REVELATION 22 //

LAST WEEK

We looked at a glimpse of Heaven

We concluded that one day Jesus will make all things new.

One day, there will be no more tears, sorrow, suffering, pain . . .

We as Bible Believing Christians can look at life in a very optimistic light, because we know that one day all will be made right.

THIS WEEK

We are going to look at another side of Heaven

We are going to look at the Final Message of Jesus to the Churches.

We are going to finish the Book of Revelation

READ

Revelation 22 NKJV

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 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. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. 6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. 7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11 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.” 12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” 14 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. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. 16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. 18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

PRAY

Revelation 22:1–2 NKJV

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Rev 22:

JOHN IS STILL SPEAKING WITH THE ANGEL

THE ANGEL BEGINS TO SHOW JOHN SOME OTHER INTERESTING DETAILS OF HEAVEN

HE SHOWED HIM A RIVER OF WATER OF LIFE

This river is clear as crystal

It proceeds from the throne of God and the Lamb

This River is very different from what we have ever seen

But it wouldn’t be foreign to those who study the bible and know a little bit about the prophetic books of the Bible.

Check our

Ezekiel 47:12 NKJV

12 Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

Ezekiel

This is almost identical to what we are seeing in Heaven.

Written almost 700 years before the Book of Revelation

Ezekiel is describing a Temple, a City, that will be rebuilt for God’s Glory.

Let’s remember, in Revelation, we are also talking about the City and a people Group.

So in the middle of the street of this great city

And on both sides of the river

Was the tree of Life

This tree was larger than what we can imagine

It’s roots were deep into the foundation of the city.

So much so, that it looks like the tree sprouted up on both sides of the River.

You may be thinking, why is there a tree in Heaven, didn’t a tree keep us from Heaven in the first place?

If you remember, the Garden of Eden had two trees.

One, was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

The Other was the Tree of Life

IN THIS TEXT WE ARE SEEING THE REDEMPTIVE QUALITIES OF GOD IN ACTION

Genesis 3:22 NKJV

22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—

THE GARDEN HAS THIS VERY BITTERSWEET TASTE

A PLACE WHERE SIN AND DEATH BEGAN

THERE IS THIS THING IN CHRISTENDOM, CALLED THE LAW OF FIRST MENTION.

ON ONE HAND, IT WAS GOOD, GIVEN TO ADAM AS A GIFT FOR HIM TO STEWARD

ON THE OTHER HAND, IT WAS A PLACE WHERE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND MAN WAS DISTORTED.

But in this text, we see a different Garden

A renewed Garden, with one Tree

So, let’s take a look at the Garden of Eden for a second

Where the first mention of something dictates how that is defined in the rest of the Biblical text.

So, let’s take a look at the Garden of Eden for a second

Genesis 2:8–17 NKJV

8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Genesis 2:8

God plants this Garden in a place called Eden

This was man’s home

This was a place that God created for man to enjoy.

Trees that God planted for man’s nurture and pleasure

Pleasant to the sight and good for food.

Within this Garden, there was two trees

The Tree of Life

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

From this Garden, there flowed a river

This river lead to places of prosperity

Places where gold, bdellium, onyx, and life was abundant.

All God required from the man, was to tend the garden

But there was two things he needed to be mindful of

The man could eat of ever tree

He could enjoy of all that the River of Life nurtured.

Except for one tree

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

For in the day that he ate of it, he would surely die.

WE KNOW THE STORY

GOD THEN SEE’S THAT MAN HAS A DEEPER NEED THAN FOOD, AND LABOR.

GOD CAUSES THE MAN TO SLEEP

GOD CREATES FROM HIS RIB, A WOMAN,

SHE, THEN EATS FROM THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL

WHICH BEGINS THE SNOWBALL EFFECT FOR ALL OF HUMANITY.

BUT TIMEOUT:

Do we ever think about the other tree?

Was there any repercussions for eating from that tree?

ACTUALLY, GOD CLUES US IN IN GENESIS 3

Genesis 3:22–24 NKJV

22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Genesis 3:22 NKJV

22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—

CHURCH, HUMANITY HAD THE ABILITY TO LIVE FOREVER

Genesis 3:22

Adam and Eve were supposed to live forever

If they only had stuck to the plan.

GOD HAS

If they only remained disciplined.

If they only took God’s word at face value.

So Adam and Eve sinned, and now they are bound by the consequences of sin.

A couple that was supposed to live forever, will now surely die.

says that the wages of sin is death.

Romans 6:23 NKJV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6

THOUGH CONSEQUENCES ARE CONSEQUENCES

ISN’T IT RADICAL THAT THE GOD OF THE BIBLE DOESN’T FORSAKE US EVEN AFTER WE HAVE SINNED?

ISN’T IT AMAZING THAT HE IS WILLING TO WORK THROUGH THE CONSEQUENCES WITH US

YES, ADAM AND EVE WILL SURELY DIE, BUT GOD STILL PURSUED THEM

“ADAM, WHERE ARE YOU”

BEFORE HE KICKED THEM OUT OF THE GARDEN

Genesis 3:21 NKJV

21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

WHY ALL OF THIS GENESIS TALK?

BECAUSE THIS IS THE NATURE THAT WILL BE RESTORED

WE ALL HAVE TAKEN FROM THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL

WE HAVE ALL QUESTIONED GOD’S WORD

DID HE REALLY SAY

MY PASTOR ONCE WENT THROUGH A CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE LOOKING FOR A BOOK THAT WOULD JUSTIFY SEXUAL PROMISCUITY, AND HE DIDN’T FIND IT

SO TOO US

DID HE REALLY SAY

“GO UNTO ALL THE WORLD”

NAH, YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THAT, YOU DON’T REALLY NEED TO

DID HE REALLY SAY

“MAKE DISCIPLES”

NAH, YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THAT, THATS GOING TO TAKE TIME

DID HE REALLY SAY

“BE WITNESSES IN JUDEA, SAMARIA, AND THE WHOLE WORLD?”

NAH HE DIDN’T SAY THAT, JUST STAY HOME, ITS RAINING

DID HE REALLY SAY

“CARRY YOUR CROSS”

NAH, DON’T WORRY ABOUT ALL THAT, THATS TOO HARD.

We may not say it, but our actions are preaching for us

IN THE NEW GARDEN, THERE IS A TREE OF LIFE

IT GIVES FORTH 12 FRUITS

ONE FRUIT FOR EVERY MONTH

IT’S LEAVES HAVE HEALING QUALITIES.

Though there isn’t any more sin to cause pain, there might still be a need to heal from all that has happened.

Revelation 22:3–5 NKJV

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. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

ONE THING IS FOR SURE, THERE IS NO MORE CURSE

SO THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN SEPARATE YOU FROM GOD

HIS THRONE AND THE LAMB ARE FULLY ACCESSIBLE

THOSE WHO ARE HIS SERVANTS, WILL SERVE HIM.

THEY SHALL SEE HIS FACE

HIS NAME SHALL BE ON THEIR FOREHEADS

THERE IS NO NIGHT IN HEAVEN

THERE IS NO LAMP, NOR SUN, NOR MOON, FOR THE LORD GIVES THEM THE LIGHT.

Revelation 22:6–11 NKJV

6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. 7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11 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.”

REV 22:6-

THEN THE ANGEL TOLD JOHN:

“THESE WORDS ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE”

THEN THE LORD GOD OF THE HOLY PROPHETS

SENT HIS ANGEL TO SHOW HIS SERVANTS THE THINGS WHICH SHALL SHORTLY TAKE PLACE.

THE LORD GOD SAID:

“BEHOLD I AM COMING QUICKLY”

“BLESSED IS HE WHO KEEPS THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK”

God is pronouncing a blessing to those who keep these words

To those who observe or believe and put into practice the message given to the Church.

THIS IS WHAT JESUS HAD TOLD THE ANGEL TO COMMUNICATE TO HIS SERVANTS

WHEN JOHN HEARD IT, HE MAY HAVE CONFUSED THE ANGEL FOR THE LORD HIMSELF

HE FALLS DOWN IN WORSHIP, AND THE ANGEL IMMEDIATELY INTERRUPTS HIM.

“See that you do not do that”

“I am your fellow servant”

“and of your brethren the prophets”

“and of those who keep the words of this book”

“WORSHIP GOD”

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME JOHN HAS DONE THIS

IT SHOWS US HIS HUMAN NATURE

IT ALSO SHOWS US THAT EVEN IN HEAVEN, NO ONE FEELS WORTHY TO BE WORSHIPPED.

THE ANGEL THEN TELLS JOHN

“DO NOT SEAL THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK”

“FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND”

WHAT IS THE ANGEL TELLING JOHN?

Don’t hide this stuff

Don’t withold this information

Normally, prophetic literature was sealed up

Daniel 12:4 NKJV

4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

Here, the powers that be are inviting everyone into this story

Pronouncing a blessing for those who keep these words.

Very different than times past.

THIS DIALOGUE ENDS WITH

“FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND”

THE END HAS COME

THOSE WHO ARE UNJUST WILL STAY UNJUST

THOSE WHO ARE DEFILED WILL REMAIN DEFILED

BUT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WASHED BY THE BLOOD, RIGHTEOUS IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WILL BE RIGHTEOUS STILL

HE WHO IS HOLY WILL REMAIN HOLY.

Revelation 22:12–17 NKJV

12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” 14 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. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. 16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

JOHN THEN HEARS JESUS HIMSELF, OR IS RECORDING WHAT THE ANGEL TOLD HIM

ONE THING IS FOR SURE THESE ARE THE WORDS OF JESUS:

“BEHOLD, I AM COMING QUICKLY, AND MY REWARD IS WITH ME”

“TO GIVE EVERYONE ACCORDING TO HIS WORK”

“I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END, THE FIRST AND THE LAST”

JOHN THEN ADDS HIS COMMENTARY

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO DO HIS COMMANDMENTS

SOME OF YOUR BIBLES MAY SAY “ WASH THEIR ROBES”

IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN USING THE EARLY AND NEW MANUSCRIPTS TO TRANSLATE THE BIBLE

THEY HAVE SIMILAR MEANINGS

One talks about doing what He has commanded

The other is looking at the result of what He commanded.

If you love God with all of your heart, soul, might and strength

You will also believe His Word

That He sent His Son, not to condemn the world, but to save the world, that through Him the World would receive eternal Life.

Blessed are you who believe

You have the right to the Tree of Life

You may enter through the gates into the new city

But trip out on this, outside of the city are a different type of people

Dogs

Sorcerers

Sexually Immoral

Murderers

Idolaters

Whoever loves and practices a Lie

These are outside of the city

Normally we think this is just outside the city

But as we let scripture interpret scripture

We know that these types of people are in a distant land

The Lake of Fire, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT OF WHAT HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED IN THIS TEXT, JESUS HIMSELF CLEARS IT UP

“I JESUS, SENT MY ANGEL TO TESTIFY TO YOU THESE THINGS IN THE CHURCHES,”

“I AM THE ROOT AND THE OFFSPRING OF DAVID”

“THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR”

JOHN ADDS:

“THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY COME

AND LET HIM WHO HEARS SAY “COME”

LET HIM WHO THIRSTS COME

WHOEVER DESIRES, LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY

WHEREVER THERE IS A BLESSING, THERE IS SOMETIMES A WARNING.

HERE IS NO EXCEPTION.

Revelation 22:18–21 NKJV

18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

REV 22: