Revelation 22:12 My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
The more we do for Christ now, the more we’ll be rewarded then. A godly minister was nearing the end of his life when his friends encouraged him to relax and take it easy. To this he replied, Shall I not run with all my might now that I have the finish line in view? (Charles Simeon).
Another minister was approaching death, but also worked relentlessly. To those who urged him to rest he said, Would you have the Lord find me idle when he comes? (John Calvin). Believers should greet every day as a new opportunity to store up future reward.
Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, and correspond to our A to Z. If you made a list of everything your heart desires, it could run a hundred pages or more. But every item on your list would begin with a letter from A to Z. Our greatest reward in heaven won’t be what we receive from Christ, but Christ himself. He is our Alpha and Omega.
Revelation 22:16 I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.
These two names for Christ find their source in the Old Testament. As the Root and the Offspring of David, Jesus is both his ancestor and his descendent. David had many descendants, but only one who was also his ancestor. Jesus existed before and after David; he is the Root and the Offspring—eternal in both directions.
As the bright Morning Star, Jesus signals the passing of night. When Venus appears in the east, it means the sun will soon appear. The first coming of Christ was like the morning star; his return will be like the sun. The first coming of Christ assures us that the full light of day is almost here.
Revelation 22:17 Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
This is the last invitation in the Bible for sinners to come to Christ. It echoes the words of Jesus during his earthly ministry. Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink (John 7:37). Water is essential to life, and Jesus gives eternal life. In order to receive eternal life, we must come to Jesus Christ.
A twelve-year-old boy asked his mom to leave his room because he had to talk to God. The next morning he announced that he had become a Christian, and was ready to be baptized. Putting our faith in Jesus Christ isn’t complicated, but it does require an act of the will. If you haven’t come to Christ before, this would be a good time.
Revelation 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:
If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
This is a severe warning not to add or take away the book of Revelation. We find similar statements elsewhere in the Bible. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it (Deuteronomy 4:2), wrote Moses. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar (Proverbs 30:6), wrote Agur.
Churches that accept the Bible alone as their authority come to similar conclusions on most important points. But when any person, book or tradition is given the same or greater authority than the Bible, the Bible’s teaching will always be distorted.
There have also been some who subtract from the Bible. Marcion of Sinope was a church leader in the second century, who thought the God of the Old Testament was incompatible with God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. So he gutted the Bible by rejecting the entire Old Testament, and many parts of the New.
We probably disagree with Marcion, but we’re all inclined to focus on the parts of the Bible we like, and to ignore the parts we don’t. But All Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), wrote Paul. It takes the whole Bible to make a whole Christian, and a whole church. Whenever you come to a verse you don’t like, be sure to read it twice. God may have something to say to you.
Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
As John wrote these words, he was sitting in exile on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9). When he heard Jesus say, I am coming soon, his heart’s reply was, Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
One indication that you’re ready for the return of Jesus Christ is that you truly want him to return. If you’re engaged to be married, but aren’t looking forward to the wedding, you’re not ready to be married. Jesus doesn’t want to return to a church that doesn’t want him to return. He wants to return to a church that longs for his appearing. Like a child waiting for Christmas, the church should be waiting for the soon return of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
John concluded with a pronouncement of grace, followed by the word Amen. This is the last word of the Bible, and occurs over fifty times from Genesis to Revelation. It means It is true! So be it!
Everything the Bible has said about the past has come true, and everything the Bible says about the future will come true. The most remarkable thing about the Bible, in fact, is that it’s actually true.
Many question the idea of truth, but if someone tells you that you’ve won the lottery, it matters whether or not it’s true. Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ has won the ultimate lottery. To that John says, Amen. It is true! So be it!
Reflection and Review
Why do some people add to or take away from the Bible?
Why is Revelation a suitable ending to the Bible?
What do you think of the Bible?
The more we do for Christ now, the more we’ll be rewarded then. A godly minister was nearing the end of his life when his friends encouraged him to relax and take it easy. To this he replied, Shall I not run with all my might now that I have the finish line in view? (Charles Simeon).
Another minister was approaching death, but also worked relentlessly. To those who urged him to rest he said, Would you have the Lord find me idle when he comes? (John Calvin). Believers should greet every day as a new opportunity to store up future reward.
Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, and correspond to our A to Z. If you made a list of everything your heart desires, it could run a hundred pages or more. But every item on your list would begin with a letter from A to Z. Our greatest reward in heaven won’t be what we receive from Christ, but Christ himself. He is our Alpha and Omega.
Revelation 22:16 I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.
These two names for Christ find their source in the Old Testament. As the Root and the Offspring of David, Jesus is both his ancestor and his descendent. David had many descendants, but only one who was also his ancestor. Jesus existed before and after David; he is the Root and the Offspring—eternal in both directions.
As the bright Morning Star, Jesus signals the passing of night. When Venus appears in the east, it means the sun will soon appear. The first coming of Christ was like the morning star; his return will be like the sun. The first coming of Christ assures us that the full light of day is almost here.
Revelation 22:17 Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
This is the last invitation in the Bible for sinners to come to Christ. It echoes the words of Jesus during his earthly ministry. Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink (John 7:37). Water is essential to life, and Jesus gives eternal life. In order to receive eternal life, we must come to Jesus Christ.
A twelve-year-old boy asked his mom to leave his room because he had to talk to God. The next morning he announced that he had become a Christian, and was ready to be baptized. Putting our faith in Jesus Christ isn’t complicated, but it does require an act of the will. If you haven’t come to Christ before, this would be a good time.
Revelation 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:
If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
This is a severe warning not to add or take away the book of Revelation. We find similar statements elsewhere in the Bible. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it (Deuteronomy 4:2), wrote Moses. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar (Proverbs 30:6), wrote Agur.
Churches that accept the Bible alone as their authority come to similar conclusions on most important points. But when any person, book or tradition is given the same or greater authority than the Bible, the Bible’s teaching will always be distorted.
There have also been some who subtract from the Bible. Marcion of Sinope was a church leader in the second century, who thought the God of the Old Testament was incompatible with God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. So he gutted the Bible by rejecting the entire Old Testament, and many parts of the New.
We probably disagree with Marcion, but we’re all inclined to focus on the parts of the Bible we like, and to ignore the parts we don’t. But All Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), wrote Paul. It takes the whole Bible to make a whole Christian, and a whole church. Whenever you come to a verse you don’t like, be sure to read it twice. God may have something to say to you.
Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
As John wrote these words, he was sitting in exile on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9). When he heard Jesus say, I am coming soon, his heart’s reply was, Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
One indication that you’re ready for the return of Jesus Christ is that you truly want him to return. If you’re engaged to be married, but aren’t looking forward to the wedding, you’re not ready to be married. Jesus doesn’t want to return to a church that doesn’t want him to return. He wants to return to a church that longs for his appearing. Like a child waiting for Christmas, the church should be waiting for the soon return of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
John concluded with a pronouncement of grace, followed by the word Amen. This is the last word of the Bible, and occurs over fifty times from Genesis to Revelation. It means It is true! So be it!
Everything the Bible has said about the past has come true, and everything the Bible says about the future will come true. The most remarkable thing about the Bible, in fact, is that it’s actually true.
Many question the idea of truth, but if someone tells you that you’ve won the lottery, it matters whether or not it’s true. Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ has won the ultimate lottery. To that John says, Amen. It is true! So be it!
Reflection and Review
Why do some people add to or take away from the Bible?
Why is Revelation a suitable ending to the Bible?
What do you think of the Bible?