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The Final Promises

The book of revelation closes with these last few verses;

-- Click To Expand/Collapse Bible Verses -- Rev ch22v8-21
Rev 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Rev 22:14 Blessed 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.
Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Rev 22:17 And 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.
Rev 22:18 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:
Rev 22:19 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.
Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Rev 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. THE END. (KJV)

John is unaccustomed to the glory of the vision and falls down to worship the angel and is then corrected. The angel is "of the same brethren" as John - their inheritance in the new Jerusalem is equal: John is told not to seal the book, one can only assume any seal would be to "keep back" the words of this book from others. Equivalently, the words are important. John is also instructed to not rewrite the vision as if making grammatical corrections. There is nothing wrong with the writing - it is merely veiled until unlocked, and needs no second draft.

Verse 11 shows that Jesus chose His own, that the ungodly are reserved against the day of judgement as unworthy of eternal life. Jesus states flatly in v12 that in His second coming He has His reward with Him for those that are worthy. That places His second coming at the judgement on the last day, not preceding a millennial reign of a literal thousand years. He again states that He is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end: the first and the last. He is the only "man" that has ever and will ever be equal to God. He has been given all judgement and His judgement is final and universal.

Christ in v14 and 15 reiterates that it is His elect which enter into eternal life, and those whom have rejected Him (and all liars), that are destined for the lake of fire.

Jesus states to John that the angel He sent has witnessed Jesus' own words to John throughout the vision (v16) and the words are all trustworthy and true, stating by His lineage and His witness that these are true sayings. There is also the chance that Jesus is referring to His right hand or the angel of the church in verse 16. Jesus had visisted Abraham on His way to hear the cry of sin from Sodom and Gomorrah, now today - (unable to arrive Himself until the last day as when promised.) has Jesus sent an angel to be entertained by us all unawares? The "revealing" or revelation of these things in this book (as found in the churches) are the central theme of this prophecy, and the angel's circuit is witnessed to by two witnesses and his overcoming is testimony that Jesus is the Christ and is the only saviour despite the failure of the "church" to provide salvation to those within it.

The spirit, bride and those that hear the written words and all those seeking God all call Jesus to return. A loving Father can not be but with His children, and as the living have no open door of their own making to pull Him back through to this world: All that may be said is He is returning soon. His living children cry out for it - a clear indicator that He returns at the judgement when all may be alive with Him equally.

In the meantime the truth of Jesus is there for all to drink of the life in His Spirit.(v17)

(v18,19) is an exhortation to keep these sayings as exactly the same, always. (A clear indicator that the structure of the imagery is important - the hidden algebra is intact until this very day!)

Jesus swears He is coming quickly. He is a loving Father running to meet His children. We say Amen also; until that time and into eternal life, God's grace will be with us all.

The Mystery of God, the increasing goodness and perfection in His relationship to his people is simple enough to trace through history and easy to extrapolate into the future. First God chose a nation (In Abraham). Then He made His laws to show His people the manner of man that Christ would be. Then came prophets that would distinguish this man from mere servants. Then, the mystery of God begins to be fulfilled in the coming of Christ. Firstly God has one obedient Son in Jesus. Then Jesus leaves gifting the Holy Spirit, who makes Him many obedient Sons. Then Christ returns and those sons of God have great blessing. Then, the Father joins His people in a great time of a new heaven and new Earth.

So we have a great discrepancy between the time when Jesus returns and the Father comes amongst us. How long will it be? As we are under grace we may expect it to occur after all have been brought into obedience with God, after all a thousand years with the Holy Spirit is as a day in God the Father's present company: But although this is not merely a "truism", we must admit we are imperfect: A day in the Holy Spirit's company is as a thousand days apart from God. In being gifted the Holy Spirit under grace the relationship with Him is no less rich than were Christ here with us - and Christ no less rich a companion than were the Father if He were here.

The thousand years are already fulfilled in which we reign with Christ for eternity (it is the patience of God), and God when His chosen time is fulfilled to name His elect in His book of life may return at any time. Likewise the grace we are under is such that following the final judgement there need be no further time between Christ's coming and until the Father comes amongst us. Christ is no less perfect than His Father, and no less demanding. We also have the Holy Spirit whom it is a delight to obey - who is Himself no less perfect. We will wait patiently - for the mystery of God will be complete at the revelation of Jesus Christ - When we realise we choose nothing; and Christ is returned, who chose us. Then as the world passes away, the Father will with all speed and immediacy be with us forever. (c.f. Rev Ch21:v6 "It is done, I am the Alpha and Omega...") The beginning and the end of the mystery of God is with Jesus Christ.


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