Sermon Notes | 8.11.24
Revelation 22
The River of Life
[1] Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb [2] through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. [3] No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. [4] They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. [5] 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.
Jesus Is Coming
[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.”
[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.”
[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.”
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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. (ESV)
Dream Bigger About Life
“John is careful to add the warning that this inclusivity specifically does not stretch to anything accursed. This is necessary for the same reason that one does not allow smoking in a library or the playing of radios in a concert hall. That which ruins the beauty and holiness of God’s new city is ruled out by definition.” – N.T. Wright
[3] No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
[4] They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. [5] 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.
Dream Bigger About Jesus
[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.
[16] I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.
“Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Humans feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex.”
“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing.”- C.S. Lewis
Dream Bigger About Blessing
1. Blessed is the one who reads aloud, hears, and keeps the words of this prophecy (1:3)
2. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord (14:13)
3. Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on (16:15)
4. Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:9)
5. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection (20:6)
6. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book (22:7)
7. 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. (22:14)
The Four States of Man
- State of Innocence (Able not to Sin)
- State of Nature (Not able not to Sin)
- State of Grace (Able not to Sin)
- State of Eternity (Not able to Sin)
“You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (The Message)
A Prayer for Salvation
“Heavenly Father, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever before believed, but through your Son Jesus I can be more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you that he lived the life I should have lived and paid the debt and punishment I owed. Receive me now for his sake. I turn from my sins and receive him as Savior. Amen.”