"THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

Chapter Twenty-Two

In the previous chapter John described the glory of the New Jerusalem as the eternal destiny of the redeemed was revealed. In the first six verses of this chapter, John's vision of the glorious future for the people of God is completed with a brief description of the river of life, the tree(s) of life, and the throne of God and of the Lamb. With the river of life proceeding from the throne, and the tree (the definite article is not in the Greek , so perhaps two trees on either side of the river) of life bearing fruit every month along with its healing leaves, the picture is one of provision from God. Eternal fellowship with God, stressed in the previous chapter (cf. Re 21:3-4,7), is emphasized again with the promise of seeing His face and having His name on one's forehead. With no more curse (cf. Gen 3:17-19), the redeemed shall serve God and the Lamb on the throne. There is no night nor need for the sun, for the Lord God gives them light (cf. Re 21:23). The redeemed will also reign forever and ever (1-5).

The remainder of this chapter contains the grand conclusion of this wonderful book. The angel who showed John the holy city stressed that the events described in this book were soon to take place, such that John is not to seal the book (cf. Re 22:6,10; contrast this with Dan 8:26). Jesus Himself states three times that He is coming quickly (cf. Re 22:7,12,20), which I take to refer to His coming in judgment as described throughout this book (cf. Re 3:10-11). With a reminder of the blessedness of those who do His commandments, Jesus, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star, declares that He sent His angel to testify of these things to the churches. The Spirit and the bride join in with an invitation to let those who thirst come to drink of the water of life freely. The book ends with a fearful warning not to add to or take away from the book, a final promise of the Lord's coming, and a two-fold prayer calling for the Lord Jesus to come, and for His grace to be with all the brethren (6-22).

POINTS TO PONDER
OUTLINE
  1. THE RIVER, THE TREE, AND THE THRONE (1-5)
    1. THE RIVER OF LIFE (1)
      1. John sees a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal
      2. It proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb
    2. THE TREE OF LIFE (2)
      1. On either side of the river was a tree of life
      2. The tree(s) bore twelve fruits, yielding fruit every month
      3. The leaves were for the healing of the nations
    3. THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB (3-5)
      1. There shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it
      2. His servants shall serve Him
        1. They shall see His face
        2. His name shall be on their foreheads
      3. There shall be no night there
        1. They need no lamp nor light of the sun
        2. For the Lord God gives them light
      4. They shall reign forever and ever
  2. THE GRAND CONCLUSION (6-21)
    1. THE TIME IS NEAR, DO NOT SEAL THE BOOK (6-11)
      1. John is told by the angel that these words are faithful and true
        1. The Lord God has sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place
        2. The Lamb proclaims: "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
      2. John attempts to worship the angel
        1. He falls down at the feet of the angel who showed him these things
        2. The angel forbids him
          1. The angel is his fellow servant, and of his brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book
          2. John is to worship God
      3. John is told not to seal the words of the prophecy of this book
        1. For the time is at hand
        2. Let he who is unjust be unjust still, the filthy be filthy still
        3. Let he who is righteous be righteous still, the holy be holy still
    2. THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS (12-17)
      1. His first declaration:
        1. "Behold, I am coming quickly"
        2. "My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work"
        3. "I am the Alpha and the Omega"
        4. "The Beginning and the End, the First and the Last"
      2. The promise:
        1. Blessed are those who do His commandments (or wash their robes)
          1. That they may have the right to the tree of life
          2. That they may enter through the gates into the city
        2. Those outside the city
          1. Are dogs, sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers, and idolaters
          2. Whoever loves and practices a lie
      3. His second declaration:
        1. "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches"
        2. "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
      4. The invitation:
        1. The Spirit and the bride say "Come!"
        2. Let him who hears say "Come!"
        -- Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely
    3. A WORD OF WARNING (18-19)
      1. Do not add to the words of this book, or God will add to him the plagues written in it
      2. Do not take away from the words of this book, or God will take away his part from:
        1. The Book (or Tree) of Life
        2. The holy city
        3. The things written in this book
    4. CLOSING PROMISE, FINAL PRAYERS (20-21)
      1. The promise of Him who testifies to these things: "Surely I am coming quickly."
      2. John's two prayers:
        1. Concerning his Lord: "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
        2. Concerning his brethren: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."
REVIEW QUESTIONS
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  1. What are the main points of this chapter?
    • The river, the tree, and the throne (1-5)
    • The grand conclusion (6-21)
  2. What does John see proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb? (1)
    • A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal
  3. What is on either side of the river? (2)
    • The tree(s) of life
  4. How many fruits did the tree bear and when? What were the leaves for? (2)
    • Twelve fruits, each yielding its fruit every month
    • The healing of the nations
  5. What no longer existed? What was in the city instead? (3)
    • There shall be no more curse
    • The throne of God and of the Lamb
  6. What is said concerning the servants of God and of the Lamb? (3-5)
    • His servants shall serve Him; they shall see His face
    • His name shall be on their foreheads; they shall reign forever and ever
  7. What is said of night and the light of the sun? (5)
    • There shall be no night there
    • They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light
  8. What is John told about the things which he has seen? (6)
    • "These words are faithful and true"
    • The Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place
  9. What promise and assurance is given in verse 7?
    • "Behold, I am coming quickly!"
    • "Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
  10. What did John try to do when he heard and saw these things? (8)
    • Fall down and worship before the feet of the angel who showed them to him
  11. What did the angel tell John? (9)
    • "See that you do not do that."
    • "I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book."
    • "Worship God."
  12. What is John told regarding the prophecy of this book? Why? (10)
    • Not to seal the words of the prophecy of this book
    • For the time is at hand
  13. What is said of the unjust and filthy? The righteous and holy? (11)
    • Let them be unjust and filthy still
    • Let them be righteous and holy still
  14. What promise and assurance is given in verse 12?
    • "Behold, I am coming quickly"
    • "My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work"
  15. How does Jesus describe Himself? (13)
    • "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
  16. What blessedness is promised to those who do His commandments (some manuscripts say "wash their robes")? (14)
    • They will have the right to the tree of life
    • They will enter the through the gates into the city
  17. What is outside the city? (15)
    • Dogs, sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers and idolaters
    • Whoever loves and practices a lie
  18. Why had Jesus sent His angel? (16)
    • To testify these things in the churches
  19. How does Jesus describe Himself? (16)
    • "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
  20. Who extends the invitation to "Come!"? Who else is to extend this invitation? (17)
    • The Spirit and the bride
    • Him who hears
  21. To whom is this invitation extended? What is offered? (17)
    • To him who thirsts
    • To take the water of life freely
  22. What warning is given to those who hears the words of the prophecy of this book? (18-19)
    • If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues written in the book
    • If anyone takes away from the words of this book, God will take away his part from the Book (or Tree) of Life, the holy city, and the things written in this book
  23. What promise is given by Him who testifies of these things? (20)
    • "Surely I am coming quickly."
  24. What two prayers does John express as he closes the book? (20-21)
    • "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
    • "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."