Sermon Tone Analysis

Pre-Introduction:

For those joining us online, you’re listening to the Services of the Broomfield Baptist Church.

This is the Pastor bringing the Sunday Morning message entitled "Perversions Amidst Government Are No Match for the Power of the Gospel!".

We invite you to follow along with us in your Bible in the Book of Revelation, chapter twenty-two, and verses sixteen through twenty-one.

Introduction:

[Start Low]

Some of our most influential and duly elected governmental leaders are live openly reprobate lives and have threatened to force their godless agenda on the whole of society.

John wrote this passage, of which some of the words are his, some are Christ's, some are the Spirit's, and some are the Church's.

It was originally written to the local churches in Asia Minor in the last decade of the first century churches while John was in exile on Patmos.

The message of the Book concerns what John was shown to be the things that are, were and, are to come.

It was written to encourage believers, some of whom were persecuted for following Christ, others who had compromised themselves, to look for the appearing of our Lord and Saviour, the Almighty and the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Main Thought:

While governmental powers may seek to enslave souls to godlessness, the power of the Gospel can still liberate souls to Christlikeness!

But, the responsibility of responding to the Gospel is placed upon the hearer; the outcome is determined by the soul's decision.

Sub-introduction:

Here is the final closing of the entire Bible.

The parallels to the Introduction of Revelation are everywhere: Jesus Is Coming Quickly, He is Alpha & Omega, the promises to the churches, Morning Star counters Balaam's doctrine, Root and Offspring of David counters Nicolaitians, the angel and the angels of the churches, etc.

As the book began by introducing a revelation of Jesus Christ so it ends with the same thought that He is coming again.

Probably no other book of Scripture more sharply contrasts the blessed lot of the saints with the fearful future of those who are lost.

No other book of the Bible is more explicit in its description of judgment on the one hand and the saints’ eternal bliss on the other.

What a tragedy that so many pass by this book and fail to fathom its wonderful truths, thereby impoverishing their knowledge and hope in Christ Jesus.

God’s people who understand and appreciate these wonderful promises can join with John in his prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus.”

[BKC]

Three Main Thoughts: First, Remember the Seven Churches from chapters two through three (v.

16); Second, Respond favorably to the Great Invitation and take care how this Revelation is handled (vv.

17-19); Third, live life in a manner that is looking for the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ (vv.

20-21).

The visions of the Seer have closed, and closed with a picture of the final and complete triumph of the Church over all her enemies.

No more glorious representation of what her Lord has done for her could be set before us than that contained in the description of the new Jerusalem.

Nothing further can be said when we know that in the garden of Paradise Restored into which she is introduced, in the Holy of holies of the Divine Tabernacle planted in the world, she shall eat of the fruit of the tree of life, drink of the water of life, and reign for ever and ever.

Surely as these visions passed before the eye of St. John in the lonely isle of Patmos he would be gladdened with the light of heaven, and would need no more to strengthen him in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.

Was it not too much?

The Epilogue of the book assures us that it was not; and that, although the natural eye of man had not seen, nor his ear heard, nor his heart conceived the things that had been spoken of, they had been revealed by the Spirit of God Himself, not one word of whose promises would fail (22:6–9).

[EB Eph-Re]

This passage reassures of Christ's person, invites to the Gospel, warns about tampering with His Word, and encourages persecuted believers.

When rough days lie on the horizon, it is important to remember just who Jesus is, and experience the life-giving Gospel, enjoying the benefits of His Words, and live one day at a time in light of the promise of His quick return, and the provisions of His grace.

Body:

I. Messiah’s Messenger (Rev.

22:16)

[Go Slow]

A. The Angelic Purpose (v.

16a)

Note - “I Jesus”

The combination “I Jesus” occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.

Here Jesus used it to stress His role in producing this book and so to strengthen its authority (cf.

vv. 7, 12).

[Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible]

Note - “Angel”

The angel thus mentioned may in fact be John.

Once again, the word translated as angel (aggelos anggelos) literally means ‘messenger’ or ‘envoy.’

[Sorenson, UTB, IBC, Vol.

11: Heb-Rev]

Note - repetition of “witness” in this passage

Illustration: “Not Home Yet”

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for many years and were returning to New York City to retire.

They had no pension.

Their health was broken.

They were defeated, discouraged, and afraid.

They discovered that they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game hunting expeditions.

No one paid any attention to them.

They watched the fanfare that accompanied the president’s entourage, with passengers trying to catch a glimpse of the great man.

As the ship moved across the ocean, the old missionary said to his wife: “Something is wrong.

Why should we have given our lives in faithful service to God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a thing about us?

Here this man comes from a hunting trip and everybody makes much over him, but nobody gives two hoots about us.”

“Dear, you shouldn’t feel that way,” his wife said.

“I can’t help it; it does not seem right.”

When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet the president.

The mayor and other dignitaries were there.

The papers were full of news about the president’s arrival, but no one noticed this missionary couple.

They slipped off the ship and found a cheap flat on the East Side, hoping the next day to see what they could do to make a living in the city.

That night the man’s spirit broke.

He said to his wife, “I can’t take this.

God is not treating us fairly.”

His wife replied, “Why don’t you go in the bedroom and tell that to the Lord?”

A short time later he came out from the bedroom, but now his face was completely different.

His wife asked, “Dear, what happened?”

“The Lord settled it with me,” he said.

“I told him how bitter I was that the president should receive this tremendous homecoming, when no one met us as we returned home.

And when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put his hand on my shoulder and simply said, ‘But, my son, you are not home yet!’ ”10

This is evidently what the book of Revelation is all about.

It is intended to remind God’s people throughout history that this world is not their home.

As Christians go through the hardships of life, experiencing oppression and fierce opposition because of their loyalty to Christ and to the gospel, they must keep in mind that they are not home yet.

The day is coming, however, when they will be welcomed home.

The whole of heaven will be there to greet them.

Yes, indeed, come, Lord Jesus! [10 By an unknown author.

[Ranko Stefanovic, Revelation of Jesus Christ: Commentary on the Book of Revelation, Second Edition.

(Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 2009), 623–624.]]

Note - “Church” in Revelation:

This is the first reference to [the churches] since Rev. 3:22, and is also the twentieth and last reference in Revelation.

The Lord addressed the audience, not as “the Church,” but as churches....

As noted in Rev. 1:4, the NT seven assemblies of Asia, representing all NT immersionist churches, were given the exclusive eschatological unfolding of the future.

[TSC:CAJC]

B. Christ's Ancestral Promises (v.

16b)

[Climb Higher]

Note - “I Am”

This is the seventh and final use of [ego eimi] by Christ in Revelation (cf.

... Rev. 1:8, 11, 17; 2:23; 21:6; 22:13, 16).

[Strouse, TSC:CAJC]

The Gospel of John is well known for its seven “I am” sayings of Jesus.

Revelation has four: 1:8 (“Alpha and Omega”), 1:17 (“the First and the Last”), 2:23 (“I am he”), and this one.

As in John, “I am” becomes a title of Jesus and designates him as [Jehovah] of Exodus 3:14; Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12.4