Revelation 22
Worship God (22:8-11)
“8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.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.”
John certifies that he has actually seen and heard everything that he has written in the book. He again makes the mistake of worshipping the messenger (angel) of God rather than God Himself. John is told to leave the book open (Seal not). The Messiah has come, his return is imminent, and thus the time is at hand. (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, pg. 2018)
I am the Alpha and Omega (22:12-13)
“12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”
Again Christ declares the imminence of His return. The three designations of verse 13 are virtually equivalent in meaning. By applying them to Himself, Christ claims unlimited, eternal equality with God. (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, pg. 2018)
Tree of Life (22:14—15)
“14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in 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.”
They that do His commandments are believers. The tree of life indicates immortality and divine blessings. To be able to enter in through the gates into the city is to have heavenly citizenship in the eternal dwelling place of God and redeemed mankind. All unbelievers are without (outside) the city in the lake of fire. (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, pg. 2018)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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