VISION 7: - REVELATION 17:1- 22:5: - SEVEN LAST VISIONS.
CHAPTER 22.
Vision (vii) 22:1-6: - THE BRIDE OF CHRIST (Cont'd).
REV 22:1 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
"the river of the water of life"
Psalm 97:4; 46:2
Genesis 2 - a Garden of Eden.
The New Order is to be in some ways a restoration of the perfection of the Old. Hence we see a new Garden of Eden and in it the trees found in the original Garden.
John 4:10-14 - the River is the Holy Spirit.
Ezekiel 47:1-12; Zechariah 14:8.
The "river of life" is a symbolic way of saying that death and its results are no longer present.
"from the Throne of God and of the Lamb."
Thus suggesting the God is the source of this life.
Note that there is no real difference between the throne of God and the throne of the Lamb. In this kingdom there is no competition between the rulers, no jealousy, no internal strife or plotting of takeover by the under rulers.
Recognising that the river is the Holy Spirit we see here a picture of the truth taught in John 15:26, the procession of the Spirit from the Father and the Son. This doctrine of dual procession caused a major controversy between the Eastern and Western church and was the root cause of the split into Orthodox and Roman Catholic (at least that’s what we are told to believe). Of course the real cause of the split was, as always, human selfishness and power struggles, but we don’t talk about those things in the church. The controversy arose when the Western church added a clause to the Nicene Creed to say that “the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.” The original Creed only said that the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father.” The Eastern (Orthodox) church did not agree that John 15:25 taught this dual procession. However the idea is also here in Revelation 22. This is not a place for a detailed discussion of the question but it is worth noting the implication of the text here with regard to that particular doctrine. My own view is that, whether or not the doctrine is right or wrong (and I’m not sure it is) the best thing the Western Church could do is remove the contentious phrase in the interests of Church Unity.
REV 22:2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
"the middle of the street"
We saw that there is only one street and it depicts the life of absolute obedience to God and Holiness that the Redeemed have. Here we see in the middle of this street the River, the Holy Spirit. Clearly we are intended to see that the Holy Spirit is central to this obedience and walk of the Redeemed.
"on either side of the river the tree of life"
We are probably meant to understand this to mean there is a row of trees on each side of the river.
Genesis 2:9, 3:22.
It was found in the original Garden of Eden, but man was barred from it because of sin.
Apocalyptic consistently prophesied its restoration in the Perfect State of the Kingdom.
Enoch 25:22ff; 4 Ezra 7:53, 8:52; 2 Enoch 8:3.
Proverbs 3:18 tells us that the wisdom of God is a tree of Life to us, and we are told in
1 Corinthians 1:31 that Christ is the wisdom of God.
We are also told that Christ is the "life of God" and he brought this to mankind.
In other words what we have here pictured is the full manifestation and consummation of the work of Christ. Where there was only a restricted availability of this in the Garden of Eden, now there are enough trees to supply the whole of mankind.
“12 kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month".
Ezekiel 47:12.
Is this a different kind of fruit every month? Anyway it doesn't matter - John's intention is to indicate that the tree is always loaded with fruit - the wisdom of God is never short. We do not have to wait for it to bud, blossom, develop and grow. Unlike trees today it never goes through the yearly cycle of death, thus showing that death is finally overcome.
"leaves...for the healing of the nations"
Greek literally = "health giving"
But there won't be any sickness so this cannot mean healing in the sense of "from sickness". Rather it means that they are "health giving", i.e. they promote well being and enjoyment.
What are “the nations” doing there if this is the future perfect state? And why do they need to be “healed?”
(i) Clearly the distinctions in this age are not going to be superseded. It the distinctions of culture and nationalism various aspects of the glory of God are revealed. To mix us all up in one big “melting pot” would obliterate the distinctions and as a result God would not receive as much glory. Hence the distinctions remain.
(ii) Again the message is both future and present. There is a wisdom of God available through Christ NOW! It is made manifest by the Holy Spirit in the Church. It can bring "healing" to the nations.
God's wisdom, if lived in now, will prevent sickness and the curse affecting our lives.
The answers facing the politicians of the world have answers, but God is going to demonstrate that these answers are only available from himself through the Holy Spirit in the Church. In the eternal state where such problems arise, as they will in any society, instead of the problems breeding violence and envy thy will be solved by the ready access to the leaves of the tree of life.
REV 22:3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
"nothing accursed"
Zechariah 14:11.
This is a reference back to Genesis 3 where the curse was put on earth because of men's sin.
REV 22:4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
"they shall see his face"
1 John 3:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 15:49.
"and his name shall be on their foreheads"
Revelation 3:12, 13:16, 14:1 - the 144,000.
It means his character and power has become ours’.
REV 22:5 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. And they will reign for ever and ever.
"God shall illuminate them and they shall reign forever and ever"
The illumination of God, meaning his divine inspiration and wisdom, is the key to the reign of the saints. Without his wisdom they cannot rule.
There is a clear reference here to the ceremony of illumination that formed an integral part of the Feast of Tabernacles. Jerusalem was lit up as in daylight at night by the lighting of this magnificent lamp in the temple for the whole week of Tabernacles.
22:6-21: - EPILOGUE.
With the description of the Bride the seven series of visions is ended. As the book began with an introduction, now it is ended with a conclusion.
REV 22:6 The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place."
"faithful and true"
Revelation 3:14; 19:11.
"to show his servants what must soon take place"
Again it is affirmed that REVELATION is to do with future events, it is a prophecy in the true sense. That it will happen is guaranteed by the fact that it is revealed to John by "he who is faithful and true".
"servants"
Literally = "bondservants"
Revelation is a difficult book, but its meaning is not hidden, it is a REVELATION not a HIDING. But the message of the book is not clear to all - only those who are "bondservants" have the capacity to understand it. One has to have bound himself to Christ in love as a slave for life.
REV 22:7 "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."
"I am coming soon"
Revelation 2:16, 3:11.
"Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book"
The book is a warning, a call to fidelity to Christ in the face of the workings of Satan in the world. Hence we need to heed it - take note of its message, allow it to challenge our hearts and prepare us for the inevitable persecution that will come.
REV 22:8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.
REV 22:9 But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!"
C/f 19:10.
REV 22:10 Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.
Daniel 12:4; 1 Enoch 1:2, 104:13; 2 Corinthians 12:2-4.
"Do not seal"
In contrast to the prophets of the OT whose message was sealed John's is left open for all to understand. Failure to understand then is not the fault of the book or its author, rather it speaks of the condition of the reader.
"the time is near"
John's prophecy is not for some remote generation, but for his own and for subsequent generations of the church. Though it has a final and full fulfilment at the end of the age, its principles and truths have an application to every age while Antichrist's forces continue to work.
REV 22:11 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy."
REV 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
C/f 11:8.
REV 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the
Beginning and the End.
C/f 1:8 21;6.
REV 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.
The seventh beatitude.
REV 22:15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
"outside the city", i.e. in Hell.
"dogs"
Deuteronomy 23:18; Matthew 7;27; Revelation 21:8 -all those who choose to life as dogs instead of men.
REV 22:16 "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."
REV 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
C/f Song of Solomon 8:14.
Probably the whole verse is an invitation to those who need salvation.
REV 22:18 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.
REV 22:19 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.
John expects that Revelation will be read as scripture.
This is the only book of the Bible with such a warning – yet surprisingly enough it is really the only book of the Bible that people consistently add to and take away from. How strange…
REV 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
“He” – Christ himself.
"Come Lord Jesus" = Maranatha. This was a prayer prayed in the Early Church at the Lord's Supper. Here it is John’s response to the visions he has had, but it should become our heart response also as we read Revelation. Perhaps the reason why we do not cry this out with passion is because we either skip Revelation when we get to it, or we don’t read it out loud.
REV 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.
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