Revelation 22:16-21

It has been a while since I shared a teaching, and it has been wonderful to hear from the other men and what God has been teaching us through them — a powerful reminder that we are all one body, each given a portion of the Holy Spirit so that each of us has something to offer for the mutual benefit of one another. We are now at the very end of the Bible, and this chapter holds the anticipation every Christian has: everything we hope and long for, revealed beforehand, and the confirmation of our hope and salvation — the King himself signing his name to show it is official.¶

"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."

Revelation 22:16 (ESV)¶

The King signs his name¶

Here Jesus himself signs his name, putting his mark, making it clear this is from him. He is telling his church: you can trust the message John received, no matter how hard it is to believe. In his great mercy and love he sent his messenger to reveal the ultimate consummation of everything we know and the triumphant entrance into what is to come. How often are we unsure whether the Lord has spoken — whether what we feel is from him or from ourselves — asking, "Lord, how do I know it's from you?" Here Jesus leaves no room for confusion. He confirms, without any shadow of a doubt, that this revelation is from him. He loves his churches and did not want to leave us without understanding of what is to take place.¶

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.

Revelation 22:17 (ESV)¶

The Spirit and the Bride¶

Notice it starts with the Spirit and the Bride — because they are one. The bride of Christ is the bride only because the Spirit of God indwells her; she is with God by the power of the Holy Spirit alone. We have head knowledge of this, but sometimes forget that the Holy Spirit lives in us — that we are the dwelling place of God: "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16); he "has put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee" (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). The only reason we would ever tell anyone about Jesus is the Spirit working in and through us; without him we would still be dead in our sin. And this verse is an invitation — an altar call from the Spirit and the church. Notice what it does not say. It doesn't say "pray this prayer," or "believe now to avoid the bad things you just read about." It says: let the one who is thirsty come — the one who recognizes his need for living water, who has been wandering in the desert. The fact is, the world is thirsty; that is the natural state of every man walking in rebellion to God. Every man searches for something to quench the thirst in his soul. The actor and comedian Russell Brand, who recently professed faith in Christ, shared that he had spent his life filling the void in his heart with false gods and false worship — anything other than the true God; he was thirsty, but looking for the water of life in all the wrong wells. Jesus calls the thirsty to come to the fountain and drink for free — to come to the very source of life, which they could never pay for anyway. The Spirit and the Bride say "Come" because we know what that water tastes like, how satisfying it is, and we know the name of its source.¶

Are you thirsty?¶

If we do not get our life from the source, we will try to get it from false things. How many of us have tried again to drink from other wells and found ourselves dry all over again? We replace the word of God with YouTube and Instagram, prayer and communion with gossip and complaint, deep and perfect satisfaction with shallow discontentment. Are you thirsty? Let us not forget we have access to the true and perfect source of life — it is free and never-ending; it does not run dry or go bad. But we must take. We must dip our cup in. We must stay attached: "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me" (John 15:4). Unless. If we do not abide in Christ, we will shrivel and bear no fruit.¶

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, 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.

Revelation 22:18-19 (ESV)¶

Handle this book with care¶

Near the close, the Holy Spirit gives a strong warning to everyone who reads or hears this book: do not add to it, and do not take away from it. This is why it matters so much how this book is taught and read. As I taught through Revelation, there were many times I could have skipped over parts — times my preconceived ideas, theology, and dispositions were challenged by what is said. But I knew I needed to deal with everything; I could not glance over what didn't align with my narrative. Instead I had to wrestle with it and ask God to help me see and understand. As a note: I don't think this warning is aimed at believers genuinely trying to understand this prophecy who innocently overlook parts of it. The warning is that the offender will lose his share in the tree of life — so it speaks of someone who does not believe in Jesus and twists these words to his own advantage or to confuse those who do. We always take such verses in connection with all of Scripture: the only thing that saves is whether one believes in Jesus Christ and his work on the cross, not how we treat Revelation. But the one who believes in Jesus will take his words to be true and heed his warning — and anyone who heeds this warning is, in that very moment, believing what Jesus says.¶

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

Revelation 22:20-21 (ESV)¶

Come, Lord Jesus¶

The Lord does not end his revelation with a warning, but with a short message to his bride: "Surely I am coming soon." And the bride answers her Groom: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" Then John closes with a word to everyone: "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen." Jesus is coming. Amen.¶