Revelation 22
River of Life and Tree of Life (22:1-2)
“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
These verses depict the abundant life and continual blessing of the New Jerusalem. One river, containing water of life, comes from God’s throne and waters the entire city. The tree of life pictures eternal sustenance and immortality. Both the variety and abundance of fruit are emphasized. (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, pg. 2017)
We Shall Serve, See, and Reign Forever with God (22:3-5)
“3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.“
The effects of the post-Endemic curse will be totally gone forever. God’s saints will serve Him and reign with Him forever. The greatest blessing of eternity is that they shall see His face. The name of God in their foreheads shows ownership and consecration. (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, pg. 2017)
Sayings are Faithful and True (22:6-7)
“6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”
These sayings refer to the entire Book of Revelation. They are authenticated as genuine by the angel who God sent to give them through John to His servants, that is, the members of the churches. (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, pg. 2017)
Worship God (22:8-11)
“8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”
John certifies that he has actually seen and heard everything that he has written in the book. He again makes the mistake of worshipping the messenger (angel) of God rather than God Himself. John is told to leave the book open (Seal not). The Messiah has come, his return is imminent, and thus the time is at hand. (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, pg. 2018)
I am the Alpha and Omega (22:12-13)
“12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”
Again Christ declares the imminence of His return. The three designations of verse 13 are virtually equivalent in meaning. By applying them to Himself, Christ claims unlimited, eternal equality with God. (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, pg. 2018)
Tree of Life (22:14—15)
“14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
They that do His commandments are believers. The tree of life indicates immortality and divine blessings. To be able to enter in through the gates into the city is to have heavenly citizenship in the eternal dwelling place of God and redeemed mankind. All unbelievers are without (outside) the city in the lake of fire. (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, pg. 2018)
…Come (22:16-17)
“16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.17 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.”
Jesus now authenticates His angel through whom He has given the revelation to John. You is plural, indicating that the revelation is for all the churches. As the root and the offspring of David, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Messianic promise of Isaiah 11:1. As the bright and morning star, Jesus will shortly bring in the new age: the messianic kingdom. (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, pg. 2018)
Do not add or take away from the words of this prophecy (22:18-19)
“18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
This warning is aimed against the willful distortion of the message of the book. The speaker is Christ Himself, who thus claims a canonicity for the book (and the entire New Testament) equal to that of the Old Testament. (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, pg. 2019)
Even so, come Lord Jesus (22:20-21)
“20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
The final promise of Christ in the Bible is that His return is imminent. The answers to the problems of life is to be found in the return of the sovereign Son of God. (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, pg. 2019)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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