August 28
Lesson 13 (KJV)
A Welcoming Invitation
Devotional Reading: Revelation 22:10–21
Background Scripture: Revelation 22:8–21
Revelation 22:10–21
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
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.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; my reward is with me, to give every man according to his work.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and enter through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent my angel to testify these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright and morning star.
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.
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:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of this prophecy, God shall bear his part out of the book of life, out of the holy city, and from the things written in this book.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Key Text
I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man adds unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man takes 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.—Revelation 22:18–19
Partners in a New Creation
Unit 3: The Great Hope of the Saints
Lessons 10–13
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Identify the descriptions that apply to Jesus.
2. Explain those descriptions.
3. Sing a praise chorus or hymn that expresses the hope of Jesus’ promised return.
Lesson Outline
Introduction
A. Oh, Those Delays!
B. Lesson Context
I. Paths, Advent, Separation (Revelation 22:10–15)
A. Two Types (vv. 10–11)
When God Gives Up
B. Second Coming (vv. 12–13)
C. Two Outcomes (vv. 14–15)
II. Testimony, Offer, Warning (Revelation 22:16–19)
A. Jesus (v. 16)
Twice-Removed (from) Literalism
B. Water (v. 17)
C. Tampering (vv. 18–19)
III. Promising, Longing, Closing (Revelation 22:20–21)
A. Reaffirmation (v. 20a)
B. Desire (v. 20b)
C. Benediction (v. 21)
Conclusion
A. Praying Maranatha
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
HOW TO SAY IT
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Alpha |
Al-fa. |
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Bethlehem |
Beth-lih-hem. |
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Gentile |
Jen-tile. |
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Deuteronomy |
Due-ter-Ahn-uh-me. |
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Ecclesiastes |
Ik-leez-ee-as-teez. |
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Isaiah |
Eye-zay-uh. |
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Judaizers |
Joo-duh-ize-ers. |
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Maranatha (Aramaic) |
Mare-ah-nath-ah (nath as in math). |
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Messiah |
Meh-sigh-uh. |
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Omega |
O-may-guh or O-mee-guh. |
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phenomenological |
fih-naw-meh-neh-law-jih-kuhl. |
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Thessalonians |
Thess-uh-lo-nee-unz (th as in thin). |
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Zechariah |
Zek-uh-rye-uh. |
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What Do You Think? How can you find the motivation to continue being a faithful witness even when (or especially when) nonbelievers refuse to repent? Digging Deeper What blessings can you anticipate from your efforts to share Christ, even if they seem ineffective? |
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What Do You Think? Which method of motivation to repent should you use in your witness: the promise of reward or fear of punishment? Why? Digging Deeper What examples of each can you cite from Scripture? |
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What Do You Think? How can you help your church identify things that hinder its invitation to unbelievers to “come”? Digging Deeper If you find yourself in the minority of one in identifying one or more such things, what should you do next? |
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What Do You Think? What can you do to ensure that you neither add to nor subtract from the prophecies and promises of the book of Revelation? Digging Deeper Could failing to read the book of Revelation amount to violating 22:19? Why, or why not? |
III. Promising, Longing, Closing
(Revelation 22:20–21)
A. Reaffirmation (v. 20a)
20a. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.
One last time John reminds us of Jesus’ promise to come quickly. This promise embraces both the presence of Christ in His church today (compare Revelation 2:5, 16; 3:11) and the promise of Christ’s return in the future (compare 22:7, 12).
There will be only two reactions when Christ returns: joy and fear. Christ is coming the second time—a time of glory and judgment. He will vanquish all the evil that seems so powerful now. Who can stand before the wrath of the Lamb? No one (Revelation 6:17). The intent of this book as a whole is to bring readers to repentance, faithfulness, and endurance so that we will greet the return of Christ with joy.
B. Desire (v. 20b)
20b. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Lack of fear is the position of John as he ends the book with a short prayer. The word Amen means “It is true.” This is a loaded, powerful word in this context, for John says, “Everything I just told you—all the visions, all the prophecies, all the warnings, all the blessings—is absolutely true.” If this were not the case, then John would not dare express a desire for Jesus to return, lest John’s falsehood is exposed!
But John is telling the truth, and his, Even so, come, Lord Jesus is similar to Paul’s “Maranatha” in 1 Corinthians 16:22. That is an Aramaic word meaning “Come, Lord.” Perhaps the most incredible faith prayer a Christian can utter is to ask sincerely for Christ to come, for that means the one praying is ready to meet the Lord, master, and judge face-to-face (compare 2 Timothy 4:8).
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What Do You Think? Could you pray for Jesus to return right now without fear that He actually would? If not, why not? Digging Deeper How does 2 Peter 3:7–12 affect your willingness to pray this prayer? |
C. Benediction (v. 21)
21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
John offers a final blessing to the readers. This is comforting for the persecuted and fearful readers of the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3, for they need God’s grace and mercy in their difficult situations. Likewise, for us, this is a blessed word of calming peace. It assures us that God’s marvelous grace toward us is not just past or future. It is present and available now.
Conclusion
A. Praying Maranatha
The return of Christ is a vital theme of the book of Revelation. We joyously celebrate His first coming, His first “advent,” in the Christmas season. But daily, we should also anticipate and pray for His return, His second “advent,” to take us home to be with Him forever.
Today I did so by praying “Maranatha.” I am ready for Christ to come again. When I read the news of another mass shooting, another terrorist attack, or another outrage to my Christian conscience, I am ready for Christ to come again. Despite the efforts of people of good faith, the dark side of humanity seems an unquenchable source of evil. I am ready for Christ to return.
I don’t know precisely how His coming or our residence in the New Jerusalem will work. The closing chapters of Revelation give answers, but in all honesty, they raise questions as well. Yet I don’t need to know everything, and I am at peace with that. I am ready for Christ to come again.
Are you ready, or does part of your heart fear that you will be among those excluded from the holy city? Being able and willing to pray for Christ to return right now is an excellent test of one’s spiritual health, a test of one’s relationship with the Lord Jesus.
Practice the Maranatha prayer for a week. Pray it sincerely, in true faith. If you take this seriously, it will make a difference.
B. Prayer
Father, thank You for promises both fulfilled and yet to be fulfilled. In this light, we pray, “Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!” Amen.
C. Thought to Remember
Make the Alpha and Omega first and last in your life.
Wood, Andrew, Mark A. Taylor, and Laura McKillip Wood. “A Welcoming Invitation.” The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2021–2022. Ed. Jane Ann Kenney et al. Vol. 69. Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2022. 446–447. Print. The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary.
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