THE LAST RIGHTS
Revelation 22:12-21
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
V:12 "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is
with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done."
A. Jesus said " Behold" it is in the imperative form, meaning it is
important that
we pay attention.
1. The word
"quickly" has as one of it's meaning, it will be a surprise.
a. He will
not announce the time of His second coming, but Jesus is coming.
b. No one
knows the time of His coming but the Father.
B. Jesus second
coming will have a purpose.
1. He will judge
the living and the dead.
2. He will reward
all mankind individually, according to what was done while living
on this
earth.
3. Everyone is
responsible for his/her own actions.
4. What we do now,
is a setup for the judgment that Jesus will render in heaven.
LIKE THE FATHER, THE SON HAS NO BEGINNING OR ENDING
V:13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the
last, the beginning and the end."
A. We can take word "first"
in a number of ways:
1. Jesus was
first born of the Father.
2. Jesus was
first born of the dead.
3. He was first
with the Word.
B. Jesus is eternal, He has no beginning or ending.
1. Jesus always
was.
2. Jesus always
will be.
3. Jesus is the
beginning of everything we know.
4. Jesus is the
end of everything we will know.
5. Everything and
everyone you and I know has a beginning and has an ending.
6. It is beyond
human understanding to know eternity past or eternity future.
7. What has been
revealed about Jesus is supernatural.
THE RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE
V:14. " Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that
they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into
the city. "
A. The washing of robes must be the washing of our sins
through our faith in the blood
of Jesus.
1. We are made
clean through the our faith in Jesus Christ.
2. The right to
the tree of life is granted immediately upon our faith in Jesus.
B. The new Jerusalem, now revealed in the text is the place
Jesus said He would
prepare for
us. John 14:3
1. The city will
have 12 gates open to all people, from the four corners of the world
that confess
Jesus as Lord and Savior.
2. The unrighteous
have a place prepared for them which is the eternal hell.
THOSE EXCLUDED FROM HEAVEN
V:15. " Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the
immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and
practices lying."
A. The word "outside" refers to eternal separation from God.
1. God identifies
those people who will not be included in the Lamb's book of life.
2. The dogs are
those who turn against their owner. The owner is God.
B. All people who oppose the Word of God are listed as those
who will not enter into
the New Jerusalem.
1. Those who
practice magic are excluded from the tree of life.
2. Those who are
immoral are excluded.
3. Those who
worship idol gods are excluded.
4. Those who show
no regard for the life of others are excluded.
5. Those who
pervert the truth are excluded from the tree of life.
THE IDENITY OF JESUS
V:16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you
these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the
bright morning star."
A. Jesus uses His messengers to bring us a Word from Him.
1. Jesus is the
root of all mankind, yet subjected himself to be a descendant from Jesse.
2. Jesus is a
descendant from David, Jesse's son.
3. Jesus consider
David as man after His heart.
4. David was a
servant and King of Israel .
5. Jesus said I
did not come to be served, but to serve.
6. Jesus is the
King of all believers, the new Israel .
B. Jesus is the bright morning star.
1. Jesus is the
light of the world.
2. Jesus is the
new morning for all believers. He is start of every day.
3. Jesus is the
star of our lives.
4. Jesus is our
focus.
5. We can look to
sky and see the glory of God.
THE INVITATION TO THE TREE OF LIFE
V:17. " 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 wishes take the water of life without cost."
A. All believers have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
1. We have the job
to invites others to come and join the body of Christ.
2. We should
inform nonbelievers that once accepting Christ as their person
Savior, He
becomes their protector and provider.
3. Christ takes on
the role of the husband of our lives.
4. No man can
match Christ in the complete responsibility as husband.
B. The gift of eternal life is without any cost.
1. It not about
us, but Christ love for us.
2. Our
responsibility is to accept His love and all His benefits without doubt.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF DISTORTING THE GOSPEL
V:18-19. " I testify to everyone who hears the words of
the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the
plagues which are written in this book;
19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of
this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the
holy city, which are written in this book. "
A. The Bible is the authority and is not subject to man's
opinion.
1. There is a
danger of intentionally misinterpreting the scripture.
2. We cannot add
any words to the scripture to it make agreeable to our ideas.
3. We should not
leave out portions of the scripture to fit our way of thinking.
5. The Word is
truth and does not depend on our beliefs or actions.
B. Those who disbelieve the scripture and those who knowingly
distort the scripture are
not part of the
body of Christ.
1. Those who
knowingly distort the scripture will add hardships to their lives.
2. Heaven or hell
is a choice that we knowingly make.
3. Belief in the
Word is a personal choice. Rejecting the
Word is a choice.
FINAL WORDS
V:20-21. " He who testifies to these things says,
"Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen."
A. Jesus is the
author of the Word.
1. He gives everyone a chance to make a decision
regarding Heaven before He
returns for
His Church.
2. He is coming
back to judge the living and the dead; believe it or not.
B. Believers are chosen by God to believe.
1. Unbelievers are
left in their state of unbelief.
2. God is
sovereign and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
3. It is by the
grace of God that we have a place in heaven.
THANK GOD FOR HIS GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia
Baptist Church
For more lessons follow me on facebook and visit my blogs
www.revmmitchell,com
and goodnewsrevmitc,blogspot.com
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