Thinking in 3’s - Revelation 22:17 - Reciprocal Invitations

Thinking in 3’s - Revelation 22:17 - Reciprocal Invitations

“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.” (Revelation 22:17 NAS95)

Three times in one verse we have the invitation, “Come.” Two are stated in the form of address, “say, ‘Come.’” The latter two are exhortations: “let the one …” 

So let’s ask the question, “Who is speaking in each of these cases?” The Spirit and the Bride are identified. That is, the Spirit of Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ speak together (what a wonderful thought) to invite Jesus to come. If the Church is actively inviting Jesus to come, it is because they are listening to the Spirit. And if the Church is not actively inviting Jesus to come, then they are out of step with the Spirit. We ought to have the same anticipation for the coming of Jesus that the Spirit of Christ has.

The second subject is singular, “Let the one who hears say, “Come.” We know from Scripture that not everyone who has ears actually hears. We can hear without listening (so, not really hearing). We can listen without responding (so, not really listening). And so this phrase implies an engagement on the part of the person to actually desire and anticipate the coming of Jesus. When we have truly “heard,” we have then come to deeply believe something about the plan of God (that Jesus is coming again), and about the need of our own souls for a final deliverance from the presence of sin. 

The third subject is different, in that he does not say to Jesus, “Come.” Rather, he is urged to come himself. He is thirsty, and he is encouraged to come to Christ for the satisfaction of his soul. It is the Gospel invitation. “Come to Jesus!” It echoes the Gospel call repeated in the pages of Scripture: 

“Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;  And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk 
Without money and without cost.” (Isaiah 55:1 NAS95)

““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NAS95)

And so the Church, and of Her churches, are to be involved in a two-fold invitation: to invite Christ to return, and to return soon; and, to invite those who are thirsty to come to Christ, and to do so urgently, before the Day of His coming. Are we doing these two things?