Christian UniverseTM
Home | Christian Resources | Christian Links | Links | Site Map
A Bible Study:
The Revelation to John
May 30, 2006
A Study of the Revelation to John
A Study of the Revelation to John
By Bernie Parsons - May 30, 2006
A Study of Revelation Chapter 22:1-21
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:1: 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. ************************************************************************
Joel 3:16: “The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
17: So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
18: And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.”
Jeremiah 17:13: “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.”
Zechariah 14:8: “And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.”
Isaiah 33:20: “Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
21: But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.
22: For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.
23: Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.
24: And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.”
This is a continuation of the prophecies about the tabernacle of God among men. God becomes a river of life to the righteous, and they are given the light of true righteousness.
John 4:10: “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
11: “The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?”
John 4:13: “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
15: The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.”
When we drink from the water of life, we have peace in God through Christ Jesus. There is a healing of the spirit when one is touched by the God of peace. The prohecies were not that peace would be everywhere, and all violence would cease. Rather, the prophecies are that the people of God will know a peace, but not the kind that the world knows.
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:2: 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. ************************************************************************
This is quoting from:
Ezekiel 47:12: “And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.”
Jeremiah 17:12: “A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.
13: O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.
14: Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.”
Isaiah 53:1: “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2: For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3: He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4: Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
1 Peter 2:21: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25: For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
The healing is in God, through Christ Jesus. They are the true temple—the true sanctuary. Waters of life flow from the sanctuary, and give life and healing to the people who worship God in righteousness. We Christians are the children of God, and the body of Christ, and are the temple of God by extension.
Matthew 13:14: “And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16: But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17: For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.”
The unrighteous refuse to seek God--they refuse to be healed.
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:3: 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: ************************************************************************
Jeremiah 11:1: “The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2: Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
3: And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,
4: Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:
5: That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.
6: Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.
7: For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.
8: Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.”
In the ekklesia, there is obedience, righteousness, and the forgiveness of sins. God rules in the church—His called out assembly—and the curse reserved for the disobedient is lifted. The disobedient to God have no place in the ekklesia, and the new kingdom of God.
Galatians 3:1: “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2: This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3: Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4: Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5: He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6: Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7: Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8: And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9: So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11: But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12: And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Christ lifted the curse of the old way, the Law of Moses. Behold, all things are new!
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:4: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. ************************************************************************
Deuteronomy 31:16: “And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
17: Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day. Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?
18: And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.
19: Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
20: For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.
21: And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.”
Deuteronomy 32:15: “But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
16: They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
17: They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
18: Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
19: And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.
20: And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
21: They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
22: For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.”
Ezekiel 39:23: “And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.”
Ezekiel 39:24: “According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.”
Ezekiel 39:29: “Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.”
Matthew 7:7: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 4:6: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Romans 10:11: “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12: For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
The righteous are obedient to the voice of God, keeping the covenant and the commandments of God. God will not hide His face from them, as He did to a disobedient Israel and Judah. Instead, the face of our Lord Jesus will be seen in the word of God, and in us, when we live according to the word of God. As we follow the teachings of Jesus, His face is revealed to us, and finally, seen in us. His name is in our minds and hearts.
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:5: 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. ************************************************************************
We studied in the previous chapter how that the Lord God, and Jesus Christ, are the light in the New Jerusalem, the eternal city of God. We have also previously studied about the reign of those who had overcome sin and the world.
************************************************************************
Revelation 22: 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. ************************************************************************
This again dates the occurrence of the events as in our past, and not our future. Once John finishes writing all that he has seen, he repeats that those events and actions are to be done soon, or shortly. We read this in the opening of this Revelation, as well.
Revelation 1:1: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:”
Jesus said that He was coming quickly. This fits with the expectation of the Apostles, and with the words of Jesus to those apostles.
Hebrews 10:36: “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37: For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”
James 5:8: “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”
Matthew 24:34: “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
Luke 11:50: “That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
51: From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.”
John 21:23: “Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?”
The seven churches of Asia, to whom this was written, are told to keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book. In order for them to keep them, then it is necessary that these things happen in their lifetime. John, to whom the Revelation is given, had received of the Lord that the Lord might allow him to live until His glorious return.
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:8: 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.
************************************************************************
Some make much of whom this individual might have been, saying that the context proves that he was an apostle, or fellow Christian of the first century. That may be, but the language used here rather denotes that he is a fellow worshipper of God. He is merely stating that he, the angel, is not to be worshipped, since he is only a fellow servant. Only God and Christ are worthy of worship, as we studied early in our Revelation study. In other words, although he was an angel, his place was only equal to that of any fellow worshipper of God, and no higher.
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:10: And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
************************************************************************
Unlike Daniel, who had been told to seal his book until the time of the end, John is told not to seal his book, because the time was at hand—2,000 years ago! If something is at hand, it is within arm’s reach. Those who try to project these prophecies into our future, or even our present, are stretching the arm a little too far!
Daniel wrote only a few hundred years before the “time of the end”, but was told to seal his book because the time was so far off.
Daniel 12:4: “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”
Daniel 12:9: “And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”
Since John is told not to seal his book, because the time is at hand, we know that 2,000 years or more is too long to wait for those things to occur.
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:11: 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.
************************************************************************
That there be no mistake that the time was soon, those who are in sin are told that they might as well continue in sin, while the righteous are told to persevere in their righteousness. What this signifies is that the time was so close, that there was precious little time for people to change their ways. After all, they had about 40 years to hear the gospel, and obey it. Those who had rejected it for that long were not likely to suddenly repent and be converted. At the same time, there is an admonition to the righteous to remain righteous in the face of their tribulations, because things would begin to happen quickly.
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:12: And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
************************************************************************
At this point in the speech, the Lord plainly declares that He is coming quickly, and that He is bringing judgment with Him. In other words, brace yourselves! He was bringing judgment with Him, because the reward, whether eternal punishment or eternal life, was to be based upon the person’s works.
Matthew 16:27: “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
We have presented in three ways the indication that this was happening shortly after John wrote the letter.
(1) Verse 10: Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
(2) Verse 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.
(3) Verse 12: behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:13: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
************************************************************************
The Lord began the plan, and He is finishing it. The mystery put forth by the prophets has been revealed. The promise to Abraham, that all nations would be blessed through His seed, has come to fruition. God has kept the promise by sending Jesus to bring in the Gentiles, so that there is one blood, and one nation, of the righteous worshippers of God.
The old Jerusalem, and the old temple worship under the Law of Moses, is replaced by the heavenly Jerusalem, with God and Jesus as the temple, and we Christians as a living temple, as an extension of Christ.
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:14: 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. ************************************************************************
Those who listen to God, and obey, are given the right to the tree of life—that is, they may live eternally. They may enter the gates into the spiritual Jerusalem, the bride of Christ, the ekklesia—the church! We have come full circle from the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve were cut off from God (dead to Him) through their disobedience.
Genesis 2:17: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Genesis 3:17: “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;”
Genesis 3:22: “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
23: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24: So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
1 Corinthians 15:21: “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22: For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Romans 5:10: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
2 Corinthians 5:18: “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”
By heeding the gospel of Jesus Christ, and obeying the teachings of Jesus, we are reconciled to God. We have access once more to the tree of life.
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:15: For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. ************************************************************************
John 3:5: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
We studied this in the previous chapter. Those who are unrepentant, and do not believe in Jesus, nor keep the teachings of God, cannot enter the kingdom of God. One must be born again, of water and of the spirit, to enter the great and glorious kingdom.
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:16: 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. ************************************************************************
This Revelation is given by Jesus, by way of His messenger. It is not to be doubted, nor disputed. Jesus is the morning star, the bright star of the new day. This is fitting, because God was making the old ways pass away, replacing them with new things.
2 Peter 1:16: “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17: For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18: And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19: We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:17: 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. ************************************************************************
The Holy Spirit of the Lord, as well as the bride of Christ—the ekklesia—say, “Come”. Come, and drink freely of the water of life. Listen to the gospel, obey the gospel, and learn of Jesus. This fountain is open to all, whether Jew or Gentile.
John 3:3: “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4: Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
John 6:63: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:18: 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. ************************************************************************
We read in verse 16 that these words that John penned in the Revelation were delivered to him by the angel of the Lord Jesus. Since this is true, the words were not to have anything added to them, or taken from them, since that would alter the true meaning, and perhaps blunt the warnings and the encouragement.
This is similar to the warning in:
Deuteronomy 4:1: “Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.
2: Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”
Deuteronomy 12:28: “Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.
29: When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
30: Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
31: Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
32: What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:20: He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. ************************************************************************
One last time we see the speed with which these things would happen, and with which the Lord would come to take vengeance upon disobedient Judah first, and then upon the disobedient Gentiles. The Lord said, “Surely I come quickly.” It is a certainty. John adds, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” This is reminiscent of what Peter wrote in:
2 Peter 3:12: “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”
These holy men of God, apostles and prophets, looked forward to the speedy return of the Savior. Even so, I am reminded of this warning by Amos:
Amos 5:18: “Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.
19: As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
20: Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?”
Tribulation would precede the return of the Lord, at which time He would take vengeance on His enemies, and the enemies of His holy followers.
************************************************************************
Revelation 22:21: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. ************************************************************************
This is a fairly standard closing line in many of the letters to the various churches. It is a desire that the Lord’s grace would recognized by those to whom the letter was addressed, that being the seven churches located in Asia Minor.
Conclusion
The book of Revelation is that information revealed to John about the soon-to-occur vengeance that God would pour out upon a disobedient people in Judah. They had rejected the Son of God, and had crucified Him. They had called down all the blood of the prophets from the beginning of time until that generation. It would not go well with them.
The complete, absolute destruction of the temple, the city of Jerusalem, and the nation of Judah (Judaea) by the Roman armies would be the Lord’s vengeance. This was to be followed by the destruction of the Roman Empire, as God had prophesied through Daniel. The kingdom of God would break into pieces and consume the empires of men. Those who counted themselves King of Kings would succumb to the true King of Kings!
The eternal kingdom that cannot be removed was established when Christ came and died for the sins of the world. He reunited both houses of the Lord—Israel and Judah—and united them with the Gentiles, as well. They were all made one blood and one nation through the blood of Jesus—this is the great spiritual mystery of the ages for the Hebrews. The eternal heavenly kingdom had come to us, and Christians became the temple of the living God and His Christ, Jesus. It is a spiritual kingdom, and no man can overrun it, reign over it, or destroy it.
Those who believe in Jesus as the Son of God, and Savior of the world, and who obey the commandments of God Almighty, enter into the eternal kingdom, passing from the reign of death to the reign of life. This life is in Christ Jesus and the gospel that He and His apostles preached. God through Jesus Christ is the light of the world. That light has been passed into the hearts of the children of God—those who believe in Christ, and obey God, the Father.
The obedient children of God will inherit everlasting life, while the disobedient people who have rejected God and His Christ will suffer eternal death—that is, they will be eternally cut off from the presence of God!
Back To Top Back To The Index Back To Revelation 21:1-27
