1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
The source of the river is God s throne. The river is filled with the unending flow of everlasting life given freely to all those who have believed.
The river will be clear as crystal so that it can reflect the glory of God as it cascades down from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2a 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:
The Tree of Life is mentioned three times in both Genesis and Revelation. Because Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they knew sin.
God removed Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden for their disobedience. This was to prevent them from accessing the Tree of Life, and living eternally in sin.
Adam and Eve s fall caused not only their spiritual death, but brought death and curse to the earth.
In the New Jerusalem, man s access to the Tree of Life will be restored. The tree s root system possibly extends throughout the city along both sides of the water of life.
Believers will drink and eat in heaven, just as Christ did in His resurrected body. Eating the twelve varieties of fruit provided eternally from the Tree of Life will bring life and an abundance of blessings.
2b and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Sickness and disease are banished from heaven according to Revelation 21:4. The leaves used for the healing of the nations are therapeutic, enhancing and making life more pleasant in eternity.
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:
In eternity, the curse of the Fall is removed. The earth will be restored to the perfect state that it was before sin entered. There will be no more weeds, thorns, sickness, violence, war, chaos or death in eternity!
Man s personal relationship with God will also be restored as he dwells and serves in the midst of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
In the Garden before the Fall, Adam and Eve saw the face of God. Being perfectly holy and righteous, the saints in the New Jerusalem will also be able to see the face of God and endure the blazing, glorious light from God's presence without being consumed.
The name in the forehead shows ownership and consecration. Unbelievers who took the mark of the beast in Revelation 13, also took on Satan s character. Likewise, believers who have the name of God on their foreheads will be Holy in character.
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.
Darkness, either physical or spiritual will be banished forever in eternity. Satan is no more and God is always present. His glory makes all other sources of light unnecessary.
For the rest of eternity, the redeemed shall reign forever, serving in some overseeing capacity in the New Jerusalem.
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.
One of the names given to Jesus in Revelation 3:14 and 19:11 is Faithful and True. This name declares Him to be trustworthy and worthy of faith.
John is assured that everything he has seen is both faithful and true. Every prophecy made in this book is accurate and will come to pass in the Lord s time.
When God speaks, He speaks the truth. You can trust every word in the Bible because all scripture is God-breathed. ~2 Timothy 3:16.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Jesus will remind us twice more in this chapter that he is coming quickly. This expression said over 2000 years ago, is more accurately translated as Jesus is coming suddenly and without warning.
This verse, also found in Revelation 1:3 contains the promise that those who keep the words of the prophecy in this book will be blessed.
To understand and obey the sayings of this book, believers must read and study the Word.
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.
Once again, John is overwhelmed by what he sees and hears. For a second time, he falls to his knees to worship an angel. ~Revelation 19:10
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
John is once again rebuked by the angel and reminded that he is just a fellow servant, or co-laborer for God.
Then, the angel commands John to worship God, as God alone is the only acceptable Person to worship. The bible forbids the worship of anyone else including angels, saints, the Virgin Mary or any other created being.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
John is told to leave his book unsealed, so that the scriptures will not be kept in secret. This is so the world may hear the good news that Christ s second coming is imminent and judgment is about to fall on this world.
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.
Man looks on the outward appearance, but God sees the heart. Character is determined by a lifetime of habitual action. This verse warns that when Christ returns, the deliberate choice of each person will already fix his eternal fate, either in heaven or hell. It is unchangeable at this appointed time.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
For the second time in this chapter, Christ declares His imminent and sudden return. This refers to the Rapture, followed by judgment according to one s work and faithful service for Christ.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Three declarations, equal in meaning, reminds us once again that Jesus was, is, and always will be. I Am that I Am. These claims show Christ s eternal equality with God, completeness, timelessness and sovereign authority.
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.
Believers who have obeyed the Gospel by washing their robes in the righteousness of Christ, will enjoy God s many blessings, entrance into the Holy City through the gates, and access to the Tree of Life eternally.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Impure sinners [dogs] studied in Revelation 21:8, have rejected the Gospel and a relationship with Jesus. They will be spend eternity in the lake of fire, never gaining access to the New Jerusalem.
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.
Jesus sends his angels to the churches to remind all that He is the King of Kings, Jesus is the ultimate authority! He founded the throne and He will occupy the throne.
Jesus is an ancestor and descendent of Jesus through both Joseph and Mary. Adam Abraham David Solomon Joseph Nathan Nathan Mary Mary Genealogy of Jesus
The morning star signaled the advent of a new day. Jesus, the light of the world is reminding us that He, who is greater than all, will return to destroy the darkness of this world forever.
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 final message is an invitation for sinners to come to Him, and accept the free gift of eternal life before He appears. The Spirit, Bride, and all who hear join in the prayer for all who thirst to Come to Jesus who is the water of life, and drink freely.
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.
The speaker who testifies to the authority and finality of the words of the prophecy of this book is the Lord Jesus Christ. ~John 1:14
In these two verses, God issues a severe warning with consequences against adding to or taking away from the prophesies of Revelation. Doing so is tampering with God. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ~John 1:1
Those who add to or take away from the Word will not enjoy the rewards of heaven, but will suffer eternity in the lake of fire.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
For the final time Jesus proclaims He will come suddenly. Jesus will return, just as Revelation predicts. Christ s return to judge sinners is a certainty. So be it!
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, He offers heaven to all who accept His invitation for eternal life through belief in Him. Grace was seen in the beginning of Revelation in 1:4 and at the end. So be it.
The first part of the Book of Genesis reads like the last part of the Book of Revelation.
~Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ~Revelation 21:1 I saw a new heaven and a new earth.
~Genesis 1:10 The gathered waters he called seas. ~Revelation 21:1 And there was no longer any sea.
~Genesis 1:5 The darkness he called night. ~Revelation 21:25 There will be no night there.
~Genesis 1:16 God made two great lights [sun and moon]. ~Revelation 21:23 The city does not need the sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light.
~Genesis 2:17 When you eat of it you will surely die. ~Revelation 21:4 There will be no more death.
~Genesis 3:16 I will greatly increase your pain. ~Revelation 21:4 There will be no more pain.
~Genesis 3:17 Cursed is the ground because of you. ~Revelation 22:3 No longer will there be any curse.
~Genesis 3:1,4 Satan appears as the deceiver of mankind. ~Revelation 20:10 Satan disappears and is destroyed forever.
~Genesis 3:22-24 Adam and Eve were driven from the Tree of Life. ~Revelation 22:2 The Tree of Life reappears and all believers are invited to eat from it.
~Genesis 3:24 Adam and Eve were driven from God s presence. ~Revelation 22:4 They will see His face.
~Genesis 2:20 Man s primeval home was beside a river in the Garden of Eden. ~Revelation 22:1 Saved man s home will be beside a river flowing from God s Throne eternally.
~ Genesis 1 2 Presence of God Tree of Life River of Life No Curse
~ Exodus 28 12 precious stones on breastplate, representing 12 tribes of Israel Old Covenant people of God
~ Exodus 26 ~ I Kings 6 Most Holy Place in tabernacle and temple Perfect cube representing the presence of God
~ Ezekiel 40-48 The city is a perfect square representing the presence of God 12 gates equals 12 tribes of Israel River flows from the temple.
Water of life Light of the World and Life High Priest Temple = Presence of God Redemption on the Tree 12 apostles = the new covenant people of God
The New Jerusalem ~ Revelation 21-22 Fulfilment of all God s promises in the Old Testament through Jesus Tree and River of Life = eternal life No curse = no sin, death or judgment No temple = Jesus is the temple No light = Jesus is the light 12 gates/precious stones = 12 tribes of Israel, representing the old covenant people of God 12 foundations = 12 apostles, representing the new covenant of God