Coming Quickly

• 1^st – Inside the City… vs. 1-5
  • 1^st – River of Life… vs. 1
    • Pure Water…
      • He showed me a pure river of water of life – clear as crystal!
      • As the ANGEL continued to TOUR John through the NEW Jerusalem…
      • He showed him – THREE more things that are found INSIDE the City…
      • FIRST – there is a RIVER that runs through it…
      • It is PURE – CLEAR – like CRYSTAL – all three adjectives emphasis it has NO impurities!
      • There are certain things we NEED to survive…
      • Other than AIR – WATER is the most essential thing needed for LIFE…
      • But imagine picking up a cup water on a hot day – only to see it is FILTHY…
      • The last thing we want when we are THIRSTY – is DIRTY water!
      • Life – TRUE life – cannot be found in drinking DIRTY water…
      • Yet the WATER of this world – is FILTHY – so it can NEVER satisfy us – John 4:13
      • The WATER of this life only serves to remind us we are still THIRSTY…
      • We will ONLY be satisfied when we drink the PURE water in the NEW Jerusalem!
      • John 4:14 – “The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
    • The Throne…
      • [The river] proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb!
      • Do NOT miss the source of this RIVER – it flows out of God and Jesus [the Lamb]
      • This is NOT the only place we read about this – it was prophesied in the Psalms!
      • Psalm 46:4 – “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God… God is in the midst of her – she shall not be moved.”
      • Everyone in life has a World View – what they see as the meaning of LIFE…
      • The problem is the World View of most people is based on a LIE …
      • Therefore they are confused – because they are NOT content…
      • Because rather than believe the TRUTH – they believe the LIE this world can satisfy them!
      • We were NOT created by God to be fulfilled by the things of this world…
      • We were created by God to know Him – worship Him – John 17:3
      • And only when we are willing to come to the TRUTH – and drink from the RIVER of LIFE…
      • Will we find that we are IMMOVABLE – because we have found the meaning of LIFE!
  • 2^nd – Tree of Life… vs. 2
    • From the Garden…
      • In the middle of her street – and on either side of the river – was the tree of life!
      • SECOND – there is a TREE that grows beside the RIVER – next to the MAIN street of the city…
      • It is a TREE that we have seen before in the Bible – the TREE of LIFE…
      • It was planted in the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve – Genesis 2:9
      • But when they SINNED – their access to the TREE was cut off!
      • Genesis 3:24 – “[God] placed cherubim… to guard the way to the tree of life.”
      • We lost access to the TREE of Life – because we chose the TREE of Knowledge…
      • We thought we did NOT need God – and would be ok on our own…
      • We have spent the last 6000 years proving we were WRONG!
    • Twelve Fruits…
      • Which bore twelve fruits – each tree yielding its fruit every month!
      • The TREE is ALWAYS bearing fruit – a different kind for each MONTH of the year…
      • TWELVE fruits – likely a reference to the GOVERNMENT of the NEW Jerusalem!
      • Just like there were TWELVE tribes of Israel – and TWELVE apostles of Jesus…
      • The TREE of life will produce a FRUITFUL government to rule over the city!
      • We do NOT have a perfect Government today – it is VERY flawed…
      • And it does not matter what COUNTRY – or WHO gets into power…
      • EVERY government today will be flawed – because they are led by SINFUL men!
    • Healing leaves…
      • The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations!
      • This is not some new fad vegetarian diet…
      • I do not think the NATIONS [ἔθνος] will eat the leaves to be healed [θεραπεία]
      • It is a reference to the health of the NATIONS because of a good GOVERNMENT!
      • When Israel demanded that Samuel give them a KING…
      • God told the prophet – they are not rejecting you – they are rejecting Me – I Samuel 8:7
      • Because Israel already had a KING – they were ruled by God!
      • The best form of government is not DEMOCRACY – that looks to SINNERS to make CHOICES…
      • It is not SOCIALISM – because that depends on SINNERS to do what is RIGHT…
      • The only GOVERNMENT that works – is a THEOCRACY – where God is on the THRONE…
      • Because then we are NOT trusting in FLAWED men to lead…
      • We look to the LORD – who brings LIFE – to HEAL the nations!
  • 3^rd – The Throne… vs. 3-5
    • The Curse…
      • When Adam and Eve chose to eat of the TREE of knowledge – that God told them NOT to…
      • They rejected the WORD of God – and the CURSE began!
      • Genesis 3:17 – “Cursed is the [earth] for your sake.”
      • We are still under that CURSE – because people still reject the WORD of God…
      • Rather than look to the Jesus [the Word] – people still look to KNOWLEDGE…
      • We live in a world that DENIES our creator – believing they are an accident [Evolution]
      • Not because it is true – they believe it because they LOVE their SIN!
      • I Corinthians 16:22 – “Anyone does not love the Lord Jesus – let him be accursed [ἀνάθεμα].”
      • Or they DENY the Word of God – because they follow the RELIGIONS of men…
      • All RELIGIONS are an attempt by men to be GOOD – but they all come up short!
      • Galatians 1:9 – “If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received – let him be accursed [ἀνάθεμα].”
    • Jesus Throne… vs. 3
      • There shall be no more curse [singular].
      • The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in [the city] – and His servants shall serve Him!
      • THIRD – in the NEW Jerusalem there will be NO more CURSE…
      • Because the THRONE of God and Jesus [Lamb] will be there…
      • And everyone will CHOOSE to be SERVANTS [δοῦλος] of the Lord…
      • They will CHOOSE to obey His Word – and Love Jesus!
      • John 14:15 – “If you love Me – [obey] My commandments”.
      • If it seems like no matter what we do in life is NOT working – perhaps we are CURSED…
      • Because the ONLY way to have a BLESSED life – is by OBEYING and LOVING Jesus!
      • Often – we get frustrated with our CHOICES – NOT knowing what to do…
      • We want to know which way we should go – but it really does not matter…
      • Rather than worry about the DECISION – all we have to do is CHOSE who to trust in…
      • If we are looking to Jesus – no matter what we do – we will be BLESSED!
      • Psalms 1:3 – “[Then] whatever [we] do will prosper!
    • Jesus Face… vs. 4
      • They shall see His face – and His name shall be on their foreheads!
      • Because the THRONE is in the NEW Jerusalem – we will SEE the face of God…
      • Which makes sense – if we are in the city WITH God – we will SEE God…
      • And He will write His name on our foreheads [we will be marked as His]!
      • Moses wanted to see the FACE of the Lord – Exodus 33:18
      • God would let His GOODNESS [כָּל־טוּבִי] pass before Moses – and He would call out His name…
      • But no man can look on His FACE and live – Exodus 33:20
      • Because God is HOLY – therefore SINFUL man would perish in the pure light of God!
      • When we come to the NEW Jerusalem – we NO longer have sin…
      • We will be in our glorified bodies – and be able to look upon our HOLY God!
      • Job 19:26 – “After my body has [died] – yet in my [new] body I will see God.”
    • Jesus Light… vs. 5
      • There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun.
      • For the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever!
      • Because the THRONE is in the NEW Jerusalem – there will be NO night – Revelation 21:25
      • No more need for a light on our cell phones to see at night…
      • Because the Lord [κύριος] who is THE only God [ὁ θεὸς] – will be the LIGHT!
      • John 1:9 – “[Jesus] is the true Light… that [came] into the world.”
      • People can get so excited when they see something they have always wanted…
      • But that excitement does NOT last – and they move on to something else!
      • But when we see Jesus [who is God] – no one will want to move on…
      • Which is why once we get there – we will STAY – and REIGN [indicative] with Him FOREVER!

• 2^nd – The Timing… vs. 6-7
  • 1^st – Time is near… vs. 6
    • The Words…
      • Then he said to me – These words are faithful and true.
      • And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants!
      • The Angel then told John – these the [ὁ] WORDS [λόγος] are FAITHFUL and TRUE…
      • FAITHFUL – because they are meant to cause us to have FAITH [πίστις] in a crazy world…
      • TRUE – because we can be absolutely certain they will come to pass…
      • The WORDS – are referring to the WHOLE book of Revelation:
      • THREE times – PAST – PRESENT – FUTURE – Revelation 1:19
      • THREE events – RAPTURE – WRATH – RETURN of Jesus
      • THREE judgements – SEAL – TRUMPET – and BOWL judgments
      • And the same God who spoke in the PAST through the Holy [ἅγιος] Prophets…
      • Now sent the ANGEL – to show His servant [δοῦλος] what is coming!
    • The Timing…
      • The things which must shortly take place!
      • The events of the book of Revelation – must be done QUICKLY [τάχος]
      • It has been 2000 years since these WORDS were given to John…
      • That certainly does not qualify for happen SOON…
      • What this means that once the events begin – this will all happen FAST!
      • When a mother is carrying a new child – not much seems to happen…
      • Until the very last minute – when the LABOR begins – then things move FAST!
      • Matthew 24:8 – “These are the beginning of birth pains.” [NIV]
      • It is easy to get comfortable – and think we still have TIME…
      • After all – it has already been 2000 years – why would Jesus come now…
      • But we are NOT waiting for the RETURN of Jesus – we are WAITING for the RAPTURE…
      • And that could happen at any MOMENT – when we least expect it!
      • I Thessalonians 5:2 – “The day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.”
  • 2^nd – Jesus is coming… vs. 7
    • Behold – I am coming quickly!
      • BEHOLD – a command [imperative] to LOOK…
      • Because Jesus is coming [present] – and it will happen QUICKLY [τάχος]
      • How FAST will Jesus come – in the BLINK of an eye!
      • I Corinthians 15:52 – “In a moment – in the twinkling of an eye… we shall be changed.”
      • The simple point being – if we are not READY – we will miss out on the Rapture…
      • We do NOT know the day or the hour when Jesus will return – Mark 13:32
      • But we must be preprepared – live each day like this might be THE day!
      • Luke 21:28 – “Look up and lift up your heads – because your redemption draws near.”
    • Blessed…
      • Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book!
      • HAPPY [μακάριος] is the person who pays ATTENTION [τηρέω] to this BOOK!
      • HAPPY – because we are going to understand that time is SHORT…
      • And understand what is at STAKE – the Lake of FIRE – or NEW Jerusalem…
      • We know who WINS – and are HAPPY if we chose to be on His side!

It can take who are SINNERS and make them into SAINTS!

3^rd – The Warning… vs. 8-11

1^st – Unprepared… vs. 8-9

Overwhelmed…

Now I – John – saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw.

I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things!

When John saw and heard all of this he was OVERWHELMED…

He fell down and WORSHIPED the ANGEL who was showing Him the NEW Jerusalem…

This is the SECOND time that John tried to worship and Angel – Revelation 19:10

Worship God…

Then he said to me – See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant…

Of your brethren the prophets – and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!

Immediately the ANGEL told him NOT [imperative] to do that…

He was no different than John – he was also just a SERVANT [σύνδουλος]

Like one of the PROPHETS – or anyone who keeps the word of this BOOK [all of us]

Instead – only WORSHIP [imperative] God!

We tend to worship the messenger – rather than the one who sent the message…

The danger is people [including pastors] are destined to fail – we are ALL sinners…

And if we have put our faith in a FLAWED man – rather than in a PERFECT Lord…

When that man stumbles – makes a mistake – we will fall with him!

2^nd – Unsealed… vs. 10

He said to me – Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book – for the time is at hand!

When Daniel had finished his prophecy – he was told to SEAL the book – Daniel 12:9

Because it was NOT yet TINE for the PLAN of God to be revealed…

But the Angel asked John – do NOT [subjunctive] seal this book…

Because NOW was the time for the PLAN of God to be revealed…

And the only way people are going to KNOW what that PLAN is – is through the WORD!

The two most important parts of any STORY – are the BEGINNING and the END…

Yet the two books of the Bible that most churches avoid – are Genesis and Revelation!

Many churches argue Genesis is IRRELEVANT – contrary to approved modern Science…

And they argue Revelation is too CONFUSING – or too CONTROVERSIAL…

But what they are actually doing is choosing to SEAL up the words of the BOOK…

We need to stand up and UNSEAL it – let people KNOW!

Romans 10:17 – “Faith comes by hearing – and hearing by the word of God.”

3^rd – Unchanged… vs. 11

Sinners…

He who is unjust – let him be unjust still. He who is filthy – let him be filthy still!

Why is it so IMPORTANT for us to UNSEAL the Word…

Because when Jesus comes – there will NOT be time for anyone to CHANGE…

The SINNER [ἀδικέω] will just keep on [present] choosing [active] to SIN…

The FILTHY [ῥυπαίνω] will be continually [present] choose [active] to be UNCLEAN!

Until it is TOO late – and they end up standing before the Great White Throne!

Righteous…

He who is righteous – let him be righteous still. He who is holy – let him be holy still!

But the RIGHTEOUS [δίκαιος] – are [aorist] made [passive] RIGHTEOUS…

The HOLY [ἅγιος] – are [aorist] made to be [passive] HOLY still!

There is a SUBTLE – but MAJOR – difference between the UNJUST and RIGHTEOUS…

Where men CHOOSE [active] to live [present] a SINFUL life – that makes them FILTHY…

God can MAKE [passive] us RIGHTEOUS and HOLY – in a moment [aorist]

I Peter 3:21 – “Removal of the filth [ῥυπαίνω]… comes through the resurrection of Jesus.”

We have the ANSWER the world needs – we have the WORDS of the BOOK…

But like John we have a CHOICE – do we SEAL those words – or SHARE them…

If we are willing to tell others – the Gospel has POWER – Romans 1:16