ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW JERUSALEM (Rev 22:1-5)

In chapter 21 we noted 14 specific characteristics of the new Jerusalem.  Chapter 22 begins by giving us several additional features of the great city in heaven.  These features are also presented in several places in the Old Testament.  The parallels are quite striking.  These scriptures include the following, Ezek 47:1-12, Ps 1:1-3, 46:4, 132:10-18, Joel 3:18-21, Zech 14:1-11, Isa 35:1-10, 66:10-14.  We will next list and discuss the additional characteristics presented in chapter 22.

• The river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flows from the throne of God and the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.  The Holy Spirit is represented as a “stream of living water that flows from within the believer” in John 7:37-39.  Zech 14:8 says that in that day “living water will flow out of Jerusalem all of the time.”  Joel 3:18 says that in that day “a fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house.”  Ps 46:4 says that “there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High lives.”  Each of these references seems to me to point to the Holy Spirit, which will dwell within believers, who as a body are called the city of God and the dwelling place of God.  The Holy Spirit is symbolically the perfect holy water which flows from God the Father and Jesus the Lamb through the main thoroughfare of the city, through the bride, the believer.  This sounds so much like what Jesus was praying for in his High Holy Prayer in John 17.
• On each side of the river stood the tree of life, yielding twelve crops of fruit, and bearing continuously.  We know from the story of the Garden of Eden in Genesis that Jesus was the tree of life in the Garden.  It was he who provided for eternal life.  His fruit was eternal life and whoever ate from that tree had eternal life.  Thus the fruit that Jesus provides for us in heaven is eternal life.   NOTE: Jesus is symbolized as a tree whose fruit is eternal life.  The Holy Spirit is symbolized as a river of flowing water running from God to and through the body of believers.  Just as Jesus is not a literal tree so also is the Holy Spirit not a literal river of running water.  This symbolism is intended to help us understand that it is Jesus who literally provides eternal life for believers and it is the Holy Spirit who literally connects believers to God the Father and Jesus the Son.
• The leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations.  Leaves may be used to provide a healing ointment.  The healing ointment that Jesus provides means that the multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-national peoples in heaven will no longer have disagreements or wars.  Everyone will love each other and there will be no jealousies, no tensions, no covetousness.
• The curse of sin will no longer exist.  The sin nature will no longer exist and there will be no need for selfishness, which is the root of all sin.
• The throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city and his servants will serve him.  They will live and reign within the bride as we have seen repeated over and over.  They will have first place in the hearts of everyone who makes up the bride and everyone will worship God and serve him.
• The bride will finally be able to see the face of God and his name will be on their foreheads.  As we have seen this name is “the redeemed of the Lord, the holy people, the city no longer deserted.”
• There will be no need for artificial light or the natural light of the sun since God will give us his light.
  The bride will reign for ever and ever with God the Father and the Lamb.

What a place that must be.  We have seen 21 (3 x 7) characteristics listed for the City of God, the new Jerusalem, the bride of Christ.  This is all given in very symbolic language and obviously it is describing the state of believers in heaven and their relationship with God.  We can’t really understand it.  Paul tells us of being taken up to paradise in 2 Cor 12:4, 7 and of the surprisingly great revelations that he was shown.  We also know from several descriptions in Isaiah that heaven will an indescribably wonderful place.

THE ANGEL AGAIN APPEARS TO JOHN WITH SOME FINAL WORDS (Rev 22:6-11)

The angel who had been giving John the great revelation of Jesus Christ appeared to him one last time.  The angel confirmed that the things John had seen are true.  The angel tells John to not seal up the words of the prophecy because they would soon take place.  The word “soon” seems to mean that when Jesus returns it will happen very quickly.   It seems that God wants us to act as though it is imminent even though it may still be far off in the future.  There is also a realization presented that there will always be wicked people and there will also always be those who follow Jesus.  Those who follow Jesus are again urged to continue doing so.  The reward is immensely worth any sacrifice that might be required.  The angel also has a warning for anyone who adds to or takes away from the words of this prophecy.  I feel certain that does not preclude Bible students and believers from trying to understand and interpret the meaning of what is presented.  That is indeed just what we have done with this study; we have tried to interpret from other scripture and to understand what is presented.  We also acknowledge that there are many things presented in Revelation that we don’t and can’t fully comprehend.  However, I fully believe that God wants us to try to understand.  In fact, he promised us a blessing for trying to do so.  This promise is in both the first and last chapters of Revelation, Rev 1:3 and 22:7.  We might say that Revelation begins and ends with this promise.  It certainly looks like God seriously wants us to study this book.
There is a parallel between Rev 22:8-9 and Dan 12:4, 9-10.  First, both involve sealing the prophecies in the books.  Daniel is told that the words that he has been given are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.  He is told that as the end times approach knowledge will increase.  This will enable some to better understand the prophecies.  Verse 10 seems to prophesy the fact that many will be made holy by accepting the shed blood of Christ when they become believers.  The Holy Spirit that they receive when they become believers will help them as they try to understand the words of the prophecy.  Verse 10 says “none of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.”  In contrast, John is told not to seal up the words of his book, because the time is near.  John wrote the words of his book over 600 years after Daniel wrote his words.  Jesus had come in the intervening years allowing the Spirit to come to believers at Pentecost to help them understand the words of prophecy.  The end was near in that the major event that would kick off the fulfillment of the end times, the rapture, was the next major event on God’s cosmic calendar.  Just as Daniel had done, John then contrasts the wicked and the holy.

A FINAL MESSAGE FROM JESUS (Rev 22:12-21)

Jesus presents a final message and his points to us are:

• That he is indeed coming soon.  This is presented four times in chapter 22, in verses 6, 7, 12 and 20.  This must mean that it is very important.  The word soon may mean that when Jesus returns it will happen very quickly.  1 Cor 15:51-53 says that it will happen in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye.  The rapture is presented as something that is imminent, something for which no one knows the day or hour, and something for which we must always remain ready.
• That his reward will be with him.  Isa 62:11, Heb 10:35-37, Matt 16:27, 2 Cor 5:10, 1 Cor 3:8-15, Eph 4:7, 6:8.
• That he is indeed the God of the universe.
• That those who accept him, become righteous through his sacrifice, will be blessed, will have eternal life and will become a part of the city.
• That those who do not accept him will not be a part of the city.  This is also presented in Rev 21:8 and Rev 21:27.  The fact that it is presented three times in the description of the city means that it is something that Jesus wants to emphasize.  Not everyone goes to heaven.
• That he had sent his angel to give John this testimony for the churches.
• That he is both the Root and Offspring of David; the root implying that as the eternal God of the universe it was he who created David, and the offspring implying that in his humanity he was in the lineage of David. 
• Finally, that he is the bright Morning Star, or that he is the divine God of the universe that is a spirit being in heaven
• Jesus concludes with, “Yes, I am coming soon."