REVELATION - CHAPTER 22: 7-21 - MARANATHA

MARANATHA

(Our Lord Cometh-or will Come—Our Lord Comes)

Taught by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

January 29, 2013, the Year of Our Lord

Revelation 22:7:  “Behold I come quickly”; Blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

This week concludes a 24-week study of the Book of Revelation.  I am sad to see it end.  I want to keep flying higher and higher with John into the realms of his visions of Heaven and prophecy of; “things which he saw”; “things which are” and “things which must be hereafter”; (4:1b).

The book ends just as it began with a blessing upon people who hear, read, and keep the truth of this prophecy (1:1-3).  These truths were to be understood and kept by all; hence they are not hidden truths.  They are simple and clear to all who believe them; but hidden from those who refuse to believe (2 Cor. 4:4).

John has finished his detailed description of the New Jerusalem and now adds an epilogue to the book.  He wants his readers to understand that his words are directly from heaven, and he uses testimonies from the Lord and the angel to reinforce his words.  The holy angels showed this to the Apostle.  This is the angel who has been the apostle’s guide and interpreter in these visions. 

Rev. 22:6 “”And he said to me, These sayings are faithful and true; and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly be done.  Behold, I come quickly…”

Over 2000 years have now gone by since these words were penned by the Apostle by the appointment of the Lord Himself.  “Quickly” or “soon” can be understood in sequence, but not soon in time.  We have systematically gone over every word, line, verse and chapter of the Book of Revelation.  Some of the prophecies have already come to pass, but just as many are still future.  If we understand the “soon” in sequence, then we know these prophetic things will mark God’s next intervention into the affairs of men from John’s day into eternity.

We also understand that there have been many visitations of the Lord on the earth in the past 2000 years; and will continue until the Second Coming.  The Day of Visitation will either be a day of promotion or judgment individually or corporately.  The Lord has intervened many times into the affairs of men; some of these events are happening now and some have already happened.  Until he returns, he has come within his saints as we yield ourselves to reveal Christ.

  With the Lord a day is as a thousand years.

“In the Christian doctrine of the Last Things, the imminence of the end is moral rather than chronological; each successive Christian generation, may be the last generation.  In that sense the time is always near.  It is therefore the path of wisdom for believers to be ready to meet their Lord.  When He comes and institutes the final judgment, the verdict will be that which men by their attitude to God and their way of life have already incurred for themselves (Jn. 3:18)” (F.F.B.). 

Rev. 1:1: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him (Jesus), to show to his servant’s things which must shortly come to pass, and He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.”

The apostle has faithfully written down in black and white all that he heard and saw, as he was instructed at the beginning.  In chapter 22 as in chapter one, he affirms, confirms and reaffirms that he has faithfully written all that he saw and heard.

22: 8-9:”I John saw these things, and heard them.  When I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.  Then says he to me, See you do it not; for I am your fellow servant and of your brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book.  Worship God!”

It is my persuasion just as Michael spoke to Daniel; Gabriel spoke to Zacharias and Mary; the Angel of the Lord has spoken to men from the Book of Genesis through the renewed heaven and earth; a prophetic angel, a celestial being, spoke and delivered the message to John.  Prophetic angels are still delivering visions and revelations to God’s Holy Prophets.

Rev. 22: 10-11: He says to me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he who 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. :

Daniel was commanded to seal up the record of his visions until the time of the end Dan. 12: 4; 9).  From the time of Daniel’s vision, centuries were to elapse between the third year of Cyrus (Dan. 10:1) and the fulfillment of the visions which bear that date; but no such time-lag is envisaged here.

The Parousia is the presence of the Lord whether by visitation, revealed in the Sons of God, or the Second Coming.  Because the time is short, there will be little opportunity for repentance and change; the wicked are confirmed in their wickedness, the righteous in their righteousness.

Rev. 22:12-13:  “Behold I come quickly; and My reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the First and the Last.”

In a book so full of judgment, here we again find the gospel message extended so plainly and freely.  However the Lord announces His swift advent, to recompense every one according to what he has done.

Christ declares His return to earth many times (1:7; Mt: 29-31; 25: 31-46; Lk. 17).

Also, at Jesus’ ascension in to Heaven, two angels spoke the same, (Acts 1:11) “You men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you in heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven.”

Rev. 22:14-16: Blessed 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.  For outside are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.  I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify to you these things in the churches.  I am the root and Offspring of David and the Bright and Morning Star.

The tree of life is in the paradise of God; a paradise in a city or a whole city in a paradise.  This tree of life is fed by the pure waters of the river that comes from the throne of God.  The fruitfulness of this tree, it brings forth many sorts of fruit-twelve sorts twelve times a year.  Fruit is the reproduction of Jesus Christ’s own character and nature in the hearts of the redeemed.

The gates of the city are twelve experiences which progressively unfold from the Christ (the divine nature with us).  These are the twelve entrances into the Glory of God.   There is more than one entrance into the “Glory”.

Those who are excluded from the City (the glorified community of saints) belong to the categories listed here and already indicated in 21:8, 27; 1 Cor. 6, 9; Gal. 5: 1, 9-21.

His eternal being as the Bright and Morning Star and the root of the offspring of David are set in as a paradox.  The star…out of Jacob or scepter… out of Israel was foretold by Balaam in Num. 24:17.   This was primarily a reference to David and his conquering career.  It is prophetic of great David’s greater Son, Jesus Christ.

2 Pet. 1:19:  “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.”

Rev. 22:17: “The spirit and the Bride say, “Come”!  The spirit of God and the Saints and let him who hears say, “Come”.  Whoever is thirsty, let him come, and who ever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”

The “Come” in 17a is addressed to the Lord.  “The Spirit is indwelling the beloved community (the Bride) and inspiring it to respond to the Lord’s promise of verse 12.  Dualistically it is the Holy Spirit speaking to the Spirit of Prophecy; in which case the Spirit and the Bride is equivalent to the prophets and the saints.” (H. B. Sweet).

The blindest idolater, the worst sinner, the fiercest persecutor, the prostitute, the drunk, the thief, the liar, the backslider, the miserable, the downtrodden, those who are in debt, fallen ministers, saint and sinner, may all come if they will and accept the full and free benefits which the gospel provides.

  Let him who hears say, “Come”; Everyone who listens to the reading of the book must at this point break in with his personal response:  Maranatha, Come, and O Lord!  The water of life is the fountain-head---the throne of God and the Lamb.  All our springs of grace, comfort and glory are in God; and all our streams from him are through the Lamb.

If any man is Holy, let him come; if any man is not, let him repent.

Rev. 22: 18-19:  “For I testify to every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book.  If any man shall add to these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his party out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

This is a severe warning.  The prophetic truths of the book are from God and woe to the person who dares add or take away from them.  This is why it is imperative for us to teach every word, line, verse and chapter.   I humbly submit this to the Lord and to this church that imperfect as this teaching is in light of the revelation of the Glory of God, I have faithfully kept to the word as it was stated neither taking away from or adding to the Word.

As the years unfold, the Lord will send His angel to interpret His sequence of advents into the affairs of men. 

Rev. 22:20:  “He who testifies these things says, 'Surely I come quickly', Amen, Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

This is Jesus’ response to the Christians who long for his glorious appearance.  “I am coming soon”.  The Maranatha is confirmed by Amen.  He who testifies is Jesus.

 Rev. 22:16:  I, Jesus have sent my angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.”

It is my persuasion that the same angel (Jesus’ angel, with the spirit of prophecy, who was sent to John) is still present when we read, hear, preach and teach the Book of Revelation to the churches.  This is why and how we are all blessed into another realm of the Lord’s blessing every time we read, hear, preach or teach this Book of prophecy. 

We the Bride join our voice with the Spirit and the Word with the same cry---MARANATHA

Rev. 22:21: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen.”

“The Bible begins with a garden and ends with a city.  It starts with a morning followed by a night and ends with a day that shall know no more night.  It breaks the silence with, “In the beginning” and it hushes the universe to sleep with, “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.’”

Here we again receive the blessing of the Lord’s great Grace.

I am so grateful to the Lord for the blessing and Grace to be able to teach and preach the Book of Revelation.

Message given to Carolyn Sissom by the Holy Spirit.

Scripture quotes are from K.J.V.,

I entered into the labors of   C.S. Lovett, Matthew Henry; F.F. Bruce International Bible Commentary; Bible Study Notes by: Carolyn Sissom