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The Final Message

THE FINAL MESSAGE

Revelation 22: 10-21

This morning we are going to finish the book of Revelation…and what is interesting is the book of Revelation ends much the same way it began.

Let’s go through this and let me show you what I mean. Look at verse 10:

10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.

John says here: “…for the time is near.”

Notice, once again, he says that this book is a “prophecy.”

And notice, John is told by the angel, “Do not seal up the prophecy of this book.”

Dan 8:26   “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”

Daniel is told to “seal up the vision” because what he has seen is to take place in the “distant future.”

In verse 6 of chapter 22 John is told that the things written in this book are to “shortly take place.”

Back to verse 10. John is told that the time for the things in this book to take place “is near.”

Now verse 11:  “Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and let the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”

On its own this is a difficult verse to understand…but combined with the next verse it becomes more evident as to what it means.

Keep doing what you are doing if you choose too.

Rev 22:13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

And look at the rewards mentioned in the next two verses:  14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

Notice he speaks of those who “wash their robes.”

13 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and from where have they come?” 14 And I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

This is who they are…they are the ones whose sins were washed clean by the blood of Christ and who have remained faithful to Christ in spite of the persecution.

But those who have not washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb…and who did not remain faithful to Christ…or who served the beast?

“Outside are the dogs…

He says: “Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”

In fact, look at the next verse:

16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star.” 

And notice, Jesus says that He “sent His angel to testify to you these things for the churches.”

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

And now, the conclusion and one final warning: Vs. 18:

18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

And I want you to notice in verse 19 that we are told that “if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy…that God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city.”

Rev 22:20  He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

That concludes the book of Revelation. It is an encouraging book in that it tells us that the God we serve is sovereign and not some human king or emperor.

But there are also some serious warnings in this book for all of us.

And then there are some tremendous insights in the book.

There is so much more to be learned from this book…but as we close let me remind you the things of this book were to take place shortly after it was written.