This chapter brings the reader to the final scenes of John’s wondrous vision. The apostle sees the closing stages of man’s journey on earth opening into an eternal one in God’s presence. Creation’s road to redemption has been clearly defined. That journey, while rugged and dangerous, is a journey whose outcome has never been in doubt. Redeemed creation enters into eternity in harmony with the Father.
The Bible opens with, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1), and concludes with, “Yes, I am coming soon” (Rev 22:20). Jesus suffered, paid our ransom, died in our place, and yet he lives! His glory is complete. The prophet Isaiah saw this miracle hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth:
After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied; by his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. (Isa 53:11)
Our earthly life is a shadow of an eternal reality. Just as the spring rains cleanse and nourish creation, making it possible for things to live and grow, so the blood of the Lamb releases us from all waywardness and confused thinking; the Spirit of God wells up in us as a spring of living water, making it possible for us to live in peace with the Father. This marvelous tree of life doesn’t simply represent future immortality. It is the promise of a timeless relationship that can be lived with God now– a life that is promised to all who take a risk and accept through faith the life that God extends to us through Jesus!
This study has endeavored to use God’s prophetic words to de-mystify, if you will, the scenes of John’s vision.
Chapter 22 echoes many of the same vivid images we have explored, unfolding in a poetic flow of symbolic images. It weaves a beautiful tapestry illustrating in human words an eternal scene that is ultimately beyond John’s ability to describe adequately and is best read without stopping to interpret.
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.
9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”
10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.
11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
And all God’s people said, Amen! Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!
*All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comThe “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
