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Notes on the Book of Revelation

Chapter 22

Jesus is Coming Soon

Overview.1

The end of the love story theme of the book of Revelation.

Also the end of the four prophetic cycles, 7 churches, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 vials.

This chart is taken from Pastor Stephen Bohr's series called, "From the Close of Probation to the New Earth", which is a part of his Anchor School of Theology classes. The entire series can be found on the Secrets Unsealed app and YouTube channel.

Revelation 22:1, And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

22V1: See Revelation 21:6 for a description of water of life.

22V1: Lamb = Jesus Christ. Revelation 15:3 says, “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”; 1 Peter 1:19 says, “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot…”; John 1:29 says, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” and verse 36 says something similar, “And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!”

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.

22V2: On either side of the river = Some believe this is one or two trees that sits on both sides of the river and the roots touch under the river and the leaves and branches touch above the river. Either way, it is a large tree because the river is large.

“Here we saw the tree of life and the throne of God. Out of the throne came a pure river of water, and on either side of the river was the tree of life. On one side of the river was a trunk of a tree, and a trunk on the other side of the river, both of pure, transparent gold. At first I thought I saw two trees. I looked again, and saw that they were united at the top in one tree. So it was the tree of life on either side of the river of life. Its branches bowed to the place where we stood, and the fruit was glorious; it looked like gold mixed with silver.” (Early Writings, page 17)

22V2: It is unclear whether every month it produces a different fruit (a different fruit each month of the year) or if it produces 12 different fruits every month. Either way, it is still incredible and will be fascinating to observe and to eat from that tree.

22V2: The saints must eat from the Tree of Life every month to maintain their immortality, Genesis 3:22-24.

22V2: Leaves for the healing of the nations = It is unsure what this actually means, but many believe that this means that the saints from all the nations of earth will gather to worship God every Sabbath. Isaiah 66:23 says, “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.” Because of this the communion and opportunity to fellowship with others will bring us together and we will not have the same antagonistic and nationalistic feelings like we do on earth now. This time to gather and worship together will heal the wounds that might have occurred during our earthly lives. Others believe that the leaves actually provide some type of healing properties that our bodies will need to maintain immortality, although Genesis 3:22-24 specifically mentions fruit and not leaves.

22V2: Healing = The Greek word is ‘Therapeia’ which we get the word ‘therapy’.

Revelation 22:3, 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:

22V3: No more curse = There shall be no more death. The wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23. Since there is no more sin, there is no more death. The gift of God is eternal life.

Revelation 22:4, And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

22V4: See his face = Our sins are forgiven and we are covered in the righteousness of Jesus and are now able to see the face of God; unlike Moses, Exodus 33:20.2

22V4: Name shall be in their foreheads = Seal of God, see explanation at the end of Revelation chapter 8. These are people that have the character of God like the 144,000 mentioned in chapters 7 and 14.

Revelation 22:5, 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.

22V5: No night there = Similar to Revelation 21:23, the glory of God will be the light for the city. God’s glory will even outshine the sun.

22V5: God giveth them light = Just as God gave His light during day one of creation week, Genesis 1:3. But the sun, moon and stars were not created until day four of creation, which means that God provided His light (glory) initially on day one.

Revelation 22:6, And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

22V6: Must shortly be done = Similar to Revelation 1:1. The book begins and ends with similar statements and promises, see verse 7 below. This statement of ‘shortly be done’ or in Revelation 1:1 it is ‘shortly come to pass’ implies that events would begin during the time of John and go until the second coming of Jesus.

Revelation 22:7, Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

22V7: Many believe that the book of Revelation is a closed book or cannot be understood, but this verse makes it clear that we are blessed if we read, understand and keep the sayings of the prophecies of this book. The book of Revelation begins and ends with this promise, see Revelation 1:3 which specifically states that those that read this book are blessed.

22V7: Blessed = Translates as happy and is the same word used by Jesus in the sermon on the mount. There are seven blessings in the book of Revelation. The first one is in chapter 1 verse 3 and the others are in Revelation 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; and 22:14.

These are the blessings summarized:

Those that read, hear and keep the things written in Revelation.
Those that die in the Lord.
Those that watch and keep their garments (of righteousness).
Those that are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Those that are in the first resurrection.
Those that keep the sayings of prophecy in Revelation.
Those that do His commandments.

Most of these blessings are action words, which show that Christians should not only hear but be doers of the Word. James 1:22, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

Revelation 22:8, 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 showed me these things.

22V8-9: These two verses are a parenthetical statement (they break the flow of thought).

22V8: Worship before the feet of the angel = This is a warning to us now because John, the author of Revelation (John the apostle, one of the chosen 12 to personally live with and follow Jesus), felt compelled to worship an angel of light, even though he should have known better. John knew Jesus personally and knew God and was being used by God as a prophet to write Revelation but yet he still wanted to fall down and worship a created being. How much more should we be careful not to be deceived in the last days when Satan and his demons appear as angels of light and Satan expects/demands worship. The last great deception will be the counterfeit of the second coming of Jesus Christ by Satan. We must be careful not to worship created beings and to follow what the angel told John - Worship God!, see Revelation 13.3

Revelation 22:9, 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.

22V9: See explanation in verse 8 above. Worship is going to be a key issue in the last days, specifically who we worship and when we worship which is part of the first four commandments.

Revelation 22:10, And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

22V10: Seal not = The book of Revelation has never been sealed like the book of Daniel; this book, although prophetic and full of symbols, has not been sealed. Although some prophecies and items in the book of Revelation could not be understood fully, the book was never sealed by God. As we are now in the end times of Bible prophecy, knowledge has increased (Daniel 12:4), and the book of Revelation can be almost fully understood.

22V10: For the time is at hand = The close of probation, which is explained in the next verse.

Revelation 22:11, 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.

22V11: This verse describes the close of probation right before the second coming of Jesus Christ. The very next verse describes the second coming. Once probation closes everyone has made their decision whether they want to follow God or follow Satan.

22V11: Unjust = Those that never accepted Christ or turned away; the unjustified. 2 Peter 2:9 says, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished…”, Proverbs 11:7 says, “When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.”, Proverbs 29:27 says, “An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.”, and 1 Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit…” Their continued actions show that they are unjust.4

22V11: Filthy = Those that tried to make it on their own works or actions (self-righteousness); a belief of salvation by works or a religion of works/traditions. Galatians 2:16 says, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”, Isaiah 64:6 says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”, Psalm 14:3 says, “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”, and Psalm 53:3 says, “Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”5

22V11: Righteous = Those who accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour; or those saved by the righteousness of Jesus; justification by faith (Justification). 1 Corinthians 6:11 says, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”, Romans 1:17 says, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”, Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”, Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”, Acts 17:31 says, “Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.”, and Romans 5:15-17 says, “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)”.6

22V11: Holy = Those that vindicate God’s character or are fully surrendered; especially those at the end of time; sanctification by faith (Sanctification or set apart for a holy purpose). Ephesians 5:27 says, “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”, 1 Corinthians 6:11 says, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”, Acts 26:18 says, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”, 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5 says, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God…”, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 says, “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”, and 1 Peter 1:2 says, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”7

Revelation 22:12, And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

22V12: Behold, I come quickly = Once judgment is done, then He (Jesus) comes quickly. This is referring to the investigative judgment or also referred to as the pre-advent judgment (see notes in Revelation 14:7). The books are opened and it is decided who is saved and who is lost, then the statement in verse 11 is said because probation has closed. From that point forward (until the second coming of Jesus) no one else can be saved or lost, see Revelation 6:11; 11:15, 18; 14:7; 15:5; Note: There are three judgments, 1) the investigative judgment explained above; 2) the millennial judgment where the saints review the books, 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; 3) and the final judgment or the white throne judgment after the thousand years and right before the wicked are thrown into the lake of fire, Revelation 20:11-15.

So this verse does not refer to the second coming, it refers to the close of probation.

“Jesus has left us word: "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." We are waiting and watching for the return of the Master, who is to bring the morning, lest coming suddenly He find us sleeping. What time is here referred to? Not to the revelation of Christ in the clouds of heaven to find a people asleep. No; but to His return from His ministration in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, when He lays off His priestly attire and clothes Himself with garments of vengeance, and when the mandate goes forth: "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." (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, pp. 190, 191)

Revelation 22:13, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

22V13: Alpha and Omega… = This combines similar verses in Revelation 1:8 and verse 11. Refers to the eternal existence of Jesus as part of the Godhead. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.8 “Jesus is the beginning and the end. He created us in the beginning, and He will re-create us in the end.”9 John 1:1-3, 14 (Jesus is the Creator); John 8:58 (Jesus claiming to be I AM in the Old Testament which was God in the burning bush, Exodus 3:14); Hebrews 13:8 (Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and for ever). God is the same God in the Old Testament as in the New Testament.

Revelation 22:14, 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.

22V14: Blessed = Translates as happy and is the same word used by Jesus in the sermon on the mount. There are seven blessings in the book of Revelation. The first one is in chapter 1 verse 3 and the others are in Revelation 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; and 22:7.

These are the blessings summarized:

Those that read, hear and keep the things written in Revelation.
Those that die in the Lord.
Those that watch and keep their garments (of righteousness).
Those that are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Those that are in the first resurrection.
Those that keep the sayings of prophecy in Revelation.
Those that do His commandments.

22V14: Do His commandments = The whole point of mankind, Ecclesiastes 12:13. This also ties back to the characteristic of the end time church (or God’s people), Revelation 12:17; 14:12; Matthew 22:37-40, love and commandment keeping is the same thing; if we love God we will keep the first four commandments; if we love our neighbor we will keep the last six commandments; that is how love fulfills the law.10

22V14: Right to the tree of life = This right was taken away at the fall of man to prevent sin from becoming immortalized, Genesis 3:22-24. The saints are given this priviledge (gift from God) back and are able to eat from the tree of life to maintain their immortality.

Revelation 22:15, For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

22V15: For without are dogs = Sodomites (male prostitutes). Deuteronomy 23:17-18 says, “There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.”, Leviticus 18:22 says, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”, Leviticus 20:13 says, “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”, Romans 1:26-27 says, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.”, 1 Corinthians 6:9 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind…”, 1 Kings 14:23-24 says, “For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.”, and 2 Kings 23:5, 7 says, “And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.” Dogs can also represent gentiles (or all that are non-Israelites). The Israelites considered all gentiles as unclean and filthy as dogs. Psalm 22:16 says, “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.”, and Matthew 15:24-28 says, “But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

22V15: Sorcerers = Also can be translated as those that practice magic arts, Malachi 3:5 (swift judgment against sorcerers); Isaiah 47:9-15 (sorcery is wickedness); Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (witches, wizards, enchanters are an abomination to the Lord); Leviticus 19:26, 31 (seeking after wizards defiles you); Leviticus 20:6, 27 (wizards and those with familiar spirits are put to death); 1 Samuel 28:3, 7-9, 15 (the death penalty for wizards and those with a familiar spirit); 2 Kings 21:6 (wizards, familiar spirits and enchanters are wicked in the sight of the Lord); 2 Kings 23:24 (wizards and those with familiar spirits are an abomination); Exodus 22:18 (witches put to death). Christians should stay away from anything that contains any form of sorcery, magic arts, enchanting, wizardry, necromancy, astrology, divination and anything similar. Christians should avoid those things that glorify magic arts such as books, television and movies since these magic arts are an abomination to the Lord and are wicked in His eyes, Philippians 4:8 (only watch and think of good things); Psalm 101:3 (I will set no wicked thing before my eyes); Romans 1:32 (we are held accountable for wickedness if we take pleasure in watching others do wickedness like on television, movies and in books); 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (those that take pleasure in unrighteousness are condemned); Isaiah 5:20 (woe unto them that call evil good and good evil); Isaiah 8:19-20 (to the law and to the testimony).

22V15: Lie = This is important because Satan is the father of lies, John 8:44. Satan has been lying about God’s character since before he was cast out of heaven. Satan’s lies have been fueling the rebellion all these thousands of years.

Revelation 22:16, 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.

22V16: The churches = The seven churches mentioned at the beginning of Revelation in chapters one, two and three. The entire book of Revelation is to the seven churches, not just the first three chapters.11 Remember that this was a ‘love letter’ to His bride (the churches) and the churches are mentioned here because it is the end of the letter to them.

22V16: Bright and morning star = Another way to represent Jesus, Matthew 2:2. The term is also used in Revelation 2:28 to refer to John Wycliffe, the morning star of the reformation.

Revelation 22:17, 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.

Revelation 22:18, 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:

Revelation 22:19, 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.

22V19: Take away his part out of the book of life = This implies that names can be blotted out of the book of life or that salvation can be lost. This shows that the once saved, always saved concept is not biblical. Here are other verses that show that a saved person can in fact lose their salvation if they choose to turn away from God, Galatians 5:4 (fallen from grace); Exodus 32:31-33 (blot out of my book); Revelation 3:5 (blot out his name out of the book of life); Revelation 12:7-9 (one third of the angels lost their salvation and were cast out of heaven); 1 Timothy 4:1 (depart from the faith); Colossians 1:21-23 (if ye continue in the faith); Romans 11:20-22 (branches cut off); Hebrews 10:26-27 (sin after truth); Hebrews 6:4-6 (if they shall fall away); 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (a castaway); 1 Samuel 10:6, 9 (God gave him a new heart but he didn’t stay that way - 1 Samuel 15:11; 16:4; 28:6); 2 Peter 2:20-22 (better not to have known); Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 24 (Demas was one of the brethren but later turned away from God, 2 Timothy 4:10).

Revelation 22:20, He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Revelation 22:21, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

22V21: Grace = The grace of God is that which gives us an opportunity for salvation, Ephesians 2:8-9.

Chapter 22 Resources and Notes

1. Pastor James Rafferty and Pastor Ivor Myers, Salvation in Symbols and Signs (Program on 3ABN’s Dare To Dream Network), video series can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i42C2tZ5yuI&list=PLZE9r6f37K0AJPuImVU9DX-Y1Ntikqv0R.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.

8. The Greek Alphabet, web.mit.edu, can be accessed here: http://web.mit.edu/jmorzins/www/greek-alphabet.html.

9. Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, Preparation for the End Time, 3rd Quarter 2018, Pacific Press Publishing Association, ISSN 1096-7400, page 84.

10. Pastor James Rafferty and Pastor Ivor Myers, Salvation in Symbols and Signs (Program on 3ABN’s Dare To Dream Network), video series can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i42C2tZ5yuI&list=PLZE9r6f37K0AJPuImVU9DX-Y1Ntikqv0R.

11. Anchor Point Films (2017), www.anchorpointfilms.com, video series called, Revelations Seven Churches, it is a two DVD documentary series and can be purchased here, https://www.anchorpointfilms.com/series/60-revelation-s-seven-churches.

Ellen White references can be found here: https://beta.egwwritings.org.