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| The things that are happening in our world today surely look like Jesus’ return to gather His Bride is more eminent than I ever imagined I would witness in my lifetime. |
Sue McCary Sargis – 5/7/2020
Revelation22:12-14
“Look, I am coming soon! My
reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they
have done. I
am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and
the End. "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that
they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the
gates into the city.
WHOA – I don’t think I’ve considered this verse in
Revelation before. Last night I listened to a message by a pastor in SOCAL from
5 years ago titled, “A Galilean Wedding: Picture of the End of the World.” I was
intrigued because of the title of a movie that is just out, in the midst of
this pandemic, “Before the Wrath” which is based on this pastor’s book of the
same title. The things that are happening in our world today surely look like
the Jesus’ return to gather His Bride (the church) is more eminent than I ever
imagined I would witness in my lifetime.
Revelation 22:1-2… Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as
clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down
the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood
the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit
every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
Here
we see the river of the water of life, and a tree, on each side of the
river – now that is a phenomenon – a tree that has roots on both
sides with a river flowing through it. Wow! This tree is not described as the tree of life, but
the implication is clear. This tree provides all the sustenance needed and there is healing power in the leaves – healing for the nations. The Tree bears fruit, which represents the Spirit of God – love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, self-control. A life-giving,
sustaining, empowering, transforming Tree of Life, by the River of Life,
from which we will have the right to eat and drink in the Kingdom prepared, by Jesus, for
us.
Revelation 2:7… Whoever
has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one
who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which
is in the paradise of God.
Revelation
22:17… The Spirit and the
bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who
is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water
of life.
But then Revelation 22:18-19 gives this warning… I
warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person
the plagues described in this scroll. And
if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will
take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the
Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
One thing this pandemic is pressing home to my heart loud
and clear… we have the opportunity NOW to share the message of sustenance,
saturation, wholeness, transformation, and healing in Jesus. The time is now. I
cannot go on living life as I’ve always lived it – one day at a time with my
agenda topping the to-do list each morning. Jesus is coming soon, sooner for
some of us maybe than for others. I may or may not be one of those alive when
He comes to gather His Bride, but if I am not, I know I will be one
who rises to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), and so I will ever
be with the Lord. That’s great assurance for me, but until then, how will I live?
Life is
about living, not for just today but for, and on into eternity – which begs the question: how will
they know? How will anyone know of the free Water and Tree of Life, if we keep
the words of the very last Revelation to mankind to ourselves?
"What’s it
all about, Alfie? Is it just for the moment we live," as the 60’s Burt Bacharach
song examined? No, we are to live with hands and hearts reaching out to one
another with the only eternal message of hope. And longing to
usher all into His Kingdom, Jesus exhortation and benediction, for now and for
all eternity, remains…
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
Revelation
22:20-21
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