FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - www.faithbiblechurch.net

SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 88

TITLE: THE FINAL CALL

TEXT: REVELATION 22:13-17

INTRODUCTION: (1) ARMINIANISM AND HYPER-CALVINISM WERE BOTH AMONG THE HISTORICAL ERRORS BATTLED BY CHARLES SPURGEON WHO WAS HIMSELF A 5 POINT CALVINIST.

* SPURGEON PASSIONATELY FOUGHT BOTH OF THESE EXTREMES AND ERRORS.

** SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR STUDY TODAY, SPURGEON FOUGHT HYPER-CALVINISM.

*** AND ONE OF HYPER-CALVINISM’S MAIN ERRORS WAS AND IS TO DECLARE THAT, BECAUSE OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN SALVATION, WE SHOULD NOT EVANGELIZE THE LOST – THOSE WITHOUT CHRIST.

*** IN FACT, FELLOW BAPTISTS OF SPURGEON WHO WERE HYPER-CALVINISTS CONDEMNED HIM FOR BELIEVING THAT CALVINISTIC ORTHODOXY COULD BE HELD ALONG WITH “IMPASSIONED APPEAL TO EVERY SINNER TO COME TO CHRIST.”

(2) IN OTHER WORDS, SPURGEON BELIEVED AS THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT WE ARE TO PASSIONATELY CALL EVERYONE TO CHRIST, AND IAN MURRAY WROTE A BOOK CALLED “SPURGEON VS. HYPER CALVINISM” WHICH TALKS ABOUT THE BATTLE FOR GOSPEL PREACHING (WHICH I HAVE READ AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND.)

* BUT THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS, TRUE CALVINISTS, THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE DOCTRINES OF GRACE OR SOVEREIGN GRACE, SHOULD BE THE MOST EVANGELISTIC OF ALL CHRISTIANS.

** FOR WE BELIEVE THAT GOD SAVES SINNERS, THAT THE GOSPEL WHEN PROCLAIMED IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH.

*** AND SINCE ONLY GOD CAN SAVE A SINNER WE SHOULD PASSIONATELY DECLARE THE GOSPEL, THAT WE SHOULD PASSIONATELY OBEY THE GREAT COMMISSION, AND THAT WE HAVE THE JOY OF DECLARING THAT OUR GOD IS NOT ONLY SOVEREIGN GOD BUT ALSO SAVIOR GOD!

**** WE ARE TO CALL EVERYONE OUTWARDLY IN WHAT IS CALLED THE GOSPEL CALL TO CHRIST TO REPENT, BECAUSE GOD COMMANDS ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE TO REPENT, READ ACTS 17:30 AND ACTS 20:21.

(3) NOW AS WE CALL EVERYONE TO REPENT, AS WE GO INTO ALL THE WORLD TO PREACH THE GOSPEL, AS WE ARE WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM, IN JUDEA, IN SAMARIA AND THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH, GOD WILL SAVE HIS SHEEP, HIS PEOPLE, HIS ELECT.

* FOR THE ONES THAT WILL REPENT ARE ENABLED TO REPENT BY THE INWARD CALL OF GOD OR WHAT IS CALLED THE EFFECTUAL CALL OF GOD, READ I CORINTHIANS 1:26-29 AND ROMANS 8:30.

** AND THEN II THESSALONIANS 2:13&14 SAYS:

V. 13 – BUT WE SHOULD ALWAYS GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR YOU, BRETHREN BELOVED BY THE LORD, BECAUSE GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU FROM THE BEGINNING FOR SALVATION THROUGH SANCTIFICATION BY THE SPIRIT AND FAITH IN THE TRUTH.

V. 14 – IT WAS FOR THIS HE CALLED YOU THROUGH THE GOSPEL, THAT YOU MAY GAIN THE GLORY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

*** NOW TRUE BELIEVERS ARE THE CALLED ONES INWARDLY BUT THAT DOES NOT NEGATE OUR PRIVILEGE, OUR JOY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO CALL EVERYONE TO CHRIST.

**** AS JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 22:14, MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN, RETRANSLATED BY SOME, MANY ARE COLD AND A FEW ARE FROZEN.

(4) AND WHAT I’M TRYING TO SAY IS WE SHOULD NOT BE COLD CALVINISTS BUT COMPASSIONATE CALVINISTS, WE SHOULD NOT BE THE FROZEN CHOSEN.

* AND SOME OF THE GREAT MISSIONARIES AND EVANGELISTS IN CHURCH HISTORY WERE 5 POINT CALVINISTS LIKE GEORGE WHITFIELD, JONATHAN EDWARDS, DAVID BRAINARD AND WILLIAM CAREY.

** AND CHARLES SPURGEON WHO I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF MY INTRODUCTION HAD A GREAT BURDEN AND PASSION FOR THE LOST AND WAS NOT A COLD CALVINIST.

*** IN FACT, HE MADE THIS STATEMENT ABOUT PREACHING AND PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL TO EVERYONE, AND I QUOTE:

**** “OUR SAVIOR HAS BIDDEN US TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE (MARK 16:15). HE HAS NOT SAID, “PREACH IT ONLY TO THE ELECT,” AND THOUGH THAT MIGHT SEEM TO BE THE MOST LOGICAL THING FOR US TO DO, YET SINCE HE HAS NOT BEEN PLEASED TO STAMP THE ELECT IN THEIR FOREHEADS OR PUT ANY DISTINCTIVE MARK UPON THEM, IT WOULD BE AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK FOR US TO PERFORM. WHEN WE PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE, THE GOSPEL MAKES ITS OWN DIVISION, AND CHRIST’S SHEEP HEAR HIS VOICE, AND FOLLOW HIM.” (END QUOTE)

(5) NOW WITH THAT QUOTE IN MIND, WE NEED TO CALL SINNERS TO CHRIST, WE NEED TO INVITE SINNERS TO REPENT AND RECEIVE THE SAVIOR.

* AND IN THE LAST VERSE OF OUR TEXT TODAY WE SEE THE FINAL CALL, GOD’S LAST INVITATION TO SINNERS TO BE SAVED IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, SO IN REALITY, IN ALL THE CANON OF SCRIPTURE BELIEVING THAT REVELATION IS THE FINAL BOOK, THE LAST BOOK INSPIRED THAT MAKES UP THE COMPLETE WORD OF GOD, THE BIBLE.

** THUS, THE INSPIRED CANON OF SCRIPTURE CLOSES WITH AN URGENT INVITATION, CALLING SINNERS TO COME TO JESUS CHRIST AND RECEIVE THE FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE BEFORE IT IS FOREVER TOO LATE.

*** BECAUSE OF THAT, I’VE TITLED THE SERMON TODAY, “THE FINAL CALL.”

**** AND UNDER THAT TITLE WE’LL SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL TRUTHS DESIGNED TO PREPARE PEOPLE FOR THIS FINAL OUTWARD CALL OF THE GOSPEL.

(6) THUS I HAVE FIVE POINTS IN OUR OUTLINE TODAY AS WE WORK THROUGH THE FIVE VERSES OF OUR TEXT.

* NO. 1 THE DEITY OF CHRIST, V. 13; NO. 2 THE DELIGHT OF THOSE WHO KNOW CHRIST, V. 14; NO. 3 THE DEPRAVED, SPEAKING OF THE LOST, V. 15; NO. 4 THE DESCENDENT OF DAVID, SPEAKING OF THE MESSIAH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, V. 16; AND NO. 5 THE DEADLINE FOR SINNERS, V. 17.

** SO WE’LL LOOK AT THE DEITY, THE DELIGHT, THE DEPRAVED, THE DESCENDENT AND THE DEADLINE UNDER THE FINAL CALL.

*** AND WITH THAT SAID, LOOK AT REVELATION 22:13 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST POINT, THE DEITY OF CHRIST.

I. THE DEITY, (READ V. 13)

A. NOW CLEARLY CHRIST IS SPEAKING IN V. 13. FOR IN V. 12 HE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT HE IS COMING QUICKLY.

* AND COMING QUICKLY MAKES REFERENCE TO THE IMMINENT RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST WHICH WE LOOKED AT LAST WEEK.

** NOW JESUS SAYS “I AM THE ALPHA AND OMEGA.”

*** SO WE HAVE A CONTINUATION OF THE WORDS OF JESUS HERE.

**** AND THAT JESUS IS THE ALPHA AND OMEGA IS A STATEMENT AND A DECLARATION OF HIS DEITY, HIS DIVINITY, THAT JESUS IS GOD, ONE OF THE CARDINAL DOCTRINES OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.

1. FOR JESUS IS NOT A CREATED BEING, HE IS NOT JUST A GREAT PROPHET, HE IS NOT JUST A GOOD MORAL TEACHER AND SOME MISGUIDED MARTYR OF ONE OF MANY WORLD RELIGIONS THAT LEAD TO HEAVEN, JESUS IS GOD THE SON, HE IS THE CREATOR, HE IS GOD, THE SECOND PERSON OF THE GODHEAD, THE TRINITY AND HE IS THE ONLY SAVIOR.

* AND HIS TEACHINGS AND DECLARATIONS IN SCRIPTURE ARE NOT INCLUSIVE, BUT EXCLUSIVE, HE IS THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN, NOT ONE OF MANY WAYS.

** AND HERE IN REVELATION 22:13 IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF AN EXCLUSIVE DECLARATION BY JESUS.

*** FOR THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE ALPHA AND OMEGA, ONE FIRST AND LAST AND ONE BEGINNING AND END, AND THAT ONE IS GOD.

**** LET ME EXPLAIN. THE WORDS ALPHA AND OMEGA ARE THE FIRST AND LAST LETTERS OF THE GREEK ALPHABET, WHICH WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO THE A AND Z IN OUR ENGLISH ALPHABET.

2. JESUS IN SAYING I AM THE A AND THE Z IS DECLARING THAT HE IS EVERLASTINGLY DIVINE, THAT HE IS ETERNAL, THAT HE IS THE ONE FROM WHOM ALL BEING HAS PROCEEDED AND TO WHOM IT WILL RETURN.

* AND CLEARLY THIS IS A STATEMENT THAT HE IS GOD FOR REVELATION 1:8 SAYS: “I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA,” SAYS THE LORD GOD, “WHO IS AND WHO WAS AND WHO IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY.”

** NOW WHO IS SPEAKING IN REVELATION 1:8?

*** THE ANSWER IS THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY.

**** SO WHO IS JESUS? THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY.

3. BUT NOT ONLY DOES JESUS STATE THAT HE IS GOD BY DECLARING HE IS THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, BUT ALSO BY THE NEXT PHRASE IN V. 13, I AM “THE FIRST AND THE LAST.”

* FOR IN ISAIAH 44:6 THE LORD GOD DECLARES THIS: “THUS SAYS THE LORD, THE KING OF ISRAEL AND HIS REDEEMER, THE LORD OF HOSTS: “I AM THE FIRST AND I AM THE LAST, AND THERE IS NO GOD BESIDES ME.”

** NOW IF JESUS IS THE FIRST AND THE LAST, IT MEANS THAT HE IS GOD.

*** AND THEN AT THE END OF V. 13, JESUS SAYS, I AM “THE BEGINNING AND THE END,” AGAIN POINTING OUT HIS DEITY, FOR JESUS IS THE GOAL OF ALL THINGS, HE IS BOTH THE ORIGIN AND THE GOAL OF CREATION AS THE CREATOR OF EVERYTHING INCLUDING FAITH AND REPENTANCE AS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH IN HEBREWS 12:2.

**** AND BELOVED NONE OTHER THAN GOD COULD SHARE IN THESE TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF GOD.

4. AND THESE 3 DESCRIPTIONS COMBINED DECLARE THE COMPLETENESS, THE TIMELESSNESS AND THE KINGLY SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST.

* AND THE CHRIST THAT WE CALL PEOPLE OUTWARDLY TO IS GOD THE SON, THE SON OF GOD, THE ONLY SAVIOR.

** AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TURNED TO HIM IN REPENTANT FAITH, THERE IS DELIGHT AND SALVATION FOR ETERNITY, LOOK AT V. 14 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR 2’D POINT, THE DELIGHT.

II. THE DELIGHT, (READ V. 14)

A. NOW HERE IN V. 14, WE HAVE THE 7TH AND FINAL BEATITUDE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION WHERE THE WORD BLESSED OR HOW HAPPY IS USED.

* AND HERE, THE BEATITUDE OF DELIGHT AND HAPPINESS IS FOR THE ONE WHO HAS WASHED THEIR ROBE.

** AND WASH THEIR ROBES HAS OLDER MANUSCRIPT EVIDENCE THAN THE PHRASE “THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS” IN THE KJV AND NKJV.

*** WITH THAT SAID, THOSE WHO HAVE WASHED THEIR ROBES ARE CHRISTIANS, THEY ARE ONES WHO HAVE THEIR FILTHY ROBES OF SIN WASHED IN THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST WHO MAKES OUR FILTHY ROBES CLEAN IN HIS FORGIVENESS AND IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS TO OUR ACCOUNT BY FAITH ALONE.

**** AND THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE WASHING FROM SIN THAT MARKS SALVATION WILL FOREVER EXPERIENCE THE DELIGHT OF HAVING THE RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE.

1. FOR TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE SIMPLY MEANS THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO PARTAKE OF THIS TREE LOCATED IN THE NEW JERUSALEM IN REVELATION 22:2 WHICH WE’VE ALREADY STUDIED.

* SO THOSE WHO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE AND THOSE WHO WILL HAVE FULLNESS OF LIFE PARTAKE OF THIS HEALTH GIVING TREE IN THE NEW JERUSALEM.

** AND THOSE GRANTED ACCESS TO THE TREE OF LIFE WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER BY THE GATES INTO THE CITY.

**** MEANING HEAVEN-THE NEW JERUSALEM IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CLEANSED FROM THEIR SINS BY FAITH AND IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, FAITH IN HIS DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION FOR SINNERS.

2. AND THOSE WHO HAVE WASHED THEIR ROBES ARE CLEAN AND HAVE ACCESS TO THE NEW JERUSALEM, THEIR ETERNAL HOME, SO WHAT A DELIGHT.

* BUT IN CONTRAST TO THE DELIGHT OF THOSE WHO WASH THEIR ROBES ARE THE ONES STILL IN THEIR SINS, THE UNFORGIVEN, THE DEPRAVED. LOOK AT V. 15 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR THIRD POINT, THE DEPRAVED.

III. THE DEPRAVED, (READ V. 15)

A. NOW THOSE BANISHED FROM THE NEW JERUSALEM, WHO WILL NEVER HAVE ACCESS TO CHRIST, THOSE OUTSIDE, THOSE WITHOUT, THOSE IN THE LAKE OF FIRE ARE THE DEPRAVED WHO HAVE NEVER TURNED TO CHRIST IN REPENTANT FAITH FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF THEIR SINS.

* AND THAT OUTSIDE, THOSE WITHOUT, THE BANISHED IS SPEAKING OF THOSE IN THE LAKE OF FIRE IS COMMUNICATED IN REVELATION 21:8.

** FOR REVELATION 21:8 IS ALMOST A CARBON COPY OF SINS DESCRIBED AS A SUMMARY LIST OF SINS PRACTICED BY THOSE IN THE LAKE OF FIRE, READ REVELATION 21:8.

*** NOW THE LIST IN OUR TEXT TODAY HAS ALL THE SINS MENTIONED IN REVELATION 21:8 WITH ONE EXCEPTION, THE INCLUSION OF THE WORD DOGS TO BEGIN THE LIST.

**** AND THE INCLUSION OF DOGS MAY SEEM STRANGE AT FIRST BUT UNDERSTAND THAT DOGS IN ANCIENT TIMES WERE NOT PETS ON THE WHOLE, THEY WERE SCAVENGERS, THEY WERE DIRTY, SOMETIMES THEY WERE DISEASED AND SOMETIMES DANGEROUS.

1. THUS TO CALL SOMEONE A DOG WAS TO DESCRIBE A DIRTY FILTHY PERSON, SOMEONE OF LOW CHARACTER, SOMEONE THAT WAS IMPURE, AND HERE A SYNONYM FOR AN UNSAVED PERSON, SOMEONE THAT WAS STILL DIRTY NOT CLEANSED FROM THEIR SINS, THOSE IN THIS CONTEXT WHO HAVE NOT WASHED THEIR ROBES IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.

* AND THOSE WHO ARE DOGS, THE DEPRAVED, THOSE WHO ARE CHARACTERIZED THE FIVE SPECIFIC SINS LISTED IN THE REST OF V. 15 WILL NOT BE IN THE NEW JERUSALEM, THEY ARE OUTSIDERS, AGAIN BECAUSE THEIR ROBES HAVE NOT BEEN WASHED.

** AND THE 5 SINS LISTED AFTER CALLING UNSAVED PEOPLE DOGS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF CHARACTERISTICS OF PEOPLE THAT WILL BE IN THE LAKE OF FIRE.

*** THESE ARE SINS IF PRACTICED AS A NORM SHOW THAT THAT PERSON HAS NOT HAD THEIR ROBE WASHED BY CHRIST.

**** AND SINCE I COVERED THESE 5 SPECIFIC SINS OF SORCERY, IMMORALITY, MURDER, IDOLATRY AND LYING IN REVELATION 21:8 IN DETAIL, I’M NOT GOING TO REPEAT THEM HERE FOR TIME’S SAKE.

2. BUT SIMPLY SAID, THOSE WHO PRACTICED THESE SINS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THEY ARE OUTSIDERS, AND NEED TO COME TO CHRIST FOR SALVATION IN CHRIST ALONE.

* IN FACT, THESE PEOPLE NEED TO TURN TO THE DESCENDENT OF DAVID, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TO HAVE THEIR ROBES WASHED.

** WHICH LEADS US TO OUR FOURTH POINT TODAY, THE DESCENDENT, LOOK AT V. 16 PLEASE.

IV. THE DESCENDENT, (READ V. 16)

A. NOW THE EXPRESSION “I, JESUS” APPEARS ONLY HERE IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE.

* AND THIS EMPHATIC SELF DESIGNATION BY JESUS SERVES TO PUT SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON WHAT HE IS ABOUT TO SAY.

** AND WHAT HE SAYS TO JOHN, THE HUMAN AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK OF PROPHECY-THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS, “I HAVE SENT MY ANGEL TO TESTIFY, TO DECLARE TO YOU THESE THINGS FOR THE CHURCHES.”

*** AND THROUGHOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION AND SPECIFICALLY FROM REVELATION 21:9, JESUS-GOD, HAS USED ANGELS AND AGAIN FROM REVELATION 21:9 TO OUR CURRENT TEXT AS MESSENGERS TO DECLARE AND REVEAL AND CARRY OUT HIS WILL.

**** AND THE MESSAGE THAT HAS BEEN REVEALED IN REVELATION BY ANGELS THROUGH JOHN IS INTENDED FOR THE 7 CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR SPECIFICALLY AND IN THE PLAN OF GOD TO ALL CHURCHES.

1. AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE WORD CHURCHES HAS BEEN USED SINCE THE END OF REVELATION CHAPTER 3.

* SO THE LORD HIMSELF HERE AT THE END OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION PUT HIS DIVINE SEAL OF APPROVAL ON THIS BOOK.

** BUT AFTER THIS DIVINE SEAL OF APPROVAL, JESUS MAKES TWO STATEMENTS ABOUT HIMSELF AND THE FIRST ONE IS PROFOUND.

*** HE SAYS: “I AM THE ROOT AND DESCENDENT OF DAVID.”

**** NOW THE NAME DAVID IS MAKING REFERENCE TO DAVID THE PAST KING OF ISRAEL.

2. AND THE ROOT OF DAVID MAKES REFERENCE THAT DAVID IS THE ANCESTOR OF CHRIST, JESUS IS THE ROOT OF DAVID, THE ONE FROM WHOM DAVID SPRANG, THE ONE FROM WHOM HE ULTIMATELY CAME FROM-DAVID’S CREATOR IS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT DAVID INTO EXISTENCE.

* BUT JESUS IS ALSO THE DESCENDENT OF DAVID, OF DAVID’S GODLY LINE FROM WHOM THE MESSIAH WOULD COME, THE RACE OF DAVID, A JEW.

** DAVID’S FATHER WAS JESSE THROUGH WHOSE LINE THE MESSIAH-JESUS CHRIST WOULD COME IN ISAIAH CHAPTER 11 AND FULFILLED IN MATTHEW IN THE GENEALOGY OF CHRIST AND DECLARED IN ROMANS 1:3 THAT JESUS WAS BORN A DESCENDENT OF DAVID.

*** SO WHAT DO WE HAVE IN CHRIST? THE GOD-MAN. FOR THE PHRASE ROOT AND DESCENDENT OF DAVID COMMUNICATES THAT JESUS WAS 100% GOD AND 100% MAN.

**** FOR IN HIS DEITY, CHRIST IS DAVID’S ROOT AND IN HIS HUMANITY HE IS DAVID’S DESCENDENT.

3. AS TO HIS DEITY HE IS DAVID’S CREATOR AND AS TO HUMANITY HE IS DAVID’S DESCENDENT.

* JESUS COMMUNICATES THAT HE IS THE GOD-MAN, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER WAY THAT ONE COULD BE BOTH THE ANCESTOR AND DESCENDENT OF THE SAME PERSON.

** JESUS IS BOTH DAVID’S LORD AND DAVID’S SON.

*** BUT MOVING ON JESUS GIVES HIMSELF ANOTHER TITLE HERE AT THE END OF V. 16, “THE BRIGHT MORNING STAR.”

**** AND A MORNING STAR APPEARS ONLY WHEN NIGHT IS ALMOST OVER AND THE DAY IS READY TO START.

4. A MORNING STAR PRECEDES AND THUS HERALDS THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY, IT APPEARS IN THE SKY BEFORE THE SUN RISES.

* AND CHRIST IS THE BRIGHT MORNING STAR, AND THE ADJECTIVE BRIGHT BEFORE THE WORDS MORNING STAR COMMUNICATES THAT JESUS IS THE SHINING MORNING STAR, THE BRILLIANT MORNING STAR, THE CLEAR MORNING STAR, THE SPLENDID MORNING STAR AND THE MAGNIFICENT MORNING STAR.

** AND WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF TALKING ABOUT HIS COMING IN A REPEATED WAY IN THE EPILOGUE OR CONCLUSION OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION, JESUS IS THE GREAT SHINING ONE THAT APPEARS BEFORE THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY UPON THE EARTH.

**** AND CHRIST WILL APPEAR WHEN THE NIGHT IS ALMOST OVER, THE MORNING STAR ANTICIPATES THE DAY.

**** AND CHRIST IS LINKED TO THE CHURCHES IN V. 16 AND HE WILL DELIVER THE CHURCHES FROM THE TRIBULATION, DAYS OF THE TRIBULATION WILL BE SHORT-7YEARS, AND A NEW DAY WILL DAWN.

5. REMEMBER THE MORNING STAR APPEARS BEFORE THE DAWN. SO THE BRIGHT MORNING STAR APPEARS IN THE SKY WHICH JESUS WILL DO IN THE RAPTURE BEFORE THE SUN RISES.

* AND WE TEACH ESCHATOLOGICALLY THAT CHRIST WILL FIRST COME TO THE CHURCH AS THE BRIGHT MORNING STAR, A BRIGHT NEW DAY IS COMING FOR THE CHURCH ONE DAY AND FOR ALL BELIEVERS OF ALL TIME.

** AND SO WHAT IS THE CRY OF THE CHURCH TO THE LORD COME, AND WITH HIM COMING, AN INVITATION IS GIVEN, A DEADLINE FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN REPENTANT FAITH IN CHRIST. LOOK AT V. 17 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIFTH AND FINAL POINT, THE DEADLINE.

V. THE DEADLINE, (READ V. 17)

A. NOW JOHN MACARTHUR IN HIS COMMENTARY ON REVELATION 12-22 SAYS THIS FROM THE OUTSET OF V. 17 WHICH I THINK WILL BE HELPFUL FOR US HERE, HE SAID AND I QUOTE: “THERE ARE TWO DISTINCT INVITATIONS IN THIS VERSE, DELINEATED BY THE EXCLAMATIONS “COME.” THE FIRST PART OF THE VERSE IS A PRAYER ADDRESSED TO CHRIST; THE SECOND PART IS AN INVITATION ADDRESSED TO SINNERS. THE FIRST PART CALLS FOR CHRIST TO COME; THE SECOND PART IS THE LAST CALL FOR SINNERS TO COME TO FAITH IN CHRIST.” (END QUOTE)

* AND IT APPEARS TO ME THAT JOHN NAILS THE PROPER INTERPRETATION HERE CONTEXTUALLY.

** FOR NO. 1 WHAT IS THE THEME OF THE CONCLUSION OF THE EPILOGUE OF REVELATION 22:6-21?

*** WELL, V. 7 I AM COMING QUICKLY; V. 12 I AM COMING QUICKLY; V. 20 I AM COMING QUICKLY, COME LORD JESUS.

**** SO THE RETURN OF CHRIST IS A THEME. BUT ALSO, TO WHOM IS CHRIST SENDING THE MESSAGE ULTIMATELY TO? THE CHURCHES.

1. SO WHAT SHOULD BE THE CRY OF THE CHURCH? EVEN SO COME LORD JESUS. AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE IN THE FIRST PART OF V. 17.

** AND THE SPIRIT-THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO INDWELLS THE CHURCH-ALL BELIEVERS AND MAKE IT THE TEMPLE OF GOD SPIRITUALLY, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO DESIRES TO GLORIFY AND LIFT UP CHRIST SAYS THROUGH THE BRIDE, AND THE BRIDE IS THE CHURCH IN THIS CONTEXT GOING BACK TO V. 16.

** SO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH’S CRY IS COME BACK LORD JESUS.

*** THIS IS AN EXCLAMATION, NOT AN INVITATION IN THE FIRST TWO PHRASES HERE. IN FACT THE NIV TRANSLATES IT THIS WAY.

**** THE NIV SAYS: “THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY, COME! (EXCLAMATION POINT) AND LET HIM WHO HEARS SAY, COME! (EXCLAMATION POINT) WHOEVER IS THIRSTY, LET HIM COME, AND WHOEVER WISHES, LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY.”

2. AND RALPH EARLE IN HIS BOOK WORD MEANINGS IN THE N.T. COMMUNICATES THIS SAME IDEA. HE SAYS AND I QUOTE:

* “ALL TOO OFTEN WE HEAR THIS VERSE READ IN PUBLIC AS IF ALL THREE OCCURRENCES OF “COME” WERE PARALLEL. THE READERS HAVE GIVEN THEM EQUAL EMPHASIS. BUT THE FIRST TWO ARE QUOTATIONS (“COME!”) WHILE THE THIRD IS INDIRECT AND SHOULD BE SOUNDED DIFFERENTLY. THIS IS HELPED BY THE WORDING IN THE NIV.” (END QUOTE)

** SO THE FIRST IS AN EXCLAMATION BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH FOR JESUS TO COME BACK!

*** NOW THE SECOND EXCLAMATION HAS TO DO WITH THOSE WHO HEAR THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE, TO JOIN IN AND SAY, COME BACK LORD JESUS.

**** AND WHO ARE THE ONES WHO HEAR? WELL, I QUOTE MACARTHUR HERE AGAIN FOR FRANKLY I JUST CAN’T SAY IT ANY BETTER. MACARTHUR SAID AND I QUOTE:

3. “THE PHRASE LET THE ONES WHO HEAR SAY, “COME” INVITES THOSE WHO HEAR THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE TO JOIN WITH THEM IN CALLING FOR CHRIST’S RETURN. OBVIOUSLY, THEY CANNOT DO SO UNTIL THEY COME TO FAITH IN HIM; ONLY THE REDEEMED CAN TRULY LONG FOR HIM TO APPEAR.”

* HE WENT ON TO SAY, “THE ONE WHO HEARS WITH FAITH AND BELIEVES IS THE ONE WHO WILL BE SAVED, BECAUSE “FAITH COMES FROM HEARING AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF CHRIST” (ROMANS 10:17). HEARING IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH OBEDIENCE IN SCRIPTURE (E.G. MATTHEW 7:24; LUKE 6:47; 8:21; 11:28; JOHN 5:24; 18:37). THOSE WHO HEAR AND OBEY THE GOSPEL WILL JOIN WITH THE SPIRIT AND BRIDE IN CALLING FOR THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST, BECAUSE THEY DESIRE HIS GLORY-AND THEIR OWN DELIVERANCE FROM SIN’S PRESENCE-IN THE REALM OF PERFECT HOLINESS.” (END QUOTE)

** NOW I THINK JOHN NAILS THE INTERPRETATION BECAUSE HE IS SO TEXT DRIVEN.

*** BUT I MUST KEEP MOVING, THE THIRD COME IS NOT AN EXCLAMATION, BUT AN INVITATION TO COME TO CHRIST FOR THOSE WHO ARE THIRSTY AND WISH TO TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE WITHOUT COST-FREELY.

**** AND THIRST IS A FAMILIAR SCRIPTURAL METAPHOR DESCRIBING THE STRONG SENSE OF SPIRITUAL NEED THAT IS A PREREQUISITE FOR REPENTANCE.

4. JESUS SAID IN JOHN 6:35 (READ IT). ALSO READ JOHN 7:37.

* AND IF YOU ARE HERE WITHOUT CHRIST TODAY, GOD FREELY OFFERS THE WATER OF LIFE TO THOSE WHOSE HEARTS ARE THIRSTY FOR FORGIVENESS OF THEIR SINS THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

** IF YOU ARE THIRSTY TODAY, COME TO JESUS CHRIST AND DRINK, THAT IS YOUR INVITATION.

IN WRAP UP: (1) MAY WE NOT BE COLD CALVINISTS OR HYPER-CALVINISTS THAT DO NOT CALL PEOPLE TO CHRIST.

* MAY WE BE BIBLICAL AND COMPASSIONATE CALVINISTS THAT PASSIONATELY LIKE SPURGEON, WHITFIELD AND EDWARDS CALL PEOPLE TO REPENTANCE AND FAITH.

* AND IN APPLICATION, WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU CALLED SOMEONE OUTWARDLY IN THE GOSPEL CALL TO REPENTANCE AND FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST?

** IF YOU CAN’T REMEMBER, I’M FEARFUL IT’S BEEN TOO LONG.

*** FOR THE LORD GIVES ALL HIS FOLLOWERS OPEN DOORS TO CALL PEOPLE TO CHRIST. AND WHEN HE OPENS THE DOORS MAY WE BE LED BY THE SPIRIT, BOLD IN THE SPIRIT, TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST WHICH ALWAYS BRINGS GLORY TO OUR GOD.

**** AND I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY OFFER, THAT IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE NOT A TRUE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, AS A GUY OR A COUPLE, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER TO GO THROUGH A 10 WEEK EVANGELISTIC STUDY OF THE GOSPEL WHICH WE CALL THE RED BOOK. IT WOULD BE A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR.

(2) BELOVED, MAY WE PRAY AND PUT FEET TO OUR PRAYERS TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL, TO APPLY PSALM 96:3, READ IT AND PRAY.

V. 13 – “I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE

FIRST AND THE LAST, THE BEGINNING AND THE END.”

V. 14 – BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO WASH THEIR

ROBES, SO THAT THEY MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO

THE TREE OF LIFE, AND MAY ENTER BY THE GATES

INTO THE CITY.

V. 15 – OUTSIDE ARE THE DOGS AND THE

SORCERERS AND THE IMMORAL PERSONS AND

THE MURDERERS AND THE IDOLATERS, AND

EVERYONE WHO LOVES AND PRACTICES LYING.

V. 16 – “I, JESUS, HAVE SENT MY ANGEL TO

TESTIFY TO YOU THESE THINGS FOR THE CHURCHES.

I AM THE ROOT AND THE DESCENDANT OF DAVID,

THE BRIGHT MORNING STAR.”

V. 17 – THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY, “COME.”

AND LET THE ONE WHO HEARS SAY, “COME.” AND

LET THE ONE WHO IS THIRSTY COME; LET THE ONE

WHO WISHES TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE WITHOUT

COST.