22:20 “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon’. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
The verse appropriately summarizes this series of beatitudes. First, seen in Christ’s closing statement “I am coming soon,” echoing his previous word in verse 22:12. Soon, as in: quickly, unexpectedly, suddenly, instantly. Therefore, live daily in its possibility. How simply, forcefully and grandly that summarized the entire book of Revelation. It’s God’s wake-up call to humanity. Everyone will be impacted by it, even if not eyewitnesses of it. All who have hoped in God will be rewarded beyond their expectations; all who passively ignored or actively opposed God will be punished beyond all their fears. Those living for and expecting it will be thrilled. Those living for themselves will be terrified. It’s also an assurance for God’s people and a warning to unbelievers: as history had a beginning in the Garden of Eden—which our evolutionary-controlled generation denies, it has an end—which our sin-wracked generation belittles. We can’t escape the reality of Christ’s Return. We can live to WELCOME, not REGRET, it. We can’t prevent it. We can prepare to open our arms to embrace it. It’s also God’s final response to Satan and his angels. As Jesus in ministry had bound the Enemy by casting out demons, he shall at the end shackle and imprison him in Hell eternally; where he will never again slander God to us and accuse us to God. Accompanying him into his eternal torment will be his demons and also temptation, death, Hades, conflict, opposition, war and HUMAN EGO! The Return will be so universally complete that space-creation will explode in ear-shattering concussions of sound and fury. Planets suddenly free from the HAND that held them in place will explode and shriek and sizzle out of existence II Peter 3:10, 12. The earth itself, desiring destruction, Romans 8:19-22, while now the object of unwelcome attention by environmentalists insisting it survive, will be incinerated entirely to a formlessness reminiscent of Genesis 1:1-2. No geographic feature left, whatever. To be followed by a re-creation reminiscent of Genesis 1:2c-31 and II Peter 3:13. With this difference. Jesus through the Holy Spirit will create a SPIRITUAL world appropriate to the SPIRITUAL bodies and minds inhabiting it. So glorious in every way will it be that we’ll never remember or desire a return to the sin-scarred, Satan-filled earth now so important and so permanent to Biblically-illiterate people. Indeed, the very preview of sighting the Holy City in Revelation 22 led John to such paroxysm of delight that he fell before the angel hosting his tour 22:8. That wasn’t the first time John had been so overwhelmed by seeing what the angel showed him. After hearing a multitude in Heaven shout a thunderous song of approval of God’s judgment of Rome, John had fallen before the messenger Revelation 19:9. John had personally experienced Rome’s anger, understood the pain faith in Christ brought and delighted in seeing Christ avenged. Nevertheless, the angel resolutely forbade any adoration of or attention to himself. End Part II
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