Jesus is Coming

" 'Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.' Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie. 'I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.' " (Revelation 22:12-16 - New Living Translation)

Jesus reminds us that when He comes, He will judge and He will reward. We should be prepared for His return.

Those who obey God, those who repent and believe, will enter into the New Jerusalem. They will spend eternity in joy and happiness.

Those who refuse to accept Jesus will not enter into the New Jerusalem. Those who continue in their sin in this life will endure torment in the next.

Jesus is the One who sent the angel to tell John and us this prophecy. Jesus is the root of David; the One who gave David life. Jesus is the offspring of David; born into his family. Jesus is the bright and morning star who will announce the coming of a new and perfect dawn. The dawning of the new heaven, new earth and New Jerusalem.

The Testimony of John

"And I, John, am he who heard and witnessed these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell prostrate before the feet of the messenger (angel) who showed them to me, to worship him. But he said to me, Refrain! [You must not do that!] I am [only] a fellow servant along with yourself and with your brethren the prophets and with those who are mindful of and practice [the truths contained in] the messages of this book. Worship God! And he [further] told me, Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book and make no secret of them, for the time when things are brought to a crisis and the period of their fulfillment is near. He who is unrighteous (unjust, wicked), let him be unrighteous still; and he who is filthy (vile, impure), let him be filthy still; and he who is righteous (just, upright, in right standing with God), let him do right still; and he who is holy, let him be holy still." (Revelation 22:8-11 - Amplified Bible)

John adds his own testimony to the truthfulness of what has been written. This book is not fiction, and it is not the telling of some dream. It is a true prophecy.

John is again overcome by the glory of what he has been seeing and he begins to worship the angel. The angel stops him.

The angel says that he, like John, is a servant of God. The prophets were servants of God. All who do what this book encourages are servants of God. The Angels, the Apostles, the prophets, faithful Christians, we are all fellow servants of God. We worship Him as creatures before the Creator.

Jesus is the One speaking in verses 10 to 16. He tells us that the prophecy of this book is not sealed. This indicates that its meaning is not hidden. It is to be understood. Remember this is a revelation, an unveiling. The reason for this book being not sealed is that the time is at hand. It will not be long before the events of Revelation come to pass.

The next statement is rather unclear. It does not mean that God does not want the unjust and filthy to repent and be saved. That is what God wants.

Most commentators believe think that this refers to people at the start of the Tribulation. Things will occur so quickly that few will have time to change their ways. The unjust will remain unjust. The filthy will remain filthy. While those who have faith in God, will have that faith strengthened in persecution. This is a warning to people to turn to God while there is time.