And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll, and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falls off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. – Isaiah 34:4

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away…

     We watched the former earth and heaven flee from the face of God in verse eleven in the previous chapter twenty. The realm that harbored so much evil from mankind’s sin could not remain in the presence of a holy God. It is deemed extinct by the Almighty and dissolved into oblivion. All that remains of that previous existence is the boiling lake of fire.
     In this first verse of chapter twenty-one, John sees the emergence of the old world’s replacement, a new heaven and earth. It is my personal opinion that this new creation is an entirely new dimension.

     …and there was no more sea (verse 1).

     It’s hard to imagine a new creation without oceans, but when we look at the original language, the word “sea,” here translates as “yam.” This is not the word that is normally used to describe physical oceans. “Yam,” was a major Canaanite god. What the text is saying here is that there will be no Canaanite in the house of the Lord (Zechariah 14:21). All idols have been removed for eternity, there will be no more sea, – idolatry, or pagan worship intermingled with the worship of God.
     The Apostle John describes what happens next. –

     And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (verse 2).

     John has been shown the new heaven and earth in verse one. Then he sees the New Jerusalem descending “from God out of heaven.” The future dwelling place of the saints is not heaven, God’s domain, but the new dimension, the new earth with its corresponding new heaven. However, because all evil has been removed, it is my opinion that the realm of heaven, God’s domain and the new heaven and earth are merged as one.
     John describes his initial view of the city as if he is beholding it from a distance. We will be viewing it with him in more detail starting in verse eleven, but first we are given an introduction that is designed to review for us some basic principles.
     As John is witnessing the New Jerusalem emerge from heaven, he hears a great voice. –

     And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God (verse 3).

     It has always been God’s desire from the beginning of creation to dwell intimately with His people. In order for that to happen, the objects of His passion needed to be brought to a place where that intimacy is a mutual desire.
     Throughout the ages of earth’s tumultuous history, the Lord has been gleaning this remnant. This is His bride. She has endured much to retain her faith and her struggles are rewarded.

     And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death,…

     The old earth, whose ground was cursed by God because of man’s sin (Genesis 3:17), has been removed; therefore there can be no more curse. The fruit of that curse was death, the termination of life that was never in the Lord’s original plan for mankind.

     …neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (verse 4).

     The Apostle John will cherish these words when he is returned to his prison island on the old earth. Transported back to a world where persecution is rampant, these words of hope and comfort are designed to carry all of us through our trials with a spirit of overcoming victory; for the former things will surely pass away.

     And He that sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write: for these words are true and faithful” (verse 5).

     The Lord is assuring us in these words that His previous statements are fact and we can be assured of them. There will be a new dimension that is free from all the torments of our current existence. This new dimension is our reward for cleaving to God and His words no matter what we are forced to endure to retain the truth that has been revealed to us in Messiah Jesus. In other words: hold on, children, it’s worth the fight.
     I picture the Lord leaning forward in His throne as He instructs John to record those words of assurance to His people. He wants us to be certain of them. Then He leans back again, knowing His obedient Apostle will convey His Lord’s message faithfully.

     And He said to me, “It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely” (verse 6).

     We are assured of God’s promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus, who is that well through which the waters of eternal life cascade into our souls (John 7:37,38).

     He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be His God, and He shall be My son (verse 7).

     Holding onto your faith no matter what you have to endure to retain it, has great reward. The new heaven and earth, including all the blessings contained in God’s New World Order, are gifts for His children. God is love, and love has to give. We are created for His pleasure (Rev. 4:11), and it is His pleasure to give to us abundantly. With joy we can endure the trials of this life with our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the only means through which our great inheritance is bestowed.
     God has shown us here the blessings of those who submit to His will. The following verse illustrates for us the spiritual conditions of those who will be excluded from His glorious new kingdom.

     But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (verse 8).

     The fearful are those who do not trust God and are partnered with the unbelieving. Those who have rejected God’s plan of salvation through Jesus and will not repent of their sins, are those who match the description of the ones on the list of the disqualified. Holding onto the things that God hates is not worth the trip to the lake of fire.

     These words in Revelation’s pages are designed to help bring all to repentance. God is saying here, “Look, I want to give you all paradise. I have provided the way for you to receive eternal life. At My right hand are pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11). Believe that Jesus is My Son, and that He died for your sins and rose from the dead. Admit that you have sinned and be willing to turn from your sins. Repent. Do not stubbornly cling to falsehood that will only lead you to death and destruction. I want to save you. I want to make you My child and bless you throughout eternity. I am not willing that any should perish. Return to Me and live.”
     God has set before us here in these few pages, life and death, as He did for the people of ancient Israel. “…I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live (Deuteronomy 30:19). He affirms that it is our choice. It would seem obvious that choosing life is the only answer. Sadly for some it is not.
     As we contemplate our choices, God sends an angel to John to show him the glory of those who have made the right choice.

     And there came to me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife” (verse 9).

     This angel that held one of the seven vials of wrath, is standing before John, his vial, now empty, its purpose fulfilled. I imagine that this angel is smiling, knowing that John is also included in the description of the glory to come.

     And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,(verse 10).

     It is the Lord who permits us to be brought to great heights in His Spirit that enables us to behold and comprehend the things of God. From this spiritual pinnacle John can see the New Jerusalem coming from heaven. This city is the Lamb’s wife, the redeemed church; God’s dwelling place in the new dimension. Through Jesus, God the Father inhabits His people through His Holy Spirit individually (Ephesians 2:22). Here we are given a vivid illustration of this fact; we see the entire church as one, multiple individuals unified as the dwelling place of the Almighty for eternity.

     Having the glory of God: and her light was like a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; (verse 11).

     The church that is the dwelling place of God is the image of His glory. The jasper here is again the precious stone that is used to describe God in chapter four, verse three, showing us that God, the Lamb and the Lamb’s wife are all one.

     And had a wall great and high,…

     The wall symbolizes safety and protection. No evil can enter this domain, for all evil has ceased to exist.

     …and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written on the gates, which are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel: (verse 12). As I have maintained in this study of the book of Revelation, the twelve tribes of Israel in the New Testament are used to describe God’s church. This truth is made evident here again in the description of the city that represents the Lord’s people. All believers are viewed as the twelve tribes. We have been grafted into Abraham’s lineage by faith in the atonement, where there is no longer any distinction between Jew and Gentile. We are one city, and each gate represents each tribe, or family that constitutes Jesus’ bride.

     On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates (verse 13).

     The names of the tribes are engraved on the gates to this city. This is telling us that that only those who are included in these tribes can enter. The tribes are symbolic of all those who are called, chosen and faithful to the Lamb.

     And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (verse 14).

     The foundation of the true church is built on the doctrine of the founding apostles. Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20), and foundation of this foundation. Those believers who have overcome and retained their faith to become this glorious residence of God, were built upon this foundation. They never deviated from following diligently the truth of God’s word as it was revealed by Jesus and these twelve valuable foundation stones.
     The bride has kept herself from deceptions and man inspired doctrines that were found to be contrary to what was originally taught by our founding apostles. We can see by this illustration how important those foundation stones really are. Without them, there would be no city.

     And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates there, and the wall there (verse 15).

     This is the third significant instance of measuring in regards to determining the dimensions of that which relates to Jerusalem. The first occurs in Ezekiel. As we learned in our examination of Revelation chapter eleven, the measuring of the temple in Ezekiel’s vision represents God’s word and the people’s response to it. Likewise, as we also saw in chapter eleven, the measuring of the temple there reveals pagan influences that had been allowed to pollute the sanctuary. In this instance, the measuring reveals the dimensions of the city that represents those who have “measured up.” In other words, the faithful believers that constitute this New Jerusalem have measured themselves by God’s word, and remained faithful to the Lamb.

     And the city lies foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs (607 feet). The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal (verse 16).

     Everyone that is that city, is considered equal in the eyes of God. Those who served Him much are just as beloved as those who had little opportunity to serve. The sincerest death bed prayer of repentance grants them equal status because of the Bridegroom’s all-encompassing sacrifice.

     And he measured the wall there, a hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel (verse 17).

     The number 144 is a symbolic number that is used to designate the remnant as we observed in chapter seven. The significance of this number is associated with the structure of the city. This is telling us again that this city is symbolic of God’s people.
     The New Jerusalem has been measured and her dimensions are likened to the character of the people this city is designed to represent. The next verses from eighteen through twenty-one, are focused on the beauty of the city that is garnished with precious jewels and pearls.

     And the building of the wall of it was jasper; …

     The wall is the color of the jasper, which is clear and associated with God Himself. Thus the wall represents God’s holy people who in turn represent Him.

     …and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass (verse 18).

     The Apostle John is trying to fit into his limited vocabulary the grandeur of the spectacle he is beholding. The gold that constructs the city is so pure, it has the appearance of translucent glass. Let’s keep in mind throughout these descriptions, that the city represents God’s people. They have been purified by the Lamb’s sacrifice for them and are the workmanship of His Holy Spirit. The gold represents their God produced holiness. Gold represents the refinement that takes place in a believer’s life. Every trial we go through refines our faith, which is likened to the gold we see represented by this vision.

     And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. …

     The foundations of the city as we were shown in verse fourteen, represents the twelve founding apostles. Each jewel represents an apostle.

     …The first foundation was jasper; …

     The jasper stone, which also constructs the wall of the city, can represent God and His holiness which is imparted to His people through Jesus. I am going to assume that this first foundation represents the Apostle Peter, who in turn represents the Spirit-filled remnant that is likened to the wall.
     Peter was singled out by the Lord to be the rock upon which He would build His church. The fisherman's first sermon was the net Jesus used to catch three thousand souls in one day launching the church into history. In addition to this amazing achievement Peter was also symbolic of the apostolic ministry that would be the foundation of the Christian church.
     The claim that Peter is the rock that Jesus built His church upon is disputed by some. Jesus' statement, "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18), is taken to mean that in some way Jesus was actually referring to Himself as the rock, because the Scriptures tell us that Jesus is the foundation upon which the church is built - For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (I Cor. 3:11). This has caused many theologians to engage in some elaborate theological acrobatics to explain why Peter cannot be the rock that Jesus is referring to, yet the passage in question is clearly speaking about Peter.
     In Matthew sixteen, verse fifteen the disciples are asked by the Lord, “Who do you say that I am?”
     Peter responds, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16).
     And Jesus replies, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it to You, but My Father which is in Heaven" (Matthew 16:17).
     This statement is the key to understanding this passage and Peter’s relationship to the foundation.

     Peter had received a direct revelation from God, which was a prelude to his calling as an apostle. In recognition of Peter's budding apostleship, Jesus tells him that he will be the rock upon which He would build His church. Here Peter is symbolic of the Holy Spirit filled apostolic ministry that Jesus would build His church upon through direct revelation of the Holy Spirit. To confirm this, the Apostle Paul tells us that we are - "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:20).

     This again relates to the symbolic portrait of the church and her foundations in Revelation chapter twenty-one, verse fourteen - "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." So we conclude that the rock is the ministry of the apostles of which Peter is the symbolic representative. From this we can clearly see him as the first foundation represented by the jasper stone.
     We continue on to the list of jewels that God views as His first apostles. We don’t know who they represent specifically, but each has a name. –

     …the second sapphire; …

     Could that be the Apostle John? Was he wondering which precious stone did God pick to represent his contribution to this resplendent foundation?

     …the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald (verse 19).

     Andrew? James?

     The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst (verse 20).

     Which one is Philip, Bartholomew and the others? It doesn’t matter if we know exactly which apostles these jewels represent; - they all shine with equal brilliance. God wants us to recognize the extreme value He places on our foundation. When we deviate from the doctrine conveyed to us by our founding Apostles, we end up falling off this beautiful foundation and landing in the barren wilderness of apostasy.

     And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, and every several gate was of one pearl:

     We saw in verse twelve that each one of these gates was named after the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. We also were shown that the city herself represents Jesus’ bride, His wife. Therefore the church is seen here as the twelve tribes; all of the Lord’s people unified as one city. The enormous pearls that form the doors to this city, represent the souls of the people that Jesus died to save. We refer back to our Lord’s parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13: 45,46). The man in the parable who sells everything to buy the field that contains the precious and extremely valuable pearl, represents the Lord who gave up everything, including His own life to purchase our salvation. One human soul is the pearl of great price represented in the parable. Jesus would have suffered and died, even if there was only one pearl, - just you, that needed His salvation.

     …and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass (verse 21).

     The gold of this city is so refined it is likened to glass. The gold represents holiness, virtue and purity. God’s people are refined in the fires of this life. We emerge from these testings refined like gold. The character of Jesus’ bride is reflected symbolically by the breathtakingly beautiful gold John is beholding in this vision.
     Let’s remember here that we are not beholding heaven. We’ve all heard the term, “The streets of heaven are paved with gold,” which is taken from a misinterpretation of this vision. The city comes down out of heaven (Rev. 21:2) and represents God’s people who will be inhabiting the new dimension; the new heaven and earth. As we shall see from the following verses, this new world is unlike anything that God has created in the past.

     And I saw no temple there: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it (verse 22).

     This reminds me of Jesus’ encounter with the woman He met at Jacob’s well. When she was wondering where was the preferred location to worship God, Jesus told her in essence that true worship was not restricted to any physical location, but those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth (John 4:24).
     Here we see the reality of Jesus’ statement illustrated for us within the walls of a city that represents God’s people. We are the building that God inhabits. The intimate relationship that God has desired to have with His people has been fully realized. There is no “religion” within the walls of the beautiful city, only a relationship of multitudes of souls with God, that are abiding in His presence. The “temple” or worshipping place is the Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son that permeates a new dimension that is beyond our imaginations to fathom.
     It is here we again realize, that Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with the Almighty that begins here in this physical domain we are inhabiting at this moment. It will cumulate into its intended fulfillment in a new world, an entirely new state of being that is not confined by time or any known laws of physics.

     And the city has no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof (verse 23).

     The sun and the moon are not needed in this dimension. Einstein’s theory of relativity is rendered obsolete, along with every other principle that scientists have invented to try and understand God’s creation. Every mathematical calculation dissolves in the glorious Light of God, and the Messiah who is the Lamp though which the holy illumination shines.

     And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it (verse 24).

     The multicultural diversity that God has ordained is celebrated in this vision where the saved from every country walks, or moves in the light of God’s presence shining through the Lamb. The “kings of the earth,” designates the royal bloodlines of all of those who have been made one with God’s holy lineage through faith in the Messiah Jesus. God has made everyone who has received His plan of salvation royalty.

     And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there (verse 25).

     Fear is extinguished in this realm of perfect peace. Thus the gates or doors of this city are always open as no enemy is allowed to exist there. There is no night, no darkness in this new world, spiritually or physically.

     And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it (verse 26).

     The prejudice that separated the races on the old earth, no longer exists in this new realm. We were always meant to love each other in spite of our differences. So many have failed this test in their earth lives. God has bestowed glory and honor on everyone who has joined themselves to Him through the Messiah, and they are all equally treasured. Their glory is God’s glory reflected back to give Him all the praise and honor He deserves.
     As we look at this celebration of the diversity in the people He has created, may any remnants of prejudice that remain in our hearts be eliminated as we contemplate our future in the Lord’s New World Order.

     And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they that are written in the Lamb’s book of life (verse 27).

     No true believer deliberately, continuously practices sin (I John 2:29). The sins of the earth life are left behind in the dust of the old earth that has been dissolved and removed from memory. Those who are written in “The Lamb’s book of life” are those who have believed, repented of their sins and received God’s plan of salvation for mankind; and only these believers will have access to this new eternal life.
     Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father except by Me” (John 14:6). There is what I call a “spiritually scientific” explanation for why Jesus has to be the only means by which someone can enter God’s presence and receive eternal life. In order to understand we must return to Eden at the moment God breathed life into the first man. That “breath” in the original Hebrew is “neshamah.” This life force that we inherit from the first man, was never designed to give us eternal life in heaven. Mankind was designed to live on earth. The source of his longevity was symbolized by the “Tree of Life.” When mankind sinned and broke his covering relationship with God, he was severed from his life source (Genesis 3:22,23) and he began to experience death.
     In order for human beings to be restored to God and survive after death in heaven, a new life source would be needed to replace Adam’s limited breath of life, the neshamah. Jesus was sent to remove our sins through the atonement, His substitutionary death for our sins. When our sins are removed, we are thus enabled to receive His Holy Spirit, which overrides the “neshamah.” The Holy Spirit cleaves to our souls enabling them to have eternal life. When our bodies die, the Holy Spirit transports our souls to God’s domain after death, and gives us the ability to abide in God’s holy presence through the union of His Spirit with our souls.

     I use this analogy: imagine an astronaut trying to survive in outer space without a space suit. He would die very quickly because he was not designed by his Creator to live in outer space. He must be outfitted to survive in that alien environment. Likewise our souls must be properly equipped to survive in heaven’s holy atmosphere. Only Jesus has the Holy Spirit as His original life source, which was given to Him to release to us through His sacrifice.
     The Apostle Paul affirms the distinction between Adam’s life force and the Messiah Jesus. –

     And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening (life giving) spirit (I Corinthians 15:45).

     No one can live forever and inhabit heaven without the Spirit of eternal life, which is God’s Holy Spirit: and only Jesus was enabled to impart it to us. Therefore He must be the only way that a man can be saved.
     The sweet waters of eternity are given to us freely.

Revelation Chapter Twenty-Two

And He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb (verse 1).

     The water is symbolic of the Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father (Matthew 10:20), which is also Jesus’ Spirit (Romans 8:9, Galatians 4:6, Philippians 1:19). The water flows from one throne. Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:30), and Jesus resides in the bosom of the Father (John 1:18).
     The Holy Spirit renews, restores and gives life through faith in Jesus. The water is the Spirit, and the Spirit is life. It is only through Jesus that we can partake of this life. The Messiah is symbolized by the rock that Moses smote to provide water for God’s people in the wilderness (Exodus 17:6). The striking of the rock in that instance, represents the wounds that Jesus bore that released the Holy Spirit enabling us to have eternal life.
     The Apostle John witnesses that life becoming a river pouring out from God’s throne. In the middle of the river, he sees a tree.

     In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bore twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations (verse 2).

     What John is seeing is a massive tree that is growing in the middle, the “street” of the river that is so large it overspreads to reach beyond the water’s banks to hang over “either side.”
     The river, which is the Holy Spirit, is the source of life of this tree. This one tree bears twelve different fruits. The number twelve is used in the Scriptures to signify the chosen. This tree of life bears fruit that is food for God’s chosen ones. The tree itself is symbolic of the life giving tree in Eden that was the source of longevity for Adam and Eve. That symbolism tells us that their lives could be sustained only by a provision from God. Likewise, this tree of Life in Revelation, symbolizes the eternal life that has been restored to us through Jesus’ sacrifice. He is our tree of life. The amazing symbolism we are seeing here is an affirmation that those who believe have been restored to the original state of perfection that God intended for His people.
     The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. There will be no more sickness in this realm of God’s Holy Presence.

     And there shall be no more curse: …

     When Adam and Eve sinned, the ground was cursed. Since then the earth was subject to earthquakes, drought, storms and other natural disasters that were the result of man’s refusal to obey God. The old earth, with its cursed ground has been removed and in this new world there will be no storms to endure or any other challenge to our survival. The Tree of life has been restored and there can never be anymore death.

     …but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it; …

     God has been restored to His rightful place as the center of man’s existence. This shows us that this divine positioning of our Creator as the center and focus of everything, assures our peace, safety, security and our eternal life.

     …and His servants shall serve Him: (verse 3).

     We shall joyfully revolve around the center of our being where God has promised that at His right hand there will be pleasures forevermore. These are not carnal pleasures, but spiritual ones that will immerse us in total fulfillment and never ending joy.

     And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads (verse 4).

     This is a celebration of intimacy symbolized by the ability to see God’s face for the first time. The glory of God that is so intense that it could not be seen by anyone in the previous earth life, is now made visible to those whom God has chosen to share in His glory. These ones who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, have now been glorified themselves by God and share in His holiness, allowing them to remain in His presence without shame. They can behold His holiness in its fullness for they have been made holy and one with Him.
     His name is in their foreheads symbolizing this intimacy that is made possible by our union with His Son. God sees Jesus in every soul who has been redeemed by His blood. There are no longer any barriers between God and man. The intimacy that God had always desired to have with His creation is fulfilled. The “religious spirits” that had kept this relationship bound in ritual and man’s traditions in the earth life, can no longer exist in this new dimension that is saturated with God’s sweet presence.
     Blessed are those who have tasted of God’s presence in their earth lives and have not quenched His Holy Spirit in their midst, escaping the poisons of dead religiosity.

     And there shall be no night there…

     This is a new realm that is not based on any science now known to man.

     …and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: …

     God is the center of this new universe of the Spirit and we revolve around Him alone. He is the only light we need.

     And they shall reign forever and ever (verse 5).

     This is a further affirmation of our gift of eternal life and the high positions we have been given as sons and daughters of God. We shall reign with Him forever, inseparable, bathed in His love and acceptance.
     With this glorious assurance, Revelation’s visions are completed. From verses six through twenty-one, John is given some further instructions to relay to God’s people who will be the recipients of the Lord’s Revelation through the Apostle.

     And He said to me, “These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly be done” (verse 6).

     John is now being addressed by the angel who had appeared to him at the very beginning of his instructions. I assume that John has been returned to his island prison. He can hear the lapping of the ocean that surrounds him and the sound of sea birds perhaps, calling in the distance. But his attention remains riveted upon this heavenly messenger who has been sent by God to the astonished apostle.

     We are assured here with John, that what we have witnessed and heard in Revelation’s testimony is the truth. These messages are delivered to God’s servants. Those who embrace the things of this world as truth, will never receive the holy prophecies contained in these visions. Whenever there is an abundance of falsehood, the truth will always be divisive. Likewise the intrusion of Revelation’s witness into the world’s illusions will be ridiculed and rejected.
     Revelation is a gift to God’s people; those who can hear and see the things of the Spirit, for truly the natural man cannot perceive the things of God.
     These prophecies “must shortly be done.” -

     “Behold, I come quickly:”…

     Time in heaven moves at a different pace. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (I Peter 3:8).

     The Lord Jesus is speaking here to John through the angel that is representing Him. -

     …blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book (verse 7).

     We were told that those who read this prophecy are blessed and now here we are assured that those who “keep” it are blessed. Revelation is an important book. It is designed to be a manual of spiritual refreshment and reinforcement during difficult times.
     In Revelation’s pages we have been assured that whatever happens to us in this imperfect, sin infected world, we have a purpose and a future that cannot be removed. We are in the process of being transported into a grand and glorious destination. We are meant to hold onto the visions in Revelation and use them to encourage us on our journey to the fulfillment of our faith.

     And I John, saw these things, and heard them….

     John again wants to assure us that the words recorded on his ancient papyrus are the testimony of an eyewitness.

     And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me those things (verse 8).

     The enormity of what John has just witnessed, has propelled him into worship at the feet of the angel. For this he is swiftly corrected.

     Then he said to me, “See you do it not: for I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the saying of this book: worship God (verse 9).

     In this verse the being that is addressing John is referred to specifically as an angel. Yet, his description of himself matches that of the glorified one John attempted to worship in chapter nineteen, verse ten. While John many have been speaking to an angel in that instance as well, we can see here the close identification angels have with those they have been created to serve. It appears they see themselves as one with the prophets and the faithful ones who value God’s word and “keep the sayings of this book.”

     And he said to me, “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand (verse 10).

     These are extremely valuable instructions. The messages contained within Revelation are important. We are not to “seal it” or keep it hidden, but spread its message and share it.
     The prophet Daniel was told to seal what had been revealed to him; that is, he was being told that the visions he had received would take a long earth time before they were fulfilled. Those seals were opened by the Lord in the first century, because the “time is at hand,” meaning that the prophecies in Revelation’s pages would begin to be fulfilled from John’s day to the present. We are inhabiting a generation that is expanding to include a designated number of years that are only known to our God.
     In view of this, we must make the most of the time remaining and make evangelism, discipling and serving others our priority as servants of the Lord. We must fight to retain the doctrine as it was first delivered to our founding apostles and keep our guard up in order to resist the beast’s attempts to subvert and destroy our faith.

     He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy let him be holy still (verse 11).

     To me, this angel seems to be reciting a psalm, a poem contrasting darkness with light, and death with those who have the Lord’s righteous life. These contrasts between the dark ones and the children of light will grow sharper as the days pass. Evil will be exposed, and those who choose to wallow in injustice and filth will reap the fruit of their own choices. So here we see that the Lord truly knows those who are His (II Timothy 2:19). We will be known by our fruits (Matthew 7:16-20).

     And behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according to his work shall be (verse 12).

     The Lord is speaking through the angel again. No one who is the Lord’s wants to lose his reward or see it diminished. The Lord is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). To those who are genuinely seeking Him, our greatest reward is to find Him and be joined to Him in intimacy.
     The Lord continues to speak through His emissary. –

     I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last (verse 13).

     Jesus’ voice and the Father’s voice are one.
     The angel resumes John’s instructions.

     Blessed are they that do His commandments, …

     For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous (I John 5:3).

     Jesus said, “If you love Me keep My commandments (John 14:15). These things I command you, that you love one another” (John 15:17).

     If we are abiding in Jesus (John 15), and following the leading of His Holy Spirit, then we will naturally do the things that please Him. We know that obedience to God’s word is essential. Obedience always results in blessings. God’s holy word is the guide we follow for our wellbeing. It is illuminated by the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit tool that the Lord uses to conform us into the selfless image of His Son.
     Obedience to God’s word gives us the right to eternal life. –

     …that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city (verse 14).

     Our first act of obedience is to believe the Gospel. We are saved by grace alone, and that grace in turn works in us. – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).

     We are not saved by our works, our works are the evidence that we are saved.
     The grace that we receive when we obey the gospel, works within the believer to develop within him the fruit of a holy character. Therefore the grace works, the believer rests in that grace and yields to the Spirit working through him in conjunction with God’s written word.
     A believer then grows in grace becoming a new creation, following God’s word as an expression of his relationship with God through Jesus.
     God is not interested in legalism, He desires transformation, an inward holiness that is expressed outwardly.
     Those who have genuinely obeyed God’s commandment to receive His Son, will have the right to the tree of life as promised, no matter how far they have managed to grow in their walk with Him.

     In Jesus’ parable of the laborers (Matthew 20:1-16) we are shown that His salvation is imparted equally to those who were able to labor or grow just a little because of the length of time they are granted to live after receiving the Lord. They are just as saved as those who were serving the Lord for a longer period of time.
     No one who is genuinely saved will deliberately continue in sin, as the Apostle John taught. – Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for His seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God (I John 3:9). In the original Greek the phrase “does not commit sin” means a continuous action. That is; a believer cannot continuously practice sin. He can fail through human weakness and be restored through repentance, but sin is not something a true believer wants to do on a continuing basis. The seed of God’s word has been planted in His heart and that in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, produces the desire for a changed life.
     In the next verse we are shown the contrast between those who have right to the tree of life, and those who do not. –

     For without are dogs…

     This does not mean that there are no animals in God’s new world. The reference to dogs here refers to people who serve their own bellies (Philippians 3:2, Romans 16:18). These are self-serving ones who are always out for their own gain at the expense of others. They are self-indulgent and incapable of putting others first.

     …and sorcerers,…

     This is a reference to those who practice witchcraft with the resulting enslavements, including various addictions to sex and drugs.

     …and whoremongers, …

     The sexually impure, fornicators, adulterers.

     …and idolators, … The covetous (Ephesians 5:5), people who worship the things of this world.

     …and whoever loves and makes a lie (verse 15).

     God desires truth on every level. All liars have their part in the lake of fire as we have seen. Let us not be partakers of anything that is displeasing to the God we claim to love.
     Again, no one who is genuinely saved and loves the Lord, willfully, deliberately, and continuously practices these things. – And such were some of you: but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (I Corinthians 6:11).
     No one is perfect by any means. If we fail because of the weakness of our flesh, we are immediately restored by repentance and God gives us a fresh start. A believer can struggle to overcome sin in his life and this is why we are counseled to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Jesus understands how weak the flesh is though His own identification with those He came to save (Matthew 26:41).
     In this next verse, Jesus again speaks through the angel that is representing Him to the Apostle John.

     “I Jesus have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches…

     Here again we are shown that the book of Revelation is God’s Word to His church. It is a spiritual survival manual for the persecuted, which will be all of us at one time or another. Therefore it is vitally important that this book of prophecies be kept in the forefront, especially as we continue on our journey through these latter days.

     …I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” (verse 16).

     Jesus affirms His authority as the Messiah, the prophesied descendent of David, and the One who bears the title Son of God, the morning star.

     And the Spirit and the bride say “Come” …

     It is here we many assume that the narrative is given back to the Apostle John who breaks forth into this segment of Spirit led prose. He initiates an invitation to all that the new world we have just seen described in these final chapters of Revelation’s pages are available to everyone who chooses to “come.” It is an invitation that is being offered by God’s Holy Spirit and His church. Among His gates are all those who can “hear,” who have understood and received the gospel. –

     …and let him that hears say, “come”…

     If you have heard, share the gospel with others.

     …And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (verse 17).

     If you have heard this call to “come,” the fountain of eternal life is yours to take and drink of freely. Are you thirsty?
     In these last few sweeps of the Apostle’s pen, John finishes this epic journey into a future that just may be tomorrow, with another affirmation of the book’s legitimacy and several very stern words of warning.

     For I testify to every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add to these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book: (verse 18).

     This command is similar to God’s admonishments to His people when He gave His law to Moses (Deuteronomy. 4:2). This word is not to be added to or diminished. John is affirming to us that this prophecy is the word of God and is not to be tampered with or adjusted to suit the reader’s preferences.

     And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (verse 19).

     Here we are startled to see that removing any of the words in this prophecy can cost someone their salvation. This is a particular warning to those in the future that the Lord knows would be transcribing this document. The scribes are being duly warned of the consequences if they attempt to add or remove something they may not understand. There is a very good reason for this warning. Prophecies like those images in Revelation are like dreams. There are visual clues that are implanted in these visions that are vital keys to their interpretations. If any of these keys are changed or removed, the entire meaning of the vision will be misinterpreted. Therefore, it is extremely important that the original wording remain intact for this purpose.
     For example, the word candlestick is revealed to be interpreted as a church (Rev. 1:20). This word is included in the description of the two witnesses in Revelation’s chapter eleven (11:4). While the word candlesticks was not removed from the actual text, it has been excluded from consideration by many when deciphering the identity of the two witnesses. Therefore because of this omission, the two witnesses are rarely seen as churches, even though this important scriptural key is included in the text. So by this we can see the importance of acknowledging these prophetic interpretation clues.
     In conclusion, the Lord adds the final words to His prophecy.

     He that testifies of these things says, “Surely I come quickly. …”

     As I have mentioned before, time in heaven moves at a different pace than here on earth. There are things in this realm that must transpire before the Lord returns. Centuries have passed and it seems the wait for our Lord’s return is endless; but to Him it is only a very short while and He is coming quickly.
     I visualize John emitting an awe inspired sigh as he watches the angel smile and disappear into the blue shining background of sea and sky. Then he raises his pen once more to write the last prayer of the Bible.

     …Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus (verse 20).

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (verse 21).

Copyright 2018 by H.D. Shively

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