CHAPTER 22

Revelation 22:1-2

1 And he showed me a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Most of this last chapter is devoted to further descriptions of the New Jerusalem and the future blissful state of all believers who are forever in the presence of their Lord. Those in the city will have access to the river which has the Water if Life, flowing from the very throne of God and the Lamb, clear as crystal, representing pure, absolutely unpolluted waters.. We need to take notice of the fact that the Lamb is always mentioned on an equal level with God, the two are one.

The Tree of Life will also be there with its fruit and its leaves which will be for the promotion of the enjoyment of life in the Holy City for there is no sickness to be healed among those who dwell there. The last time we read about this Tree was in the Garden of Eden when God forbid the partaking of its fruit when Adam and Eve fell into sin. Here we now see this same Tree and man may legitimately enjoy its blessings once again.

Genesis 3:22

And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever."

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Revelation 22:3

And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants shall serve Him.

The curse pronounced on Adam and Eve by God in the Garden is now done away with forever. Since the fall man and all creation have lived under the curse, but now man will willingly and readily serve his Lord for it will be a work of love not toil and sweat. Worship and service are closely related and it could just as easily be said that His servants will worship Him. Here all service will be done and considered a blessing as it is totally centered on God.

Genesis 3:17

To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

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Revelation 22:4-5

4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.

5 There shall be no night there: They need neither lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

Can we really comprehend what we are reading? Heaven, the abode of God, this is a place were God’s people will have a literal, intimate, face to face relationship with God Himself and His Son Jesus. A privilege sought after, but never before given to man, the Apostle Paul wrote, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.” Once again we are told that there will be no need of artificial light being provided in this Heavenly City for the Lamb is the Light that lights up all of Heaven and the Holy City and those who live there will reign with Him forever and ever. His name shall be upon the foreheads of all His saints, forever identifying them as His own. Whether His name is actually printed on the heads of His people can be debated, the things that is important is the fact that it says we are His forever.

John is telling us of the perfect redemption of Man and creation, of life in a place where the very throne of God resides and where His people will see Him face to face and where He will personally identify them as His very own and will live with Him forever. Remember the place where God literally dwells is Heaven; this will be the New Jerusalem on the New Earth.

Revelation 22:6

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 thing that must soon take place."

The Angel, God’s messenger, declares to John that this Revelation is not only true, it is trustworthy because it comes from God Himself and it is certain to take place.

Revelation 22:7

"Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who

keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."

Now Jesus adds His words to what John hears, “I am coming soon, quickly.” Yet it has not been quick, the sense of urgency in His comment and His subsequent delay leaves us to realize that He wants us to be ready, alert at all times and that He does not view time as we do. Three times in this last chapter, the concluding chapter of this Book, Jesus gives the promise of His return (7, 12, 20) and His words are trustworthy and true. Jesus for the second time in this Book pronounces His blessing on all who keep the words of this prophecy (chapter 1:3) and apply them to their lives.

2 Peter 3:9-10

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some people understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; and the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

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Revelation 22:8-9

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 that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!"

Once again John is so overcome with emotion at all he sees and hears, that he forgets and falls down at the feet of the Angel (chapter 19:10) to worship him. Once again he is corrected and reminded that they are both servants of the living God and that God only is worthy of the praise and adoration of men. We the elect of God are never to worship any supernatural being for no spiritual being in Heaven can take the place of God, this is in contrast with Jesus, who can and does receive the praise and worship of men and Angels.

Revelation 22:10-11

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."

Because the time of the end is near John is told, either by the Angel or Jesus, not to seal up what he has seen and heard regarding the prophecies of this Book. The call to repentance will one day cease and consequently all human intentions to change will never become reality. Because Jesus coming will be sudden and without warning, there will be no time for any last minute change or repentance, in that day people will not suddenly become righteous, the holy will continue to be holy and the unjust will continue to be unjust. If it is to happen it must happen now while there is still time. It seems that at this time the condition of mankind is fixed, the evil in their way and the righteous in theirs. As the commentator ‘Walvoord” has said, “If the warnings of this Book are not sufficient there is no more that God has to say.”

Revelation 22:12-13

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.

This is the second of three times in this chapter that Jesus warns everyone that His coming will be soon. This warning is for the just and the unjust, both need to be ready so as not to miss the awesome reality of His coming, for both will receive from Him just recompense for what they have done throughout their lives. He goes on to declare just who He is, ‘The First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, for Him to claim this title for Himself is irrefutable proof that He is who He says He is. This title has always been previously applied to God only, for He is, ‘The Alpha and Omega’ but here we see it applied to Jesus also. Is this sacrilegious or irreverent on His part, not so, for the Scripture itself declares;

Philippians 2:5-6

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.

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Revelation 22:14-15

14 Blessed are those who keep His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and the murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

Here we hear a blessing being given to those who obey His commandments, (some translations use, “those who have washed their robes”) and the right to the Tree of Life and permission to enter the Holy City. We must remember that works do not earn anyone Salvation, but our works are important so much so that Jesus said we will stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ and give an accounts for what we have done or not done while here on earth.

John 14:15

"If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

In contrast to the blessedness of those inside the city, there is a reference to those outside the city, the morally impure, evil wicked men. The commentator ‘Mounce’ says, “This verse does not intend to teach that in the eternal state all manner of wicked men will be living just outside the Heavenly City. It simply describes the future with the imagery of the present.” We need to remember that all who have rejected God’s Perfect Gift of Salvation through His Son Jesus no matter how good or evil they have been will have been judged and are separated from God’s presence forever in the Lake of Fire, which is the ‘Second Death.’

Revelation 22:16

"I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."

Here Jesus by His Angel is affirming to the Churches by the highest authority, Himself, that what has been written is one of the most directly inspired and authoritative writings ever given and that it is for all believers. The ‘Root and Offspring of David’ is a Messianic title given to Jesus for He is a direct descendent of King David.

Revelation 22:17

And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

The Church lives in expectancy for the soon return of Jesus, here the Holy Spirit joins the Church (the Bride) in praying to Jesus to Come. It is also an invitation to those who hear and spiritually thirst to Come and partake of the Living Water freely.

Revelation 22:18-19

18 For 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 that are written in this book;

19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

The seriousness of this warning indicates that it is Jesus who is talking and declaring to all that no one is to add or take away from the words of this prophecy. This Revelation is not to be altered, tampered with, or distorted in any way, for it is an extension of God Himself. The consequences for doing so are the removal of that persons name from the Book of Life and eternal damnation and separation from God.

Revelation 22:20-21

20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming

21 quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

For the third and last time Jesus gives this warning and promise, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen, truly, certainly, I am coming. What we must learn from this is the lesson of readiness; to be ready at all times, to miss this we miss one of the most important messages given in this Book. John then closes with his last statement, his earnest desire for Jesus to return, ‘Maranatha’ ‘Come Lord Jesus’ who is the One who controls the destiny of the entire human race. This Book at the end of the Bible ends with a prayer from the faithful servant John, “The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” AMEN!!

I need at this time to acknowledge and thank all those who have contributed to my being able to complete this study of this awesome Book, by there writings, research and insight into the Word of God. The names are many, their research and comments have been indispensable and vital to me so that this work could be presented as accurate and free from error as humanly possible. With the hope that it will be a help and an encouragement to all who will read it, along with a prayer for anyone who might read it and who does not know this awesome Savior, that this would encourage them to seek Him and be saved.

To any who may read this work, I give my permission to use any or all of it to further the understanding of this most important book and to point the lost to Christ. The opinions expressed throughout this lesson are mine and they are the opinions of a fallible child of God. I believe the Holy Spirit has guided me as I prepared this study for others to read. I believe it is the responsibility of all who read what others have written regarding the Infallible Word of God, to check and make sure that what they read is Scriptural and True.

Sincerely in Christ,

Joseph F. Pottle Sr

Revelation 22:18-20

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.