Jesus is Coming Soon?
Revelation 22:6-21
Message #44
Today, we are wrapping up the last chapter of the Book of Revelation and of the Bible. The purpose of the question mark in “Jesus is Coming Soon?” is important and will be apparent. This last chapter brings to fulfillment, and completion the FULL plan of God that we first read about way back in Genesis Chapter 1. It’s one story from Genesis to Revelation. It’s HIStory. But it is one story.
God’s plan was to create Mankind to be with him and to enjoy him for eternity has been entirely revealed!! We will worship you and have relationship with you. We will have dominion over his creation. God has finished what he started in Genesis Chapter 1, where God created a Paradise where Mankind could live with God for eternity. Sin delayed the fulfillment of that plan. That work is ultimately finished here at the end of the Book of Revelation. Today, we see the final phase of the greatest plan in all of creation. We see the fulfillment of the work prophetically at the end of the Bible.
In our last two messages, we looked at the New Jerusalem, which is on (Or hovering over) the New Earth. We ended in Revelation 22:5, and we pick it up today in verse 6.
Revelation 22:6 (NLT)
6 Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.”
First, the angel gives John assurance: Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. Everything he has been an eyewitness to is trustworthy and true.
Then, the Lord God sent his angel to tell his servants what would happen soon.
Four times, the word soon is used in our text today. Three of those four times, Jesus is speaking the word soon. But I would like to deal with this word soon – later. Later, at the end of the message, we’ll deal with the word soon.
The second time the word soon is used is right in the next verse, and suddenly, it’s Jesus himself speaking. Jesus steps into the dialogue – into the writing of the final book of the Bible, and he speaks. It’s so cool for Jesus to be there, to be speaking; if you have a Red Letter Bible, you see these words in Red. The Lord speaks in Revelation 22, verse 7.
Revelation 22:7 (NLT)
7 “Look (behold), I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”
That’s the first time Jesus said it and the second time we’ve seen the word soon. Three times in these verses, Jesus himself says I am coming soon. So, let me tell you how great Biblical scholars decide what a set of scripture is about. When Jesus repeats himself three times, then you can be “Pretty sure” that’s what the scripture is about. It’s not rocket science. And THAT is how we know that these final verses are about Jesus is coming back SOON!! And like I said, we’re going to deal with the word soon – later. But I can tell you for sure that this chapter is about Jesus coming SOON. He says it three times. So, the simplest interpretation most often is the most correct interpretation. Read the Bible. Believe it. Do it. See you in Heaven.
Next, John testifies that he, himself, has heard and seen these prophecies unfolding before him in the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 22:8–9 (NLT)
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me.
9 But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”
John testifies that he is the one who heard and saw these things – he is an eyewitness. And then, John might be reminding us of the mistake he made back in Revelation 19:10 when he fell down at the feet of the angel giving him the Revelation. And the angel reminds us all that we are to worship God only. No one else, no thing else. No thing. He could be overwhelmed as the angel with the seventh vial begins to pour out the final judgments on the earth that John falls down and begins to worship the angel in Revelation Chapter 19. And since this exact same thing happens here, now John says, “When I got ahold of this . . . when I heard and saw these things, at one point I fell down and started worshiping the angel.” So, I don’t think this is a second time he has made the mistake (some people do think he is a slow learner), but John is pretty sharp.
And it seems to me that John is just trying to convey to us how overwhelming and incredible it has to be to receive this Revelation of Jesus Christ through this angel.
Revelation 22:10 (NLT)
10 Then he (the angel) instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near.
John . . . DO NOT - Seal Up the Words of this Prophecy
John is told, don’t seal this up, don’t set this aside, get this word out; the time is near.
In Daniel Chapter 12, Daniel was told to seal up the words of his prophecy until the End Times.
In 2 Corinthians Chapter 12, Paul was “caught up” to Paradise and said he heard things he couldn’t even talk about.
So, we see that God has these timings to reveal things. Well, now, the angel tells John, “Get it out there. Get the words of prophecy out there.”
Do you realize how few churches teach prophecy, especially the Book of Revelation? It’s a very limited topic. Some churches go overboard and get all “grocery store tabloid” about it. That’s wrong, too. But we have got to teach prophecy because prophecy is just telling us the future in advance.
But now John is told do not seal up the prophetic words of this book. WHY?? Because the “time is near” (as verse 10 says). This Greek word translated “near” is the noun form of the same word translated “soon.” So this is the noun form of the verb or adverb “soon” – it’s the same root Greek word. The time is near.
And we’re going to deal with the word “soon” later.
But we can deal with the word “time” now. This word “time” in verse 10 is not the Greek word CHRONOS, from which we get the word chronology. Chronology is one minute, one hour, one day, one week, it’s the passing of time as in the measuring of hours and minutes.
This Greek word is KAIROS, which means a “season” or “period of time.” And so, the angel is telling John that the season is near. We would say “winter, spring, summer, fall,” those are KAIROS. It’s not so much the passing of time; it’s a certain time when something happens.
God calls this “season” – The End of The Age
We call this “Age” – The Church Age
If you look at a timeline for the entire Bible,at the very end, right before Jesus returns and eternity begins, is the Church Age. And when the Church Age is over, Millennium, and then Eternity begins.
In the Bible, the Church Age is the Last Age before Eternity begins. And today, the end of the Church Age is almost 2,000 years closer than it was when John wrote this book.
And so, now, in this wrap-up of the Bible, God is going to contrast two types of people who will be in the end of the Church Age.
This is what the angel says in Revelation Chapter 22, verse 11.
Revelation 22:11 (NLT)
11 Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”
In other words, let those who are living contrary to God continue in their destructive lifestyle and we will see what happens to them.
The implication is, “Just keep living the way you’re living. We’ll see what happens!” You keep going down that road. I’ve told my kids, Listen. The road you’re on leads somewhere. And you need to not look at where you’re at on the road, you need to look at where that road leads. Because if you stay on the road, you’re going to get to where the road leads. This is not rocket science; this is simple, directional understanding. That’s what this is saying.
Let those who are living according to God continue to live for God, and we will see what happens to them.
Have you had your parents say to you, “Okay, smart guy, just keep it up. Just keeeeep it up, and we’ll see what happens to you.” And so, this should be considered a serious warning from God.
And then, the flip side is real encouragement for those who are living for God. This verse is saying, you guys just keep living for righteousness and holiness, and you will get what’s coming to you as well. You are going to receive the just recompense of how your life ends. The direction that your life ends in will have a just reward, a just recompense.
And then, in verse 12, Jesus jumps in to speak directly again. And Jesus addresses both of these two “types of people” from verse 11 – the evil-doer and the righteous.
Revelation 22:12 (NLT)
12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.
Again, Jesus says I am coming soon, and he says when he does return soon, he is bringing his reward or recompense to repay all people according to what they deserve. The word reward (or recompense) means “to return in like kind” to what has been done.
And here is how it works out for these two types of people (in verse 11). Those who have put their “faith in Christ” are seen as “righteous” before God because they have received the Righteousness of Christ (through faith in him), and their reward is eternity with God in Heaven.
This is so important – the Bible ends with this. Those of you who have been around awhile have heard me say this a hundred times. Through faith in Jesus Christ, the Bible makes it clear that we become one with Christ. We are so identified with Jesus Christ that what he’s done is credited to us as if we have done it. And so, when we receive Christ by faith, we are identified with his payment for our sin. This is Romans 6, it’s the whole basis for salvation by faith alone. We’re identified with Christ through faith, so we receive his payment for sin.
And then, what does he say? 1 Corinthians 5, verse 21 says that he gives us the righteousness of God in Christ. And so, not only do we receive payment of sin, but we receive the righteousness of God through faith in Christ, through our identification with him. And so, when Jesus returns, the reward that we receive is the reward that is based on our identification with Christ. That is, sin is paid for, standing in the righteousness of God. And our reward is eternity with God in Heaven and all that that means.
In direct and radical contrast to that for those who have rejected faith in Christ for salvation, recompense is more the right word because they will receive the just recompense. So, those who show up in their sin (which we all have been in our sin), when Jesus returns, will receive the just reward (or the just wages) of their sin. And Romans 3 makes it clear the wages of sin is death. And all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And so, when we show up in our sin, then we receive the just wages (or recompense) for that sin, which is ultimately separation from God because there can be no sin in the presence of God. And so, we receive what we justly deserve from the sin that we show up in, and we’re separated from God by our choice.
There’s a moment, it comes right after you take your last breath, where that will be the ONLY thing that matters. It will be the only thing that matters – which one of these two types of people are you. The righteousness of God in Christ, or standing before the judge of all creation in your sin.
And Jesus reminds us of his absolute authority to do all that he says he will do.
Revelation 22:13 (NLT)
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
That is the description of the Eternal God. Alpha/Omega/First and Last/Beginning and End. That’s the God who has no beginning, has no end, has always existed. And so that is the God who has the right to make these decisions, these judgment calls.
And then, the contrast between the “evil-doers” and “righteous” continues in verse 14.
First, the righteous.
Revelation 22:14 (NLT)
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes (this is a symbolism of the righteous throughout the Bible. We are clothed in white. Washed by the Blood of the Lamb, We stand in the righteousness of God, in Christ. So when God looks at us, he sees the righteousness of his perfect Son with all of our sins paid for. Not excused. We say forgiven, but truly, it’s paid for. Tetelestai – paid in full). They will be permitted (this is the reward that we receive for showing up in the righteousness of God in Christ) to enter through the gates of the city (that’s the New Jerusalem we talked about in the last two messages) and eat the fruit from the tree of life (a reference to eternal life, and healing).
And so, when we show up there in the righteousness of God, through faith in Christ and our identification with him through faith, we’re drawn, we’re allowed, we’re welcomed into the City of God, the presence of God, which is a completion of what God started for us in Genesis 1. White Robes have always symbolized that righteousness.
So, let’s be perfectly clear on how to be among the righteous. This is really super important.
We cannot earn our way into the City of God. We cannot show up and say, “Well, aren’t I clean enough? Aren’t I righteous enough?” And the answer is ‘No” – the Bible is very clear. None are righteous. All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. NO sin can be in the presence of God. If we show up in the righteousness of God through faith in Christ, then this is our reward.
You can’t earn it
You can’t deserve it.
You can only receive it.
The Bible is clear: the only way to be among the righteous is to:
Put your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior
receive him into your life as your Lord
If you have not done that – please do.
.
Because it is the only way for you not to be in the other group addressed here.
Revelation 22:15 (NLT)
15 Outside the city (meaning the City of God) are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
This is a graphic description of all those who show up on that day still in their sin, without the righteousness of God that comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Guys, we all deserved these just wages for our sin, Ephesians 2 makes that really clear. You don’t want Jesus to come back soon with you standing in what you think is your own righteousness because it’s not.
We all deserve the just wages of death for our sin. But by God’s tremendous grace and through our genuine faith in Jesus Christ and being so identified with him, that our sins are washed clean, and that we’re made right in front of God and become citizens of Heaven. We can enter the eternal City of God in the freely given righteousness of Jesus Christ.
And then, Jesus speaks again.
Revelation 22:16 (NLT)
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches (that’s us). I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”
This is yet another assurance from Jesus. I am the one (the ONLY ONE) who can do ALL these things.
Jesus Says
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
I am the Source and the Heir to God’s Eternal Throne
and I am the Bright Morning Star, bringing new life
This is a reference to new life. He’s already said I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. And now he adds this so that we get this final invitation. We’re about to finish the Bible. It’s kind of a big deal. We have a tendency to pick and choose little pieces of the Bible. But this is it! This is like, “Okay, God. What do you want to say? What’s the last thing you want to say to people?” This is it.
This is it. It starts in verse 17.
Revelation 22:17 (NLT)
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.
God makes it clear that salvation is a free gift, one hundred percent available to anyone and everyone who desires to come to Jesus and be saved. When the word “whosoever” is used in John 3:16 it means each, every, any, or all. This is available to ALL – to anyone who hears. To anyone who’s thirsty, let them come and drink from the water of life.
Listen to just three verses out of Isaiah Chapter 55.
Isaiah 55:1,3,6 (ESV)
1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters . . .
3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live . . .
6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.
God called Adam and Eve in the Garen while they were hiding in their sin. And God has called sinners all through the Bible while they were hiding in their sin.
And today, God is calling YOU: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;”
Can I tell you something, please? The Lord’s not going anywhere. But you are. You will not always be able to seek the Lord. You will not always be able to call upon him. We have done too many memorial services and funeral ministry this year of people who have died with no warning. Seek the Lord while he may be found.
And now, before the Lord wraps up the final chapter in the Bible. He has one last warning for us all.
Revelation 22:18–19 (NLT)
18 And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book.
19 And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.
Some people say, “Dave. Why are you so hung up on just teaching the Bible? You tend to read it and explain it.” Because! Because I’ve read about a guy named Joey, who wrote his own Bible. (Joseph Smith) I’ve read the stories, and they never end well for these people. Don’t add anything to the prophecy of this book.
Why do I teach every verse? That’s why. Because I want to be there. I want to be there when my time comes. So, I’m going to go ahead and follow those two stark warnings.
Revelation started with a special blessing (Revelation 1:3) for all those who read, hear, and obey the Words of the prophecy. And it ends with a special warning to anyone who would add or take away anything from God’s prophetic Word.
And so, after forty-four short messages, we come to the last verses of Revelation. You can go to wordbymail.com, and you can watch, listen to, or read every message in the Book of Revelation.
Verse 20 contains the last spoken words of Jesus in the Bible.
Revelation 22:20 (NLT)
20 He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” (and we say) Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! (Maranatha)
Come, Lord Jesus! Marantha!!!
This is the last of the three times Jesus says, “I am coming soon.”
Well, now it is later, and so now (finally) we’ll deal with the word soon.
Scoffers will say, “Oh, they’ve been saying Jesus is going to come back soon, forever!”
And we have been saying it forever because of what the word soon means.
This Greek word for soon is TACHYS, from which we get our word Tachometer. It’s not CHRONOS. It’s not the passing of time.
Vine’s Greek Dictionary says it means “swift, quick, quickly.”
The Greek Lexicon says it means “quickly, hurriedly, speedy.”
This Greek word translated soon, is not about how much time will pass; it’s about how fast it is going to happen. This word means when the light goes green, these events are going to take off like a jet fuel dragster.
When God says GO, these events are going to happen like a tachometer pinned in the red zone. And if you’re not on board when it starts, you will never be able to catch it once it takes off.
Listen, please. When Jesus returns to take us home in the Rapture, it is going to be instantaneous, it is going to happen swiftly, quickly, in the blink of an eye!
But what if your personal meeting with Jesus is before the Rapture? One moment, you think you have all the time in the world, the next moment, you step off a curb at the wrong time. And suddenly, you go to Jesus, swiftly, quickly, in the blink of an eye, and you find yourself standing in front of the Judge of ALL Creation.
Billy Graham tells a story in his Autobiography about John F. Kennedy. Just after JFK’s election, Billy Graham was riding in a car with him, and the President asked him if he believed in the Second Coming. Billy said yes. Of course, and spoke briefly about it. But the ride came to an end, and John Kennedy asked Billy Graham if he would tell him more about the Second Coming someday.
Some time later, they were together again at a National Prayer Breakfast. Unfortunately, Billy Graham had the flu, and when JFK asked Billy if he would ride back to the White House with him to talk more about the Second Coming, Billy asked for a raincheck because he was sick. But Billy Graham never got to make good on that raincheck because the President was assassinated soon after that last meeting. Billy Graham calls that last moment with Kennedy an irrecoverable moment!!
Jesus says three times in his text I am coming quickly. Jesus may crack the sky at any moment and take us home in the Rapture.
Or, you may find yourself suddenly going to Jesus instead of him coming to you.
Either way, today is the day to make sure you are ready. Don’t wait – don’t put it off. Put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and receive him into your life as your Lord.
And finally, the last verse of the Bible.
Revelation 22:21 (NLT)
21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.
That grace of the Lord Jesus –
If you receive it – it will mean eternal life with God
If you reject it – it will mean eternal separation from God
I want to give you a chance right now to receive it.
God’s plan was to create Mankind to be with him and to enjoy him for eternity has been entirely revealed!! We will worship you and have relationship with you. We will have dominion over his creation. God has finished what he started in Genesis Chapter 1, where God created a Paradise where Mankind could live with God for eternity. Sin delayed the fulfillment of that plan. That work is ultimately finished here at the end of the Book of Revelation. Today, we see the final phase of the greatest plan in all of creation. We see the fulfillment of the work prophetically at the end of the Bible.
In our last two messages, we looked at the New Jerusalem, which is on (Or hovering over) the New Earth. We ended in Revelation 22:5, and we pick it up today in verse 6.
Revelation 22:6 (NLT)
6 Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.”
First, the angel gives John assurance: Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. Everything he has been an eyewitness to is trustworthy and true.
Then, the Lord God sent his angel to tell his servants what would happen soon.
Four times, the word soon is used in our text today. Three of those four times, Jesus is speaking the word soon. But I would like to deal with this word soon – later. Later, at the end of the message, we’ll deal with the word soon.
The second time the word soon is used is right in the next verse, and suddenly, it’s Jesus himself speaking. Jesus steps into the dialogue – into the writing of the final book of the Bible, and he speaks. It’s so cool for Jesus to be there, to be speaking; if you have a Red Letter Bible, you see these words in Red. The Lord speaks in Revelation 22, verse 7.
Revelation 22:7 (NLT)
7 “Look (behold), I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”
That’s the first time Jesus said it and the second time we’ve seen the word soon. Three times in these verses, Jesus himself says I am coming soon. So, let me tell you how great Biblical scholars decide what a set of scripture is about. When Jesus repeats himself three times, then you can be “Pretty sure” that’s what the scripture is about. It’s not rocket science. And THAT is how we know that these final verses are about Jesus is coming back SOON!! And like I said, we’re going to deal with the word soon – later. But I can tell you for sure that this chapter is about Jesus coming SOON. He says it three times. So, the simplest interpretation most often is the most correct interpretation. Read the Bible. Believe it. Do it. See you in Heaven.
Next, John testifies that he, himself, has heard and seen these prophecies unfolding before him in the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 22:8–9 (NLT)
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me.
9 But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”
John testifies that he is the one who heard and saw these things – he is an eyewitness. And then, John might be reminding us of the mistake he made back in Revelation 19:10 when he fell down at the feet of the angel giving him the Revelation. And the angel reminds us all that we are to worship God only. No one else, no thing else. No thing. He could be overwhelmed as the angel with the seventh vial begins to pour out the final judgments on the earth that John falls down and begins to worship the angel in Revelation Chapter 19. And since this exact same thing happens here, now John says, “When I got ahold of this . . . when I heard and saw these things, at one point I fell down and started worshiping the angel.” So, I don’t think this is a second time he has made the mistake (some people do think he is a slow learner), but John is pretty sharp.
And it seems to me that John is just trying to convey to us how overwhelming and incredible it has to be to receive this Revelation of Jesus Christ through this angel.
Revelation 22:10 (NLT)
10 Then he (the angel) instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near.
John . . . DO NOT - Seal Up the Words of this Prophecy
John is told, don’t seal this up, don’t set this aside, get this word out; the time is near.
In Daniel Chapter 12, Daniel was told to seal up the words of his prophecy until the End Times.
In 2 Corinthians Chapter 12, Paul was “caught up” to Paradise and said he heard things he couldn’t even talk about.
So, we see that God has these timings to reveal things. Well, now, the angel tells John, “Get it out there. Get the words of prophecy out there.”
Do you realize how few churches teach prophecy, especially the Book of Revelation? It’s a very limited topic. Some churches go overboard and get all “grocery store tabloid” about it. That’s wrong, too. But we have got to teach prophecy because prophecy is just telling us the future in advance.
But now John is told do not seal up the prophetic words of this book. WHY?? Because the “time is near” (as verse 10 says). This Greek word translated “near” is the noun form of the same word translated “soon.” So this is the noun form of the verb or adverb “soon” – it’s the same root Greek word. The time is near.
And we’re going to deal with the word “soon” later.
But we can deal with the word “time” now. This word “time” in verse 10 is not the Greek word CHRONOS, from which we get the word chronology. Chronology is one minute, one hour, one day, one week, it’s the passing of time as in the measuring of hours and minutes.
This Greek word is KAIROS, which means a “season” or “period of time.” And so, the angel is telling John that the season is near. We would say “winter, spring, summer, fall,” those are KAIROS. It’s not so much the passing of time; it’s a certain time when something happens.
God calls this “season” – The End of The Age
We call this “Age” – The Church Age
If you look at a timeline for the entire Bible,at the very end, right before Jesus returns and eternity begins, is the Church Age. And when the Church Age is over, Millennium, and then Eternity begins.
In the Bible, the Church Age is the Last Age before Eternity begins. And today, the end of the Church Age is almost 2,000 years closer than it was when John wrote this book.
And so, now, in this wrap-up of the Bible, God is going to contrast two types of people who will be in the end of the Church Age.
This is what the angel says in Revelation Chapter 22, verse 11.
Revelation 22:11 (NLT)
11 Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”
In other words, let those who are living contrary to God continue in their destructive lifestyle and we will see what happens to them.
The implication is, “Just keep living the way you’re living. We’ll see what happens!” You keep going down that road. I’ve told my kids, Listen. The road you’re on leads somewhere. And you need to not look at where you’re at on the road, you need to look at where that road leads. Because if you stay on the road, you’re going to get to where the road leads. This is not rocket science; this is simple, directional understanding. That’s what this is saying.
Let those who are living according to God continue to live for God, and we will see what happens to them.
Have you had your parents say to you, “Okay, smart guy, just keep it up. Just keeeeep it up, and we’ll see what happens to you.” And so, this should be considered a serious warning from God.
And then, the flip side is real encouragement for those who are living for God. This verse is saying, you guys just keep living for righteousness and holiness, and you will get what’s coming to you as well. You are going to receive the just recompense of how your life ends. The direction that your life ends in will have a just reward, a just recompense.
And then, in verse 12, Jesus jumps in to speak directly again. And Jesus addresses both of these two “types of people” from verse 11 – the evil-doer and the righteous.
Revelation 22:12 (NLT)
12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.
Again, Jesus says I am coming soon, and he says when he does return soon, he is bringing his reward or recompense to repay all people according to what they deserve. The word reward (or recompense) means “to return in like kind” to what has been done.
And here is how it works out for these two types of people (in verse 11). Those who have put their “faith in Christ” are seen as “righteous” before God because they have received the Righteousness of Christ (through faith in him), and their reward is eternity with God in Heaven.
This is so important – the Bible ends with this. Those of you who have been around awhile have heard me say this a hundred times. Through faith in Jesus Christ, the Bible makes it clear that we become one with Christ. We are so identified with Jesus Christ that what he’s done is credited to us as if we have done it. And so, when we receive Christ by faith, we are identified with his payment for our sin. This is Romans 6, it’s the whole basis for salvation by faith alone. We’re identified with Christ through faith, so we receive his payment for sin.
And then, what does he say? 1 Corinthians 5, verse 21 says that he gives us the righteousness of God in Christ. And so, not only do we receive payment of sin, but we receive the righteousness of God through faith in Christ, through our identification with him. And so, when Jesus returns, the reward that we receive is the reward that is based on our identification with Christ. That is, sin is paid for, standing in the righteousness of God. And our reward is eternity with God in Heaven and all that that means.
In direct and radical contrast to that for those who have rejected faith in Christ for salvation, recompense is more the right word because they will receive the just recompense. So, those who show up in their sin (which we all have been in our sin), when Jesus returns, will receive the just reward (or the just wages) of their sin. And Romans 3 makes it clear the wages of sin is death. And all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And so, when we show up in our sin, then we receive the just wages (or recompense) for that sin, which is ultimately separation from God because there can be no sin in the presence of God. And so, we receive what we justly deserve from the sin that we show up in, and we’re separated from God by our choice.
There’s a moment, it comes right after you take your last breath, where that will be the ONLY thing that matters. It will be the only thing that matters – which one of these two types of people are you. The righteousness of God in Christ, or standing before the judge of all creation in your sin.
And Jesus reminds us of his absolute authority to do all that he says he will do.
Revelation 22:13 (NLT)
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
That is the description of the Eternal God. Alpha/Omega/First and Last/Beginning and End. That’s the God who has no beginning, has no end, has always existed. And so that is the God who has the right to make these decisions, these judgment calls.
And then, the contrast between the “evil-doers” and “righteous” continues in verse 14.
First, the righteous.
Revelation 22:14 (NLT)
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes (this is a symbolism of the righteous throughout the Bible. We are clothed in white. Washed by the Blood of the Lamb, We stand in the righteousness of God, in Christ. So when God looks at us, he sees the righteousness of his perfect Son with all of our sins paid for. Not excused. We say forgiven, but truly, it’s paid for. Tetelestai – paid in full). They will be permitted (this is the reward that we receive for showing up in the righteousness of God in Christ) to enter through the gates of the city (that’s the New Jerusalem we talked about in the last two messages) and eat the fruit from the tree of life (a reference to eternal life, and healing).
And so, when we show up there in the righteousness of God, through faith in Christ and our identification with him through faith, we’re drawn, we’re allowed, we’re welcomed into the City of God, the presence of God, which is a completion of what God started for us in Genesis 1. White Robes have always symbolized that righteousness.
So, let’s be perfectly clear on how to be among the righteous. This is really super important.
We cannot earn our way into the City of God. We cannot show up and say, “Well, aren’t I clean enough? Aren’t I righteous enough?” And the answer is ‘No” – the Bible is very clear. None are righteous. All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. NO sin can be in the presence of God. If we show up in the righteousness of God through faith in Christ, then this is our reward.
You can’t earn it
You can’t deserve it.
You can only receive it.
The Bible is clear: the only way to be among the righteous is to:
Put your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior
receive him into your life as your Lord
If you have not done that – please do.
.
Because it is the only way for you not to be in the other group addressed here.
Revelation 22:15 (NLT)
15 Outside the city (meaning the City of God) are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
This is a graphic description of all those who show up on that day still in their sin, without the righteousness of God that comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Guys, we all deserved these just wages for our sin, Ephesians 2 makes that really clear. You don’t want Jesus to come back soon with you standing in what you think is your own righteousness because it’s not.
We all deserve the just wages of death for our sin. But by God’s tremendous grace and through our genuine faith in Jesus Christ and being so identified with him, that our sins are washed clean, and that we’re made right in front of God and become citizens of Heaven. We can enter the eternal City of God in the freely given righteousness of Jesus Christ.
And then, Jesus speaks again.
Revelation 22:16 (NLT)
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches (that’s us). I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”
This is yet another assurance from Jesus. I am the one (the ONLY ONE) who can do ALL these things.
Jesus Says
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
I am the Source and the Heir to God’s Eternal Throne
and I am the Bright Morning Star, bringing new life
This is a reference to new life. He’s already said I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. And now he adds this so that we get this final invitation. We’re about to finish the Bible. It’s kind of a big deal. We have a tendency to pick and choose little pieces of the Bible. But this is it! This is like, “Okay, God. What do you want to say? What’s the last thing you want to say to people?” This is it.
This is it. It starts in verse 17.
Revelation 22:17 (NLT)
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.
God makes it clear that salvation is a free gift, one hundred percent available to anyone and everyone who desires to come to Jesus and be saved. When the word “whosoever” is used in John 3:16 it means each, every, any, or all. This is available to ALL – to anyone who hears. To anyone who’s thirsty, let them come and drink from the water of life.
Listen to just three verses out of Isaiah Chapter 55.
Isaiah 55:1,3,6 (ESV)
1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters . . .
3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live . . .
6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.
God called Adam and Eve in the Garen while they were hiding in their sin. And God has called sinners all through the Bible while they were hiding in their sin.
And today, God is calling YOU: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;”
Can I tell you something, please? The Lord’s not going anywhere. But you are. You will not always be able to seek the Lord. You will not always be able to call upon him. We have done too many memorial services and funeral ministry this year of people who have died with no warning. Seek the Lord while he may be found.
And now, before the Lord wraps up the final chapter in the Bible. He has one last warning for us all.
Revelation 22:18–19 (NLT)
18 And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book.
19 And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.
Some people say, “Dave. Why are you so hung up on just teaching the Bible? You tend to read it and explain it.” Because! Because I’ve read about a guy named Joey, who wrote his own Bible. (Joseph Smith) I’ve read the stories, and they never end well for these people. Don’t add anything to the prophecy of this book.
Why do I teach every verse? That’s why. Because I want to be there. I want to be there when my time comes. So, I’m going to go ahead and follow those two stark warnings.
Revelation started with a special blessing (Revelation 1:3) for all those who read, hear, and obey the Words of the prophecy. And it ends with a special warning to anyone who would add or take away anything from God’s prophetic Word.
And so, after forty-four short messages, we come to the last verses of Revelation. You can go to wordbymail.com, and you can watch, listen to, or read every message in the Book of Revelation.
Verse 20 contains the last spoken words of Jesus in the Bible.
Revelation 22:20 (NLT)
20 He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” (and we say) Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! (Maranatha)
Come, Lord Jesus! Marantha!!!
This is the last of the three times Jesus says, “I am coming soon.”
Well, now it is later, and so now (finally) we’ll deal with the word soon.
Scoffers will say, “Oh, they’ve been saying Jesus is going to come back soon, forever!”
And we have been saying it forever because of what the word soon means.
This Greek word for soon is TACHYS, from which we get our word Tachometer. It’s not CHRONOS. It’s not the passing of time.
Vine’s Greek Dictionary says it means “swift, quick, quickly.”
The Greek Lexicon says it means “quickly, hurriedly, speedy.”
This Greek word translated soon, is not about how much time will pass; it’s about how fast it is going to happen. This word means when the light goes green, these events are going to take off like a jet fuel dragster.
When God says GO, these events are going to happen like a tachometer pinned in the red zone. And if you’re not on board when it starts, you will never be able to catch it once it takes off.
Listen, please. When Jesus returns to take us home in the Rapture, it is going to be instantaneous, it is going to happen swiftly, quickly, in the blink of an eye!
But what if your personal meeting with Jesus is before the Rapture? One moment, you think you have all the time in the world, the next moment, you step off a curb at the wrong time. And suddenly, you go to Jesus, swiftly, quickly, in the blink of an eye, and you find yourself standing in front of the Judge of ALL Creation.
Billy Graham tells a story in his Autobiography about John F. Kennedy. Just after JFK’s election, Billy Graham was riding in a car with him, and the President asked him if he believed in the Second Coming. Billy said yes. Of course, and spoke briefly about it. But the ride came to an end, and John Kennedy asked Billy Graham if he would tell him more about the Second Coming someday.
Some time later, they were together again at a National Prayer Breakfast. Unfortunately, Billy Graham had the flu, and when JFK asked Billy if he would ride back to the White House with him to talk more about the Second Coming, Billy asked for a raincheck because he was sick. But Billy Graham never got to make good on that raincheck because the President was assassinated soon after that last meeting. Billy Graham calls that last moment with Kennedy an irrecoverable moment!!
Jesus says three times in his text I am coming quickly. Jesus may crack the sky at any moment and take us home in the Rapture.
Or, you may find yourself suddenly going to Jesus instead of him coming to you.
Either way, today is the day to make sure you are ready. Don’t wait – don’t put it off. Put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and receive him into your life as your Lord.
And finally, the last verse of the Bible.
Revelation 22:21 (NLT)
21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.
That grace of the Lord Jesus –
If you receive it – it will mean eternal life with God
If you reject it – it will mean eternal separation from God
I want to give you a chance right now to receive it.