TEACHING NOTES Part 22: John's Epilogue/Conclusion Introduction This session will cover the final verses of the book of Revelation. This section functions as the Epilogue or conclusion of the book and reads much like the end of the other New Testament letters. In John’s Epilogue, readers are given final instructions for how live in light of Revelation’s message. In effect, we’re told what to do while we wait on Revelation’s events to be completed. John’s Epilogue (Rev. 22:6-21) If we compare this epilogue/conclusion with John’s prologue/introduction (Rev. 1:1-8), we notice that the same ideas are present in both. The prologue tells us what the book is about, how to read it, and that we must obey its message. The epilogue has the same purpose. Essentially, the epilogue is like a mirror of the prologue. ​ Revelation 22:6–7 ESV 6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” 7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” And he said to me = The “he” who is speaking to John is the angel mentioned in Rev. 21:9 who has been showing John the final vision. These words = Refers to the entire book of Revelation. In Rev. 1:1 the first words, “the revelation of Jesus Christ,” tell us exactly what kind of book this is and who it is about. Revelation is an apokalypsis, which is a type of literature that is full of symbolism and meant to reveal truth. Therefore, “these words” of Revelation are meant to reveal more to us about who Jesus is and what He is doing. In John’s Gospel he tells us up front that Jesus Himself is “the Word” (John 1:1). Trustworthy and true = “Trustworthy” and “faithful” are essentially the same idea, because it is the same word in Greek (pistos). In Rev. 1:5, John calls Jesus “the faithful witness” and here the angel communicates the same idea. To show his servants = The Greek word for “show” here is deiknymi, which means to make known, demonstrate, or explain. Therefore, this book is meant to be understood and applied, not to be some mysterious hidden code. Question: If Revelation was meant to be understood, why have so many been confused by it for so long? A possible explanation for how people became confused with Revelation is how the church left behind its Jewish roots very early in church history. The apostles and first followers of Jesus were Jewish and were trained by Jesus on how to read Jewish literature. Many of the first followers were raised in a Israelite culture where Jewish apocalyptic literature widely read and taught. However, after the first century the church became mostly Gentile. Almost all the church leaders in the second century onward were not Jewish. This kind of literature was foreign to them. Therefore, it would be easy for them misunderstand Revelation. In fact, many of the early church writers made symbolic passages overly literal, and literal passages overly symbolic. This also explains how Greek philosophy crept into the teachings of the church. What must soon take place = The concept of “soon” and “near” appears ten times in Rev. 1:1; 1:3; 2:16; 3:11; 11:14; 22:6; 22:7; 22:10; 22:12; 22:20. It is very clear that John’s readers were to expect these events to happen within the next few years, not thousands of years later. Revelation was written to seven churches in the first century to prepare them for what was coming soon. Everything in Revelation was coming soon—many events would be completed soon and other events would begin soon and continue on into the future. Blessed is the one who keeps the words = This is the 6th of seven beatitudes in Revelation. This one mirrors the first beatitude in Rev. 1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” The Greek word translated “keeps” here is tereo, which means to observe or obey. Prophesy = Grk. propheteia - inspired utterance. While modern readers of the Bible often think of “prophesy” as seeing or telling the future, that is not the original meaning of the word. In the Bible, prophesy simply refers to words that have been given by God. Sometimes those words may include information about the future, but most often prophesy is simply a message from God. ​ Revelation 22:8–9 ESV 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things = Unlike John’s Gospel, which never names John as the author, Revelation clearly states that John is the author. I fell down to worship the angel = John is referring back to Rev. 19:10. This is not a second occurence of John falling down to worship the angel. John is simply retelling how he responded back in Rev. 19:10. The angel’s response, “You must not do that!” makes it clear that the angel is not Jesus, but John must have thought the angel was Jesus until the angel corrected him. ​ Revelation 22:10–11 ESV 10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” Do not seal up the book, for the time is near = John is told not to seal up the book because the time is near. This is the opposite of what Daniel was told after he had received visions of the time of the end. Dan. 8:26 “The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.” Dan. 12:4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Dan. 12:9 “He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.”” Most of Revelation did occur soon in John’s lifetime. Even the reign of Christ and the new creation had already began but were not yet complete until the end. Let the evildoer still do evil = John is told to let the evildoers still do evil and the righteous still do right. In other words, you can’t make people act a certain way. It is futile to spend your time and energy trying to make people change. This echoes what Daniel was told as well. Dan. 12:9-10 “9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.” It is not our responsibility, nor do we have the ability, to force our faith on those who doing evil. All we can do is share the truth and let people decide. ​ Revelation 22:12–13 ESV 12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” I am coming soon, bringing my recompense = This connects back to Rev. 1:7 “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.” This refers to Jesus coming in judgment against those who pierced Him—the leaders of Jerusalem. The Greek word translated “recompense” here is misthos, which is the word for wages. This speaks of judgment and reward. Most of Revelation is a description of the judgment “coming” of Christ against Jerusalem (Rev. 6-18), while the end of the book speaks of His final return to judge the rest of the nations (Rev. 19-22). Everything in Revelation would begin “soon” in John’s lifetime, but the final events would not yet be completed until later in the future. ​ Revelation 22:14–15 ESV 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Blessed are those who wash their robes = This is the final beatitude of Revelation and calls people to trust in Christ for their righteousness. We were already told that those who trust in Christ have “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:14). The right to the tree of life, enter the city = This points back to the description of the new Jerusalem, where the Bride is described as a city with the tree of life. Those who trust in Christ become citizens of the city (kingdom) and are given eternal life. Outside are the dogs = Those who practice unrepentant evil are “outside” the city (kingdom) in this life and will not inherit the new creation in the next life. If evil has been eliminated in Rev. 20:14-15, why does the end of Revelation speak of people still practicing evil? John’s Epilogue is not meant to be included in the storyline of the book. The Epilogue is looking back over the entire message and providing instructions to those who are waiting for the events to unfold. ​ Revelation 22:16–17 ESV 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify = Revelation ends with a reminder that the source of the book is Jesus Himself. Jesus sent His “angel” (Grk. angelos - messenger) to “testify” (Grk. martyreo - witness, vouch for, give testimony) the message to John. This was common in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. The prophets in the OT were often visited by an angel (like Ezekiel and Daniel). The NT begins with Joseph and Mary being visited by angels to receive a message from God. This is one of the main roles of angels—to deliver a message. I am the root and descendant of David = This speaks of kingship. The Messiah was prophesied in the OT to come from the line of king David (see Isa. 11:1, 10; Matt. 1:1; Rev. 5:5). The bright morning star = This is also a Messianic prophesy from Num. 24:17. This is also connected to Isa. 60:3; Matt. 2:2; Rev. 2:28. The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come” = This indicates how we should respond to the overall message of Revelation. God’s people should join with the Spirit in longing for the day of Christ’s final return, when He will renew all things. Let the one who desires take the water of life = In Rev. 22:11 we were told to “Let the evildoer will do evil” and here we’re told to let those who desire/want the water of life (the Holy Spirit) come receive it without price. ​ Revelation 22:18–19 ESV 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. Do not add or take away from this book = This shows the importance of reading, hearing, and keeping the words of Revelation. At the beginning of the book we read, Rev. 1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” Now the book ends with the same idea. This book is very important and we should be blessed by its message. ​ Revelation 22:20–21 ESV 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. He who testifies to these things = “He” refers to Jesus here. Jesus is the one who has testified these things to John so the churches will know what was coming soon (Rev. 2-18) and what is the ongoing results (Rev. 20-22). Surely I am coming soon = The meaning of the word “soon” does not change. Revelation ends with the same theme mentioned in Rev. 1:7 “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.” As we have seen throughout Revelation, the “coming” of the Son of Man against Jerusalem would happen “soon” because “the time is near” (Rev. 1:1-3). That judgment occured in AD 66-70. However, the final return of Christ described in Rev. 19:11-21; 20:7-10 has not yet occured. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! = This is John speaking and this tells us what our attitude should be after reading Revelation. The followers of Jesus should be ready and looking forward to Christ’s return. The grace of the Lord Jesus be will all = This is a standard ending in the other letters of the New Testament. Revelation began with a standard greeting similar to what we see in the other NT letters as well (Rev. 1:4-8). This indicates that Revelation must be read as a letter to the seven churches and must interpreted in their context. Conclusion As we conclude this 22-week study, a review is likely needed. So, the following is an attempt to see Revelation’s message as a whole. The chart provided (below) is designed to show the events of Revelation on a visual timeline. This will help us get an overall picture of what Revelation is describing. The main purpose of Revelation is to prepare and explain to the first century churches why Jerusalem was being judged and what the ongoing results would be. Review of Revelation Rev. 1 = Jesus is coming soon to judge Jerusalem Rev. 2-3 = Instructions to the 7 Churches Rev. 4 = John’s Vision of Heaven Rev. 5-19 = The Judgment of Jerusalem Rev. 20:1-6 = The Reign of Christ in Heaven Rev. 20:7-10 = Final Battle (evil destroyed) Rev. 20:11-15 = Resurrection & Judgment Rev. 21 = New Creation (already/not yet) Rev. 22 = Conclusion