Sermon No. 3282: Preparing for the Week of Prayer
Exposition: REVELATION 21:22-27; 22
Verse 22. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it It has a temple, that better state, that land of the Well-Beloved, but not a material temple that John could see, yet he knew that it had a temple "for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." Where They are is the holy place where all the tribes of the spiritual Israel shall be gathered at the last, to go no more out forever. "The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb" have a Glory far greater than Solomon's Temple ever had and far greater even than that later Temple which excelled even his in Glory!
23. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it for the Glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof We have need of both the sun and the moon while we are in this world. If it were not for the great central luminary, the solar system would cease to be and this earth and the moon and all their sister planets would die out in darkness. But when the sun has been turned into darkness and the moon into blood, it shall still be said of this holy city, the New Jerusalem, that the Glory of God does lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. See how blessedly God and the Lamb are linked together, for Father and Son are truly One. It is also pleasant to reflect that He who is "the light of the world" is also the light of the world that is yet to be revealed—"the Lamb is the light thereof."
24. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it This is the Church of the latter days—the beginning of the heavenly state, a true type of what the eternal Glory of the saints will be. The Church will no longer, like her Lord, be despised and rejected of men, but the highest and greatest among men shall count it an honor and glory to be permitted to share its blessings and triumphs.
25. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. Well did Dr. Doddridge sing—
"No rude alarms of raging foes No cares to break the long repose! No midnight shade, no clouded sun But sacred, high, eternal noon."
The saints will then be able to bear that eternal noontide, for the sun shall not smite them by day. And they will have no need of the night which is now so necessary for resting our wearied bodies and minds, so "there shall be no night there." There will also be no night of sorrow, no night of sin, no night of death in that blessed land of light!
26, 27. And they shall bring the glory andhonor ofthe nations into it. And there shallin no wise enterinto it anything that defiles, neither whatever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's Book of
Life. [See Sermon #1590, Volume 27—THE BARRIER.] That holy city would itself be defiled if anything that defiles could enter into it. Only they who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life shall be found in the glorious city of which He is the light—
Revelation 22—Verse 1. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. Here again we have God and the Lamb uniting in giving that "water of life" which flows down to us by God's Grace through the atoning Sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God.
2. In the middle of its street, and on either side ofthe river, was the Tree of Life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves ofthe tree were for the healing ofthe nations. [See Sermon #1233, Volume 21—healing
LEAVES.] The fruit of this "Tree of Life" is for all those who have partaken of the water of life—and the tree provides medicine as well as food—"the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."
3-5. And there shall be no more curse: but the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face; and His name shall be on their foreheads. And there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light and they shall reign forever and ever This is the climax of the saints' blessedness—"they shall reign forever and ever." Thus are they to be like their Lord, for "He shall reign forever and ever." As they shared His reproach, they shall also share His Glory.
6-9. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God ofthe holy Prophets sent His angel to show unto His servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keeps the saying of the prophecy of this book. And I John saw these thing, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet ofthe angel which showed me these things. Then said he unto me, See you do it not for I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the Prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this Book: worship God. It was a pardonable mistake that John made, but it was a mistake, for even the highest angel in Heaven must not be accorded the worship that is due to God alone!
10, 11. And he said unto me, Seal not the sayings ofthe prophecy of this book for the time is at hand. 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 If your character is not what it ought to be, you must not delay your appeal to Him who alone can change it, "for the time is at hand" when your character and state will be fixed forever. As when there is a sharp frost, the water in the brooks are soon congealed, so are there influences at work which are consolidating character. Beware lest Christ's coming or the summons through death should find you unprepared and so cause you to remain forever just as you now are.
12. And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be. There will be no change possible when Christ comes as the Judge of all mankind! If you are then filthy, you will be filthy forever! If you are then holy, you will be holy forever! The delusion of universal salvation must be banished from the minds of all who believe the Word of God!
13-17. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have a right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For outside are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves and make a lie. I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst, come. And whoever will, let him take the water of life freely. [See Sermons #279, Volume 5—come and welcome;
#1331, Volume 22—THE TWO "COMES"; #1608, Volume 27—THE DOUBLE "COME" and #2685, Volume 46—THE OFT-REPEATED INVITATION.] This "Come" seems to sound both ways—from Heaven to earth, and from earth to Heaven. Christ says to us, "Come," and we cry to Him, "Come." Oh, that sinners would be obedient to the Divine "Come," and "take the water of life freely," for then would the Second Coming of Christ be full of joy to them and not a matter of dread!
18, 19. For I testify unto every man that hears the word 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 God's Revelation is perfect—to add to it or to take from it would equally mar it—and the terrible threats here given concerning those who do either the one or the other ought to prevent so great a crime against high Heaven! Yet, alas, many have dared and still dare to commit it.
20. He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus. All those centuries ago, Jesus said, "I am coming quickly." How much nearer His coming must be, and how earnestly we, too, should cry, "Even so come, Lord Jesus."
21. The Grace of our lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen. The Old Testament ended with a curse, the New Testament ends with benediction. Oh, that we might all have a share of it!