe that He is coming back, but are we living our lives in a manner that shows that? Are we living our lives in the expectation that Jesus Christ can come back at any minute?
1. Warning & Promise (vs. 7, 12-13)
Behold, I come quickly. The soon coming, without delay, of the Lord Jesus is stated three times in this chapter, in verses 7, 12, 20. This neatly ties in the end of the book with its beginning (cf. 1:3). After all, this is the dominant theme of the book: the coming revelation of the Lord Jesus (cf. 1:7). The encouragement here is that the Lord Jesus says that it will not be a long period: “I am coming shortly. I will soon be there.”
We are not just looking for something to happen, we are looking for Someone to come! And when these things begin to come to pass, we are not to drop our heads in discouragement or shake our heads in despair, but rather lift up our heads in delight.—Vance Havner
It is a question of belief. Do we believe that He is coming? If we do, what are we doing about it? How are we getting ready? How do you prepare for such a coming?
Imagine this, ladies. You get a phone call one afternoon, and it is from a friend that you haven’t seen in ages. Your friend tells you that she is coming to your house for a long, overdue visit. What do you do? My guess is that you go absolutely ballistic! The dust mops come out, the house smells of Pine-Sol, and you get busy cleaning for this guest! This friend is coming, and you do not want to be caught off guard.
Isn’t that how our lives should be lived for Christ? Three different times in this passage He has called us, and told us He is coming? Are we ready? Do our actions speak louder than our words? Is life we live today a living testimony that we have our ears tuned to the sound Heavenly trumpets?
2. Being Ready - We need to be examined! (vs. 14,15)
Some have already been completely washed; their works and faith are the fruit and proof of salvation. Only true believers have access to the tree of life and to the eternal city. Only blood-washed believers have authority over the Tree of Life and access to the Holy City.
Going to church does not mean you will see that Heavenly City. Being kind to animals, and helping little old ladies across the street may earn you a merit badge in the Boy Scouts, but that does not mean it is good enough for heaven. Paul says that “All have sinned, and fall short of the Glory of God.” Your good deeds just mean you end up falling short in the end. Jesus himself said “Not everyone who says “Lord; Lord” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
John refers to the people who miss it as dogs. Dogs were known as scavengers in John’s day. They lived outside the city walls and were never allowed in because of the destruction they would cause. Since these things will be a thing of the past in Heaven, then those caught up in sin will be left out.
Dogs: Sorcerers - magic arts - If you think you can tell the future, or look to horoscopes to save your days
Sexually Immoral - Anything outside the confines of man/woman in marriage
Murderers - knife wielders and people who cut others down
Idolaters - placing things/other people before God
Lovers of Falsehoods - liars/ gossipers
These same sentiments ring throughout the Scriptures. Sin cannot be in the presence of a Holy God. A person may be able to fool others, but there is no fooling God. Sept. 11 happened because people snuck by the security checks because they were “normal” people. There will be no slipping in when it comes to inheriting Heaven.
Rev 21:8: But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, NLT - Don’t you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers—none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-2, NCV - The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: being sexually unfaithful, not being pure, taking part in sexual sins, worshiping gods, doing witchcraft, hating, making trouble, being jealous, being angry, being selfish, making people angry with each other, causing divisions among people, feeling envy, being drunk, having wild and wasteful parties, and doing other things like these. I warn you now as I warned you before: Those who do these things will not inherit God’s kingdom.
If we are caught up in any of these things, then we are fooling ourselves. Fortunately, today is a day that Christ has given to us to change all that. He continues to call men and women to Himself!
3. Divine Invitation - Come (vs.17)
Near the end of the passage, the invitation is given. This is an RSVP moment in a person’s life. Will they come or not. When Melissa and I were married, we had sent invitations to a lot of people. Some people were upset that we left them off of the list, but what can you do? When it comes to a wedding, not everybody can be invited. We had well over two hundred people in attendance that day, so it is safe to say that most of the people invited came that day.
The invitation here is sent out to all peoples around the world. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is an invitation to all people to come to a saving knowledge of Him.
a) The Spirit & The Bride Say “Come” - This is a gospel appeal. The Bible will not close before an opportunity is given for the unsaved to trust Christ. This invitation by the Spirit remains open to anyone who will come by faith to Christ to accept the Lord’s gracious offer of eternal life.
b) The Hearers Say “Come” - We are the hearers and the Bride. If we truly believe that Christ is coming back to take His church to be with Him, then it is our job to invite people to Christ. This takes more than just saying that people need Christ, we need to do something about it.
Matthew 28: 19,20 NIV - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Acts 1:8 NIV - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
c) Call for the thirsty to “Come” - invitation to the unsaved to come to Him for the water of life (salvation) and thus be ready for His return. The invitation to men is to come and to take the Water of Life. The Lord Jesus stood and said, “… If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” (John 7:37). That is the invitation that goes out today. If you are tired of drinking at the cesspools of this world, He invites you to come, What an invitation this is to come to Him!
Conclusion
How do you respond to the promise of the Lord’s return? John’s last chapter can help you take inventory.
Are you treasuring His Word and obeying it (v. 7)? This is His message to you (v. 16), and it must not be altered (vv. 18–19). There is a special blessing for the obedient (v. 14).
Are you doing the work He has called you to do (v. 12)? He promises to reward faithful servants (Luke 12:35–48).
Do you really want Jesus to return today (v. 20)? Do you “love His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8)? If Jesus were to come today, would you be disappointed and your plans be upset?
Are you urging lost sinners to trust Him and be ready for His coming (v. 17)? The Holy Spirit works through the church to bring lost people to the Saviour. The people described in 21:8 and 22:11 can be saved (1 Cor. 6:9–11) and become new creatures ready for the new heaven and earth (2 Cor. 5:17). Will you tell them?
