Message

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Thank God for guiding us to study Revelation, 19, 20 and 21. 19 is about the wedding of the Lamb, 20, the millennial kingdom of Christ, and 21, the New Jerusalem in a new and a new earth. Today we are going to study Revelation 22, the last chapter of this book. It is about life in the eternal kingdom of God, and the epilogue which emphatically addresses Jesus’ coming. May we go deeper into our life in God and the glorious hope we have in him. First, life in the eternal kingdom of God (1-6). In verse 1 John wrote, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” According to 21:1 there is no sea in the new heaven and the new earth. The sea passed away along with the first heaven and the first earth. However, in 22:1 the angel showed John the river of the water of life. This river is unlike any on earth because no hydrological cycle exists. In 21:6 God promised that he would give to the thirsty to drink from the spring of the water of life. There is such a thing as the water of life. Jesus said in John 7:34, “Whoever believes in me, streams of living water will flow from within him.” This refers to the Holy Spirit, and Jesus offers eternal life. We know that these are all about our spiritual life, which is invisible. But here in 22:1 the angel showed John the river of the water of life. There seem to be no distinction between the spiritual world and the physical world, for all things are eternal in the kingdom of God. The river of the water of life was as clear as crystal. In Revelation 4, when John was taken up into heaven, he saw a throne and before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal (4:6). We see that this is described as the river of the water of life in chapter 22. John could see the river of the water of life as clear as crystal. While hell is described as the lake of fire, the kingdom of God is depicted with the water of life and the river of life. The river of the water of life was flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Certainly, God is the source of life. It is written in Genesis 2:7, “The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” John 1:4 says regarding Jesus, “In him was life, that life was the light of men.” In addition Jesus said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life.” Apostle Peter said to Jews in Acts 31:5, “You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.” As we studied in 20:14, death itself was thrown into the lake of fire. Hence, in 21:4 is written, “There will be no more death” in the new Jerusalem in the new heaven and the new earth. Rather, the city of Jerusalem is full of life, as the river of life flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. In verse 2b it says, “On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.” Here we see the tree of life, which disappeared since written in Genesis 3:24, “After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” The description concerning the tree of life is that it stood on each side of the river of the water of life. The tree of life was sustained because it was planted in and stood on the river of the water of life. Subsequently the tree of life bore twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. Jesus said to the church at Ephesus that he would give the overcomer “to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God” (Rev. 2:7). "And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” The English word “therapeutic” comes from the Greek word translated “healing.” In addition, this word also denotes “serving, service, care.” The leaves somehow enrich heavenly life, making it full and satisfying. Considering the river of life and the tree of life, we can infer that in the eternal state, the redeemed and glorified people of God will be sinless and have eternal life, but they will always and forever remain dependent upon God as the source of life. Look at verse 3, “No longer will there be any curse.” We remember Galatians 3:13, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” Those who are in Christ Jesus are not under the curse. However, in the eternal kingdom of God, there will be no curse since sin will be completely gone. Verse 3 continues to say, “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city.” Now the throne is called the throne of God and of the Lamb. This expression is notably written two times here in Revelation 21:1 and 3, in the Bible. In Revelation 5:13, when every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them sang, the song of the praise was to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. The one who sits on the throne and the Lamb were separated although the song was given to both. In 7:10, a great multitude cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Again, God who sits on the throne and the Lamb were separated. As we thought of in the last lesson, Jesus said to the church in Laodicea, “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne” (3:21). Here also Jesus’ throne and the Father’s throne were separated. Jesus’ throne is the throne of Christ in the millennial kingdom. Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:24 that Christ would deliver the kingdom, the millennial kingdom to God the Father. Consequently, the earthly throne of Christ, the Davidic throne of the Son merges with the heavenly throne of God the Father. There is no more distinction between the two. They become one throne, the throne of God and of the Lamb. This expression “the throne of God and of the Lamb” clearly states the divinity of the Lamb Jesus. Jesus is God. He is the eternal King. Verse 3 continues, “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city and his servants will serve him.” Here we see clearly what his servants do in the eternal kingdom of God. It is to serve him, which is a part of worship. What a joy it will be to serve the true eternal God. Luke 1:74 says, “to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.” Even in this world serving God gives us the true meaning and joy of life. Definitely, serving God includes serving God’s flock of sheep and others in his name. We human beings are to serve ourselves or to serve God. One clear distinguishing mark of salvation is whom we serve, God or ourselves. There seem to be many who believe that Christ saved them but live for themselves and serve themselves. Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:15, “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” In the life of living for ourselves and serving our selves there is no true joy and happiness, but in serving God in our Lord Jesus Christ. While in this world, we serve him and strive to serve him better, and then we will serve him forever in his eternal kingdom. Truly, this is a blessed life. Look at verse 4. “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” It is written in Deuteronomy 34:10, “Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.” However, when Moses said to God, “Now show me your glory”, God said, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” The LORD continued, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I passed by. Then I will move my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen” (Ex 33:18-23). We remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.” What a glory it will be! In this world when we experience God’s presence even its glimpse, our hearts are moved and we are so happy and thankful. How much more than when we see his face as redeemed and glorified ones! “His name will be on their foreheads.” It will be the seal and confirmation that they are his treasured possession as well as the expression of their dedication to him. In verse 5, “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.” While on earth, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” and promised, “Those who follow me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life.” However, in the eternal kingdom of God, there will no more night, no more darkness. It will be kingdom of light in the full presence of God. “And they will reign for ever and ever.” Serving and reigning for ever and ever go together. What a glorious life in God’s eternal kingdom that is described in 22:1-5 with the river of life, the tree of life, seeing God’s face and serving him and ruling with him, no more curse and night, but full of life and light from God. This glorious life in the eternal kingdom of God will be real to us in God’s eternal plan as we experience his kingdom increasingly in this world. Look at verse 6. “The angel said to me, ‘These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophecy, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.’” This is a clear mark of the ending of Revelation. God wants his servants to know that these things must soon take place as God promised and prophesied, in the same way all other promises and prophecies have been fulfilled. Now there is a significant weighty epilogue. Second, “Behold, I am coming soon” (7-21). Look at verse 7. “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” Now, right after the actual completion of this book, Jesus’ own words are written, “Behold, I am coming soon!” From chapter 1, John wrote in verse 7, “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him” (1:7). Jesus said to the church in Philadelphia, “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have” (3:11). Right before the description of the spirits of demons’ gathering the kings of the whole world at Armageddon and the seventh bowl judgment being poured out, Jesus said, “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him” (16:15). Now at the beginning of this epilog Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming soon!” and he continued, “Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” The key point of the prophecy of this book is Jesus’ coming soon. The day of his coming will be the day of salvation and victory to his people, but the day of condemnation to all the unbelieving. Jesus’ second coming is promised repeatedly in the Bible, more than his first coming and his resurrection. While on earth Jesus said, “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Lk. 21:27-28). As we studied in Hebrews, it is written in 9:27-28, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him”, and in 10:37, “He who is coming will come and will not delay.” Jesus’ ascension was fantastic, so the disciples just looked at the sky in awe when he was taken up before their very eyes. At that moment the two angels said to them that this Jesus would come back in the same they had seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:10-11). “Behold, I am coming soon!” He is coming soon, because no one waits for his coming more than his life time, 50 or 60 years, definitely less than 100 years. If he does not come in my lifetime, after departure from this world I will see him. Our waiting time for his coming is the time to prepare. This waiting time is the same for all Christians in time, past and present, since this period is the span of each one’s life, at most. How short our life span is! Therefore, he is coming soon. We also should understand Jesus’ coming from God’s perspective. In the early Christian era there were scoffers. According to Apostle Peter, they would say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?” They would say continually like this, “People die and new people are born and everything goes on and on since the beginning of creation. It is nonsense to think that he will not come suddenly breaking this circle of life and the world.” To the scoffers, Apostle Peter said that things had happened according to God’s word and will happen according to his words of promise and to God a thousand years are like a day (2 Pe. 3:4-8). This is the trustworthy and true message from God, “Behold, I am coming soon!” Therefore, the angel told John in verse 10, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.” Especially, the message of Jesus’ coming soon should not be sealed but revealed and delivered to the people of this world so that they may not live in deception but know what is coming and prepare themselves. The angel said more in verse 11, “Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him wo does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.” These words are a serious warning to the unprepared and a great encouragement to those who are preparing for his coming soon. Jesus’ coming soon is written again in verse 12. “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” Now his reward is mentioned. We all like reward. Our God is the God of reward (Heb. 11:6). How great the reward Jesus brings with him will be! It is also written in Isaiah 40:10, “See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him, and his recompense accompanies him.” Certainly, his reward includes salvation. He will also reward for everything we have offered to him, materially and spiritually, small or great. Jesus said in Matthew 10:42, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Jesus also said in Mark 9:41, “I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” One time of rejection in fishing in his name, one time of Bible study, all done for him will be rewarded. Most importantly, how great his reward will be if what we have built survives when the fire tests the quality of each man’s work! (1 Cor. 3:14) Who is the one who is coming and who rewards? Look at verse 13. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Wow! What a description concerning Jesus? Jesus said in Revelation 1:8, “I am the Alpha and the Omega.” In the Old Testament the title, “I am the First and the Last”, is uniquely God’s (Isa. 41:4; 43:10; 44:6; 48:12). But Jesus said to John who fell at Jesus’ feet as though dead when he saw him, “Do not be afraid I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!” (1:17-18). He also said to the church in Smyrna, “These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again” (2:8). God said in Revelation 21:6, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.” Now Jesus said here in Revelation 21:13, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” There is triple emphasis of Jesus’ divinity. He is God. This Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming soon!” What an assurance of his coming. Through the coming of Jesus, who is the Beginning and the End, human history will be ended. He comes with his reward to give to everyone according to what he has done. In verse 14, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Here, those who wash their robes are those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14). They have been forgiven of their sins having been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb of God (Heb. 9:14; 1 Pe. 1:18, 19). They have the right to the tree of life, going through the gates into the city. On the contrary in verse 15, “Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” There are only two kinds of people, the blessed and the outsiders of the blessing. It is good to notice seven expressions of the blessed in Revelation. In 1:3, “Blessed is he who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written, because the time is near” , in 14:13, “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on”, in 16:15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him”, 19:9 “Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’”, in 20:6, “Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years” and in 22:7 “Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book”, and 22:14, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” These blessings are all connected, reading this book, dying in the Lord, staying awake, being invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb, sharing in the first resurrection, keeping the words of the prophecy in this book, and washing their robes. God wants us to obtain this blessedness through faith in Christ Jesus. Look at verse 16. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” It had been written in verse 6, “The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must take place.” Again it assures that Jesus is the Lord God. He really cares for the churches. He said, “I am the Root and Offspring of David.” Christ is the Root of David, so the source of David’s life and line of descendants, which establishes his deity. He is also the Offspring of David as a descendant of David, which establishes his humanity. This phrase gives powerful testimony to Christ as the God-Man (cf. 2 Tim 2:8). He also said, “I am the bright Morning Star.” This expression is very meaning to the churches. His coming in power and glory is the sun-rise for Israel and the Gentiles, the breaking of the millennial day. But for his Church he comes first as the morning-star, as the morning-star in the eastern sky precedes the rising of the sun in all His glory. Those who are awake can see the morning star. In verse 17, “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ This must be the expression of the Spirit and the bride’s longing for the coming of Jesus. And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Hearers are also to expect for his coming. “Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” This is an encouraging free invitation to Jesus and to the water of life for whoever is thirsty and wishes. In verses 18 and 19 it says, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” Here Jesus offers extended testimony on the authority and finality of the prophecy. He commissioned John to write it, but he was its author. These are not the first such warnings (cf. Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:6; Jer. 26:2). These warnings against altering the biblical text represent the close of the New Testament canon. Anyone who tampers with the truth by attempting to falsify, mitigate, alter, or misinterpret it will incur the judgments described in these verses. In verse 20, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Here is the final confirmation of the coming of Jesus, who said, “Yes, I am coming soon.” “Amen, Come, Lord Jesus”, this is a beautiful response of John, which should be the response of all his churches. And the final greeting is “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” The grace of Jesus who is the Lamb and is coming soon is everything to God’s people. And the last word of Revelation and so of the Bible is Amen. In the anticipation of our life in eternal state which consists of the river of life, the tree of life, the very presence of God and of the Lamb and the light coming from him and the privilege of serving him, may we keep the words of the prophecy, “Behold, I am coming soon!” ”Yes, I am coming soon” in our hearts and keep awake in our lives in this world.

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