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1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of
life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of
the Lamb
2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side
of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit,
yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for
the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the
Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a
lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.
And they will reign for ever and ever.
6 The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true.
The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel
to show his servants the things that must soon take place."
7 "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words
of the prophecy in this book."
Revelation 22:1-7
Explanation:
The water of life is a symbol of eternal life. Jesus used this same
image with the Samaritan woman (John 4:7-14). It pictures the fullness
of life with God and the eternal blessings that come when we believe
in him and allow him to satisfy our spiritual thirst. This tree
of life is the tree of life in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9).
After Adam and Eve sinned, they were forbidden to eat from the tree
of life because they could not have eternal life as long as they
were under sin's control. But because of the forgiveness of sin
through the blood of Jesus, there will be no evil or sin in this
city. We will be able to eat freely from the tree of life when sin's
control over us is destroyed and our eternity with God is secure.
Why would the nations need to be healed is all evil is gone? John
is quoting from Ezekiel 47:12, where water flowing from the temple
produces trees with healing leaves. He is not implying that there
will be illness in the new earth; he is emphasizing that the water
of life produces health and strength wherever it goes. No longer
will there be any curse means that nothing accused will be in God's
presence. This fulfills Zechariah's prophecy (see Zechariah 14:11).
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I
had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the
angel who had been showing them to me.
9 But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with
you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the
words of this book. Worship God!"
10 Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy
of this book, because the time is near.
11 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile
continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right;
and let him who is holy continue to be holy."
Revelation 22:8-11
Explanation:
Hearing or reading an eyewitness account is the next best thing
to seeing the event yourself. John witnessed the events reported
in Revelation and wrote them down so we could see and believe as
he did. If you have read this far, you have seen. Have you also
believed? The first of the Ten Commandments is "You shall have
no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). Jesus said that the
greatest command of Moses' laws was "Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind"
(Matthew 22:37). Here at the end of the Bible, this truth is reiterated.
The angel instructs John to worship God! God alone is worthy of
our worship and adoration. He is above all creation, even the angels.
Are there people, ideas, goals, or possessions that occupy the central
place in your life, crowding God out? Worship only God by allowing
nothing to distract you from your devotion to him. The angel tells
John what to do after his vision is over. Instead of sealing up
what he has written, as Daniel was commanded to do (Daniel 12:4-12),
the book is to be left open so that all can read and understand.
Daniel's message was sealed because it was not a message for Daniel's
time. But the book of Revelation was a message for John's time,
and it is relevant today. As Christ's return gets closer, there
is a greater polarization between God's followers and Satan's followers.
We must read the book of Revelation, hear its message, and be prepared
for Christ's imminent return.
12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will
give to everyone according to what he has done.
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning
and the End.
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.
15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually
immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and
practices falsehood.
16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony
for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and
the bright Morning Star."
Revelation 22:12-16
Explanation:
Those who wash their robes are those who seek to purify themselves
from a sinful way of life. They strive daily to remain faithful
and ready for Christ's return. This concept is also explained in
the notes on 7:14. In Eden, Adam and Eve were barred from any access
to the tree of life because of their sin (Genesis 3:22-24). In the
new earth God's people will eat from the tree of life because their
sins have been removed by Christ's death and resurrection. Those
who eat the fruit of this tree will live forever. If Jesus has forgiven
your sins, you will have the right to eat from this tree. For more
on this concept see the notes on 22:2. The exact location of these
sinners is not known, nor is it relevant. They are outside. They
were judged and condemned in 21:7,8. The emphasis is that nothing
evil and no sinner will be in God's presence to corrupt or harm
any of the faithful. Jesus is both David's Root and Offspring. As
the Creator of all, Jesus existed long before David. As a human,
however, he was one of David's direct descendants (see Isaiah 11:1-5;
Matthew 1:1-17). As the Messiah, he is the bright Morning Star,
the light of salvation to all.
17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who
hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and
whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book:
If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues
described in this book.
19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God
will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the
holy city, which are described in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming
soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.
Revelation 22:17-21
Explanation:
Both the Holy Spirit and the bride, the church, extend the invitation
to all the world to come to Jesus and experience the joys of salvation
in Christ. When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, he told
her of the living water that he could supply (John 4:10-15). This
image is used again as Christ invites anyone to come and drink of
the water of life. The gospel is unlimited in scope--all people
everywhere may come. Salvation cannot be earned, but God gives it
freely. We live in a world desperately thirsty for living water,
and many are dying of thirst. But it's still not too late. Let us
invite everyone to come and drink. This warning is given to those
who might purposefully distort the message in this book. Moses gave
a similar warning in Deuteronomy 4:1-4. We too must handle the Bible
with care and great respect so that we do not distort its message,
even unintentionally. We should be quick to put its principles into
practice in our lives. No human explanation or interpretation of
God's Word should be elevated to the same authority as the text
itself. We don't know the day or the hour, but Jesus is coming soon
and unexpectedly. This is good news to those who trust him, but
a terrible message for those who have rejected him and stand under
judgment. Soon means at any moment, and we must be ready for him,
always prepared for his return. Would Jesus' sudden appearance catch
you off guard? Revelation closes human history as Genesis opened
it--in paradise. But there is one distinct difference in Revelation--evil
is gone forever. Genesis describes Adam and Eve walking and talking
with God; Revelation describes people worshiping God face to face.
Genesis describes a garden with an evil serpent; Revelation describes
a perfect city with no evil. The Garden of Eden was destroyed by
sin; but paradise is re-created in the new Jerusalem. The book of
Revelation ends with an urgent request: "Come Lord Jesus."
In a world of problems, persecution, evil, and immorality, Christ
calls us to endure in our faith. Our efforts to better our world
are important, but their results cannot compare with the transformation
that Jesus will bring about when he returns. He alone controls human
history, forgives sin, and will re-create the earth and bring lasting
peace. Revelation is, above all, a book of hope. It shows that no
matter what happens on earth, God is in control. It promises that
evil will not last forever. And it depicts the wonderful reward
that is waiting for all those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior
and Lord. So ends the Word of God as shown to John in this book
of Revelation. Amen
