Awaiting Advent / Advent; Second Coming / Revelation 22:18–21
I confess the thought of Christ returning soon was something I did not always look forward to. When I was younger I had so many things I still wanted to enjoy. I felt like all the descriptions of heaven that I had heard lacked any of my toys and earthly interests. Heaven seemed a bit boring. Floating on clouds with chubby cherubs was not very appealing.
When children are not bored with details of a joyless heaven, they are excessively warned to be ready. Instead of hope, they have nightmares that Christ will return when their hand is stuck in the cookie jar.
We know we are supposed to anticipate Christ’s return, but many of us—for a number of reasons—aren’t quite ready for that to occur.
The tension that accompanies this life strains our anticipation for the life to come.
John brings Revelation to a close with an epilogue that places the focus upon the return of Jesus. We said this was related to Advent, because the term means “appearing” and can be used in reference to Christ first and second coming.
Advent is about reflecting upon Christ’s first coming and anticipating his soon return. The more we grasp of the purpose for Christ’s first coming as well as the circumstances surrounding his second coming, the more we are filled with anticipation for his return.
Read https://ref.ly/logosref/Bible.Re22.18-21 (Revelation 22:18-21).
The Prophet’s Admonition (18-19) John closes with strong warnings to “everyone who hears” the words of Revelation. If anyone adds to the words, God will add these plagues to him (18). If anyone takes away from the words, God will take away his covenant promises (19).
Maybe after reading this you can sympathize a bit with the pastor who wants to do justice to the text and ends up painting a very foreboding picture of Christ’s return. We need to takes some time to think about the purpose of this admonition.
We find a similar warning in...
Deuteronomy 4:2 ESV
You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.
Meredith Kline makes a convincing case that ancient Near Eastern treaty documents, of which Deuteronomy has many parallel features, typically included pronouncements of curses upon anyone who would altar the documents. We see several similarities between the warnings in Deuteronomy and Revelation. They occur in several different places associating the warning with idolatry (https://ref.ly/logosref/Bible.Re21.8 (Rev 21:8), https://ref.ly/logosref/Bible.Re21.27 (27); https://ref.ly/logosref/Bible.Re22.15 (22:15)), promising a reward to those who heed the warning, and punishment for those who ignore it.
John is not primarily concerned about simple scribal errors or even misinterpretations of the book. This isn’t a warning to everyone who holds to a different interpretation than you about the Millennial Reign of Christ. John is warning those who would deliberately distort the message the angel delivered. It is a warning against the rebellious person who seeks to promote himself by stirring up conflict.
Revelation A Warning for Hearers
These two groups find their analogies today in legalists who add man-made works to salvation and liberals who deny plainly taught biblical doctrines.
Notice how easily Scripture flows between warning, command, and promise. We cannot proclaim the whole counsel of God’s word by eliminating categories that build tension in the hearers. The warnings remain valid and the commandments remain relevant. The Holy Spirit works through both means together with the promise to provide the grace we need to walk in obedience.
This admonition addresses those who fail to take every part of God’s word seriously. How would your walk with God be impacted if all of the warning passages in Hebrews were removed from your...
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