Revelation 22:1-5

Strauss-' Comments
SECTION 70

Text Revelation 22:1-5

And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb, 2 in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no curse any more: and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein: and his servants shall serve him; 4 and they shall see his face; and his name shall be on their foreheads. 5 And there shall be night no more; and they need no light of lamp, neither light of sun; for the Lord God shall give them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Initial Questions Revelation 22:1-5

1.

Jesus identified the rivers of living water as the Spirit in John 7:38. What possible significance can the river of water of life have in Revelation 22:1?

2.

What was the purpose of the fruit of the tree of life - Revelation 22:2?

3.

What will God's servants do in the New Jerusalem - Revelation 22:3?

4.

Discuss the paradox of reigning (see Revelation 22:5) servants (see Revelation 22:3). Servants are not generally spoken of as reigning.

Epilogue: The Last Words of the Angel, the Seer, and the Savior

Chapter Revelation 22:1-21

The great drama is over and righteousness has prevailed! God is sovereign; His Lordship is universal. The Seven Churches of Asia Minor have been warned and exhorted. These warnings and exhortations need to be heard afresh in our own day. We have seen the performances of The Seer, The Savior, and The Saved in the drama which depicted the struggle between good and evil, truth and falsehood, light and darkness.

We have spanned the years from the tragedy of Genesis, chapter 3, Paradise Lost to Revelation - chp. 22. Paradise Regained (study and compare the biblical themes and imagery used by Dante and Milton).

Revelation 22:1

The refreshing waters of eternal life can come from only one source, out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, Man's primitive innocence has been regained at the expense of the Lamb slain before the foundations of the world. The imagery John employs reveals the rich abundance of our salvation. The symbolism of the garden paradise points to a perfect environment for perfect man (the new man in Christ). Man was banished from his garden paradise because of his sin (Genesis 3; He has been restored by God inChrist). Compare this with the city (the great harlot) which was destroyed in chp. Revelation 18:21 ff. The light, joy, fellowship are gone forever!

Revelation 22:2

In God's city there is the tree of life and the river of life. The tree bears fruit each month (abundance). Even the leaves of the trees are for healing (therapeian - is one of the N.T. words for worship. It is also a medical term found in the medical papyrus of the period. Sinful Man is sick. Only God's work through Christ can make man well again!) of the nations.

Note: God's Holiness is Man's Wholeness!

Contemporary man is seeking therapy for his malady. There is more counciling, pyscho-therapy, etc., being done in our age, both in and out of the Church, than ever before in the history of western civilization. Men are trying to find out what life is all about. What is the significance of our lives? Can we ever be what God made us unless we possess the holiness of God? How is your spiritual life? Do you actually find healing in your worship (the word therapein is one of the many N.T. words translated worship) of the living God on the Lord's Day?

The nations of the earth are seeking wholeness through the medium of councils and discussion groups. John says that God alone can provide the means whereby sinful, fallen man can be whole again. Only eternal life heals the scars of sin and misery.

Revelation 22:3

In the city of God nothing is accursed. The assertion of equal sovereign is most clearly declared by the Spirit guided John. And the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it (the garden paradise); and his slaves will serve him (latreusousin - originally means to serve for pay. In both O.T. and N.T. the word in its various forms are used with reference to the public worship of God in Christ. (See Acts 26:7; Romans 9:4; Hebrews 9:1; Hebrews 9:6).

Revelation 22:4

God withheld His face from Moses (Exodus 33:20; Exodus 33:23). Our Lord said, Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8). Paul said, Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:(Hebrews 12:14). He also declared to the congregation at Corinth that - Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ - (2 Corinthians 4:6). For now we see in a mirror darkly; but then face to face:(1 Corinthians 13:12). All of us who strive to serve Christ are anxiously awaiting that hour when we shall see Him face to face. Praise God - for His coming again!

Revelation 22:5

The light that lighteth everyman that cometh into the world is the sole source of light in the paradise of God. Those who are citizens will reign unto the ages of the ages. John has mentioned the glorious eternal reign with our Lord Jesus Christ already in Revelation 1:6, Revelation 3:21, Revelation 5:10. We reign with Him because we have been made into children of the King of kings; therefore, we are in the royal lineage.

Discussion Questions

See Revelation 22:20-21.