Dawning of the Eternal Day

Easter Sunday Morning

March 31, 1991

Revelation 22: 14 - 17 Jesus: "I AM the bright and morning star."

Introduction

Our text is the final beatitude of the Revelation: Revelation 22:14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city."

With this promise the Bible has come full circle, back to where the human race began, in the Garden of Eden. Through His victory on Calvary and by the power of His Resurrection, Jesus has restored all that was lost when our first parents sinned.

I. THE LAST BLESSING IN THE BIBLE

This final Beatitude of the entire Bible is expressed in three phrases: Blessed are . . .
1. ... those who have washed their robes
2. ... for they have the right to the tree of life, and they
3. ... have access to the gates of the city, New Jerusalem.
What does that have to do with Adam and Eve and Eden? And what does it have to do with Calvary and Resurrection?
Perhaps it is too difficult to thoroughly treat in just one Easter Sunday sermon, but
1. When our first parents sinned they lost their innocence. They knew that they were naked; they were ashamed. They sought to cover their shame with aprons of leaves, and a gracious God made them coats of skin.
  Here in the closing verses of Scripture we read of those who are not naked, they are not ashamed, but they have robes, robes of righteousness, washed and made white in the blood of Calvary's Lamb.
  Not only is innocence restored, but innocence becomes holiness; a deliberate choice, made possible by grace.
2. When our first parents sinned they were quickly banned from eating of the tree of life in the center of the garden. Part of their curse was physical and spiritual death.
  But here in this final beatitude we are told that God's people will have access to the tree of life that grows by the throne of God. Because of His victory over sin and death and the grave, the separation of sin is being overcome once and for all, and we shall live with Jesus, in His Presence, forever.
3. When our first parents sinned they were put out of the Garden, banned from the Paradise that had been their home, where in the cool of the day they had walked and talked with God Himself. All that that entailed, all that was involved we cannot fully understand. But we call that tragedy of sin "The Fall," and every one of us has become a sinner by choice as well as by birth, and we have known separation from God.
  But the promise is: We shall have the right to go in and out of the gates of the New Jerusalem. And it will be "home."
Do you begin to see the "Full Circle?" The PLAN of God and His love began in Genesis and is seen being COMPLETED in Revelation; what began in INNOCENCE now finds fulfillment in HOLINESS; where human attempts at COVERING SIN and shame failed, and where the Law and the Prophets looked forward to a more perfect way, Jesus purchased a cleansing and Covering and the saints wear ROBES OF WHITE which partake of His righteousness itself.
Where Genesis records the BROKEN DREAMS and shame of disobedience and failure, Revelation shows how our Champion opened ACCESS TO ETERNAL LIFE; where Adam knew EXILE from the Garden of Paradise, the Second Adam has won for us PASSAGE THROUGH THE GATES of the City called New Jerusalem, where there is no need of the sun or the moon, for the Lamb Himself is the Light!

[Aren't you glad that we came to this promise on Easter Sunday?}

II. THE GOD OF BLESSING

What authority do we have for these fantastic-sounding promises? How can we know we are not simply reading science fiction?

If that question has crossed your mind, I'm glad it has: for a promise is only as good as the integrity of the One who makes it. And here we have One who is speaking with great authority and integrity.

"I Jesus!" Though the messenger to John is an angel, the message is clear. It is from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The word is, " I JESUS!"
If the Bible is God's Word at all, then this text is of all portions to be trusted! It has the personal stamp of Jesus!
Jesus identifies with humanity, with you and me:
I am the root and the offspring of David. Here in the closing words of the Bible, Jesus declares that He fulfills all scripture. All prophecy is complete. No loose ends remain to be explained.
Reaching back into history, identifying even in His glory with the human race, Jesus tells the ones who have washed their robes that they will live forever and that they will eternally be with Him. Jesus incarnates the integrity and the authority of the Holy Bible.
Jesus announces a new and glorious day for mankind.
I am the bright and morning star. HE SHINES TO HERALD THE DAWNING OF ETERNAL DAY!

This final beatitude does not just look back, but it promises that we can know a limitless growing relationship with God and with God's people. When God comes and calls our names, we do not need to hide in the bushes! We can be at home with Him!

III. THE GOD WHO COMES TO DINNER

The very best thing about Easter is that this promise is literally valid for each one of us, right now. The power of Christ's Resurrection makes it possible for you and me to have these clean robes, and to eat of the tree of life, and to enter the New Jerusalem.
And all this centers around what we are here celebrating this morning: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!
I know that I am talking a sort of "shorthand," but I believe that you can understand this scriptural language.
1. The "clean robes" are the knowledge of sins forgiven; they are the certitude that we are justified, and regenerated, and adopted into God's great family forever.
2. The tree of LIFE, whatever it will mean when we see Jesus face to face, means that already we can begin eternity with Jesus, and come alive in Him. "He that liveth and believeth in Me," said Jesus, "Will never die!"
3. The access to the gates of the city means that we can go home again! We are not going to spend eternity as lost souls, wandering around the galaxies (unless we want to wander around the galaxies!) with no place to go! We are no longer kicked out of Paradise!
All this because "(Jesus) . . .took our sins and our sorrows, He made them His very own, He bore the burden to Calvary and suffered and died alone . . ." no wonder we sing, "How marvelous, How wonderful!" FORGIVENESS and CLEANSING and LIFE and ENTRANCE are possible because of the Resurrection that validates and manifests the Integrity of the One who has made the promise of blessing!
If Jesus had remained in the grave we would never have heard of Him. If He had not risen we would have no Christian faith, and no certain hope of eternal life.
But Jesus rose again. He ascended into heaven, where He became our High Priest at the Holy of Holies. He is now our Friend at the Throne, our Intercessor in prayer to the Father.
(Conclusion) But the Promise is valid only to those who will receive it! Whether or not we wash our robes is, because of grace, our choice!
1. Have YOU come to Jesus for the forgiveness of sins? Have you trusted in His righteousness, and do you know that you are justified, and adopted into His family?
2. Do you know the stirrings of spiritual LIFE in your being? Is there spiritual appetite? Do you desire the Bread and Drink of the heavenly kingdom?
3. Are you on Your way HOME? Home to the New Jerusalem, where Christ is preparing you a place?
4. Through the shadowy word-pictures of the ancient text we understand that God came in the cool of the day to fellowship with Adam and Eve. He called them by name. And somehow their disobedience spoiled the party, the fellowship was over.
  But in the clearer light of the Revelation we read that this same great God, now having drawn much closer, much more understandable in the Babe of Bethlehem and the Savior of Galilee, now is pictured outside the door of your heart and mine. He knocks! He says, "If YOU will open the door, I will come in, and I will have dinner with you— I will live with you— I will be closer to you than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet."
  We have a God who, because He lives eternally, has opened eternal life for us all. Amen.

Prayer: O Christ ! Thank You for Your great victory for us ! Come into our hearts, share Your life with us ! Amen.

Choir

Benediction THE LORD IS RISEN ! HE IS RISEN INDEED ! HALLELUJAH ! Revelation 3:20 . . .