REVELATION 22:16-21 - Technology Ministries

COMFORT IN REMINDERS OF JESUS CHRISTReminders ~ Jesus Christ REVELATION 22:16-21 1REVELATION 22:16-21I. COMFORT IN REMINDERS OF JESUS CHRISTA. COMFORT IN REMINDERS1. ...OF WHO CHRIST IS2. ...OF THE DEPTH OF THE LOVE OF CHRISTB. COMFORT IN JESUS CHRIST1. ...IN WHAT JESUS CHRIST IS DOING NOW2. ...IN THE WARNING OF JESUS CHRIST

2 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE THE FUTUREREVELATION 22:16-21OPENING PRAYERAfter a few moments of silence, I will pray out loud.Heavenly Father, We give particular thanks for young people who are familiarwith Your plan. Here we are, able to have a time of refreshment together inYour Word. We are individual and unique, but because of our common bond asYour children who love Your Word, we have become a band of believers withshared confidence in You. We have learned to depend on the power of the HolySpirit and Doctrine in our souls. Thank You, for revealing Yourself to us. Mayour interest in and our love for Your Word always have first place in our lives.In the name of Your precious Son, Jesus,, we pray. Amen.I. COMFORT IN REMINDERS OF JESUSCHRISTBegin by reading the final 6 verses of this remarkable book. Then, come backand read verse 16 again, including the parenthetical remarks. Be sure studentsunderstand the added comments are not Scripture.REVELATION 22:16, I, Jesus have sent My angel (areminder of the source of the book of REVELATION.REVELATION is sent from God, to the Lord Jesus Christ,through His teaching, messenger angel and the apostleJohn) to testify to you these things for the churches.(It is sent for the express benefit of Church Age believers) I(Jesus Christ) am the root (I existed before David) andthe offspring (I am also a descendant) of David, thebright morning star (The bright One, belonging to themorning).A. COMFORT IN REMINDERSThe final words in the book of REVELATION are Christ’s partingwords to His beloved bride-to-be. The Bridegroom tells His love“farewell”…but it is not the farewell of forever. It is the farewell of “just alittle while” until He returns to take her home. It is a farewell of comfortand love, as if our Bridegroom is saying, “Don’t cry, I will be back soon”.

COMFORT IN REMINDERS OF JESUS CHRISTReminders ~ Jesus Christ REVELATION 22:16-21 3In just a few verses, the Bridegroom reminds His beloved that evenwhile He is away, He will take care of her because of who He is andbecause He loves her so much.1. ...OF WHO CHRIST ISThree separate times in Verse 16 Jesus reminds His beloved who Heis. It is comforting to remember who Jesus Christ is.a. “I, Jesus”: His human name - First, by reminding His beloved ofHis humanity, Jesus causes us to think of His love. Because of His loveHe became a man, conquered sin and death and saved many sinnersfrom a terrible fate. He will be away for a time and He wants Hisbeloved to be confident of His continuous, unconditional love whilethey are apart. He pulls our thoughts back to REVELATION 1:1where He began this love letter revealing Himself to us.b. “My angel”: His teaching messenger - By referring to Hisangel, Jesus reminds His beloved that the same messenger fromREVELATION 1:1 still communicates with her. He is not leavingHis love alone, but His angel (in addition to the Holy Spirit) will bethere to help her understand His love letters (the entire Bible) so shecan know Him better and grow to love Him more while He is away!c. “I am”: His divine name - Jesus reminds His bride first of his love,then of His Word and finally, with the words “I Am”, He speaks of Hisdeity. He is more than man. God: the Creator, the King and the Onewho controls all things is promising to take care of “His beloved”while He is away. Nothing can cause Him to break His promise.THESE REMINDERS ARE COMFORTING TOCHRIST‟S BRIDE.2. ...OF THE DEPTH OF THE LOVE OF CHRISTa. The book of Revelation records what Jesus Christ has done forHis beloved because of His love.The apostle John was a good witness for Jesus Christ. In Chapter 1, herecorded everything he learned about what Jesus provided for His

COMFORT IN REMINDERS OF JESUS CHRISTReminders ~ Jesus Christ REVELATION 22:16-21 5Christ is David’s Savior as well as ours. He had to be both God andman to be the Savior and the mediator between God and man.Jesus existed in Eternity Pastas the “root “of David.David lived on earth.HEAVENJesus lived on earth as the“off-spring” of David.Jesus returnedto heaven asGod and Manin One uniqueperson.EARTHAS GOD, JESUS CHRIST PRECEDED DAVID.AS MAN, JESUS CHRIST FOLLOWED DAVID.AS GOD AND MAN JESUS IS DAVID’S SAVIOR.e. Christ is the “Bright Morning Star”.BY REFERRING TO HIMSELF AS THE BRIGHT MORNINGSTAR, JESUS CHRIST, THE PERFECT WITNESS, REMINDS HISBRIDE WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO FOR HER.1) Numbers 24:17 subtly alludes to Christ as the Morning Star. TheOrder of the Morning Star seems to be the highest honor available toChurch Age believers, much like America’s Congressional Medal ofHonor.NUMBERS 24:17 I (God’s prophet) see him,(Balaam sees Jesus Christ in a vision)) but not now(not at that time);...A star shall (at a future time)come forth from Jacob, And a scepter shall risefrom Israel.2) Jesus, the original Morning Star, the One who established the Order,awards the Morning Star Medal for unusual service. Christ’s personalrecognition is promised to believers who persist in God’s plan for amaximum amount of time during their physical lives. Jesus spoke ofthis high honor when talking to the church at Thyatira in the secondChapter of Revelation.REVELATION 2:28 …and I (Jesus) will give him(the believer who deserves it) the morning star.

6 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE THE FUTURE3) Church Age believers, who serve as the light of the world while thetrue Light of the World is absent, receive the Morning Star Award at theBema Seat in heaven. (A more complete description of “morning star”in Revelation 22:16, incorporating all the Greek meanings, is “thatstar…the bright one, the one belonging to the morning”.)Point to the Morning Star Medal symbol.Picture of theCongressionalMedal ofHonor.AmericanNavy.THEORDEROF THEMORNINGSTARSketch,representingthe Medal forthe MorningStar Award.4) The celestial morning star appears in the sky at the darkest time ofnight, right before dawn. The time of its appearance pictures JesusChrist’s return as the original Morning Star. Spiritual darkness aboundsbefore Christ calls His Church home and the world is at its darkest atthe end of the Tribulation before the Lord returns to rule. The light ofthe world, Jesus Christ (the Morning Star) pierces the most intensedarkness.B. COMFORT IN JESUS CHRIST1. ...IN WHAT JESUS CHRIST IS DOING, NOWa. Christ’s titles as “Root and Off-Spring of David” and “MorningStar” reflect His personal relationship with two groups of people.1) The title “Root and Offspring of David” reflects Christ’s OldTestament relationship to Israel as their God and as future King onDavid’s throne.2) The title “Bright and Morning Star” reflects Christ’s New Testamentrelationship with His Church which includes both Jews and Gentiles(I CORINTHIANS 12:13; EPHESIANS 2:13, 14). There is comfort

COMFORT IN REMINDERS OF JESUS CHRISTReminders ~ Jesus Christ REVELATION 22:16-21 7in the title that reflects Jesus Christ’s relationship to Israel and HisChurch.3) Earthly kings and high ranking rulers often bear titles separate fromtheir primary designation. These titles reflect additional honors, offices orrelationships. Jesus Christ is “King of kings”, but He is also the “Root andOffspring of David” and “The Morning Star”. He is, in fact, the mosttitled person in the history of the universe.(Chart of a few of Christ’s titles is on page 14. Go over chart now or distribute forstudents to study at home.)4) An excellent earthly example is Queen Victoria of England and hermany official titles: Sovereign, Her Royal Highness, Queen of England,Empress of India, Imperial Highness, Queen of Canada and the one whoestablished the Order of the Victorian cross.Queen Victoria of Englandestablished the RoyalVictorian Order of chivalryon April 21, 1896, as a way ofrewarding exceptional,personal service to her or herMonarchy. The order remainsa matter of the Sovereign’spersonal initiative andrecommendation (just as theMorning Star is initiated andrecommended by Jesus.Since the Victorian Cross was established in1896, less than 12,000 have been awarded.5) The original insignia of the Victorian Cross, designed by Victoria’shusband, Albert, is a bronze Maltese cross with straight arms. In themiddle of the cross a lion stands guard over the Royal Crown. Below theCrown, a scroll bears the inscription “PRO VALORE” (Latin, meaning,“for valor”).

8 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE THE FUTUREREPLICA OF MEDALPRESENTEDTO VICTORIAN CROSSRECIPIENTS .Victoria Crossdisplayed underLicense.Agreementwikipedia.orgthe CreativeCommonsAttributionShareAlike 2.5INSIGNIA OF THE ORDEROF THE VICTORIA CROSS6) On the back of the medal is a raised circle upon which the date of therecipient’s action is engraved. The award is still presented today inEngland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada by recommendation ofEngland’s Monarch for service involving exceptional, personal courage.A more recent example ofmulti-titled monarchs isGrace Kelley, theAmerican movie star whomarried Prince Rainier ofMonaco. Princess Gracewas the most titledwoman in the world atthat time. Often, sherecognized unusualservice by honoring hersubjects in the name of herhighest titles.Photo: from Town andCountry Magazine Cover.November 2007.b. Two titles belonging to Jesus Christ reflect His present activity onbehalf of two groups of people.The titles “Root and Off-spring of David” and “Bright Morning Star”

COMFORT IN REMINDERS OF JESUS CHRISTReminders ~ Jesus Christ REVELATION 22:16-21 9reflect what Jesus is doing at the present time. Jew and Gentile are unitedin the Church Age (I CORINTHIANS 12:13). Christ evaluates andintercedes for His Church until the final evaluation at the Bema Seatwhere He, as the original “Morning Star”, personally recommends andpresents the Morning Star medal to some Church Age believers.II PETER 1:19 And so we have the prophetic wordmade more sure, to which you do well to payattention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, untilthe day dawns and the morning star arises in yourhearts.Display the Morning Star Award symbols.Christ is the Root and Off-spring of David,the Savior of the world and the Bright andMorning star. Awards are not described inScripture. These symbols are specificallydesigned to represent the Morning Star asheaven’s highest award.c. Christ’s message in the final verses of His book reflects His presentactivity on behalf of the same two groups of people.1) Jesus Christ made clear in Revelation 1:4 that He was sending the bookof Revelation to His Church. He closes the book of Revelation with somespecific words to that same Church...now His beloved bride.REVELATION 22:17 And the Spirit and the bridesay, “Come.” And let the one who hears say,“Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; letthe one who wishes take the water of life withoutcost.2) Immediately after Jesus identifies Himself as the Morning Star Hebegins to talk about the bride, the Holy Spirit, those who hear and thosewho thirst.3) The bride, the ones in whom the Holy Spirit resides, those who hearand those who thirst are all the same. The “Holy Spirit” lives inbelievers; the Church is no longer on earth during the Tribulation and has

10 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE THE FUTUREnow become the “bride”; the “one who hears” is a believer using hisspiritual ears and the “one who is thirsty” is a believer who knows hisstrength comes from drinking the water of life. “Those who thirst” alsoencourages believers to long for the water of life to flow through them.Psalm 42 expresses this principle beautifully.PSALM 42:1, 2 As the hart panteth after the waterbrooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God. Mysoul thirsteth for God, for the living God: whenshall I come and appear before God?4) Without God’s Word believers become dried-up brooks. All fourterms in REVELATION 22:17 refer to believers, reminding ChurchAge believers not to neglect Bible study.5) A recurring assertion in Revelation is the high value of regular Biblestudy in the believer's life. In the final chapter, the importance of Biblestudy is emphasized one more time.6) Seven times in His letters to the seven churches (REVELATION 2and 3), Christ tells His children “He who has an ear let him hear whatthe Spirit says to the churches”. The way to hear what the Spirit says isto study the Bible. The Holy Spirit speaks to believers with spiritual earsthrough God’s Word. In the closing verses of Revelation, Jesus Christadvises anyone who longs to learn more about God, to consistently,persistently search His book and act on what they learn. Jesus stillspeaks personally to His Church through the Bible.Display the spiritual ears symbol.7) Spiritual ears can become deaf. Only the believer in fellowship keepshis ears open to what the Spirit says. With His parting Words, Jesusreminds His children “Since you are my children, continue listening towhat the Spirit teaches by studying My Word...until I return.”Read Matthew 11:28-29a.8) In fact, there is one thing about which believers legitimately may beproud. It is acknowledged by the prophet Jeremiah.JEREMIAH 9:24 ...but let him who boasts boast ofthis, that he understands and knows Me, that I amthe Lord who exercises loving kindness, justice,and righteousness on earth; for I delight in thesethings.” declares the Lord.9) Scripture teaches knowing and understanding God is a worthy goal or

COMFORT IN REMINDERS OF JESUS CHRISTReminders ~ Jesus Christ REVELATION 22:16-21 11ambition. How do we get to KNOW God? The way to truly know Godis to study His Word. Studying God’s Word, using spiritual ears andhaving spiritual thirst are all the same. God’s plan and our desirebecome one.STUDYING GOD’S WORD IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ACTIVITY INTHE LIFE OF GOD’S CHILD.10) “Hearing” refers to the ability to understand God’s Word. Being“thirsty” speaks of believers who long for knowledge of GodMatthew 13:14-15 is also an important verse to read to consider thealternative.GOD’S WORD IS THE ONLY THING THATSATISFIES SPIRITUAL THIRST.REVELATION 21:6b I will give to the one whothirsts from the spring of the water of life withoutcost.11) John’s Gospel refers to this water. The spring of the water of life isavailable to believers. It springs up within them as they study the Biblein the power of the Holy Spirit and flows out to others. There is nocharge for the water of life and those who thirst for it are in line for highawards.GOD PROVIDES TRUTH FROM HIS WORDFOR ANYONE “THIRSTY” FOR TRUTH.JOHN 7:37b, 38 “If any man is thirsty, let himcome to me and drink. He who believes inMe...From his innermost being shall flow riversof „living water.‟ “d. God tells those thirsty for God’s Word, how to quench theirthirst.Church Age believers are provided with more spiritual assets thanbelievers at any other time in history. Individual believers may be atdifferent stages of spiritual advance, but God provides every one withthe same tools. Church Age believers have the completed Canon ofScripture, the indwelling Holy Spirit, the ability to be filled with theSpirit (I JOHN 1:9), a local church home, a Pastor-Teacher and a bodyof believers in that local church with whom to fellowship and sharespiritual gifts. God works through His Word and through the local

12 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE THE FUTUREChurch. EPHESIANS 3:18; PHILIPPIANS 1:21 and HEBREWS 10:24,25 teach God’s child to fellowship with (ie: gather, sit down in the presenceof other believers regularly to study God’s Word, pray, share problems,weaknesses and gifts, and celebrate a memorial until He returns(I CORINTHIANS 11:25, 26).THESE ARE MANDATES FROM GOD, THEY ARE NOTSUGGESTIONS.2. ...IN THE WARNING OF JESUS CHRISTa. Christ’s important warning follows in Verses 18-19.Look at Proverbs 30:6 first. Then, read Revelation 22:18, 19.REVELATION 22:18, 19 I testify to everyone whohears the words of the prophecy of this book: ifanyone adds to them, God shall add to him theplagues which are written in this book, and if anyonetakes away from the words of the book of thisprophecy, God shall take away his part from the treeof life and from the holy city, which are written inthis book.b. God’s warning reveals the high value He places on His Word.God’s wise children know it is dangerous to misrepresent God’s Word.There is comfort in the fact that God protects His Word from error. Goduses His Word to bring about changes in His children.I THESSALONIANS 2:13 And for this reason wealso constantly thank God that when you receivedfrom us the word of God‟s message, you accepted itnot as the word of men, but for what it really is, theword of God, which also performs its work in youwho believe.c. Paraphrase.Because the Bible tells us how to walk in God’s plan and glorify God, weare always grateful for those who honor the Bible and recognize it as notoriginating from men, but as coming directly from Almighty God. God isable to bring about changes in His children when they study and respond towhat they learn from His Word. Their faithfulness will be recognized(perhaps by the Award of the Morning Star?).

COMFORT IN REMINDERS OF JESUS CHRISTReminders ~ Jesus Christ REVELATION 22:16-21 13Verses 20 and 21 are Jesus Christ’s parting words to His Bride. Let’s lookat them, again.d. Paraphrase.REVELATION 22:20,21 He who testifies to thesethings says, “Yes, I (Jesus Christ) am comingquickly (suddenly). Amen. Come Lord Jesus.The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”Jesus Christ, the One who gives pure testimony in this book, promisesHe is coming back suddenly. We can be certain of His return and wecan fully depend on His matchless grace to supply super abundantlyabove all we could ever need… until He returns and we see Him faceto face.e. Song: “My Faith Has Found A Resting Place”, p. 228. “TurnYour Eyes Upon Jesus” p. 204, Great Hymns of the Faith,CLOSING PRAYERAnd now, Heavenly Father, we pray the super-abundant happinessavailable through fellowship with Jesus Christ and His Word will be agrowing reality in our lives until we see Your Beloved Son face to face.May we use our spiritual ears to listen to Your voice through Your Word inthe power of Your Spirit and may we continually thirst for the water of lifeuntil the Morning Star arises in our hearts. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

14 REVELATION is NOT a Mystery—TEACHER’S GUIDE THE FUTUREA FEW TITLESOF THE LORD JESUS CHRISTAlpha and OmegaRevelation 1:8Blessed HopeTitus 2:13Bread of LifeJohn 6:35Bright and Morning StarNumbers 24:17; II Peter 1:19;Revelation 2:28; 22:16EmmanuelMatthew 1:23King of Kings andLord of LordsRevelation 19:16King of the JewsMatthew 2:2; John 19:19Lion of the Tribe of JudahRevelation 5:5Captain of the Host ofthe LordJoshua 5:14-15Chief ShepherdI Peter 5:4CounselorIsaiah 9:6Root and Off-Spring ofDavidRevelation 22:16Rose of SharonSong of Solomon 2:1The Resurrection and theLifeJohn 11:25Jesus Christ’s titles demonstrate He is the most decorated Monarch in theuniverse. As King of kings, He will award medals and decorations to those whohave honored Him and His Word during their lifetime. The highest award of allseems to be the Award of the Morning Star. It is presented at the Bema Seat, in Hisname, by His recommendation.

COMFORT IN REMINDERS OF JESUS CHRISTReminders ~ Jesus Christ REVELATION 22:16-21 15IMAGINED DESIGNSFOR THE MORNINGSTAR AWARD.THEORDEROF THEMORNINGSTARPRESENTED AT THEBEMA SEAT BY THELORD JESUS CHRIST INHIS NAME AND BY HISRECOMMENDATION,FOR SPECIAL SERVICE.Christ is the Root and Off-spring of David,the Savior of the world and the Bright andMorning star. Awards are not described inScripture. These symbols are specificallydesigned to represent the Morning Star asheaven’s highest award.