Psalms 16:2 and 8:1.
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures, foraging in Revelation 22. As I thought about our upcoming celebration of His entry into the world that God “so loved,” I considered His last words to the world He came to save. Verse 17 was particularly impressed upon my spirit:
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Some very interesting questions arise as we read Revelation 22. In Chapter 19, Jesus has received His readied bride and returned to earth with her to execute the wrath of the Lamb of God upon this wicked world (Revelation 19:7-21). In chapter 20, during the binding of Satan in the bottomless pit, Jesus reigns on the earth upon the throne of David, and we rule and reign with Him (Revelation 20:1-6). Satan is loosed, deceives the nations to rebel against Christ, and fire comes down from God out of heaven to devour these rebels. God casts Satan into the Lake of Fire to join the beast and false prophet (Revelation 20:7-10). The Great White Throne judgment is prosecuted, and all who were not found written in the book of life joined Satan, the beast, and the false prophet in everlasting fire (Revelation 20:11-15; Matthew 25:41). In Revelation 21, we see a “new heaven and a new earth,” the holy city,” the “New Jerusalem” appears from Heaven and our GOD speaks: “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:1-5). The Lamb’s wife, who “made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7) is seen adorned as a glorious city (Revelation 21:9-27).
I notice that one of the angels that poured out upon the Beast the seven last plagues (Revelation 15-16) showed John the judgment against the “great whore” (Revelation 17), and now “one of those” same seven angels appeared to show John “the bride, the Lamb’s wife,” and showed to him “that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:10-23).
I noticed that, here, in this “new heaven and new earth,” there are nations upon the earth that will “walk in the light of it.” Furthermore, at that time, the “kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it” (Revelation 21:24-26). However, “there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27; see 22:14-15).
Then He showed me the crystal springs that proceed from the Throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22:1).
Along the still waters, I pondered what Jesus had to say to us and to the world in the last chapter of His Revelation.
First, He said, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7). He spoke again: “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Revelation 22:12-13). Jesus spoke again and said, “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” (Revelation 22:16).
Then the Spirit and the Bride joined their voices to declare: “The Spirit and the Bride say Come” (Revelation 22:17a). And all who have ears to hear the invitation of the Spirit and the Bride, let them repeat the call: Come! (Revelation 22:17b). And to all for whom Christ has died, we call: “To him that is athirst come” (Revelation 22:17c). And extend the invitation to whosoever will: “Let him take of the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17d; see Romans 10:13).
And our time is short, so we must be diligent to extend the call of the Spirit and the Bride to all whom Christ came to save!
In the valley, I thought about the “water” He has invested in us with the intent that it should flow into the world from our bellies (John 7:38-39). The Spirit, through the Bride, draws all men to Christ (John 12:32). The Spirit spoke to my heart, this drawing began when Jesus was lifted up from the earth upon the Cross (John 12:33), and the “water” that He promised He would ask the Father to send in His name (John 14:16) He commended to God when He said, “Father, into thine hands I commend my Spirit” (Luke 23:46). Christ promised His Spirit would come to the disciples just before He was lifted up to heaven (Acts 1:5-8), and sent to His Bride on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). And now the Spirit and the Bride say, Come!
And Jesus reminded me that as His Spirit was released to us from the Savour’s Cross, He is released through us when we follow His steps: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
At the table, we discussed many things before He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy hurried to my chair and signaled it was time to accompany my Shepherd into the harvest.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap:
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