Revelation 22:1-21
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.
2 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: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
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:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
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.
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.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
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.
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.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
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.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
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.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
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.
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.
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.
20 He which testifieth these things saith,Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Contents: The New Paradise and its river of the water of life. The last exhortation of Christ to be ready for His second coming.
Conclusion: The Paradise lost by the first Adam shall be restored by the Second Adam, and in this Paradise there shall be multitudes saved through the Lamb, to behold its beauties and to taste its pleasures forever. Let all men labor to understand the prophecies of these things shortly coming to pass that they might be prepared to meet the Lord Jesus, having embraced His salvation, yea, and earnestly longing and praying for the hour of His appearance. «Even so, come, Lord Jesus.»
Key Word: Imminent return, Revelation 22:7; Revelation 22:12; Revelation 22:20.
Strong Verses: Revelation 22:3; Revelation 22:7; Revelation 22:17; Revelation 22:18; Revelation 22:19; Revelation 22:20; Revelation 22:21. Promises: Revelation 22:4; Revelation 22:5; Revelation 22:12; Revelation 22:14.
Striking Facts: The Bible closes with emphasis on the fidelity of the Scriptures (Revelation 22:6) on salvation by grace the free gift of the Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:17) and on the doctrine of the pre-millennial return of Christ (Revelation 22:7; Revelation 22:12; Revelation 22:20). The great «peace prayer» of the Bible, and the last prayer of the Bible, is «Come, Lord Jesus,» and Jesus' last recorded words are, «Surely, I come quickly. Amen.» This is the thought He would leave with us. May God open the eyes of every reader to the «blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.» Titus 2:13.
Summary
Genesis begins with creation. Revelation ends with the New Creation.
In Genesis we have the first Sabbath. Revelation closes with the holy rest in the new creation.
Genesis gives us the first Adam, head of the old humanity. Revelation leaves us with the second Adam, head of the new humanity.
Genesis gives us Eve, the wife of the first Adam, sinning, condemned and sorrowing. Revelation leaves us with the second Eve, the Bride of Christ, exalted, holy and glorious.
In Genesis we have exclusion from the tree of life. Revelation leaves us with access to it and authority over it.
In Genesis we have an earth cursed. In Revelation we have the earth fully delivered from the curse.
Genesis gives us Satan tempting and bruising. In Revelation we leave him bruised and in the lake of fire forever.
In Genesis we have the first sob and tear. In Revelation all tears and sighing are forever gone.