Revelation 22:12-21
“And behold, I come quickly . . .” (v. 12). The speaker is Jesus. He shall come quickly and shall reward every man according to his works. Every man is accountable to God for his works because we have been instructed by Him to have works. Jesus has commanded us to love one another as He loves us. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus has commanded us to go and to teach all people in all places of God’s love. The time of His coming and the time in which we shall be held accountable coincide. Our accountability is to Him who is the beginning and end (v. 13).
“Blessed are they . . .” (v. 14). This is the seventh and final “blessed” recorded in the book of Revelation. Each “blessed” is linked to doing as Jesus has instructed. Those who do as Jesus has commanded have the right to the tree of life. Adam and Eve lost the right to the tree of life when they embraced Satan’s lies. The right to the tree of life is regained when one believes upon Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life (Jn. 14:6). The city which the “blessed” may enter is the new Jerusalem. Only believers may pass through its gates and dwell in the everlasting presence of God and the Lamb.
Verse 15 speaks of them who are not blessed. It speaks of them who chose to believe Satan’s lie. They did not repent and are forever barred from entering the new Jerusalem. They are without hope. Their eternity is set in the lake of fire.
Verse 16 points all who have the ears to hear and the eyes to see to Jesus’ message to the church at Thyatira. The church at Thyatira was infested with doctrines of Satan. To those in the church who had not pursued the way of Satan and remained steadfast in their faith, Jesus promised to give the morning star, a direct reference to Himself (Rev. 3:28). The blessed of verse 14 includes them of Thyatira who focused their worship upon the Son of God alone.
The Lord has told us that He shall come quickly because He wants us to be ready. He wants us to know that He and the Father are one. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. It is Alpha and Omega who shall give to each according to his works. We are told these things because God desires that we have works for which we may receive reward.
Not all who read these words hear what God says. Read verse 14 again and listen. God tells His listeners how to be blessed. The first thing which the Lord tells us is to follow His commandments. Jesus summarized all of His commandments in Matthew 22:37-40. We are to love God with all our heart and love one another as ourselves. The Lord Jesus Christ punctuated the instruction to love one another in John 15:12. We are to love one another with the love of Him who gave His life for us. We are to do the Father’s will.
The blessing of the right to enter into the new Jerusalem and to eat of the tree of life is dependent upon doing God’s will. It is God’s will that none should perish, that all should come to repentance (II Peter 3:9). Not all, however, shall come to repentance. Those who are barred from the city are vile and impure individuals (v. 15). For those who shall experience the judgments poured out during the Great Tribulation, being a doer of God’s will requires an unyielding refusal to take the mark of the beast.
In verse 16, the Lord speaks directly to us. He tells us that He has sent His angel (His messenger) to testify of “these things in the churches.” The Lord sent His angel, not an angel, but His angel. This action is cause for us to listen with heightened awareness. Important messages are entrusted to important messengers. In His message to the seven churches, the Lord both faulted and commended the churches for their works. It is important that we continually review our works. That which is good, we need continue, but that which is not expedient, we need correct. It is important that we do so.
It is eternally important because He is the Promised One (the root and offspring of David) and He is the beginning of a new and glorious day (the bright and morning star). The One who said, “I come quickly; and my reward is with me,” is the new and glorious day.
In verse 17, the invitation is to come and to take of the water of life freely. The invitation is issued to whosoever who will take of the water. There are two different but related parties which issue this call to come. The first is the Spirit and the bride. The Holy Spirit and the church (the bride) are not separate. The bride is empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The second call to come is issued by them who hear. All who truly hear God speak, act upon His word. Those who do not act, do not hear. The bride has heard, has acted (drank of the water of life), and continues to act (issues the invitation to come). The second party (those who hear) is comprised of those who earn the future right to drink of the water of life by their action (refusing to take the mark of the beast) in the instance of those who are not taken up to meet the Lord in the air.
The invitation to come is of God the Holy Spirit and all who shall hear and act upon the Spirit’s call. He that shall come quickly has spoken.
In verses 18 and 19, the Lord issues a warning that His judgment will fall upon anyone who would add to or take away from the words of prophecy in this book. While this warning is construed by some to apply only to the book of Revelation, it applies to all scripture. Revelation is linked to all scripture which precedes it. God’s plan of salvation (the Lamb without blemish who would be slain) was in place before Genesis 1 (I Pet. 1:20).
“Surely I come quickly” (v. 20). These are the last words spoken by the Lamb to His church. They are words of love. He desires from the depths of His being that we not forfeit that which He has prepared for them who love Him. Let us correct our ways and receive the fullness of His love.
