Revelation 21, 22: The Seventh Facet

Week 10, Friday: Keep the Word!
The Lord impresses on John the importance of the visions he has seen and the Word that has been entrusted to him. We should take His words and warnings to heart.

Read Revelation 22

Meditate on Revelation 22.6-11
1.      What does the angel mean by saying the words spoken to John are “faithful and true”? How would you summarize the message of the words John received in the book of Revelation? What does it mean to you that this message is “faithful and true”?

2.      We note the sense of urgency this passage conveys: “shortly take place”, “quickly”, “the time is at hand.” Keeping in mind Acts 1.7 and 8, how should we interpret this sense of urgency, and what are the implications of it for our daily lives?

3.      Based on all we’ve seen in Revelation, what does it mean to “keep” the words given to John in this book? How does “keeping” the message of Revelation relate to such matters as our overall outlook on life, how we plan our days, what to expect in the world, and the mission appointed to us (Jn. 20.21)?

4.      We saw that the book which the Lamb unsealed was filled with power to affect all aspects of life in historical time. John is commanded not to seal up the book of Revelation (v. 10), but to urge its being read and understood (cf. Rev. 1.3). What is your role in keeping the book and message of Revelation “unsealed”?

5.      Verse 11 is a reminder of what to expect as we “unseal” the book of Revelation and go forth to carry out its words. We are citizens of the Kingdom of God, and we stand in the hope of His glory. But we live in a world where spiritual forces of wickedness rule in the hearts of many. Should we expect everyone to be converted by the message of the Gospel? Should we expect the progress of the Kingdom to bring a “heaven on earth” throughout the world? What should we expect (Rev. 1.9), and what is our calling in the face of this?

My Reflection
How has the message of the book of Revelation affected your outlook on and approach to your daily walk with and work for the Lord?

The Glory of God
Meditate on the last words of Revelation 22.9: “Worship God.” This has been a constant theme of Revelation from the beginning. Why should we worship God, and how can worshiping God more consistently and truly help us to know His glory here and now?  

Glory to Glory
Meditate on Revelation 22.1 and question 5 above. How would you counsel a new believer to prepare each day for “the tribulation and Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1.9)?

Memorize
Review Revelation 21.6, 7. These verses point to Jesus in all His work, from beginning to end (“Alpha and Omega”) and as the Giver of life by His Spirit. Write a prayer that summarizes the work of Christ as that work is suggested in this verse. You might want to review, for example, John 1.1-5, John 17.4-6, 1 John 3.8, and perhaps other verses as you compose your prayer:

Closing Prayer
Pray the prayer you wrote from your memory verse. Write it on a card and carry it with you to pray it over and over today. Let your prayer become a “shield of faith” and “helmet of salvation” to embolden and protect you in your walk with and work for the Lord (Eph. 6.16, 17).

T. M. Moore

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The book of Revelation is the culminating episode in the story of God’s covenant. To learn more about that covenant, and to discover the way it integrates all of Scripture into the Gospel of Jesus Christ, order a copy of T. M.’s book, I Will Be Your God, by clicking here.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.