The Final Triumph

Verse 1: And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb. This is obviously a picture of the Holy Spirit. In Ezekiel 47:1-12, we read of a river, about which it says that "every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live" (verse 9). The river brings life wherever it goes. Jesus referred to this passage and said, He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:37, 38). Ezekiel went deeper and deeper into this river until he came to the place where his feet had to leave the earth. Thereafter he was carried by the river. That is a picture of the Spirit-filled life - where we are no longer earth-bound. Our feet leave the earth and the Holy Spirit carries us onward and upward We see the emphasis on "clear as crystal" once again in relation to this river. We find a repeated emphasis on purity and transparency, again and again in chapters 21 and 22, with words such as "clear", "transparent", "pure as glass", etc. We notice that the river flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb, teaching us that the Holy Spirit works in power only where God and Christ are given their rightful place on the throne. Verse 2: In the middle of its street and on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. The opportunity that Adam lost to take part in the tree of life has now been restored to man. We find a lot of similarity between Genesis 2 & Revelation 22. The tree of life symbolizes the life of God Himself - eternal life or the divine nature that we can now partake of. Eternal life, does not mean "existing for ever" for those who go to the lake of fire also exist for ever. But they do not have eternal life. Eternal life means a life which had no beginning and has no end. That is the life of God himself. That is what is symbolized in the tree of life. Adam foolishly went to the tree of knowledge, instead of to the tree of life, just like many do today, who seek for Bible-knowledge rather than life. The tree of knowledge of good and evil is not found in Revelation 22. It has disappeared. As we have studied through this book of Revelation, you may have noticed that we have sought to come to the tree of life and not to the tree of knowledge. In front of the tree of life God placed a flaming sword (Genesis 3:24). This teaches us that a sword must fall upon our Self-life, if we are to take part of the tree of life. This is why most Christians would rather go to the tree of knowledge, in front of which there is no sword. To get Bible knowledge, we don't have to die to our Self-life or take up the cross daily. But to partake of God's nature, we have to "bear the dying of Jesus in our body" always (2 Corinthians 4:10). We have to allow the sword to fall upon us. The way of the cross is the way to the tree of life. The sword fell upon Jesus and He was crucified. Since we too were crucified with Him, the sword is to fall upon us too. Thus we can partake of the tree of life, which bears a new kind of fruit every month, and whose leaves bring healing. Verse 3: And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his bondservants shall serve him. Galatians 3:13 says that Christ became a curse for us on the cross, so that we might receive the blessing of God upon our lives. He had to be crucified, because it says "Cursed is everyone who hangs on the tree". And because he has taken that curse fully, it is removed from over us completely. We do not experience the full effect of that deliverance in this life. Death, for example, is a part of the curse, and believers still die, proving that we are not totally free from all the effects of the curse. But we do experience a foretaste of total deliverance even now. We are not afraid of death now, because Jesus Christ has overcome death. Although we still experience pain, and the thorns still poke our feet, and we have aches and pains and sicknesses, we rejoice over the fact that we are not under the curse, but under the blessing of God. One day, every single effect of the curse will be removed completely. Whenever the Lord heals our bodies, we are experiencing a foretaste of total freedom from the curse that we shall experience fully one day. Notice the emphasis on the bondservants (or slaves) of God in the book of Revelation. We saw "bondslaves" mentioned in chapter 1:1, and we see them being mentioned in this last chapter too (chapter 22:3). God is looking for those who will give themselves to Him totally. Here we read that "they shall serve Him". This teaches us that, even in eternity, there will be some way in which we will be serving God. We are not going to just keep our hands raised through all eternity praising and worshipping God. That is certainly one part of what we are going to do for all eternity: worshipping God. But there is also going to be some form of service that we will do for God in eternity, which even if it were explained here, our minds would not be able to understand. Those who have rejoiced to serve the Lord here on earth will consider it a joy and an honour to serve Him in eternity too. Verse 4: And they shall see his face and his name shall be on their foreheads. It is going to be a fantastic privilege to see God face to face. It was said about Moses that there was no man to whom the Lord spoke face to face as He did to Moses (Deuteronomy 34:10). This is the greatest privilege that a human being can have on earth, to be able to speak to God face to face as a man speaks to his friend. And that is how it will be between us and the Lord in eternity. We shall see His face. His name will be on our foreheads means that His nature will be manifested through our personality. Verse 5: And there shall no longer be any night and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them and they shall reign forever and ever. Once again we read that God Himself is the source of Light for His people. The "reigning" mentioned here is also something that we have a foretaste of here on earth - not reigning over people, but over our lusts. The heathen desire to reign over people but the sons of God desire to reign over their own passions - their anger and their greed etc. These are the areas we must begin to rule over first. That will prepare us to reign with Christ forever and ever. With this verse the description of the eternal state ends. Verse 6: And he said to me, 'These words are faithful and true.' And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show to his bond-servants the things which must shortly take place. From here on until the end of the chapter, we have a number of exhortations and promises. From the beginning of Revelation, we have noticed how often this phrase occurs: "These are the words of God". This is to remind us repeatedly not to take what is said in this book lightly. God speaks to us through His servants. But He also wants to speak to us directly. No man should ever come between us and the Lord. I trust this study of Revelation has given you an appetite to dig into the book yourself and to hear God speak to you directly through it. Verse 7: And behold I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book. The Lord does not say here that He is coming soon. No. He says He is coming quickly - suddenly - like a thief in the night, without any warning. The book of Revelation began in chapter 1:3 with this same phrase that we see here at the end of the book: "Blessed is he who keeps the words written in this book". Verses 8, 9: And I John am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. And he said unto me 'Do not do that; I am also a fellow servant of yours of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God.' Once again John made the mistake of being taken up with the person whom God had used to teach him all these truths. He fell down in worship at the feet of the angel who showed him all these things. But the angel quickly said, "Do not do that. I am only a fellow servant of yours. Worship only God". That is one mark of a true servant of God, that whenever he sees anyone getting attached to him, he detaches himself from that person at once, so that the person can cling to the Lord and not to man! In heaven they sing only one song - the new song - saying, "Thou alone art worthy". This angel had learnt that song and so he was quick to shake John off and to ask him to give the glory to God alone. Verse 10: And he said to me, 'Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.' The book of Revelation is an unsealed book. So everyone can understand it. There is one book in the Bible however which was sealed until recently. We read in Daniel 12:4, "As for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book UNTIL THE END OF TIME". This is repeated in verse 9. The prophecies in the book of Daniel were sealed, but have now been opened for God's people to understand. This proves that we are "at the end of time". The Lord told John in 96 A.D. that the time was near even then. How much nearer we are now.! Verse 11: Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong and let the one who is filthy, still be filthy: and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness and let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy. This is an amazing exhortation that we find on the last page of the Bible. It tells people to continue to "Be filthy" and to continue to "Do wrong". The implication is this: If you have read through the whole Bible and come to the last page and you still don't want to repent or to give up your sins, then go ahead and be filthy and keep on doing wrong. There is no hope for you". If after reading about God's judgments on sin in the book of Revelation, you still want to indulge in your lusts and to seek after the pleasures of sin, and to read filthy books and to look at pornographic movies, if you still want to retain your bitterness against someone, and to be unforgiving, if you still want to slander and backbite, and be jealous and to live for yourself and for this rotten world, then go ahead and do it. God will not stop you. But see what is written for the righteous in the second part of verse 11: Let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness. Let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy." There is never an end to this pursuit of holiness. So pursue after righteousness and holiness yet more. The state in which we end our lives is going to determine how we spend our eternity. If we have lived in sin and filthiness, we will continue in sin and filthiness and wrongdoing for eternal ages in the lake of fire. If we have pursued righteousness and holiness in this life, then that will be our pursuit in eternity too. Our state is going to be fixed for all eternity when we die. Whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies" (Ecclesiastes 11:3). Verse 12: Behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me to render to every man according to what he has done. Salvation is by grace, but rewards are according to our works. It is wrong to look for a reward from men. We should not even expect a "Thank you" from men. We are to do everything as unto the Lord and expect our "Thank you" and "Well done", from Him alone. At the same time, we do not serve for reward, because if we did, then all our works would be dead works. But it is still true that we will be rewarded for faithfulness. The apostle Paul said at the end of his life, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:7, 8). Verses 13, 14: I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter by the gates into the city. In the NASB translation, the ones who have access to the tree of life are described as "those who wash their robes". In the KJV translation, it says, Blessed are those who keep His commandments that they may have right to the tree of life". There is no conflict between these two renderings, because all who genuinely wash their robes will also keep God's commandments. Their obedience to God is the proof that their faith is genuine. This the last of the Seven "Blessed"s in the book of Revelation. Let us look at all seven of them together. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it (Revelation 1:3). Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on, that they may rest from their labours, for their deeds follow with them (Revelation 14:13). Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments, lest he walk about naked and men see his shame (Revelation 16:15). Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9). Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection, over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years (Revelation 20:6). Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book (Revelation 22:7). Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city (Revelation 22:14). Verse 15: Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices lying. The dogs are backsliders, who initially vomit out something they don't like (give up sin and come to Christ) and who then go and eat what they have vomited out (despise Christ and live in the same sins again) (2 Peter 2:22). Once again the sorcerers (those who dabble with the occult), the immoral, the murderers and the idolaters are mentioned as being outside the kingdom of God. And likewise, those who love to tell lies and who practise it. Three times in the end of the Bible we are reminded that "liars" are outside the kingdom of God (Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:15). The first sin mentioned in the Bible is lying. Satan told Eve a lie (Genesis 3:4). The first sin judged in the early church was lying (Acts 5:3). THE LAST SIN MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE IS ALSO LYING. This teaches us the great need to cleanse ourselves from this habit - perhaps more than any other habit. Those who stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion are those who have cleansed out lying and pretence and hypocrisy from their lives totally (Revelation 14:5). Verse 16: I Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star. "The root of David" means "The Lord, through whom David was born, David's Creator". "The offspring of David" means, "The one who was born through David's seed, in the flesh". This is one of the last titles of Jesus Christ mentioned in Scripture - emphasising His Deity and His humanity. "I am the bright morning star". In the last book of the Old Testament, in Malachi 4:2, Christ is called the "The Sun of Righteousness". For the Jews under the old covenant, He rises as the Sun, at the beginning of the millennial day. For the church, He is "The Bright and Morning Star", which appears just a little while before the sun rises. That is when the church is going to be raptured, just before the wrath of God falls upon the earth, just a little while before Jesus comes down with His saints to the earth as the Sun of righteousness. Verse 17: And the spirit and the bride say 'Come'. 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. This is the final invitation in Scripture. God has already told those who want to be filthy, to remain filthy. But His heart still yearns that all will repent and be saved. So here we find both the Spirit and the bride inviting sinners to come and drink of Jesus, the Fountain of life. Those who hear are encouraged to invite the others too. So we see Scripture ending with a challenge to preach the gospel to every creature - not as a doctrine, but as an invitation to come to Jesus Himself. Verses 18, 19: 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. The plagues which are written in this book of (Revelation) are the wrath of God. God will not permit anyone to trifle with His sacred Word. A severe warning is given to those who add to or subtract from this book - and this principle applies to all of Scripture, since this warning is found on the last page of the Bible. The first blunder that Eve committed in Genesis 3 was to add and take away from God's word. God had said to Adam in Genesis 2:17 From the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat, because, the day you will eat from it, you will surely die". Adam had undoubtedly communicated this accurately to Eve. But when Eve was asked by the serpent in Genesis 3:1, "What has God said?", Eve added and subtracted from God's command in her reply. First of all she added something. She said, "God has said, `You shall not eat from it nor touch it" (Genesis 3:3). God had never said anything about touching the tree. And then Eve subtracted. She said, "....strong>lest you die" (Genesis 3:3), weakening the stern warning of God Who had said, "You shall surely die". The phrase "lest you die" implies that there is a possibility that you may not die. So we see in the beginning of the Bible that sin began through adding to and subtracting from God's Word. And so, right at the end of the Bible, there is a strong warning against adding to or subtracting from God's Word. Today, many have added their human traditions to the Word of God and made them almost equally important. Likewise, many have subtracted from God's Word by saying that obedience to certain small commandments is unimportant. We must be very careful to eliminate from our lives and our homes, everything that is contrary to God's Word. And we must be equally careful to add to our lives and our homes, everything that we have missed out from God's Word. Through our attitude to His Word, God tests us to see whether we are ready to live with him for eternity or not. Psalm 138:2 states that God has magnified His Word above His Name. So if we dishonour God's word, we dishonour God's Name. Many denominations in "Christianity" have added to and subtracted from God's Word. Thus they have ended in spiritual harlotry. We need to be warned by their failure. Verse 20: He who testifies to these things says 'Yes, I am coming quickly.' 'Amen, come Lord Jesus.' Here is the last prayer in the Bible - a good prayer for all of us to pray - "Come, Lord Jesus!" We cannot pray this prayer, if we are not ready to meet Him. We cannot pray it, if we are adding to or subtracting from God's words. We cannot pray it, if we are seeking the honour of men. We cannot pray it, if we are not purifying ourselves as He is pure. Come, Lord Jesus. We are sick and tired of sin. We are sick and tired of this rotten world. We are longing for that world where righteousness dwells. Come, Lord Jesus. Verse 21: The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. It is wonderful to see how the Word of God ends. It is only by grace that we can be a part of the New Jerusalem. Only by the strength and help that God gives, can we be free from the bondages that have enslaved us for so many years. Grace forgives our sins! And grace helps us to overcome sin, the world and Satan! Contrast this word with the last word of the Old Testament- which is "curse". In Malachi 4:6, God says, "lest I come and smite the land with a curse". The New Testament begins with the birth of Jesus and ends with a benediction that "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all." How wonderful that we can be free from the curse with which the Old Testament ends and come under grace in the New Testament, experience the blessing of God in every area of our lives, and be a part of the dwelling place of God, for all eternity. Hallelujah! All glory and praise and honour be unto God and to the Lamb Who was slain for our sins. Amen and Amen!