Borders | Revelation (Week 7) | FOUNDRYsermon

You remember that whole getting picked process when you were a kid? We all had things we could easily make the front of the shuffle, and some of us have memories of being the last person standing. it’s always a frustrating memory. Then we all love a good underdog story. I mean seriously, how do you not like the Mighty Ducks?

Any conversation on who is in or out gets awkward.

And for many people, Revelation is the ultimate in or out conversation.

Or so you might think.

If you remember, part of our goal with this summers reading and conversation of Revelation was reading it like a normal, everyday book of the Bible. We wanted to enter into it assuming it was a message for the whole church. Across all time. Not just a specific generation or group of people. This leads us to our very last reading, the very last words of Revelation. And to have a different conversation about what defines in or out in Revelation.

Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”

12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. 15 Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. 18 And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.

20 He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people. Revelation 22:10-21

Throughout Revelation, John has been weaving the story in and out of the Old Testament story of God being with His people. And this passage isn’t different. John is speaking the truth of what happens when we allow Jesus to be at the center and when we try to be our own center, ending the book with much of the same message from chapter 4. John is finishing the story of His vision by placing it specifically in a certain place in time, and in a place that matters to each of us. He’s been encouraging us as all generations live in a world filled with both God’s truth and evil’s lies. Full of Holy Spirit possibilities because we know we are going to have to do battle with evil. And in the end, it’s all about the presence of God.