A free gift

The book of Revelation ends with an open invitation

Revelation 22:16–17: “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”

The last book of the Holy Bible – Revelation – is one of the more difficult books of the Bible to understand.

This book is to be understood in light of Ascension Day. On Ascension Day, the church celebrates the historical reality of the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven to govern, defend, and preserve His church and to rule over all things. You can read about this ascension in Matthew 28 or Acts 1 and other books of the Bible.

The book of Revelation gives us an understanding of earthly events from the perspective of heaven. It is through Jesus Christ alone that heaven and earth are united once again in a blessed and holy unity.

It is this union of heaven and earth that is experienced in the worship of the Christian Church. It is the final and perfect union of heaven and earth that we long and wait for at the end of history when He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Revelation ends with an open invitation. It is this call/command that I want to focus on.

When Jesus calls Himself the descendant of David, this is a picture of His kingship. David was a king in Old Testament Israel, but Jesus is King over all the world. The Spirit in this passage is the third person of the Triune God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, three persons yet one God. The Bride is the Church. The Church is the Bride and Jesus Christ is the Groom. When the Church celebrates the Lord’s Supper, this is a feast that we celebrate in anticipation of the final feast at the end of the time when Christ will feast with His church. Jesus is a good king.

This invitation to come has been called “the free offer of the gospel.” The gospel is the good news that Jesus overcame the power of sin and death and Hell through His death and resurrection. We find forgiveness of sins and eternal life through belief in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We live in a spiritually thirsty land. There are many questions about God, the meaning of life and human existence. There are many questions about justice and what is the good way, the good life. As we wander through this life there are many unanswered questions. Above all, there is also a need for forgiveness of sins and cleansing from the shame and guilt that so many experience in this sin-shattered world.

The Spirit and the Bride say “come”. Remember that the Bride refers to the Church. Are you thirsty? Are you hungry? The doors are open. There are no hidden costs, no hidden charges. The good news is free. Come to learn from the lifegiving waters of the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Come find your life in Jesus Christ. Is the world dark? Come to Jesus Christ. He is the bright morning star. “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, “come”. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Rev. 22:17)