Jesus presents himself in Revelation 22:16-21 as the Savior for the world, the Messiah for Israel, and the Bright Morning Star for the Church. He emphasizes his identity as Jesus, the one who saves, and as the root and offspring of David, fulfilling prophecy. To the Church, he is the Bright Morning Star, a symbol of hope and imminent return, particularly for the rapture. The sermon highlights the importance of this hope for believers, contrasting it with the world's lack of hope and urging a fervent anticipation of Christ's coming, as evidenced by the Spirit and the bride saying 'Come.' The passage concludes with a solemn warning against altering God's word and a final affirmation of Christ's swift return, encouraging believers to echo John's prayer, 'Even so, come, Lord Jesus.'
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Shall we turn tonight to the closing chapter of the Bible in the book of the Revelation, chapter twenty-two? I think it was a week ago. We were in this chapter in the early part of it and touched upon the blessed perfections that will be the blessed joy. of the believers in the eternity to come. What a joy it is to be able to look into the future and to know by confidence and the teaching of the Word of God only the portion that will be the believers in that eternal day when we're in heaven.
But it's a strange but a wonderful thing As we come to the end of chapter twenty-two, we begin reading in verse sixteen to the end. And in this closing portion of the Bible, may I point out to you the importance that Jesus himself speaks in the closing section of the Word of God. is of great importance to recognize who he is and how he presents himself at the close of the great book and particularly at the close of the book of the revelation which as you may know who have read it and heard ministry from it touch upon touches upon the closing days of the history of the human race.
And the joy of knowing we are going to have an eternal fulfillment of the redempted purposes of God. But let us not forget who he is. Beginning to read at verse sixteen to the end of the chapter. I'd like to emphasize the first two words. In fact, I'd like to emphasize the first one, the word I. In the Greek text it's written in what they call the emphatic form. He's emphasizing himself as the speaker.
And may I humbly but faithfully say, If there's any person that is alone worthy to be listened to, it is Jesus. We read from verse sixteen to the end of the chapter, I, Jesus, that sent mine angels to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root of the offspring of David. And I am the bright morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
Let him that hear it. Say, Come. Let him that is the first come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that here is 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. And if any man shall take 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. Note the closing words of our beloved Savior. He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen, writes John. Even so come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. be with you all. Amen. May God bless the closing session of his precious word, and in particular as it is, the closing part of the great book of the Revelation.
I'm sure we recognize and acknowledge as we come to the end of the book of the Revelation. the completion of God's purposes in redemption have been recorded. There's nothing more to be said, nothing more to be added. But yet, nevertheless, the Lord Himself speaks as He closes His Holy Word. Particularly would I remind you, said beginning in verse seven, down through to the end of the word.
Three times the Lord Jesus declares, I come quickly. I come. In verse twenty, where he repeats it, he adds the assurance, surely, of a truth. I come quickly. My beloved, does it mean anything to you? As it should do. But I would like you please to know verse sixty, which we want to begin with. He presents himself in a threefold way, in a threefold relationship to the human race.
First of all, he calls himself I, Jesus. And declares, as you read on to the end of the verse, the second truth, I am the root and the offspring of David. Third, I am the bright morning star. It is very important to recognize The emphasis on these names. Why does he begin saying, I, Jesus?
Why does he say, I am the root and the offspring of David? Why does he say, I am the dry morning star? Beloved, let me suggest to you the thought. he is directing his message to three different classes of people and I'm sure every Bible student understands what he means why does he use the name Jesus first of all let me be reminded with you the meaning of that name now if you want anyone Joseph, the husband of Mary, was told, Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sin.
My beloved, you know there's more than one person that was called Jesus when he was alive. It's a common name. In fact, you have another person in the Holy Scriptures in the New Testament whose name was Jesus. But the meaning of it. And I believe it's present himself here to the world outside of Christ. They need him as Jesus. Meaning, Savior. And it's not that true.
We often have sung a chorus. What the world needs is Jesus. Just a glimpse of him. And what the world does need is Jesus. Remember the song that the angels sang over Bethlehem playing when he was born? Unto you is born a savior. which is Christ the Lord. I emphasize what the Lord Jesus is emphasizing here. He knows the unsaved. Need him as their Savior. And beloved every man, woman, boy, and girl, that is yet unsaved.
They need him as their Savior. Well, did the Spirit have gone right in two places. One in John chapter four and the other in the first epistle of John chapter four. He is called the Savior of the world. And may I emphasize, I hope you take it into your heart, the meaning of this person saying, I am Jesus, the one the world needs a Savior. My beloved, there's a lot of need in this world, but I say humbly and faithfully, the greatest need the world has.
There is outside of Christ that to know Jesus and call him Savior and trust him. But there's another name he takes. And those of you who know your Bible, I'm sure you understand the meaning. He's referring to the people of Israel, his earthly people, and he declares of himself, I am the root, as well as the offspring of David. One of the great questions the Lord Jesus gave to the Pharisees of all in their utter rejection of him.
He laid before them the words that David once wrote. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemy thy foot through. And he challenged them. Why did David call him? My Lord. and yet he was the offspring of David. The Pharisees were rejecting his deity, his claim he was the son of God.
No beloved, what a joy to know that he is, the root, as well as the offspring of David. If it wasn't for him, David would have been here. And even David acknowledged by divine inspiration. And you have it in Psalm one hundred and ten. And even in Psalm chapter two. That Jesus was the offspring of God. And very God.
One can recognize the meaning. Listen, please. Why does it say this? Why does it say to the world, I'm coming. But you need me as your Savior, if you haven't received me. Why does it say to Israel, I'm your Messiah, I'm coming. And then as you note the end of verse sixteen, he takes another title. This title is not addressed to the world. It is not referring to the offspring of David. It's referring to the church, the bride of Christ. I am the bright and I omit the word and you don't need it.
I am the bright morning storm. Now raise your heart the question within it. and your mind. Why does he call himself the bright morning star? Here are three other references to him as well as the morning star. We do not take time to touch upon them, but here it is the only place where he is called the bright morning star. Perhaps all of us may be acquainted with the past.
Geographically, literally, in creation, the morning star shines just before the daybreak and before the dawn appears, before the sun rises. Let me remind you at the end of Malachi in chapter four. You have the prophet Malachi writing, he will rise. The son of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. Lighting as the sun refers to his coming back to the earth in power and great glory.
But here is not that title. It's another one. Bright morning star. And beloved, may I say this? Literally. We know that the morning stars shine in its brilliance just before the day begins to dawn. A blessed sight to those who behold it and enjoy it. But I want you to note the Lord Jesus called himself. Be bright. morning. Listen. Let me give you the book.
Why does he put it here at the end of the Bible? Well, if I know my Bible correctly, the end of human history is going to be the darkest. But to the believer, to the bride, to the church, He is the bright morning star. One wrote the lovely words, Mr. Darkness and the sorrow of this world.
I am waiting for the dawning of that blessed day when my Lord will appear. My beloved, let me put it this way. You have it here, Beth. You have it in the whole word of God. May I give you this thought? He's coming for his bride before he comes for Israel. He's coming for his bride before he judges the woe at the end of time. May I emphasize the most imminent manifestation of its person is the rapture.
May I say, the world doesn't have this hope. Neither does Israel have this hope. Let me quote the words from First Thessalonians chapter four. At the end of that fourth chapter, the words of the Spirit of God is written, For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven. with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. What's going to happen? The dead in Christ shall rise first. Not all the dead, but the saved dead shall rise first. And they which are relying and remain shall be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words. That's the blessed hope of the church. Well, did Paul write in the book of Titus, chapter two and verse thirteen, exhorting us to be looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ? May I ask the question, how bright is that hope in your heart? How bright is that hope in my heart? The world has no hope, as we know from the word of God.
Israel has a hope that they've got to wait till he comes back to the earth. And you and I are coming back with him when he comes on that occasion. But no one but the bride, the church, will be in that glorious way. And may I point out to you what Paul wrote in First Corinthians chapter fifteen, the time it will be that it will take to accomplish it. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, my beloved, can I say this?
I wonder, have you ever considered the fact, and it's a serious one? the world is getting darker. And may I say spiritually, morally, perhaps not physically, I can't say that, but morally and spiritually it is the darkest time it has ever lived in. I know my Bible and I read it very carefully. Paul by the Spirit writes concerning the spiritual and the moral justice of the last day.
I read of them in Peter. I read of them in Jude. I read of them in James. I read of them in the writings of John. And beloved, if I know the book of the Revelation, it's the book of judgment. And in the opening of the book, Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him. Even they that pierce him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Beloved, you and I are not going to suffer that. Oh, the joy of knowing.
There is no condemnation. There is no hell for me. The fire and the torment, my nines shall never be. Let me give you the promise that he gave. I will come again and receive you unto myself. That where I am there ye may be also. Now please note the response that John writes beginning in verse seventeen. Do you respond the same way? Do I? The Spirit and the bride say come. Do I need to emphasize who the bride is, God was being?
The church. Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. And then you have. He redeemed it and he's keeping it and he's going to present it to himself, a glorious church. And you have in Revelation nineteen the marriage of the land to the bride. Beloved, my fellow believer, let me say, you and I belong to the bride. But here you have the Spirit of God writing upon the revelation, I am that bright morning star.
There is a response by the Holy Spirit. Blessed Lord come. There is a corresponding response in the heart of the bride. It should be. Every individual comes. And then you have to find the Lord adding by the Spirit, Let him that hear us say, Come. Now may I re-emphasize the individual responsibility of every believer who will be responding, Lord Jesus, I want you to come.
There may be many reasons, but may I give you the best reason to want him to come, because of his love. We used to sing a chorus in my younger days. He loves me, he loves me. Oh, the wonder of such a thought that he loves me. He loves me. He loves me. I cannot love him as I am, but he loves me.
He loves me. Did he not prove him? Had he not proven him? Both saving you and keeping you? My beloved, I tell you, very frankly, if this one who is worthy of our love more than any other living person, it's the one who says, I'm that bright morning star. See you when he wrote of the day star, the morning star, that it should shine in your hearts.
And may I give you the thought? The coming of the Lord says, it's shining in our hearts. And if every believer was properly looking for him, we'd have a revival. Oh yeah. I could never forget the conversation with a dear man of God. Fifty or more years ago. Save in the middle of the past century. when he said to me in conversation together, Brother Grandma, what do you think in that day when I was saved in the middle of the past century, what we Christians talked about every time we met, whether on the street, whether in our home, whether in our meaning, and anywhere and everywhere?
What do you think was the topic of our conversation? I said, I would know, brother, that we talked about the coming of the Lord. Now may I forcefully say, and history can prove it, that in that past century and the middle of it, God gave a great revival in the subsequent years. All you have to read is the history of the church. in the past century, especially the latter part, and even into the fourth part of this century. But may I ask the question, are we having a revival now?
May I say that one well-wrote back in us, chimed in back in those days, there was what was once called the Welsh Revival, and a very interesting fact, You know what happened? There was so much thought and teaching about the Lord's coming that people went to church, even when he wasn't trying to go to church. And Saddam waited for somebody to come and preach. And God raised up men that went about preaching into these churches where people were gathered together just to listen to the word of God.
Canis be careful. Look, what's the rule in here tonight? May I say again? Please may I say it? If every Christian in this assembly was concerned about the Lord's coming, they'd be here tonight. Physically, if it's physically possible. And all Christians will be concerned Well, and what the Lord says here. Let him that hear us. It's not only the bride itself universally, but every individual believer. Lord, come.
And not only that, you can see, and you see if it was so, there's an outreach to the unsaved. Know what follows. Let him that is the first come. And whosoever will let him chase the water of life freely. What a joy to realize at the end of the Bible. God still says, I want to see men and women say, boys and girls say, taking the water of life. It's free. You would think so when you try to preach it. There are so many would rather pay for it if they could, but you cannot.
All the responsibility this world faces. God freely offers to save them by his grace. And it provided the salvation in the person and death of his dear son. And it's free. And if the son shall make you free, then shall you be free indeed, said the Savior, when he was there. And I say again, please may I say again, one of the greatest needs in the church today is a revival in the coming of the Lord. And may I again refer to that?
It's not just because I want to be delivered from my circumstances. That may be true, but it should be a heart matter. It's a matter of all. One wrote a lovely chorus. And there's a longing in my heart for Jesus. There's a longing in my heart to see his face. I am weary, oh so weary of traveling here below me. There's a longing in my heart for him. My beloved, let me tell you again. And I say it lovingly, there's one person that the Christian should be desiring to be with more than any other in all the universe.
The Lord Jesus. Well, the old hymn, precious, face to face with Christ my Savior, face to face to see and know, with what rapture I'll behold him, Jesus Christ. Who loves nature? Oh, my beloved, let me say you get pleased. Note it carefully at the close of the Lord. The Lord himself is talking. The Lord himself is telling us what he should be to our heart. Whether it be to the world, needing the Savior, Jesus, or to Israel, looking and longing for their Messiah.
And to the church, the blessed bridegroom. Can I say this lovingly? And I know it's true. I've taken the word of God for it. There's never going to be a greater wedding than that one that's going to take place in heaven. In chapter nineteen of the book of Revelation. And let me say... Let me do it lovingly. You know who I believe will be the happiest person at that wedding? The Lord himself. The Lord himself.
As he looked upon his bride, which is by its grace he has clothed her, but she has also the garments of righteousness that she earned to wear for his glory. My beloved, let me quote the words of Ephesians five, twenty-five through twenty-seven again. Christ loved the church and gave himself for it that he might sanctify it and cleanse it by the washing of water by the words. And then he might present it to himself, all for himself, a glorious church, not having spot a wrinkle or blemish, but that it should be holy and without blame before him.
My beloved, look, don't you want to be more beautiful than you are now? And may I say, in spite of the fact you may be beautiful. There's still room for improvement, and will be when he comes. Oh, the joy of knowing we shall be like him, for we shall see him at the end. And dear, but, beloved, please let me refer back to our premise. He's the bright morning star, but I raise the question, how brilliant is that blessed hope shining in your own heart? is it the desire of your soul to see him my son and I were talking on the phone today and he quoted me the verse of David and asked me about it one thing of my desire of the Lord that will I seek after that I may behold the beauty of the Lord and sit one in the presence of the Lord and inquire in this heaven.
He'll love the best decision. Sweet. And here is the Lord himself at the end of the Bible and at the end of this great book of Revelation with all of his children telling the bride, I'm coming for you. Again, let me repeat, three times he said in the chapter, I'm coming, I'm coming. And at the end of it, surely I am coming. And then he calls, he adds words as you have in verse eighteen and nineteen. Words of warning. I testify unto every man that here is the words of the prophecy of this book.
If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the place that are written in this book. And if any man shall take 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 that are written in this book and a solemn warning don't tamper with the words of God accept them and then the Lord closes the exhortation in verse twenty he which testifies these things there surely I come and please note the next word again, Queen.
And let me repeat, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last straw, the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we which are our lives shall be changed, and caught up to meet the Lord in the air together, and be forever with the Lord. But here he confirms and stresses the fact of a certainty, yes, I come to accept. Oh, my beloved, I cannot say, please, what a work of blessing the truth of its coming should have, and its effect upon your heart and upon mine.
It's coming. And no wonder John answers as you have him saying, Amen, Lord. Meaning so be it. And then he adds a prayer. Even so. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord be with you all. Shall we pray? Beloved Lord Jesus. Oh, how we need to be looking up. Seeing in the sky above us the bright morning stars shining in all of its brilliance. Telling us the night is ending and the new day is coming.
And Lord, surely we can say with John, in response, amen. And we will add in closing, even so, come, Lord Jesus. And as one has well rendered it, even so come today. Oh, how my heart is longing, yearning for thy returning. Even so come, Lord Jesus, even so come today. May these thoughts, Lord, affect our hearts and affect our lives for thine honor and glory. Amen.