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SOME CLOSING WORDS FROM
JESUS |
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We now come to the end of the Book of Revelation. It has been a wonderful journey as we have traveled with John into the future. We have seen what will happen in the future for both those who are saved and lost. We have seen how things will play out on the earth politically, socially, economically and even spiritually.
At the very beginning we were informed that Revelation is a book about the future. It is a revelation that was given unto John “to shew his servants things which must shortly come to pass” (1:1). In our study of Revelation we have seen tomorrow’s headlines. We have seen the players that will take center stage affecting the political and spiritual makeup of the world. We have seen how this world has a destiny with the proper owner of this world.
As we saw in the very beginning of our study, Revelation is more than a book about prophecy. It is a book about a Person. It is the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:1). He that we saw in the very beginning that stands “in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks” who declared himself to be the “first and the last” and is “alive for evermore” will come back again, taking back that which rightfully belongs to Him, and will rule and reign upon this earth, afterwards ushering in a new heaven and earth.
Revelation is a book about Jesus. It is only fitting that as we come to the closing verses of the book, He has a personal word for all people of all ages. As we conclude our study of Revelation, I want us to notice these closing words from Jesus.
First, I want you to notice:
1. HIS PERSONAL CONFIRMATION
Jesus says to us in verse 16, “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” There are a couple of things Jesus wants to nail down before the book is concluded. First, He:
A) Confirms His Prophecy
He first confirms that He is the sender of the book. He makes it very clear that he was the one who sent the angel “to testify unto you these things.” The angel had been a divine messenger, commissioned by the Lord Jesus Himself.
The word “testify” simply means a “witness.” It speaks of someone bearing record or giving their testimony. Jesus had sent him on a heavenly mission that we might be informed of what the future held.
In 22:6 we read, “And He (Jesus) said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true.” The prophecies of Revelation are true because they are the words of the Lord Jesus. They are as truthful as He is truthful. They are as reliable as He is reliable.
In case there is someone who may be skeptical or doubtful of the reality of what this book proclaims, Jesus is reminding us that He is the sender of this book, therefore every word in it is true.
I remind you that all of the Bible is trustworthy and truthful. You can believe every word from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. Every word in the Bible bears the authenticity of God. You never have to wonder if there is something in the Bible that is not reliable. As Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” When it comes to the Bible you can believe every word.
Yesterday (8/2/05) President Bush set off a firestorm when he stated that schoolchildren should be taught about “intelligent design” along with the theory of evolution. He said, “Both sides ought to be properly taught . . . so people can understand what the debate is about.” His comments drew sharp criticism from those who claim there is no scientific evidence to support intelligent design.
I’m certainly no scientist and would never claim to be. However, I have the Bible – God’s Holy Word – and it gives the evidence. It removes theories and gives us facts. Yet, there are those who do not believe what the Bible says about creation, among other things. But I will simply say, the Bible was sent from Jesus and it is true.
When it comes to Revelation you have our Lord’s own personal confirmation that every word is true. Therefore, when it tells us that Jesus will come back, we can be certain He will come back. When it tells us that certain events will take place on this earth, we know with absolute certainty they will occur. When it tells us that this present heaven and earth will be destroyed and replaced with a new heaven and earth, it is as certain as if it had already happened.
He not only confirms His Prophecy, but He also:
A) Confirms His Person
He declares in verse 16, “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star.” The reliability of His message is Who He is. The authority of His person gives authority to His prophecy.
He declares Himself to be both the “root” and “offspring” of David. As the “root” He is the ancestor of David. As the “offspring” He is the descendant of David. What seems to be a paradoxical statement is actually a declaration of His deity. He is the God-man! In His deity He is the “root” or ancestor of David. In His humanity He is the “offspring” or descendant of David.
He also declares Himself to be the “bright and morning star.” In Biblical times, to call someone a star was to elevate and exalt that person. As the morning star announces the arrival of the day, so the Lord’s coming will announce the end of this world’s darkness and the dawn of His glorious kingdom.
That is why we find this title of the Lord Jesus at the end of Revelation. It is a title that heralds His future coming and all that coming will mean. We could say it this way. Jesus as the Bright and Morning Star indicates that there is a NEW DAY coming.
Praise God there is a new day coming! As the songwriter said:
There will be a golden daybreak. Jesus, the Bright and Morning Star will come bringing a new day.
Secondly, we not only see in His closing words His personal confirmation, but also:
2. HIS PERSONAL INVITATION
We read in verse 17, “And 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.” In these words there are two distinct invitations, delineated by the word “Come.”
Let’s notice these two occurrences of the word “Come.” In the first we see:
A) A “Come” From Those Longing
The first “Come” is actually a prayer: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.” Jesus had declared in verse 12, “Behold, I come quickly.” Now both the Holy Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
The Holy Spirit is asking the Lord Jesus to come back and subdue His enemies and establish Himself as the King of kings and Lord of Lord’s. The bride, all who are saved, echo that prayer and cry out, “Come.”
It is much like John’s reply to everything in verse 20, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” It is a “come” that expresses the longing of the Holy Spirit and the believer for the return of the Lord Jesus.
Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:8, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” There is a crown promised for those who love and long for His return.
Are there not times when you long for the return of the Lord Jesus? Are there not times when with John you pray, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus?” There are times when all long for His return. We all get weary of the burdens and battles of life. Praise God, one day the battle will be over.
There is not only the “Come” that is from those who are longing, but there is also:
B) A “Come” For Those Lost
The second “Come” is seen in the words, “And let him that heareth say, Come.” In this “Come” a personal invitation is given by Jesus Himself for those who are not ready to join in with those who are calling out for the Lord to come. It is our Lord’s own personally invitation for the lost to come to Him.
The invitation continues in verse 17, “And let him that is athirst come. And whosover will, let him take the water of life freely.” The Lord Jesus is inviting every lost person to come. Salvation is offered freely and all one has to do is come and drink.
In Revelation we saw a time when men will no longer be able to come. But that time is in the future. Now everyone can come, should come, and are invited to come.
Praise God, one day I heard His invitation to come. How about you? When I think about the future that is revealed in Revelation, I am glad that I did accept His offer.
His offer to unlimited. It is an invitation to “whosoever.” It doesn’t matter what a person has done or who they are. They can come! They are invited to come. You have the Lord’s own personal invitation.
Lastly, notice not only His personal confirmation and invitation, but also:
3. HIS PERSONAL ADMONITION
In His closing words the Lord has a very strong warning concerning His Word. We read in verses 18-19, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And 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.”
Such an admonition is found elsewhere in the Scriptures. For example, we read in Deuteronomy 4:2, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”
Also in Deuteronomy 12:32 we read, “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”
We read in Proverbs 30:5-6, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
This prohibition that Jesus gives in Revelation is one that applies to all Scripture. Let’s look at this admonition closer by first noticing that Jesus has a word of admonition concerning:
A) Biblical Addition
In verse 18 He talks about adding to His word. No one is to add any new revelation to the Scriptures. Now, understand that this is a claim that the Scriptures are complete. Sometimes we hear about certain books that are not included in the Bible. Liberals often treat these as if inspired as the books that are in the Bible.
Let me just go on record and say that if they were inspired they would be in the Bible. What is in the Bible is what God wanted in the Bible. There is nothing left out of the Bible that should not be in it, and I should add, nothing left out that should have been in it. The Bible is a complete book.
One of the things that bothers me about the Charismatic movement is the “revelations” people are supposed to be having. The Bible is God’s revelation. He does not give additional revelation. I can’t come along and say, “God is going to bless you with a big car and nice house,” unless I have such substantiated and verified by the Bible. All such revelations are merely fleshly and not Biblical.
God’s warning is that if one seeks to add the Bible, as the Montanists did in the early church and Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, and other false prophets have done in recent times, they will face divine vengeance. The warning is that God, “shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book” (Vs. 18).
Furthermore, the warning includes:
B) Biblical Subtraction
In verse 18 the warning involves taking away from the Bible. The acts of divine vengeance in subtracting from the word involves: “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.”
To subtract from God’s Word is to be cut off from all God’s blessings—even salvation. Any revision of the Scriptures invokes God’s condemnation. His Word is to never be tampered with.
In his commentary on Revelation, J. A. Seiss stated” “O, my friends, it is a fearful thing to suppress or stultify the word of God, and above all "the words of the prophecy of this Book." To put forth for truth what is not the truth,—denounce as error, condemn, repudiate, or emasculate what God himself hath set his seal to as his mind and purpose, is one of those high crimes, not only against God, but against the souls of men, which cannot go unpunished.”
Some act as if it is a minor thing to add or take away from the Bible, but it is far from minor. It is an act that brings eternal wrath. The Bible is not some you play with, trifle with, or take lightly. It is the Word of God and God never tolerates a tampering with His Word.
That is why I take serious how I handle the Word of God. That is why I do not stutter or stammer when it comes to proclaiming His Word. I am not fearful of man. I am fearful of God. If I make some mad by preaching the Bible, I never loose a minute’s sleep over it. But if I make God mad, I am in trouble.
After giving us His personal confirmation, invitation and admonition, John closes with these words in verses 20-21, “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” One final time we are reminded that Jesus is coming again. The book of Revelation is our glimpse into the future when He will come.
Until He comes, He will give grace to enable us to keep pressing on. I close with the words of John, EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS!
© 2006 by the Living Word |
