Heavenly Preparation: Are You Looking Forward To The New Day

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

The Lamb’s wife should be living with a desire that her husband come quickly! Are you ready for Christ to receive you?

Introduction

With all that we have seen on our journey through the Revelation of Christ, there are just a few questions left for us to answer today.  Are you looking forward to the new day?  Do you want to be with Jesus? Are you ready for Jesus to come?

Jesus Is Coming

Our lesson opens this week with John hearing, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work (Rev. 22:12).”

Last week’s lesson ended with John hearing this same statement.  In Revelation 22:7, the angel was ministering to John when that message was shared with him.  To be clear, the angel wasn’t speaking of his coming but was sharing Jesus’ message about His coming.  Jesus often spoke of His coming, as shown in His scripture, and He spoke of it being quick, or unexpected in its timing.

The message in Revelation 22:12, I believe, is literally being spoken by Christ, rather than the angel.  The angel ministered, as instructed, and then Jesus backed the angel up to further confirm the message was true.  

Reasons to take Jesus’ coming seriously    

So, what does it mean to you when you hear that Jesus has said He is coming quickly?  If I tell you that Jesus is coming, you might think I am crazy and won’t pay me much attention.  Yet, when Jesus tells us directly that He is coming, we ought to take that seriously, right? 

We ought to be taking the coming of Christ more seriously than we are today. To be clear, when I say “we”, I am talking about mankind as a whole, along with all who say they believe. You see, Jesus’ arrival will come with judgment.  

When the church is called out of this world and meets Jesus in the air, we will go before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10).  At the resurrection of the dead, they will go before the great white throne (Rev. 20:11-15).  The “dead” who stand before the great white throne are those who committed themselves to sin.  The dead will die the second death as they are cast from God’s presence for everlasting life.

In Revelation 22:12, the words of Christ speak of Him having His reward to give to everyone according to their work.  So, the coming that’s insight in this verse is the coming of His judgment of the believer.  Now, this may frighten some of you, but the sincere believer ought not be frightened about Jesus’ coming.  

To the sincere believer belongs salvation, and there is no losing that.  In 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, Paul taught of the judgment of the believer according to the grace God gave to him.  The burning fire of God’s judgment will reveal our works and if our works endure the fire, we have an even greater reward.  However, if one’s work is burned in the fire, the fire will save them, as salvation cannot be lost.

Keep in mind Jesus told Nicodemus that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life (John 3:16).   Though there will be extra rewards, Jesus’ reward is everlasting life in the new day (Rev. 21:3-5).  Jesus said, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city (Rev. 22:14).

So, for me, Jesus’ words, “I am coming quickly,” are incredibly serious.  You see, we ought to live with the expectation of His arrival so that we can have part in His reward.  This thought should remind you of the parable of the wise and the foolish virgins, as the foolish virgins weren’t permitted into the wedding hall (Matt. 25:1-12).  Jesus even speaks of the committed sinner being on the outside here in Revelation 22:15.

I can’t imagine that any of us won’t want to be on the outside of the new day, right?  Those committed to sin will be on the outside, and on the outside, there is no light.  Outside of the new day, there will be outer darkness where the sinner will dwell, weeping and gnashing their teeth (Matt. 8:11-12).

God’s Severe Warning

When we take a look at Revelation 22:18-19, there is a very severe warning that is shared with all people.

The scripture starts by saying, “For I testify”.  Who is it that is testifying in both of these verses?  Notice that the one speaking speaks of what God will do:  “If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book.”  Second example:  “If any takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life”.

Not having a part in the Book of Life is as serious as it gets.  We have seen that those whose name is not found written in the Lamb’s Book of  Life won’t be permitted to be a part of the new day (Rev. 21:27).  Those whose name isn’t found in the Book of Life are cast into outer darkness, into the lake of fire!  Again, this is a very serious warning that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

So, who is it that is sharing this warning with us?  We can already eliminate Christ being the one speaking in both of these verses.  If it were Christ speaking, we’d see speech in “first-person”.  I also don’t believe it’s the angel speaking in this verse as well.  When the angel spoke in this chapter, it mentioned that it was sent by God to minister.

I believe the one testifying in both of these verses is John himself.  Now, is this warning one that John made up on his own?  Certainly not!  

We’ve already seen throughout the Revelation of Christ where John was told what to write and say by the Lord.  This warning is a warning that the Lord wanted all people to know and John shared it with us.  So, I suppose you could technically say that this is God’s message but John is the one speaking in both of these verses.

The Revelation of Christ does not need us to add anything to it or to subtract anything from it.  What more could we add that would be better than Jesus’ revelation?  You and I certainly aren’t a better judge to say what parts must be taken away.  I know there is an attack on the truth today, but we aren’t God and cannot make such a decision.

So we ought to share the gospel and the Revelation just as it is, while being guided by the Holy Spirit.  I certainly understand that the Revelation of Christ can be quite difficult for one to understand, which is why we need the Spirit to guide us.  So, if you fail to understand any part of this Revelation, lean on the Spirit for further clarity!

A Wonderful Invitation to the New Day

Though the Revelation of Christ comes with a severe warning, there is also a wonderful invitation to be a part of the new day.

In Revelation 22:17, we are told that the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”  Let’s keep in mind that the “bride” is a reference to the Lamb’s wife – the church.  Now, this invitation is, in a manner of speaking, two-fold.  Sure, the Spirit and the bride are both saying “come,” but who are they saying “come” to?    

I believe your initial answer will be that this is an invitation to everyone in the world.  If that is your answer, I’d tell you that you’re spot on.

While He was in the world, Jesus invited all who labor and are heavy laden to come to Him (Matt. 11:28).  The Spirit has been active for quite some time now, inviting all to repent and be guided in the truth to have part in the heavenly kingdom.  The bride, likewise, invites all to move in sincere faith so that they may have a part in the heavenly kingdom.

However, as I said before, this invitation is two-fold.  You see, while we are in the world, many of us call on Christ daily.  Some of us call on Christ around the clock!  We call on Christ to come.  Not only do we call on Christ to come, but the Spirit joins in our prayer and calls on Christ to come as well!

I look forward to the new day, when we are done with all of what we see going on in the world today.  I look forward to the new day when our sorrow and sadness are turned into joy.  I look forward to the new day when our burdens are rolled away forever.  I look forward to that day of everlasting peace!

So, what about you?  Do you look forward to that new day?  Are you calling on Jesus to come?  I certainly hope that you have enjoyed this quarter of lessons as we have journeyed through the Revelation of Christ.  The Revelation of Christ, some find to be scary, but there is nothing scary about Jesus’ revelation to those who are of faith.  A new day is coming, and our part in it will be nothing but joy.