I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. The New Testament d. His name shall be on their foreheads: Heaven will be a place where Gods people will forever be identified with their God, and there will never be any doubt that they belong to Him. No, but it does show that living faith will have works with it (James 2:20, Titus 3:8). To testify to you these things in the churches: The Book of Revelation is written to the churches. In His resurrection body, Jesus enjoyed food (Luke 24:41-43, John 21:12-14). You cant bring anything to save or justify or commend yourself before God, but you can take the salvation He offers. But in the new heaven and new earth they are done away with forever. Not at all; they were not wrong and they were not misled by Jesus. of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. He that adds to the word of God draws down upon himself all the plagues written in this book; and he who takes any thing away from it cuts himself off from all the promises and privileges of it. Individual instructors or editors may still require the use of URLs. b. So the saints in heaven shall have more knowledge of Christ than the most advanced below. One of the gladdest things on earth is water. Even allowing for the small percentage of disputed texts, we can trust our Bibles. Major Prophets All this shall be with perfect knowledge and joy. Revelation chapter 22 English Standard Version 1 Then the angel 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. Do not seal the words of this prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand: Because the time is at hand, and history now runs parallel to the brink of the consummation of all things, this book isnt sealed. There is no word here about a second chance hereafter. (Robertson), ii. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. No created being should ever be worshipped. If the statement I am coming quickly were not enough, Jesus puts emphasis on both sides surely before and amen after. General Epistles I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last., a. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.. The Spirit and the bride say, Come! Is this an invitation to Jesus, asking Him to return? As one has said, the babe in Christ admitted to heaven discovers more of Christ in a single hour than is known by all the divines of the assemblies of the church on earth. (Spurgeon). IV. b. ii. c. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last: As an added incentive for us to do and be what is right, being ready for Jesus return, He reminds us just who He is. ii. It is a book that condemns and excludes from heaven all wicked, unrighteous persons, and particularly those that love and make lies (v. 15), and therefore can never be itself a lie. From that throne no fiery bolt can ever again be hurled against the believer, for it is the throne of the Lamb as well as the throne of God. (Spurgeon). Passwords should have at least 6 characters. The title the First and the Last is also irrefutable proof that Jesus is Yahweh, the LORD: I, the LORD, am the first; and with the last I am He. The tension of imminence is endemic to that span of redemptive history lying between the cross and the parousia. (Mounce). Enduring Word Bible Commentary Revelation Chapter 22 Revelation 22 - Come, Lord Jesus A. Worship God.. Poetical Books Luke-Acts (Matthew 24:44). Minor Prophets It is the chief blessing of heaven, the cream of heaven, the heaven of heaven, that the saints shall there see Jesus. (Spurgeon), v. To look into the face of Christ signifies to be well acquainted with his person, his office, his character, his work. 3. How many rivers of life does John see here? Revelation 22 Bible Commentary - B. W. Johnson - Christianity The New Testament Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness. The supreme felicity of this paradisiacal state. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. With this phrase, John used an idea related to an Aramaic expression that was well known in the ancient church: Maranatha! Revelation 22:1-2. e. There shall be no more night there: Heaven will be a place where the darkness of this age will be forever gone. b. i. See that you do not do that: It is striking that even someone who had received all these visions may go astray. The old world, with all its troubles and tumults, will have passed away. No, what is meant here is Not literal dogs, but the morally impure Dogs in the Oriental cities are scavengers and excite unspeakable contempt (Matthew 7:6; Philippians 3:2). (Robertson), I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. These words are faithful and true: The angel that showed John all this reminds John that it isnt too good to be true. i. b. These words are faithful and true: The angel that showed John all this reminds John that it isnt too good to be true. Revelation 22 - Bible Study Tools Nothing should be more desired by us than that the grace of Christ may be with us in this world, to prepare us for the glory of Christ in the other world. The situation of itin the midst of the street, and on either side the river; or, as might have been better rendered, in the midst between the terrace-walk and the river. There shall be no night. Bright as crystal. Either, then, this Book is nothing but a base and blasphemous forgery, unworthy of the slightest respect of men, and specially unworthy of a place in the Sacred Canon; or it is one of the most directly inspired and authoritative writings ever given. (Seiss). And now, as to this tree, observe, 1. And let him that heareth say, Come. a. We are not rushing towards a distant brink of the consummation of all things; we are running parallel along the edge of that brink, and have been since the time of the apostles. If anyone adds if anyone takes away: This means that there is a high price to pay for tampering with the Book of Revelation specifically, and the Scriptures in general. One might say, I dont understand all the Christian doctrine and theology come anyway, because it doesnt say whoever understands, let him take the water of life freely. It simply describes the future with the imagery of the present. (Mounce), i. But I have no strength to do this. Either sense is certainly true. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. f. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely: It is fitting that this great invitation closes the Book of Revelation and the Bible. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. Little sinners, big sinners, black sinners, fair sinners, sinners double dyed, old sinners, aggravated sinners, sinners who have committed every crime in the whole catalogue, whosoever. (Spurgeon). The previous chapter of Ezekiel (chapter 46) discusses a " " who represents Christ. John is assured that it is in fact faithful and true. In whatsoever points you or any of us may fail, may we never come short of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Spurgeon). a. 12. i. My heart is hard and I cant even weep over my sins or feel bad over them as I should come anyway, because it doesnt say whoever feels, let him take the water of life freely. 3. i. The invitation to come is an urgent command, for the day will arrive when it is too late to come. (Revelation 22:17) The Spirit and the Bride say to all: Come! The shining light which comes from the river shows the glory of the heavenly life. The apostolical benediction, which closes the whole: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen. 8. The impulse and intention may be devout and good; but it is a great mistake. (Seiss). It is a good word for the close of this marvelous picture of Gods gracious provision for his people in earth and heaven. (Robertson), ii. Then come. 20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. All our springs of grace, comfort, and glory, are in God; and all our streams from him are through the mediation of the Lamb. By the order given to leave the book of the prophecy open, to be perused by all, that they might labour to understand it, that they might make their objections against it, and compare the prophecy with the events. i. Preach orthodoxy, or any form of doxy; if you have left out Christ, there is no manna from heaven, no water from the rock, no refuge from the storm, no healing for the sick, no life for the dead. III. i. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.. Either sense is certainly true. Amen. It will never end. The Whole Bible Just as the Morning Star (generally held to be the planet Venus) shines and welcomes the new day, so does Jesus. If any say, "Where is the promise of his coming, when so many ages have passed since this was written?" Revelation 22:1 In the previous chapter, John was shown a new order of things. And they shall reign forever and ever. Regarding the phrase those who do His commandments some translations have those who have washed their robes instead. Some people wonder if we will eat in heaven. God will own them, as having his seal and name on their foreheads. Seeing the tree of life again points to a restoration of all things. The fruitfulness of this tree. And they will reign for ever and ever. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. ii. Revelation 1:8, 17; Revelation 2:8; Revelation 21:6). My reward is with Me: If Jesus will give to everyone according to his work, does that mean we are saved by our works? One might say, I cant repent the way I should. Then come! . Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The fruit is not only pleasant, but wholesome. Poetical Books While Ezekiel's vision of the new temple promised restoration to Israel, it also went beyond the earthly temple to symbolically give us a glimpse of the the same eternal kingdom that is being described here in Revelation 21 and 22. b. Besides, there is an inherent blessing in doing His commandments, because they are good and right for us. It is perhaps the final preview of this heavenly river. 2. (5) And there shall be no night there . a. b. He seems now, after he has been discovering these things to his people on earth, to take leave of them, and return to heaven; but he parts with them in great kindness, and assures them it shall not be long before he comes again to them: Behold, I come quickly. Also by his messengers; the holy angels showed them to holy men of God. i. a. I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel: As before in Revelation 19:10, John was overwhelmed and bowed before an angel in worship. Why would God assign such a strong rebuke for the addition to or subtraction from a book that just painted big ideas in wild pictures, or if no one could really understand the book anyway? Much of the Book of Revelation is either fantastic or seems too good to be true, but it is all true. Revelation 22:13 Commentaries: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first What does Revelation chapter 22 mean? | BibleRef.com This book is not a private affair, knowable only by an elite it is for all believers. 3. The vision is for an appointed time, and will not tarry. 26 The meaning of this whole verse is: "The words of the Christian prophets do not speak their own minds, but God's." By the integrity of that angel who had been the apostle's guide and interpreter in these visions; this integrity was such that he not only refused to accept religious adoration from John, but once and again reproved him for it. Such a fence as this God set about the law (Deut 4 2), and the whole Old Testament (Mal 4 4), and now in the most solemn manner about the whole Bible, assuring us that it is a book of the most sacred nature, divine authority, and of the last importance, and therefore the peculiar care of the great God. He will not exclude anyone who comes to Him. Rather, And night shall not be any more, and (they shall not have) need of the light of lamp, and of light of sun, because the Lord God shall give light upon them, and they shall reign unto the ages of ages. "The first title is symbolical; the second is borrowed from the Old Testament; the third is philosophical "('Speaker's Commentary'). If what you have read in Revelation hasnt changed you, there isnt much hope! Each tree yielding its fruit every month: From all indications, this describes the world of the new heaven and the new earth, yet we are given a time indicator. a. ii. But I have no strength to do this. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Such a tree there was in the earthly paradise, Gen 2 9. Email / username or password was incorrect! i. Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. In 2 Thessalonians 3:17-18, Paul even indicated that this signature no doubt written with his own hand was a mark that the letter was genuinely from him. Click on the different category headings to find out more. Surely I am coming quickly: To the very end, the Book of Revelation emphasizes readiness and watchfulness. This is the throne of God and of the Lamb, so Beasley-Murray is right in saying, "The river flows from Christ." [8] However, he is wrong in the view that "Christ took the place of the temple." Just the opposite is true: secular Israel had permitted the temple to take the place of Christ who is the true temple. 1. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. Come, and take the water of life freely. (Spurgeon). Revelation 22:1 Commentaries: Then he showed me a river of the water of (2.) Pauline Epistles If the warnings of this book are not sufficient, there is no more that God has to say. (Walvoord). Divines generally do further extend the sense of these two verses, considering this as the last portion of holy writ, not only placed last in our Bibles, but revealed and written last. iii. 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. Either, then, this Book is nothing but a base and blasphemous forgery, unworthy of the slightest respect of men, and specially unworthy of a place in the Sacred Canon; or it is one of the most directly inspired and authoritative writings ever given. (Seiss). GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point The Spirit and the bride say, Come! Is this an invitation to Jesus, asking Him to return? The presence and perfections of God furnish out all the glory and blessedness of heaven. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point