SOME FINAL WORDS FROM THE ALPHA & OMEGA – Revelation 22:12-16
Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on December 14, 2016 under AM Bible Study |
AM Bible Study Group; December 14, 2016 from Revelation 22:12-16
Theme: This passage describes the Lord Jesus’ testimony in the prophecies of Revelation.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
We’ve been looking at the ‘epilogue’ of Book of Relation. In verses 6-11, we read of the testimony of the angelic messenger to John regarding this book; and now, we hear the words of the resurrected Lord Jesus Himself concerning the things this book says.
In verses 12-16, we find a testimony concerning . . .
I. HIS PROMISED RETURN (v. 12).
A. Again—as if stepping into the scene from behind the curtain—the Lord Jesus Himself breaks into the prophecy and speaks. His message is like that of verses 7 and 20—”Behold, I am coming quickly …” For the Lord to have said this only once would be enough; but the fact that He says it three times in this prophetic book should impress us with the certainty of His coming!
B. With the announcement of His coming, he adds, “and My reward is with Me …” Here, His words are very much like the messianic testimony of Him that was given in Isaiah 40:10 and 62:11. In those Old Testament passages, we’re told that, in His coming, “His reward is with Him, and His work (or “recompense”) before Him”. And here, in much the same way, He promises “to give to everyone according to his work” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Justice upon this earth, at long last, will be done. And note very carefully that the time the Lord says this is now—before the outpouring of His wrath on the great day of His return! How merciful this announcement is!
II. HIS ETERNAL IDENTITY (v. 13).
A. He declares Himself to be “the Alpha and the Omega” (see Revelation 1:8; and also Isaiah 41:4). Calling Himself the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet is like saying that He is “the A to Z”. Unbelieving people of this world try to keep Jesus out of the daily affairs of life. But how can they? He is everything—“all and in all” (see Colossians 3:11).
B. He goes on to say that He is “the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last”. This speaks of His identity as the eternal One who stands as Lord above and beyond time. His work is not an idea that was thought up at along the way; but rather the divine plan from long before Creation ever was.
III. HIS FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS (v. 14-15).
A. Some manuscripts have it, “Blessed are those who do His commandments”; and that’s how it is represented in the New King James Version. Other Greek texts—such as that which stands behind the English Standard Version, have it, “Blessed are those who wash their robes”. The reading that is most supportable is the later one; and it parallels the words of 7:14 and 19:7-8. (The two different phrases sound very similar in the original Greek.) To ‘wash one’s robes’ is a metaphor for the moral cleansing and spiritual reformation of the whole person through faith in Christ. This speaks of those who have washed their robes in the blood of Jesus—not those who are made acceptable to Him on the basis of their works. Such cleansed ones indeed do His commandments; but it is because they have first been washed clean by His blood!
B. Those who are thus washed by faith are greatly privileged. It’s they who may have a right to the tree of life (see Revelation 22:1); and who may freely enter through the grates of the city—the New Jerusalem. But excluded from this are those who are described as “dogs” (possibly a reference to male temple prostitutes, as in Deuteronomy 23:18; but most likely a description of those who are of low character in general, as in 2 Samuel 3:8, and who are of a malicious nature as in Psalm 22:16, Matthew 7:6 and Philippians 3:2), “sorcerers” (possibly referring to those who use and promote the use of illicit drugs), “sexually immoral” (in a general sense), “murderers” (whether literally or in heart), “idolaters” (worshipers of false gods, and perhaps the Antichrist in particular), “and whoever loves and practices a lie.” Revelation 21:27 has already told us that, in the New Jerusalem, “there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
IV. HIS WITNESS BEARERS (v. 16).
A. It is not clear who the speaker is in verses 14-15. But Jesus Himself now clearly validates the message of Revelation. He declares that He Himself has sent His angel (see Revelation 1:1-2) to testify “to you” (in the plural) these things “in the churches” (see Revelation 1:11 and chapters 2-3). The message was not just for John but was for all of us who are His servants (see v. 6); and it’s now our privilege to declare these things to the world.
B. And with this validation—and along with our testimony to the world (see verse 17)—is the testimony of Christ Himself. He says that He is the “Root” (that is, the source) of King David; and the “Offspring” of Him as well (see Matthew 22:44-45). This speaks of both His deity and His humanity. In His deity, as the pre-existant Son of God, He is the “Root” of David (see Revelation 5:5); and in His humanity, as born into David’s lineage as the promised Messiah (2 Samuel 7:12-14; Psalm 110:1-2), He is the “Offspring” of David (Matthew 1:1; Romans 1:3-4). What’s more, He is the Bright and Morning Star”—that is, the promised Ruler from long ago (see Numbers 24:17).
* * * * * * * * *
This is our Lord Jesus! And it’s the blessed hope of His return (Titus 2:13) that is to be the motivating and dominating ‘presupposition’ of our lives.
If we as His people live with our eyes faithfully fixed on the promise He makes at the end of this book, we will be empowered with hope to endure faithfully the times of trial and persecution that are described in it. And what’s more, we will enjoy His blessings when those trials are over.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20).
