REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 22.11

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

(Continued)

 

Introduction

Annunciating the final thoughts of Jesus’ testimony in Revelation is enlightenment to believers. At this juncture, the truths that have been proclaimed are consequences of salvation or damnation. There are no more messages of repentance. And salvation is no longer an option.

 

The condition of mankind’s conduct cannot be altered. Reprobates formerly on earth have already received their just punishment at the Great White Throne Judgment. Their eternal destination is damnation to outer darkness. And, they are forever separated from God. Oppositely, the regenerated enter the eternal City of Gold.

 

Now that Christ’s Revelation has been completed, there is a warning for the present. It is an implied reminder to be prepared (make yourself ready) for the Lord’s coming.

 

 

(Verse 11)

 

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

 

A person’s response to the Gospel in this life will determine a person’s eternal destiny. When time is fulfilled and Christ arrives, opposing destinies are fixed.

 

The Lord contrasts types of applicable people:

A. The unjust and filthy

Excluded from the City, is the vile, wicked, and sinful people. One is considered unclean and filthy before God. The Greek translation renders more clarity to the text, He that doeth unjustly, let him do unjust still, i.e., let him continue to be more unjust.

 

Daniel elaborates on this concept:

Daniel 12:10 - Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

 

His advice is for believers to realize the nature of their conduct.

 

B. The righteous and holy

True characteristics of the saintly are pure, sanctified, consecrated, and morally blameless. These are those justified before the eyes of God, and their eternal reward is secured in Heaven.

 

The rationale of verse 11: If people do not heed the prophecy of this Book, they will deliberately continue in their wickedness. Those who heed will be transformed and do what is righteous. There is a marked difference between those who have accepted and possess Christ and those who reject Him.

 

 

(Verse 12)

 

And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

 

First, Jesus speaks in this verse and reiterates the second time (cf. v.7) He is coming quickly (without delay). The verb come is in the present tense indicative and connotes a futuristic, but impending action, i.e., His coming is imminent.

 

Secondly, the assurance of His reward is added as a beneficial encouragement to the faithful. It is one of the fundamental truths found throughout the letters to the Seven Churches (cf. Revelation 2-3).

 

Christ’s announcement is reminiscent of what Isaiah prophesied:

Isaiah 40:10 - Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him: behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.

 

And finally, every man will receive justly according to his work (singular). Inward and outward behavior is considered work. Also, one’s urgency is to proclaim the Gospel message to unbelievers. This is an encouragement for all to be faithful.

 

After He walked on water, Jesus said to the crowd the following day:

John 6:29 - Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He (God) hath sent.

 

 

(Verse 13)

 

I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.

 

Jesus continues to personally speak by recounting the fourth time (cf. 1:1, 11; 21:6) He is the One who exists from eternity past to eternity future.

 

Alpha is the first word of the Greek alphabet and Omega, is the last. The Greek alphabet is the modern vernacular of koine (common) Greek. This simple dialect was developed and spread throughout the Greek Empire by Alexander the Great, which the Romans embraced.

 

Incidentally, the title of Christ is the First and the Last was pronounced at the beginning, and now at the close of Revelation. He is the only one who can speak with eternal authority. Revelation is His testimony (1:2).

 

Compellingly, the Lord’s authoritative title is delineated by Scripture:

Proverbs 8:3 - I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.

 

Isaiah 43:10 – Ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me.

 

John 10:30 - I and My Father are One.

 

 

(Verse 14)

 

Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the City.

 

John, the Apostle writes the last of seven blessings* pronounced in the book of Revelation. One is blessed (happy) and does the Lord’s commandments. Alternatively, there is a rendering of this blessing from which some of the better manuscripts translate. They read:

Blessed are they that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb. (DBT)

Washing their robes designates an internal cleansing, whereas implementing His commandments is an external counterpart. Earlier in his epistle to a Christian community, John wrote:

1 John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.

 

So, the washing of someone’s robe in the blood of the Lamb seems more relevant to the context. It implies a sanctification or purification process before one can enter into the presence of God and become a recipient of the three rewards referenced:

1. They will be blessed by the cleansing process

2. They will be blessed to partake of the Tree of Life

3. They will be blessed to enter the gates of the City

 

Naturally, this blessedness is well decided before entrance into Heaven. And, it appears to be directed toward the people or nations living outside the City.

*[For review, the seven blessings are listed in Revelation                                  Study 1.1]

 

 

(Verse 15)

 

For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

 

An unusual list of characters is placed in the Epilogue as an incentive for unbelievers to take heed:

Initially, John speaks to those who have been sanctified by Christ’s blood on the Cross at Calvary (v. 14). Now, he addresses those who have rejected God’s saving grace. Sadly, the list of people who may never enter the new Heaven and Earth and its City gates is unattractive and despicable.

 

The Irredeemable  

Seven vile reprobate characters are thus disclosed:

1. Dogs

a.  Generally, in a negative sense, dogs symbolize all that is deplorable, gross, and disgusting. Eastern nations of the ancient world considered them nothing but filthy scavengers.

 

Many Old Testament passages document semi-wild dogs wandering about the city streets devouring dead bodies.

One of many for example:

1 Kings 16:4 - Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat.

 

In the New Testament, Luke gives an account of dogs licking a poor man’s sores:

Luke 16:21 – And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

 

 

b.  Biblically, dogs speak of people who are morally impure or unclean. Three groups are noteworthy:

1. They were symbolic of pagan Gentiles:

Matthew 15:27 - …yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

 

2. They were Paul’s label for Judaizers, false apostles, and teachers:

Philippians 3:2a - Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers.

 

3. They were one of many unnatural perversions:

Philippians 3:2b - Beware of the concision (self-mutilators).

 

c.  Specifically,

One Mosaic Law identifies sodomites, homosexuals, and male prostitutes as being abominable dogs:

Deuteronomy 23:17-18 - There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

      

2. Sorcerers – Practitioners of the magical arts, witchcraft, and sellers and users of drugs

 

3. Whoremongers – Fornicators, adulterers, and any sexual activity outside of marriage

 

4. Murderers – Those who commit homicide, killers

 

5. Idolaters – Worshippers of an idol or image other than God

 

6. Lovers of Lies – Persons who have an affection for lies, delight in, and love to hear falsehoods

 

7. Practices Lies – Deceivers or inventors of deceptions

 

This is the same list of individual types in Revelation 21:8 (see Revelation Study 21.5), except dogs are replaced with the abominable. All aforementioned are excluded from the pure and holy habitation of the new Heaven, earth, and Jerusalem.

 

Commentary

It is noteworthy to mention:

A. Saints have been guilty of the same practices, however, they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, i.e., justified, redeemed, or born-again believers. They will receive their due reward Heaven has to offer for eternity.

 

B. Unbelievers, on the contrary, are those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of their life and will receive their just reward for their sins. Their doom is being separated from God and cast into outer darkness forever.

       Words of the Psalmist concur:

Psalm 1:6 - For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

 

 

In the following study, both Jesus and John will give their final testimony to the prophecies of this book. Afterward, a promise by Jesus and a benediction by the Apostle conclude the study of The Revelation to John, The Apocalypse. 

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   Are there any allowances after the Great White Throne?

2.   What are two classifications of people?

3.   What is acceptable work that warrants a reward?

4.   What is the believer’s final blessing?

5.   Why is this blessing the most important?

6.   Why does Jesus acknowledge detestable characters?

7.   Why are dogs at the top of the list?

 

 

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