As Promised Chapter 22 of the BOOK OF REVELATION: This is the Beginning of Life Everlasting in the New Jerusalem and the New Earth....As you will note, this is the last Chapter of the Book of Revelation. I want all that read this to know, if you have missed any of the first 21 chapters and wish to have them, just go to my group, New Testament Analysis, scroll down and you will find all chapters, and you may copy and paste or share in any way you desire, as to teach the world the truth of the scriptures....At the End of the Age....God Bless you all.... Revelation 22:1-2 (1) And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, (2) coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, (3) in the middle of its street. (4) And on either side of the river was the tree of life, (5) bearing twelve kinds of fruit; (6) yielding its fruit every month; and (7) the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 1. And he showed me a river of the water of life = echoes the promise of Christ to the woman at the well of John 4. Living water has benefits for those that drink it. It quenches thirst. 2. Coming from the throne of God and the Lamb = is the source of the living water. This water supply is supernaturally supplied, which ensures the eternal or continuing nature of not only the supply of water, but the quality as well. The mutual nature of the throne of the Father and the Son should not lead to confusion about the trinity. They both share equally the same essence. However, Christ is the only member of the trinity that localizes with human physicality. God the Father never takes on human form. He can and will make His presence known. We will be very much aware of His presence, but not because He manifests Himself in physical form. That prerogative is uniquely Jesus Christ’s. The throne belongs to the Father, but He shares it with His Son. 3. In the middle of its street = at first glance might appear contradictory to the previous idea that the city is a cube. Street is singular, giving the impression that the city has only one street. However, while John does give some information about the city, we certainly must entertain the notion that there is much to the city that he did not communicate. The text does not say in the middle of its only street. Given the size of the city, there must be many streets...... 4. And on either side of the river was the tree of life . Since Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only means of salvation from sin, the tree of life is most certainly the omnipresence of our Lord Jesus, Christ. Since the only people allowed in the New Jerusalem are those who already have eternal life (Rev 21:27), the water of life and the tree of life are only for those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life...... 5. Bearing twelve kinds of fruit = indicates miraculous production. 6. Yielding its fruit every month = continues the miraculous production of the trees of life. Thought may be that the trees bear a different fruit for each month of the year. Perhaps, more spiritual awakening each and every month as time in eternity, really has no earthly meaning. 7. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. All nations are one, now, in Christ, Jesus and shall become one under the God-Head and Christ our Lord. With Christ, healing is a natural thing. Revelation 22:3-4 (1) And there shall no longer be any curse; and (2) the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and (3) His bond-servants shall serve Him; and (4) they shall see His face, and (5) His name shall be on their foreheads. 1. And there shall no longer be any curse = continues the descriptive benefits of the New Jerusalem. Since the nations have the benefit of the healing leaves from the tree of life, the curse of Adam is finally taken away forever. The curse of Genesis three is removed both from nature and mankind. Nature has returned to full productivity and man is both spiritually and physically satisfied. 2. The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it = signals another benefit of the New Jerusalem. Notice that John indicates that this is a future reality. At issue here is whether or not the Lamb is seated on a separate throne. Revelation 3:21 states, He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. The Lord’s throne relates to the millennial reign on earth. The Father’s throne relates to eternity. Since God the Father does not manifest Himself in human form, Jesus Christ will be the eternal physical manifestation of God to man. We will be aware of the Father’s presence, now and forevermore.... 3. His bond-servants shall serve Him = actually focuses on worship. The Greek verb refers to religious conduct. What else the righteous will do during eternity is not indicated, but worship will be primary. 4. They shall see His face. The Lord Jesus states in Matthew 18:10, See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven. The sense of the Lord’s words refers to the presence of God. The angels are continually in the presence of God. 5. His name shall be on their foreheads = is the last descriptive benefit of the citizens of the New Jerusalem. Like the 144,000 who have the seal of the God the Father on their foreheads, the bond-servants of Jesus Christ will be so marked. Revelation 22:5 (1) And there shall no longer be any night; and (2) they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and (3) they shall reign forever and ever. 2. They shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them = explains why there will be no night. God will be the light source for the New Jerusalem. 3. They shall reign forever and ever = refers to the bond-servants. That the saints will reign with Christ during His temporal kingdom on earth for a thousand years is clear. However, that they will reign with God for all eternity is less clear. Daniel 7:18 and 27 states that the saints will receive an eternal kingdom to worship the Lord, eternally..... Revelation 22:6-7 And he said to me, These words are faithful and true; and (2) the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, (3) sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must shortly take place. And (4) Behold, I am coming quickly. (5) Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. 1. And he said to me, These words are faithful and true = refers to the complete Revelation. This sentence begins an important conclusion to the book with witnesses to the process. 2. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets = adds support to the claims that Scripture can be trusted, particularly this Revelation. 3. Sent His angel to show to His bond-servants…place = restates the claims of the angel at the beginning of the Revelation that what is written was sent directly from God. 4. Behold, I am coming quickly....As promised throughout the New Testament....And, now it has been accomplished....... 5. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book = a call to faithfulness regardless of what might happen to the reader. Again, John asserts that this Revelation is prophecy in the same tradition as all other Old and New Testament prophecy. Revelation 22:8-9 And I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. And he said to me, Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book; worship God. Restates the claim of John that the Revelation is his writings. John’s reaction to the Revelation is the same as Daniel. Both attempt to worship an angel but were prevented. Revelation 22:10 And he said to me, (1) Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, (2) for the time is at hand. 1. Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book = contrasts the message of Daniel (Dan 12:4, 9). Daniel sealed his book, but the Revelation is to be unsealed. 2. For the time is at hand....Happening Now......In the twinkling of an eye... Revelation: 22: 11 Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and let the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy. This is a very difficult verse to understand. Two exhortations are given to the wicked and two exhortations are given to the righteous. Now it is at once clear that the wicked do not read the Bible for direction or encouragement to sin. Therefore, this text is written for the believer. However, one of the difficulties with this verse is the exhortation to sinners to keep on sinning. This is clearly contradictory to the nature of Scripture and the Lord. Some attempt solve the problem by placing the timing of this exhortation in the context of the days immediately preceding the return of Jesus Christ in which it will be too late to change once the Lord is seen coming on the clouds. However, it has been two thousand years since these words were spoken. Sinners certainly have had time to repent. Scripture would never counsel a sinner to keep on sinning—never! Therefore, we must look closer at what is stated. Unlike Daniel 12:9-10, which states what is true about the unbeliever, Revelation 22:11 exhorts the unbeliever to persist in his lifestyle. It is clear that Revelation 22:11 is echoing Daniel 12:10. What Daniel declared would happen is exactly what John encourages to happen. Scripture is not indicating what sinners might do, but what they will do. Not because they are not free to do otherwise, but because once set upon their course even the wrath of God will not change them (Rev 9:20-21) Revelation 22:12-13 Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Quick can refer to the manner of the Lord’s return. In other words, the Lord’s return will happen very quickly. Once the Lord sets out to rescue his saints, it will happen very quickly – in the twinkling of any eye! Revelation 22:14-15 (1) Blessed are those who wash their robes, (2) that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. (3) Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. 1. Blessed are those who wash their robes = is the last of seven blessings that occur in the Revelation. The reward for washing their robes is the same as the reward for the one who conquers. The overcomers who have stood with the Lord. Rather, the quality of eternal life is the issue. There is the opinion among some that as long as a person is saved that’s all that matters. I beg to differ. There is going to be a qualitative difference between those who were faithful and those who were faithful, but not as faithful as they could have been. i.e. perhaps a ranking of the saints as per their sanctification or works done for the Lord, on earth. Those who washed their robes are those who work at moral conformity to the will of God. The Old Testament is replete with examples of those who need to wash their garments in order to be cleansed before entering before God. Since the person must wash his own garments, this has nothing to do with gaining salvation. Rather, the issue concerns what one does after he has attained salvation. We are not working to gain or keep salvation, that is given freely to an unmerited sinner, through belief and acceptance in Christ. But our rewards are our works for Him, that precede us... 2. That they might have the right to the tree of life = Perhaps the purpose of washing one’s robes is to enter the city through the gates. 3. Outside are the dogs…lying = obviously refers to the city. Dogs here refer the abominations to God..... Revelation 22:16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. The lineage of Christ is shown shown here, now fully Jesus Christ. Revelation 22:17 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 desires take the water of life without price. The three fold invitation, so full of grace. is uttered by the (1) Spirit, (2) the Bride, (3) and those who have heard and know the truth of Gods Word and an invitation to quench your never-ending thirst... Revelation 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book; if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book Simply, stated, is a dire warning, to anyone that may add to the prophecy of this book or take away the truth of this book, God will add the plagues described in this book to you. And finally, God will take away your share in the Tree of Life. Revelation 22:20-21 He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen These words sound familiar as perhaps in many books of the New Testament, but no where are as exact as here....He who testifies to these things..... A Extreme Warning to be faithful and true to the truth of the scriptures and to teach them to those that have an ear to hear and an eye to see.....And to those that do this.....Absolutely, the Grace of the Lord will be with you.......Bless you all for the reading and hearing of this prophecy, I Bless you all, in Jesus Name....Pastor Eddie Green, Administrator of the group, New Testament Analysis. Again, if you have missed anyone of the preceding 21 chapters of this book. You can find them in my group, New Testament Analysis. You may copy and paste or share in any manner you desire to teach the Word of God.....You, truly will be Blessed if You Do...Bless you all, Now and Forevermore...
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 20:48:20 +0000