Revelation: Reality

Intro:
I remember my first year of marriage as the year of "reality". Some may have stories of bliss and things like that but I hit reality.

It had nothing to do with my dear wife. She is an amazing woman. It had to do with me. I was self-absorbed and immature. I had to grow up. I realized that marriage was a passage that was going to force my growing up. I was so unprepared.

The book of Revelation has served as a similar thing. It is a book that invites us to a sober reality. It is a book that challenges our immaturity and love of self. It is a book that calls us to consider spiritual things as worthy of greater consideration.

This book invites us to challenge our presuppositions and ask deeper questions. Is this reality? Is this the way life really is? Is life really as spiritual as all this? Is there really a war on earth for the hearts and minds of men? Are we drawing toward the end of all things?

Sobering questions that require answers in reality.

Read: Revelation 22:7-21
7"Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."

8I, 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. 9But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!"

10Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy."

12"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13I 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. 15Outside 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."

17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

18I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

20He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.

Think:
Apparently John and Jesus believed the importance of the material in this book. It serves as a stark reminder of the nature of things. It shows that God is in charge and worthy of all our worship.

There are blessings and curses associated with the book of Revelation (v. 7 & 18). Like the OT book of Deuteronomy, God places both blessing and cursing before his people. Blessed if we seek the Lord and honor him, cursing if we fail to remember him and pursue pleasure instead. This final chapter captures both of these thoughts.

There are blessings for obeying what is written in the book of Revelation (v.7). This would at least include staying true to Jesus and avoiding sin.

There are curses for changing the content that is written in the book of Revelation (v.18). Apparently God knew some would be tempted to change the message. We need to take it at face value that God understands more than we do and that we should trust him.

Revelation is an invitation to reality! We are expected to submit our Darwinian, Freudian, Americanism to the Lord. We are urged to be careful with the word of God.

The grace of the Lord Jesus will help us stay balanced and in reality.

Do:
Are you living in reality? Have you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior? Have you also grown up? Like my first year of marriage, lots of things get challenged when we get saved. We are called to adjust our lives to the Scriptures. We are blessed if we obey what we read.

Pray and ask the Father to help you walk in obedience and reality.

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