Revelation 22:1-6

1. the water of life – 1
1. the final touches of the picture of eternity
1. up to this point, the New Jerusalem seems to be all mineral and no vegetable
2. its appearance seems to be that of a fabulous jewelry store
3. we might wonder; is there no soft grass to sit on, no green trees to enjoy, and no water to drink or food to eat
4. in these verses we are introduced to elements which add a softness to this city of elaborate beauty
2. noteworthy: these last glimpses of a finished Redemption end up with the same images with which the first chapter of human history begun
1. all things seem to move in circles
2. it starts with Paradise, and then moves through untried paths, until it comes back to the point from which it started, not to repeat itself, but to rest forever in the results of that experience
3. Genesis is the Book of beginnings; Revelation is the Book of endings
4. there was a time of innocence, and then came a long and dreary time of the absence of innocence; and here we are shown the time of innocence returned, to depart no more
5. in the account of the final end, we come upon a group of objects like those remembered in the story of the origins of the world
3. a wonderful river
1. one of the gladdest things on earth is water
2. there is nothing in all the world so precious to the eye as a plentiful supply of bright, pure, and living water
3. the Garden of Eden was not complete without it
4. a city without water would be a most unpleasant thing
1. therefore cities take great pains to provide themselves with water
2. those that are the best are the most happily watered
3. therefore the New Jerusalem is not without its plentiful supply of living waters
4. the river is a heavenly river, and belongs to a heavenly city
1. it is for the use and joy of a heavenly people
2. its waters are literal waters, of a nature and quality equivalent to that of the golden city to which it belong
3. man on earth never knew such waters, as people on earth never knew such a city
4. Heaven is not a place of dust and drought
1. it has an ever-flowing river, coming from the eternal throne
2. the river has a crystal clearness that cannot be defiled
3. the immortal waters are for the joy of the glorified nature
4. it is bright with the light of God, and filling all with life
5. O the blessedness of the eyes that see and the people who enjoy this river of God
2. the tree of life – 2
1. a wonderful tree
1. what is more beautiful than trees, and what a joy they are to the monotony of a city
2. the first Eden had its glad and glorious trees, and "the tree of life also in the midst of the garden"
3. this tree is not one individual tree, but a particular tree as to its kind
1. we speak of "the apple" or "the oak," which denotes a species of which there are many specimens
2. in the Garden the tree was called the Tree of Life, because man in innocence was to keep and preserve his life by eating of its fruits
3. it was the symbol and support of eternal life, both for body and for soul
4. it is one of the special joys and provisions of the New Jerusalem that it has this same tree
2. these trees, like the river whose sides they line, are first of all for the joy and blessedness of the dwellers in the Holy City
1. to beautify their eternal home, and to minister to their happiness
2. they are fruit-bearing trees, yielding their products every month
3. it is sometimes asked whether the glorified saints are to eat in heaven
1. we may safely answer that they can eat, although under no need to eat
2. just as we can enjoy a rose, and yet not suffer from its absence
3. whether we need it for the support of our immortality or not, it is everywhere presented as one of the most precious privileges of God's glorified saints
4. surely we will never hunger or thirst in that high realm, nor ever lack in our immortal energies
5. the partaking of these fruits testifies to a communion with Life, the joy of which exceeds all present comprehension
4. these trees have other purposes [the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations]
1. the meaning is not that the nations are full of sicknesses and ailments, for these remains of the curse are gone then
2. the meaning rather is the preservation of health and comfort, and not that maladies will exist to be removed
3. the leaves are for the preservation and growth of blessedness for the people on earth, as the fruits are for the joy of the saints in heaven
3. all sin and its ill consequences will no more be – 3
1. the first Paradise was glorious
1. with all its blessedness, sin entered it, and the curse came,
2. the earth and man have been laboring and sighing for 6,000 years under the curse
3. the question might be ask as to its permanence; whether sin might not again show itself
1. man once had a happy and complete right to the Tree of Life, but lost it and all the Garden in which it grew
2. the curse came upon man and all his seed
3. it came upon innocent nature with which he stood connected
4. it came upon the ground on his account, could not the same happen again
5. a special assurance is here given, that every curse "shall be no more"
6. the relief from the curse is to be an eternal relief
7. the glory and blessedness of heaven will never again give place to darkness, sin, and death
2. the freedom of man will not be constrained anymore than it was when man first sinned
1. through all these weary ages man has been tasting and experiencing the bitterness of evil
2. the experience will stand like a wall between them and danger
3. the love and appreciation of those who have been purchased, will be so intense after all the ages of the reign of sin and death, that they will never consent to anything which might destroy it
4. man’s victory was won through pain and suffering, therefore there will be no more fuel left in him for sin to kindle
3. a glorious throne
1. the throne of God and the Lamb, God will reign there for ever
2. the glorious and everlasting presence of God and Christ will always be there
3. the principles of purity and love, which the Lamb of God came to establish, will fill that blessed abode throughout all eternity
4. a wonderful revelation [his servants shall serve him]
1. there is no higher privilege than to be in service for the King of creation
2. life in this eternal home will not just be a life of rest and worship, it will be a life of productivity
3. it will be joyful and satisfying service, whatever it is
4. we shall see the face of God – 4
1. though He is the King of the universe, He will always be accessible
1. He loved us and died to be our Redeemer
2. He has taken away our sins, and now there is nothing to separate us
3. he will never hide His face from us, and we will never be afraid to enter into His presence
2. as we go out to serve the Lord with gladness, we will be clearly identified as His servants [his name shall be in their forehead]
5. no will be no more night there – 5
1. those who live in the city will enjoy perpetual Son-light
1. the happiness of this state will be in the light thereof; it will be one everlasting day
2. there will never be any clouds or storms, and never any darkness
3. in our new bodies, we will have no need of sleep, though there will be ample time for rest and leisure activities
4. the very nature of life in that day is called rest (there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God – Hebrews 4:9)
5. this is a stark contrast to those who have their existence in the lake of fire
2. even inside our dwelling place, there will always be ample light [they need no candle]
3. the glory of God’s presence will be the light of that new world, and no other light will ever be needed
4. we will reign with Christ throughout all eternity [they shall reign for ever and ever]
1. we are made kings now, and in this state we shall reign with Christ for a thousand years
2. when these years are ended, we will not cease to reign
3. what an encouragement this is for the patient and faithful saints, whatever our sufferings are, they will work out for us "an eternal weight of glory"
6. these revelations are faithful and true – 6
1. throughout the book of Revelation John assures us that we can depend upon the truth of what is written
1. the book of Revelation is real, in spite of what is said by the liberals, the modernists, the haters of God and the spiritualizers
2. we are to read it and hear what it says – Revelation1:3
3. we can believe all that has been delivered unto us concerning the new Jerusalem
1. in which are many things new, and unheard of before, and which may seem strange, and even incredible
2. we can also believe all that is written in this book
2. this revelation comes from the God of truth, that cannot lie, and are to be credited to Him, and will have a certain accomplishment
1. this is said to secure the divine authority of this book against those who oppose it
2. the Holy Spirit knew that such would arise in the world
3. it won’t be long until these things are accomplished [which must shortly be done]
1. in is a reference to the brevity of human life in contrast to eternity
2. the time of the church's suffering is a limited time, it is a short time after which shall follow an eternal deliverance, and a great reward
3. the event prophesied in this book began to be fulfilled in the lives of the seven churches to whom the book was initially written
4. the Church Age, followed by the tribulation and millennium, may seem like a long span of time to us
5. when we look back on them from eternity, they will seem to have "shortly been done"