REVELATION 22
“I’ll Be Back”

This chapter continues to describe aspects of the city of God, and it contains some final admonitions from Jesus, but it also has some interesting statements that are hard to ignore. For starters, let’s just notice some of the description of the city and what it implies. In the first five verses, we see a River of Life issuing forth from the very Throne of God. In Verse 2, we see the Tree of Life that brings healing to the nations. Verse 3 reiterates that the Throne of God will be present. Verse 4 makes it known that the saints who serve their God will be able to look upon His face. Verse 5 again tells us that the sun and the moon and even the night are absent from the city because there is no need for them. All of this in total paints a picture of an existence that is even superior to the Garden of Eden. In Eden, Adam and Eve had access to the Tree of Life, but they never partook of it. There were four pure and unpolluted rivers, but they were not rivers of life. Even though they communed and conversed with God, they still depended on the sun and moon for light, and we are never told that they actually saw God face to face. We might say that the city of God is more advanced than the garden of God. Verse 4 also tells us that God’s name will be in the forehead of all of His servants. Unlike Adam and Eve, there is no chance that we will ever fall to sin, deception, or the curse.

Revelation 22:1-5

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.

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.

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:

4 And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads.

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.

Verse 3 contains one of those very curious statements that we really need to consider. It declares that there will be no more curse, but then it continues with the phrase “but the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it.” Those words seem to limit the area in which the curse has been totally removed to only that area within the perimeter of the city. In other words, it is saying that there is no curse in “it,” and the Throne of God is in “it,” but no mention is made about the world outside of the city. If this were the only place that suggested a difference between inside the city and outside the city, we could perhaps ignore it, or explain it away. However, it is not alone in suggesting that the city of God is more of a refuge on earth than an example of what the entire earth will be like. At the end of Revelation 21, we read about the nations that are saved walking in the light of it and bringing their glory into it. That by itself suggests that there could be nations that are unsaved that are not allowed to enter the city, but not necessarily. The final verse of Chapter 21 declares that “there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” This could all be talking about the fact that sin has been judged, and Satan has been cast into the Lake of Fire along with all of those who are not written in the Lambs Book of Life. But the way that the verse we just read is written gives the clear impression that there is still something going on the outside of the walls that is not totally inline with the way God created things. During the Millennial Reign, the things we are reading will be true to some extent because those who survive the Wrath of God will be unsaved peoples ruled by the saints of God, but the city of God does not descend down to the earth until after the Millennium. So, is there still going to be sinners outside the city after the Millennium? Were all sinners destroyed by the fire that falls from heaven in Revelation 20:9 or just those who surrounded the city? Does the resurrection of the dead include those that are alive at the Millennium? Will the work of Salvation continue for eternity as the saints minister life to the descendants of Adam who are outside New Jerusalem? It at least appears that God has big plans for His people in the ages to come.

The next eight verses contain admonitions and instructions from Jesus to all of mankind. After reading them, we will get back to the questions that were presented in the last paragraph. In Verse 10, John is told not to seal up the prophecy of this book. That is just the opposite of what Daniel was told in Daniel 12:4 when he was told to “shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end.” This prophecy has never been sealed from our understanding; we just didn’t always understand it too well. In fact, it is through this prophecy that we are finally able to understand Daniel’s prophecies, and Daniel’s prophecies help us to understand the Revelation. In Verse 7, Jesus instructs us to keep the prophecies of this book. Not only should we live by the words of the four gospels and the epistles, but we should have a clear understanding of the Revelation and live by it. He is coming soon, and we should be proclaiming the coming Day of the Lord, along with the grace, promises, and love of God, and His sacrificial lamb—Jesus Christ.

Revelation 22:6-13

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.

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this 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.

10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

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.

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.

The next few verses are hard to reconcile to the idea of a universe of bliss in the sweet by and by. The last 50 verses of Revelation have been talking about Satan being cast into the Lake of Fire, the White Throne Judgment and the temple of God coming to earth, and God wiping away the tears of His people. Now Verse 15 informs us that on the outside of the city walls are evil doers. Could this be? There were evil doers at the end of the Millennial Reign that came up against the city of the saints. That city was not New Jerusalem but rather the old Jerusalem where Jesus stepped out of heaven and on to the Mount of Olives to begin the 1000-year reign. After 1000 years of glory, the only thing needed to motivate the multitudes who despise the reign of the saints was the leadership of Satan. Those who rebelled were destroyed by a rain of fire that falls upon them from heaven to devour them. Those who remain at the end of the Millennium who refused to take part in the rebellion will likely number in the billions. After all this takes place, the White Throne Judgment occurs, but if we read with understanding about that judgment, it is the judgment of the two resurrections. Not everyone who takes part in the first resurrection has to die. Those who are still alive and serving Christ will be changed into immortal bodies at the same instant that the dead are changed and then raptured. The second resurrection is different.

We are never told that the people at the end of the Millennium who refused to follow Satan are resurrected or changed at the same time as the dead as in the resurrection of the just. And why would they be? They are the ones who are still living obediently under the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. But, we are never told that they are saved either. Their names would be included in the Lambs Book of Life if they are saved, and they would experience the better part of the White Throne Judgment. But, what about all those who are alive at the end of the Millennial Reign who don’t quite find it in their hearts to accept Jesus as Saviour, if that is an option for them, but yet, they don’t feel compelled to rebel against Him either? They are happy to be alive just to do their own thing. They’re willing enough to go along with the program as far as obeying the saints is concerned, but deep down they prefer to do their own thing and hold on to their secret sins. They are the descendants of Adam just like we are. Just because there is no more tempter does not mean that they are suddenly “new creatures” or “born again” or free from the fallen nature. They are sinners at heart, even in the absence of the father of lies, but they are smart enough and perhaps “good enough” to avoid the fate of those who surrounded the city of the saints.

They are not a part of the resurrection of the living at the final trump. Are they included in resurrection of the dead? Does God find a way to preserve them during the White Throne Judgment? Verse 14 seems to suggest that there will still be unregenerate human beings on the earth after the New Jerusalem is lowered down to the new earth during the judgment. The very fact that there are walls around the city and access through the gates is limited to those who have logged into the Book of Life strongly suggest that there will be an eternity of people who have to make the same decision that is before us today—receive the gospel, reject it, or just ignore it. Verse 15 just comes right out and tells us that on the outside of the city there will be sinners of every variety. There is a heavenly Jerusalem where God abides right now, but it is just heavenly Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is not created until Revelation 21:1-2 when the new heavens and new earth are created while the judgment is in progress and right before it is lowered down to the earth. That makes it very hard to simply make Verse 15 figurative concerning dogs, whoremongers, and lovers of lies being outside the city with no access. If they were all judged, they would be in the Lake of Fire with no possible way of escape and no possible way to gain access to the city. Jesus said that He would prepare each of us a place in His Father’s house. If we all live inside the city, what is on the outside that we need to rule and reign over?

Revelation 22:14-21

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.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Verse 17 is just one more place where the theory of the Church being the Bride of the Lamb is seriously challenged. The first line declares that the Holy Spirit and the Bride of Christ say, “Come.” That is the drawing that we all feel in our hearts as the Spirit of God draws our hearts to God and the beckoning of heaven itself that we all feel deep down inside of us as the very city of heaven and the hope of a better future tug at our heart strings in a supernatural way. The next line is the one that speaks of the Church—let him that heareth say, “Come.” All of those who have heard the gospel and responded to it are now ambassadors of God on this earth. We have been instructed to preach the gospel to all nations and to give an answer to every man of the hope that lies within us. The bride is calling the Church, and they will be joined together one day as though they were one. Christ is the head of the Church which is His body, and the Church will be joined to the bride with Jesus as one body.

Verses 18 and 19 warn us not to add to or delete from the things that are written. Many have confused and misinterpreted the prophecies of the book, but that does not rise to the level of changing the prophecies outright. Some translators, in ignorance, have rewritten the prophecies to reflect their own personal beliefs. That comes closer to the accusations made by Jesus below and may even cross the line. But, what Jesus is really addressing are those who change things to the point of wholesale deception, those who change the nature of Christ and diminish His deity, those who deny His coming, and those who restate the purpose of the return of Christ as being for the destruction of His elect and His chosen. His prophecies are for the purpose of preparing the Church for that which is coming and giving us the assurance that when those things do come we will know that God is still in control. The prophecies are also a warning to the world in general that they might repent and receive the only Savior and sacrifice that can cleanse their souls.

Revelation 22:16-21

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.

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.

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.

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.

Luke 21:28

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Deuteronomy 4:30-31

30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto His voice;

31 For the LORD thy God is a merciful God; He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He sware unto them.

Think about it!

­In the fulfilment of these chapters, does God still live in heaven?

~Selah~And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3

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