REVELATION
Listen to this study TH2253
Please turn in your Bibles this evening to Revelation chapter 22 as we continue our study through the Word of God. Tonight we will finish our study in the book of Revelation and what a journey it has been. My prayer as we have been going through this book is that you would have a better understanding of eschatology or end time events as the book of Revelation ties up what both the Old and New Testaments have spoken of.
Keep in mind that the title of this book is APOKALYPSIS in the Greek, we get our English word “apocalypse” from it. Now when we think of an apocalypse we tend to think of disaster, catastrophe, a day of reckoning, Judgment Day, the end of the world, destruction and-so-on. Thus, you can truly see this unfold as you read through this book, but that is not what this book is all about, not at all!
How do I know that? For two reasons and I believe this is so important for us to understand, not only when we began this book a few months ago, but now as we finish it. First of all this Greek word, APOKALYPSIS means an unveiling or disclosure or a revelation – but of who? Again, we don’t have to guess for we are told in Revelation 1:1, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ . . .” In other words, it is the APOKALYPSIS IESOU CHRISTOU or the Revelation, the unveiling of Jesus Christ in all of His glory! That is what this book is all about. In fact, all of Scripture speaks of Jesus, it was written of Him!
Yes, there are many other things that will take place, as we have seen. But the primary focus is Jesus Christ and His return to set-up His kingdom on this earth where He will rule and reign for 1,000 years. Then, the Lord will create a new heavens and a new earth with a New Jerusalem where He will dwell with us in the eternal state. That is the focus of Revelation chapters 21 and 22, this eternal state with Him. So with that said, let’s begin reading in Revelation chapter 22, starting in verse 1 and see what the Lord has for us as we conclude this great book – THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST!
Once again try to picture in your mind what this looks like. The light of God explodes from His presence through all the multicolored stones, the streets of gold and from the throne of God where the Father and the Son sit, comes this pure river of water that I believe speaks of eternal life. Yes, I believe it is a literal river but it is also speaking of a spiritual truth, how the Lord satisfies and gives us life with Him that will never end! And think about it, if the Lamb was not there, we would never have eternal life but because God became flesh and blood, that sacrificial Lamb who came to take away the sins of the world, we can experience that eternal life, and no one can take that away from us!
As this river of life flows from the throne of God it travels down the middle of the city and the tree of life is in the middle and it spans across this river to both sides. I don’t believe that John saw two or more trees here because it would be inconsistent with the Scriptures. You see, the tree of life was first seen in the Garden of Eden and when Adam sinned, both Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden of Eden and a Cherubim with a flaming sword guarded the path to this tree.
Now, in the New Jerusalem we see the tree of life once again, but how did that door open up for us, for sinful man so he may partake of this tree once again? By another tree called Calvary where Jesus was crucified for our sins, paying them in full and thus, by faith we can enter into that relationship with God once again and partake of this tree of life that will be in the New Jerusalem. Paul, in Galatians 3:13 wrote, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’).”
And in Romans 8:3-11 Paul tells us, “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” You see, eternal life is only found in Jesus! All the repercussions of sin that permeated our lives, this world, is now gone!
This tree of life bears fruit and leaves, but why do we need these leaves for healing of the nations if there is no more death, no more illness in the eternal state? First of all the Greek word for “healing” is THERAPEIA and from it we get our English word “therapeutic” from. I believe the idea here is “health-giving” or it is good for you to take in and folks, anything the Lord makes is going to be great! And, just as the river of life speaks of eternal life or perpetual life, I believe that these leaves from the tree of life speak of the same thing, eternal life!
Now, if there is no time in the eternal state, why does John say each month there will be different fruit? How do you express time when there is no time? By using expressions we are familiar with, I think that is what we see here.
Ever since the fall of man the effects of sin have permeated everything in this world, as I have said. Even creation itself has been affected by it and waits to be redeemed. And, even in the Millennial Reign we will see the effects of sin, but on a much smaller level and the Lord will deal with it immediately. We are told in Isaiah 65:20, “No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed.”
The Amplified Bible puts it like this, “There shall no more be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who dies prematurely; for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner who dies when only a hundred years old shall be [thought only a child, cut off because he is] accursed.” But now, in the eternal state the curse is gone – no more friction, no more fighting, no more sin!
And we will not only serve the Lord, but in the glorified bodies that are spirit and soul will dwell in, the ones the Lord is preparing, we will see the Lord face-to-face! We can’t do that now, but one day we will be able. It is as Paul said in I Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” Also, in I John 3:2 John tells us, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
We will also have on our foreheads the name of God which speaks of our identification with Him, that we are His. Think about that for a minute. You can’t see what is written on your forehead so why have it there? Because it is telling others as they look at you that you are the Lord’s. Folks, when people look at us what do they see? They should see the name of God written on our foreheads, not literally right now, but as we live out our faith they should be able to see we belong to Him!
Paul, in speaking of the Corinthian believers wrote to them, “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” II Corinthians 3:2-3. In other words, people may not read the Bible but they are reading our lives. Thus, what are they taking away as they read us? May it be the Lord!
To summarize this, A. T. Pierson makes these conclusions:
“And there shall be no more curse,” perfect sinlessness;
“But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it,” perfect government;
“And His servants shall serve Him,” perfect service;
“They shall see His face,” perfect communion;
“And His name shall be on their foreheads,” perfect resemblance;
“And there shall be no night there,” perfect blessedness;
“And they shall reign forever and ever,” perfect glory.
You see, the Paradise lost in Genesis is the Paradise regained in Revelation. The way to the Tree of Life that was closed in Genesis is now open in Revelation. Praise the Lord for that!
Today, as in the past you have all kinds of people making predictions about things and declaring that they will come to pass. And they don’t! Thus, when the Bible declares things people don’t believe it. Folks, I do and the reason I do is because the words that God has spoken are faithful, what He has promised He will bring to pass. Not only that, His words are true, He does not lie to us, He does not lie at all! How can I believe that? Because everything that God has said so far has come to pass and thus, I have no reason not to believe Him. You see, there are over 333 prophecies of the Lord’s first coming that were all fulfilled down to the tiniest detail. Thus, as He speaks of His second coming, over 500 times, I have no reason to doubt the One who is faithful and true, Almighty God!
Now, when the Lord says, “I am coming quickly” many laugh at that because it has been almost 2000 years now since this was written. Folks, the Greek word for “quickly” is TACHEI and it speaks of suddenly. In other words, when things get started, they will happen very quickly! James tells us, “. . . Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!” James 5:9. Here comes the Judge you might say. And let me also say this. The early church believed in the imminent return of Jesus Christ, it could happen at any moment and we too should feel that way as Paul said, “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.” Titus 2:13-15.
Folks, as you study prophecy or end times, don’t just do it to find out what the future holds, kind of an inquisitive heart. You see, we are not only to hear God’s Word but we are also to keep them, apply them to our lives! There is that blessing as we obey! God’s Word is here to draw us closer to Him, to learn from Him and to grow in Him. God, in His great love for us, has shown us what is going to happen, what is going to transpire down the road, and now we must choose what to do with that information! But keep in mind the main focus of prophecy is Jesus, to draw us to Him, to trust in Him, to obey Him, and apply the truths of God found in the Word of God to our lives!
How could John forget, he was told back in Revelation 19:10, “And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’” I guess the best of men are men at best! I think John is just so overwhelmed by what he sees he loses his focus and hits his knees to worship this angel and this angel quickly corrects John once again telling John that he too is just a servant of God! Thus, you don’t worship the instrument but you do worship the Master, you worship God!
Back in Daniel 8:26 we are told, “And the vision of the evenings and mornings Which was told is true; Therefore seal up the vision, For it refers to many days in the future.” Also, in Daniel 12:4-9 we are told, “‘But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.’ Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, ‘How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?’ Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, ‘My lord, what shall be the end of these things?’ And he said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.’”
When was the book of Daniel to be sealed till? Until the time of the end or the days we are now living in and the book of Daniel has been opened up to us, that which was once sealed. Tragically, the book of Revelation is not sealed and many have sealed it up. In Revelation 1:3 we are told, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” By sealing up this book you are keeping a blessing from people or yourself. Folks, what once was closed in the Old Testament is now opened up to us to understand, but the book of Revelation is not closed just as this angel tells John.
It is amazing the people who don’t read the book of Revelation today, the number of churches that don’t teach through this book because they say it is too difficult to understand or that it is a sealed book, which it is not. Back on July 7, 2000 The Herald Times Reporter had a story on the Left Behind series and this is what a local pastor had to say in that article regarding the book of Revelation, “. . . that many Protestant churches rarely have a reading from Revelation as part of worship service. ‘You don’t always have the time to help people understand’ the often complex passages with fanciful images that 21st century churchgoers may have great difficulty deciphering . . .” I disagree, I want you to be blessed, I want you to understand what is coming to pass and thus, we have studied the book of Revelation and we will study all of God’s Word, we only have 5 more books in the Old Testament to go, Genesis through Deuteronomy.
Kind of a strange verse, what is this verse teaching us? I think the point being made is that in eternity nothing can be changed, your fate has already been sealed at that point. Thus, now is the day of salvation, now is the time to repent, don’t put it off. Paul, in Hebrews 9:27-28 wrote, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” If you read through this book and yet there is no change in you, I guess there is not much hope. Don’t let the day slip by without making Jesus your Lord and Savior because, like I said, now is the time for salvation.
Robertson put it like this, “It is the hopelessness of the final state of the wicked which is here pictured. The states of both the evil and the good are now fixed forever. There is no word here about a ‘second chance’ hereafter.” And Walvoord said, “If the warnings of this book are not sufficient, there is no more that God has to say.” I think that does sum it up!
The message of Jesus to us is to be ready, why? Because He is coming quickly! Now I thought we are saved by faith and not by works, why is Jesus rewarding us for our works? First of all it speaks of reward, not salvation and secondly, actual faith, real faith will have works, not for salvation, but for the evidence for our faith and the Lord will reward our faithfulness in what He has entrusted to us!
When the Lord comes for His bride, the church, He will bring with Him our rewards for service. And for us, the saints of God, these rewards will be given to us at the Bema Seat of Christ. Paul speaks of this in II Corinthians 5:9-10. He tells us “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
And Paul gives to us more details of this, of what the Lord will do, what He will receive and what He will reject, in I Corinthians 3:11-15. We read “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
You see, why did you do the work? What was your motivation for doing it? That is what God is looking at. And God will place all our works into the fire to see what is going to be burned up and what will make it through the fire and will be rewarded. Now please, understand this, this has nothing to do with our salvation, for we are saved by grace, through faith, and not by our works. Our works are a by-product of our relationship with Jesus. And it is our works that we will be rewarded for, but our salvation was and is a free gift of God!
I want you to also notice here the deity of Jesus as He says that He is the Alpha and Omega, a title for God. Not only that, but He is the first and the last, another title for God as Isaiah 41:4 tells us, “Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the LORD, am the first; And with the last I am He.’” Notice “LORD” is capitalized, it is speaking of YAHWEH here. And folks, here is another incentive for us to be ready. God is coming back! If we take Christ out of this position, that He is not God, we are left with nothing. Spurgeon put it like this:
Preach orthodoxy, or any form of doxy; if you have left out Christ, there is no manna from heaven, no water from the rock, no refuge from the storm, no healing for the sick, no life for the dead. If you leave out Christ, you have left the sun out of the day, and the moon out of the night, you have left the waters out of the sea, and the foods out of the river, you have left the harvest out of the year, the soul out of the body, you have left joy out of heaven, yea, you have robbed all of its all. There is no gospel worth thinking of, much less worth proclaiming in Jehovah’s name, if Jesus be forgotten.
- C. H. Spurgeon
Here we see two groups of people contrasted. The first group are believers who will enter into the eternal state with the Lord, and what a blessing that will be. And the second group are the dogs or those who have rejected Jesus and they will spend eternity apart from Him in the Lake of Fire, outer darkness. They will be kept out of the new heavens, the new earth with its New Jerusalem!
Who is this message for? The Churches throughout Asia Minor back then and throughout the world today. And we are to not only hear and apply these things to our lives today, but we are to share this message with others. And the one who is declaring these things is the root and offspring of David, which is a Messianic title (Isaiah 11:1-2). Also, He speaks of Himself as the bright and morning star, another Messianic title (Numbers 24:17). The Messiah, the offspring of David is like a bright and morning star that is promising us a new day, a day of eternal life with Him!
Notice the invitation here, the invitation that God is giving, to come to Jesus. He does not force anyone to come, but He does invite us to come! And notice that it is free, you just need to come to Jesus because Jesus has paid the price for us, as he said, “It is finished!” Thus, you can’t buy your way in, you can’t work your way in, you can’t even earn your way in, but you can freely come and partake of Him, the giver and sustainer of life! Isaiah picks up on this in Isaiah 55:1-3 and tells us, “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you — The sure mercies of David.” It all comes down to this, come to Jesus and take the water of life freely!
Folks, the canon of Scripture was closed at the end of the first century when the book of Revelation was completed. Thus, we are not to add to or take away from God’s Word because it is complete. There are no new revelations regarding Scripture no matter what Joseph Smith said, or Mary Baker Eddy and the many other false prophets that have come down the pike. And I believe the Emergent Church fits into this category of adding and taking away from the Word of God when you listen to what they are teaching and that is very dangerous to do. Now I am not talking about minor interpretational differences but for those who deny the inspiration of the Scriptures and challenge what the Scriptures are saying, denying the Word of God!
Why is God so hard on this issue, so much so that those that practice these things will have their names removed from the book of Life? Because by altering the Scriptures you are not only usurping God’s authority but you are leading people astray, leading people to a different Jesus. And I believe that Jesus is not only speaking of the book of Revelation, but from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21, the whole council of God! Don’t mess with it, God is not joking! You see, Paul makes that point in II Timothy 3:16-17 as he wrote, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” All Scripture is given to us from the mouth of God and it is profitable for us, thus – DON’T MESS WITH IT!
Walvoord put it like this, “What a solemn warning this is to critics who have tampered with this book and other portions of Scripture in arrogant self-confidence that they are equipped intellectually and spiritually to determine what is true and what is not true in the Word of God.” May we take heed!
The Lord says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” And what does John say? “Bring it on!” Now I am paraphrasing of course but John does say, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” This was an Aramaic expression that was well known in the early church – MARANATHA or “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” May that be the passion of our hearts too!
In the last book of the Old Testament, the book of Malachi, we are told in the last two verses of that book, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6. God is speaking of judgment here, wrath, of striking the earth. That is how the Old Testament closes.
But now, in the last book of the New Testament, in the last verse of the Bible, we are told, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Revelation 22:21. The book closes with the grace of God, His unmerited favor towards us giving us eternal life freely. You see, God now deals with man on the basis of the New Covenant, His shed blood the cleanses us from all our sin. I like what Spurgeon said regarding His grace, the grace of God, “Whatever you may miss, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ always be with you. In whatsoever points you or any of us may fail, may we never come short of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We can’t!
Sin has separated man from God but now, through Jesus Christ we can have that fellowship with God once again. To kind of simplify this, think of it like this.
Humpty Dumpty had an unsolvable problem. We have a problem too, but ours has a solution.
The Tale Of The Tardy Oxcart, Charles R. Swindoll, p. 251
As I close this evening, let me leave you with these words to think about as we conclude our study in the book of Revelation and we conclude our study for a time in the New Testament. We have been going through the New Testament now for some 7 years or so and what a wonderful journey it has been. And now, concluding with the Revelation of Jesus Christ, it doesn’t get any better than that! William MacDonald, in his commentary on the book of Revelation, had this to say:
With this tremendous revelation completed, a final word of benediction was pronounced. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. This expression, so common in other New Testament books, brings this final word from God to an end. For those who believe that Christ in His first coming provided salvation, there is the wonderful promise of His coming again to bring full and final deliverance. As the book began by introducing a revelation of Jesus Christ so it ends with the same thought that He is coming again.
Probably no other book of Scripture more sharply contrasts the blessed lot of the saints with the fearful future of those who are lost. No other book of the Bible is more explicit in its description of judgment on the one hand and the saint’s eternal bliss on the other. What a tragedy that so many pass by this book and fail to fathom its wonderful truths, thereby impoverishing their knowledge and hope in Christ Jesus. God’s people who understand and appreciate these wonderful promises can join with John in prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
- William MacDonald, Believers Bible Commentary, p. 990
Keep looking upward for our redemption is drawing nearer, He is coming back, it is our blessed hope, and don’t let anyone rob you of that joy. The Revelation of Jesus Christ and all I can say as I close is – MARANATHA!