The city, the river, the tree — eternal peace
Revelation 22
r22T
Text
Comments
.Re 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.   Pure river We saw it earlier re2110 and now can learn more about the city. See note.
  Clear From lampros. See how the word is translated: lu2311, ac1030, re1506.
  Out of the throne Compare ez4701, zc1408.
.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.   Tree of life The tree was in the Garden of Eden. What was lost will be restored. See comparison note. And see note 2a about the tree.
  Healing of the nations Note 2b.
 3 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:   Curse Or cursed thing or person. Verses 3 to 5 are discussed in the comparison table already mentioned.
 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.    See his face A close relationship ps01715, mt0508, he1214, 1jo0302, ex3320.
  In their foreheads Rather "on ..." re0703
 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.   No night See re2123.
Revelation epilogue begins
 6 ¶ 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.   Sayings faithful and true Confirmation of the book. We may see "faithful" to imply the certain fulfillment of the predictions and "true" the importance of the book's message for our lives.
  Prophets The book reflects their messages.
 7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.   Come quickly Or "suddenly" Compare re0311, re1605 and see note.
  Blessed One of seven blessings or "benedictions" in the book.
.8 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.
.9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
  Fell down to worship Apparently John had not begun to "worship." He felt very humble. This is apparently an experience God allowed him to have as was eating the little book re1009. See note 8 on angel worship.
  Fellowservant See on re1910.
 10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.   See note 10 and a literary pattern comparing the text from verse 6 to 16.
.11 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.   Unjust ... filthy This pictures the close of human probation. Note that it comes just before the return of Christ v12 and entry into heaven v14. Some believe in a "rapture" followed by a time to change hearts. This the Bible does not teach. See on re0107b.
 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
  Reward See note 12.
  As his work shall be Or "as his work is" (NASB)
  Alpha and Omega We may see the three word-pairs describing Christ as His complete instruction through the prophets, His work of creation and re-creation for our happiness, and His complete work for our salvation ph0106. Compare re0108b.
.14 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.   Blessed The last of seven blessings in the book of Revelation.
  Do his commandments Most translations have "wash their robes." The two are similar in Greek but are different enough to make a scribal error unlikely. See note 14 including my preference for the KJV in this instance.
.15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.   Without Several verses describe those who do not enter the city. Many today believe that compliance with church ceremonies will assure us salvation, or that God overlooks some offensive habits, or that we are saved by what we do. See on ep0208. Note 15.
 16 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.   See note 16.
 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.   Bride As in 2109.
  Say Or "keep saying."
  See note 17.
.18 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:
 19 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.
  See note for 18 and 19.
.20 ¶ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
  Jesus' promise to return and John's response is expressed in two Aramaic words, "Maranatha."
  Jesus leaves us with hope and courage. he1037. Note 20.
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