Sermon: Wittenberg Academy – Nov 26

26 November 2019

Text: Rev 22:1-21

In the name of + Jesus.  Amen.

As we rapidly approach the end of the church year, it is fitting that we read the last few verses of the last chapter of the last book of the Bible.  “The Revelation” means “the revealing” – and like the last page of a mystery novel, everything is solved.  And since the problem is not merely one murder, but the sum total of all the sins of the world of all time, it may be more fitting to use the term “absolved” instead of “solved.”

We end the Scriptures with one final prophetic word: the promised return of our Lord Jesus Christ and the beginning of eternity.  And while the world frets into a spiral of anxiety over their fears of the world’s end, we Christians have the revelation of Jesus Christ to give us a different perspective.

“These words are trustworthy and true,” says the angel to St. John and to us.  And we hear the final promise of our Lord Jesus Christ: “I am coming soon.  Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”  The angel told John not to seal up the book, but to continue his ministry of the Word, and to let the history of mankind play out until the end: “Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”  And Jesus repeats His promise: “I am coming soon.”

Even as we Christians are tempted to despair over the increasing hostility and irrationality of the secular culture, and the rapidly degenerating culture around us, Jesus has revealed this to us: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”

The divine invitation is for anyone who wants to leave the world and join the church: “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.”  All we can do is repeat the invitation.  We do not add or detract from this prophecy, and yes, even from the whole Word of God.  We confess it faithfully, in good times and bad, until the Day of the Lord.

The final Word of Jesus is another reiteration of his ultimate promise: “I am coming soon.”  The final prayer in the Scriptures is: “Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus!”  And the final message to us in the Bible is a blessing: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.  Amen.”

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.