The Final Words of John and Jesus – Part 2 | Revelation 22:13-21 | Richard Caldwell

Scripture

• Revelation 22:13–21

About this sermon

Introduction: The Lord Jesus is coming. He is coming quickly. He personally promises that (vs.12). He also tells us that He is bringing with Him what IS HIS TO GIVE — His reward. He describes His coming in a way that promises blessing but also warns of judgment. Every person will meet with the Lord Jesus on the basis of works. Unbelievers will be judged for their sins. They will be condemned forever on the basis of their works. Believers will be judged for their service. They will be blessed, rewarded, on the basis of their works. The best works an unbeliever can offer will prove unacceptable to God and regarded by God as filthy rags. The people who stand in the grace of God through faith in Christ are able to offer acceptable works because those works are presented through the forgiveness, grace, and mercy that found in Jesus. The final section of revelation amounts to a closing invitation and a closing exhortation. I. THE ONE WHO IS COMING (vs.13) He is completely qualified to judge the living and the dead. He is completely qualified to judge believers and unbelievers. A. HE IS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Jesus is the one from the whom all has proceeded and the one to whom it will all return. This is a clear declaration of the deity of Jesus Christ. ESV Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Jesus is God. B. HE IS THE FIRST AND THE LAST This particular title is only used of Christ in this book but it is used of the Father in the Old Testament. ESV Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: "I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. ESV Isaiah 48:12 "Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. He is saying, “I am the cause of all things, and I am the end of all things.” C. HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END All that has happened in this world of time is the outworking of His ultimate purpose for all things. The ultimate purpose began with God and God will bring it all to completion. Again, this is used of the Father in Revelation 21. ESV Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. So, when Jesus says that He is the beginning and the end, He declares that He is one with the Father — He is almighty God. II. THE ONES WHO WILL MEET HIM (vs.14-15) When the Son of God has come, and we arrive at the end of time, what kind of people will have existed? ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVER LIVED WILL THEN BELONG TO ONE OF TWO CATEGORIES. The presence of Christ will mean blessedness for some, and His presence will mean damnation and judgment for the rest. A. THE BLESSED ONES To whom will Christ’s coming mean blessing?

Topics

• Bible Study
• Self-Control
• Jesus Christ
• Prophecy & End Times