Chapter Twenty Two

John has been shown the bride, the wife of the lamb, in Revelation chapter 21. This bride is also identified as the holy city, the new Jerusalem. Most of the description in that chapter deals with the foundation, walls and gates of the city. But the final few verses begin to give a glimpse of the inside of this new Jerusalem.

Chapter 22 opens with a view of a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and the Lamb. Notice how the divinity of Jesus is once again stressed in this phrase. The throne is of God and the Lamb.

The river flows down the middle of the street, providing water for the tree of life. This tree bears a new crop of fruit every month, and its leaves are for the healing of the nations.

As is the case with most if not all of the images in the book of Revelation, this vision is nothing new for the first-century readers, many of whom have a Jewish background.

Ezekiel records in chapter 47 of his book a vision in which he has seen water flowing from under the threshold of the temple. The water flows out toward the east, growing deeper as it goes until it becomes a river that can not be forded.

"These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah;" is the explanation given to Ezekiel beginning in verse eight, "then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and the waters of the sea become fresh.

"And it will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there, and the others become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes."

"And by the river on its bank," the explanation continues in verse 12, "on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."

"And it will come about in that day that living waters will flow out of Jerusalem," Zechariah 14:8 notes, "half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter."

Some other Old Testament passages that mention a spring of water include Isaiah 44:3, 55:1 and 58:11.

But, just when would this take place?

"And it will come about in that day," Joel 3:18 promises, "that the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah will flow with water; and a spring will go out from the house of the Lord, to water the valley of Shittim."

To understand what the prophet is talking about when he says "in that day," we can look first to Joel 2:28-32 and then to Acts 2:17-21. Peter says in the latter passage that Joel is writing of the coming of Christ and the establishment of the church on the day of Pentecost.

In fact, Jesus explains this to the woman at the well in John 4.

"If you knew the gift of God," the Master states in verse 10, "and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

"Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again," Jesus continues in verses 13,14 as he contrasts material and spiritual water, "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

"If any man is thirsty," Jesus cries out in John 7:37-38, "let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.'"

John has already introduced us to this source of water in Revelation 7:16-17 and 21:6.

Revelation 22:3-5 goes on to describe what it is like inside the city. Verse three says there shall no longer be any curse. This is what Zechariah 14:11 also promises. What curse are we talking about and when would it be lifted?

The first curse we read about is in Genesis chapter three when God curses Adam and Eve as the result of their sin.

Although they were living in a close relationship with God, the curse of sin drove them away.

"But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God," Isaiah 59:2 points out. So the curse is separation from God as a result of sin. This was symbolized by the veil in the tabernacle and later in the temple.

Matthew 27:51 tells us that this veil was torn from top to bottom when Jesus died.

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul," Hebrews 6:19-20 tells us, "a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner according to the order of Melchizedek."

"Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus," Hebrews 10:19,20 notes, "by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh."

The curse is lifted, then, with the death of Christ.

Revelation 22:4 says that the servants of Jesus will wear His name on their foreheads. This indicates that they will experience some of the same things He experienced.

There will no longer be any night, neither will there be a need for a lamp or the sun. John has already mentioned this in the previous chapter.

The narrative shifts now from the vision of the bride to the final statements made to John. Verse 6 repeats that these things must take place shortly. The next verse repeats the blessing on those who heed the words of the book.

John adds his identification in verse 8, followed by another instance when the author is corrected for bowing to an angel.

The messenger reminds John one more time in verse 10 that the time is near.

Although the messenger is an angel, the message is that of Christ. So the words of these verses are those of the Lord, not of the angel. Jesus says that He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and Last, the Beginning and End.

In verse 14 Jesus identifies those who may enter the city. He says they are the ones who wash their robes. We would like to assume that everyone is eager to know how to do this, and even more eager to do it. But the sad truth is that most people will not take the time to learn the answer, much less obey what they find. For those who are interested, Acts 22:16 and Galatians 3:27 are two of the places where the answer is located.

In verse 15 Jesus identifies those who will not enter the city. We need to decide which group we want to be in.

Jesus makes another statement about Himself in verse 16. The following verse contains a beautiful invitation.

"And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come,'" it offers. "And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost."

We hope you have enjoyed this study of the book of Revelation and, more importantly, that you have learned something from it. It is a powerful and beautiful book that deserves frequent study.

The main thing to remember about this book is its purpose: to provide Christians strength to endure persecutions. It does this by demonstrating that God is in control and by reminding His people that He will judge those who oppose Him and mistreat His followers. This message is as valid for us as it was for the Christians of the first century.

One of the gravest warnings in the entire Bible is contained in verses 18,19 of the final chapter.

"I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book."

In light of this strong warning, we can't help but wonder why so many religious groups find nothing wrong with adding to or taking away from what is taught in the Bible. Have you ever wondered the same thing?

Men offer excuses and make great promises. But God's promise is extremely simple. Only the truth will set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."