How Does the Bible End? With an Invitation | Revelation 22:10-21

How Does the Bible End? With an Invitation | Revelation 22:10-21

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “How does the Bible end? With an invitation.”

Scripture: Revelation 22:10-21; Genesis 3:1-19; John 7:37; 20:31; Isaiah 55:1; 2 Peter 3:1-13

(Commentary helps listed at the end)

Need:

Bottom line: Revelation and the Bible ends with an invitation to come to Him: To watch, wait and witness (despite the suffering) until he returns to take us home to the New heaven and earth.

INTRODUCTION

Opening story:

God is always working for his people. (Rom 8:28) He’s not waiting on us to ask. Ask, yes! But God’s working whether we ask or not. God initiates mercy and grace. See Gen 3:1-19.

Seminary student Christmas shopping spree. They gave us play money and then let us go in and “buy” gifts for our children. (Isaiah 55:1)

Read Genesis 3:1-19; Revelation 22:1-9

CONTEXT

We have seen:

• Jesus and his churches (1-3)

• The throne and judgments of God (6-16)

• The whore, the King, and his bride (17-22)

It’s also noteworthy that these last 2 chapters of Revelation and of the Bible occur when sin has been abolished from the universe. No more sin, shame, guilt, death—it’s all history.

Bottom line: Revelation and the Bible ends with an invitation to come to Him. (Several, actually) To watch, wait and witness (despite the suffering) until he returns to take us home to the New heaven and earth.

OUTLINE

LAST WEEK invitation 1-2:

Two invitations from God to us as we anticipate the New Eden and the reverse of the curse: (6-9)

A. Obey God. (6-7)

B. Worship God! (8-9)

Five more invitations for a total of 7

1. Obey the word. (22:6-7)

2. Worship God! (8-9)

3. Proclaim the truth of God. (10-11)

   1. Unlike Daniel, reveal, don’t seal his word from the world. Why?

      1. Because “the time is near”

         1. For each of us it’s only a heartbeat away.

         2. For all of us, it’s never been closer. We’re another day closer today.

      2. A day is coming when change will no longer be possible. (11) What some say…others say we can still change…

      3. “Imagine being at the Grand Canyon and having a tour guide take you to some massive precipice. You look over the edge and realize that the drop is so deep it makes you dizzy. Then the tour guide says, ‘Let the self-assertive fool who wants to destroy himself disregard caution, ignore my instructions, and go over the edge.’ Is that what the tour guide wants you to do? P. 414

      4. 3 things we know in our gut:

         1. We all know that we do what we want to do.

         2. We all know that we are responsible for what we do.

         3. We all know that God will hold us accountable for what we do.

   2. “How we respond tot he truth of God’s word in this life will confirm our character and determine our destiny forever.” -D Akin

4. Pursue the will of God. (12-15)

   1. He’s coming soon. He will…judge or reward after he…

      1. Examines our mind

      2. Tests our heart

      3. Gives us according to our ways

   2. As judge, Jesus is fully qualified as he is the omniscient One

      1. Alpha and omega

      2. First and last

      3. Beginning and end

   3. Be washed in the blood of the lamb

      1. For justification

      2. For sanctification

      3. Washing = “persevering in faithfulness to Christ and refusing to compromise with the world” -D Akin

      4. Gives us access to

         1. Tree of life

         2. River of life

         3. City of life…forever!

      5. In contrast to those who did/do not.

         1. They are left outside the city in the lake of fire (“dogs”)

         2. Dogs in that day

            1. Stink and are dirty

            2. Roll in their own stink

            3. Cannot wash themselves

5. Respond to the invitation of God. (16-17)

   1. Jesus authenticates the message of Revelation in v. 16.

      1. Root = source (before David, as God)

      2. Offspring = descendant (coming from David, as man)

   2. He’s the God-man who’s the bright morning star (Num 24:17)

      1. This passage is Christological.

      2. Colossians will expand on this (we’ll start that series next week)

   3. The “Great Invitation” is a 4-fold invitation (17):

      1. The Holy Spirit says come!

      2. The bride, the Church of Jesus, says come!

      3. The one who hears is invitated.

      4. The one who thirsts for abundant, eternal life is invited. (Cf. Isaiah 55:1; John 7:37)

   4. Spurgeon says with respect to content and location of these verses:

      1. It’s placed at the end of the Bible because it’s the aim of the Bible.

      2. It’s like the point of the arrow with the rest of the Bible being the shaft and the feathers.

      3. John wrote in his gospel these tings are written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, and that by believing you might have life in his name. (John 20:31)

      4. As far as you’re concerned, this book has missed it’s target unless you’ve accepted his invitation.

      5. All the books in the Bible cry to sinners, come to Jesus! Take the water that quenches your thirst!

6. Heed the warning of God. (18-19)

   1. Severe warning (adding/subtracting)

   2. Everyone

   3. Comprehensive

   4. Literally Revelation (but by implication, all of scripture)

   5. Believers love, obey and receive the word.

   6. Unbelievers hate, disobey and reject the word.

7. Pray for the coming of God (Return of the King). (20-21)

   1. “Yes” - answer the question

   2. “I am” - remember who he is

   3. “Coming” - second coming/return of the king

   4. “Soon” - one heart beat away; 1 day is like 1,000 years to the Lord (2 Peter 3)

• There is a God.

• You’re not him.

• Are you ready to meet him?

In sum, Revelation ends with a 3-fold posture to assume: watch, wait, and witness.

1. Watch - Keep your eyes on the clouds…He’s coming again! He’s coming soon! Are you ready?

2. Wait - Persevere. No doubt, suffering will accompany us as we wait. Do not grow weary in doing good in the meantime. Lean into your witness.

3. Witness - This is the great work he’s left us to join him in. Exalt the King. Expand the kingdom. As we keep our eyes on the clouds, we also keep our eyes on the crowds (Greg Stier). This is how we’re to continue to do good. Our witness will result in invitations being accepted. It may also result in the ultimate witness of martyrdom. If so, so be it. To live is Christ, to die is gain and more of Christ.

Ever since Genesis 3, the Garden and the Fall, God has been pursuing us with an invitation to repent and return to him. To repent and believe the truth that sets us free. So it’s entirely appropriate that God would end Revelation and the Bible with these grand invitations.

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: Revelation and the Bible ends with an invitation to come to Him. (Several, actually) To watch, wait and witness (despite the suffering) until he returns to take us home to the New heaven and earth.

Closing story:

Jim Hamilton’s notes

“The resurrection guarantees the return.” -JH

Mines of Moria scene in the Fellowship of the Ring where Gandalf the Grey gives his life to save the Fellowship.

Gandalf the Grey is resurrected and then returns as Gandalf the White. He comes back to them to help them finish what they started—to save the world from darkness. P. 411

Jesus is coming back and he’s inviting you to join him. Of all the ways he could end the Revelation, he chooses to end the letter with an invitation to come to him now.

The question is, will you accept his invitation?

Pray

Lord’s Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:17-32

OTHER NOTES:

“The whole point of the book of Revelation is to engender an encounter with Him. An encourager that then empowers us to follow him and his paradoxal way.” - Darryl Johnson

Revelation = Apocalypse = unveiling = breaking through

2-fold purpose:

1. Seeks to set the present moment (in all it’s brokenness) in light of the unseen realities of the future.

   1. Jesus is coming, and bringing with him a whole new creation!

2. Seeks to set the present moment in light of the unseen realities of the present.

   1. A fundamental conviction of apocalyptic literature is that “things are not as they seem.”

   2. One of the unseen realities of the present is that the time is near. Nothing around us in history or nature tells us the time in near without help from scripture)

   3. The great purpose-the pastoral purpose-of Revelation is to open up that more and see Jesus in the midst of it all.

Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God has come near.” Jesus had to tell us this.

Matt 24-25: Thrust is the time is near. Believe me. “Be alert” And yet, there’s a process that takes time at hand. See kingdom parables too.

Jesus talks about the future as imminent AND lots has to happen over time. Wars, rumors of wars, famines, false messiahs, gospel to the whole world…

This tension is real.

Doesn’t every generation feel Ike they’re the last one? Makes sense in light of Matt 24-25.

Beginning = arche = source and pattern of the series; not just the beginning of the series

End = telos = destiny/purpose of the series

Ex. Acorn’s telos is an oak tree and grove

The telos of humanity is to become like Christ.

After darkness is complete…

Before the faintest sign of dawn…

Tiny star seems barely able…but is a reminder that the night will end…will be defeated.

The star pulls the morning sun behind it…

…just as Jesus pulls the kingdom behind him.

Maybe your life feels like the darkest part of the night right now. Look to the Bright morning star and remember what he is pulling behind him.

Need: To believe Jesus’ words, ways and works with respect to the time is near and his handling of our rescue and evil’s demise. (My take)

OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS:

No, God wants you to repent. To change your course heart, mind, soul and strength and follow his ways, words and works.

MAIN COMMENTARY HELP:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Revelation by Paige Patterson, New American Commentary series

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

• 2020 Sermons by Matt Chandler

• ESV Global Study Bible

• Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

• Bible Knowledge Commentary

• The Outline Bible, Wilmington

• Discipleship on the Edge, Darrell W. Johnson

Faithful Even to Death | Rev 2:8-11

Faithful Even to Death | Rev 2:8-11

Ken Dorrity

We are in Revelation 2:8-11 and the focus is on the letter to the second church in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

Revelation is the revealing of Jesus and God’s plan for everything!

Remember, Revelation was written by John while in exile on the island of Patmos and Rev. 2 and 3 includes the letters to seven Churches in Asia.

These 7 were on a major road that was on a circular route. A letter carrier would leave Patmos and could go in the exact order as letter dictated, landing in

Ephesus > Smyrna > Pergamum > Thyatira > Sardis > Philadelphia > Laodicea

Izmir – 3rd largest city in modern-day Turkey is built on the site of ancient Smyrna.

Smyrna – comes from myrrh. A spice we all remember from Matthew as a gift from the Wise Men to Jesus. Myrrh smells wonderful but only after it is crushed.

The church in Smyrna was persecuted, poor, and afflicted, but like myrrh, when the church is crushed something wonderful was revealed, JESUS.

Smyrna – beautiful seaport (Aegean Sea) city 35 miles N of Ephesus.

Nicknames: Port of Asia. Ornament of Asia. Flower of Asia. Crown of Asia.

Aristides “The wind blows through every part of the city, and makes it as fresh as a grove of trees.

In AD 23 as a reward for loyalty, Smyrna beat out 11 other cities for the right to build the 1st temple to honor Tiberias Caesar (AD 14-37). This along with the influential Jewish population was the ingredient for a hostile environment for the believers there in Smyrna.

Smyrna was also famous for the place of execution of Polycarp (Feb 23 AD 155) who was bishop of the church of Smyrna and knew John (Irenaeus AD 130-200 confirmed Polycarp knew John).

8 “Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last, the one who was dead and came to life: 9 I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death. Revelation 2:8-11 CSB

The One who conquered death knows their suffering.

Jesus shares 3 things He knows what the believers are in the midst of life in Smyrna:

1) Affliction, 2) Poverty, 3) Slander

Don't fear what is to come. Be faithful.

The second death will not harm the followers of Christ.

The life worth dying for and the life worth living for!

Be Faithful to the Point of Death.

Application: Pray for the persecuted church. Check out Fox's Book of Martyrs.

Visit persecution.com and pray for those who are suffering.

The Best is Yet to Come | Revelation 1:1-8

The Best is Yet to Come | Revelation 1:1-8

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: The Best is Yet to Come

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-8 NIV

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

Last week’s title: As We Wait in Uncertain Times, Put Your Hope in Him for All Time (Psalm 146)

This week’s title: “The Best is Yet to Come”

Main idea: “Those who hear and obey God‘s word concerning who Jesus is and what he does will be blessed by the Lord.”

Bottom line: No matter how bad things get, the best is yet to come. And his name is Jesus.

Opening story/illustration

The Matrix

In the sci-fi movie The Matrix, Neo is told that the truth of their world is that they are shielded from reality by an illusion created by machines that control everything. Then Neo is given a choice. He can take the blue pill and forget what he just heard and live on in ignorance asleep to the truth. Or, he can take the red pill and become empowered to live in that true world that true reality.

We have a choice too. Revelation and God’s word tell us that we’re asleep and unable to see the reality of our spiritual condition unless someone opens our eyes with truth. God opens our eyes to see the truth through his word. But we have a choice to believe or not believe. We can remain skeptical and ignore the truth putting our heads back into the sand or we can “swallow the pill” of truth and live in reality fully aware of the dangers that surround us.

Other illustrations:

Persecuted Pastors

Dr. Danny Akin (professor at SEBTS.edu) asked a pastor in a persecuted country what his favorite books of the Bible were. He said Daniel and Revelation. (See story at bottom)

9/11 vs 9/10

What would you do if you knew with complete and total certainty what would happen on Sep. 11, 2001 on Sep. 10, 2001? What would you do? Something? Nothing? We would start telling people, of course.

There’s something coming that makes 9/11 and COVD-19 and WW II look like birthday parties. It’s described in Revelation.

And you and I know that it’s God’s word and therefore will come to pass.

It’s like 9/10/01. We know what’s coming. What will we do about it? Will we dare to share?

Prologue with doxology to introduce this circular letter to the churches.

“The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.1.niv

• Revelation = unveiling, revealing

• Apocalypse = unveiling how it all ends

• From God—>to Jesus—>to the angel—>to John—>to the 7 churches—>to the rest of the churches in that day—>to the universal church—>to us and our churches—>His servants = us

• “Soon take place” means this could happen at any time.

  • We’re lulled to sleep because it hasn’t come in 2,000+ years so we think what’s one more day.

  • But whenever it does happen, we’ll feel that way. Is that the mindset you want? Really?

“who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.2.niv

• Word of God= truth; do you believe?

• Testifies to what he saw (and heard) in his visions on the island of Patmos around AD 90 (60 years after the resurrection)

• It’s all about Jesus Christ

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.3.niv

To obey this because you want to. Glad obedience from the inside.

Not like when you’re asked to take out the trash. You do it, but your heart isn’t into it. That’s not what “take it to heart” means.

What will Revelation call us to do?

• Act justly

• Love mercy

• Walk humbly with our God

• Glorify and worship God for his justice and his mercy

• Walk in hope believing that the best is yet to come no matter what we’re going through now

When?

The “time is near” reminds us of the urgency and posture in which we are to live. Like in the time of the Passover, we live with our shoes on, our bags packed, ready to roll. It’s living in this world holding everything loosely except his word.

“John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.4.niv

• Grace and peace - the order matters; Know Grace, know peace. No grace, no peace.

• Peace = complete wholeness and holiness

• Number 7 is used a lot by John; complete or all; comprehensive

• Describes Jesus here as timeless One and king/Lord

“and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.5.niv

Who is God...who is Jesus and what has he done/is he doing?

• Jesus called “the faithful witness”

• “The firstborn from the dead” - who is second, third...us!

• “Ruler of the kings of the earth” - sovereign

• Love - “loves us”

• “Freed us from our sins by his blood” - the lamb of God who was our substitutionary atonement on the cross

• Many reasons to worship/revere/fear him already

“and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.6.niv

Who are we and what do we get to do?

• He anoints us as kingdom priests. What do priests do?

  • Represent God before people

  • Represent people before God

• The makes him worthy of all praise forever!

““Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.7.niv

• Greg Stier likes to say, “Keep your eyes on the clouds ️ and on the crowds.”

  • Clouds - watching and ready for Jesus’ imminent return

  • Crowds - to be a witness in the meantime; a sacrificial lamb among wolves

• Everyone will see him - even those who know and reject

• Everyone will mourn him

  • For their sin

  • For their loss

• “So shall it be! Amen.” It is certain.

““I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.””

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.8.niv

• Beginning and the end (outside of time)

• Timeless One

• End of prologue

Conclusion

Think about some of our several sermon series titles from last year. And I am not this good:

• Joy No Matter (what)

• As We Wait (for his return)

• The Best is Yet to Come (His name is Jesus)

• Undeserved Grace

• Better Together

• Jesus Manifesto

As we wait for his return, we walk better together in joy and undeserved grace no matter what our circumstances because the best is yet to come and his name is Jesus.

Am I ready?

Do I believe this yet?

Am I prepared to take to heart what is written here today?

Will I worship God for his justice and mercy in our world?

Will I love God and love people by mercifully and gently giving people the reason for the hope that I have? (1 Peter 3:15)?

9/11 vs 9/10: What would you do if you knew with complete and total certainty what would happen on Sep. 11, 2001 on Sep. 10, 2001? What would you do? Something? Nothing?

There’s something coming that makes 9/11 and COVD-19 and WW II look like birthday parties. It’s described in Revelation.

And you and I know that it’s God’s word and therefore will come to pass.

It’s like 9/10/01. We know what’s coming. What will we do about it? Will we dare to share?

What is God saying to you right now?

What are you going to do about it?

These are not rhetorical questions. Take some time to stop and pray right now.

Let’s pray. Amen.

Basic outline of the book

The Christ of...

1. Communication - he is the God who reveals his will to his people.

2. The Churches (vision)

3. The Cosmos (vision)

4. Conquest (vision)

5. Consummation (vision)

6. Challenge

Theme:

“The majesty and glory of the warrior lamb, King Jesus, who is coming again to rule and reign forever!”

Notes:

Intro/Prologue (1:1-3)

Doxology (1:4-6)

”The revelation” or unveiling of the mystery of who God is and what he’s up to. (Hint: Kingdom of God in our world)

We’re called “servants” which is someone who gladly serves his master no matter what the task or cost.

Seems like v. 1 is the purpose: (1-2)

• To reveal, unveil the word/testimony of God

• From God the Father

• To and through Jesus Christ

• Through an angel

• To John

• To the Churches in that day

• To us, the universal Church

• What must soon take place/happen in our world

• To servants of Jesus Christ i.e. the Church

v. 3 The beatitudes

• the person...

• who reads/listens to this prophecy aloud (to hear, believe and take to heart)

• w/ urgency (time is near)

”Unveiled/revealed will of God to bless

“revelation: God’s will is to bless his people”

Revelation: Encouraged by victory

“He is the God who communicates his will to his people.”

Title as truth: God reveals his will to his people.

vv. 4-6 Writing to (audience) the 7 churches (representing all the churches forever) of Asia Minor.

Grace + Peace

Who is God?

1. God, the Father, Timeless One

2. Jesus Christ, Messiah/King, Faithful son, firstborn from the dead, resurrected one

3. Holy Spirit, 7 spirits

Jesus also...

• freed us from our sins, by his blood

• loves us

• made us a kingdom of priests to serve

• worthy of all our praise

• eternal one

Who is coming again

from the heavens...in the clouds...every eye...

conviction and repentance

beginning and end

Almighty God

Who he is and what he does...who we are and what we get to do (make list)