Lesson 19 Revelation 22 Handout

Lesson 19 Revelation 22 Handout In chapter 21 we saw John s attention directed toward the new heaven and the new earth. The old heaven and earth are no more. Remember, this is not a renovation, but something totally new. This new heaven and new earth will endure forever. We saw in verse 4 the final reversal of the curse from the Garden of Eden. In verse 10 we were told an angel carried John away in the Spirit and showed him the holy city, Jerusalem. We are told it was coming down out of heaven from God, and having the glory of God. Then John gives us a description of the exterior of the city. We were also told that the city had no need for the sun or the moon because the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. We were told there would be no night and that the gates will never close. Now as we look at chapter 22, what John is basically seeing in the first five verses is Paradise regained. We just saw in chapter 21 the splendor of the New Jerusalem. Now we are going to see what will nourish and enrich the lives of God s people. Verse 1-2 then he showed me signals a new aspect of the city being shown to John. What did the angel show him in verse 1? What was it like? This is showing us the refreshing sustenance God provides through eternal life. Where was it coming from?. 1

The beginning of verse 2 says in the middle of the street. Depending on how you read this, you could take this to be completing the thought from verse one meaning that the river is in the middle of its street, or you can take it as continuing the thought from verse two meaning the throne is in the middle of the street. Regardless of how you that, the point of the passage is that the very presence of God Himself is at the source of the life-giving stream. What are we told was on either side of the river? Some see the word tree here as a collective reference meaning rows of trees standing on either side of the river. Some think that the tree is so large that it spans the river and rests on both sides or that the river divided, flowing on both sides of the tree. A tree that is surrounded by water is the epitome of a fruitful tree. Psalm 1:3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither whatever they do prospers. Jeremiah 17:8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. What did it bear? How often? Apparently, time will still be marked somehow in heaven, but probably not the same way we do now since there will be no moon. What were the leaves of the tree for? In the Greek the word healing is the word therapeia which means service, care. This is where we get the word therapeutic from. So the word in its root meaning has the idea of serving or ministering. Since there will be no more death to be healed from in the new earth, the tree s leaves will evidently promote well-being. 2

Verse 3-4 What are we told there will no longer be?. Curse in the Greek is katathema meaning cursed thing, that which is under the ban (devoted exclusively to God). The curse in this verse is probably referring to the curse pronounced back in Genesis with the Fall. Now the curse has been lifted. God will have intimate fellowship with His people because this curse will have been lifted. Verse 3 - and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it this is telling us that the throne of God and the Lamb will be in the midst of all of this. What are we told His bond-servants will do?. Who are His bond-servants? Evidently believers will occupy themselves serving God and the Lamb in the new earth. In the Greek the word serve here is latreuo which means to serve, minister (in religious duties). We are told we will see His face and His name will be on our foreheads. This will be a place where God s people will forever be identified with their God, and there will never be any doubt that we belong to Him. We will have personal, intimate fellowship with Him. Our ability to view God s glory is limited now, but one day it will be unhindered. Verse 5 We are told there will no longer be any night or need of the light or a lamp, nor the light of the sun. Why?. What does it say they will do?. When we look at the Bible, it opens with Paradise Lost, and now it closes with Paradise Regained. We see the return of Paradise with the river, the tree of life, no more curse, intimacy with God is completely restored and reigning with Him resumed. It is the perfect consummation. 3

No more curse Perfect Restoration Throne in their midst Perfect Administration Servants shall serve Perfect Subordination Shall see His face Perfect Transformation Name on foreheads Perfect Identification God is the light Perfect Illumination Reigning forever Perfect Exultation The rest of this chapter acts as an epilogue. John records concluding information and instructions that God gave him. He is doing this to comfort and caution his readers as well as to affirm the authority of this book. In the epilogue of this chapter, we saw three main parts: The prophecy is genuine (verses 6-7, 8-9, 16, 18-20) Jesus will return imminently (verses 6-7, 10, 12, 20) The unbeliving should beware and the faithful should take courage (verses 11-12, 15, 17-19) The whole epilogue is very similar to the first chapter in many ways: 4

Verse 6-7 What does the angel tell John?. It was the Lord, the God who inspired ( the spirits of ) the prophets who have revealed what John has received. What are we told He sent His angel to do?. The purpose of this verse is to stress the authenticity of this revelation and to encourage our expectancy of its fulfillment. In verse 7, the angel is probably relaying the word of Christ to John rather than Jesus speaking them himself. What are we told at the beginning of verse 7? Next, we are given the sixth of seven beatitudes in Revelation. Who are we told is blessed?. This should sound familiar to us. Think way back to the very beginning of the book, specifically Revelation 1:3 - Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. The book is closing as it opened, with a special blessing for those who heed what is written and to what it teaches. Verse 8-11 John addresses the reader in the first person directly, which we haven t seen since chapter 1 (1:1, 1:4, 1:9) What does John tells us?. John is affirming what the angel said that this prophecy is true. John tells us that he himself has heard and seen these things that he has recorded. What does John tell us he does?. 5

What does the angel say to John?. In verse 10, the angel tells John something. What does he say?. Why?. John is given instruction by the angel to leave his book open. He was not to close and seal it because the fulfillment of the events predicted was near. People needed to be aware of them. Verse 11 is a strong warning to unbelievers not to put off accepting Christ as their savior. When Christ comes, it will be too late. They won t be able to change what is going to happen. What they are at that time, will be what they will remain forever. They need to change while there is still time! Verses 12-13 Jesus says Behold what?. There was never a definitive promise that this would happen during the lifetime of the first century Christians. The possibility of the Lord s return is always present. What does He have with him? We are told My reward is with me to render to every man according to what he has done. Instead of promising a blessing like he did back in verse 7, this time He promises to judge both the good and the bad according to what they have done. 6

Jesus says three things about himself in verse 13: This title stresses his sovereignty. This title emphasizes that God is the cause and goal of history. Shows He finishes what He starts. Verses 14-15 In verse 14 we are given the final beatitude in this book. (1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7) We are told who is blessed?. God shows his favor on those who cleanse themselves by turning to Christ for salvation. The robe one wears is a figure of their works (Rev 19:8) This allows them the right to what?. And what else?. In verse 15, we see the opposite side of things the exclusion from the New Jerusalem, which is eternity in the Lake of Fire. We are given a list of who is outside: The dogs Sorcerers Immoral persons Murderers Idolaters Everyone who loves and practices lying Dogs is a metaphor for the immorally impure. In John s day many dogs were wild, aggressive scavengers. The other types of individuals listed here appear in other lists of wicked unbelievers (Rev. 21:8) 7

Verse 16 The word combination I, Jesus doesn t occur anywhere else in the NT. With these words, Jesus authenticates the entire book of Revelation. Jesus says he has sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. This is the first mention of the church since chapters 2 and 3. What does Jesus call Himself in this verse?. This title shows us that Jesus is both the creator and descendant of King David (Matthew 22:41-46), and just as the morning star welcomes each new day, so does Jesus. Verse 17 What are we told the Spirit and the bride say? This seems to be referring to the Holy Spirit and the church, both of whom, along with the Word are God s agents of evangelism. Come is an invitation to come to Christ. Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Psalm 32:6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You [a] in a time when You may be found; As the verse goes on it says and let the one who hears say, Come. This refers to any person who really hears the message of this book. The output of this hearing should be the desire to reach others for Christ. So, they too say come. The last part of the verse reads and let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. This seems to be speaking to anyone who wants the life that God is offering. The invitation to come and take is an urgent command, because there will come a day when it will be too late. 8

Verses 18-19 Jesus gives a warning to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. What happens if anyone adds to them?. What happens if anyone takes away for the words of this book?. All the major themes in Scripture find their end and culmination in this book of the Bible. It wraps up God s revelation and brings man into the glorious eternal state. So, tampering with Revelation in a sense is to tamper with the whole Bible. Let s look at what it means to add to the Bible or revelation. One way is by claiming new revelation. An example would be the Book of Mormon that claims there is another gospel of Jesus besides what s in the Bible. Another way is by claiming advanced knowledge in spiritual matters and saying that the Bible is not the answer or that the Bible is wrong. Using things outside the Bible to say the Bible isn t true. An example of this might be someone saying something like the Bible may say that Jesus is the only way, but look at all the good people and all the good that other religions do, can we really say that God wouldn t accept them? This undercuts what the Bible is saying. Some people might even say well, we re more enlightened people today, so we know more. All of this is blatant disbelief of the Bible which denies that the Word of God is the revelation and the testimony of God. Such action is a clear evidence of personal unbelief and rejection of Jesus Christ. Verse 20-21 The final words of this book are yet another declaration of the promise of Christ s imminent return. Although this time it adds the word yes. Yes, I am coming quickly. In the Greek the word yes means yes, indeed, a marker of strong agreement, affirmation or emphasis. To strengthen this even more, it is followed by the word Amen. Amen in the Greek means the truth; a formula of solemn expression of certainty. In 9

the Gospel of John it is doubled in the sayings of Jesus for emphasis. The announcement Yes, I am coming quickly- Amen is bookended by words used to emphasize the certainty of it. John adds his Amen and his own prayer of response to this announcement Come, Lord Jesus. Verse 21 gives a benediction The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. Grace shall have the last word. This verse is a prayer that all it hearers and readers may respond to the revelation of this book appropriately. This was a common way to close a first century Christian letter. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ begins and ends the book of Revelation (1:4). This implies that the message of grace and the free gift of eternal life in Christ, not merely the message of judgment on unbelievers can be found in this book. 10