July 7, 2013
Evening Service

This morning after reminding us that Jesus had loved us and washed us with his own blood, we saw John burst into testimony of praise and anticipation as he wrote:

Rev 1:7 Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, and those who pierced Him will see Him, and all the tribes of the earth will wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.

• It will not be a secret event; all will see His coming in the clouds.

 

Jesus, Himself, spoke to the church at Philadelphia (and us) and promised to provide a keeping power through our trials and tribulations.  He will use us despite our weaknesses.  He then encouraged us to “Hold fast” because He is coming quickly.

 

Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly. Hold fast to that which you have, so that no one may take your crown.

 

  Our reward will allow us to be a part of His coming kingdom as pillars.  We then read the description of heaven given to us in chapter 21.  No more tears, sorrow, pain, death or crying will be present, but He will be.  He no longer will be an object of our faith, but a sight for our eyes.  He will live among us and be our God and we will be His people.  Things will change for the better.

 

Rev 21:5  And He sitting on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said to me, Write, for these words are true and faithful.

 

Rev 22:1-5  And he showed me a pure river of Water of Life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.  (2)  In the midst of its street, and of the river, from here and from there, was the Tree of Life, which bore twelve fruits, each yielding its fruit according to one month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  (3)  And every curse will no longer be; but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will serve Him.  (4)  And they will see His face, and His name will be in their foreheads.  (5)  And there will be no night there. And they need no lamp, or light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light. And they will reign forever and ever.

• What a beautiful picture of serenity this paints for us.  The river of the Water of Life gently flowing and the Tree of Life yielding its life giving fruit.  The tree is no longer forbidden, but now is free to all.  We will be in God’s presence constantly and serve Him.
• There will be no indecision on what to do, for all will know and fulfill their tasks with great joy and contentment.

 

Rev 22:6-7 And he said to me, These sayings are faithful and true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show to His servants the things which must shortly be done.  (7)  Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the Words of the prophecy of this Book.

• As Paul wrote to us in I Thess. “Comfort one another with these words.”  It should not only be comforting but also motivate us to be blessed by keeping the Words of the prophecy.  Live our lives in a worthy manner.

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling with which you are called,

 

Rev 22:8-13 And I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel showing me these things.  (9)  Then he said to me, Behold! See, do not do it! For I am your fellow-servant, and of your brothers the prophets, and of those who keep the Words of this Book. Do worship to God.  (10)  And he said to me, Do not seal the Words of the prophecy of this Book; for the time is at hand.  (11)  He acting unjustly, let him still act unjustly. And the filthy, let him be filthy still. And the righteous, let him be righteous still. And the holy, let him be holy still.  (12)  And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according as his work is.  (13)  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last.

• John is forbidden to worship the angel as he is a fellow-servant and only God deserves our worship.
• He is told not to withhold the contents of the prophecy for the time is at hand.  He will come quickly and whatever state you are in at that time will be where you stay.  Hold fast and be found “looking” for His return.

Rev 22:14-15 Blessed are they who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and they may enter in by the gates into the city.  (15)  But outside are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and makes a lie.

 

Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he who takes souls is wise.

 

Rev 22:16-17  I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify these things to you over the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright and Morning Star.  (17)  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let the one hearing say, Come! And let the one who is thirsty come. And whoever desires let him take of the Water of Life freely.

• As being the Root of David, Jesus was his Creator, yet as his Offspring He was David’s descendant. 
• Then verse 17 is a beautiful invitation from the Spirit and the church to those who are thirsty to be satisfied by the Water of Life.  It is to “whosoever will.”

Rev 22:18-21  For I testify together to everyone who hears the Words of the prophecy of this Book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add on him the plagues that have been written in this Book.  (19)  And if anyone takes away from the Words of the Book of this prophecy, God will take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which have been written in this Book.  (20)  He who testifies these things says, Yes, I am coming quickly, Amen. Yes, come, Lord Jesus.  (21)  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.

• A curse is to be given to anyone who adds to the Word of God or subtracts things from it.  We must accept our Bible as it is written as wholly and totally from God.
• He closes with another proclamation of His quick return and John adds in, “Yes, come Lord Jesus.”