Revelation 22:14-21

July 4, 2021

Lord’s Day Worship

Sean Higgins

The sermon starts around 19:25 in the audio file.

Revelation 22:14-21

Series: Centers and Circumferences #64

Introduction

I’ve been picking away at a book titled Last Stands, about military battles fought by those who at some point in the fight knew that they could not win. The first chapter recounts how 300 Spartans withstood the million-man Persian army for a few days at Thermopylae. They did not retreat, they did not surrender. As the author of the book summarizes, “With the outcome decided, all that was left was the glory” (Michael Walsh).

Here we are at the end of Revelation; the end of the matter, all has been heard. All that’s left is the glory.

The outro-duction, as I’m calling it, began in verse 6 after the conclusion of John’s final vision. We saw that the prophetic words are dependable, applicable, accessible, and profitable for the righteous who do right, who hold fast Christ’s name, and who conquer by the blood of the Lamb (see also 12:11). These last eight verses of Revelation get us to the final amen.

The In and the Out (verses 14-15)

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they might have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. (verse 14)

Here is the seventh beatitude, the last #blessed of the book. Eternal happiness belongs to the righteous, those who wash their robes. The washed ones are the living forever ones who have the tree of life. If you are clean, then you may enter into the joy of your Master in the city.

The robe-washing-ones aren’t saved by washing themselves, the washing is part of their salvation. The Lamb did all the redeeming, and His redeeming work doesn’t end with forgiving unrighteousness. He sends the Holy Spirit to reside in us, and the Holy Spirit gives us a desire for and a power to pursue righteousness. We’d call it sanctification, consecration, the obedience of faith. We wear our consecration like garments. (See also 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 as well as Revelation 7:14-17.)

The robe-washing ones have two privileges, both in terms of authority over. They have access to the tree of life (unlike the punishment on the first couple in Eden) and access to enter the city.

John saw the tree of life in his last vision (22:2). It grows by the river of the water of live which flows from God’s throne through the center of New Jerusalem. God prohibited Adam from eating this tree’s fruit when he sinned, while the second Adam purchased our access to the tree, for its food and for its healing.

The gates are never shut (21:25), but not everyone can enter (see the following verse). The righteous are allowed in, no restrictions, no barrier to fellowship and glory.

Verse 15 shows the other side, the outside.

Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (verse 15)

John draws the antithesis. The robe-washers dwell with God and the rest are dogs. It’s as derogatory as can be. These dogs aren’t man’s best friend, these are the worst of men referred to as dogs. The sorcerers try to manipulate the world apart from God’s natural laws, the sexually immoral try to satisfy themselves apart from God’s sexual laws, the murderers take out their hatred on God’s image-bearers, and idolaters deceive themselves thinking they can have their own make-believe God. All the ones loving and practicing lies perfectly summarize the sons of the devil, a liar from the beginning, and they join him in the lake of fire.

Blessing is being in. Blessing is God’s welcome. It’s hell to be left out.

The Root and the Fruit (verse 16)

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star. (verse 16)

Jesus speaks directly for the seco[...]