The River of Life and the Tree of Life In Eternity Future

Revelation 22:1-7

 

INTRO: We come now to the last chapter in the Revelation and the last chapter of the last book of the Bible.

The last chapter of the Revelation is a chapter of triumph: the ultimate triumph of Christ. Herbert Lockyer presents it this way:

In Genesis: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

In Revelation: "I saw a new heaven and a new earth."

In Genesis: "The darkness He called night."

In Revelation: "There shall be no night there."

In Genesis: "Thou shalt surely die–"

In Revelation: "Death shall be no more."

In Genesis: "I will greatly multiply you pain."

In Revelation: "Neither shall there be any more pain."

In Genesis: "Cursed is the ground for thy sake."

In Revelation: "There shall be no more curse."

In Genesis: "Driven from the tree of life."

In Revelation: The tree of life appears.

In Genesis: Satan appears.

In Revelation: Satan disappears.

In our present study, we want to look at verses 1-7. In these verses, we have: the river of life (vs 2) the removal of the curse (vs 3-5), the declaration of the veracity of scripture (vs 6), and the promise of the soon return of Christ (vs 7).

 

VS 1, THE RIVER OF LIFE

The river of life is pure, the purest of all. It is clean; it is clear; and it proceeds from the throne of Almighty God.

1. Water have always been important. Water has been longed for and fought for.

In eternity future, God has provided an abundance of water for His people.

In the New Jerusalem, the river of life flows from the throne of God.

God is the source of this great river of life, and God is the source of the great river of spiritual life, the new birth.

This river is pure for its source is absolutely pure– God Himself.

This river is free from impurities and contamination. There will be no need of treatment plants.

To drink from the water flowing from God’s throne, you must first partake of the water of life provided through Christ Jesus.

Christ Jesus offers souls refreshing water to sin sick souls (Jn 4:13-14; 7:37-38; 10:10).

There will be not hydrologic cycle in eternity future for there will be not large bodies of water to provide for evaporation and rain (Ecc 1:7). God Himself will make glad the cities in that day (Psa 46:4, "There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God..."

Water for all the earth will come from this river.

 

VS 2, THE TREE OF LIFE

This is a literal tree, just as the tree of life in Genesis was a literal tree in a literal paradise for literal persons.

Some see this as being the same tree that Adam and Eve would have eaten of had God not driven them from the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:22-24).

This tree, the tree of life provides for the immortal.

Twelve manner of fruits will grow on the tree of life.

The tree will bear abundantly and the fruit will be the best fruit of all.

The Saints will eat this literal fruit.

Jesus ate food after the resurrection (Jn 21:9-14; Acts 10:41).

In the scriptures, the tree of life is representative of wisdom, righteousness, happiness, helpfulness, and wholesomeness.

"The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."

How can this be for there is not sickness in eternity future? The Greek word for "healing," therapeia, does not imply sickness. It is a word meaning health give or therapeutic.

The leaves have a ministry of keeping the nations healthy, in fellowship.

The bride and the nations will benefit from this ministry (21:24-25).

 

VSS 3-5 NO MORE CURSE.

Vs 3, the curse that was pronounced on the earth is now removed forever.

The curse will not come again. Eternity’s beauty will not be marred.

The last word of the Old Testament is curse (Mal 4:6.

The New Testament begins with Jesus Christ who bore the curse for us (Gal 3:13). "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law...."

The Bible ends with a benediction instead of a curse (Rev 22:3, 21).

The throne of God will be in the city of God, New Jerusalem.

The government will be perfect (theocracy).

God will sit on the throne.

We will worship and serve God.

Serve is the Greek latreuo meaning we will keep on serving Him. We might be surveyors of the new universe!

We shall forever worship God (19:1).

Vs 4, We shall see the face of God. We shall behold the King of Kings in all His glory. In our new bodies we will be able to endure the mighty glory of His presence.

Face to face with Christ my Savior, Face to face, what will it be. When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ, who died for me?

His name shall be in their foreheads.

This is a sign of ownership and security. We will understand the nature of God.

Forehead– we will publicly and perfectly reflect the character of God. "We shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is."

Vs 5, No night there.

In eternity future, there will be:

No night– no evils of darkness.

No candle, electric lights, etc.

No sun light– Son light.

God will give light to this wonderful home (21:23).

All those who have trusted Jesus, the light of the world, will live in eternal light (Col 1:12-14).

Those who died without Christ will spend eternity in eternal darkness (Rev 20:15).

The redeemed will reign with God forever and ever.

 

VSS 6-7, JESUS IS COMING

Vs 6, We can believe the Word of God because its "sayings are faithful and true."

The book of Revelation is to be preached and believed. It is not a sealed book (22:10).

The God of the book is faithful and true. And the book itself is faithful and true. What it says about heaven and hell are to be believed.

Vs 7, Jesus says: "Behold, I come quickly."

Jesus will come one day for his saints.

He will come as He left.

Acts 1:9-11.

I Thes 4:16-18, "The Lord Himself...."

Are you ready for the coming of the Lord?

Keep the Word of God, receive it, believe it, and be blessed by it.

 

 

CONCLUSION: Eternity will be wonderful for all who believe, and hell will be terrible for all who reject.

 

 

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