[0:00] Good morning. Welcome to the service this morning. It's good to see the house of the Lord fill up and for us to worship together.
[0:18] I've been very encouraged already this morning in the opening. And the songs that were chosen fit right in with what will be presented here in this chapter.
[0:38] But thank you, Pedro, as well, for sharing on Bolivia there. That first video on the land purchase, we've driven that road many times.
[0:49] And that's always been an area that was targeted. Future, we need to do an outreach there. And now we're seeing it happen in the Belize colony and the surrounding ones.
[1:03] And so praise the Lord for that as God is continuing to be at work. You know, our goal is ultimately to reach the lost.
[1:17] We call it missions. It comes out of a maturity in Christ. It comes out of desire to see others saved.
[1:32] We have brokenness all around us. And yet the video, the second video in German, for those that didn't understand that, it highlighted a Mennonite boy coming out in faith and getting severely persecuted by his family, beaten severely numerous times.
[1:56] And yet we have brokenness everywhere. But it touches our hearts to hear that even amongst the Mennonite people, this is what's happening.
[2:09] The Lord's goal is to use us for his kingdom.
[2:22] And my prayer is that the Lord will put his finger on some of you to go out abroad. Do I have the right to pray that?
[2:40] That the Lord would touch for some of us to go and for others to touch the brokenness that's around us. But both are needful.
[2:54] And so that is the end goal of the local church. We come to worship. We come to be encouraged.
[3:07] We come to grow. We come to mature. But then that develops into a desire to see others.
[3:17] And so may the Lord lead us individually and collectively in these areas. That theme too fits in so well with Revelations 22 as it truly is a mission end to the Bible.
[3:40] So this morning as we cover Revelations 22 the last we'd say two-thirds of the chapter I've titled the message Behold I am coming quickly.
[3:58] Behold I am coming quickly. And we're going to look at the accuracy of this prophecy and as well at the imminent return of Christ.
[4:16] And so this morning as we start this study together how many of us believe that Jesus could come today? Does it reflect our life?
[4:42] As I wake up every morning is it within my thoughts today could be that day? That the Lord will return for the church?
[5:00] Because if it is in my thoughts then my day will be planned accordingly. with that in mind. And so God ends his book with those kind of thoughts.
[5:15] And so we're going to run through that this morning. In the first five verses which we did last Sunday John the Apostle John had his last vision or new things in the vision and he saw in the new Jerusalem he saw the river of life and he saw the tree of life presented there and the fact that the curse had been lifted and that only the righteous will be there.
[5:53] That was revealed. Now the rest of the chapter goes through in closing remarks and it's no more new vision but it's kind of bringing it all together in a closing chapter.
[6:11] And so we look forward to see what he has here for us. Thank you. Thank you. So the first focus is on the accuracy of this prophecy.
[6:27] We're going to focus on that. Verse 6 Then he said to me these words are faithful and true and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show his servants the things which must shortly take place.
[6:48] So who is the speaker here? It's the same angel as in chapter 1 verse 1 and he's speaking to John and he says these words these words from chapter 1 through 22 they are faithful and true he's confirming John what you have written is accurate and it will come to pass and we have a three fold witness as we will see a bit later as John confirms it and then the Lord Jesus himself confirms it as well further down and so we as we look at this let's turn just momentarily to chapter 1 and just look at verse 1 the introduction to the book revelation chapter 1 verse 1 the revelation of Jesus
[8:04] Christ which God gave him to show his servants things which must shortly take place and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John so it's God speaking to John through an angel regarding the revealing of the Lord Jesus that's the purpose and so the book of revelation reveals Jesus Christ through and through and so we need to look at it that way going back to chapter 22 verse 6 it is confirmed to us by the same angel these words are faithful and true and he confirms the
[9:08] Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show his servants the things which must shortly take place and to show his servants well John is the first one probably that this is revealed to not probably it was but his servants is the church everywhere today as we've been given this prophecy to proclaim it to to God's people to the lost that these words will come to place they will happen no doubt about it and not only that but he says it must take place shortly and
[10:09] John wrote in the first century 1900 years ago probably a little more he wrote these things must take place shortly verse seven I'll just bring that in there the words of Jesus himself as Jesus speaks into this he says behold I am coming quickly I am coming quickly that word quickly is the same word as used in chapter six or verse six shortly and it's translated in different ways here one is shortly the other one is behold I am coming quickly and the meaning of that word is soon or speedily it's going to happen very soon and so even 1900 years ago the church was taught and believed that the
[11:22] Lord could come today the Lord could come today for the church age is considered the last days and the return of Christ is imminent he could come at any time and so this is really emphasized here as in these last verses so the angel confirms these words are faithful and true and then in verse 8 now I John saw and heard these things John confirms what I have written I saw and I heard and you think of all the revelation that he saw beginning in chapter 1 with a picture of Jesus
[12:22] Christ all the scenes of judgment throughout this book John saw and heard and John is witnessing he's saying I saw and heard and I've written it down so he is the second witness here as he does that and John as this witness in verse 8 and when I heard and saw he says I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things John is in awe and he falls down to worship this angel what's wrong with that did did John what's wrong with
[13:26] John falling down to worship this angel we are commanded to worship Jesus the Lord God alone and the following verse tells us that then he said to me see that you do not do that for I am your fellow servant and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book worship God worship God and we can't blame John for what this angel has revealed to him has been tremendous overwhelming awe John was in awe and he naturally fell down to worship but you see the angels are messengers of
[14:30] God and even though in this life the angels are a little higher than mankind in status as Hebrews would tell us they are still created beings just like me and you and we are forbidden to worship anything created for it takes away from the creator so it doesn't matter whether it's the sun or the moon or your car or an angel it's forbidden or your bank account or whatever it's forbidden for it's all creation in in sorry in
[15:40] Colossians chapter 2 we have let's turn there Colossians chapter 2 let's read a verse or 2 there verse 18 in Colossians 2 he says let no one cheat you of your reward taking delight in false humility and worship of angels intruding into these things or those things which he has not seen vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind so here the apostle Paul is addressing the worship of angels and he refers it that we are intruding into things that we don't understand fully and it's a vein it's a vein being puffed up it's a source of pride to say that
[17:04] I worship angels other created beings and so Paul here forbids it and he says that is not to happen let no one cheat you of your reward this is false religion to worship creation and so John is told that very clearly in Revelation 22 focus on worship God and him alone so see that you do not do that and as we as we take that home it may not be angels in fact very likely it isn't but each one of us knows what we're tempted to worship God what wants to take prevalence in my heart what wants to push out
[18:07] God these words are for us worship God verse 10 and he said to me do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book for the time is at hand John these words are to be understood they are for today see this is in direct contrast with what Daniel was told and he too had prophetic visions in the Old Testament and I think it would serve us well to turn there as well Daniel there's two references Daniel chapter 8 let's see if we can find the book of
[19:13] Daniel and chapter 8 is is a prophecy of the coming end of the antichrist and after the vision I'll read verse 26 and 27 and the vision of the evenings and the mornings which was told is true therefore seal up the vision for it refers to many days in the future and I Daniel fainted and was sick for days afterward and arose and went about the king's business I was astonished by the vision but no one understood it why is that it was sealed up for it was for a future time and if we turn to chapter 12
[20:21] Daniel and verse 9 Daniel 12 verse 9 and he said go your way Daniel for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end in the Old Testament in the days of Israel these prophecies were revealed to Daniel he wrote them down but they're sealed up not not that that we can't read them and haven't been reading them and that even before Christ they were reading them but they're sealed up in that we didn't understand them and now with the finishing of revelations John is instructed do not seal it up for the time is now and it's the church age and these words are given to us to be understood good remember in chapter one blessed is he who reads and understands and does the words or the commandments and we are blessed if we study scripture and prophecy for we are in that time period where
[21:53] God has given understanding we are to know what's going to come we are to understand what's happening today and therefore he says do not seal it up for the time is at hand and then regarding this prophecy skipping down to verse 16 I'll reread verse 7 first and then 16 he says behold I am coming quickly blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book so the words of Jesus himself and then verse 16 I Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches I am the root and the offspring of David the bright and morning star
[22:54] Jesus confirms as the third person that I have sent my angel to you John to testify in the churches these words and that's what we're doing this morning we're testifying of these words and so Jesus is the third witness that these words are from God and that they are accurate so the angel says it John says it and Jesus himself says it and Jesus says I am the root and the offspring of David the bright and morning star it's again a reference that I come from the roots of Israel the throne of David the household of David I come through that lineage and so the
[23:57] Jews are included in this plan as are the Gentiles the bright and morning star is a reference to him being the light of the world shining brightly and that is a frequency in scripture Christ is the bright and morning star blessed is he who keeps the words of this prophecy why is that if we keep the words of this book why are we blessed anyone we're trusting him thank you ben yeah if we are studying prophecy and obeying it means we have put our faith in him that's why he writes that blessed is he who hears reads understands and does and absolutely so we need to view prophecy in that regard it's written for us for us to understand and to know what's coming and to live accordingly now the book ends on the same subject of this prophecy the book ends or has a few verses 18 and 19 as a warning regarding this prophecy for
[25:54] I testify in verse 18 to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book if anyone adds to these things God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book the judgments and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy God shall take away his part from the book of life from the holy city and from the things which are written in this book why why was this included why are these two verses here why is there a warning to not change or add or take away the words of this book you see we either love this book or we don't why is that it addresses our sin it addresses our fallen sinful nature and it provides the solution for us to be in eternity it's
[27:34] God's plan it's God's way but it's it's not man authored it's not man's design it's God's and it brings all of creation as far as humanity goes to a point of decision it's going to be my way or God's way and if it's my way there's no room in my heart for this book and so we have this warning that there will be teachers of this book who will twist add and take away to humanize our understanding of prophecy and never more than today are we seeing prophecy twisted and taken out of context in the age of the church it's growing and we have warning
[28:57] I would say the biggest single method of twisting scripture and prophecy is by spiritualizing it and saying that all prophecy unfulfilled has to be spiritualized because it doesn't make sense to me and by spiritualizing I mean that it has some kind of spiritual meaning that God has not revealed and I have to figure out what it means to me and it may mean something different to you spiritualizing it's the opposite of a literal meaning in scripture and it ignores the fact that until today until today every prophecy has been fulfilled literally without exception and we have teachers that are saying that tomorrow it will be different and we can't understand it that way and it's leading people astray regarding
[30:26] God's plans for the future and so hence we have a serious warning that the book ends with and we do well to take heed to that let's turn to 2nd Peter as he prophesies that this too will happen 2nd Peter chapter 3 2nd Peter 3 I'll start in verse 14 and read through 16 is recognizing Paul's writings as the Word of God, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
[32:09] So it's prophesied that this will happen, and it was already happening in Peter's day. That people will do this. You know, one of the biggest themes in the world today is that all truth is relative.
[32:32] What does that mean, that truth is relative? It's in the way you look at it, and what relative truth means, it's true for me, but not necessarily for you.
[32:53] And it's the opposite of absolute truth, which says that this book will come to pass without any errors, without any deviations from it.
[33:09] relative truth is a way that we can deceive ourselves and say, well, this verse might be true for you, but it doesn't apply to me.
[33:32] That's relative truth. It's a deception that people are buying into, the world is buying into. And you know what?
[33:44] When the Lord comes for the church, or when He comes for you individually, personally, all relative truth will vanish, and we will be faced with absolute truth, the Word of God.
[34:06] And so we can pretend, the world can pretend, and walk around, kind of, I liken it to sticking your head in the sand, relative truth.
[34:20] It's ignoring reality. And but the day is coming when no one will be able to do that as they stand before God.
[34:31] And so that's, that's the words of this prophecy. Three times, we're moving on in chapter 22, three times in this section of Scripture, Jesus says, Behold, I am coming quickly.
[34:55] Behold, I am coming quickly. I'm going to read all three of them. Verse 7, Behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
[35:08] Verse 12, And behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me to give to everyone according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
[35:25] And then, jumping down to verse 20, He who testifies to these things says, Surely, I am coming quickly. The words of the Lord Jesus reminding the church, reminding the world through the church that I am coming quickly.
[35:51] and as in verse 5, the New King James used the word in verse 6, must take place shortly and quickly.
[36:09] The same word, a little bit different aspect to it, and yet the meaning is that it will come to pass rapidly or soon.
[36:25] Not that the seven years will speed up and it will be turned into two years. That's not what he's saying. That time period, the whole end is coming soon.
[36:37] It could be today. And again, 2 Peter 3 tells us that to the Lord, you know, a thousand years is as one day.
[36:52] And one day is a thousand years. It's not bound by time. It's coming quickly. And we are to live with that notion in our minds.
[37:05] It equips us to live for the day. To know that the Lord is coming. Let's go back to verse 17 as we end off.
[37:25] And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. The Spirit of God is calling people to repent, to come to God for forgiveness.
[37:40] Notice the Spirit and the Bride. Who is the Bride? the Church is saying, Come. Come to Jesus for forgiveness of sins.
[37:56] Is the Church doing it? Yes, we are. We need to continue. We need to do more of it.
[38:08] We are beckoning the lost to come. So not only the Spirit of God drawing, but the Church is proclaiming the Word of God and it takes the Word of God and the Spirit of God to bring someone to Christ.
[38:27] And let him who hears say, Come. The invitation is there. Come. And let him who thirsts come.
[38:42] Whoever desires let him take the water of life freely. And so God ends this book Come.
[38:55] Salvation is free and it's for anyone who desires. is that marvelous?
[39:06] The gift of God. The grace of God. And as we as we hear mission stories like we heard this morning it further burdens us to reach out.
[39:23] To proclaim to others Come. Come. Come and drink deeply of the river of life. The water of life. So you can partake in the tree of life.
[39:39] And have your security forever and ever. Verse 20 He who testifies to these things says surely I am coming quickly.
[39:58] And John responds what does he say? John says Amen. Even so come Lord Jesus.
[40:11] What does Amen mean? Let it be. So be it. John is echoing the words of Jesus when he says I'm coming quickly.
[40:24] Amen. Amen. May it happen just like you said. And then even so now it's John's heart even so come Lord Jesus.
[40:37] And John in his old age is waiting for the return of Christ. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
[40:48] Amen. Amen. Amen. And so very fitting as God closes his word and with an invitation to come.
[41:00] But as believers if we have come as believers we have come can we echo with John Amen even so come Lord Jesus.
[41:12] Jesus and this marks the true believer who has been forgiven and has a longing to be in the presence of Jesus Christ.
[41:29] That concludes our study in eschatology and I trust I trust we have learned grown and matured and are also more accurately anticipating the Lord's return.
[41:53] And so may the Lord bless you with this. Keep studying. Keep reading the entire Bible but don't leave out prophecy as well as there is a blessing with that.
[42:07] Let's pray. Lord you alone are true and righteous and faithful and what you have written is likewise.
[42:27] It is true it is faithful it is sure and every prophecy will come to pass. And Father as we believe that we witness we see things coming into fulfillment even in our day and we marvel and Father we praise you for your faithfulness.
[42:55] to strengthen each one of us individually as we walk in faith as we anticipate the end and your coming.
[43:18] Lord it is going to be to your glory but for ours as well. We praise you in Jesus name. Amen.