Bible Commentaries
Revelation 22

Verse 1

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5. THE NEW RIVER .

Revelation 22:1.

“And he shewed me a pure ’RIVER OF WATER OF LIFE,’ clear as crystal, proceeding out of the Throne of God, and of the Lamb.”

The waters of earthly rivers are not crystal clear. Many of them are muddy and contaminated with sewerage. This wonderful river is called the River of the “Water of Life,” because of its “life giving” properties. Earthly streams have their source in some mountain spring, but the “River of Life” has its source in the Throne of God. Revelation 22:1.

Somewhere on that “Pyramidal Mountain” in the centre of the City, probably on its summit, will rest

“The Throne of God,”

from under the seat of which shall flow down in cascades, from terrace to terrace, the crystal stream that shall feed that wonderful “River of Life.”

Verse 2

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6. THE NEW TREE OF LIFE .

Revelation 22:2.

“In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the River. was there the ’TREE OF LIFE,’ which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the nations.”

The streets are to be lined with trees, as are also the banks of a wonderful river. These trees are not mere shade trees, but beautiful Fruit Trees, called the “TREE OF LIFE,” that bear Twelve Kinds of Fruit, a different kind each month. The fruit of these trees is for Overcomers Only.

“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the ’Tree of Life’ which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7.

The leaves of the trees are for the Healing of the Nations that shall occupy the New Earth. Not that there will be any sickness, but to preserve them in health, as Adam would have been preserved in health if he had eaten of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:22-24.

Verses 3-4

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7. THE NEW THRONE .

Revelation 22:3-4.

“And there shall be no more curse: but the THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His FACE: and His NAME shall be in their foreheads.”

Whoever heard of an earthly city without some place of worship, be it heathen or Christian, but the wonderful thing about the New Jerusalem is, that it has no Temple. Why need a Temple when the object of worship is present, for “The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb Are the Temple of It.” In fact the whole City itself will be a Temple.

“Then the ’Tabernacle of God’ shall be with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His People, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY.” Revelation 21:3-4.

This means that Heaven shall have come down to Earth, and that this earth will become the RESIDENCE OF GOD.

The Great Abdication

The “Millennial Age” and the “Perfect Age,” between which the Earth is Renovated by Fire, make up the “Age of Ages,” which period is called the KINGDOM OF THE SON OF MAN.

At the close of the “Age of Ages” when Christ “shall have put down all rule and all authority and power, for He must reign till He hath put all enemies under his feet,” then Christ as the Son of

Man, shall surrender the Kingdom to God, that God may be ALL IN ALL. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28. This is known as The Great Abdication.

There have been many abdications of thrones in the world’s history, but none like this. Thrones have been abdicated for various reasons. Some have been forced, others voluntary. Some on account of physical infirmity, or to secure some particular successor. But Christ will not abdicate for any of these reasons. He will abdicate because He has Finished the Work That Was Given Him to Do as the Son of Man. He will not surrender His Human Nature, but His title “Son of Man” will merge back into that of “Son of God” so that the Divine Godhead shall thereafter act in its Unity, and God shall be “ALL IN ALL.”

The Ages of the Ages

As the “Creative Ages” were the “Alpha” Ages, these will be the “Omega” Ages. With the surrender of the “Perfect Kingdom” to the Father, what we speak of as “Time” ceases, and the “Eternal Ages,” called the “Ages of the Ages” begin. They correspond to what the Apostle Paul in his Letter to the Ephesians calls the “Ages to Come.” Ephesians 2:7. And John in the Book of Revelation says that the “Devil” and the “Beast” and the “False Prophet” shall be tormented day and night forever and ever, or for the “Aions” of the “Aions,” the “Ages of the Ages,” Revelation 20:10, and that the “Servants of God” shall reign for the same period. Revelation 22:5.

What those “Ages of Ages” shall reveal of the Plan and Purpose of God we do not know, but if we are His we shall live to know, and possibly take part in their development. What we do know is that we are but in the beginning of things, and as concerning the “Ages,” Eternity is still young.

Verses 6-21

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The Epilogue or Final Testimony and Warnings.

Revelation 22:6-21.

“And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true; and the Lord God of the Holy Prophets sent His Angel to shew unto His Servants the Things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this BOOK.

“And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the Angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy Fellowservant, and of the the Prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this Book: worship GOD.

“And he saith unto me. Seal not the sayings of THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK: for the TIME IS AT HAND. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am ALPHA and OMEGA, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.

“Blessed are they that do His Commandments, that they may have right to the ’TREE OF LIFE,’ and may enter in through the gates into the City. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers and idolators, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

“I Jesus have sent mine Angel to testify unto you these things in the Churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR.

“And the SPIRIT (Holy Spirit) and the BRIDE (the Church, still on the earth) say COME. And let him that is athirst COME. And WHOSOEVER WILL, let him take of the ’Water of Life’ FREELY.

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK. If any man shall ADD UNTO THESE THINGS, GOD SHALL ADD UNTO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK: and if any man shall TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE AND OUT OF THE HOLY CITY, AND FROM THE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK.

“He which testifieth these things, saith, Surely I COME QUICKLY. AMEN. EVEN SO, COME LORD JESUS.

“THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOU ALL. AMEN.”