Revelation 22:12-17 (NKJV) And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
14 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. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
V12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” The Greek word for “quickly” is (G5035) ταχύ tachú, which means moving fast. Time is being measured in God’s terms, not necessarily our terms. He is telling us that He will 1) come soon and 2) bring a reward. What we do in this life with our attitudes, faithfulness, loyalty, and servanthood to Jesus determines this reward. See 1 Corinthians 3:12-16, Romans 14:10-12, and 2 Corinthians 5:1-10.
V13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” He is the completeness of perfection, holiness, etc., because Jesus is God.
V14 “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.” Obedience carries a reward. See John 14:21 and 1 John 2:5. See 1 Peter 2:22 and 1 John 3:23.
V15 “But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.” In God’s mind, dogs are unclean because they are unclean (physically) naturally and in general. Sorcerers refer to the occult and are often accompanied by mind-altering drugs.
V16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” Jesus speaks specifically that He delegated an angel with this message. The message is to the churches, revealing to us the future. Jesus is the Root of David (Isaiah 11:10, Matthew 1:1, and 2 Samuel 7:12-16) because David was a distant, direct ancestor. He is the Bright and Morning Star because:
Warren W. Wiersbe: “The “morning star” announces dawn’s soon arrival. Jesus Christ will come for His church as “the Morning Star.” But when He returns to judge, it will be as “the Sun of righteousness” in burning fury (Mal 4:1-3). Because God’s people look for their Lord’s return, they keep their lives clean and dedicated to Him (1 John 2:28-3:3).”
Keathley: “”The bright and morning star.” Literally, the Greek has “the star, the bright one, the morning one.” (Compare Num 24:17, Balaam’s prophecy; Mat 2:2, the statement of the magi, and Rev 2:28.) What does a morning star do? It heralds and assures us of a new day and of the conclusion of the night (cf. Rom 13:11-14). So Jesus, as the morning star, heralds and assures us of the conclusion of this night season and the coming of a new day which will begin by His return for the church at the rapture to be followed by the glories of the millennium and then the eternal state at the end of the Tribulation. For Israel, Christ is seen as “the Sun of righteousness” (Mal 4:2).”
V17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” This is an invitation to all people, each and every human. The opportunity of salvation is for all humans.
We learn:
- Jesus is eternal without beginning or end.
- The Gospel is for each and every human.
Questions:
- Are we obedient to the Lord Jesus?
- Are you waiting for the Lord Jesus to return?
- Are we telling the Gospel to others?