KBM Revelation Chapter 22

Hello again and welcome to our 212th episode of Kids Bible Minute. I’m your host Landon Rowell and I’m also the local preacher for the church of Christ in Ramona, OK. I want to thank Bible Way Media, out of the Oologah cofC for giving me the opportunity to do this podcast and each of you for studying God’s Word with me. I enjoy our studies together and look forward to it each week. As always, I want to make certain you have “your” Bible with you so that when I mention a Bible verse you can read that verse for yourself and not just take my word for it. Now most of the time I will read that passage mentioned out loud so it’s best if you pause this podcast when the scripture is mentioned, turn to the verse and read it, then unpause the podcast and read along with me as I read out loud. If you are new to our study, first I want to say thank you for studying with us and secondly I want to let you know that you can reach all archived or past episodes easily at ramonacofc.com in the podcast section where there is a direct link to Kids Bible Minute past episodes. So as you guys know we have been going through the book of Revelation and are looking to finish up this study today with the final chapter in the book, Revelation 22. If you haven’t studied the previous chapter with us I would recommend studying that first, as it will help with the first section of this chapter verses 1-5. In Revelation 22.1-5 we have a continuation of the previous chapter concerning the church as it has come out of the great persecution of the Roman Empire. It has the “river of life” flowing through it whose source is the Father and the Son. This, again, isn’t an unfamiliar phrase in the bible when it comes to describing God’s security and blessings. We saw it first, in this book, in Revelation 7:16-18 and Jesus himself said something very similar in to the Samaritan woman in John 4:13-14.

John 4:13–14 ESV

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

This river is clear or bright and thus pure along with it bearing much fruit, in fact 12 kinds of fruit. As you remember the number 12 represents religious perfection hence 12 tribes, 12 apostles, etc…thus we have the spreading of God’s religion to the nations that need healing from the leaves of the tree. Here in lies another reason this, to me, can’t be heaven. Why would the nations need healing “in heaven” where all is perfection and no need of such. However, the church does indeed heal those within it spiritually. Lastly, the accursed or cursed, i.e. the Roman Empires persecution, will no longer be a factor because, as prophesied in the book of Daniel there will only be one “world kingdom or empire” after the fall of Roman and that is the church.

Daniel 2:44 ESV

44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,

Starting in verse 6 and going through the end of the chapter there is one powerful message from Jesus, “I’m coming soon, keep the words of this book.” Now those that don’t hold to the true context and message of the book can try and make this section of scripture say any number of things but all Jesus is saying is that which he has said throughout the New Testament. God has continuously said, “Obey God’s will (Matthew 7:21) because you will not know when Jesus is coming (Matthew 24:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11), and you must always be prepared (Matthew 25:1-13). This chapter is no different, but some might ask what about verse 18 and 19 and the “plagues being added or the tree of life being taken away. Again, look back at what that symbolism represented. It wasn’t literal plagues nor is there a literal tree of life. If we add to God’s word (in other words say it’s ok to do something it doesn’t say it’s ok to do) we will suffer spiritual and sometimes physical punishment which will lead to our spiritual death for certain if we don’t repent as the plagues lead to. If we take away from God’s Word (in other words say we don’t have to do something God says we have to do) we will be removed from the spiritual security and protection the church provides from God and will be wayward from the church needing restoration (Galatians 6:1-2) which again leads to spiritual and eventually eternal death i.e. separation from God for eternity. Let’s make certain you and I never add to nor take away from God’s perfect and precious word.

Well, that concludes this Bible study for today. As always, I want to thank you for studying God's precious Word with me and I want to encourage you to continue to study God's Word every day. Be sure to use the wonderful material and other podcasts made available through the BWM App or website at biblewaymedia.org. I also personally have a website at gospel-preacher.com. Of course, make sure you ask your parents if it is ok by them before you download the app or go to those websites. I also encourage you to contact me personally with question about the Bible at the Ramona church of Christ email address [e-mail] or through our Facebook Page. Make sure you message the Ramona church of Christ in OK not California. Until we have an opportunity to meet again, peace be with you in Christ Jesus our Lord.