God's Final Invitation (Revelation 22)
The book of Revelation closes with an urgent invitation from God to humanity. This sermon explores why we should respond to this final call, examining the profound incentives presented in Scripture.
The sermon examines Revelation 22's final invitation to come to Christ, presenting compelling incentives rooted in His person, heaven's exclusivity, the truthfulness of Scripture, and the certainty of His return.
Overview
The sermon begins by tracing the Bible's overarching promise: from the first coming of a Savior promised in Genesis 3 to the promise of His second coming in Revelation 22:20. It emphasizes that while humanity often forgot or scoffed, Christ faithfully came the first time and will certainly return.
Revelation, as the "apokalupsis" or unveiling of Jesus Christ's glory, concludes with a final invitation to respond in light of His certain return. This call is directed first to Christians, urging immediate obedience, worship, proclamation, and service, and then to non-Christians, as God's final plea to those still rejecting Him.
The core invitation from Revelation 22:17 is presented in two parts: the Holy Spirit and the Church (the bride) cry out for the Lord to come, desiring the end of sin and the full glory of His kingdom. Simultaneously, it extends a call to sinners, inviting the thirsty to "take the water of life without cost," emphasizing that salvation is for those who recognize their desperate need, see Christ as the living water, and repent and believe.
Four compelling incentives to respond to this invitation are detailed. First, the majestic person of Christ, who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the Root and Offspring of David, and the bright morning star. To reject His call is to spurn the Supreme Being of the universe. Second, heaven's exclusivity, where only those whose robes are washed by the precious blood of Christ can enter, while the unrighteous are shut out, destined for the lake of fire.
Key points
- The Bible opens with a promise of Christ's first coming (Genesis 3:15) and closes with the promise of His second coming (Revelation 22:20).
- Revelation 22 presents God's final invitation for a response from both Christians and non-Christians.
- The invitation (Revelation 22:17) is a plea from the Holy Spirit and the Church for Christ to come, and a call for thirsty sinners to "take the water of life without cost."
- Incentives to respond include Christ's majestic person, identified by titles like Alpha and Omega, and the bright morning star.
- Heaven's exclusivity means only those cleansed by Christ's blood can enter; those who practice sin are shut out.
- The truthfulness and permanence of Scripture are affirmed, with a warning against adding to or taking away from God's Word, which applies to the entire biblical canon.
- The certainty of Christ's quick return is the final incentive, prompting readiness and watchfulness, with the Bible's last word being "grace."
In John MacArthur's words
“To turn down the invitation is to spurn the Supreme Being in the universe.”
“The only way to heaven is to have your sins forgiven by faith in Jesus Christ and in His death and resurrection.”
“God has written it; don’t erase it and don’t expand it.”
Outline
- I. The Bible's Promise: First and Second Coming
- A. Promise of the First Coming (Genesis 3:15)
- B. Promise of the Second Coming (Revelation 22:20)
- II. Revelation's Final Invitation (Revelation 22:6-21)
- A. A Call for Response
- 1. From Christians (verses 6-12)
- 2. From Non-Christians (verses 13-21)
- B. The Invitation (Revelation 22:17)
- 1. Plea for the Lord to Come (Spirit and Bride)
- 2. Plea for Sinners to Come (Thirsty, Water of Life)
- C. Incentives to Respond
- 1. Because of Christ's Person
- a. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Revelation 22:13)
- b. "I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star." (Revelation 22:16)
- 2. Because of Heaven's Exclusivity
- a. Entrance for those who "wash their robes" by Christ's blood (Revelation 22:14)
- b. Exclusion for the unrighteous, including "dogs, sorcerers, immoral persons, murderers, idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying" (Revelation 22:15)
- 3. Because of the Truthfulness of Scripture
- a. Warning against adding to the words (Revelation 22:18)
- b. Warning against taking away from the words (Revelation 22:19)
- c. Applies to all 66 books of the Bible as the final revelation
- 4. Because of the Certainty of Christ's Return
- a. "Yes, I am coming quickly." (Revelation 22:20)
- b. Call to be ready and watchful
Scripture references
- Revelation 22
- Genesis 3:15
- Jude 14
- Psalm 51:7
- Isaiah 1:18
- 1 Peter 1
- Hebrews 9:14
- Ephesians 1:7
- John 7
- 1 Corinthians 6
- Galatians 5
- Ephesians 5:5
- Revelation 21:27
- Revelation 20:15
- Revelation 21:8
- Deuteronomy 23:18
- 2 Kings 8:13
- Isaiah 56:10
- Deuteronomy 4:2
- Deuteronomy 12:32
- Proverbs 30:5
- Jeremiah 26:2
- John 8:31
- John 14:23
- 2 Peter 3
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
+ 19 more verses — Read Revelation of John 22 in full context →
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
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 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
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.
13 And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.
10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
2 Thus saith the Lord; Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord’s house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
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:
Insights
The journey of faith begins with a promise and ends with a certain return.
To be cleansed by Christ's blood is to gain entrance into eternal life.
God's final invitation is a tender plea from a majestic Lord.
Questions & answers
What is the main message of Revelation 22 in this sermon?
The main message is God's final invitation for people to respond to Christ in light of His impending return, emphasizing both the longing of believers and the urgent call to sinners.
What does the sermon say about "washing robes"?
The sermon explains that "washing robes" refers to being cleansed from sin. This cleansing is accomplished only by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and His atoning work.
Who are the "dogs" mentioned in Revelation 22:15, according to the sermon?
In the ancient world, "dogs" were despicable curs. The sermon defines them as referring to the "impudently impure," citing Deuteronomy 23:18 which refers to male homosexual prostitutes as the lowest of the low.
What are the consequences of adding to or taking away from Scripture?
The sermon warns that adding to God's words will result in God adding to that person the plagues written in Revelation, while taking away will mean God removes their part from the tree of life and the holy city.
How does the sermon connect the end of Revelation to the entire Bible?
Since Revelation takes the biblical story all the way to the eternal state, its warning against altering its content is extended to all 66 books, signifying the closure and completeness of the scriptural canon.
What is the "water of life without cost" that sinners are invited to take?
The "water of life without cost" symbolizes salvation, available to those who recognize their desperate need in sin and receive Jesus Christ as the provision for that need, repenting and believing.
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