REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 22.6

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

 

Chapter Twenty-Two

 

The Epilogue of Jesus Christ

 

 

Introduction

At this point, the prophetic visions to John are completed. He is brought back to the present, and through him, the glorified Lord imparts an invitation or postscript to everyone. These last words of Christ have a sense of urgency so believers may be readily prepared to enter the Holy City, drink from the water of life, and eat from the Tree of Life freely.

 

Also, the reader is reminded and informed that Revelation was written by Jesus Christ, and what has been revealed is the divine absolute truth.

 

David encapsulated the essence of Jesus’ thought when he reverently wrote:

Psalm 138:2 - I will worship toward Thy holy Temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy name.

 

Additionally, as the remaining verses express summation and finality, the born-again reader should experience blessed edification and the unbeliever, a personal need for repentance.

 

Speakers

Three speakers are identified in the final verses:

1. One of the angels – Interpreting the things to come        (Vv. 6. 9-11)

 

2. The Lord Jesus Christ – Reiterating His delayed return     (Vv. 7, 12-13, 16, 20b)

 

3. The Apostle John – Identifying himself as the author        (Vv. 8, 14-15, 17-20a, c, 21)

 

 

1. The New Heaven and Earth (21:1-8)

2. The New Jerusalem’s Description (21:9-22:5)

3. The Epilogue from the Glorified Lord (22:6-21)

(Verse 6)

 

And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to shew unto His servants the things which must shortly be done.

 

A. The Last Message to John (Vv. 6-19)

As a reminder directed toward Christians, John is told by the angel to write down that the sayings of Christ are faithful and true. This is the second time he is told to write these exact words (cf.  Revelation 21:5).

 

By way of review:

A. Faithful (pistos, pistoi) – Its synonyms include reliability and trustworthiness

B. True (alēthinos, alēthinoi) – Its synonyms include genuineness and absolute authenticity

 

In particular, what is recorded in Revelation is not symbolism, an imponderable mystery, or from the imagination of John. They are the direct words of Christ relayed to John through His angel (cf. Revelation 1:1-2). No other book in the Bible insists on being tantamount to veracity. Jesus Christ reiterates, affirms, and testifies to its highest authority. These Words are solely His (cf. Revelation 22:16).

 

The Lord God of the holy (spirits of the) prophets

This is an interesting phrase. In essence, God spoke through His prophets, thus fortifying what Peter intrinsically wrote in his epistle:

2 Peter 1:21 - For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

God...sent His angel to shew unto His servants the things which must shortly be done

Presently, the end of Revelation comes full circle to what was said at the beginning of the book. In doing so, the message of the Apocalypse is distinctly reemphasized.

 

The phrase shortly be done connotes the same as shortly begin to be accomplished, soon come to pass, take place very soon, or come to a quick conclusion. This is the nature of Jesus revealing His prophetic truths to mankind.

 

 

(Verse 7)

 

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

 

Subsequently, in this last remarkable exhortation of Scripture, the Lord speaks and says for the first of three times: I come quickly (Vv. 12, 20). Behold (lo, look) is in the Greek second person singular imperative, and quickly (tachu) is defined as speedily, rapidly, or without delay.

 

On the other hand, many times the Lord has emphasized the idea of being watchful. Specifically, the proper attitude of the saints is a continual prayerful watching for His coming (cf. Matthew 25:5-6, 13).

 

Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book

The sixth of seven beatitudes of Revelation is pronounced as being achieved. These assuring and confirming words are an embodiment of the spirit of the entire Apocalypse.

 

Special blessings and contentment are promised for those individuals who heed the words of this book. Keep (plural) in Greek is tēreō, meaning holding on to, preserving, observing, or obeying. It refers to retaining personal faithfulness and purity.

 

So, Jesus is repeating the same comments He spoke at the outset of Revelation, yet with something missing.

Revelation 1:3 - Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep (singular) those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

 

The misplaced words are readeth and heard. Since one has already read and heard Christ's revelation, it is now one’s duty to continuously retain what has been read or heard, so that he or she is ready to live and reign with Him forever and ever.

 

 

(Verse 8)

 

And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

 

The Impact on John

Upon obtaining and writing many things throughout the entire Apocalypse, John was so overwhelmed he responds in three ways:

1. He reaffirmed he was the eyewitness who heard and saw these things, not something related to him by someone else

a.  After observing the Transfiguration, Peter, along with James and John made this similar remark:

2 Peter 1:6 - For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but (we) were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

 

2. He prostrated himself at the feet of the special messenger

a.  John fell in the same manner in the beginning, and was comforted by the Lord:

Revelation 1:17 - And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the First and the Last.

 

3. He began to worship the angel who shewed him Revelation

a.   John fell into the same error as before and was reproved by the angel

Revelation 19:10 - And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.

 

 

(Verse 9)

 

Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

 

 

Advice to John

Akin to the same advice he was informed in Revelation 19, the angel associates himself by pointing out three attributes:

1. The angel is a fellow servant of John

a.  An associate who serves the same Master

 

2. The angel is a brother to the prophets

a.  A co-worker who serves the same Master

 

3. The angel is a brother to those who observe Revelation

a.  A colleague obedient to the same Word

b.  Keep – Its definition is to follow, heed, or obey

 

The key command particularly to John’s advice is, “Worship God.” Worship is in the aorist imperative active tense of the Greek language. Since God is the object of worship, the immediate ultimate priority of John, angels, and a Christian's life is to revere God and His incarnate Son, Jesus Christ. There is no person or anything else in Heaven and on Earth worthy of being worshipped.

 

 

(Verse 10)

 

And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

 

The angel in charge explains to John two things in verses nine and ten:

A. What to do

In the last verse, John is told by the angel what to do, i.e., worship God

 

B. What not to do

In this verse John is told what not to do, i.e., the prophecy of revealed truth is not to be sealed or kept secret

 

Daniel’s Prophecy

The order contradicts what the prophet Daniel was instructed six hundred years prior. Three directives were thus given to Daniel:

Daniel 8:26 – And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

 

Daniel 12:4 – But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

 

Daniel 12:9 - And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

 

The Justification

Even though Daniel and John’s prophesies pertain to the same event, they are not only foretold differently, but they are from two different covenantal periods. The primary reason for not sealing and sealing remains essentially twofold:

A. Daniel’s prophecy was to be sealed because the events were distant. God’s work had not yet been completed

 

B. John’s prophecy was not to be sealed because the events were at hand. God’s work has been completed

 

Above all, God wants His plan of the ages in this book or scroll to be clearly understood.

 

For the time is at hand

Now that John’s prophetic vision is completed, the phrase the time is at hand reveals that nothing else will be added. Saints are to be made aware the end is neigh (near) and happening soon. Conversely, knowing this, they will comprehend and prepare for their future reign with Christ.

 

 

Next, the last communications to John are continued.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   Why does Revelation benefit unbelievers?

2.   Who are the three speakers in the final verses?

3.   Why is Revelation faithful and true?

4.   How many blessings does one receive from Revelation?

5.   Why is John told not to worship the angel?

6.   Why is the book of Daniel sealed and Revelation not?

7.   Explain the phrase, the time is at hand.

 

 

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