Revelation Chapter Twenty Two

Revelation 22:1

1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

pure river of water... Jesus is the source, the fountain, of the life giving waters (Revelation 22:17) see (John 4:10) (John 7:37-39)
(Isaiah chapter 12)
Note: Early in the scriptures, God begins to draw us pictures pointing to Jesus, the true fountain of life giving waters. See (Genesis 2:10) which symbolizes the Gospel waters going to the four corners of the earth. Also (Numbers 20:8), where the rock symbolizes Jesus (Isaiah 8:14), where the source of the life giving waters.

Revelation 22:2

2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river or as might have been better rendered, "In the midst between the terrace walk and the river"

tree of life represents believers, who are fed by the pure waters of the river that comes from the throne (Psalm 1:3) (Isaiah 61:1-3).

twelve manner of fruits represents the fullness of believers that are the result of good trees (Matthew 7:15-20) (John 15:1-17) (John 4:36) See Numbers in the Bible

yield her fruit every month the her confirms the tree represents believers who are the brides of Jesus. Believers are fruitful in all seasons
(2 Timothy 4:2), unlike physical trees that only produce fruit in certain seasons.

leaves for the healing of nations (Ezekiel 47:12).

Revelation 22:3

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:

no more curse Jesus has redeemed believers from the curse
(Galatians 3:13) See (Genesis 3:17-19)

servants shall serve him (Revelation 7:15)

Revelation 22:4

4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

shall see his face we shall see Him as He is, and we will be His eternally (1 John 3:2) (Philippians 3:21) (Psalms 17:15) (Revelation 14:1)
(John 17)

Revelation 22:5

5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Lord God giveth them light the light bearers of the original creation will no longer be needed, as Jesus will be our eternal light (Isaiah 60:19-20) (John 1:4) (John 1:9) (1 John 1:5) (1 John 1:7)

When we try to see the Glory of this New Paradise, we are really looking at the Glory of Jesus Himself, who is the centrality in all things, revealed in an interesting inverse relationship between the beginning and the ending chapters of the Bible. Let us roughly point out the reciprocal arrangement of the first and last chapters of the Bible, which highlights Jesus as the centerpiece in history, that is, real history, history of the universe from the point of view of the One who made all things and for whom all things exist. Briefly, the arrangement is as follows:

1. Genesis 1:1 through 2:3 describe the glory of God and His first words to men.

2. Genesis 2:4 through 2:17 describe the dwelling place of men as well as the promises God gives to Adam.

3. Genesis 2:18 2:25 describe the woman which is presented to Adam.

4. Genesis 3:1 through 3:24 describe the curse of sin, especially as it affects men's relationship with God.

5. Genesis 4:1 to the end of the Old Testament describe how evil goes into the world, how it is displayed by men's personal corrupt life, as well as their hateful attitude toward God and each other. At the same time, this part of the Bible describes the promise of the gospel to restore people to the beauty of holiness.

In fullness of time, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Immanuel, came to fulfill the gospel and undo the work of sin for the benefit of His people. Therefore, in reverse order to what we listed before, we have the following sequence...

5. Throughout the New Testament, all the way up to Revelation 20:15, the Bible describes how the fulfilled gospel goes out into the world, reconciling men to God and to each other, as well as preparing men for judgement. This part of the Bible also describes how God fulfils His promise to make His people holy.

4. Revelation 21:1 through 21:8 describe the blessings of grace, especially as it affects believers' relationship with God.

3. Revelation 21:9 through 21:21 describe the bride, which is presented to the second Adam.

2. Revelation 21:22 through 22:5 describe the dwelling place of believers, as well as the fulfilment of the promises in the second Adam.

1. Revelation 22:6 through 22:21 describe the glory of God and His last words to men.

Superimposed upon the inverse arrangement of history, in a progression. The progression is from the simple to the complex. History begins with one family, Adam and Eve, and ends up with a multitude of children before the throne of grace. History begins with a garden and ends up with a city. The progression is also from the perilous to the secure. History begins with the tree of knowledge of good and evil and its curse, and ends up with the tree of life, bearing fruits for the healing of the nations. The progression is also from the physical to the spiritual. History begins with a sun, earth and sea, and ends up with a new heaven and a new earth, where the earth is removed, where the sea is no more and where light comes only from the Lamb of God.

Revelation 22:6

6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

faithful and true the Words of Christ (Revelation 19:11)

shortly be done (Hebrews 10:37-38) See also (1 John 2:18)
(1 Corinthians 10:11) (1 Peter 4:7) (Acts 2:16-17) It is the end time
because after the cross and pentecost, the last event which must take place is that the gospel goes out into the world and prepares both the believers and the wicked for the end of history on Judgment day. That is, it is at the end of sequence of events God has planned for history (Matthew 25:14)

Revelation 22:7

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

come quickly manner in which the Lord returns (Revelation 22:12) (Revelation 22:20)

blessed/keepeth/prophecy of this book those who keep the Gospel of Jesus (Revelation 1:3) (Revelation 19:10)

Revelation 22:8-9

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

see study notes (Revelation 15:1, under having the seven last plagues)

worship God (Exodus 20:3) (Exodus 34:14); (Colossians 2:18)

Revelation 22:10

10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

This is the opposite of the command given to Daniel (Daniel 12:9). Although the words in the Bible have never changed, God has opened the understanding to men at His appointed times. This is progressive revelation. The time is at hand for God to reveal this prophecy to His Saints by the Holy Spirit.
"Behold, I come quickly" (Amos 3:7) (2 Peter 1:19-21)

Revelation 22:11

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

God's Word will be a discerner of the heart and intents of man. Those whose hearts love and seek the Lord shall be righteous and Holy. Those whose hearts do no love Jesus, they shall remain unjust and filthy
(2 Corinthians 2:15-16) (Hebrews 4:12)

Revelation 22:12

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

reward the reward is Jesus (Isaiah 40:10) (Isaiah 62:11)

work there is the work of self reformation which will result in the second death (Luke 11:24-26), or there is the Work of Jesus that is imputed to the believer and saves him from the condemnation of God. (Isaiah 54:17)

Revelation 22:13

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8)

beginning and the end Genesis to Revelation (Luke 24:44-45) (John 5:39) (Hebrews 10:7)

first and the last (Isaiah 41:4) (Isaiah 44:6) (Isaiah 48:12)
Jesus is the eternal Word (Mark 13:31), the author of eternal salvation (Hebrew 5:9), and the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). See (1 John 1:1-4)

Revelation 22:14

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Blessed are those who belong to Jesus (John 14:15) (John 14:21)
(John 15:10) (1 John 2:3-6) (1 John 3:22-34) (1 John 5:1-8)
(2 John 4-6)

Revelation 22:15

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

without no way in but through Jesus, for there is non that are righteous (Romans 3:10-8) (Romans 3:23)

dogs, sorcerers, whoremongers, murders, idolaters, liars all unregenerate
men (Isaiah 56:9-12) (Philippians 3:2-3) (Matthew 19:17)
(Jeremiah 17:9) (Matthew 15:19) (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
(Galatians 5:19-21)

Revelation 22:16

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

testify Jesus authenticates and defines His truth

root and offspring of David David was in type the King of the Kingdom of God, which is eternally fulfilled in Jesus, The eternal king of kings (Acts 2:22-36) Jesus is both David's root (his origin) and his offspring through the line of Judea (Matthew 22:41-46) See also study notes (Revelation 5:5)

bright and morning star Jesus, who is our reward (Revelation 2:28)
(2 Peter 1:19) (Number 24:17)

Revelation 22:17

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Come Jesus calls all to drink of His Gospel of life freely, all to the Gospel of Salvation. Many shall be called, but few chosen (Matthew 20:16) (Isaiah 55:1-2) (Isaiah 52:3) (Revelation 3:18)

Revelation 22:18-19

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

This seals God's Word. We cannot expect any new words from heaven. Anyone who adds or takes away from the prophecy of "this book", means the whole Bible, will have his part in the Lake of Fire.
(Deuteronomy 4:2) (Deuteronomy 12:32) (Proverbs 30:6)

Revelation 22:20-21

20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Last Promise, Last Prayer, and Last Provision. The last words of the Bible are words of grace. The greatest revelation of all is the grace of God. It is a story that is too wonderful for men to believe (Isaiah 53:1). They cannot believe it without the work of God in their hearts
(John 6:29). The revelation of the story of grace begins in (Genesis 1:1). Creation itself is a display of grace. We see the story of redemption in the creation event and continues throughout the Bible to (Revelation 22:21), which reveals the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen