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Revelation Chapter Twenty-Two

 
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
 
1) To consider the eternal destiny of the redeemed, in terms depicting
 provision from God
 
2) To note that things revealed in this book were soon to take place
 
3) To heed the promises and warnings given as the book concludes
 
SUMMARY
 
In the previous chapter John described the glory of the New Jerusalem
as the eternal destiny of the redeemed was revealed. In the first six
verses of this chapter, John's vision of the glorious future for the 
people of God is completed with a brief description of the river of
life, the tree of life, and the throne of God and of the Lamb. With
the river of life proceeding from the throne, and the tree of life
bearing fruit every month along with its healing leaves, the picture is
one of provision from God. Eternal fellowship with God, stressed in
the previous chapter (cf. 21:3-4,7), is emphasized again with the
promise of seeing His face and having His name on one's forehead. With
no more curse (cf. Gen 3:17-19), the redeemed shall serve God and the
Lamb on the throne. There is no night nor need for the sun, for the
Lord God gives them light (cf. 21:23). The redeemed will also reign
forever and ever (1-5).
 
The remainder of this chapter contains the grand conclusion of this
wonderful book. The angel who showed John the holy city stressed that
the events described in this book were soon to take place, such that 
John is not to seal the book (cf. 22:6,10; contrast this with Dan
8:26). Jesus Himself states three times that He is coming quickly (cf.
22:7,12,20), which I take to refer to His coming in judgment as
described throughout this book (cf. 3:10-11). With a reminder of the
blessedness of those who do His commandments, Jesus, who is the Alpha 
and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the 
Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star, declares that
He sent His angel to testify of these things to the churches. The
Spirit and the bride join in with an invitation to let those who thirst
come to drink of the water of life freely. The book ends with a
fearful warning not to add to or take away from the book, a final
promise of the Lord's coming, and a two-fold prayer calling for the 
Lord Jesus to come, and for His grace to be with all the brethren 
(6-22).
 
OUTLINE
 
I. THE RIVER, THE TREE, AND THE THRONE (1-5)
 
 A. THE RIVER OF LIFE (1)
  1. John sees a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal
 2. It proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb
 
 B. THE TREE OF LIFE (2)
 1. On either side of the river was the tree of life
 2. The tree bore twelve fruits, yielding fruit every month
 3. The leaves were for the healing of the nations
 
 C. THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB (3-5)
 1. There shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the
 Lamb shall be in it
 2. His servants shall serve Him
 a. They shall see His face
 b. His name shall be on their foreheads
 3. There shall be no night there
 a. They need no lamp nor light of the sun
 b. For the Lord God gives them light
 4. They shall reign forever and ever
 
II. THE GRAND CONCLUSION (6-21)
 
 A. THE TIME IS NEAR, DO NOT SEAL THE BOOK (6-11)
 1. John is told by the angel that these words are faithful and
 true
 a. The Lord God has sent His angel to show His servants the
  things which must shortly take place
 b. The Lamb proclaims: "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed
 is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
 2. John attempts to worship the angel
 a. He falls down at the feet of the angel who showed him these
 things
 b. The angel forbids him
 1) The angel is his fellow servant, and of his brethren the
 prophets and of those who keep the words of this book
 2) John is to worship God
 3. John is told not to seal the words of the prophecy of this
 book
 a. For the time is at hand
 b. Let he who is unjust be unjust still, the filthy be filthy
 still
 c. Let he who is righteous be righteous still, the holy be 
 holy still
 
 B. THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS (12-17)
 1. His first declaration:
 a. "Behold, I am coming quickly"
 b. "My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to
  his work"
 c. "I am the Alpha and the Omega"
 d. "The Beginning and the End, the First and the Last"
 2. The promise:
 a. Blessed are those who do His commandments (or wash their
 robes)
 1) That they may have the right to the tree of life
 2) That they may enter through the gates into the city
 b. Those outside the city
 1) Are dogs, sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers, and
 idolaters
 2) Whoever loves and practices a lie
 3. His second declaration:
 a. "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these
 things in the churches"
 b. "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and
 Morning Star."
 4. The invitation:
 a. The Spirit and the bride say "Come!"
 b. Let him who hears say "Come!"
 -- Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely
 
 C. A WORD OF WARNING (18-19)
 1. Do not add to the words of this book, or God will add to him
 the plagues that are written in it
 2. Do not take away from the words of this book, or God will take
 away his part from:
 a. The Book (or Tree) of Life
 b. The holy city
 c. The things written in this book
 
 D. CLOSING PROMISE, FINAL PRAYERS (20-21)
 1. The promise of Him who testifies to these things: "Surely I
 am coming quickly."
 2. John's two prayers:
 a. Concerning his Lord: "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
 b. Concerning his brethren: "The grace of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ be with you all. Amen."
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
 
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
 - The river, the tree, and the throne (1-5)
  - The grand conclusion (6-21)
 
2) What does John see proceeding from the throne of God and of the
 Lamb? (1)
 - A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal
 
3) What is on either side of the river? (2)
 - The tree of life
 
4) How many fruits did the tree bear and when? What were the leaves
 for? (2)
 - Twelve fruits, each yielding its fruit every month
 - The healing of the nations
 
5) What no longer existed? What was in the city instead? (3)
 - There shall be no more curse
 - The throne of God and of the Lamb
 
6) What is said concerning the servants of God and of the Lamb? (3-5)
 - His servants shall serve Him
 - They shall see His face
 - His name shall be on their foreheads
 - They shall reign forever and ever
 
7) What is said of night and the light of the sun? (5)
 - There shall be no night there
 - They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives
 them light
 
8) What is John told about the things which he has seen? (6)
 - "These words are faithful and true"
 - The Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His
 servants the things which must shortly take place
 
9) What promise and assurance is given in verse 7?
 - "Behold, I am coming quickly!"
 - "Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
 
10) What did John try to do when he heard and saw these things? (8)
 - Fall down and worship before the feet of the angel who showed them
 to him
 
11) What did the angel tell John? (9)
 - "See that you do not do that."
 - "I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and
 of those who keep the words of this book."
 - "Worship God."
 
12) What is John told regarding the prophecy of this book? Why? (10)
 - Not to seal the words of the prophecy of this book
 - For the time is at hand
 
13) What is said of the unjust and filthy? The righteous and holy? (11)
 - Let them be unjust and filthy still
 - Let them be righteous and holy still
 
14) What promise and assurance is given in verse 12?
 - "Behold, I am coming quickly"
 - "My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work"
 
15) How does Jesus describe Himself? (13)
 - "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the
 First and the Last."
 
16) What blessedness is promised to those who do His commandments (some
 manuscripts say "wash their robes")? (14)
 - They will have the right to the tree of life 
 - They will enter the through the gates into the city
 
17) What is outside the city? (15)
 - Dogs, sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers and idolaters
 - Whoever loves and practices a lie
 
18) Why had Jesus sent His angel? (16)
 - To testify these things in the churches
 
19) How does Jesus describe Himself? (16)
 - "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning
 Star."
 
20) Who extends the invitation to "Come!"? Who else is to extend this
 invitation? (17)
 - The Spirit and the bride
 - Him who hears
 
21) To whom is this invitation extended? What is offered? (17)
 - To him who thirsts
 - To take the water of life freely
 
22) What warning is given to those who hears the words of the prophecy
 of this book? (18-19)
 - If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues
 written in the book
  - If anyone takes away from the words of this book, God will take
 away his part from the Book (or Tree) of Life, the holy city, and
 the things written in this book
 
23) What promise is given by Him who testifies of these things? (20)
 - "Surely I am coming quickly."
 
24) What two prayers does John express as he closes the book? (20-21)
 - "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
 - "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

－－《Executable Outlines》

The river of the water of life

Add anything

Take away any word

I. The water of life and the tree of life

1. As clear as crystal

2. Yield fruit every month

3. Perfect bliss

II. Blessed is he who keeps the prophecy

1. The witness of the angel

2. Trustworthy and true

3. Things to come true

III. The last testimony of Jesus

1. Coming soon

2. Reward and punishment

3. The beginning and the end

── Chih-Hsin Chang《an Outline of The New Testament》