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Sermon preached on Revelation 22:6-21 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 07/27/2025 in Petaluma, CA.
Sermon Manuscript
Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
We have finally come to the end of the book of Revelation. It was a difficult and different book for sure, but I hope you learned how to handle it. If you still found it hard, maybe you felt this sermon series would never end. But it did end. Maybe more quickly than you thought. Others maybe really found the book interesting, and hoped it wouldn’t end this soon, yet here we are at the end, nonetheless. Of course, I’m using this as an analogy for our sermon today. Our passage tells us of the soon end of this age. For some, we might be tempted to think it will never end. For others, it might end sooner than they want. But our passage calls us to consider that the end is coming, and this in connection with Jesus’ return. Our passage declares that Jesus is coming and that it will be soon. It also describes Jesus’ coming, what it will involve. And our passage calls us to desire Jesus’ coming. Those will be our three points for today’s sermon, all dealing with Jesus’ coming and if we are each ready. Are you ready for Jesus’ soon coming?
We begin then with how this passage declares that Jesus is coming soon. This is a repeated statement here. Verse 7, “Behold, I am coming soon.” Verse 12, “Behold, I am coming soon.” Verse 20, “Surely, I am coming soon.” This is emphatic in several ways. It is emphatic because it is repeated three times. It is also emphatic by Jesus using the first-person voice, “I”, am coming. It is also emphatic with how he prefaces each of these statements, twice with the word, “Behold,” and last with the word, “Surely.” The word for “behold” is a word to get your attention. “Look, listen, pay attention” to this announcement. The word for “surely” here is literally “yes”, and an assurance and affirmation that indeed Jesus is truly coming soon. This passage is so emphatically making the point that Jesus is coming again. It is not a question of “if” but “when”.
And that point makes things interesting, because Jesus answers the “when” by saying “soon.” Even as he says here three times that he is coming, each time he adds that he is coming soon. Let us acknowledge that this can be hard to get our head and heart around. Because it has been almost two thousand years since he said that he would be coming soon, and he has not yet come back. How can we possibly understand soon here? Well, Scripture interprets Scripture, and there are several things we can say here.
First, we can acknowledge that earlier when Jesus was pressed for a specific time or day of his return, he would not give it. In Matthew 24, Jesus spoke of the coming new heaven and earth and says that, “Concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” He then goes on to explain that this is intentional so that we will be ready for him to come at a unexpected day or hour, Mt 24:44. He says this means we need to be awake and watching for his return, Mt 25:13. So this earlier teaching by Jesus clearly tells us that we should not expect to be told the day of his return. Whatever he means here in Revelation 22 surely doesn’t change that. He’s not here finally communicating a date by saying “soon”.
Second, rather than communicating a date, he’s communicating immanence. Some translations translate “soon” as “quickly” and maybe that language helps us think more in that sense, the immanence of Jesus’ coming. In other words, Jesus is telling everyone to be ready and prepared because he will come like a thief in the knight. We don’t know when, but it could be at any moment, so live accordingly. His coming is at hand, and when he finally does come, it will be sudden and swift. Be ready for the return of Jesus at any time.
Third, I would further explain that this coming soon idea tells us that we are not to expect other major redemptive events to happen prior to his return. I think that can be a temptation sometimes in how some people interpret the prophecies of Revelation. They think, well this or that still has to happen, and so therefore we must still have some time left before he returns. But for Jesus to emphasize he is coming quickly, I believe that tells us not to sit back and think you still have time. How many people have sinfully said, “I’ll get right with God later.” But there may not be a later. When he comes, he comes quickly. Whatever we might think is yet going to unfold before Christ’s return, none of such thinking should keep us from saying that he could come back literally today.
Fourth, let us acknowledge that God’s timing is not our own. The Apostle Peter addressed this in 2 Peter 3, predicting that in the latter days people would scoff at his coming when he hasn’t yet come back. Peter responds by describing the eternal nature of God and how for the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Peter goes on to explain that if Christ hasn’t returned yet it is because God is being patient because he has more people he is going to save. Indeed, if Jesus had come as “soon” as we might have expected, then none of us would ever have been born, let along saved.
Indeed, no matter how soon or quickly Jesus comes, let us remember that for all of us, our time in this life is fleeting, and none of us knows how long we will be here until we die. If Christ doesn’t come back in our lifetime, we will still face him when we die, either to be received into glory or to be condemned in judgment. So, let us live with the expectation that our meeting Jesus is near, one way or another.
I also want us to recognize something else that is near to come in this passage. Look at verse 6. It says that what we just read in Revelation is going to soon take place. Also, in verse 10 John is told to not seal up the words of this prophecy for the time is near. That is a contrast to a similar ending in the book of Daniel where Daniel is told that he should seal up the words of the prophecy he has received until the end. We’ve seen how much Daniel has been quoted in this book. Daniel, received visions about the end times and was told to seal it up. John now has received similar words about the end times and told not to seal it up. The conclusion is clear, that we are now in the end times. Indeed, what we’ve seen in this book is already beginning. Satan is already cast out of heaven, persecuting the church through his beast and false prophet even while the gospel is going out to the nations. These Satanic enemies look to get us to turn away from the faith due to persecution. Likewise, Babylon is already at work right now to try to entice and lure us away from the truth. That is why this book of Revelation is so directly relevant. It is already being fulfilled, and the final end when Jesus returns is fast approaching.
Let us now turn to our second point to consider how this passage describes the nature of Christ’s coming. What I have in mind to recognize in this second point is how it warns the unbeliever of the judgment and curse that Jesus will bring when he comes for them, while it encourages the believer that his coming will bring us blessing. Let me start this point with the application. The application is, “Come to Jesus!” This passage is so much about how Jesus is coming. But look at verse 17. It says that the one who is thirsty, “Come!” To the one who recognizes his need for Christ to spiritually quench the thirst and hunger of their soul, this passage calls them to come to Jesus in faith and be eternally prepared for Christ’s coming. The reason is clearly brought out in the rest of the passage, the warning of God’s judgment versus the blessedness of salvation in Jesus.
This dual truth is seen in verse 11 when it says, “Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” That might sound strange, because it might sound like Jesus is telling evil doers not to come to him. But you see, we have to recognize this is continuing the reference back to the ending of Daniel (12:4), where it was prophesied that at the end the wicked will prove themselves to be wicked even while the pure prove themselves to be purified. So, in that vein, Revelation is anticipating the immanent return when this is fulfilled. Basically, it’s envisioning that there is coming a time when after God has warned and warned and warned the wicked to repent, that finally God says, “So be it, let the wicked be wicked, because now the day of judgment has come.”
That is indeed what the next verse sees, verse 12. That’s where Jesus explains that when he comes soon it will be for judgment. He will give a recompense to repay each one for what he has done. At his coming, God’s final justice will be delivered in his Son on judgment day as we’ve already seen. Notice he then immediately describes himself as the Alpha and Omega, etc. That title was mentioned last chapter too. This speaks to God’s eternal plan. God, in his Son, has from eternity had an eternal plan. God’s plan has included redeeming a chosen people unto salvation through faith in Jesus. But it has also included pouring out a righteous judgment on a sinful people who has repeatedly rejected him as their God. God has had an eternal plan that has accounted for all this. The ending we’ve been studying over the last few sermons highlights the glory of God in his wondrous foreordination of all things that will one day see all these plans realized. Both the judgment of the wicked and the salvation of the righteous have always been part of his eternal plan.
The judgment on the wicked is further described in verse 15. “Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” The wicked will remain outside New Jerusalem, for as we’ve seen, no unclean thing will ever enter into it. Indeed, they will have already been cast into the lake of fire. We’ve already seen a similar list last chapter, but now with the addition of dogs. This describes wild dogs that you would want to keep out of a city. These are vile, ferocious beasts, that have no place in a civilized, peaceful city. The point is, at the end, we don’t want be found to be an outsider dog, spiritually speaking. May none of us fall into the temptations of Babylon or the threatening of the Dragon and his beasts so that we would be described like any of the sinners in this list. Jesus so warns his people. It is imperative to hear this warning before it is too late, because Jesus is coming soon. If this describes you, repent before it is too late and receive the water of salvation that comes at no cost. It is not too late to have your sins washed away.
In contrast to the judgment warned here at Jesus’ coming, this passage also highlights the opposite for us who have received the free gift of salvation in Jesus. There are two beatitudes that highlight this. The first is in verse 7 where blessedness is declared for those who keep the words of this prophecy. In other words, will you heed the warning in the book? Will you put your trust in Christ, and cling to him for life, not taking the mark of the beast or imbibing the impurities of Babylon? If you heed what you’ve heard in this book, you will know eternal blessedness when Jesus comes. This is the reverse of what is warned in verse 18-19 where it condemns either adding or removing words from this prophecy. (By extension, we should remember that for all of Scripture.) To add to Scripture or to remove from Scripture is to try to change what God gives us so that we can know eternal life. But if we truly receive the words of Scripture, we will know the salvation it reveals.
Verse 14 contains the second beatitude. It declares blessedness for all who wash their robes in the blood of Jesus. Salvation is never earned, it is grace as verse 21 reminds us. It is a gift because Jesus died and shed his blood to wash away our sins. It is free to whomever would turn in faith to him, declaring Jesus as Lord and Savior. Verse 14 says this blessedness will give you access to this New Jerusalem where you will enjoy the sustenance and healing of the tree of life for eternity. We who overcome in Christ will finally enjoy these things when Jesus, at last, comes.
My third point for today is to consider how we are supposed to desire Jesus’ soon coming. Verse 17 says, “Let the one who hears, say ‘Come.’ If God has given you ears to hear and believe this message, then pray to Jesus and say “Come!” Verse 20 also illustrates this point when it records Jesus saying he is coming soon, and John then responds with, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Jesus speaks and John responds. John’s words are essentially a prayer. Lord Jesus, will you indeed come? Sometimes young Christians feel funny praying for something that God has already promised he would give us. Yet, Scripture teaches us that it is good to pray the promises of God. Jesus has said he is coming quickly, so we should pray that he would do so.
Do you pray that prayer? It is good to pray this prayer. We can be tempted to hold on to this world. This prayer aligns us with God’s plan and the future he has destined for us. Again, I ask, do you pray this prayer, that Jesus would come quickly? Some people maybe are okay with him not yet coming, they think after this and that life goal is met, then they would be more eager for Jesus’ return. While we should set and pursue life goals, surely this passage reminds us to have this prayer and true desire for Jesus to come. If you don’t, I encourage you to spend more time meditating on how awesome the coming world will be, and the difficulties in this present world. Think especially of the joy of finally seeing your savior face to face.
On the other hand, maybe you hear me ask this question and you say, “Amen, I pray this every day!” For some people, they might feel like Jesus can’t come soon enough. They might pray this desperately as they bear up with much sufferings and troubles in this life. Praise God that you are praying for this, and may you be encouraged with his words here today. He is coming again soon. Believe and trust in that. Let that truth encourage you to press on. May this fact begin to heal your heart from the troubles of this life.
On this point, I want to direct you again to verse 17. There we also see that both the Spirit and the Bride pray for Jesus to come. Surely they are put next to each other to consider their connection. In Revelation, the Bride is the image for the church who is finally ready at the end. The Bride is the image of the church fully prepared for Jesus to return, ready for the marriage to take place. In relation to that, we can think of how the Spirit is the one at work to make the church ready for Jesus’ return. So, when both the Spirit and Bride together say, “Come”, it pictures how Jesus will come back at just the right time. We should desire it, but know that he won’t return until the Spirit has finished that work to ready the church for glory. Another way to say it, Jesus will come soon, but he won’t come back too soon. He’ll come at just the right time, when we, the church, are spiritually ready to spend eternity with him. It is comforting to think how the Spirit is right now preparing us for Jesus’ return.
Trinity Presbyterian Church, in conclusion, let me summarize what God’s word has given us today. Jesus is indeed coming soon. This calls the unbeliever to repent before it’s too late. Why wait a day or even an hour longer when he could return before then? For the believer, Jesus’ soon coming will bring us the blessedness he has long promised us. The application for us to truly, genuinely desire this. If we find ourselves, not fully desiring it, then we have a great tool for God to grow our hearts. Yes, it’s prayer. Let us pray what we know is the right thing to pray, even if our heart is not fully there yet. And if you are wearied from this world, be encouraged today. Today’s passage, and this entire book of Revelation, has presented our grand Christian hope. That hope will be finally realized when Jesus returns. So then, we all join together to conclude our Revelation series with this prayer, come quickly Lord Jesus.
Amen.
Copyright © 2025 Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
All Rights Reserved.
