Revelation 22:17-19
Oh the joy that John must have felt as he received the Revelation of Jesus Christ! The apostle was already identified as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” because he recognized the love that Jesus had for him, but to see the incarnate, glorified Christ and then catch a glimpse of the future of planet earth must have been overwhelming.
On closing the book of Revelation, John wishes for Jesus to come quickly (Revelation 22:20). All that he has seen has not caused him to wish that Christ would delay his return, which would be the natural response if believers were going to go through the horrendous events of Revelation. Instead, knowing that the church will be removed so that these things can come to pass, John invites Christ to come back as soon as possible.
The visions of the Revelation were so awe inspiring that John claims both the Holy Spirit and the bride (church) ask for Jesus to come (Revelation 22:17). This is interesting, because it shows that the Holy Spirit on this earth is longing for Jesus to come and take the church home. We may feel ready to begin our eternity in heaven, but can we imagine how the Holy Spirit longs for this to end? Just as the Spirit and the church long for Christ’s return, John longed for any that was thirsty for Jesus to come now, while there is time to “take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).
A couple of oft quoted verses come next in this chapter, both warnings of doom and judgment. Verse 18 warns that no man should add anything to the contents of Revelation, and verse 19 furthers it by adding that no man shall take away from the words of this book. This warning is to keep us from reading too much into or from taking away from the importance of this great Revelation. This book falls at the end of the New Testament, not just because the events are largely futuristic, but because they are in the deeper end of the knowledge of the redeemed. Unfortunately, many new converts jump right into Revelation with no foundation on the grace of God to help them. This causes some to add and take away from the revelatory power of this book. Let each one of us find the truths of this book as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The original Greek rendering of verse 19 also clears the clouds a bit about a popular, but untrue teaching. The text reads “God shall take away his part out of the book of life”, but the Greek actually says “God shall take away his share of the tree of life”. The difference is crucial, because the first rendering brings a doctrine into the church that God has a cosmic book that contains all names and that some are being erased or blotted out, while others are being re-written and added back based upon the way that they are living. God has no such book, for His redemption is paid for in blood, not in works. Do not fear, He is not removing your name from “the book”!
Just as John prayed for Christ to come soon, I pray the same; not because life is miserable here, but because He is so great, and when we see Him, “we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:3).
Oh the joy that John must have felt as he received the Revelation of Jesus Christ! The apostle was already identified as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” because he recognized the love that Jesus had for him, but to see the incarnate, glorified Christ and then catch a glimpse of the future of planet earth must have been overwhelming.
On closing the book of Revelation, John wishes for Jesus to come quickly (Revelation 22:20). All that he has seen has not caused him to wish that Christ would delay his return, which would be the natural response if believers were going to go through the horrendous events of Revelation. Instead, knowing that the church will be removed so that these things can come to pass, John invites Christ to come back as soon as possible.
The visions of the Revelation were so awe inspiring that John claims both the Holy Spirit and the bride (church) ask for Jesus to come (Revelation 22:17). This is interesting, because it shows that the Holy Spirit on this earth is longing for Jesus to come and take the church home. We may feel ready to begin our eternity in heaven, but can we imagine how the Holy Spirit longs for this to end? Just as the Spirit and the church long for Christ’s return, John longed for any that was thirsty for Jesus to come now, while there is time to “take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).
A couple of oft quoted verses come next in this chapter, both warnings of doom and judgment. Verse 18 warns that no man should add anything to the contents of Revelation, and verse 19 furthers it by adding that no man shall take away from the words of this book. This warning is to keep us from reading too much into or from taking away from the importance of this great Revelation. This book falls at the end of the New Testament, not just because the events are largely futuristic, but because they are in the deeper end of the knowledge of the redeemed. Unfortunately, many new converts jump right into Revelation with no foundation on the grace of God to help them. This causes some to add and take away from the revelatory power of this book. Let each one of us find the truths of this book as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The original Greek rendering of verse 19 also clears the clouds a bit about a popular, but untrue teaching. The text reads “God shall take away his part out of the book of life”, but the Greek actually says “God shall take away his share of the tree of life”. The difference is crucial, because the first rendering brings a doctrine into the church that God has a cosmic book that contains all names and that some are being erased or blotted out, while others are being re-written and added back based upon the way that they are living. God has no such book, for His redemption is paid for in blood, not in works. Do not fear, He is not removing your name from “the book”!
Just as John prayed for Christ to come soon, I pray the same; not because life is miserable here, but because He is so great, and when we see Him, “we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:3).
