Revelation 22:16-21
God’s Last Message
The entire Bible is God’s Word, meaning it is filled with God’s
messages to mankind. There are thousands of message and hundreds of
stories that God wants us to know.
For example, man’s story is there: Man was conceived, created,
sinned, and sank to the depths of depravity.
God’s story is there: God not only did the concieving and the
creating, but He also loved, came in the flesh, died on the cross,
and provided redemption to the human race.
Time’s story is there: Time began; time ran, and as this book is
closing, it is about to be laid to rest.
But this is God’s last message. What do you suppose God would want to
be the last words that He spoke to mankind? The very fact that there
are thousands of messages and hundreds of stories places a premium on
this message, does it not?
Let’s see the last message by looking at six thoughts.
I. Note the message Sender.
Rev 22:16 I Jesus…
A. Jesus is the Sender of the message.
B. Who is Jesus?
1. He is God.
a. That is a big statement.
b. There is only One God, but God is different from us.
c. He manifests Himself in three distinct Persons.
d. We refer to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost as
the Godhead.
e. Jesus is the Member of the Godhead who put on flesh.
f. He did that so He could walk among us, show us God,
and pay for our sins.
2. He is the Lamb that was slain.
a. Jesus was born and we celebrate His birth at
Christmas.
(1) His birth into the world was very important.
(2) It provided us with a sinless One who could pay
for our sins.
b. His life was also important. In His life, Jesus
demonstrated that He was the sinless God.
c. But it is Jesus’ death that pays for our sins. He
came to be our Lamb.
II. Note the messenger bearers.
Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to
testify unto you….
A. The word "angel" means "messenger."
1. That is really all the word means.
2. Most of the time, we think of an angel has a heavenly
message, one of a unique being God created to serve Him.
3. However, you actually have to read the context to find out
of the message is heavenly in origin or earthly for the
word just means "messenger."
4. In this passage, the message is both heavenly and earthly.
B. The Messengers:
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say….
1. \\#17\\ the Spirit
a. That is God’s Holy Spirit.
b. The Holy Spirit is not just a heavenly messenger but a
God.
c. He is the third member of the Godhead.
d. Why is the Holy Spirit referred to as a Messenger
here?
(1) Because that is one of the Holy Spirit’s duties
or roles in this age.
(2) The Father has the role of the Architect. He is
the Designer, the Provider, the Planner, the
Organizer.
(3) The Son has the role of the Sin Bearer. He is
the Lamb who died, the Redeemer who Arose, the
High Priests who atones, and the King who will
reign.
(4) But it is the Holy Spirit who connects man to
God. He abides within us and is our means of
communication with God.
(a) If you have ever been convicted…
(b) If you have ever heard from God…
(c) If you have ever talked to God…
(d) If you have ever been called by God…
(e) If you have ever felt God’s enabling…
(f) They you have been connected to God by the
Holy Ghost.
e. All of God’s dealings with mankind goes through the
Holy Ghost.
f. So it makes sense that if God has a message to give to
mankind, the Messenger will be God’s Holy Spirit.
2. the bride
a. The Bride is another name for the church.
(1) The church has many names.
(2) Among them we are called Christ’s body, Christ’s
vineyard, Christ’s house, and Christ’s bride.
b. Why is the church referred to as a messenger?
(1) Because that is our job.
(2) We have been left here to bear witness of who
Jesus is and what Jesus has done for us.
Ac 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that
the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall
be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in
all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth.
III. Note the Message - Come
A. In fact, the message is repeated three times in just a portion
of verse 17.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say,
Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And
let him that is athirst come. And whosoever
will, let him take the water of life freely.
B. So the message is from Jesus, God, and it is to people, people
like you and me, and the message is simply, "Come."
C. I guess we had better ask, "Come where?"
1. The verse does not say, but it is implied.
2. Come to Jesus.
3. This is an often repeated message in the Bible.
Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Lu 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him, and
said, Suffer little children to come unto me,
and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom
of God.
Joh 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the
feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man
thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
D. I guess we had better go a step further and ask why Jesus
wants people to come to Him?
1. Again, these verses do not say but the Bible does imply
it.
Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all
the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there
is none else.
Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter
in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out,
and find pasture.
Ac 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that
whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord
shall be saved.
2. To be saved from what? To be saved from sin:
(a) from sin’s guilt, shame, and sorrow
(b) from sin’s bondage
(c) from sin’s wages
(d) and from sin’s effects (separated, weak, corrupt)
E. There are a good many things about which people who read the
Bible disagree, but I do believe that most who are serious
students of the Bible would agree on what Jesus meant when He
said, "Come"
1. He meant come to Him.
2. And He meant come to Him for salvation.
F. So of all the messages that God could have made His last
message, the one He gave last in the Bible was a simple
message of COME.
1. Does that not tell us something important.
2. Perhaps like this message is the most important of all
messages?
3. What good does it do to hear of heaven if you do not get
the invitation to come to Jesus?
4. What good does it do to hear about hell if you do not get
the invitation to come to Jesus?
5. What good does it do to hear about sin, God’s love, Jesus’
identity, the rapture, the Ten Commandments, the origin
of the universe and all of the other messages that the
Bible contains if you do not hear the message to COME?
6. Frankly, it does not good at all.
a. In fact, the message is so important that perhaps we
ought to lead with it.
b. When speaking to a person, perhaps we should ask, "Do
you know what God’s last message of the Bible is?"
G. Perhaps you do not think this message is directed to you.
Well, it may not be; however, the passage itself will tell
us.
IV. Note the message recipients
A. To whom is this message being sent?
Rev 22:17 …And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take the water of
life freely.
B. Note to whom this message is directed is someone in
particular.
1. It may be told to everyone but there is only one group of
people to whom it is directed.
2. It is the people who meet two qualifications:
a. "athirst" - They must be thirsty.
b. Willing - They must be willing to come.
C. To be athirst here does not mean to have a physical thirst.
1. It means to be thirsty spiritually.
2. How can I know if I am thirsty spiritually?
a. If you crave to know God then you are thirsty
spiritually. Not many are but if that is you, then
you meet the qualification.
b. If you are tired of your sin then you are thirsty
spiritually.
(1) Feeling guilty, ashamed, condemned?
(2) That is spiritual thirst.
c. If you are sick of this life then you are thirsty
spiritually.
(1) You may not have thought of that, but it is true.
(2) There are a lot of people fed with this world and
they are looking for something better. They may
be looking at sex, pills, booze, drugs, thrills,
money, power, fame, whatever; but what they are
suffering from is a spiritual thirst.
(3) That is spiritual thirst.
d. So if you are looking for something better, tired of
what you have, or sick of feeling guilty… good
news.
(1) You meet the first qualification.
(2) This message is to you.
D. The second qualification is willing.
1. Willing to do what?
a. To respond to the message.
b. To come.
2. It is amazing how many meet the first qualification but
not the second.
a. They are so thirsty spiritually that they could die at
any moment.
b. But they are not willing to come to Jesus.
3. Why? Many reasons.
a. Some want to try everything else first.
b. Some think what they have might work.
c. Some are just blind and don’t know what they are
doing.
(1) I’m afraid that some have been duped by Satan’s
mirage.
(2) Maybe you have heard how a person dying of thirst
can see things that are not there?
(3) Satan gives mirages to those who are dying of
spiritual thirst.
(4) They see happiness, satisfaction, a relationship
with God, and other things that just are not
there!
4. But if you are thirsty and willing, you are the person to
whom Jesus sent this message.
V. \\#18-19\\ Note the Message’s Purity
A. I am not going to take the time to read or speak on these
verses but I will point out that Jesus Himself pronounced a
curse on the person who attempts to corrupt this message.
B. The short end of the message is that He is going to send you
to hell.
C. I don’t think God wants anyone messing with this message.
VI. \\#20\\ Note the Message’s Limit
A. This is a limited-time opportunity message.
Rev 22:20 … Surely I come quickly….
B. Jesus is going to return to this world quickly and when He
does, for a lot of people, the opportunity to respond to this
message will be greatly curtailed.
C. I hope you will hear God’s last message today.
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