Feb. 28, 2024

Dear Friends,

I mentioned last week that we would study Revelation 22 tonight. Well ... that is partially accurate. We are going to study Revelation 22:1-5. The entire chapter was just too much to take on in one evening.

I hope you can join us. Notes are attached.

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

HILLTOP LAKES CHAPEL

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

Revelation 22:1-5

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of

God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the

tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the

healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the

Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on

their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God

will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

_______________________

v 1 – “Then the angel showed me the river…”

More lit. “Then he showed me a river of the water of life…”

Everything John saw in the revelation to him does not have to “represent something else,” but

much of what he saw quite obviously does; other passages appear to

The angel had been showing John the holy city, beginning in 21:9, which the angel refers to as

“the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

We know that the Bride is the Church

Some may interpret that everything representing the New Jerusalem is representing the

Church

I believe that the city is a real one, representing the eternal dwelling—or perhaps

something like a capitol city— of all who belong to Christ, the place that He has

prepared for us, and that, for this reason, the angel refers to all of it—city and

people—as the Bride of the Lamb

“the river of the water of life…”

Water (like light) has great significance throughout the Scripture: cleansing, healing, purifying,

with baptism being instructed for all believers

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him

come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart

will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who

believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was

not yet glorified.—John 7:37-39

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the

thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.—Revelation 21:6

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who

is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.—Revelation

22:17

“bright as crystal”

Water that is pure—and beyond pure. Living water filled with light.

“flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb”

The water of life is ever flowing, as we would expect;

2

it proceeds continually and forever from the throne of God and of the Lamb—all of life is a

continuous gift of God, given to us through Christ

“through [en, in] the middle of the street of it [the city]”

This phrase could apply to what preceded it (river) or what follows (tree); most interpreters

believe it applies to the river

Life from God through Christ, the river of life, a central feature in the city, i.e. for the people of

God (many a city has been built along both banks of a river, and for that reason)

“also, on either side of the river, the tree of life”

We have the river of life and the tree of life

Adam and Eve, after the fall, were denied access to the tree of life

It may be that the water of life represents the spiritual new birth (which is eternal), while the tree

of life represents that bodily, earthly life has also been restored (also for eternity)

“with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month”

Showing that earthly life with its seasons and cycles and variety, will continue

The tree will ever be “yielding” its fruit; it will never be fruitless

“The leaves of the tree…”

More lit. “and the leaves of the tree to the healing of the nations.”

Life on God’s recreated earth will be healed of all pain and sickness and sorrow

[John begins every new descriptive phrase in this chapter with “and” [kai]. Some may say it is just his

style to do so. I think it conveys wonder and excitement.]

v 3 – “No longer will there be anything accursed…”

More lit. “and there will no longer be any curse, and …”

The more literal reading seems to be instructive. Creation was cursed because of the sin of man. I

think this ties in with the “tree of life” representing earthly life and that the curse is no more!

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in

hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the

freedom of the glory of the children of God.”—Romans 8:20-21

More lit. “and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it…”

God will dwell in our midst in a way we can only imagine

Not only is our fellowship with God restored, but Satan will be fully removed, and the

throne of God and of the Lamb will be on the earth

“and his servants will worship him.”

“worship” – latreuó, to serve, one of the two main words in Greek that are translated

“worship”

Here referring to a way of life, the worship of our lives (cf. Romans 12:1-2)

v 4 – “They will see his face…”

“face” can mean face or countenance, front

At present, we believe without seeing, but then face to face

We will experience God with our senses, including our vision

It won’t be like it is now….

“and his name…”

3

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his

name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.—14:1

God’s name on the foreheads of his people is a public mark of his ownership—a mark of joy and

honor

v 5 – “And night will be no more”

This seems to be referencing something physical (as opposed to it meaning there will be no sin

or sinful darkness or spiritual blindness—although these things are true).

Apparently, we will no longer need sleep (but this is speculation)

“They will need no light of lamp or sun…”

Apparently meaning in order to see

“the Lord God will be their light…”

Actual light is often associated with God and with appearances of heavenly beings

Also with those who have gone before: “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to

share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”—Colossians 1:12

But the apparent message is that, in the New Jerusalem, no “natural” or artificial light will be

needed. This will be something wonderful—and we will be very different then.

We mustn’t think of it as what it would be like now if we never had darkness and sleep

“and they will reign…”

A NT teaching, but one that is neglected, perhaps because we are unsure as to what it is all

pointing.

Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?—1 Corinthians 6:2

“If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot

deny himself.”—2 Timothy 2:11-13

“And you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

—Revelation 5:10

Over whom will the people of God reign? Perhaps a better question is over what?

We don’t know.

But we do know that God has created us in His own image. And that He has created us for

eternal purposes.