READ: Rev. 22:6-21: … Blessed is he who keeps the words of … this book. … I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work … Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace … be with you all. Amen.
After the angel confirms the reliability of this book (v.6), there follows a direct call from our Savior to all of us to keep God’s Word, to live by it, and to persevere in it. In this final chapter, this emphasis is repeated several times. It all comes down to how you handle God’s Word!
Verse 11 also refers to this: if you act according to this book, you will become more holy, but if you are not addressed by it, you will become more corrupt (compare Dan. 12:10 and Ez. 3:27).
The imminent coming of Christ should bring everyone to a crisis: are we ready to stand before Him, or do we prefer to live for ourselves? Remember that Christ will repay everyone according to their work (v.12, Matt. 16:27).
Blessed are those who heed God’s commandments (v.14): they have the right to the Tree of Life and may enter the New Jerusalem; for them, the future blessedness is a reward of grace (Rev. 2:7). But this does not apply to those who love lies and abandon the truth of God’s Word: they are excluded (v.15).
In verse 13, Christ identifies Himself as the Alpha and the Omega. Like God, He is the beginning and the end of everything (Col. 1:15-23). Furthermore, in verse 16, He reveals Himself as the Root and the Offspring of David.
As God, He is the origin of David, but as a human, He is David’s descendant. He is also the bright Morning Star (Num. 24:7, Is. 60:3): He Himself will bring about the day of full blessedness when He has overcome all and made all things new (Rev. 21:5).
To these glorious promises, the Spirit and the bride respond with great longing: Come! Once again, there is a warning to keep God’s Word intact and unaltered (vv. 18-19). But then we also hear the assurance: Yes, I am coming quickly.
Our response is: Amen, yes, come Lord Jesus! Until His coming, God’s grace is sufficient.
Why would people want to alter the Bible?
Sing: Ps. 36:3