In this article we look further on and discuss a few more critical matters which hold millions of believers in ignorance and kept there by vast numbers of false teachers and misled pastors. In this final post on the book of Revelation we deal with the final chapter and the same theme, Jesus was coming without delay and the time was at hand.
The angel said to John, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon (the Greek tachos means quickly, speedily) take place. 7 “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” Rev 22:6-7
The angel confirms the faithfulness and truth of what John of what John has been shown in the entire Vision. We must also take this whole book faithfully and as the truth and not abandon it as too different or difficult. But take it very seriously. It’s interesting that that this Book is the only book in the Bible we are promised blessings if diligently read. (Rev 1:3)
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 But he said to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God.” Rev 22:8-9
Further, this tells us something important about angels—they are our fellow-servants—and servants of our brothers and sisters and ‘those who heed the words of this book’. That’s us as we read and put them into practice.
And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Rev 22:10
This must be seen in the light of Daniel’s statement “But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time.” (see Daniel 12:4) What Daniel was commanded to conceal John was to commanded to reveal. This was the time to make it known! Not 2000 years in the future.
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Rev 22:12-13.
Just as at the beginning, here too at the end, we find the time constraint again, I am coming quickly (the Grk word tachos again) and also the timeless phrase ‘I am the Alpha . . .’ Jesus will reward everyone fairly and without favour.
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. 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. Rev 22:14-15
In a chilling statement we are given the stark contrast between the rewards of the blessed who have washed their robes and the cursed who cannot enter the heavenly city.
18 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. Rev 22:18-19
Be very careful how you treat all interpretations of the signs and the language of this Book must make up the clearly stated constraints of time. Any fulfillment said to be outside of the parameters of the Book would violate the Holy Spirit and be in serious danger of this warning.
Ian Thomson 