God's Last Invitation (Revelation 22:13-21)
At the conclusion of divine prophecy, the book of Revelation offers a profound invitation. This sermon explores God's ultimate call to humanity for salvation.
This sermon unpacks God’s final, urgent invitation for non-Christians to come to Jesus Christ. It highlights the divine person of Christ and the exclusive nature of heaven as key incentives to respond before it is too late.
Overview
The sermon begins by setting the stage at the end of Revelation, where, after sweeping through prophecies and judgments, the book concludes with invitations. While earlier verses addressed Christians, verses 13-21 present God's final, pleading call to non-Christians to receive eternal life.
The central invitation, found in Revelation 22:17, uses the word "Come" in two distinct ways. First, the Spirit and the bride (the Church) cry out for Christ to "Come" quickly, longing for His return to end sin's battle and bring Him glory. Second, it invites the thirsty and willing to "Come" to Christ and take the water of life without cost, emphasizing a recognition of spiritual need and a desire for salvation.
The preacher then details the powerful incentives to accept this invitation, starting with the very person of Christ. Jesus identifies Himself as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, emphasizing His eternal, sovereign deity. He is also the root and offspring of David (God-man) and the bright morning star, signaling the dawn of God's glorious kingdom.
A second incentive is the exclusivity of heaven. The sermon highlights that only those who have "washed their robes"—symbolizing forgiveness and cleansing through Christ's blood—have the right to enter the New Jerusalem and access the tree of life. Conversely, those whose sins are unforgiven remain outside, underscoring the necessity of responding to God's gracious offer.
Key points
- Revelation 22:13-21 contains God's final, urgent invitation for non-Christians to come to Jesus Christ.
- The invitation in verse 17 includes both the Holy Spirit and the Church calling for Christ to return, and an invitation for sinners to come to Christ.
- The Holy Spirit longs for Christ's return to end blasphemy and glorify Jesus, while the Church is weary of sin's battle and desires union with its Lord.
- For sinners, coming to Christ requires spiritual thirst (recognition of need) and a desire to "take the water of life without cost" (appropriation by faith).
- A primary incentive to accept the invitation is the person of Christ, who is identified as the Alpha and Omega, the root and offspring of David, and the bright morning star.
- Another incentive is the exclusivity of heaven, where only those whose sins are forgiven through Christ's blood have the right to enter and partake of eternal life.
- The sermon emphasizes that even those considered 'lowest of the low' can be forgiven and cleansed if they come to Christ.
In John MacArthur's words
“To leave Christ out of a life is to leave the sun out of the day, is to leave the moon out of the night, is to leave the waters out of the sea, the floods out of the rivers.”
“The brightness of that star shatters the darkness of man’s night and heralds the dawn of God’s glorious day.”
“Salvation, then, is offered to those who know they are parched and barren and who desire to have that changed.”
Outline
- Introduction: Revelation 22:13-21, God's Last Invitation
- I. The Invitation (Revelation 22:17)
- A. The Two Distinct Meanings of "Come"
- 1. The Spirit and the Bride Say, "Come" (to Christ)
- a. Why the Holy Spirit Desires Jesus to Come
- i. Negative Reason: End of rejection and blasphemy
- ii. Positive Reason: To glorify Christ
- b. Why the Bride (Church) Desires Jesus to Come
- 2. Let the One Who Hears Say, "Come," and Let the One Who is Thirsty Come (to Christ)
- a. The One Who Hears (with understanding and faith)
- b. The One Who is Thirsty (recognition of need)
- c. The One Who Wishes (desire to have the need met)
- d. Take the Water of Life Without Cost (appropriation by faith)
- II. The Incentives to Respond to the Invitation
- A. Because of Christ’s Person (Revelation 22:13, 16)
- 1. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
- 2. "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches."
- 3. "I am the root and the offspring of David."
- 4. "The bright morning star."
- B. Because of the Exclusivity of Heaven (Revelation 22:14-15)
- 1. "Blessed are those who wash their robes" (forgiveness by Christ’s blood)
- 2. "That they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter by the gates into the city."
- 3. "Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers..." (Those whose sins are unforgiven)
Scripture references
- Revelation 22:13
- Revelation 22:17
- Revelation 22:6-12
- Revelation 22:20
- Revelation 22:7
- Revelation 22:12
- Revelation 22:16
- Revelation 22:14-15
- Revelation 22:19
- Revelation 22:21
- Revelation 19:7
- 2 Timothy 4:8
- 2 Peter 3
- Matthew 5:6
- John 6:35
- John 7:37
- John 6:37
- Matthew 11:28
- Isaiah 64:6
- Zechariah 3:3
- Psalm 51:7
- Isaiah 1:18
- Hebrews 1:1
- 1 Peter 1:18-19
- Revelation 7:14
- Revelation 21:21
- Deuteronomy 23:18
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
- Isaiah 41:4
- Isaiah 43:10
- Isaiah 44:6
- Isaiah 48:12
- Philippians 2:9-11
- 2 Samuel 7:12
- 2 Samuel 7:16
- Psalm 132:11-12
- 2 Timothy 2:8
- Numbers 24:17
- 2 Peter 1:19
- Revelation 2:28
- John 8:12
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
+ 3 more verses — Read Revelation of John 22 in full context →
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the Lord thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the Lord thy God.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
11 The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
12 If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Insights
The end of divine revelation brings a final, urgent invitation.
Spiritual thirst is the heart's first step toward eternal life.
The invitation to God's presence is extended by God Himself.
Questions & answers
What is God's 'last invitation' in this sermon?
The sermon focuses on the invitation in Revelation 22:17, which is a final, pleading call for non-Christians to come to Jesus Christ and receive the gift of eternal life before it is too late.
What are the two meanings of 'Come' in Revelation 22:17?
The first 'Come' is a prayer from the Holy Spirit and the Church for Christ to return. The second 'Come' is an invitation for unbelievers, those who are thirsty and wish for salvation, to come to Christ.
Why do the Spirit and the bride desire Christ to come?
The Holy Spirit desires Christ's return to end the blasphemy and rejection He has endured and to glorify Jesus. The Church, as the bride, longs for Christ's return to end the battle against sin, to see Him exalted, and to be united with Him eternally.
What does it mean to 'take the water of life without cost'?
This means to appropriate salvation by faith, recognizing one's spiritual need, desiring to have it met, and simply taking the forgiveness and cleansing offered freely by Christ, as the price has already been paid by Him.
What are the incentives to accept God's invitation, according to the sermon?
The sermon highlights two main incentives: the glorious person of Christ who extends the invitation (as the Alpha and Omega, God-man, and Bright Morning Star), and the exclusivity of heaven, where only those forgiven by Christ's blood can enter.
Who is the 'bright morning star' and what does that title signify?
The 'bright morning star' is a title for Jesus Christ. It signifies His exaltation as the ultimate hero and the one whose arrival shatters the darkness of humanity's night, heralding the dawn of God’s glorious kingdom day.
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