Preface
The first two chapters of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, reveal God’s creation of the universe, the particulars of earth’s renovation and the conditions set forth on it for the occupancy of humans. The last two chapters of Revelation details heaven and hell and the eternal state prepared for humans, depending on their position in Jesus Christ. All the chapters between outline the fall of man, the history of Israel, the on-going conflict of good and evil, the redemption of humankind and the history of the Church--all of which center around the most important event of history, which was (and is) the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, on the Cross of Calvary.
Believer’s Bible Commentary, by William MacDonald, lists subjects that are introduced in the first book of the Bible and which are brought to fruition in the last.
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GENESIS | REVELATION |
Creation of heavens and earth
(Gen.1:1) | Destruction of heavens and earth
(Rev. 20:11b)
Creation of new heavens and new earth
(Rev. 21:1) |
Start of Satan’s reign on earth
(Gen. 3:1-7) | Satan cast into the Lake of Fire
(Rev. 20:10) |
Entrance of sin
(Gen. 3:1-7) | Sin banished
(Rev. 21:27) |
Pronouncing of the curse on creation
(Gen. 3:17-19) | The curse removed
(Rev. 22:3) |
Right to tree of life forfeited
(Gen. 3:24b) | Access to tree of life restored
(Rev. 22:2, 19 marg.) |
Eviction of man from the Garden of Eden
(Gen. 3:24a) | Man welcomed back to (Paradise)
(Rev. 22:1-7) |
Entrance of death into the world
(Gen. 2:17; 5:5) | Death forever removed
(Rev. 21:4) |
Marriage of the first Adam
(Gen. 4:1) | Marriage of the last Adam
(Rev. 19:7) |
Sorrow comes to mankind
(Gen. 3:16) | Sorrow eliminated
(Rev. 21:4) |
Regarding the last chapter of Revelation, the words of J. Vernon McGee in his Thru the Bible ring true, “This chapter brings us to the final scenes of this great book of scenic wonders. It likewise brings us to the end of the Word of God. God gives us His final words here, and because they are last words, they have a greater significance. We are brought to the end of man’s journey. The path has been rugged, problems remain unsolved, but man enters into eternity in fellowship again with God, and there all will be answered.”
Before the commentary, this one point must be made and it will be reinforced within the commentary. The Bible and the Bible alone is God’s only written Word to man. There is no other book of writing upon the face of the earth that is directly from God, that is, written directly by Him and intended for mankind. This includes the “Book of Mormon,” the “Koran,” the “writings of Charles Russell,” the “writings of Mary Baker Eddie,” and a thousand other religions (Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, Zoroastrianism, etc.) and movements. Only the Bible, God’s love letter written in holy blood, composed of 66 books by over 40 authors over a span of almost 2,000 years, is the inerrant Word of God suitable for all the spiritual needs of mankind. It is the only book that reveals the true and corrupted condition of man, how this corruption came about and how it may be repaired. It is the only book that offers a message of grace and mercy for the redemption of man. It is the only book that outlines a redemptive process outside a system of works. The Bible cannot be read or studied without the reader coming to the conviction that it is “one of a kind”--truly the Word of God.
Revelation 22:1, 2
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 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.
Although there will be no more “sea” upon the earth, there will be one main and everlasting river, which will flow from the throne of God and the Lamb--another contributing proof to the doctrine of the Trinity. First, the water’s of this river are “clear as crystal.” There will be no turbidity or contamination within it, ever. It speaks of Jesus Christ, who has been and always will be the source of this most precious and pure water of eternal life (John 4:14; 7:37, 38; Revelation 21:6). Second, the river flows from one throne, which is the throne of both God the Father and God the Son. They will rule and oversee all eternity together from this one throne that will be positioned in the Holy City. Why only one throne? Because God the Father and God the Son are truly One and this one throne will accommodate both of them. As to the Holy Spirit, who is the third Person of the Trinity, He will be present also-for He will continue to be the unifying force contained within every believer that now occupies heaven. This may be conjecture, but it is totally within the realm of possibility and probability. It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit that establishes the union or relationship of each believer with Jesus Christ. It is His work of baptism that unites every Christian into the Body of Christ. This is a work of everlasting effect; therefore, it stands to reason that this work will continue to be in effect throughout all eternity. God the Father and God the Son will remain on the throne within the Holy City, as God the Spirit will remain on the thrones of each believer’s heart. With the Father and the Son over and walking along side of the believer and the Spirit resident within Him, he truly will be in unspeakable bliss.
As the river of the water of life flows down “Main Street” within the Holy City, branches of the tree of life will grow along each side of it. The tree of life will yield either one type of fruit monthly, or it will yield twelve types of fruit, a different type each month of the year. The text seems to suggest that it will be one type, but that a different crop will mature each month of the year. Although it doesn’t say, the assumption is that this fruit will now serve as food to those within the Holy City. If so, it appears that man will once again become a “vegetarian.” For meat-eaters, this may not sound great; but, you may be assured that whatever God provides for food, will far surpass the gastronomic pleasures of this day. A review of Genesis 9 reminds us that God only permitted the eating of meat after the Flood during Noah’s day. Prior to this, fruits and vegetables were the order. It appears that man will return to this fare.
The “leaves” of the tree of life will be for the “healing” of the nations. More precisely, they are for the “health” of the nations. Just as the green leaves of trees today, by means of their ability to photosynthesize incoming carbon dioxide (C02), water and light energy resulting in the production of oxygen (02) and carbohydrates for the livelihood of carbon based beings (humans, animal life, etc.); the leaves of the “tree of life” will contribute in some mysterious way to man’s everlasting state of youth and health.
There is also the view that the fruit and leaves of the “tree of life,” will be primarily for those (nations) who remain alive without glorified bodies at the end of the Millennial Kingdom and populate the earth outside of the Holy City. The reader may decide.
Revelation 22:3-5
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. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 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 forever and ever.
The curse levied on man due to his pride and his disobedience in the Garden of Eden will vanish. This curse that separated man from God will be permanently abolished. In its place will be God’s personal presence, as depicted by the Throne of the Father and the Son that is forever established within the Holy City. For eternity man will personally and “up close” serve God--so, there will be much to do in heaven. Furthermore, man will see God face-to-face, because man will have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, will have a glorified body and will be forever indwelt by the Spirit of God. The name of God will be on the foreheads of all believers, indicating a permanent relationship between God and man, in addition to God’s total ownership of every believer.
Heaven and the Holy City will be a brilliant display of light. There will never again be night, and, although this is conjecture, there will never again be a need for sleep. There will never again be the need for the sun or any lamp, because God the Father and God the Son, together, will be all the light, both physical and spiritual, that man will need. And heaven will be a place of distinct and immense honor, for every believer will “reign,” as the “bride of Christ” with Him throughout all eternity.
A.T. Pierson in The Ministry of Keswick, First Series, summarizes as follows:
“And there shall be no more curse”, perfect sinlessness;
“but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it,” perfect government;
“and His servants shall serve Him,” perfect service;
“They shall see His face,” perfect communion;
“and His name shall be on their foreheads,” perfect resemblance;
“And there shall be no night there,” perfect blessedness;
“And they shall reign forever and ever,” perfect glory.
Revelation 22:6, 7
The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show His servants the things that must soon take place." "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."
Again the angel tells John that these words are “trustworthy and true.” This proclamation was used in chapter 21:5 & 6, where this phrase emphasized the free offer of salvation in Jesus Christ. Now John is again instructed that the next few words are very, very important. They are “trustworthy and true,” that is, take the message seriously and literally. Do not attempt to spiritualize or alter it. What message? The message is in two parts, (1) Christ is coming soon--which is to say “suddenly,” (repeated twice more in this chapter) and (2) the person who “keeps” (believes and holds dearly) the words of the prophecy of Revelation will be blessed (continuously happy).
Essentially the Holy Spirit would have the reader understand that by reading and believing this book of prophecy, he will insure for himself a state of readiness--always expecting Christ’s soon return--which will be a life-altering system of doctrine resident in his soul. To believe in and eagerly anticipate the soon return of Jesus Christ will, more than any other doctrine, encourage the believer to live his life in accordance with God’s Word--so that he may give a proper accounting of his time and stewardship to the Lord.
Revelation 22:8-13
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. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!" Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy." "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End
John once again attempts to bow down before the angel to worship him. The angel quickly rebukes him, reminding John that as an angel he is only a “fellow servant” with John, with John’s brothers who are prophets and “all who keep the words of this book.” He stresses to John that only God is to be worshipped.
He then informs John that the words of the prophecy of Revelation are not to be sealed up. This is unlike the instructions at the close of Daniel, “He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” (Daniel 12:9, 10) Note the similarity of the pronouncements regarding the condition of the world in these two passages of Scripture. The wording, “Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy” (Revelation), appears quite similar to “Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand” (Daniel). The difference is that in Daniel, the prophecies would be sealed (not understood) until the coming and full revelation of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Now, in John’s day, after the coming and going of the Messiah, the prophecy is to be kept open (understood) and used to energize the saints. The message is that the world continues on its course, according to the plan of God. Many will accept Christ, but unfortunately so many more will turn their back on and reject Him.
Again, Jesus Christ, who is the “Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End,” warns all who read this book that He is coming soon with His reward, to be given to all in accordance with what they have done. To those who have accepted Christ by faith, they will answer for any “divine good” (thoughts and works inspired and performed by the Holy Spirit) evident in their Christian journey upon the earth; and to those who have reject Christ and have only “human good” (good deeds performed outside of the will and plan of God), they will be cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 22:14, 15
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. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Here John records the last of the seven beatitudes recorded in Revelation.
1. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. (1:3)
2. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. (14:13)
3. Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed. (16:15)
4. Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb! (19.9)
5. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. (20:6)
6. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book (22:7)
7. 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. (22:14)
Who are the “blessed?” They are those who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, and who therefore have the right to the tree of life and who may go through the gates into the Holy City. How does one wash his robe in the blood of the Lamb and when may he do so? In the first place it is a transaction that can only take place in a person’s earthly journey, which is to say now. And the only way one may insure that his robe is washed is by recognizing the person and work of Jesus Christ and to accept by faith alone the person and work of Christ alone for one’s personal salvation.
For only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life may enter the eternally safe solitude of the Holy City in the New Heaven and the New Earth. Those outside, that is to say, in the Lake of Fire, are the “dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood,” which is to say, those who have turned their back on Jesus Christ and decided to persist in their sin.
Revelation 22:16, 17
"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." The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
Jesus Christ, once again, reminds all who read this book that He alone is the promised Messiah, the “Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star,” in accordance with all Old Testament prophecies. His invitation is first to the children of Israel (Jews), and then to all the nations (Gentiles). He declares that the “Spirit and the bride,” that is the Holy Spirit who is resident in the bride of Christ (the Church) invites all to come to Christ; and anyone who hears (understands) extends the same invitation. The invitation is to “whoever is thirsty and whoever wishes,” which is to say that all mankind (all men and women) possess a “free will”--a will enabled by God to make a decision either to accept or reject Him--and upon their recognized need of salvation, may take of the “free gift” (by grace and not of works) of the water of life (Jesus Christ as personal Savior). Unfortunately, because God permits man to make the final decision, i.e., based on His predestined plan, and upon the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, allowing each person to decided for himself wholly apart from any further influence from God, many will decide to go their own way to eventual destruction.
Revelation 22:18, 19
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
Here is one of the sternest warnings given in God’s Word. It is applicable to all of God’s Word (the Bible), but has specific application to the book of Revelation. It is not intended to apply to the variances of interpretations of the words within the book, because these will always be legion, even among fundamental and literal Bible scholars. These individuals do not add or take away from the words within the book; they only read different applications from these very words. No, the warning is not to the Bible student or scholar who earnestly attempts to understand all the meanings, both great and small, within the words of Revelation. But the warning does refer to the individual who attempts to create a new or different “Bible” by literally eliminating any of the words, or to those who would declare any other book as inspired, such as the Mormons do with their “Book of Mormon.” To those who butcher God’s Word or attempt to direct attention away from it by promoting another “inspired work,” let them fully understand that they do so at their own peril. Once they alter God’s Word to the point that they reject the wonderful message of grace and mercy in Jesus Christ alone, they will then in their own “manufactured” belief (of a work’s salvation) seal their eternal doom.
Revelation 22:20, 21
He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.
PAY ATTENTION TO GOD’S FINAL WORDS! Jesus Christ is coming soon. He will come suddenly, when least expected. When He comes, it will be in a most rapid fashion. Be prepared! This is possible for all believers (God’s people), but only through His marvelous and abundant “grace,” which is in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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