How Should We Prepare For This Incredible Ending? (Revelation 22:6-21)

VIDEO 

How Should We Prepare For This Incredible Ending? (Revelation 22:6-21)

GISTS: Keep His Word, worship the truth (God), share His hope, let Him clean up your heart, come to Him for life, take Him seriously, and look forward to His return! 

After nearly a year and a half, we’re coming to the end of our study of Revelation! I hope it’s been as enjoyable for you as it has been for me, and I pray some of the unnecessary apprehension we bring to reading this message about Jesus’ character and plan has been at least a little alleviated. 

Revelation 22 starts wrapping up a picture of what Heaven will be for those who have experienced Jesus’ rescue. We closed with these words: “They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:4-5). Heaven isn’t an empty promise of fleeting comfort. It’s not vague emotionalism coming from a place of concern. It’s not a euphemism. It’s abundance. It’s life really lived. It’s truth, hope, and love permeating all eternity.

Heaven is a place of fulfillment. These verses tell us we will see the face of God. That which throughout all Scripture was too much for anyone to look upon and live will become miraculously commonplace. We will look on the fullness of His glory as we’re held in the goodness of His arms. Our entire identity will be wrapped up not in where we’ve fallen short or who we know we’re not but in belonging wholeheartedly to Jesus!

We will be free. Free from darkness and free to finally see. Night will be no more, and all the anxiety, disappointment, and despair carried in its shadows will be destroyed along with it. Instead, we will walk in His light— knowing with confidence where we’re going, why we’re here, and what life is all about.

In fact, we will be flourishing. There will be no question of purpose as we are actively part of what Jesus is doing… for all eternity. All His goodness. All His grace. All of Him—all the time.

In The Last Battle, C.S. Lewis wraps up his Chronicles of Narnia with this description which rings of eternity. “... The things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.” 

The promise of Heaven for those who cling to the rescue of Jesus isn’t a story we tell to make us feel temporarily better during difficult times. It’s the vibrant result of the breathtaking love of Christ. If nothing else I say resonates this morning, please hear that. 

The chapter, and the entire letter, now wraps up with essentially a call to be ready. So, in classic Revelation style, I’m going to break this down into 7 observations ☺️. This isn’t “how you get to Heaven” —that is by the grace of Jesus alone, by trusting in His rescue alone. This is Jesus’ call for how we should live in preparation for His return. Here’s our GIST: Keep His Word, worship the truth (God), share His hope, let Him clean up your heart, come to Him for life, take Him seriously, and look forward to His return! Let’s take this a chunk at a time and dive in.

I. Keep His Word

“6 And He said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place. 7 And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 

Here, Jesus starts by appealing to the trustworthiness and certainty of His return. He is the one who inspired all the prophets. He is the source of all truth. And… He says He’s coming back. And He says, blessed are those who keep the words of His prophecy. His words. His truth. 

I want to make two quick observations with this. First→

We should live like He’s really coming back. I don’t want to get too much into the last point during the first, but I want to at least say this: our lives should reflect that we believe this is true. This takes prayer. I know it’s hard not to just live in the moment and “say” we believe while living like we’d never expect it. It might seem like He’s significantly delayed, but we know He’s just not done yet! John was telling us Jesus’ redemptive plan has come to its final stage. All that is left is the saving of souls. When He’s done, He’ll be back. Living like that isn’t real is missing out because, well, second point→ 

Happiness comes from following His path. That’s not the popular perception. Christianity is often viewed as restrictive or out of date/out of touch. It’s not. Instead, we’re called to seek Him first, trusting that He cares about the details, and follow His lead as He guides us away from that which destroys—even if the world promotes its “benefits” —and toward abundant, hope-filled life instead.

Ok, third bonus observation. To keep His Word… you have to know His Word. Please, don’t neglect digging into the Bible.

II. Worship The Truth (God)

“8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 

I think it’s funny that this happened once in Revelation. It’s even funnier that it happened twice. Not only does this point to the contrasting parallels being drawn between the prostitute and the bride, but it also reminds us how easy it is to worship “good” instead of God. John was overwhelmed with the good and almost let it supplant God. But the angel is very clear about what’s going on. Don’t get drawn into people, or politics, or whatever else seems really powerful and even positive. Nothing else can carry the weight of your soul, worship truth… which is GOD! 

And we’re not just talking about music here. Worship is turning your heart, in all your life, toward Jesus.

III. Share His Hope

“10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” 

This passage seems to echo the words of Daniel 12: “4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." ... 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.” (Daniel 12:4, 10). The difference is Daniel was told there were things that weren’t to be shared until the end. Now, we’ve come to that time. All that remains is Jesus’ return. We’re told not to seal it but, but instead to share it. That’s why it’s so important not to miss the point of Revelation. Jesus is coming back. We’re not told to share a code to crack, but a message of judgment and hope.We’re told to share the gospel!

And He’s coming back whether we’re ready or not! That’s the implication of the filthy being filthy and the clean being clean. It’s not an admonition for sinners to live filthy or evil lives—that would impact us all. Instead, it’s acknowledging a sad reality. Jesus is coming back. When He does, our characters we’ll be known for who we are at the core. What defines you? Because the only way you’re in the righteous and holy category is if you’ve let Him do the cleaning. Which happens to be the next point ☺️→

IV. Let Him Clean Your Heart

“12 Behold, I am coming soon, bringing My recompense with Me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”

Jesus is coming with recompense, to make things right, to put things as they are meant to be. This Jesus is the Alpha and Omega—the end all be all, the meaning and source of all life. And He’s come saying: blessed are those I clean. See, we’ve seen this washing of robes imagery before. Revelation 7:14: “14 I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” It’s not something we do; it’s all about what He does. 

Do you see His love displayed in this unnecessary act? He didn’t have to come and rescue us but chose to because of His unmerited love! We are called blessed, truly happy, because we are recipients of His love! 

 In fact, love is the key to understanding these verses. You have a picture of those who receive His freely offered gift of love within His arms for all eternity those who love falsehood outside the gates. Remember, these are the same gates that are never closed. Hell is a choice; it’s choosing to love yourself over Jesus.

I know we’re getting close on time, so I’ll try to be briefer on the last three here→

V. Come To Him For Life

“16 I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 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 desires take the water of life without price.”

He sent His angel. That means He told us all this on purpose. This wasn’t leaked; it was delivered! And in this purposeful message, we’re told to→ 

Come to Jesus: The Source and Fulfillment of All Prophecy! All Scripture has pointed to His salvation. All human history centers around His coming. He is the bright morning star, light shining as darkness flees! He is the one who provides life as His gift of grace. His water isn’t free. It’s free to us because He paid the price we never could! 

We’re also told to→

VI. Take Him Seriously

“18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” 

He gave us this message on purpose. It’s a revelation of Himself and His purpose. It shows how seriously He takes both sin and redemption, we have to take Him and His Word seriously. That’s what makes preaching hard. I don’t want to give you my take; I want to show you Jesus. As we approach Scripture, that should be our desire—to see and know Him!

VII. Look Forward To His Return!

“20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”

He’s coming back! Are you ready? Are you excited? Would you have regrets if He came back today? JJ told me last week one thing she has always remembered hearing my dad say is that if we live for Jesus, we won’t live a wasted life. We’ll live lives driven by love and directed by righteousness and compassion. Then, when He returns, we’ll look forward to the beginning of chapter 1…of the book where every chapter is better than the one before!

Let’s recap with some→

TAKEAWAYS

1. Keep His Word.

2. Worship The Truth (God).

3. Share His Hope.

4. Let Him Clean Up Your Heart.

5. Come To Him For Life.

6. Take Him Seriously.

7. And Look Forward to His Return!