REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 22.1

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

 

Chapter Twenty-Two

The Eternal State

New Jerusalem – The City of God

Continued…

(The Landscape of the City)

 

 

Introduction

Chapter twenty-two’s opening verses are a continuation of the preceding chapter. Remember, chapter divisions were included in the thirteenth century, well after John penned this book.

 

Thus far, Chapter 21 described the external features of New Jerusalem as a dazzling display of clear gold glass and precious gemstones. However, in this section, its internal elements are revealed.

 

John now presents three attributes regarding the interior abode of the saints:

1. The River of Life (v.1)

2. The Tree of Life (v. 2)

3. The Source of Life (Vv. 3-5)

 

 

(Verse 1)

 

And he (the angel) shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of theThrone of God and of the Lamb.

 

1. The River of Life

Next, the angel shows John a river that has three main aspects:

1. It had pure waters

a.   Symbolic of the holiness of  God

 

2. It had clear crystal water

a.  Symbolic of the purity of God

 

3. It had life-giving water

a.  Symbolic of eternal life

 

Of several, three passages are submitted alluding to the City’s water:

1. The Psalmist sang of such a place:

Psalm 46:4 – There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the City of God, the Holy Place of the Tabernacles of the Most High.

 

2. The Prophet spoke of living waters flowing out of Jerusalem

Zechariah 14:8a - And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem.

 

3. The Apostle previewed the source of the River

Revelation 4:6a - And before the Throne, there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the Throne.

 

Ancient cities were usually built where there was an ample water supply. Besides being port cities, their source was usually from high ice-capped mountain tops. However, New Jerusalem’s refreshment is proceeding from the Throne of God and the Lamb.

 

So, literal water is to be enjoyed by transfigured bodies in a New Jerusalem. It stands for abundant life for the taking. God provides for His people. And, it is a reminder that Christ is truly its giver:

John 4:14 – 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.

 

 

(Verse 2)

 

In the midst of the [main] 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.

 

One of the more difficult passages to interpret and visualize is verse two. Even though the Tree of Life is accurately singular throughout the text, there are three basic presumptions as to what appears to be the Tree of Life:

1. It is a group of trees

2. It is twelve trees

3. It is one tree with many branches overshadowing the entire River

 

It is not exactly clear what John saw, but this is the way he describes the Tree. The text suggests the Tree of Life is in the middle of the street but at the same time large enough to span either side of the River. It abounds everywhere. Recall, that God can make all things new (cf. Revelation 21:5).

 

Biblical Trees

Although many trees are mentioned in the Bible, three trees are the most outstanding:

1. The Tree of Life

Central to eternal life, the Tree of Life was originally situated in the middle of the Garden of Eden (cf. Genesis 2:9)

 

2. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

This tree was also mentioned in Genesis 2:9, but man was forbidden to eat of its fruit (cf. Genesis 2:17). Adam freely ate from it, thus putting man at enmity with God

 

3. The Tree of Calvary

The tree upon which Jesus died, the Cross provides redemption and eternal life to anyone who believes in His death, burial, and Resurrection. (cf. Acts 5:30; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24)

 

The Tree of Life, which bare twelve manners of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month

The Tree of Life

Representing perpetual everlasting life, the Tree of Life in eternity is correlative to the original Tree of Life in Eden. In Jewish thought, always expressed exceeding blessings.

 

To the Church at Ephesus Jesus promised:

Revelation 2:7b - To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

 

The Fruits of the Tree

The Tree of Life in Revelation produces twelve kinds of fruit. And, continuous blessings pour forth with a fresh crop of fruit each month.

 

Interestingly, several passages define the Tree in this fashion:

Proverbs 3:18 - She (wisdom) is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

 

Proverbs 11:30a – The fruit of the righteous is a Tree of Life.

 

Proverbs 15:4a – A wholesome tongue is a Tree of Life.

 

So, the passages mentioned present a composite picture of its many benefits.

 

Notwithstanding, it seems its fruit is not for sustenance. Some believe its fruits represent the Fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). On the other hand, recorded are times when angels and Jesus did eat. Three examples are submitted:

1. When Jesus, in a pre-incarnate appearance, came with two angels to visit Abraham on the plains of Mamre. There they ate breadcakes and tender calf meat.

 

2. After His Resurrection, the Lord inquired of His disciples if they had anything to eat.  And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and a honeycomb. And He took it and did eat before them (cf. Luke 24:42-43; Acts 10:41).

 

 

3. Also in His post-Resurrection body, while standing on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus queried His disciples to dine with Him. They ate charcoal bread and fish (cf. John 21:4-14).

 

The Months of the Tree

Months are mentioned, but not the way they are presently understood. The months or seasons do not refer to time, since eternity is infinite. Somehow when the New Heaven and earth arrive, it will be much more than what John has recounted, or what the mind can comprehend.

 

And the leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the nations

The Leaves of the Tree

The leaves of the Tree of Life are representative of spiritual life-giving sustenance and preservation. Additionally, their ministry is for continual well-being and exhilarating joy to the world’s inhabitants.

 

The idea of healing connotes health. Healing in Greek is therapeia from which our English word therapeutic is derived. The word is especially complimentarily to serving, i.e., to and from the nations.

 

Revelation 21:24 and 26 references the nations as Gentiles or peoples. They are those from the Millennium whom the saints will rule over. Hence and best understood, there is a reciprocal service occurring between the saints of New Jerusalem and Gentile nations outside the City.

 

 

(Verse 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.

 

Absent from the City of God is the need for divine chastisement or punishment. Because the presence and blessings of Almighty God and the Lamb are in the City, there is no curse.

 

Be reminded of three facets of the curse:

      1. It originated in the Garden (cf. Genesis 3:14-19)

2. It was partially removed during the Millennium (cf. Revelation 20:7-10)

3. It is now obliterated forever (cf. Revelation 22:3)

 

And His servants shall serve Him

Bondservants of the Lamb shall serve Him as kings and priests. Serve is latreuō in Greek and its tense is latreusousin, meaning to worship Him (see Revelation 19:1-7). In eternity, serving Him will be the highest joy and privilege of the saints. Also, there are blessings in serving as well as reigning (cf. 2 Timothy 2:12a).

 

 

(Verse 4)

 

And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads.

 

God’s promise to His servants is an intimate relationship with the Father and His Son. With intuitive knowledge, the saints of God will see His face. Many Scripture passages describe this yearning.

Here are three distinct selections:

Job 19:26 - And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

 

Psalm 17:15 –As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.

 

Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

 

And His name shall be in their foreheads

Not only will saints see the Lord face to face but His name will be indelibly inscribed on their foreheads. This serves as a seal of eternal ownership and they exclusively belong to Him (compare with Revelation 13:16-18). It will also be proof of complete consecration to God’s service. 

 

To the Church in Philadelphia, Jesus pledged:

Revelation 3:12 - Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the Temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the City of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of Heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name.

 

 

(Verse 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.

 

Reiterated from Revelation 21:23, three properties are restated regarding physical light:

1. There will be no more need for the night

2. There will be no more need for a candle

3. There will be no more need for the sun

 

Genuine illumination will radiate from the Lord Himself in the eternal state. His divine heavenly glory will brilliantly shine all around in perpetuity.

 

Isaiah’s prophecy is consequently realized:

Isaiah 60:19 - The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

 

And they shall reign for ever and ever

As kings and priests unto God, His people will finally reign unto the Ages of Ages, in submission to Him, but in perfect freedom and loyalty, as Jesus stated to the Laodiceans:

Revelation 3:21 - To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My Throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His Throne.

Verse five takes the reader to the end of the Revelation narrative. 

 

In the final studies and passages, closing remarks from the glorified Lord are bestowed upon the reader.

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   What are three features of the City’s interior?

2.   What are the characteristics of the River of Life?

3.   What is the source of the River of Life?

4.   What is the location of the Tree of Life?

5.   What is the purpose of the Tree of Life?

6.   How are saints identified in New Jerusalem?

7.   What things are missing from New Jerusalem?

 

 

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