9/12/18 Revelation 22:12-21 “Only whosever will may come! No others!”

 

Revelation 22:12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

 

behold, I come quickly – behold, I come without delay – see Revelation 22:7

rewardmisthos (dues paid for work; wages; hire; reward [and punishment as well])

to giveapodidomi (to deliver; to sell (for profit); pay off; discharge a debt; wages; tribute; taxes; render account; conjugal duty; give back; restore; recompense [either for good or bad]) Here it probably means to restore or to give back; to pay the wages according to each man’s work (that which has been accomplished in service for God).

Isaiah 62:11Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward [is] with him, and his work before him.

 

You will reap the crop you sow in life. (This statement demands freedom of will, to take responsibility for your own choices.)

Galatians 6:7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

 

All will be judged, even those who escape the lake of fire! All, including Christians, will be judged according to everything they have done in life.

2 Corinthians 5:10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

 

Earthly treasures (those that can only be spent on earth) will not last, and you can’t take them with you. Heavenly treasures (those that are sent forward to heaven, and generally have little or no buying power on earth) will be there for eternity. That is, you will receive the reward for what you have sent ahead of you.

Matthew 6:19-2119 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Many Christians will be more or less bankrupt in heaven!

 

Revelation 22:13I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

 

Alpha and Omega – (Also Revelation 1:8; 1:11; 21:6) A statement of the eternal nature of God. In fact, this verse focuses entirely upon God who has no beginning nor end, the I AM who was present before the creation of the universe. Isaiah 43:13aYea, before the day [was] I [am] he;

That which is eternal must by logical conclusion also be the Creator at the beginning and the Judge at the end.

 

Revelation 22:14Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

 

They that obey His commandments are happy and blessed. They that love God also obey Him (John 14:15). They by right of adopted sonship may have free access to the tree of life (that which Adam and Eve had access to yet lost when they sinned). They by right of their inheritance in Christ may enter His city.

 

Christ has been appointed heir of all things (in all creation, that is).

Hebrews 1:2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

 

God’s people (the redeemed) are inheritors of His will through Christ.

Acts 26:18To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

1 Peter 1:4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

 

For we are joint-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:15-1715 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.

 

The key to entrance to new Jerusalem is obedience. They who obey God will have the right of access to both the tree of life and new Jerusalem. Access by right means through the gate; no climbing of the wall for unauthorised access here. Note the wedding guest who didn’t have the required garments (which were necessary to signify righteousness) in Matthew 22:11-1411 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few [are] chosen.

 

Righteousness has to assume that clean white spotless garments must be worn. See Zechariah 3:3-53 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by.

 

Revelation 22:15For without (outside) [are] dogs (impure or impudent ones; filthy ones), and sorcerers (pharmakos), and whoremongers (pornos), and murderers, and idolaters (eidololatres – worshippers of false gods), and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie (approves of and tells/commits a lie – pseudos). See Revelation 21:8

 

For outside are the ones who do not have that same right of access, like the man who didn’t have the proper wedding garment. Their clothing is still putrid because they have not permitted God to apply the cleansing of the cross.

 

These are the ones who do not inherit!

1 Corinthians 6:9-109 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 15:50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

 

Outside is described in Matthew 22:13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

See Revelation 21:8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

 

Revelation 22:16I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches (ekklesia). I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright (lampros) and morning (or early) star (aster).

 

rootrhiza (root; shoot from a root; offspring; progeny) Thus Christ is the shoot from the root which is David. A similar idea is seen in the following:

Isaiah 11:1And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

offspringgenos (offspring; stock; descent from a particular people) Thus similar to “Son or descendant of David”.

Note Romans 1:3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

 

Jesus has sent His angel to bear witness to John concerning what was to happen to the churches. This probably involved (a) immediately: the messages to each of the 7 churches (Revelation 2 & 3) and (b) eventually: all the churches to the end of time. That is, what is written in Revelation is to be of benefit to the church from its beginnings until the end of the church age.

 

the bright and morning star – clearly symbolising the first brightness of the dawning new day.

Numbers 24:17I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

And to the church at Thyatira:-

Revelation 2:26-2826 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star.

 

The morning star symbolises the announcement of the coming dawn of the day, in particular, of rejoicing after the night of weeping as in Psalm 30:5For his anger [endureth but] a moment; in his favour [is] life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy [cometh] in the morning.

 

Revelation 22:17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

 

God’s people cry out in unison with the Spirit to the bridegroom through Father God, saying, “Come!”

Romans 8:14-1714 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.

 

Let the one who hears them cry out, “Come!” also desire to join them in this chorus, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come to the water of life and let him partake freely (as a gift) of that water of life. This is a message for all the Church age.

John 4:14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

All the needs of God’s people will be met: the bridegroom will come, the thirsty will drink, and any who wish may drink freely (as a gift) of life itself.

 

Revelation 22:1818 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.

 

For I testify – This could be either Christ speaking, or John as the writer testifying to the accuracy of that which he has recorded. Some opinions say it’s the angel, but logically it is either Christ or John who testifies. Vs 20 below does suggest that it is Christ speaking, but again, John could merely be faithfully recording the words exactly as he has received them.

In this way Paul seems to be faithfully recording what he has received in:

1 Corinthians 11:23aFor I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you

 

It is possible, I think, that it is John recording the words in Vs 18 & 19 yet Christ who speaks them in Vs 20. The KJV generally notes all of this as being said by John, apart from “Surely I come quickly” in Vs 20.

 

If Christ is the one speaking the above verses, then this may be seen as a promise of consequences for disobedience. If the speaker is John, he is attesting to the truth of what he has seen, like a statutory declaration. I think that John is more likely because it seems clear that John is recording the words in Vs 17 above.

 

It makes this a legal document in that a law is now being pronounced, with proscribed rewards and punishments.

If you hear this prophecy and add anything to its information, then you’ll cop the plagues recorded in the book of Revelation. (Somehow I think that might not be a laughing matter!)

 

And if you remove some of the information recorded in the prophecy of Revelation, then you’ll miss out on being recorded in the book of life (either never recorded, or blotted out – it doesn’t say). Neither will you be allowed access to new Jerusalem (note that if your name isn’t written in the book of life, you’ll never get there anyway) and you’ll miss out on all the goodies that are listed in Revelation for those written in the book of life (mostly to do with the new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem).

 

Basically, if you do not treat the book of Revelation seriously and honestly, but alter it in any way that changes its message from the original given to John, then you’ll effectively miss out on every single benefit promised to those who do His commandments as per Revelation 22:14Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Those who miss out must include all those who deliberately misinterpret the meaning of Revelation to fit in with their false doctrines and heresies (and there are many of these that attempt to force Revelation to fit in with their lies!).

 

Revelation 22:20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

 

If John is the speaker in the previous 2 verses, then it appears likely that John is speaking here, except for Christ saying, “Surely I come quickly.” which is consistent with revelation 22:7. The KJV records Christ as saying “Surely I come quickly”, yet John “speaking” up until then.

So, overall, I would have to agree that it is John speaking all except where the KJV records Christ’s words in red (that is, Revelation 22:7, 12, 13, 16 and “Surely I come quickly” here in Vs 20).

 

Revelation 22:21The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.

 

This is merely the final doxology of Revelation (note Paul’s endings to his epistles) but also makes a fitting conclusion to the NT and also to the Bible.

[doxology – doxa (glory) + logia (words or saying)]

gracecharis Here it would mean those undeserved favours received from God.

 

Calvinism is a doctrine of contradictions.

For example, calvinism claims to hold to a higher view of God’s sovereignty, yet their God only appears to want to take responsibility for the ones he saved. The rest he “just passes over” (as so many calvinists actually claim).

They claim that calvinism better clarifies biblical doctrines, yet end up with more mysteries than the fundamentalist non-calvinist doctrines it replaces.

They claim to be saved by Christ, yet are unable to hear the gospel, believe and be saved by Christ until after they have been born again (regenerated).

They agree that one must come to Christ for eternal life, yet are forced to teach that a person will receive eternal life at regeneration, before he is able to come to Christ for eternal life. (Despite John 3:36 saying you must believe in Christ to have eternal life – He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life – That is, you can’t see life until you believe in Christ!)

They agree that one must believe in order to be saved, yet teach that one must be born again before one may believe (using John 3:3).

They claim the Bible alone (sola scriptura) yet have great difficulty in accepting Biblical truth without the illumination of Calvin’s Institutes.

They claim Christ alone, yet must be born again before they may believe in Him.

They claim faith alone, yet must be born again before they can have faith (according to their interpretation of John 3:3).

They agree (as per 1 Timothy 4:10For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.) that Christ in some sense is the Saviour of the world, yet that he also died only for the sins of the elect.

They say that the non-elect are lost because they will not come to God, yet Christ is prevented from giving them the only access (via the cross) to the Father.

They say that the non-elect cannot come (simply because they weren’t chosen among the elect), yet they are sent to hell for something they didn’t choose to do.

They claim that while God created/ordained/decreed sin, the ones who commit that sin will be punished.

They say that the lost are dead in their trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1) and cannot respond to God, yet Christians who are dead to sin (Romans 6:2) still can and do sin!

They say that Israel was God’s elect nation, yet also teach that God caused Israel to rebel against Himself in order that the Church might be established in Israel’s place.

They say that the choosing of Israel by God demonstrates our election to salvation, yet teach that God actually elected Israel to be eventually condemned for her sin.

They claim that the election of Israel proves the election to salvation, yet if only one nation may be chosen, then only one individual can be chosen for salvation.

They teach that satan is God’s enemy, yet have to also teach that satan cannot act outside God’s will.

They say that Adam had to be made to sin, because otherwise the plan of redemption already in place would be wasted. (Boettner)

They say they have assurance of salvation as God’s elect, yet can never be sure that they will not fall away before the end, for it is only by persevering to the end that they may demonstrate their elect status.

They accuse non-calvinists of opposing them, yet must also teach that those non-calvinists may only oppose them in accordance with God’s will. It seems that it is also God’s will that some of His elect will oppose calvinism. (Or maybe they’re lost because if they were saved they’d believe in the calvinist election?)

They claim to be more evangelical than most others, yet also believe that no matter what they do (or don’t do), nothing will ever change from that which has been foreordained by God from the beginning.

They claim to preach the gospel, yet believe that none may hear and believe the gospel until after they have already been born again independently of the gospel.

Many do not preach the gospel to any others than those who come of their own free will to church (calvinists have to teach that God makes these attend), yet many still preach the gospel to the general public; however, they are then telling a blatant lie to all the “non-elect” who can never come even if they wanted to. How can they tell the lost that Jesus loves them if their Jesus didn’t, in fact, die for most of them?

Such is the contradictory and illogical world of the calvinist!

 

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