Revelation Chapter Twenty-Two
(Chapter 22 from Dr. Hyle's excellent book, Let's Study The Revelation)
Verse 1:
Out of the throne in heaven proceeds a river of the water of life. When Ponce de Leon looked for the fountain of youth, he was looking in the wrong places. As the old country preacher has said, "When you get old in Heaven, just take a drink and you will be young again; when you see a grey hair, just take a drink of water. When you see a wrinkle in your face, just get a drink, and it will be smoothed out again."Verse 2:
Notice that there will be a street in Heaven.Notice the tree of life and the fruit. Someone has asked if there will be any eating in Heaven. Well, the only thing I know to do with fruit is to eat it. Someone has suggested that it wouldn’t be Heaven to them if we couldn’t eat. One thing certain is that if we do eat, we won’t have to watch our calories and our waistlines.
Notice the purpose of the leaves. They are for the healing of the nations. There will be no sickness, for the leaves on the tree of life are healing agents. There will be no more polio, cancer, heart trouble, or any other sickness. Thank God for the tree of life.
Verse 3:
"AND THERE SHALL BE NO MORE CURSE." You will recall that in the Garden of Eden a curse was put upon man. This curse included suffering, death, etc. This curse will someday be lifted."AND HIS SERVANTS SHALL SERVE HIM." This teaches that there shall be occupations in Heaven. We shall serve the Lord Jesus. Many have the idea that Heaven will be a place where we shall sit around all the time. That is not the case. We will have occupations. I believe, and yet we shall never tire as we do here because the curse will have been lifted. I’m looking forward to preaching in Heaven.
Verse 4:
"AND THEY SHALL SEE HIS FACE." This is the big moment of them all. We shall gaze upon our blessed Lord and see His face.Notice again that we shall be branded for Jesus. We shall wear His mark on our foreheads. That is a sign of ownership. We shall be His forever.
Verse 5:
The brightness of His presence will be so great that we will have no need of any other light.Verse 6:
Notice again that God reminds us that these sayings are "FAITHFUL AND TRUE." You can depend on these writings as being true. Woe be to the man who denies them."SHORTLY" means "surely." These things will surely be done.
Verse 7:
"BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY." Again God is reminding us that He is going to come quickly some day.The word "BLESSED" also means "happy and contented." The happiest people in the world are those who are looking for the glorious appearing of the Lord Jesus in the air. If you ant to be a happy and contented Christian, then look up for the coming of the Lord Jesus.
The word "KEEPETH" means "to guard as a treasure." We are to guard as a treasure the things in the Book of Revelation. What a pity when so few even take time to read and study this marvelous Book.
Verses 8-9:
There is a real danger here. John began to worship the angel which brought the message to him. The angel reminds him that God is the one whom he should worship. Dear friend, the One to worship is not the teachers of the truth, but the one who is the Truth. Don’t ever be guilty of preacher worship. yes, we preachers want you to love us, but our main desire is that you love and worship the Lord Jesus.Verse 10:
Notice the words, "SEAL NOT." It is the command of God that we seal not the things written in this Book.Notice the words, "THE TIME IS AT HAND." The reason that we are to seal not is that the time is at hand. We are to let people know about the prophetic truths because His coming is near.
Verse 11:
This verse teaches that what you are here determines what you will be when He comes. If you have been filthy here, you will be filthy in eternity. If you have been holy here, you will be holy in eternity.Verse 12:
When He comes, His rewards will be with Him. We are to work here in order that we may receive rewards from Him at the judgment seat of Christ.Verse 13-14:
"DO HIS COMMANDMENTS" should be translated, "wash their robes." The only way that you may have a right to the tree of life is to wash you robes. The only way to have your robes washed is to be born of the Spirit by faith in Jesus.Also, we find that the only way a person can enter the gates of the City is to wash his robes.
Verse 15:
In this verse we find some of the ones who will NOT be in the City. They are: DOGS...meaning "unclean ones." SORCERERS... those who deal in witchcraft, fortune-telling, spiritism, etc. MURDERERS. WHOREMONGERS... those guilty of sexual sins so prevalent in our day. IDOLATERS...those who worship anything or anyone but the real God, our Lord Jesus Christ. LIARS.How would you like to spend eternity with this crowd?
Verse 16:
In this verse we find the place where Jesus wants Revelation taught...IN THE CHURCHES. So many neglect it and say that we cannot understand it. Many churches never study this wonderful Book. God says that He wants this Book taught in the churches.Note the words, "ROOT AND OFFSPRING OF DAVID." How could Jesus be both? First, He is the root of David in that all things were made by Him as God, the Creator. Then as a man, He is a descendant of David and will someday claim the throne of David as His own.
Note the words, "THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR." Have you ever noticed the Morning Star? It is the brightest one of all just before daybreak pointing to the coming of the day. Jesus is the Star, pointing to the coming of day as He comes for His own.
Verse 17:
There are two pleas in this verse:One meaning is for the lost to come to Jesus. I believe that the main meaning of this verse is the plea for Jesus to come. When the personalities mentioned in this verse say, "Come," I believe that they are beckoning for Jesus to hurry and come back for His own.
"THE SPIRIT SAYS, COME."...He has been calling people to Jesus and He is anxious for the marriage of the Lamb.
"THE BRIDE SAYS, COME."...In Revelation 21:2 we find the Holy City is prepared as a bride. Not only does the Holy Spirit cry out for Jesus to come but all Heaven is crying, "Come."
"LET HIM THAT HEARETH SAY COME."...We, too, are to join in the chorus with the Holy Spirit and say, "Come." Think of it...all of the believers are to join in one big chorus saying, "Come, Lord Jesus." You have probably been to a football game when the entire crowd cried, "Go...Go...Go...Go...Go..." So it should be as all of the redeemed cry to Jesus day by day,...."Come...Come...Come..."
"FREELY" in this verse means "undeservingly." Even though we are saved we do not deserve salvation. Thank God for His grace.
Verses 18-19: These verses warn anyone about tampering with this Book. You had better be careful what you say about this Book, for God will punish those who add or take away from it.
Verse 20:
The word "SURELY" means "for a fact." Jesus is coming quickly "for a fact." We know that He is coming.John says, "AMEN." He just couldn’t wait for Jesus to come.
"EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS." John had seen the whole prophetic future. He had seen the rapture, the marriage of the Lamb, the millennium, the New Jerusalem, and the many other wonderful things that God has prepared for those who love Jesus. He cried out, "Hurry up, Lord, and come."
Verse 21:
"THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOU ALL. AMEN."
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