Rev 22:14-15 | KingComments | STEP | . What John has heard and seen, impressed him greatly. When he says “I, John”, it makes clear that he has personally experienced everything he “heard and saw”. It was not just absorbing all kinds of interesting facts, so that he now had an idea about the future. No, he was totally involved with his whole being. That is very important for you too. Now you have come to the end of this book, you may wonder what impact this book has had on you, just as I must wonder what impact it has had on me. Have you made progress in just factual knowledge or has it deeply moved you inwardly? Do you only find it important that you now know how history will come to pass or has it caused you to desire for the coming of the Lord? John is so deeply impressed that he worships. But he brings this worship to someone who is not entitled to it. That is also a danger for you. You run the risk to admire God’s instrument instead of Him Who is represented to you through that instrument. The Holy Spirit does not want to focus your attention on an angel, or on John, or on whomever, but on the Lord Jesus. . John is called to order by the angel. He had already made this mistake earlier ( ). Then also he was called to order by the angel. The fact that he has made this mistake for the second time, shows that it is indeed difficult to give honor to the Lord Jesus alone and not a creature whom we can sometimes look up to highly. However, how much appreciation we may have for persons who have helped us to learn to know God’s truth better, there is only one Person to Whom our worship is due. Everyone has a subordinate place toward the Lord Jesus and an equal position toward one another, keeping in mind the differences the Lord has made. The angel calls himself “a fellow servant” of John, however much he has served John with the explanation of the future events. The angel also speaks about “the prophets” as “brethren” of John. John and all the prophets of God have spoken about future events. They could only do that because God had shown them what He is planning to do. He made those plans known in His Word to all of His own, particularly in this Bible book. The angel also calls all the ones, who keep the words of this Bible book, his fellow servants. You have also come across this word ‘servant’ at the beginning of this book. The book can only be understood by believers who, as a response to what God reveals in His Word, commit their life to Him. That is the true worship of God. . When Daniel came to the end of his book, he learnt that he had to seal up the book until the end of time ( ). The reason was that in the time of Daniel the end was yet far away. He lived in another period of time of God’s history of salvation. The sealing up of his book meant that the prophecies which are written in it, were made inviolable and kept safe until the fulfillment. Breaking the seal may only be done by the person authorized to do so (cf. ). However, for us the time is near (cf. ). Everything has been fulfilled since the death of Christ and we have come to the ‘last hour’ ( ). The end of the ages have come upon us ( ). Therefore John is told that he should not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book. God has revealed everything. The time of the coming of His Son is near to fulfill everything. God is concerned that through this revelation, which is not sealed – by which we know that His Son can come any moment – you will be eagerly looking forward to Him Who is going to fulfill everything. . When all events of this book have come this near, it will work a separation among people. There are only two reactions possible: 1. There are those who reject the Word of God and do not consider what is going to happen soon. 2. There are those who submit themselves to the Word of God and look forward to its fulfillment. The more the time gets nearer, the more the real character of every man is exposed: 1. The first category of men “does wrong” more and more and therefore one makes himself more and more “filthy”, dirty. You see that in the world and even more and especially in the so-called Christian world. People become more and more unjust and present themselves more and more unashamed with their filthiness. 2. The second category of people dedicate itself more and more to God. They live righteously and “still practice righteousness”, which causes them to become more and more “holy” opposite to the filthiness of the people around them. Their holiness becomes more and more visible, because of the contrast with the growing filthiness of the world. The contrast with the world will become greater and greater. Thinking about the Lord’s coming will determine the choices we make for our life on earth. In the light of His coming, we see the true value of the purpose of our life. . You may think that it is not simple to live righteous and holy in such a filthy world where the filthiness comes to you from all sides. Therefore, the words of the Lord are a great encouragement. You hear Christ saying that He is coming quickly. That is already encouraging. But then you hear also that He attaches a reward to His soon coming. Christ appreciates every sign of righteousness in your life and He will give you an appropriate reward for that. If you have made your choice for Him on earth, you have perhaps missed out on much appreciation from men. But the Lord will compensate that abundantly at His coming. The unbelievers have already received their reward on earth (cf. ). Therefore, they will not find any reward when the Lord comes. On the contrary, they will receive a retribution for their wicked deeds. . For the third and last time you hear that the Lord Jesus is “the Alpha”, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and the “Omega”, the last letter of the Greek alphabet ( ). He is the Word of God, the full revelation of God. Everything that God has to say, He has said in Christ. Christ will fulfill everything to the letter, as God has said it (cf. ; ). He Who is beyond the history of creation has entered history. He is “the first and the last” of history ( ; ). He stands at “the beginning” of everything as the First and He stands at “the end” of everything as the Last. He will still be there when everything that was, is over. He is both the origin and the purpose of creation ( ). He Who Himself has no beginning nor end, the eternal God, covers all things. There is nothing outside of Him that He has nothing to do with. Everything owes its beginning to Him and everything will be completed and be brought to fullness in connection with Him. You see how great He is ! . For the seventh and last time the word “blessed” is spoken. It concerns those “who wash their robes”. It is remarkable that we read “wash” which indicates an ongoing process of washing. That is different from what you have read elsewhere in this book, where it says “washed” ( ). In the latter case it concerns the conversion. That is a one-off happening. When you repented, all your sins were washed away by the blood of the Lamb. But in this verse it is about your responsibility. You also come across this difference between ‘wash’ and ‘washed’ in John 13. There the Lord speaks about being ‘bathed’, which is being totally washed, and about having one’s ‘feet washed’ ( ). The act of being totally washed is a one-off happening at the repentance. The act of having the feet washed ought to happen continually, because living in the world defiles the believer. Having one’s feet washed, or as it is said here, to wash their robes, is a responsibility of the believer. The robes speak of the outward behavior. You prove that you are washed by the way you walk. Your clothing, that is, your conduct, will then show no spot. As soon as it gets stained by committing sins, there will also be a confession of these sins, which makes the robe to be clean again. In this way you cannot be blamed for anything concerning your practical way of living, which makes you to have the right to the tree of life. It means that you partake of the enjoyment of it. You may live in the city of God, in His presence. You partake of the blessings of the tree and the city on the basis of the blood of Christ. That is grace. But everyone who partakes of that grace, will surely want to live accordingly. In that way you show that you have the right to it. It is a right which, concerning you, is based on grace, but it is a grace which is granted by God on the basis of the right that He has through the blood of Christ. Now read Revelation 22:8-14 again. Reflection: What can the reward that the Lord Jesus has with Him when He comes consist of?

‏ Revelation of John 22:14-15

My Reward Is With Me

Rev 22:8. What John has heard and seen, impressed him greatly. When he says “I, John”, it makes clear that he has personally experienced everything he “heard and saw”. It was not just absorbing all kinds of interesting facts, so that he now had an idea about the future. No, he was totally involved with his whole being.

That is very important for you too. Now you have come to the end of this book, you may wonder what impact this book has had on you, just as I must wonder what impact it has had on me. Have you made progress in just factual knowledge or has it deeply moved you inwardly? Do you only find it important that you now know how history will come to pass or has it caused you to desire for the coming of the Lord?

John is so deeply impressed that he worships. But he brings this worship to someone who is not entitled to it. That is also a danger for you. You run the risk to admire God’s instrument instead of Him Who is represented to you through that instrument. The Holy Spirit does not want to focus your attention on an angel, or on John, or on whomever, but on the Lord Jesus.

Rev 22:9. John is called to order by the angel. He had already made this mistake earlier (Rev 19:10). Then also he was called to order by the angel. The fact that he has made this mistake for the second time, shows that it is indeed difficult to give honor to the Lord Jesus alone and not a creature whom we can sometimes look up to highly. However, how much appreciation we may have for persons who have helped us to learn to know God’s truth better, there is only one Person to Whom our worship is due. Everyone has a subordinate place toward the Lord Jesus and an equal position toward one another, keeping in mind the differences the Lord has made.

The angel calls himself “a fellow servant” of John, however much he has served John with the explanation of the future events. The angel also speaks about “the prophets” as “brethren” of John. John and all the prophets of God have spoken about future events. They could only do that because God had shown them what He is planning to do. He made those plans known in His Word to all of His own, particularly in this Bible book.

The angel also calls all the ones, who keep the words of this Bible book, his fellow servants. You have also come across this word ‘servant’ at the beginning of this book. The book can only be understood by believers who, as a response to what God reveals in His Word, commit their life to Him. That is the true worship of God.

Rev 22:10. When Daniel came to the end of his book, he learnt that he had to seal up the book until the end of time (Dan 12:4). The reason was that in the time of Daniel the end was yet far away. He lived in another period of time of God’s history of salvation. The sealing up of his book meant that the prophecies which are written in it, were made inviolable and kept safe until the fulfillment. Breaking the seal may only be done by the person authorized to do so (cf. Rev 5:5).

However, for us the time is near (cf. Mt 25:6). Everything has been fulfilled since the death of Christ and we have come to the ‘last hour’ (1Jn 2:18). The end of the ages have come upon us (1Cor 10:11). Therefore John is told that he should not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book. God has revealed everything. The time of the coming of His Son is near to fulfill everything. God is concerned that through this revelation, which is not sealed – by which we know that His Son can come any moment – you will be eagerly looking forward to Him Who is going to fulfill everything.

Rev 22:11. When all events of this book have come this near, it will work a separation among people. There are only two reactions possible:

1. There are those who reject the Word of God and do not consider what is going to happen soon.

2. There are those who submit themselves to the Word of God and look forward to its fulfillment.

The more the time gets nearer, the more the real character of every man is exposed:

1. The first category of men “does wrong” more and more and therefore one makes himself more and more “filthy”, dirty. You see that in the world and even more and especially in the so-called Christian world. People become more and more unjust and present themselves more and more unashamed with their filthiness.

2. The second category of people dedicate itself more and more to God. They live righteously and “still practice righteousness”, which causes them to become more and more “holy” opposite to the filthiness of the people around them. Their holiness becomes more and more visible, because of the contrast with the growing filthiness of the world. The contrast with the world will become greater and greater.

Thinking about the Lord’s coming will determine the choices we make for our life on earth. In the light of His coming, we see the true value of the purpose of our life.

Rev 22:12. You may think that it is not simple to live righteous and holy in such a filthy world where the filthiness comes to you from all sides. Therefore, the words of the Lord are a great encouragement. You hear Christ saying that He is coming quickly. That is already encouraging. But then you hear also that He attaches a reward to His soon coming. Christ appreciates every sign of righteousness in your life and He will give you an appropriate reward for that.

If you have made your choice for Him on earth, you have perhaps missed out on much appreciation from men. But the Lord will compensate that abundantly at His coming. The unbelievers have already received their reward on earth (cf. Mt 6:2 ; 5 ; 16). Therefore, they will not find any reward when the Lord comes. On the contrary, they will receive a retribution for their wicked deeds.

Rev 22:13. For the third and last time you hear that the Lord Jesus is “the Alpha”, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and the “Omega”, the last letter of the Greek alphabet (Rev 1:8 ; Rev 21:6). He is the Word of God, the full revelation of God. Everything that God has to say, He has said in Christ. Christ will fulfill everything to the letter, as God has said it (cf. Jos 21:45; Mt 5:17-18).

He Who is beyond the history of creation has entered history. He is “the first and the last” of history (Rev 1:17 ; Rev 2:8; Isa 44:6 ; Isa 48:12). He stands at “the beginning” of everything as the First and He stands at “the end” of everything as the Last. He will still be there when everything that was, is over. He is both the origin and the purpose of creation (Col 1:15-17). He Who Himself has no beginning nor end, the eternal God, covers all things. There is nothing outside of Him that He has nothing to do with. Everything owes its beginning to Him and everything will be completed and be brought to fullness in connection with Him. You see how great He is !

Rev 22:14. For the seventh and last time the word “blessed” is spoken. It concerns those “who wash their robes”. It is remarkable that we read “wash” which indicates an ongoing process of washing. That is different from what you have read elsewhere in this book, where it says “washed” (Rev 7:14). In the latter case it concerns the conversion. That is a one-off happening. When you repented, all your sins were washed away by the blood of the Lamb. But in this verse it is about your responsibility.

You also come across this difference between ‘wash’ and ‘washed’ in John 13. There the Lord speaks about being ‘bathed’, which is being totally washed, and about having one’s ‘feet washed’ (Jn 13:10). The act of being totally washed is a one-off happening at the repentance. The act of having the feet washed ought to happen continually, because living in the world defiles the believer.

Having one’s feet washed, or as it is said here, to wash their robes, is a responsibility of the believer. The robes speak of the outward behavior. You prove that you are washed by the way you walk. Your clothing, that is, your conduct, will then show no spot. As soon as it gets stained by committing sins, there will also be a confession of these sins, which makes the robe to be clean again. In this way you cannot be blamed for anything concerning your practical way of living, which makes you to have the right to the tree of life. It means that you partake of the enjoyment of it.

You may live in the city of God, in His presence. You partake of the blessings of the tree and the city on the basis of the blood of Christ. That is grace. But everyone who partakes of that grace, will surely want to live accordingly. In that way you show that you have the right to it. It is a right which, concerning you, is based on grace, but it is a grace which is granted by God on the basis of the right that He has through the blood of Christ.

Now read Revelation 22:8-14 again.

Reflection: What can the reward that the Lord Jesus has with Him when He comes consist of?

Yes, I Am Coming Quickly

Rev 22:15. The contrast with the previous verse is great and dramatic. “Outside” the city, ‘outside’ the new world, are all who have no right to the tree and the entering of the city. ‘Outside’ is more than a geographic location alone. It is a geographic location, but it is especially a place of eternal torment (Rev 21:8). The character of the people who are outside, confirms that it is justified that they are ‘outside’ the city of all blessings. It indicates that they have surrendered themselves to serving satan.

1. The first thing that marks their character is indicated by the term “dogs”. ‘Dog’ is a name for an evildoer who operates without any feeling (Psa 22:16 ; 20; Isa 56:10; Phil 3:2; cf. Deu 23:18). All categories have this characteristic.

2. “The sorcerers” want to exert power over others.

3. “The immoral persons” seek to fulfill their lust at the expense of others.

4. “The murderers” are taking other people’s lives.

5. “The idolaters” deliver themselves passively to demons.

The whole is framed in the lie which they love and tell. Hell will be full of such people.

Rev 22:16. Here the Lord Jesus is speaking again. He draws attention to Himself with the words “I, Jesus”. He is the Almighty, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Creator of the universe and the Sustainer of all things, but He presents Himself here with the name which is typical for His humiliation.

He is also the Commander of the angels. He sends them wherever He wants to with the message He wants to be sent. Through His angel He addresses the churches. Those are the local churches where believers gather and dwell together knowing that they are part of the worldwide church. Such believers desire nothing more than to make true in the local church what is true for the worldwide church.

The Lord adds some aspects of His Person to His messages. He calls Himself “the root and the descendant of David”. This He is for Israel, of which He is the shoot (Rev 5:5; Isa 11:1 ; 10) from which, therefore, out the whole people proceeds. For Israel He is also the Offspring, that is, ‘Son’, of David. He came from this people, so that in Him all promises, which pertain to the kingdom of God, may become reality, with blessings for Israel and the nations.

The Lord is also “the bright morning star”. That He is for His church. Israel will never know Him as such. The church will not have to wait until He appears as the Sun of righteousness. He will appear as the Sun of righteousness to Israel (Mal 4:2), but the morning star precedes the rising of the Sun. This means that the morning star has risen already in your heart (2Pet 1:19), that is, you are eagerly looking forward to His coming for the church.

Rev 22:17. When the Lord has thus made His voice heard and pointed to Himself as the fulfillment of all promises, the Spirit and the bride cannot be silent. The Spirit is on earth, but as a temporary dwelling place. The Spirit dwells here as long as the church, the bride, is here. But He doesn’t feel at home, as the bride also does not feel at home in this world. She is still separated from her Bridegroom. But when she hears His voice, her voice sounds fully harmoniously with the voice of the Spirit and she says to her Bridegroom: “Come!”

The bride is the church as a whole. The whole of the church says ‘come!’, even though not everyone who belongs to the bride longs for the Lord in the same passionate way. Therefore, the call also comes to each individual to say: “Come!” The desire of the one may have a contagious effect on the extinguished desire of the other.

Then a third group is addressed. That group still is not yet part of the bride, but would like to be, because there is thirst. He who thirsts is still invited to take from the water of life and for free (Isa 55:1). This water refers to the refreshment that the Lord wants to give through His Spirit to everyone who is tired of living in sin (Jn 4:10-15 ; Jn 7:37).

Rev 22:18. The Lord Jesus warns in powerful words, “I testify”, to everyone not to add anything to the content of the words of the prophecy that are written in this Bible book. It is prohibited and not allowed to add anything to all the events that are described (cf. Pro 30:6; Deu 4:2 ; Deu 12:32). To add something means the arrogation as if God would not have said everything that He had to say. This is the sin to which satan tempted Eve (Gen 3:1-3), which caused that the punishment of death announced to her was added to her.

Satan will still try in every way to keep the prophecy of this book closed to men, or distort it in such a way that it loses its true power. If satan manages to add his lie to the words of the prophecy of this book, words in which his end is displayed, he can drag as many people with him into hell as he possibly could. But the Lord Jesus warns here not to fall into this trap. Adding something to what is perfect, means getting the plagues that are written in this book added to you. Those plagues cannot be more severe than they are described, but they can increase in number.

Rev 22:19. The order is different from the previous verse. Here it is about the completely finished message of the book as a whole. Nothing can be taken away from it. People may take away something from the Word that they do not understand. The arrogant reason of man rejects God’s Word which he considers to be unacceptable. You may think here of Bible criticism. Such an attitude marks the audacity of unbelief.

However, he who deals with God’s Word in such a way, God will deal with him. Such a person receives no part of the tree and the city. Because of his attitude he indicates that he doesn’t like it at all to partake of the things that the believer enjoys. Therefore he will never get part of it. It has been presented to him, he has read about it, but he rejects it. He could have got part of it, but he refused. Therefore the part that was offered to him is taken away from him.

Therefore the issue here is absolutely not taking away something to which a believer has received part of. The part of a believer can in no way be taken away from him. Therefore a believer will never take away something of the words of the book of this prophecy. That you as a believer do not understand everything and have questions about it is of a totally different order than rejecting something God has said. The latter is the point here.

Rev 22:20. The Lord Jesus concludes the book with a final testimony that the book comes from Himself. Christ is the absolute faithful Witness of the things revealed in this book. Following this, He says: “Yes, I am coming quickly!” This is the reply to the call of the Spirit and the bride in Rev 22:17. With His “yes” He confirms that we should not have the slightest doubt about everything that is said. Then He says that He is about to come. There is no fulfillment necessary of any prophecy before He can come for His bride.

The response to the promise of the Lord that He is coming quickly, is: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” This comes out of the mouth of all who love Him. Two times earlier the Lord has said that He is coming quickly (Rev 22:7 ; 12). The response to that is different from the response here. In Rev 22:7 the promise is followed by an exhortation to heed God’s Word. In Rev 22:12 the promise is followed by the promise of a reward. In this verse the promise of the Lord is followed by a spontaneous expression of longing for Himself, for His Person. This basically concludes the book.

Rev 22:21. Still, there follows a wish of blessing from John for “all” saints, which is needed as long as the Lord Jesus has not come yet. Until that moment of His coming all saints can count on His “grace”. To this, only an assenting “amen” can follow. A beautiful ending.

Now read Revelation 22:15-21 again.

Reflection: What does the thought of the coming of the Lord mean to you?