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Commentary on Revelation

Chapter 22

Its blessings

Rev. 22:1 Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

The description of the Church from the last chapter (recall 21:9) continues through the first part of Chapter 22. The entire vision ends at verse 5. The remaining verses serve as the book's epilogue. River of the Water of Life: Water is a common symbol for the blessings of God. In Isaiah 12:3 God's people were told that with joy they would draw water from the wells of salvation. In John 7 Jesus said that if anyone believed in him then that person would have rivers of living water flowing out of his heart. Ezekiel 47 describes a sacred river flowing from the temple. The water here depicts the blessings which flow from God which the Church enjoys now and forever. (Look at Joel 3:18 and then turn to Acts 2 to find out when it was fulfilled.) Recall our discussion regarding the Feast of the Tabernacles in Chapter 7. Tree of Life with 12 fruits: This tree provides 12 different kinds of fruit 12 times a year. Where have we seen that number before? This tree provides nourishment for God's people just as the original Tree of Life did. The fruit from this tree and the river of life which flows nearby depict the blessings from God which the Church enjoys. Is this something which the Church has yet to receive? No. Read about the blessings which were promised by the Old Testament prophets then read the New Testament to find out when those blessings were received. The leaves on the tree are for the healing of the nations. Again, we see nations which need the light and healing which this city - the Church - provides. Who are these nations outside of the city if this is a description of the Church in Heaven after the end of the world? This is a description of the Church now. The Church sheds light on the darkness outside. The Church provides healing to those who come. The invitation in 22:17 below is for those outside of the Church to come and drink of the water of life. Could such descriptions apply to the Church after the end of the world? (No.)

3 There shall no more be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall worship him; 4 they shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads. 5 And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever.

There will be no more curse: Zech. 8:13 says that Israel and Judah were once "a byword of cursing among the nations." God promised that he would make them a blessing instead of a curse. Zech. 14:11 says that "there shall be no more curse; Jerusalem shall dwell in security." Isn't that the picture we have here? The Church, too, will dwell in security. The throne of God and of the Lamb is in it: God rules from his dwelling place which is the Church. Ezekiel 43:7 says that God's throne is located where he dwells - in the midst of his people forever. Ephesians 2:22 describes the Church as a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. We shall see his face: We are members of a royal priesthood. We have direct access to the throne. Hebrews 4:16 says that we may boldly approach the throne of grace. Every Christian has the same access to God as the High Priest had under the Old Covenant. In fact, we have more - we may approach the throne boldly at any time whereas the High Priest could only enter the holy of holies (the presence of God) once a year. Again, this is a blessing that the Church is presently enjoying. There will be no more night: We are the light of the world. The Church is the only source of light in a world of darkness. There is no night in the Church- Jesus Christ is our light. They shall reign for ever and ever: Romans 5:17 says that we reign in life through Jesus Christ. Rev. 5:10 says that we are a kingdom of priests who reign on earth. 1 Peter 2:9 says that we are a royal priesthood. The Church reigns with Christ now and forever. Revelation 21:9-22:5 has provided a description of the Church and the blessings which are enjoyed by those belonging to the Church. We have seen how each description applies to the Church on earth and not just to the Church "in eternity." Further, we have seen several descriptions which could only apply to the Church on earth. The great persecuting power of Rome has been destroyed and Satan has been put in his place. The hope and security of the Church have been restored. God promises to protect them forever just as he rescued them from Rome. The book ends with a description of the triumphant, victorious Church which reigns forever with Jesus on its side. The message to the first century Church was not "Wait until the end of the world and you will enjoy these blessings." The message to the first century Church was "As the body of Christ you enjoy all of these spiritual blessings right now." That was the message they needed to hear and that was the message they received.

Epilogue

Testimony to the truth of the revelation

6 And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. 7 And behold, I am coming soon." Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.

As in the prologue, the epilogue begins with the time frame for the vision. Rev. 1:1 says that the events in the book must soon take place. Rev. 1:3 says that the time for fulfillment is near. Here in 22:6 we see that what John had seen must soon take place. Later in 22:10 we see the same message. What can be said for any interpretation of this book that ignores these clear declarations? One must certainly work hard to misunderstand them! I am coming soon: The Greek "taku" or "takos" means quickly, speedily, and without delay. To what does this refer? In what way did Jesus come quickly soon after the book was written? He came in judgment against Rome. Look at Matthew 24:30. To what coming does that verse refer? Jesus' coming in judgment against Jerusalem. Matthew 24:34 does not allow us to apply Matthew 24:30 to the end of the world. Similarly, the comings promised here refer to Christ's coming in judgment against Rome. Applying these statements to the end of the world violates the time frame of the book and the context of the book.

8 I John am he who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me; 9 but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

John has been told before not to worship this angel. The message here as in 19:10 was that the deliverance of the Church from Rome was the work of God and all of the glory and honor for that deliverance belongs to him.

The distinction drawn

10 And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." 12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood.

John is told not to seal up the book because the time for its fulfillment is near. In Daniel 8:26 Daniel gets the opposite command regarding a vision which he saw. God tells Daniel to seal up his vision because its fulfillment pertains to many days hence. When was Daniel's vision fulfilled? 400 years later. John receives the opposite command because what he saw will be fulfilled soon. Many commentators say that nothing in the book of Revelation has been fulfilled yet. What do you think? Again Jesus promises to judge Rome soon. He tells the wicked to continue in their wickedness because their time is short. Rome was so entrenched in their evil that Jesus knew they would never change. He sarcastically tells them that if they want to do more wickedness they had better hurry. (Again, this verse is difficult to apply to the end of the world. Does Jesus want all sinners to continue sinning?) The tree of life in the holy city belongs to those who have washed their robes in the blood of Christ. (Recall Rev. 7:14.) The wicked are pictured as being outside the gates.

The invitation given

16 "I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star." 17 The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let him who hears say, "Come." And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price.

Jesus is the root and the offspring of David. He is the promised Redeemer. He is the fulfillment of prophecy. The Spirit and the Church invite those outside to come and drink the water of life. When is this invitation extended? Now. No invitation will be extended after the end of the world. The water of life is a blessing which Christians may enjoy on earth.

18 I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

The plagues in this book depict the judgment of God and thus may (in that general sense) befall anyone at anytime. This verse causes problems for literalists who claim that the plagues in this book depict, among other things, nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. How could such a plague be said to befall one who added words to this prophecy? What happens to those who take away from these words? They lose their share in the tree of life and in the holy city. That is, the right to the tree of life we saw in 22:14 can be taken away. The doctrine of "Once saved, always saved" is not a sound doctrine.

20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

Jesus came in judgment against Rome just as he came in judgment against Jerusalem. The book ends with encouragement for those suffering persecution. They had nothing to fear - Jesus was coming soon.

An Overview

The Purpose of the Book: Revelation was written to provide comfort and assurance to Christians who were being persecuted and murdered by the Romans. To properly understand this book we must study it from a first century perspective.

The Time Frame of the Book: The book describes events that were to come to pass shortly. The time for its fulfillment was said to be near when it was written. The judgments in the book were to take place without delay. John was told not to seal the book because the time for its fulfillment was near. One should view with suspicion any interpretation of this book that ignores these clear statements.

Old Testament Parallels: Revelation describes a judgment by God against a great oppressor of his people. We see a prelude to the judgment, we see the judgment itself, and we see the aftermath of the judgment from the perspective of the victors and from the perspective of the vanquished. The language used to describe these events is taken from Old Testament descriptions of past judgment against Babylon, Edom, Judah, and Nineveh. The language used to describe the blessings of the victorious church in the later chapters of Revelation is used in the Old Testament to describe the blessings that Christians are presently enjoying under the reign of Christ. To understand Revelation we must study the Old Testament.

Preconceptions: We must study this book without preconceptions. In Matthew 24:30, 34 we see a coming of Christ that is not his final coming. In Daniel 7:9-10 we see a great judgment scene that is not the final judgment of the world. In Daniel 12:2 we see a resurrection that does not refer to the final resurrection of the saints. In studying Revelation we should not jump to conclusions that violate the time frame and historical context of the book.

The Message for Today: Jesus loves his church and will always protect and sustain it. The blessings described in this book are spiritual blessings that may be presently enjoyed by anyone willing to submit to the reign of Christ.