Rev 22:1-5: Return to the Garden Pt 1
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· 23 viewsThe ending the church has been waiting for is consummated.
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The Happy Ending
The Happy Ending
Everyone loves the happy ending- most movies tend to have one
We like knowing it all works out- Dad gets the job, the team wins the game, the boy gets the girl, dreams come true in the end, etc..
The problem is that isnt always the case- life doesnt always play out like feel good movies
But in eternity, beloved, we get the happy ending
In our passage we are finishing up the book of the Revelation
We have rode through hopes, hurts, heartaches, horror and now we are home
The Great Day of The Lord has brought final judgement to the unbeliever but final restoration to the believer
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 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. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
This is the last visionary set for the book
What we see is- is a river of life flowing from the throne of God and the lamb through the city
Are we to expect a literal river flowing under Gods throne- im not entirely sure but the symbolism is certain
Eternal life flows from God and Christ to his people forever more
We saw last time in Rev 21- no more death or pain
The conquered foes in 1 Cor 15- are no more
The promise of Jesus to come get his people in John 14- kept
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Promise kept and eternal life only through God
You know who isnt mentioned here? Alla, Buddha, Krishna, or good works
None but God
In a similar way, PJJ on the mount during the transfiguration
They see Moses and Elijah and Peter wants to worship them all
But after the voice from heaven, they cower in fear but only to look up and see only Jesus
Vs 2- continues the theme
-The river runs straight through the middle of the street of the city
-on both sides of the river- the tree of life is present
We saw this briefly described in
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
It was 65 books since we have seen that tree
And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
This tree had symbolism of eternal life even in Gen 2 and what we see is that is restored here in the end
Many have declared Revelation to Return to the Garden or Eden for this very point
The thing that once separated us is no longer there- no sin
Man and God forever in relationship, they way we were intended- the way Adam and Eve were for a period of time
Only better now, because we understand redemption
Yields 12 different fruits, one for each month- interesting idea- no moon, no sun, no time in heaven
What does he mean? Possibly referring to the completed work of God in redeeming the world to himself
“Leaves for healing of the nations”
let me ask you this, Why do we have nations? sin
From the tower of Babel- we get the great dispersion and different languages
All the people lived together at that point
What you find in the end of the verse- is the last time nations will be mentioned
No more sin- no more nations- Just Gods people
Christ has healed the nations and made one people unto himself
Vs 3- Nothing accursed- here everything is accursed- nothing is above the stain of sin
We try everything we can to prevent the curses affects
Night serums for skin, more broccoli and less meat( right ), extended warranties to cover failures, insurance policies because disaster can quickly take it all away
but not there- Why?----- God is there
What an amazing statement- think of the working of God and the long suffering he endured for this very moment
For that and for infinite more reasons we will uncover in eternity- we will worship him
How all of that plays out, we will see but one commentator- called this the first blessing of heaven
The implication, however, is of great activity, not passive lethargy. In this life, his servants truly served him, though sometimes halfheartedly and often with incomplete obedience. In eternity this will change to perfect service. The first blessing is faultless active usefulness.
Vs 4- What Adam and Eve ran from, what Moses could never see, we will one day see face to face
What an amazing thought
Revelation A. Closing Scene—Jesus among His People Forever (22:1–5)
In the Christian era, God’s face is glimpsed through Christ. Sometimes, however, the way seems dark, and God’s face has appeared hidden even to the greatest of saints. In eternity with the curse removed, all God’s servants will see him face-to-face. Again, we cannot begin to imagine what this means, only that it surpasses the most wonderful spiritual experience of God that anyone in this life can have. The second blessing is immediate divine presence.
His name will be written on our foreheads
-Im not so sure Gods design involves stamping his name on us but the symbolism is undeniable
-We are his and what a privilege that is
Revelation A. Closing Scene—Jesus among His People Forever (22:1–5)
Throughout Revelation, foreheads with a sign or a mark have figured prominently (7:3; 9:4; 13:16; 14:1, 9; 17:5; 20:4; 22:4). The only group so far specifically noted with the name of God on their foreheads were the 144,000 followers of the Lamb (14:1). To bear God’s name was a privilege, but it also provided protection. Although interpreters have often differed about the meaning of the 144,000, all agree that in the present text all the redeemed throughout eternity are in view. The seal or name of God on someone authenticates that person as genuine, guarantees God’s protection, and is a token of his reward to the overcomers. The third blessing is eternally guaranteed reward.
Vs5- Never night, always day-
-No need for a sun- We have the light of world
-No hunger- we have the bread of life and tree of life
-No thirst- we have the living water and the river of life
I dont want us to miss how the last visions ends- “they will reign forever and ever”
Every blessing of Christ is given to his people
Thats the epitome of being in Christ
Christ reigns, so will we because we are in Christ
and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Thats a consummated reality
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Hope has given way to sight
For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
Saints are called to persevere to the end
What an encouraging message for those early churches, churches in persecution and for us tonight