 Revelation chapter 22 beginning at verse 1 reading to verse 5 and he showed me a pure river of water of life clear as crystal proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street and on either side of the river was the tree of life which bore 12 fruits each tree yielding its fruit every month and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations and there shall be no more curse but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him they shall see his face and his name shall be on their forehead and there shall be no night there they need no lamp nor light of the Sun for the Lord God gives them light and they shall reign forever and ever. And so what we have here as we begin chapter 22 is a continuation of what we've already been looking at in chapter 21. Chapter 21 verse 9 had mentioned an angel and so the same angel that had been mentioned in chapter 21 verse 9 continues John's tour of New Jerusalem and so what he now sees here is a pure river of water of life and it's described as being clear as crystal. Now let me give you a couple of thoughts as we develop this and then I'm going to give you some application. We need to remember that according to chapter 21 verse 1 there are no longer there is no longer any sea. Now if there is no longer any sea that means that we no longer have what is called the hydrologic cycle. There's no sun and we see that in verse 23 of chapter 21 the city had no need of the sun or the moon to shine in it. There's no sun which means that there's no water evaporating which means that there's no rain and so as we look at this we need to understand that if there's no rain to fill any rivers then when he speaks here in verse 22 verse 1 concerning a pure river of water of life that tells us that we need to see this as a symbol that this river of the water of life would be symbolic of the water of life that we have through Jesus Christ or the eternal life that we have. This is a pure river that is proceeding from the throne and it's a symbol of the flow of eternal life from God's throne to heaven's inhabitants and this is something that is pure it's something that is alive and something that flows from God. In the book of Isaiah in chapter 12 verses 2 and 3 and let me develop this with you for a moment it says there behold God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraid for Yah or Jehovah the Lord is my strength and song he also has become my salvation therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation God is the one who provides the water of life and that's the point Isaiah was making and so when you think of that and then you start looking into the New Testament in John chapter 7 for example and you look at verses 37 and 38 in John chapter 7 it says on the last day that great day of the feast Jesus stood and cried out saying if anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink he who believes in me as the scripture has said out of his heart will flow rivers of living water what you have here in John and I'll be pointing this out as we conclude Revelation is an invitation an invitation to come and drink God gives invitations from the book of Genesis all the way to the conclusion in the book of Revelation and God gives invitations for us to have and to partake of this this river of life this water of life that flows freely from the Lord to us now I believe and I'm going to depart from my notes and just share what I believe the Holy Spirit has put in my heart for this particular passage for just a moment just application I was speaking to somebody and I'll preface it this way I was speaking to somebody recently and there are those who think that the time that that I come out of which historically is now in church history is referred to as the Jesus movement or the Jesus revolution well there are many people who today think that that was a time that that occurred maybe 40 years 40 plus years ago but the Jesus movement came in the Jesus movement went and so what you have today is you have interesting an interesting movement within the church that is is a lot different than then what I experienced as a 20 year old who got saved there are those today who think that that people like me were just so out of touch with the average person that we can't connect with them anymore and so what they do is they say you need to have new ways to do that you need to find new ways to communicate you need to find new ways to grab hold of their attention and and grab hold of their minds and and so if you were a student of what's happening in the church and some of you may very well be you would discover that there are a lot of experiments going on and many of them are being printed in books and taught in seminars if you want to grab somebody make sure that you don't give a message more than 15 or 20 minutes if you want to grab somebody's attention especially the youth you have to make sure that they're interactive that there are things going on during the service that help them to be entertained as you're speaking to them and and there is one thing after another I get invitations I have mentioned this before but it's true I get invitations monthly sometimes more than once a month to go to conferences I get them on my emails I get them in print a material that comes to me you know Pastor Dave we'd like to teach you how to grow a church and what you need to do is come to these seminars and if you come to the seminar we'll teach you how to communicate we'll teach you how to use humor we'll teach you how to use illustration we'll teach you how to to not cause people to be offended when you preach and I wonder if John the Baptist would have gone to one of those seminars but that's something different I don't know we don't need more seminars we need more of the spirit in our lives we need more of the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives I had a meeting I meet with pastors on a monthly basis here at the church we average 18 to 20 Calvary Chapel pastors who come and I've been given responsibility as I'm on a certain council particular council to minister to other pastors and I it's my passion and I enjoy doing it and so I've been doing it for years that on a monthly basis I'll meet with pastors 18 20 pastors on average sometimes more sometimes less and what we'll do is we'll sit down in the in the cafe and they'll ask questions now that may seem odd to you that pastors ask me as a pastor questions but because I've been in the ministry for 40 plus years there are certain things I've learned in ministry that I can help younger men with especially the younger pastors are just beginning and so we talk quite often and I'll have anecdotal stories that I'll share I'll say you know these are things that learn from my pastor you know whenever we would go to plan out the passage conferences because Calvary Chapel under Pastor Chuck Pastor Chuck would have yearly national international pastors conferences and and I was part of a board that gathered together to plan out the conferences that would be for all the 1500 plus Calvary chapels in the world and we'd gather and Pastor Chuck would would lead that meeting and and we would sit there'd be 20 25 of us would be in a room and we'd be seated there and we'd be talking and whatever and Chuck would come in and the minute pastor came in everybody got quiet always did because when Chuck came in he was like dad and and quite seriously he was like dad and we were his sons and when he walked in you know and I was taught as a kid when your father walks in the room you show him respect and that's what I did with with my pastor same thing minute Chuck walked in I've got nothing to say you've got everything to say I want to hear what you have and he would come and Chuck was very humble you know he'd come sit down and he always sat in the same place and as he sat down there it would get quiet and every time someone would say the same thing to open the meeting Pastor Chuck I want to ask you what is on your heart what is the greatest concern that you have right now for Calvary Chapel Ministries and Chuck every time I ever heard him speak and opening for such a meeting would say this have we begun in the spirit only to be made perfect by the flesh he'd say he would say it every time we need to walk in the freshness and the power of the Holy Spirit because if we do not this movement will die it is a spirit led spirit empowered movement because when you don't have the Holy Spirit in your midst you're only religious but you are not empowered and God is giving to us this amazing promise Jesus gave this promise if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink and even as scripture said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water here's something for you let's personalize it let's personalize it is the Holy Spirit flowing out of you right now is he splashing out of your life you know this water is intended to not only satisfy your thirst but the water of life is for all who are thirsty and so not only are you filled with the Holy Spirit but you also have the influence that God gives to you to encourage others to have the same kind of thirst and so when we look at this passage here you can't help but think as it's speaking that there's this pure river of water of life it's clear as crystal it speaks of its purity and so this water of life that's being spoken of here is the is the symbol of the flow of the eternal life that comes from God's throne to all those who are inhabiting heaven it is pure and and it's alive and it's flowing and even as it says it is clear as crystal it proceeds from the throne of God and of the lamb clear as crystal reveals that it is unpolluted and it also reflects the glory of God notice it proceeds from the throne of God and from the lamb Jesus is ruling in Hebrews 7 26 it says for such a high priest was fitting for us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and has become higher than the heavens Jesus is ruling I would encourage you even as we begin and we're going to end with the same encouragement here in chapter 22 I would encourage you to seek God for his spirit's freedom in your life every day wake up in the morning every day every day and say God fill me with your spirit work in me today you see the enemy doesn't sleep and very often he's waiting at the foot of the bed for you to finally get your foot out and hit the ground so he can harass you so he can trip you up I'm not teaching you some spooky story I'm not talking about a cookie I'm telling you the truth it's the truth the boogeyman it is the truth and you know it you know it he wants to destroy you he wants to steal he wants to kill and he wants to destroy you God has a wonderful plan for you but he has one that will destroy you you need to understand it and you may be thinking oh I'm inconsequential I have no power I have no authority I don't make a difference I'm just a Christian you are his enemy he hates you understand that he hates you he wants to destroy you he wants to destroy your family he wants to destroy your friends he wants to destroy your neighborhood he wants to destroy your city he wants to destroy your state he wants to destroy your nation he wants to destroy the world and you know what he is concerned with one of the things I know for certain he's concerned with the spirit-filled believers who do the works of God he's concerned with them do you think he's concerned with backsliders and lukewarm they're doing his work they're doing his work there's hardly anything as distasteful in the mouth of somebody as a hypocritical Christian oh you want me to be like that guy I work with are you kidding me I'm already miserable why do I want to be a miserable Christian like him he's always telling me about God but he didn't I don't want to be that man that people point to and say I don't want to be like that I just don't want to be I want to be the kind of person when they say whatever he has that's what I want and how's that going to happen guys how's it going to happen it happens when we stop making excuses for our sinfulness and it happens when we die to ourselves it happens when we say God fill me God I believe I really do there really is a habit there really is a hell there really is a God there really is a savior named Jesus there's really a powerful Holy Spirit there really is all of this this is true when you understand that your life changes your life does change and if you want to be impactful and speaking to you as a pastor friend to you right now ask God to fill you with a spirit God use me for your glory God use me for your glory when you see some of the people God has used there's one thing in common with these people and that is they're just available and they're filled with the spirit why can't you be what would keep you from being what is it what is it in your life that is so important that you would rather have that than the power of the spirit what is it relationship money job what is it pain personality what is it because whatever it is it isn't worth it what is worth it is dying to self and living for Christ because Paul said for me to die is gain it's game you see we're talking about the final chapter where it's all consummate it's all in all ends right here and so there's this description it's a tour of heaven it's a tour of the capital city New Jerusalem this is waiting for you I wonder if we believe that this is waiting for you this is your home this is where you're gonna you can go home tonight and look at your house and you can say man I live in a dump compared to where I'm going to live someday compared to where I'm going to be someday I've seen some amazing houses so have you see them usually on TV I don't have one but I certainly have seen them and I've had a chance to go to some very beautiful places over my my years I've toured many places over the years God has been good to me I've been in various castles and I've been in various very very large homes owned by very very rich people none of that none of that's valuable God says you want to know something gold is so value less I use it as as paving I use it as paving what you value so much I use it as as asphalt in heaven we that's so beyond me it's so beyond us isn't it it really is how are we going to have an understanding God fill us with your spirit may your holy spirit may your holy spirit drenches may your holy spirit fill us may your holy spirit pour out of us may we live as if we believe what we tell other people we believe may we do that so it's very powerful it's very powerful what God is going to do now in verses two and three in the middle of its of its street on and on either side of the river was the tree of life which bore twelve fruits each tree yielding its fruit every month and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations there shall be no more curse let the throne of God and of the lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him so the river flows down through middle of the city there's a tree there that is large enough to span the river the river is in the midst of the street the tree is on both sides of the river it's filling that the river is not necessarily wide but it is narrow and that allows for this allows for this arrangement and what you see here is called the tree of life now this tree of life that we're looking at here in verse two the tree of life is it's the what is called the counter part of the tree of life found in the Garden of Eden remember all the way back in Genesis chapter 3 verse 22 it is revealed that to eat of the tree of life would make physical death impossible and so what you have here is this is something that makes us aware of the fact that we're intended to inhabit New Jerusalem forever and in New Jerusalem this tree bears fruit that is edible continually now I should touch on this a fruit bearing tree is is a concept that you find in in the Bible that is often used as a picture of the blessing of God a fruit bearing tree fruit on a tree provides food and therefore it would be regarded as as a blessing you know the fruit that there is that is there on the tree if you can take of it you can you can eat of it in here on earth obviously it provides nutrients in all of us and all of that for us and and so it's something that that the Jew during the time of the writing of the Bible and to this day really they recognize that to have a fruit tree was to symbolize that God was providing for us and so what you have here is you have a tree that is symbolizing the blessings of God you see it's not that you need to eat the fruit to be to be to remain alive yeah I have a friend of mine who asked me that a while back you said David he said listen if we're in when we're with the Lord and everything is is completed why do you have a tree that you eat of I mean the Bible speaks concerning this this fruit of this tree why do you need to eat it he said is it is it going to be necessary for us to eat it to remain alive and I said I said no the reason that that there's a tree that is there is to symbolize the fact that God is providing for you continually will we eat in heaven yeah yeah we will but will we eat to live no we will eat for the sheer the pleasure of the amazing taste that you will experience think of for just a moment and there's no unpleasant tastes there so you could just remove that from your mind like you know no there's no unpleasant taste at all I don't want to go on this too long I just thought of it but I'll say it very quickly there have been times when you you see some grapes or you see some strawberries or fruit you know if you like fruit I happen to like certain kinds of fruit mango or something like that pineapple and you look at he's oh man that looks good and then you take some oh man it's bitter oh it's no good it's no good so you give it to somebody else you won't have that experience I can't imagine the perfection of taste but whatever it tastes like will be unimaginably delicious there will be great pleasure in eating whatever fruit there may be that the Lord provides absolutely so I actually think it's many it's gonna be cool I do I think it's me cool sit down I don't think there's manudo in heaven some of you will say well praise God you know for me that's that's gonna be a loss but but fruit represents the provision of God and the pleasure that's what it represents now when it says in verse 2 that it bore 12 fruits each year yielding its fruit every month you need to remember that there really isn't time the way you understand time today because they're not going to have seasons 12 year you know 12 month years and things like that there's no longer any time so this is a picture of a continuous provision that's the point he's making now it speaks of the leaves of the tree being for the healing of the nations that can be literally health-giving leaves and so the leaves of these trees promote the enjoyment of life in you Jerusalem it's not for healing sickness because there is no sickness you see life in heaven is going to be filled with energy it's going to be exciting it's going to be joyful as I mentioned food is eaten not to sustain life but simply to make life more pleasant and that's how it's going to be when we're there and it's going to be beautiful he says in verse 3 there shall be no more curse but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it and his servant shall serve him the curse of the earth has been removed and as already mentioned and already seen there is no longer sorrow there is no longer sickness there is no longer death there's no longer pain none of that none of that ever again no more mourning no more hurting just joy forevermore in in the book of Genesis in chapter 3 in verses 17 through 19 we read to Adam he said because you have heeded the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you saying you shall not eat of it cursed it is the ground for your sake in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you you shall eat the herb of the field in the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground for out of it you were taken for dust you are and to dust you shall return that's the curse I grow weeds very well plants that's another question but I can grow weeds and do a good job of that well there won't be any of that anymore you see creation according to Romans chapter 8 verse 19 creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed for the creation was subjected to frustration not by its own choice but by the will of the one who subjected it in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God so creation itself is still in bondage because of the curse but because there's a new heaven and new earth there's no more curse and all of this is no longer in existence no more pain or sorrow or anything like that verse 4 they shall see his face in his name shall be on their foreheads there shall be no night there they need no lamp nor light of the sun for the Lord God gives him light and they shall reign forever we're going to be able and this is so powerful just a thought they shall see his face verse 4 they shall see his face we shall see him we will be able to endure the glory of God without being consumed by it in 1st Timothy chapter 6 verse 16 Paul said God dwells in unapproachable light whom no man has seen or can see God in his glory and here's something for y'all take a moment to develop this no man no human sinful person none of us in this room even though we're redeemed none of us has the capacity to look at the full glory of God unveiled Jesus Christ is the glory of God in human flesh that's how men could see him but one on one occasion Moses who is very well he had fellowship with God as a friend would speak to one face to face on one occasion Moses was speaking to God it's recorded in the book of Exodus in chapter 33 in verses 18 through 20 and and there it says he Moses said please show me your glory then he said I will make all my goodness past before you and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion but he said you cannot see my face for no man shall see me and live you know sometimes even a moment ago we're singing show us show us your glory Moses asked that and one day we shall see his glory and one day we shall but God said no man can look upon me with unveiled glory and live to look upon God it's impossible to do that without having repercussions but one of these days and this is what's being spoken of one of these days we will have glorified bodies and this full fellowship with him in 1st John chapter 3 verse 2 it says it like this beloved now we are children of God and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be but we know that when he is revealed we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is and if you have this hope in you you purify yourself John went on to say even as he is pure what is one of the motivations for holy living for living separated life because one of these days I'll be seeing him face to face one of these days and so you prepare yourself you live a life separated to the Lord and separate from sin you move away from the things that keep you in bondage and you move to the things that are part of the freedoms that Christ has given to you so instead of being like a dog that returns to its vomit or a pig that goes back to the mud that it's been cleansed from we follow the Lord with obedience and joy being blessed by God and in preparation for the day that we will finally see him as he is because if we really believe and here's something else for you you know when I first got saved I was taught I was taught this from the beginning that Jesus Christ is even at the door behold I come quickly is something I heard when I was first saved and so we were taught back when I got saved and obviously this has been taught in the church for long for many centuries be ready be ready be prepared be waiting to see him live in such a way that should he show up at this moment you'll be ready you don't want him to come suddenly and unexpectedly you want to be as the picture of a bride is prepared for her groom you want to be ready for when he comes and so I was taught that I was taught that from the beginning now was I living a real mature and very spiritually deep life and was I like just like you know a miniature Billy Graham or Chuck Smith no and I was a 20 year old snotty nose kid who was still rebellious I was a hippie I was a monster you know I was from the drugs and the alcohol and everything that went along with it and and and it takes it takes time it takes time for God to cleanse it does don't get frustrated and and don't and don't get to the point where you're where you want to give up you know I'll never I'll never know that's not my message I don't I don't preach sinless perfectionism I need God's grace like we sang tonight every day I need the grace of God every day every day I want to breathe it in and pour it out I need that we do what I am saying is this once again I believe that there are many people who could speak very well on issues related to the rapture the last days and things of that nature who perhaps haven't allowed that to change their behavior I've encountered more than one who's able to sit down and give a good rap about the last days they're quite a number of people who like to go to prophecy seminars and get the CDs or DVDs and listen to memorize and they're able to communicate but they're not being affected they're not they're not their lives aren't changed you know for me all I'll say it quickly just remember because I've shared this with you before Jesus taught us something and you need to know that there's a difference between and this will take a moment there's a difference between thinking like a Greek and thinking like a Hebrew and what do I mean by that well during the time of Christ Greek thinking was infiltrating the nation of Israel there are those who are being influenced by what is called Hellenism the Greek ways Greek culture Greek language and Greek philosophy and it was infiltrating the Jewish culture Americans are very Greek we think Greek I mean you have people who learn the Socratic method for teaching and stuff a lot of you know exactly what I'm talking about Americans are very Greek in the way we think and here's what I mean by that the Greeks had one thing in common that was this that they believe that knowledge was the accumulation of information that the more information I have the more knowledge I have that's a Greek way of thinking the Hebrews are different Jesus said why do you call me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say because in the Hebrew mind the accumulation of information was to produce transformation and the way that somebody was demonstrating that they knew something is when their lives changed so in the Hebrew way of thinking and you'll see this when we get into Matthew chapter 7 as we're studying Matthew now on Sunday mornings you'll see it very clearly where Jesus speaks concerning a man building on sand and another man building on a solid rock they both endure the same kinds of things but one man's house falls in the other one stands and he says why he says well because one person heard and did and the other person heard and did not do that's Hebrew so Jesus as a rabbi would be teaching his students don't just hear me here and do here and obey you'll see this in just a moment I'm actually getting ahead of my notes right now and so all I'm saying is listen we've gone through revelation and taken a while you've gotten information may it change the way that we live so that we really do think you know what Lord and believe you're even at the door my life should be different I'm a believer in Christ people know that and so that's what we're looking at right now now he says his name shall be on their foreheads that's another way of saying that they belong exclusively to him and they're gonna have joy forever they shall reign according to verse 5 forever and ever verse 6 then he said to me these words are faithful and true and the Lord God of the holy prophet sent his angel to show his servants the things which must shortly take place behold I am coming quickly blessed it is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book and see that's the point I was just making these words he said are faithful and true in other words the things that we're looking at right now if we had even an inkling of what he's trying to communicate would make us wonder and we'd say this is too good to be true so I say no these words are faithful and true God's word is trustworthy it's like what it says in 2nd Samuel 728 where we read oh Lord God you are God your words are true and then Jesus in verse 7 says behold I am coming quickly blessed it is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book his coming is even at the door belief translates into action let's see I remembered it was February 9th 1971 long before many of you were born and some of you were already very old at that time I had gone to a Bible study at Calvary Chapel we had heard that Jesus was coming and we were to be prepared and I was in bed when that and they had said they're going to be earthquakes and this and that I was in bed when my parents house began to shake it began to move there was a huge earthquake they hit and I have to tell you know I'm a veteran of thousands of earthquakes that was a pretty strong one and I lived in Norwalk at the time and that was a strong earthquake and the house began to tilt and move and when it did I got scared naturally and then I remembered what the pastor had said the night before he said this is a sign of Christ coming and I remember pushing the blankets off this is the true you won't believe it's kind of stupid now but I pushed the blankets off and I lifted my hands up come quickly Lord Jesus he didn't do just an earthquake but from the beginning from the beginning we were taught Jesus's word is true right and he says he's coming soon I come quickly and so what is he saying he the same thing blessed it is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book I am coming quickly I'm even at the door therefore live as if you expect that and Isaiah says it like this Isaiah 56 one thus says the Lord keep justice do righteousness for my salvation is about to come and my righteousness to be revealed Romans 13 11 do this understanding the present time the hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed Titus to 11 through 14 the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men it teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passion to live self-controlled upright and godly lives in this present age while we wait for the blessed hope the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own eager to do what is good and so that's what Jesus is saying he said keep the words of the prophecy of this book now in verse 8 I John saw and heard these things and when I heard and saw I fell down and down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things he said to me see that you do not do that for I'm your fellow servant and of your brother and the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book worship God worship belongs exclusively to God not to angels and and I'll say this quickly and not to other believers be very careful I don't think I have to say that here in this fellowship but I'll say it be very careful that you keep your eyes on Jesus men will let you down I do do I want to let you down no do I want to be a good man yes can I and will I let you down yes I can will I I hope I don't but can I yes yeah yeah do I plan on letting you down no do I want to ever let you down no but can I yeah who can't let you down Jesus where should your eyes be on Jesus on Jesus in a world that is longing for heroes and in a world filled with those who want to be somebody's hero it's a dangerous combination the key to godly living is fear of God and remembering who you are and what you need the grace of God and remembering like Paul said who is Paul and who is Apollo's we are just servants if we can understand that now by the way that's something I say to myself as a pastor but that's what I say to other pastors when I minister to them we're not celebrities we're not that important we're simply servants of the King make sure that people see the King and not you keep your eyes on the Lord John is so taken that actually falls down before an angel and he says worship God something he has to be reminded of he done this before in chapter 19 the second time he does in Revelation in verse 10 he said to me do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book for the time is at hand he was unjust let him be unjust still he was filthy let him be filthy still he was righteous let him be righteous still he was holy let him be holy still and so the time is short you need to proclaim these prophecies you need to share what I've revealed here in the Revelation there is no more Revelation coming this is it if you reject this there's no new message that is coming it's like what it says in Jude verse 3 beloved although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints is there a need for a new Revelation no was there a need for a new book a new holy book no does that mean that that that that I don't as a person that I don't accept the Quran as the Word of God that's exactly what it means I do not accept the Quran as the Word of God it's not do I accept the the pearl of great price or the book of Mormon as words from God no I do not why there is no new Revelation coming this is it and God gave it to us and he said contend earnestly for the faith that one time for all time has been delivered to the saints this is the truth and this is what we proclaim so when somebody says oh I have a new Revelation if it doesn't fit within what scripture has taught then I reject it so if they want to say that Jesus came to Palmyra New York and there were golden tablets and special spectacles and things of that nature I reject that I care for the people who are trying to share that with me because I care about them as people I want them to know the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ I don't mock them and I certainly don't think they're ridiculous people they're sincere but they're wrong but they're wrong the Word of God was given to us when time for all time and as believers we contend for the faith that has been delivered to us and trusted to us now when he says in verse 11 he who was unjust let him be unjust still etc that would speak of people's response to the truth those who hear but reject the truth and remain in sin are sealing their own futures if you hear the truth and harden yourself you're sealing your own eternity in verse 12 behold I'm coming quickly my reward is with me to give to everyone according to his work I am the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end the first and the last I'm coming quickly and I'm bringing a reward that's a reward that believers receive when he returns he rewards their faithfulness as they have lived and served him it's like what Paul said in 2nd Corinthians 510 when he said we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive what is do him for the things done while in the body whether good or bad so he's speaking of the reward that comes blessed verse 4 14 are those who do his commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city but outside are dogs and sorcerers sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters and whoever loves and practices a lie I Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches I am the root and the offspring of David the bright and morning star so notice you heard me mention a moment ago about hearing and doing that's what he's saying blessed that are those who do his commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life so those who are qualifying for entrance are those who have been obedient to his word one of my favorite scriptures is is Luke 646 Jesus says why do you call me Lord Lord and do not the things which I say if you love me he said in John 14 15 keep my commandments you know my wife my wife Marie could tell me all day long she loves me but if she if her activities and actions do not line up with the words I'll have every reason to wonder whether or not she knows what the word love means if she says I love you exclusively but that's only on Friday and Saturday and the rest of the week I go out with our other guys I'd have a bit of a problem with that she has to make a choice love me and I wasn't willing to take a relationship that was only good two out of seven days I've shared this with you before I was teasing her about it just the other day so I'll say it to you out loud some of you've heard me say this Maria and I were dating we'd been going around for a while going out we I was taking her out on a date it was a Saturday night I was on the five freeway I was going in Anaheim I so remember the general location if any of you guys know where Disneyland is we all do off the five going south and as we were driving now you got to understand Marie was 22 and she was a new Christian probably two or three months old in the Lord and you may find this interesting but I've never been one who dominate somebody and tells them you need to do this and you can't do that it appears that way sometimes and I'm teaching what I'm doing is opening my heart to you but on one on one relationship I believe that God directs the footsteps of those who means called and so I'll encourage you but I don't condemn you so Marina are dating and as we're driving she points out this this place off to the right she says you see that right there and I said yeah she says that was there last night it was a dance club I said really she goes yeah I said what were you doing she goes out on went dancing we loved to dance she used to love to dance I said oh so we're driving she said some guy was dancing with me I said well yeah go to dance she goes he asked my for my phone number I said oh you give it to him she said no why not well I told him I have a boyfriend this is the truth before the Lord I turned like that and I looked at her you got a boyfriend I'm not kidding I was shocked I didn't know it I didn't know it you got a boyfriend she goes yeah and it got quiet I can't go why am I wasting my money on this girl who who's your boyfriend you and this is as God as my witness I looked at her I said I'm not your boyfriend she goes what I said I'm not your boyfriend what do you mean by that I said listen if I were your boyfriend you wouldn't have been there last night dancing she never went again it's the truth I didn't tell her not to go go dance dance your feet off but if you're gonna copy mine ain't gonna happen do you think the Lord may speak that to your heart sometime he's spoken it to mine I've got a savior you got a savior who you I was your savior you wouldn't be doing that is that hard it's not hard it's not hard it's just real it's just real why do you call me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say isn't that a beautiful question isn't it powerful it's very touching it's a very touching question so am I teaching you legalism now I'm teaching you love teaching you to love him because when you love him you have liberty in him and when you have liberty in him you're free to serve him and you do it with joy because you know the reward that is awaiting us is so amazing is so amazing and so that's the way it works outside are the habitual sinners he gives a list of them dogs that's interesting and I'm not gonna go through everyone they're self explanatory but when he speaks concerning outside our dogs do you think well yeah you mean there's no doggies in heaven you know dogs are is a word it's not like the young young people say it was happening dog it's not that though sometimes it is dogs are men of low character men of low character in scripture are called dogs Isaiah 56 10 I'll give you an example Israel's watchmen are blind they all lack knowledge they are all mute dogs they cannot bark they lie around and dream they love to sleep so dogs are as it is a word that refers to people with no character and so that's what he's referring to and then he speaks of the others and I want you to remember sorcerers yes that's magic and yes that can be casting spells but it's also the word that has a root where you get it's called it the Greek word is pharmaciatr pharmaciatr is where we get the word pharmaceutical pharmaceutical is translated drugs and so he's speaking about those who are addicted to drugs drug users is what's being referred to people who habitually are using drugs and yes they were used for casting spells and a variety of other things but that's what it's referring to sexually immoral murderers idolaters and whoever loves and practices the lie this is just a general list of those who don't enter in then he says I Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches I am the root and the offspring of David the bright and morning star and the spirit and the bride say come let him who hears say come let him who thirsts come and whoever desires let him take the water of life freely I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book if anyone adds to these things God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy God shall take away his part from the book of life from the holy city and from the things which are written in this book he who testifies to these things says surely I am coming quickly amen even so come Lord Jesus the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all amen we close with a couple of thoughts when he says in verse 16 I Jesus sent my angel to testify he is the line of David he brings the this brings the day of his rule he is called the bright and the morning star so as the morning star usher's in the sun he said so shall I usher in the eternal glories of the kingdom but when it says in verse 17 the spirit and the pride say come this is an invitation there are those that on occasion you want to say why do you guys what you Calvary guys usually say you Calvary guys why do you Calvary guys give invitations I get letters sometimes where people ask that question why do you give invitations because from Genesis to Revelation you see invitations from Genesis to Revelation are you gonna you can go all the way back when when the Scripture says that Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit and the voice of the Lord cried out and said Adam where are you now you need to understand you need to understand this that that that was not God saying gosh I can't see you there's nothing hidden from the side of God it's not like suddenly they disappeared so what would that be why would God say to Adam where are you well because because Satan asked Eve has God said Eve misrepresented God took of the forbidden fruit gave to her husband he did eat and so in the taking of the forbidden fruit their eyes were opened they entered into a sinful state and God is simply saying now that you have rejected my word which was a command to you not to do something where are you where are you where are you and that's the whole point where are you he wasn't saying I don't know where you are he was saying tell me where you are you know what that's called confession it's not like I don't know is that you need to know because there are too many people who will not admit where they're at but the best thing you can ever do is say I have sinned and I'm sorry that's called confession you have invitation from the beginning to the end the spirit and the bride say come Jesus said if any man comes to me if any man's thirsty let him come to me and drink it's an invitation then a man desires to follow me let him pick up his cross daily and follow me that's an invitation you see invitations all from Genesis to the revelation there are those who are arguing right now said oh no you don't give invitation now I see Jesus I see God himself I see the spirit and the bride doing the same and by the way that's what we're supposed to be doing every one of us are deputized by the spirit of God to take this word out everyone and here's something for you pray about whom you might know who doesn't know Jesus and start sharing with them share with them is anybody here know anybody doesn't know Jesus we all we all do we all do pray for them share with them invite them tell them what you know and say come and see come and see invite you know what Christmas is a good time to do that Christmas is a good time to do that invite them to church watch what God does the spirit and the bride say come and then finally don't add to this book and don't take from it this is the entire revelation from God when it's it says in Deuteronomy 1232 see that you do all I command you do not add to it or take away from it that is something that is really not simply the revelation though it is applying to that but in reality it can speak of the whole word of God and then finally he who testifies to these things says I am coming quickly and all we need to do tonight is simply say amen come quickly Lord Jesus