Revelation 22
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In Revelation 21 we noticed the description of new Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven. Revelation 21:11-14 showed John the splendor and glory of this city. In Revelation 21:15-18 we able to see the strength and power of the city. In Revelation 21:19-21 we are shown the beauty of the city. Revelation 21:22-27 revealed the inside of the city, where there is no temple for the Lord God and the Lamb because the servants of God are forever with the Lord in all their glory and honor. Revelation 22 continues the description of new Jerusalem.
Living Water and Tree of Life (22:1-5)
John is shown the river of living water, pure as crystal, flowing down the middle of the street of the city. This conjures in our minds the free flowing waters of life available to all who reside in the city. We also see that the river of living water is flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb. God and the Lamb are the givers of life. To convey this image further we see on both sides of the river of living water is the tree of life. This tree of life along with the river remind us of the scene presented to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Notice Genesis 2:9-10, “And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads.” These images are similar to what John is seeing in Revelation. But there is one noticable difference. The tree of knowledge of good and evil is missing in the Paradise of God in Revelation. This is because the city of God has no evil nor temptations, but only what is righteous and holy.
Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, Adam and Eve were separated from the garden and the tree of life. Notice Genesis 3:22-24, “Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” — therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” Now the tree of life is offered to all who are the servants of God. In Revelation 2:7 we read the promise made by Jesus, “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Now the promise is realized in Revelation 22, as those in this city, new Jerusalem, can now eat from the tree of life.
Further, we see that the healing of this tree is offered to all peoples in verse 2. This was not offered only to the Jews, but to all the nations that whoever overcomes with the Lamb, they will eat from this tree of life and be healed. Mankind is no longer under curse for violation of God’s law.
Serving the Lord
Verse 4 reveals to us one of the most fantastic images that the servants of God will enjoy. God’s people will see the face of the Lord and His name will be on their foreheads. We will see the Lord face to face. This is something that is not possible for man to do in the flesh. Remember in Exodus 33:17-23 that Moses asked to see the glory of the Lord. But the Lord responded in verse 20, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” It is not possible for human flesh to see the Lord face to face. In all the other accounts in the scriptures, man was only able to see the likeness of the glory of the Lord or witness His partial glory in vision. But now God’s servants will see Him as He is, face to face, in all his glory. What a hope and joy that God’s people have awaiting them!
Further, verse 4 tells us that His servants will have the Lord’s name on their foreheads. We have seen this imagery before when the servants of the beast had the name of the beast on their hands and foreheads. This was a symbol that they served and were preserved by the beast, the Roman Empire. Now we see that God’s servants will have the Lord’s name on their foreheads. This shows that we are servants of God, but more importantly, that His servants are protected, preserved, and kept by the Lord. No permanent harm can befall them for they are with the Lord. Though enduring great tribulations, they now will forever be with the Lord and have overcome. This picture is further described for us in verse 5 that the Lord is the light for His servants and they will reign forever and ever. Victory is determined and given to God’s servants.
This now ends the apocalyptic visions that John is going to see. Now the Lord is going to give John directions as to what to do with the visions and symbols that he has witnessed.
The Directions of the Lord to John
Must Quickly Take Place (22:6-11)
We read that these words are faithful and true. All that has been revealed to John in this great revelation must certainly take place. There will be no deterring the purpose and mission of God. Then, the reminder of Revelation 1:1 is given again: the things the angel has revealed must quickly take place. These things that we have read about were going to begin to occur right away. It would not be decades, hundreds, or thousands of years for these things to begin. They would start then. It would be quick. Jesus himself validates this by saying, “See I am coming quickly.” Jesus made this promise earlier to the readers of this letter in Revelation 2:16 and Revelation 3:11.
Is this statement of Jesus returning quickly speaking about His second coming and final judgment? We must remember that this letter is primarily written to the Christians in the seven churches of Asia in the first century. Would the second coming of Christ and final judgment come quickly to those Christians in the first century? No, it has been more than 1900 years since these words and Jesus has not returned in final judgment. Obviously, Jesus is referring to his judgments that will come against Jerusalem and Rome. His judgments were coming quickly. When we read about the coming of the Son of Man, we must always think of judgment. But the context must tell us if we are talking about the final judgment or a more immediate national judgment. The book of Revelation is clearly describing national judgments against the Jewish nation and the Roman Empire. The things contained in Revelation were going to begin quickly. Those Christians in the first century needed to continue to hold fast to God’s word and they would be blessed by Jesus when these judgments came.
In verses 8-9 we see John, in awe and reverence of what he has seen and heard, fall down and give honor and praise for what he has seen. But John is warned again to not fall at the feet of the angel and to only worship God. For other notes on this, see Revelation 19:10.
In verse 10 we see that John is instructed to not seal the prophetic words of this book, because of the time is near. This is in contrast to Daniel 12:4 and Daniel 12:9 where Daniel is told to seal the book until the time of the end for it would be hundreds of years before the things prophesied in Daniel would occur. John, on the other hand, is told not to seal up the book because the things in Revelation would quickly take place. Since sealing the book means it would be hundreds of years before the events prophesied must take place, we know even further that since this book is not sealed that the prophecies would happen immediately. This parallel between Daniel and Revelation also shows us that the book of Revelation is the unveiling of the mysterious prophecies of Daniel. The prophecies of Daniel contain the prediction of Jerusalem’s fall, the beast’s fall, and the shattering of the holy people. Revelation has now explained why Jerusalem would fall, that the beast is the Roman Empire who is persecuting the saints, and how the people of God would be victorious in the end.
Verse 11 has led many to be confused. Is the Lord telling the wicked to continue to perform wicked deeds? To help understand this passage, we need to see its parallel passage in Daniel 12:10. Daniel 12:10 reads, “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.” Here we read that the righteous will be purified and refined by what would take place. On the other hand, the wicked would continue to perform their evil deeds. This is exactly what the angel is saying in Revelation 22:11. The evildoers will not change but will perform what we have read about in Revelation and will be judged for these deeds.
The Words of Christ (22:12-16)
Jesus again makes the promise and the reminder that he is coming quickly in judgment. The things in Revelation will quickly begin to take place. Any interpretation of Revelation that does not have an immediate impact and meaning to the first century Christian must be rejected. Further, Jesus is coming bringing a reward for those who have been his servants through the persecutions and tribulation. Those who have been wicked will receive condemnation according to their deeds as well.
In verses 14-15 we read the future state of those who obey and those who disobey. Those who have their robes washed will have a right to the tree of life and may enter the city. We have seen in Revelation 7:14 those who have their robes washed in the blood of the Lamb. This is an image of full obedience to the point of death to Christ. Those who will be left out will be the dogs, sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, and liars. The dogs do not referring to the physical animal but is a symbol of evildoers. Paul used this same image in Philippians 3:2, “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!” This was a warning against those who would deceive and pervert the law of Christ. They are identified here as being left on the outside of the city and separated from God. Jesus reminds the readers that these things are true and will surely take place in verse 16. These things have been testified by the angel that Jesus sent.
The Lord’s Warning (22:17-21)
In verse 17 we read of the call being given to all people. As always, the Lord gives opportunity for all people to repent. Those who are thirsty for the Lord should come and receive the living water that he offers as a gift from him. The offer was made then and the offer is still made today for all people to come and receive the gift of God. This is similar to the call made in Revelation 21:6-7, “And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”
Then a warning is given in verses 18-19 against those who would distort and twist this book. Whoever adds to the book, God will add the plagues written in the book. If anyone takes away from the book, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city. While true that we are not to add to or subtract from any of God’s word, this warning is specifically about the book of Revelation, which leads to some interesting thoughts. Premillennialists take the plagues and symbols in this book literally. If this is the case, then those who add or take away from the book must expect these plagues to literally come upon them. But we do not see these figures literally occurring ever in history. Further, the book of Revelation told us to understand the book symbolically. Therefore, the plagues were a symbol for the eradication of any people who would stand against God. God now says that we will be condemned if we twist Revelation by adding to it or taking away anything from it. Further, those who twist the book of Revelation to mean what they want it to say and use the book for sordid gain are also condemned. Those who treat the word of God in such a way will not have their share of the tree of life and the holy city.
Finally, we are reminded one more time, as if the Lord knew that there would be many who come along and say that these events will happen many, many years later, that Jesus is coming quickly in judgment. The things that we have seen in Revelation will take place quickly. The people reading this book in the first century were to be ready for there would be great distress experienced by Christians.
