Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 (NRSV)
Read Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. Verse 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Verse 14Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Verse 16"It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." Verse 17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
Verse 20The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Verse 21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.
Devotion
These final verses from the Revelation of John appear to be a hurriedly cobbled together conclusion to Revelation as well as the entire Bible. Yet, my favorite image of forgiveness remembers there is more to come for those whose scarlet sins have been washed away in the blood of the Lamb. Four times we read the word “come” as an invitation and twice the word “coming” assures the hope of our expectation. Finally, the last word in Revelation and the whole Bible is the affirmation that appears in every believer’s prayer with greater frequency than any other word—“Amen.”
Is there any more simple or complete, earnest or urgent prayerful appeal to God than, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”? I expect the Lord will hear this solemn hopeful assertion with an exclamation point (!) in my every prayer from now on.
Prayer
Almighty God, our Alpha and Omega, ground us in your grace now and forevermore. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!