Revelation 22

From Now to the End of Time

Revelation

Ian Mackervoy

Chapter 22

The river of life - Revelation 22:1-5

v1 Then the *angel showed me the river of the water that gives life. It shone like *crystal. And it flowed from the *throne where God and the *Lamb sit. v2 It flowed down the middle of the main street of the city. On each side of the river, there stood the tree that gives life. This tree produces fruit 12 times a year. It yields fresh fruit each month. And the leaves of the tree were for the health of the nations. v3 Nothing evil will be there. The *throne of God and of the *Lamb will be in the city, and God’s servants will serve him. v4 They will see God’s face and God’s name will be on the front of their heads. v5 There will be no night there. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun. Instead, the *Lord God will provide their light. And they will always rule as kings.

Verse 1 The *angel showed John the river. This river flowed from the *throne of God and of the *Lamb. The river has clear and clean water. The water shone bright as it reflected the light. John calls it the water that gives life.

In John chapter 4, Jesus spoke to a woman at a well. He spoke about the water that he would give. The water that Jesus gives means *eternal life. The water in the river gives that life.

The river flows from the *throne. God and the *Lamb are the source of the river. All life comes from God. He gives *eternal life to those who belong to the *Lamb.

Verse 2 The river flowed through the main street. This is the river of life. Where the river flows, it gives life. This is an essential part of the New Jerusalem.

God made Adam and Eve. He put them in the garden called Eden. The tree that gives life was among the trees in the garden. When Adam *sinned, God did not allow him to eat of this tree (Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:22-24). Adam could not have *eternal life in his *sinful state.

The tree that gives life will be in the New Jerusalem. It will be on both sides of the river. God’s people will eat the fruit of that tree. God has removed their *sins. The fruit will be good to eat.

John saw that the tree had plenty of fruit. It had 12 kinds of fruit. It had fresh fruit each month. What God provides is always new. He gives to us more than we ever need. The tree shows how generous God is to his people. They will eat and the food will satisfy them.

The leaves of the tree were for the health of the nations. So, the leaves were like medicine. This shows that there will be no lack of health. The life to come will be plentiful and perfect. The leaves of the tree help all people to enjoy life.

Verse 3 The trouble that *sin brought will not still exist. The *Lord has taken *sin and the effects of *sin away from us. Those who refused his kindness will not be in the new earth.

All who are in the city will be the servants of God and of the *Lamb. God and the *Lamb will rule the earth from their *throne in the city.

Verse 4 God would not allow even Moses to see his face (Exodus 33:20). Nobody could see God and live. But in the New Jerusalem, all will see the face of God. They will know him well. They will know his name. They will live with him and they will *worship him.

God’s people will have the name of God on their heads. The name means the character of God. It is as if each person will reflect the image of God. They will have a perfect character, like Jesus. They will see him as he is (1 John 3:2).

Verse 5 There will be no night there, because God will be always present. The *Lord God provides the light in that place. The new earth will not have days and nights. It will be day all the time (Zechariah 14:7). It seems that people will not still need to sleep.

Those who live in the New Jerusalem will rule as kings with God.

Final words - Revelation 22:6-21

The promise that Christ will come soon - Revelation 22:6-13

v6 The *angel said to me, ‘You can trust these words. They are true. The *Lord God, who gives his Spirit to the *prophets, sent his *angel to you. God sent his *angel to show his (God’s) servants what must happen quickly.’

v7 Jesus says, ‘Watch carefully! I am coming soon.’

God will *bless all those who obey the words of *prophecy in this book.

v8 I am John. I heard and I saw all these things. The *angel showed them to me. Afterwards, I fell down at his feet. I meant to *worship him. v9 But he said to me, ‘You must not do that. I serve God, as you and the other *prophets do. We too are servants like all those who obey the message of this book. So *worship God.’

v10 Then the *angel said to me, ‘Do not keep secret the words of *prophecy in this book. Publish it, because the time is near for all this to happen. v11 The person who does wrong things will continue to do wrong things. The evil person will still be evil. The person who does the right things should continue to do the right things. And the holy person should remain holy.’

v12 Jesus says, ‘Watch carefully! I am coming soon. I will test what people have done. And I will reward them or I will punish them. v13 I am the A and the Z. I am the first and the last. I am the beginning and the end.’

Verse 6 All that John had seen was genuine. He had heard the words of God. Therefore, this *prophecy is true and we must believe it. God had shown things that will happen soon to John. And these things will definitely happen.

It is God who speaks by his Spirit through the *prophets. He sent his *angel to show these things to John. The *Lord told John to write them in this book.

The *Lord does not say when these things will happen. I believe that everything after chapter 4 is still in the future. We are living in the time of the first three Chapter s.

When these future events start, they will be quick. The final period will be just seven years. Most of the action will be in the last three and a half years. Then will come the 1000 years when Christ will rule on this earth.

Verse 7 Then the *Lord Jesus spoke to John. Jesus said that he was coming soon. He will come to rescue his *church. We do not know when he will come. He could come at any time. When Jesus comes, it will be sudden. The *church must be always ready for the *Lord to come.

The *Lord has given us the *prophecy in this book. He gave it not only for us to know about the future. Also, he wanted us to live now by what the *Lord says. The future must affect how we live now. We must obey the *prophecy in this book.

God will *bless those who obey him. In the end, those who trust Christ will be safe. Their troubles will only last for a short time. Then the *Lord Jesus will take them to live with him always. They will enjoy all that God gives in the new earth.

Verses 8-9 John declares that this was real. He actually heard and he actually saw these things. He did not imagine this *prophecy. It came from the *Lord and not from John himself. The *Lord had sent an *angel to him. The *angel showed him all that he wrote in the book.

John’s reaction was to fall down at the feet of the *angel. John wanted to *worship the *angel. But the *angel told him not to do this.

John and other *prophets are just servants of God. *Angels also serve God. We must not *worship *angels. We must *worship God. And we must only *worship him.

Verse 10 Daniel had to close the words of the *scroll. He had to *seal them until the time of the end (Daniel 12:4; Daniel 12:9). But what John saw he must keep open.

Nothing in this book is secret. The *Lord intends us to read it. He wants us to understand what these things mean.

Since the death of Christ, we are living in the last age. Christ may return at any time. The future events in this book will happen at the end of this age. We cannot know how soon this will be.

Verse 11 There will come a time when it is too late to change. We should believe what this *prophecy says. If not, God has nothing else to say. The person who does wrong will not change. The evil person will still be evil. But now it is not too late. There is yet the opportunity to turn to Christ. People should *repent while there is still time.

For those who do believe this *prophecy, it is good news. They should continue to do the good things that they are already doing. Those who trust in the *Lord must continue to be holy.

Verse 12 Again, Jesus says that he is coming soon. When he comes, he will be the judge. He will test all that people have done. He will punish those who have done evil things. He will reward those who serve him.

Verse 13 Jesus was there before God created all things. He will be there after the old earth and heavens have gone. He is always the same. He is one with God. He is God. ‘The A and the Z’ means the same as in Revelation 1:8.

An Invitation but … - Revelation 22:14-19

v14 God will *bless those who obey him. They are like people who wash their clothes clean. So, they will have the right to eat fruit from the tree that gives life. And they may go through the gates into the city. v15 No evil person will come into the city. People who do magic cannot come in. People who *sin in sex cannot come in. Those who murder cannot come in. Neither can those who *worship false gods. Nor those who love to tell lies and to do wrong things.

v16 ‘I, Jesus have sent my *angel to you with this message for the *churches. I come from the family of David, and that family’s power comes from me. I am like the bright star that shines at sunrise.’

v17 The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ If you hear, then say, ‘Come.’ And if you need a drink, come. Here is the water that gives life. Those who desire it may drink it freely.

v18 I warn everyone who hears the words in this book. You must not add to this *prophecy. If you do, God will punish you. You will suffer from all the terrible troubles that are in this book. v19 And you must not take anything away from the *prophecy of this book. If you do, then God will take your reward away from you. Then, you will not be able to eat the fruit from the tree that gives life. And you will not live in the holy city. I have described these things in this book.

Verse 14 In the *Old Testament, priests had to wear clean clothes when they served in the *temple. This showed that they were holy. And it showed that they had made themselves ready for their special work for God. In the *New Testament, all real Christians are called priests. We must be holy. And we must be ready for Jesus’ return. So, the ‘clean clothes’ really means that we need to live holy lives. But we cannot make ourselves holy by our own efforts. Only Jesus’ death makes us holy. It is as if the blood of Jesus has washed our clothes clean. But only those who have accepted Christ into their lives will receive the benefits in this book.

Those who have accepted Christ have the right to eat from the tree of life. This means that they will have *eternal life. They will go through the gates of the New Jerusalem. They will live with God and with the *Lamb.

Verse 15 Those who did not accept Christ into their lives will not come into the city. They have not asked Jesus to take away their *sin by his death. So, their *sin is still with them. They will die the second death when God acts as their judge (Revelation 20:14-15).

John gives a list of those who cannot enter the city. There are those who do evil things. There are those who *worship false gods. There are those who do magic by the power of evil spirits. (This is not describing techniques in shows that use only human skill.) And there are all those who *sin. These people have not asked the *Lord to forgive their *sins. And the *Lord has not *forgiven them.

Verse 16 The *angel, who showed John this *prophecy, came from Jesus. The *prophecy is a message to the *churches from the *Lord. The message was for those *churches to which John wrote. But it is also a message for the *churches of all ages. It is a message for the *church today.

God promised to send Jesus long before he was born. He came from the family of David (Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 11:10). Balaam saw a star come out of Judah. The star that he saw meant a ruler of *Israel (Numbers 24:17). Originally, this star meant King David. But David’s special descendant (person born into his family) would be much greater, like a much brighter star. Jesus is that special descendant of King David.

The morning star is a star that only appears at dawn. When we see it, the night is ending. With this star, there comes a new day. So, this star is like a definite promise that the new day is coming. Jesus will come at the end of this age. When he comes, he will bring in the new age.

Verse 17 The Holy Spirit and the bride invite people to come. The bride means the *church. The Holy Spirit works with the *church to bring people to Christ. Christ offers *eternal life to all who will come to him. Those who really want it can come. They can receive it. It is free. It is the gift of God. Nobody can work for or earn *eternal life. Now all can receive it by *faith in the *Lord Jesus. But when Jesus comes, it will be too late.

Verses 18-19 We must not add to this *prophecy. We must not take anything away from it. John has written in this book what the *Lord told him to write. We must not try to change what God has said. God will punish those who add to it. And he will punish those who take away from it.

Promise and reply - Revelation 22:20-21

v20 Jesus says that these things are true. He says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ It is true. Come, *Lord Jesus.

v21 I ask the *Lord Jesus to be very kind and good to you all. *Amen.

Verse 20 Jesus tells us again that he is coming soon. John answers this. He desires for the *Lord to come. ‘*Amen, come *Lord Jesus.’ And John expected to see the *Lord come. This is the attitude that we should have. We should desire him to come. We should live as those who expect him to come.

This is the main message of this book. Jesus is coming and we should be ready for him.

Verse 21 John asks the *Lord to *bless those who read this book of *prophecy. They all depend on God’s gift of life.

angel ~ a servant of God from heaven. God made angels to serve him and to take his messages. So, angels are God’s servants from heaven. But there are evil angels who opposed God. These evil angels now serve the devil.
crystal ~ a precious stone that is transparent, like glass.
throne ~ the special chair for the king or for an important person.
lamb ~ a young sheep.
Lamb ~ a name for Jesus because he died as a sacrifice for our sin. He is the Lamb of God.
sacrifice ~ the priests killed a special animal and they burned it on an altar. This was to ask God to forgive sins. Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins.
sin ~ sin is the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God. Those who sin are called sinners.
altar ~ the special table where priests burned animals and other gifts that they offered to God.
forgive ~ to forgive is to remove sin.
Lord ~ a title for God, or Jesus, to show that he is over all people and things.
lord ~ a title for someone who rules.'eternal life ~ life of a new quality for those who believe in Jesus. This new life is to be with Jesus always.
sin ~ sin is the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God. Those who sin are called sinners.
sinful ~ evil and wrong.
worship ~ the act when someone shows honour to God (or to an idol). Someone who worships, praises God. That person thanks God. And that person respects God.
idols ~ objects that people worship instead of God.
prophet ~ person who speaks for God. A prophet can sometimes say what will happen in the future. The Book of Revelation also describes a false prophet. This false prophet speaks on behalf of the Antichrist and Satan.
Antichrist ~ a powerful ruler who imitates and opposes Christ. The Book of Revelation also describes the Antichrist as ‘the beast’. The Antichrist hates Christ. The Bible also refers to many antichrists. These are people who hate Christ like the Antichrist.
Satan ~ the name of the devil.
beast ~ an animal. In this Book of Revelation, the beasts describe Satan, Antichrist and the false prophet.
bless ~ to do good things for a person.
prophecy ~ a message from God; a gift of the Holy Spirit.
church ~ a group of Christians. The word ‘church’ has two main meanings. Sometimes the meaning is one church in a particular place; and the Christians who meet there. But sometimes the word ‘church’ means Christians everywhere, especially in the phrase ‘the whole church’.
angel ~ a servant of God from heaven. God made angels to serve him and to take his messages. So, angels are God’s servants from heaven. But there are evil angels who opposed God. These evil angels now serve the devil.
scroll ~ a book in the form of a long piece of material. People would roll up the scroll in order to store it.
seal ~ something that people stuck on the outside of a scroll as a kind of lock.
scroll ~ a book in the form of a long piece of material. People would roll up the scroll in order to store it.
repent ~ to change one’s mind and heart. To turn away from sin and turn to God. To turn one’s mind and heart away from sin is to repent.
sin ~ sin is the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God. Those who sin are called sinners.'Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible; the holy things that the writers wrote before Jesus’ birth.
temple ~ a special building for the worship of God. The Jews had a temple in Jerusalem for the worship of the real God. But at other temples, people worshipped false gods.
worship ~ the act when someone shows honour to God (or to an idol). Someone who worships, praises God. That person thanks God. And that person respects God.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the families of their children.
idols ~ objects that people worship instead of God.'New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus on earth.
forgive ~ to forgive is to remove sin.
sin ~ sin is the wrong things that we do. To sin is to do wrong, bad or evil deeds and not to obey God. Those who sin are called sinners.
Israel ~ the country of the Jews.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the families of their children.
faith ~ trust in someone or something; belief and trust in God and in Jesus Christ his Son.
amen ~ a word from the Hebrew (Old Testament) language, which means ‘we agree’. Or, ‘it is true’.
~ the first part of the Bible; the holy things that the writers wrote before Jesus’ birth.