Revelation 22 ~ The Next Attraction
Do we really desire the return of Jesus?
Last Sunday marked our finale on the Revelation series as we explored the very last chapter of the Bible itself: Revelation 22. This chapter predicts the close arrival of the second coming. It is what must soon take place (verse 6) for the time is near (verse 10). And Jesus repeats three times, saying, "I am coming soon" (verses 7, 10, 20). Some may then question, "How soon is soon?" Mark 13:32-33 tells us that no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father, and so warns us to be on guard and keep awake.
The garden city described in this chapter also illustrates the beauty of heaven itself. Here flows the river of the water of life (verse 1), reminding us of the river described in Genesis 2 and Ezekiel 47. This is a river flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (verse 1), reiterating that the source of life comes from God (as previously alluded to in Revelation 21:6 and repeated in Revelation 22:17).
Also, while man no longer has access to the tree of life in Genesis 3 (also described in Ezekiel 47), it now makes a 'reappearance'. This time, we are told of the fruits that it yields, which will no doubt satisfy us. The leaves are also used for the healing of the nations (verse 2) from the curse of God to start a new heaven and a new earth. Unlike how man is cursed in the garden of Eden, no longer will there be anything accursed (verse 3) for God offers forgiveness. All His worshiping servants will reign forever and ever (verse 5), being kings and rulers together with the Father and Jesus.
Unlike Moses, we will be able to see God face-to-face in heaven, standing forgiven as He provides us with the good things in heaven. It will be far better that the garden of Eden for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which opens up the possibility for the fall of man, will be absent. Man's fall in Genesis 3 will not be repeated. Instead, we will be perfect forever, being led by the new Adam: Jesus Christ. We do not relate to Him as our creator but as our Saviour. It is a garden city of perfection beyond Eden.
The God-given prophecy of Christ's second coming is made to give us the right view on how to interpret the things happening in this world and to also give us a view of the future. It is a certain event that will happen so soon that there is almost no time to repent, as described in verse 11. Contrasted with the events that transpired in Daniel, John is told in verse 10 to not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. And just who exactly is coming again? No one else but Jesus who is judge (verse 12), God (verse 13), the root and the descendant of David (verse 16), and the bridegroom (verse 17).
This prophecy then serves as an encouragement for us to keep staying firm in Jesus even in persecution, suffering and repentance, for He will repay everyone for what he has done (verse 12). It also warns us not to be like the dogs (symbolizing the pagan world) and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood (verse 15) who are outside the city of heaven, or those who deliberately distort the gospel message by adding to it or subtracting from it (verse 18). It is only those who wash their robes in Christ's blood that may have the right to the tree of life and enter the city by the gates (verse 14).
Back to the opening question: Do we really desire the return of Jesus?
Perhaps we are too satisfied for life now seems too good? Maybe we are too complacent with the things of this world to really care? Do we care enough to see Jesus named as Lord? Is God's glory seen to be right by everyone? Is it likely that we want people we love to become Christians and so, secretly hope for His return to be delayed? It is time we shift the way we think. The desire to want God's name to be honoured should far exceed our other desires (including desiring our non-Christian acquaintances to become Christians).
Sometimes we can be a little too short-sighted. We may feel the period of over two millennia since His first coming to be too long to think that His second coming cannot be that soon. What we fail to recognize is that the 'soon' here should be defined theologically in God's perfect timing. If with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8), why should we perceive 2000 years as too long a time? His return is so 'soon' - it is, as one calls it, 'the next big thing'. Nothing else of major theological consequence has to happen before Christ returns.
So just as how we would say the Lord's prayer, praying, "Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come." (Luke 11:2), shouldn't we mean what we ask for, that God's name be glorified and that Christ returns? It is time for us to examine our true desires, aligning them with those of God's good will, that we can sincerely echo John's response in verse 20 most jubilantly: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Last Sunday marked our finale on the Revelation series as we explored the very last chapter of the Bible itself: Revelation 22. This chapter predicts the close arrival of the second coming. It is what must soon take place (verse 6) for the time is near (verse 10). And Jesus repeats three times, saying, "I am coming soon" (verses 7, 10, 20). Some may then question, "How soon is soon?" Mark 13:32-33 tells us that no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father, and so warns us to be on guard and keep awake.
The garden city described in this chapter also illustrates the beauty of heaven itself. Here flows the river of the water of life (verse 1), reminding us of the river described in Genesis 2 and Ezekiel 47. This is a river flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (verse 1), reiterating that the source of life comes from God (as previously alluded to in Revelation 21:6 and repeated in Revelation 22:17).
Also, while man no longer has access to the tree of life in Genesis 3 (also described in Ezekiel 47), it now makes a 'reappearance'. This time, we are told of the fruits that it yields, which will no doubt satisfy us. The leaves are also used for the healing of the nations (verse 2) from the curse of God to start a new heaven and a new earth. Unlike how man is cursed in the garden of Eden, no longer will there be anything accursed (verse 3) for God offers forgiveness. All His worshiping servants will reign forever and ever (verse 5), being kings and rulers together with the Father and Jesus.
Unlike Moses, we will be able to see God face-to-face in heaven, standing forgiven as He provides us with the good things in heaven. It will be far better that the garden of Eden for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which opens up the possibility for the fall of man, will be absent. Man's fall in Genesis 3 will not be repeated. Instead, we will be perfect forever, being led by the new Adam: Jesus Christ. We do not relate to Him as our creator but as our Saviour. It is a garden city of perfection beyond Eden.
The God-given prophecy of Christ's second coming is made to give us the right view on how to interpret the things happening in this world and to also give us a view of the future. It is a certain event that will happen so soon that there is almost no time to repent, as described in verse 11. Contrasted with the events that transpired in Daniel, John is told in verse 10 to not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. And just who exactly is coming again? No one else but Jesus who is judge (verse 12), God (verse 13), the root and the descendant of David (verse 16), and the bridegroom (verse 17).
This prophecy then serves as an encouragement for us to keep staying firm in Jesus even in persecution, suffering and repentance, for He will repay everyone for what he has done (verse 12). It also warns us not to be like the dogs (symbolizing the pagan world) and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood (verse 15) who are outside the city of heaven, or those who deliberately distort the gospel message by adding to it or subtracting from it (verse 18). It is only those who wash their robes in Christ's blood that may have the right to the tree of life and enter the city by the gates (verse 14).
Back to the opening question: Do we really desire the return of Jesus?
Perhaps we are too satisfied for life now seems too good? Maybe we are too complacent with the things of this world to really care? Do we care enough to see Jesus named as Lord? Is God's glory seen to be right by everyone? Is it likely that we want people we love to become Christians and so, secretly hope for His return to be delayed? It is time we shift the way we think. The desire to want God's name to be honoured should far exceed our other desires (including desiring our non-Christian acquaintances to become Christians).
Sometimes we can be a little too short-sighted. We may feel the period of over two millennia since His first coming to be too long to think that His second coming cannot be that soon. What we fail to recognize is that the 'soon' here should be defined theologically in God's perfect timing. If with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8), why should we perceive 2000 years as too long a time? His return is so 'soon' - it is, as one calls it, 'the next big thing'. Nothing else of major theological consequence has to happen before Christ returns.
So just as how we would say the Lord's prayer, praying, "Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come." (Luke 11:2), shouldn't we mean what we ask for, that God's name be glorified and that Christ returns? It is time for us to examine our true desires, aligning them with those of God's good will, that we can sincerely echo John's response in verse 20 most jubilantly: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Labels: Australia, Christianity, Revelation
posted by Shih Ying GUN (Jane) @ 11:45 PM
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