The Time is Near

Series: Reclaiming REVELATION

December 17, 2017

Jericho Ridge

 

Revelation: Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

“…the time is near.”

 

Text: Revelation 22:6-21

Focus: Living in the reality of Jesus’ imminent return.

 

 

The Time is Near?

 

Well friends it’s Dec. 17 and “the time is near.”

  • Oh, I know what you are thinking when I say those words, “the time is near.”
  • It’s almost Christmas. One more week!
  • That time when we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus.
  • That time when we celebrate Emmanuel, God coming and dwelling among us.
  • Yes, that time is near, and the kids did a wonderful job of reminding us of that.

 

But I am actually referring to the book of Revelation – both in 1:3 and 22:10 … bookends to an incredible message that vividly declares, “things are not as they seem … Jesus is coming!”

  • The book of Revelation begins and ends this message of a coming King and his Kingdom, with this declaration…

1:3 God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.

 

22:10 Then he [the angel] instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near.

 

As we near the end of our study of Revelation, we hear these words and we have to ask, “The time is near … how and for what?”

  • As we have been saying throughout our series, the book of Revelation is not a mere forecaster of the future.
  • The book of Revelation is a discipleship manual for today.
  • It’s a revelation, a pulling back of the curtain, a breaking through, an unveiling of Jesus Christ by Jesus Christ, for followers of Jesus Christ.
  • Any interpretation of the book that doesn’t lead us to the throne of King Jesus, is off the mark.
  • The whole point of this book that we are studying, is to facilitate an encounter with Jesus … an encounter that changes who we are and empowers us to live in alignment with His ways.
  • We are intended to have an encounter that breaks into our routine and reminds us that things are not as they seem.
  • As Dr. Darryl Johnson says, “There is a present unseen reality that is shaping our present earthly reality.”
  • And one of those unseen realities of the present is that “the time is near.”

 

  • The book of Revelation tells us this … and it’s a good thing it does, because our history and our current state don’t seem to tell us this.
  • Nothing around us is telling us that “the time is near.”
  • Yes, the events around us are telling us that “something is wrong, really wrong.”
  • But nothing is telling us that the “time is near” … except for the Scriptures…

 

I’ve already referenced Revelation 1:3, 22:10, but there’s also Romans 13:11-12, 1 Peter 4:7, Mark 1:15, Daniel 12:4…

  • They all tell us that “the time is near.”
  • So, how can the time be “near” then and now?
  • Daniel prophesied that the time was near in 600BC, Jesus made his announcement in 30AD, Paul wrote about it in 57AD, Peter claimed it in 60AD, John reiterated it in 96AD…
  • …every generation since, has believed it was living in the last days.
  • And here we are on December 17, 2017 … how can the time still be near?

 

  • Since Jesus’ arrival on earth in the 1st century AD and his public declaration that the kingdom has come near via his arrival, … since that time, the time has always been near.
  • A process was begun with the first arrival of Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem, which has been and is always unfolding.
  • Since that Gospel revelation, the time has always been near!

 

 

The Time is Near. For What?

 

But for what?  What is the time near for?  Time for 3 things:

  1. First, for Jesus to be known by the entire world.
    • Revelation 1:7 Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him—even those who pierced him.
    • Note: it doesn’t say, “he will come” as if he’s idly waiting off in outer space … it says, “he comes,” he is coming, he is on his way, he is always moving toward us.
    • The events of Revelation are in process and the King of all kings and Lord of all lords, is on his way!
    • Make no mistake; the events unfolding in our lifetime are part of the sovereign/divine process of Jesus coming again.
    • And when he arrives, every eye will see him!

So the time is near … for Jesus to be known by the entire world.

  1. Second, the time is near … for Jesus to fully have his way.
    • The Great “I am” is bringing about his Kingdom.
    • Jesus says, “I am the first and the last”, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end” (21:6).
    • Jesus is saying, “I created this world and everyone who lives in it, it’s my design … I started it and I will fully complete it.”

 

  • It’s an incredibly radical claim when Jesus uses the “I am” statements, because he is stating that in Him everything has its source, everything has its way of being…
  • …no matter how distorted … everything in the universe is first stamped with the character of Jesus Christ.
  • …every person on this planet owes his or her existence to Jesus and can only find fulfillment in Jesus.
  • Because he is the beginning and the end, no one can escape the reality that we are only complete in Jesus.
  • In that sense, Jesus is inescapable … and all creation, every person, will bow and submit to the ways of Jesus Christ.

 

So “the time is near” … (1) for Jesus to be known by the entire world, (2) for Jesus to fully have his way, and (3)…

  1. The time is near … for all of humanity to realize our inherent destiny.
    • This is why the book of Revelation ends in 22:20 with Jesus declaring that he is coming, followed by the responsive human cry, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
    • Creation, humanity longs for that final breakthrough.

 

  • In Revelation 22:16, Jesus calls himself the “Bright Morning Star.”
  • Why is this the last personal reference/image of himself, that Jesus leaves us with?
    • The morning star actually appears every night at the moment when the night has reached its greatest degree of darkness.
    • Although it’s very dark, and although there is still 3 or 4 hours until sunrise … when the morning star appears, it signals that the night is actually over and daylight is beginning to break in.
    • What an incredible image and symbol!

 

  • No matter how dark things get each day, Jesus is coming and his kingdom is beginning to break through.
  • If in the darkest of circumstances, we can see Jesus, the Bright Morning Star … we have hope and we have assurance of what is coming.
  • Yes, things can be difficult, but the revelation that the Bright Morning Star/Jesus has appeared and is signaling that the light is overpowering the darkness…
  • …that the time is near …that changes everything!

 

 

The Time is Near. Now What?

 

How? How can this revelation that “the time is near,” change us?

 

  1. Friends, because “the time is near,” we now know it’s better to resist the agenda of the night/darkness/the evil that we see playing out in our times.
  • Why would you live for something that is over and just playing out its final scene?!
  • If I were to offer you a fantastic investment opportunity in something, but with the clause that it wouldn’t exist in 5, 10 or 100 years … at anytime it could disappear and you would receive nothing in return … would you invest your savings, your life into that?
  • Because “the time is near” it is better for you to resist the agenda/offers of darkness.
  • The Bright Morning Star has appeared and signaled that His Kingdom is coming once and for all!

 

  1. And so then, we also know that it’s better for us to embrace the agenda of the day/light/God’s coming Kingdom!
  • Even though we continue to live in those last hours of darkness, Revelation 22:16 tells us the Son is coming!
  • Jesus, the Bright Morning Star is coming!
  • Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, is always coming!
  • And He is bringing His eternal kingdom with him!
  • So live in this dark place as children of light, as citizens of the day.
  • Knowing that “the time is near” doesn’t mean we go and hibernate and wait for Jesus to break in once and for all.
  • Knowing that “the time is near” calls us to enter the fray with the revelation/good news that we know is true.

 

“The time is near!”

  • The time for the curtain to be fully pulled back, so we can see and encounter Jesus face to face.
  • Time for Jesus to have his way and for us to be all that he created us to be.
  • Time for the King, born in a manger, crucified on a cross, raised on the third day, to reign forever and ever.

I am going to invite our worship team to come up … and our prayer team to move to the back.

  • If you are here today, and you’re not sure if you’re ready for Jesus to return as your King…
  • Just as he is always coming towards us … you can move towards him.
  • Call out to him with a simple cry, “Come, Lord Jesus … come into my life and be my King.”
  • As your King, he will offer you forgiveness for your sins…
  • As your King, he will send the Holy Spirit to fill you with unlimited grace and truth.

 

It's been almost 2000 years since the Apostle John wrote, "...the time is near." How can "the time" still be near? And what is "the time" near for?

Speaker: Wally Nickel

December 17, 2017
Revelation 22:6-21

Wally Nickel

Transitional Pastor

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