Maranatha
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As we approach the close of this book, and the Bible, and as a result, this series, one thing that really stands out to me is that we are called over and over again as God’s last Word to us to be holy. And that’s what we’re going to see here in . This is God’s last word to his people before he ends his formal revelation- not just the book of Revelation, but all revelation of himself and his will to his people. And this is the last thing he says: “Be holy.”
Holiness is multifaceted. Like a diamond cut on many sides, to really appreciated the gem, we have to look at it from many different angles to get a clear picture of what it means. There are five facets of the holiness that God describes here at the end of His word, and I want to walk through them together:
Holiness looks like faithfulness
6 Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.”
7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”
22:6-7 Holiness looks like faithfulness
“Blessed are those who obey…”
We need to work so as to not be ashamed when Jesus returns- five exhortations to holiness ( , , , , )
notice this is in red letters.
notice this is in red letters.
What is a prophecy? What's the prophecy of the book of Revelation? What is it saying? What does it mean to keep it? Obey. How would you obey Revelation?
22:6-7 Blessed are those who obey… (faithfulness)
“Blessed are those who obey...”
A prophecy is not a prediction to be fulfilled. It is a declaration of who God is, what God desires, and what he demands from his people.
Holiness notes that the master can return any moment he chooses, and so believes that we must be ready. That the work we do is to be for His glory, and not for our selfish gain. Even the work we do for pay, we do so that we can provide for our family, give to the Kingdom of God and bless others.
Holiness is a committment to be set apart from the world, marked as one of God’s people, but not so heavenly-minded that you are no earthly good. Holiness is the wisdom to know the difference between faithfulness to God and worldly sinfulness.
Some people interpret faithfulness as complete withdrawal: “Good luck! You’re on your own. By the way, God hates your lifestyle, your TV shows, your movies, your fashion, your music, your tattoos and your hair.”
Let me just tell you, that’s not how Jesus did ministry. There’s a tension there.
How can you resolve the tension in your life to live faithfully to God and be present in a world that still needs relevant disciples to introduce them to Jesus? How can you balance the call to faithfulness and the call to relevance?
Those are questions you need to answer for yourself, because you will stand before God and give an account. I won’t give an account for you.
22:8-10 Holiness looks like devotion
Holiness looks like devotion
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. 9 But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”
10 Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near.
“Worship only God!”
“Worship God”
You want to see what someone values, look at their checkbook and their calendar
Devotion can take many forms, but really it boils down to three things:
Money, Time and Energy
21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Do you give cheerfully? All of this is God’s anyway.
Here’s the cool thing: God owns everything. He owns the earth and everything in it. He owns all of your possessions. He owns everything you’ve ever done or made because he owns you. And yet, instead of being a dictator, demanding that you hand over that which he has given to you, he invites you to give generously to the work he wants to accomplish cheerfully!
7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
So if the question
Time
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.
12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
so that we may grow in wisdom.
Your life is but a mist. A vapor. It will pass away, and all that will be left is your memory.
col 4.
Energy
we invest all sorts of energy into things that we want to do, and sometimes we use the excuse of other things not being our spiritual gifts, so we don’t do them.
Not idolatry!
"I can't believe I have to tell you this again! Geesh!" Don't worship me, worship God, you idiot!
John is overwhelmed by what he sees again! He's gotta worship something!
Don't worship the messengers of God.
Or the opposite is true- we don’t invite people into what we’re already doing, even if it is something that would greatly benefit the Kingdom with more hands on deck. We don’t invite others in becuase it’s just something we do, or it’s “our baby,” which is another way of saying, “I want all the credit.”
The command to John instead of sealing it up like Daniel was commanded, remember ?
Sometimes we need to give more energy, but sometimes, we need to invite other people in to give their energy.
Holiness looks like consistency
11 Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”
12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.
“Let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”
“Let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”
This is a parabolic language to reveal and to conceal. Exactly like toward the beginning of this book where we see “He who has an ear, let him hear...” The point of the parable is to push people to their furthest logical conclusion. What you have decided to be, the Word of God will push you further to be. The same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay. And Revelation is saying that if God's word causes you to be hardened against him, fine. He'll use it. And if God's word causes you to repent and obey. Good. God will use that too.
Then we see the command to let those who are evil continue, and those who are good, continue, etc., etc.
This is a parabolic language to reveal and to conceal. Exactly like toward the beginning of this book where we see “” The point of the parable is to push people to their furthest logical conclusion. What you have decided to be, the Word of God will push you further to be. The same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay. And Revelation is saying that if God's word causes you to be hardened against him, fine. He'll use it. And if God's word causes you to repent and obey. Good. God will use that too.
There's no room for riding the fence here.
Holiness looks like consistency. Be consistent with who you profess to be.
Deeds matter because they demonstrate which of the two cities mentioned in Revelation that you belong to. Your ethics determine which city you are governed by. Consequently, they also determine which judgement you receive- judgment for your own deeds, or for Christ's deeds.
And speaking of professing to be something:
Holiness looks like proclamation
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. 15 Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.
22:13-17 Holiness looks like proclamation
22:13-17 Holiness looks like proclamation
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come”.
Come! It's the mantra over and over. This is the Great Commission in one word. If you can hear this message, you need to say "Come!".
Come! It's the mantra over and over. This is the Great Commission in one word. If you can hear this message, you need to say "Come!".
And then Jesus claims equality with the Father. Notice the words are in red? Didn't the Father just say something about being the Alpha and Omega, first and the last, beginning and the end in the last chapter?
This is a call to not abandon culture. You participate in culture. You go where the culture goes and do what the culture does as much as you can without sinning. You go see the world’s movies and watch the world’s TV shows and listen to the world’s music so that you can find out how to speak to the culture. You learn the culture’s stories so that you can show the culture how their stories point to the greatest story of all time!
Basically, you find where the party is and be there, like Jesus would. Some Christians just have the spiritual gift of ruining a good time, right? Repent of that!
“I can’t believe those sinners, drinking beer, and *GASP* DANCING!!! Did you hear that song? I can’t believe this!”
We sort of feel like we have to, but we just sort of come off like Pharisees and then the world hates us not because of righteousness, but because we’re no fun.
I deeply believe that the holiest people are the most fun to be around. Think about Jesus.
This king brings a new dawn.
You want to be like Jesus? Find the intersections with people. Be an effective proclaimer of the Gospel. Sometimes that looks like going to a party and having a good time. Who has more reason to be happy and celebrate than we do?
You want to be an effecive witness for the Gospel, be fun. I gurantee you this, at a party, no one is going to want to talk to the person sitting on the wall grumpily judging everyone else in the room. We serve the God of the universe. He loves us. He chose us. He has given us all things. There’s coming a day when the curse will be lifted and we will join in the greatest party that ever has been or ever will be. We have cause to celebrate and have a good time! Be a good ambassador for Christ and communicate that!
Come! It's the mantra over and over. This is the Great Commission in one word. If you can hear this message, you need to say "Come!".
Lucifer is the morning star in Latin. Who is the morning star
And once you’ve shown that you can have a good time because of what we have been given, you’ll get opportunities to share the message. And that’s the last thing that holiness looks like in this passage:
Here’s my action step for this one, okay? If you
Come! It's the mantra over and over. This is the Great Commission in one word. If you can hear this message, you need to say "Come!".
Holiness looks like reverence
18 And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.
20 He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.
22:18-21 Holiness looks like reverence
if anyone adds… or takes away…
I know we use it this way a lot, but this verse isn’t talking about the whole Bible, though there are verses that do (; ; ). These verses are talking about this book, Revelation, specifically.
But the principle holds true, we don’t change the word of God.
if anyone adds… or takes away…
We are heralds of the King. Heralds don’t alter the message of their king.
Heralds don’t alter the message
On Sundays, I’m like a mailman. It’s not my job to change the mail. It’s my job to deliver the mail.
Heralds don’t alter the message.
see ; . His message is true, authoritative, and final.
if anyone adds to them Or alters them (see ; ). John, as God’s prophet, speaks on behalf of God. His message is true, authoritative, and final.
John warns those who hear the words of his prophecy against changing its message.
---------
- what's the context here? Do you see how we misuse this verse?
This is a serious prophecy given to John by Christ through the angels. This is not an ego trip. This is a serious word from God to be taken seriously. The Father is saying through John, "Don't cut anything out of this book. I know there are some hard teachings here. Don't cut anything out of it, or you know which of the two cities you belong to."
And as we revere God and his Word, we will pray as John does here: Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! We with join with the early church in praying the marana tha prayer. The same prayer that John and his friends and disciples probably prayed multiple times a day as they faced persecution
This should be our prayer nearly every moment. As you look around, don't you just want to pray this? "Come, Lord Jesus!" Fix this place! Destroy evil! Let it be over!
This should be our prayer nearly every moment. As you look around, don't you just want to pray this? "Come, Lord Jesus!" Fix this place! Destroy evil! Let it be over!
But that’s not where the letter ends. This book ends with grace. The grace we need and the grace we need to give to the world, like Jesus did.
We need to receive grace. Grace to live for Jesus. To endure this world until Jesus answers the prayer, "Come, Lord Jesus!"
Amen.
Because that’s what holiness is. It’s grace.
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Come, Lord Jesus The Greek phrase used here is the equivalent to the Aramaic expression Marana tha (meaning “Our Lord, come!”; see ). This became the cry of the early church, particularly as it began facing persecution under the Roman Empire. Its inclusion here suggests that John’s audience knew the phrase.
We need to give grace to a world that doesn’t know what grace looks like.
Maybe holiness looks a little different than we thought. We are God’s holy people. And there’s a day coming when Jesus will return and he will judge, and we will party. Celebrate what you’ve been given. Be faithful. Celebrate. Give time, energy, money. Revere God. Preach the Gospel. Have fun for Jesus.
Conclusion
6 Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.”
7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. 9 But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”
10 Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”
12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. 15 Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. 18 And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.
20 He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.
Maybe you’re stuck in a rut, and you don’t know how to live that life or walk that line and you need prayer. I’d love to do that with you. Or maybe you’re stuck in sin and you don’t know how to get out of it. I’d love to talk with you and pray with you. Or maybe you just don’t know how to have a good time because you were taught that Christians are supposed to have a holy grumpiness and you just need help repenting of that attitude. I would love to help. I’m here to serve you and so if you would like to talk or pray as we sing, come. The spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let all who are thirsty come.
What is a prophecy? What's the prophecy of the book of Revelation? What is it saying? What does it mean to keep it? Obey. How would you obey Revelation?
A prophecy is not a prediction to be fulfilled. It is a declaration of who God is, what God desires, and what he demands from his people.
"I can't believe I have to tell you this again! Geesh!" Don't worship me, worship God, you idiot!
John is overwhelmed by what he sees again! He's gotta worship something!
Don't worship the messengers of God.
The command to John instead of sealing it up like Daniel was commanded, remember ?
This is a parabolic language to reveal and to conceal. The point of the parable is to push people to their furthest logical conclusion. What you have decided to be, the Word of God will push you further to be. The same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay. And Revelation is saying that if God's word causes you to be hardened against him, fine. He'll use it. And if God's word causes you to repent and obey. Good. God will use that too.
There's no room for riding the fence here.
-
Deeds matter because they demonstrate which of the two cities mentioned in Revelation that you belong to. Your ethics determine which city you are governed by. Consequently, they also determine which judgement you receive- judgment for your own deeds, or for Christ's deeds.
And then Jesus claims equality with the Father. Notice the words are in red? Didn't the Father just say something about being the Alpha and Omega, first and the last, beginning and the end in the last chapter?
This king brings a new dawn.
Lucifer is the morning star in Latin. Who is the morning star?
Come! It's the mantra over and over. This is the Great Commission in one word. If you can hear this message, you need to say "Come!".
- what's the context here? Do you see how we misuse this verse?
This is a serious prophecy given to John by Christ through the angels. This is not an ego trip. This is a serious word from God to be taken seriously. The Father is saying through John, "Don't cut anything out of this book. I know there are some hard teachings here. Don't cut anything out of it, or you know which city you belong to."
This should be our prayer nearly every moment. As you look around, don't you just want to pray this? "Come, Lord Jesus!" Fix this place! Destroy evil! Let it be over!
But instead, we need grace. Grace to live for Jesus. To endure this world until Jesus answers the prayer, "Come, Lord Jesus!"
Amen.