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VISIONS, PROPHECY
Bible Teaching
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Art by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1982/1992
www.revelationillustrated.com


This chapter closes the Book of Revelation. It is also the final
Word of God. Jesus Christ has sounded forth the great message of
Revelation. He has revealed the end of time, what is going to
happen during the last years of human history. But we also have
been given a hope that there will be no more tears, sorrow,
suffering or death, but a world of righteousness, joy & life.
It also contains a final challenge of a loving Savior who came
into this world to die for the sins of the human race and has
consistently sent His Spirit through his servants to convey
His loving gospel message to them.

In the first two chapters of Genesis we have God's description
of creation and the heaven like conditions on the earth prepared
for humankind. The last two chapters of Revelation describe the
eternal heaven that God will reestablish for them. All the
chapters between contain the great conflict of the ages as
human beings turn their backs on God and as he seeks to draw
them to himself. In all these books the human race is
consistently presented with the opportunity to worship
God freely by faith or reject him by rebellion of will.

Verses 1 and 2
The angel shows John a clear river flowing "out of the throne of
God and the Lamb." We cannot live without water in this life or
even in the life to come. The throne seems to be in the middle
of the city and the river starts there. It then flows down
through the middle of the great wide street of gold, which
apparently winds down through the various levels of the city.
We have life only as it continues to flow into us from Him.
The river gives us assurance that in the New Jerusalem the flow
of the water of life will be always sufficient.

The "tree of life" has a similar meaning. Even though our new
bodies will be immortal and incorruptible, not capable of
deterioration, they will never have life in themselves. "Tree"
is probably collective which means that each side of the river
is lined with trees. These trees bear 12 crops of fruit,
yielding its fruit every month. The fruit of these trees will
spring forth all year. These trees will continually bring forth
fruit 12 months of the year, possibly with a variety of fruit.
We will be able to eat and drink without fear of want in the
eternal future.

Ezekiel had a vision in chapter 47. But verse 12 is similar to
the one John see's here in this chapter.

Ezekiel 47:12
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.

The "leaves of the tree" will be for the "healing of the nations"
(people). Because Revelation 21:4 excludes the idea of sickness,
pain, and death in the New Jerusalem, there does not seem to be
any more need for a healing process. The word "healing" can be
taken to mean "health." Our new bodies will be immortal, not
capable of death and incorruptible, nor of decay, sickness, or
deterioration. The leaves of the tree give the indication that
here will be nothing in the new creation to bring any physical
or spiritual sickness. They also remind us that we shall always
be dependent on God's provision for life, health, strength,
and happiness.
  
REVELATION CHAPTER 22, Verses 3-10

    

Verse 3
The curse that God placed on he earth as a result of the sin of
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden will be partially lifted
during the Millennium, but completely lifted in the New
Jerusalem. Some suppose we will spend all our time playing
harps. I doubt that.

That may be one aspect of the life God has prepared, but He will
have far more for us. There will always be something new,
fresh and wonderful for us to do and enjoy.

Verse 4
"They shall see his face" refers first of all to Jesus, in the
midst of the throne, for God is a spirit. Our worship will be
unlimited, and full of the joy of seeing his face and
experiencing the full impact of his glory.

"His name shall be in their foreheads" identifies believers as
belonging to Him forever. It also indicates that we will be
like him. 

Verse 5
Again the emphasis is that there will be "no night there."
There will be no need for lamps, nor sun. No need for artificial
or natural light. God will be the source of all light. We will
not only worship and serve God, but he will give us joys,
benefits, and privileges of royalty. We shall all reign as kings,
sharing Christ's royal throne and his supernatural, royal power
"forever and ever."

Verses 6-7
The hope and promises of joy and fellowship in the New Jerusalem
given to the saints are "faithful and true" absolutely certain.
The promises given to John are confirmed by an angelic
messenger from the Lord God of the holy prophets.

The announcement of Jesus is that He is coming quickly, soon,
or in a short time. 

2 Peter 3:8-9 tells us that God does not look at time the way we
do, and he is not procrastinating, but is "not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance. We are to
always live in readiness, realizing that now is our salvation
nearer than when we first believed. The times and the seasons
are under the Father's authority and it is our responsibility to
carry out the Great Commission. We must be about the Father's
business until he comes.

The Book of Revelation began with a blessing on both those who
read it aloud and those who hear. Now the blessing is on those
who not only hear but " keepeth the sayings" of its prophecies,
continually observe the book's teachings.

Verses 8-9
The angel who brings this revelation is so full of the glory and
power of God that John falls down before him in worship.
John has been warned before but he is so overwhelmed with the
supernatural and his reaction was spontaneous. The angel
immediately stops John from worshiping him, telling him that he
is but a "fellow servant" serving the Lord like John and his
"brethren the prophets". He has been sent to serve all who keep
the sayings in the Book of Revelation. The angel commands John
to worship God. People are often tempted to worship what they
admire. Cornelius fell at Peter's feet, the lame man who was
healed after Paul's preaching at Lystra
Acts 14:12-18,  Acts 10:26

Verse 10
The message of the Book of Revelation is not to be sealed.
It's prophecies are to be proclaimed. The appointed time is at
hand. So it is not to be sealed. Jesus is coming soon. But the
"day of the Lord will come."


                                  
REVELATION CHAPTER 22, Verse 11

The Book of Revelation is never to be sealed, or closed. It is
to be read, studied, preached, and taught, always. We can never
be prepared or can we prepare others unless we understand what
is coming and get ready and prepare others. This verse is a
warning to all. The angel gives a warning that indicates that
the time will come when it will be too late to be saved.

The call to repentance, faith, and obedience is still going out
today. This is still the day of salvation. There is still the
opportunity for a person to accept Christ as Savior and Lord
and be changed. But the day will come when the line will be
drawn and destinies determined. In a sense people determine
their own destines now by the choices they make.

One commentary put it this way
If we do not repent, turn away from the world of sin and turn to
God, if we do not get into the Word of God and the prophecies of
Revelation, then our hearts will become harder and harder, more
and more stubborn. Then when the events of the end time hit the
earth, we will be unprepared and our hearts will be so stubborn
and hard we will be lost eternally.

Another commentary put it this way: "He that is unjust" the
wrongdoer includes all who do what is contrary to what is right
in God's eyes. By disregarding the teachings and warnings of
God's Word and by repeated choices the wrongdoer becomes
hardened in a pattern of doing what God says is wrong.
This even includes the moral person who persecutes,
despises, or just ignores the believers in Christ.

Let's go on: "He who is filthy" is one whose habits and speech
are foul and unclean, but it also includes the greedy. This type
of person has no concern about purity and decency and becomes
hardened in his rejection of the Bible's exhortation to be holy
and righteous.

The Book of Revelation is a great incentive for believers to
"be righteous still" and to "be holy still." In other words to
continue in righteousness and holiness, looking for Christ's
return. We do not hear much preached on holiness today.
The righteous person is just, honest, and good because he is
cleansed by the blood of Jesus. The person who is holy, is
living a life dedicated to God, seeking to be like Jesus.

Verses 12 and 13
When Jesus comes, the rewards for every one will have determined,
it will be too late for a person to change. Jesus brought out the
same in the Parable of the Ten virgins where the five who were
not ready found the door shut against them forever.
Matthew 25:11-12

There is no second chance if we spend this life making choices
contrary to God's Word and will. Behold, I come quickly;
indicates His coming will be soon. I think his coming is closer
today than it was yesterday. He could come at any moment,
he could come before we leave this building tonight. When he
does come he will have his rewards with him. But when he comes
back this time it means judgment. He will be coming back to
judge man. Jesus is the "Alpha and Omega," the beginning and the
end. He is the eternal one, and like the Father always existent. 

Verses 14 and 15
Those who obey His commandments out of a love for God, and for
Jesus, for their neighbors including foreigners, have permission
to enter the city. There a fullness of blessing awaits them.
They shall have the right to the "tree of life." "Without or
outside" means outside the new heavens and earth, and it is
speaking of the lake of fire, outer darkness. Separated from all
the blessings of God forever. Dogs refers to unclean persons,
sodomites (Homosexuals), and false teachers of low moral
standards. All idolatry is a kind of lie, denial of the true God.
This also includes all who promote and practice falsehood and
false religions.

Verse 16
Jesus confirms that He has sent his angel to testify unto these
things to the churches. Jesus wants the invitation to go forth
until He comes. Jesus further identifies himself as the "root
and offspring of David," the fulfillment of God's promises.
He is also the "bright and morning star."

Verse 17
This chapter now focuses on the work of the Spirit. This last
mention of the Holy Spirit in the Bible draws attention to the
greatest work and ministry of the Spirit in the Church age.
The Holy Spirit inspires the Bride, the whole church to join him
in the invitation, calling everyone who thirsts to come.

The work of evangelism that needs to be done before Christ
returns can be done as it should be done only by believers
empowered by the Holy Spirit. The church must cooperate with
the Spirit not only as a body, but as individuals also.
Everyone then who hears has the responsibility to join in
spreading the invitation.

Verses 18 and 19
Those who read the prophecy aloud and those who hear and keep the
things written in this book will be blessed. But those who hear
it read(and those who read it) must be careful not to treat it
as some ordinary book because it is the inspired Word of God.
If they add unto these things from their own ideas, their own
reasonings, their own speculations, if they twist or distort
its teachings or if they claim to have new revelations of their
own and add them as if they were part of the inspired Word of
God, God will bring on them the "plagues that are written in
this book.

Jesus warnings to His disciples concerning false prophets coming
at the end of the age, this is a much needed warning today.
False teachers and false prophets will pervert the meaning of
Scripture deliberately. We need to keep searching the Scriptures,
so that we will not be led astray. This is not talking about
different translations. Each language has its own way of saying
the same thing. But even today we need to be careful because
there are translations being brought out today that are changing
the meaning of the original words, also taking away such as
removing the Blood from scripture, the virgin birth denied.

If we search the scriptures and keep open to the Holy Spirt there
is enough truth in most translations for the Holy Spirit to use
to bring salvation and give guidance for life. But if a person
uses a verse here and a half verse there, out of context,
he can pervert the meaning of Scripture even using the best
translations. 

Some readers and hearers want to "take away" or spiritualize the
prophecies of the Book of Revelation. God will take away their
part in the promised inheritance. They will have no part
in the "book of life." 

Though verses 18 and 19 deal specifically with the prophecies and
warnings in the Book of Revelation, the principle applies to all
the Bible. Moses told the people of Israel, "ye shall not add
unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish
aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord
your God which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2

Jesus implied the same thing when He said "Till heaven and earth
pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,
till all be fulfilled.  Matthew 5:18

Verse 20
Once again Jesus final promise repeats us the assurance that He
is coming quickly. Keeping the attitude of waiting for His
coming, keeping the hope of His coming before us, will help us
to purify ourselves.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus is also a recognition that we wait for
his coming to bring our complete redemption. Not until he comes
will we enter into the fullness of our inheritance which is the
hope of our salvation. The soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
is still the blessed hope of the Church. We must not let the
vision of it grow dim.

He is the King of kings, the bright and morning star, the Sun of
righteousness, and he is indeed coming to take those who keep
believing in him to his Father's house.

Unbelievers may think it strange that the true followers of
Christ do not join them in their lusts, revelings, drunkenness,
and other excesses. But as believers we do not join them because
we know we must give account to the One who is ready to judge
the living and the dead.

Verse 21
The Book of Revelation ends with a benediction. It assures us
that the grace of our Lord Jesus will be with us until He comes.
His grace includes not only his unmerited favor that provides
for us the forgiveness of our sins, but it provides also the
power to live a holy life that endures to the end.
Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all
men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present
age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our
great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us,
that He might redeem us from every lawless deed, and purify
for himself His own special people, zealous for good works.