The Book of Revelation: Chapter 22

Scripture References:

• Revelation 22 — The river and tree of life in the New Jerusalem, and John's closing reminders of what we must do while we wait for our eternal home.
• Psalm 46:4-5 — The sons of Korah's prophetic psalm of a river that makes glad the city of God, fulfilled in the river of life flowing through the New Jerusalem.
• Genesis 2:9 — The original tree of life planted in the midst of the Garden of Eden.
• Genesis 3:22-24 — Adam and Eve barred from the tree of life after the fall, a prohibition now reversed for those in Christ.
• John 17:24 — Jesus' prayer that His people would be with Him and behold His glory, fulfilled when we see His face in Revelation 22:4.
• Ephesians 2:6 — Paul's reminder that believers are already seated with Christ in the heavenly places, a foretaste of reigning with Him forever.

Introduction: The Last Chapter

We have finally made it. After walking through this book chapter by chapter, verse by verse, we arrive at Revelation 22, the last chapter in the last book of the Bible. Last post we caught our first glimpse of the New Jerusalem in Chapter 21, and in our best attempts, we still cannot begin to fathom the splendor God has prepared for His children.

In the opening verses of Chapter 22, John moves inside the city to discover it is like a beautiful garden, reminiscent of the Garden of Eden back in Genesis. It is fascinating that the last book of the Bible circles back to the same imagery found in the first book of the Bible. Then, starting in verse 6, John shifts from describing our future home to reminding us of our present responsibility as we wait for it.

The River and the Tree of Life (vv. 1-5)

One of the sons of Korah penned a prophetic psalm about the city of God and a waterway that would flow through it. Psalm 46:4-5 says there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High, and that God is in the midst of her. Here in the first verse of Chapter 22, we see that psalm fulfilled. John writes that he was shown a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. This is not murky, ordinary water. It is water as clear as crystal, flowing straight from the Source of Life, God Himself.

In the middle of the street, on either side of the river, stood the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding its fruit every month. This tree should sound familiar. We first meet it back in Genesis 2:9, planted in the midst of the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Genesis 3:22-24 tells us God barred them from the garden so they could not also eat of the tree of life and live forever in their sinful state. What was once forbidden because of sin is now freely available to us for all eternity, a picture of the eternal and abundant life that awaits every believer.

Verse 2 adds an interesting detail: the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. If there is no more sickness or death in heaven, why would healing be necessary at all? The Greek word translated "healing" is therapeia, the root of our English word "therapeutic." People spend their whole lives chasing hobbies, medicines, and routines just to feel whole, physically and emotionally. In heaven, every single need will be met. We will never again find ourselves in a spiritual or emotional funk. As we bask in the glory of God, eat from the tree of life, and drink from the river of life, we will experience total peace, fullness, and satisfaction for all eternity.

This is exactly why verse 3 begins by reminding us that there shall be no more curse. It was man's sin that ruined God's first paradise, but sin will never be permitted to corrupt our eternal home. Verse 3 also tells us what we will be doing there: "His servants shall serve Him." Heaven is not an eternity of sitting on clouds strumming harps. We will worship and praise God, yes, but we will also serve Him, forever, with pure motives, in perfect unity, and without ever growing weary in well-doing.

Then comes verse 4, perhaps one of the most amazing verses in all the Bible: "They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads." In John 17:24, Jesus prayed that those the Father had given Him would be with Him and behold His glory. One day that prayer will be fully answered, and we will see the face of God. His name on our foreheads will be the seal that reminds us, and everyone around us, that we are the blood-bought children of God through faith in Jesus alone.

Finally, verse 5 tells us there shall be no more night, for the Lord God will give His people light, and they shall reign forever and ever. Chapter 21 already told us the glory of the Lord will illuminate our eternal home. Here, John reminds us again: no more darkness, no more fear, no more pain. And notice that last phrase, "they shall reign forever and ever." We will not only serve as God's people, we will reign with Christ as joint heirs, sharing in His authority and glory. Ephesians 2:6 tells us that even now, believers are seated with Christ in the heavenly places. One day that reality will be fully realized as we reign with Him over the new heavens and the new earth.

As we read these first five verses, we are left with more questions than answers. Most of them will remain unanswered until we reach our home. But John does not end his letter with unanswered mysteries. Instead, he reminds us that heaven is more than a destination, it is a motivation. Knowing what awaits us up there should compel us to do more down here. That is exactly where the rest of Chapter 22 takes us.

Five Things We Must Do While We Wait (vv. 6-21)

Just as Christ challenged the seven churches back in Chapters 2 and 3, we too would be wise to heed His final words at the close of Revelation.

1. We Must Obey the Word of God (vv. 6, 14, 18-19)

Verse 6 tells us these words are faithful and true, sent by God through His angel to show His servants what must shortly take place. Verse 14 pronounces a blessing on those who do His commandments, giving them the right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city. And in verses 18-19, John gives a warning: if anyone adds to the words of this prophecy, God will add to him the plagues written in it, and if anyone takes away from it, God will take away his part from the tree of life and the holy city. As we await the return of Christ, we must hold fast to God's Word, let it shape and guide us, and refuse to add to it, take away from it, or follow anyone who does.

2. We Must Only Worship the One True God (vv. 8-9)

After seeing and hearing all these things, John fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to him. The angel immediately stopped him: "See that you do not do that, for I am your fellow servant." Give John some grace here. He was a mortal man overwhelmed by an extraordinary vision. His worship was not wrong in itself, it was simply misplaced. If we are not careful, we too can fall into misplaced worship on this side of eternity. We all worship something. May Christ, and Christ alone, always be the object of ours.

3. We Must Proclaim the Word of God (v. 10)

Verse 10 records the angel's instruction to John: "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand." When God gave Daniel his prophecy, He told Daniel to seal it up. Here, the command is the opposite. We are not to keep silent about what we have seen and heard and experienced in Christ. Every one of us has a sphere of influence God has placed us in, whether at work, in our neighborhood, or in our own family, where we can have conversations no one else can have. Knowing what is at stake, how can reading through the book of Revelation not motivate us to go and tell others of the hope we have?

4. We Must Perform Works for God (vv. 12-14)

"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work." Christ Himself declares that He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, and that He will reward His people according to what they have done for Him. Verse 14 repeats the blessing on those who do His commandments. Even James reminds us that we are to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.

5. We Must Expect the Coming of God (vv. 7, 12, 20)

Three times in this final chapter, Jesus says, "Behold, I am coming quickly," or "Surely I am coming quickly." He does not say this to frighten us, but to prepare us. If you are saved, get busy serving Him. If you are lost, come to Him. In fact, verse 17 contains the last great invitation in all of Scripture, one simple, open word: "Come." The Spirit and the bride say "Come." Let him who hears say "Come." Let him who thirsts come, and whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

A Closing Thought

After everything John has seen and heard, after this final reminder from his Lord, he closes his letter the only way he can: "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." What a way to end the greatest book of prophecy ever written, not with fear, but with longing. The same hope that carried John should carry us. Heaven is coming. Jesus is coming. And until He does, may we obey His Word, worship Him alone, proclaim His gospel, do His work, and watch expectantly for His return.

All for Him,

Pastor Dustin