Revelation 22

Chapter 22 THE LORD OF THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH A. THE OF GOD. 22:1-5 B. THE BOOK. 22:6-11 C. THE PERSON CHRIST. 22:12-17 D. THE PLAGUE IF ADDING OR . 22:18-19 E. THE END. 22:20-21

1. The Care of God. 22:1-5
2. The Caution of man. 22:6-11
3. The Coming of Christ. 22:12-17
4. The Curse of God. 22:18-19
5. The Countdown has begun. 22:20-21

Revelation 22:1-5

1. The Presence of God. 22:1-5 I. In verses 1-5 we see that the paradise that was lost is now regained. Gen.2:8-25; Luke 23:43; 2.Cor.12:2 II. The New Jerusalem is not only a beautiful building made of Precious Gemstones and Gold but also a Green Paradise.

V.1 a) Proceeding life from God -

I. Pure River of Life.

A. Within the New Jerusalem there is a pure clear river that gives life to those that drinks it. Psalms 46:4; John 4:10, 14 B. During the Millennium a river that gives life proceeds from the temple, it’ s a foretaste of this River of Life. Ezek.47:1-12; Zech.14:8 II. Proceeding from God and the Lamb. This river of life has its origin from God’ s throne; His life is in the river. V.2 b) Provision of God -

I. Position of the river -

A. The river ran between the golden streets.

B. The tree of life is on each side of the river.

II. Productivity of the tree of Life - The Fruit.

A. The tree bears fruits every month and gives life to those that eats it. Gen.2:9; 3:22-24 B. The moon does not exist so the calendar will be different. 21:23

C. Months reveal that there will be some kind of time.

III. Purpose of the leaves - The Leaves.

A. Healing - (Gr. therapeia) means health and is the word where by we get the English word therapy.

B. The leaves cause health to the peoples that eat it.

V.3 c) Peace with God -

I. Problems of man are no more - Perfect restoration.

The Curse of God upon the earth Caused by man’ s sin has Ceased. Gen.3:16-19 II. Presence of God is in it - Perfect administration.

A. God is in the New Jerusalem and among His people who will serve Him.

B. The throne of God will be within this giant cube.

V.4 d) Presence of God -

I. Presence of God among them - Perfect communication. A. The Face of God - There will be a face-to-face approach and intimacy with God. 1.Cor.13:12; 1.John 3:2; Ezek.48:35 B. Man had lost the face-to-face relationship to God when he fell to sin but now it is regained. Gen.3:8; Ex.33:20, 23; 2.Cor.3:18 II. Possession of God with Him - Perfect identification.

A. The Forehead of man - The people of God will be marked with God’ s name; He owns His people.

B. The high priest’ s turban had the name of God on it. Ex.28:36-38 V.5 e) Power of God -

I. Groom Darkness Ceased.

There will be no darkness in the New Jerusalem.

II. God’ s Daylight Come - Perfect illumination and exaltation.

A. The inhabitants of the city need no light for God is its light. Isaiah 24:23; 60:19-20 B. The inhabitants of the city reigns with God forever. Isaiah 24:23 C. Believers in this temporarily realm prepare themselves through their faithful service to God, for their eternal position.

Revelation 22:6-11

2. The Prophetic book. 22:6-11 I. Chapter one of Revelation is similar to the last part of chapter 22.

II. The testimony of the angel. v.6-7

The testimony of John. v.8-11 V.6 a) Certainty of the message of the angel -

I. Truthful saying.

A. The words in Revelation are not a Fairy tale or a Fantasy, its real. B. The book of Revelation is Truth and God will be faithful to fulfil it all. II. Testimony of the angel.

Revelation is a book:

A. That Shows through prophetic Symbols.

B. That reveals what Shortly must happen.

C. A revelation to His Servants and not only to John.

V.7 b) Coming of Christ -

I. Coming of Christ.

A. Be watchful, I Am coming Soon and Suddenly.

B. But 1000 years is as 1 day for the Lord. 2.Peter 3:8 II. Caution to keep.

A. The Book of revelation is to be understood so that it can be kept.

It’ s not a hidden mysterious book but a revealed book.

B. The Blessed readers of revelation are those that keep the words.

The book ends as it began with a blessing on its hearers. 1:3

V.8 c) Confusion of John - Reaction of John

I. Apostle’ s Fearful Witness.

The apostle John received this revelation through sight and hearing, as he also reminded his readers of in his other writings. John 1:14; 19:35; 21:14; 1 John 1:1-3; 4:14 II. Angelic False Worship.

John falls down confused for a second time to worship the angel. 19:10

V.9 d) Clarification of whom to worship - Rebuke of the angel.

I. Worship Denied.

The angel denies the worship; the answer is similar to the response in 19:10. Col.2:18 II. Worship Divinity.

A. The angel points to worship God as all good angels will do.

B. Fallen angels receive happily worship. Matt.4:8-10; Rev.9:20 V.10 e) Careful delivery of the book -

I. Sealing Forbidden.

A. The prophetic book of Daniel were sealed Dan.8:26; 12:8-9, but the book of Revelation is not to be sealed but to be understood by all believers who reads it - The book is open.

B. An artist hides his painting until its finished and then he reveal it publicly, the revelation of His-story is now completed and therefore not covered but publicly displayed.

II. Soon Fulfilment.

The book of Revelation is an open book because the time for its fulfilment is about to happen - God wants us to understand its message.

V.11 f) Continual ongoing -

I. Corruption of evil.

A. Sin is a continual evil that captivates is victim; man has a hard time to come of out of its snare without God’ s help.

B. If man do not want His help they will continue sinning by being unjust and filthy.

C. John is saying Change while you have the Chance to do it.

II. Continuation of goodness. God Grants Grace to the Godly that they might continue in being righteous and holy.

Revelation 22:12-17

3. The Person Christ. 22:12-17 V.12 g) Coming of Christ -

I. Return of the Lord.

A. Now Jesus begins to speak from verses 12-17.

B. For the 2nd time in this chapter the soon coming of Christ is proclaimed.

II. Reward of the Lord.

Everyone will be Rewarded and Repaid at His coming. Matt.6:19-21; 2.Cor.5:10 V.13 h) Creator’ s titles -

I. Creator.

Jesus is the Creator of all things. Col.1:15-17 II. Completer.

Jesus is the Completer of all things; He finishes what He begins. Heb.1:3; 2.Peter 3:7, 10-12 III. The title “ The First and the Last” is a title that belonged only to God in the Old Testament. Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; 48:12-17 and occurs in Revelation in 1:8, 11, 17: 2:8.

IV. When Jesus uses this title He proves His Divinity.

V.14 i) Commandment keepers - The insiders.

I. Exerciser of the commandments.

Jesus pronounces a blessing on those that do His commandments.

II. Eater of the Tree. The blessing consists in Eating of the Tree of Life. III. Enterer of the city.

The blessing consists in Entering the New Jerusalem.

IV. 10 blessings of the redeemed in paradise:

1. Drinking the River of Life. v.1

2. Eating of the fruit of the Tree of Life. v.2, 14

3. Eating of the leaves of the Tree of life. v.2

4. No more curse. v.3

5. Serving God. v.3

6. Intimacy with God. v.4

7. Be God’ s possession. v.4

8. Live in the light of God. v.5

9. Reign forever with God. v.5

10. Enter the New Jerusalem. v.14

V.15 j) Commandment breakers - The outsiders.

I. Corruption of sin.

A. Sin Degrades its victim to the animal level of a Dog.

B. A dog in Scripture is an unbeliever. Psalms 22:16, 20; Matt.7:6; 15:26; Phil.3:2-3 II. Character of sin.

A. Sorcerer is one that practices occultism and witchcraft.

B. Sexual immorality is one that has sexual relationship before or outside of marriage.

C. Murderer is one that kills another man in such a way that is not according to the law of God. D. Idolater is one that worships other gods or images. E. Liar is one that purposely twists words of another man or makes up stories that have never happened for personal benefits.

F. For a more full list of sinful activities that will refrain a man to enter the kingdom of God then see. 1.Cor.6:9-10; Gal.5:19-21 V.16 k) Christ’ s testimony to the Church -

I. Testimony of Christ.

The angel that showed John what is contained in the book of Revelation, was bringing to John the testimony of Jesus - He didn’ t speak by himself.

II. Titles of Christ.

A. Jesus’ genealogy came from David. Isaiah 11:1, 10; Jer.23:5-6; Matt.1:1-16 B. Jesus is the Star prophesied in the Old Testament. Num.24:17 C. The morning star is Venus, it appears in the night sky just before the dawn of a new day.

D. It’ s referring to the glory and light of the new day that Christ brings at His coming. 2.Pet.1:19 E. Israel is waiting for the Sun of righteousness Malachi 4:2, the Church for the Morning Star. Revelation 22:16 F. Jesus as the Root of David is buried where no one can see Him but as a Morning Star He is visible for everyone who looks carefully after Him.

V.17 l) Come to drink -

I. Declarations of the Spirit and the bride.

The Spirit and bride in the world is calling man to come and drink of Christ’ s salvation.

II. Desiring man can drink.

All who hears the calling and is thirsty can drink and come freely to drink. Its easy and simple to receive His salvation - Receive and drink. Isaiah 55:1

Revelation 22:18-19

4. The Plague if adding or removing. 22:18-19 V.18 a) Extra imputes of words -

I. Exhortation to the hearers of the book.

A warning is now given to all the hearers of the book.

II. Extra imputes to the book.

A. Anyone is adding extra words to the text will experience the plagues in this book, perhaps in Hades or in the Lake of Fire. Deu.4:2; 12:32; Prov.30:5-6 B. The way to add is not commenting or explaining the book but adding words to the text, as though the book of Revelation contained these words.

C. This includes copyists, translators, and teachers of the book.

V.19 b) Erasure of words. -

I. Erasure from the Book of Revelation.

A. The erasure of the book of Revelation is a wilful act of erasing words, verses or chapters from the book.

B. The erasure could be done because it didn’ t fit ones theology or personal ideas of who God is or does.

II. Extraction from the Book of Life.

If a person in spite of this warning removes words, verses and chapters from the book and share to other man as though that is the whole book of Revelation, he will not inherit everlasting life with God.

Revelation 22:20-21

5. The end. 22:20-21 V.20 c) Expectation of His Coming -

I. Coming of Christ. For the 3rd time in this chapter Jesus proclaims His soon return. II. Countdown has begun

Jesus is returning soon, the countdown has begun, the clock is ticking, the sand in the time glass has soon run out.

III. Confirming Cry of John.

A. John prayed for His coming and so should we. Matt.6:10; Luke 11:2 B. Before Christ 2nd Coming the Jews has to seek Him, perhaps by asking Him to return. Hos.5:15 V.21 d) Ending grace -

I. Concluding Need of man.

A. If man is to be found faithful in doing His work and not become the Christ rejecters described in this book, he then needs daily the grace of Christ.

B. John began by declaring the grace of God upon his readers and ends with the grace of God.

C. The Old Testament’ s last verse is a curse. Mal.4:6 The New Testament’ s last verse is grace.

II. Confirming Nod of man.

Let not only John say Amen but also every believer in Christ Agree with God concerning the content of the book.

“ Behold I Am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of the book.” Rev.22:7

“The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple” Psalms 119:130

Reference material used in making the Bibleschool manual: Bible Commentaries: Thomas L. Constable’ s - Notes on Revelation. Chuck Missler’ s - Written and audio commentary on the book of Revelation. Jon Courson’ s - Thru-the-Bible audio commentary on Revelation. Chuck Smith’ s - What the world is coming to, A Commentary on the Book of Revelation. Chuck Smith’ s - Audio commentary on the book of Revelation. Skip Heitzig’ s - Audio commentary on the book of Revelation. Edward Hindson/Michael Woodrow’ s - King Jame’s Bible Commentary on the book of Revelation. Zondervan’ s Niv’ s - Expositor’s Bible Commentary on the book of Revelation. J. Vernon McGee’ s - Commentary on the book of Revelation. David Hocking’ s - Commentary on the book of Revelation. H. L. Willmington’ s - Guide to the Bible. Old commentaries were used as well with minor help.

Bible Surveys and outlines: Valleys Bible Church’ s - Bible survey on the book of Revelation. J. Hampton Keathley’ s - Survey on the book of Revelation. Nelson’ s - Complete book of Bible maps and charts. H. L. Willmington’ s - The Outline Bible. Harvestime International Institute’ s - Basic Bible survey. Bob Bolender’ s - Survey on the book of Revelation. Gerald Duckett - Bible’ s survey of the book of Revelation. Mark A. Copeland’ s - Executable Outlines. Ray C Stedman’ s - Panorama of the Scriptures.

Old Testament types and figures: Kevin T. Connor’ s - The feasts of Israel. Kevin T. Connor’ s - The tabernacle of Moses. Kevin T. Connor’ s - The temple of Solomon.

Encyclopaedia/ Dictionaries: International standard Bible Encyclopaedia. Nelson’ s - Illustrated Bible dictionary. Dictionary of Biblical imagery.

Greek reference material: Strong’ s - Exhaustive concordance. Thayer’ s - The new Thayer’ s Greek-English lexicon. Englishman’ s - The Englishman’ s Greek concordance and lexicon. Vine’ s - Complete expository dictionary.

Bible versions: King James Version 1984 - Is the Bible translation used in this manual. Hendrickson’ s - The interlinear Bible.