December 01, 2023 | Be On Mission
The Return of Jesus Christ
Scripture: Revelation 22(NIV)
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”
10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
Devotional
This is reading number 235, the final one of our year-long study of the mission of Jesus. In it we have read the Book of Acts and the rest of the New Testament. Our theme, “Be on Mission,” has guided us along the way. We have endeavored to ask what the Bible meant when it was written, as well as how it applies to us here and now.
Revelation 22 is a reminder that there is One at work far beyond ourselves in this great story. God has been moving before the beginning of time, working out His redemptive plan until beyond the end of time. And we are recipients of that great work.
Last year we looked at the life of Jesus, from His creation of the universe, to His birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension back to heaven. But His activity did not end with the conclusion of the four gospels. Jesus appears in the first chapter of Acts, commissioning His people to go out to spread the gospel to all people. And He appears in the last chapter of Revelation, promising to return again for His people. Yes, from beginning to end, it’s all about Jesus!
Next year we turn to the Old Testament. But don’t be mistaken to think that Jesus will be absent from that year-long endeavor. “In the beginning” are the very first words of the book of Genesis in the Old Testament and the very first words of the book of John in the New Testament.
This is the same John who wrote down the book of Revelation, proclaiming the words of Jesus, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Hebrews 13:8 agrees, boldly stating, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Let us close this study with a passage from Colossians 3:15-20, which describes Jesus from eternity to eternity. Read this out loud as a declaration of your faith in Him!
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
Poem
Amen!
Amen!
I believe it!
This is Truth beyond all measure!
Amen!
Hallelujah!
Hope fulfilled! Faith’s eyes now see!
Amen!
It is finished!
God’s full glory on display!
Amen!
Great Omega!
New beginning! Eternally!
