The book of Revelation is intended to be an unveiling rather than a cover up. It shows the end of this world and the beginning of life in eternity and Heaven. It is God who predicts the end from the beginning. The Lamb will triumph over all His enemies. To the victor go the spoils. To wrap all of the revelation that God has given we are given three important truths.

1 – The wonder of the scriptures (vs. 6-11)

• It is absolutely reliable (vs. 6). You can depend upon the Word of God. God holds the Bible in high esteem. See Psalm 138:2. God is jealous over the credibility of His Word. See Psalm 56:4 & Psalm 19:8. The Bible is the only book that we need to build marriage upon.
  
• It is accessible (vs. 10). The Bible has been revealed to the world despite attempts to suppress it. The Bible is to be revealed rather than covered up. This is why we should read the book of Revelation. The Bible reveals the mind of God. There are things that we cannot understand. There are things that we do understand that should have us concerned! There are a lot we don’t completely understand but we accept it. I.e. Electricity or flying in a plane.
  
• It is immutable (vs. 18) – There is a warning to those who try to change God’s Word by adding or taking away. We don’t have the right to change God’s Word. We didn’t write it. See Luke 21:33, Isaiah 40:8; 55:11 & Matthew 5:18.
  

2. The work of the Saviour (vs. 12-16)

Jesus is the First and the Last because He is God. See John 1:1. Jesus started things off and He is going to finish it off. Jesus is the door and the only entrance to salvation. There are pictures of this throughout the Old Testament. Jesus will consummate it all at the end.

• Jesus Christ will judge all people finally, on the basis of their works. (vs. 12) Whereas salvation is of grace, rewards are according to works. God gives us His salvation, but He pays us for our good works. In view of Jesus Christ’s soon return, Christians should be diligent to lay up treasure in heaven, while we have the time. See Matthew 6:19-21.
  
• Jesus Christ will cleanse those who confess their sins to Him (vs. 14). The word “wash” is in the present tense and is referring to daily confession for the purpose of experiencing intimate fellowship with Christ (See John 13:1-10; 1 John 1:9). The robe one wears is a figure for one’s works, which others see (19:8). People who wash their robes will have access to the Tree of Life (i.e. they will live forever in the new creation). They will also enter the New Jerusalem by its gates (i.e. Intimate fellowship with God). Is there any sin between you and the Lord? Are you keeping short accounts with God? When you sin in word, thought, or deed, do you immediately confess? If you regularly confess your sins, you will experience rich fellowship with Christ on earth and you will be blessed with a rich kingdom entrance (2 Pet 1:10-11).
  

3. The witness of the Spirit (vs. 17-21)

The Spirit is appealing to people to come to the water of life. It is one of the greatest words in the Bible. Three times the word “come” occurs in this verse (See Isaiah 55:1; John 7:37-39). The first two references from the Spirit and the bride are commands for Jesus to return. Again, there is a sense of urgency and longing. Now Jesus turns the invitation around. He invites the thirsty to come to Him and take the water of life freely. Unbelievers obviously need to take their first drink of this living water, which represents Christ, but believers also need to keep their thirst quenched by coming to Him again and again.

The one who is thirsty is the person who senses his or her need (See Matt 5:6; John 4:10). “The one who wishes” is broad enough to include every single individual. Notice that the Water of Life costs the one who comes for it nothing. It costs us nothing, but it cost Jesus Christ greatly to give Himself for us. Why do people “come” to Christ? It’s because they are thirsty. Something is lacking in their lives; they are parched because everything else seems so dry and empty. It’s not a coincidence that the Bible calls Christians the salt of the world. One simple word describes the heart of Jesus’ invitation: “Come.” In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Again in John 6:37, Jesus says, “All that the Father gives Me2 will come to Me4, and the one who comes to me I will certainly not cast out.” Every person that has ever lived or is living must come.

A certain preacher and an atheistic barber were walking through city slums. The barber said, “This is why I can’t believe in your God of love. If he was as kind as you say, he wouldn’t permit all this poverty, disease, and immorality. He wouldn’t allow these poor street people to get addicted. No, I cannot believe in a God who permits these things.” The minister was silent until they met a man who was especially unkempt. His hair was hanging down his neck, and he had a half-inch of stubble on his face. The preacher said to his friend: “You can’t be a good barber, or you wouldn’t permit a man like this to continue living here without a haircut and a shave.” Indignant, the barber answered: “Why blame me for that man’s condition? He has never come in my shop. If he had, I could’ve fixed him up and made him look like a gentleman!” The preacher said, “Then don’t blame God for allowing people to continue in their evil ways. He invites them to come and be saved.

Categories: Revelation