"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
Revelation 22:17
Part 1
Have you ever had one of those awkward moments when you realized the party that everyone is talking about, you never got an invitation for? You couldn’t accept or decline because you weren’t invited… How embarrassing and humiliating!
Let me tell you about something that you are invited for!
“And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come.”
In the light of the context of this chapter, the “Spirit” of God (Holy Spirit) who abides in the “Church” of God, along with the “Bride,” the people of God who are the “Church,” are inviting Jesus Christ, the one longed for, to come again!
“Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book,” (Revelation 22:7).
“And let him that heareth say, Come.”
And then the invitation seems to change and is given to people. Who is it that may come to Jesus? According to this verse, the one who “hears,” the one who “thirsts,” and “whosoever” wants to come.
“…let him that heareth the Spirit and Bride saying to the Lord Jesus, “Come,” join the Bride as a true believer, become part of her, and so say with her to Jesus, “Come,”1 (JFB).
“Hearing” God’s Word is vital!
“So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God,” (Romans 10:17).
“So how do you know if God has worked in your heart? Go through a little checklist. Have you heard? Are you thirsty for God and eternal life? Do you want Him? Then come!”2 (Guzik).
“And let him that is athirst come.”
The thirsty soul is invited to come and drink of the living waters which come from “the throne of God and the Lamb,” (Revelation 22:1).
Thirsty people know they are dry. The trouble is, they often try to satisfy their thirst with things that can never satisfy them. It is like the man who is adrift and lost at sea. His thirst is raging from being under the broiling sun. When he gets to the point he can no longer stand his thirst, he may drink from the salty sea which only deepens his thirst and may prevent his survival.
The thirsty soul needs the pure water of life!
We need to be sure we understand “who” may come and receive this “water or life.” Come back tomorrow, and we will see what the Bible teaches.
1. Jamison, Fausset, and Brown. Jamison-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
2. Guzik, David, David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.