INTRO: THEME: River of the Water of Life, the Tree of Life; the promise of Christ's return; the final invitation. We are brought to the end of man's journey. Man enters into eternity in fellowship again with God, and there all questions will be answered.

22:1-5 Up to this chapter, the New Jerusalem seems to be a dazzling display of a fabulous jewelry store; we wonder if there is no soft grass to sit upon, no green trees to enjoy, and no water to drink or food to eat. However, here are introduced the elements which add a rich softness to this city of elaborate beauty. There was a river in the first Eden which branched into four rivers. Although there was abundance of water, it is not called the water of life. In the New Jerusalem there is a river of the Water of Life, and the throne of God is its living fountain supplying an abundance of water."The tree of life" is a fruit tree, bearing twelve kinds of fruits each month. There is a continuous supply in abundance and variety. In eternity man will eat and drink.

22:1 AAnd he shewed me a pure river@ - Psalms 46:4; Zech 14:8-9

Of water of life, clear as crystal@ - Rev 7:17; 21:6; Psalms 36:9; Jer. 2:13; John 4:14

Proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.@ - Rev 3:21; 7:10-11

22:3-5 The first creation-blighted by the curse of sin, and still bears the marks of the curse. The new creation will never be marred. Sin will never be permitted to enter even potentially.. It was potentially in the Garden of Eden in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The very presence of God and the Lamb will be adequate to prevent it. The throne of God and the Lamb are in the New Jerusalem.

The word for "service" denotes the service rendered to Jehovah by the Israelites as His peculiar people." We read this in Hebrews 9:1,6. It will be a peculiar service to God that you and I will perform in eternity. It will be a continuous activity since there is no night. Man will at last fulfill his destiny and satisfy the desires of his heart. AHis name shall be in their foreheads." Each person will bear the name of Christ. Each will be like Him, yet without disturbing his own peculiar personality.

22:6-7 The Lord Jesus puts His own seal upon this book: "These words are faithful and true" means that no man is to trifle with them by spiritualizing them or reducing them to meaningless symbols. Our Lord is talking about reality. At the beginning of this book, there was a blessing pronounced upon those who read and hear and keep these words. In conclusion, the Lord Jesus repeats the blessing upon those who keep these words. This is a book not to merely satisfy the curiosity of the natural man but to live and act

22:8-11 Notice John's final and oft repeated statement that he was both auditor and spectator to the scenes in this book. This is the method that was put down at the very opening of the book. It is the first television program, for John both saw and heard. John was so impressed that his natural reaction was to fall down and worship the angel. The simplicity and meekness of the angel are impressive. Though the angels were created above man, this angel identifies himself as a fellow servant with John and the other prophets. He was merely a messenger to communicate God's Word to man, and he directs all worship to God.

Christ is the centerpiece of the Book of Revelation -- don't lose sight of Him."Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book." Daniel was told to seal up the words of his prophecy because of the long interval before the fulfillment of it (see Dan. 12:4).

22:12-16 He will personally reward each believer. It is little wonder that Paul could write:

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:10-14).

Again the Lord Jesus asserts His deity: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." He said this at the beginning of Revelation, and He concludes with it. Only blood-washed believers have authority over the Tree of Life and access to the Holy City (see Eph. 1:7-12).

22:15 "Dogs" were scavengers in the ancient world they were considered unclean and impure. Also, "dogs" was the designation for Gentiles (see Matt. 15:21-28) and Paul's label for Judaizers (see Phil. 3:2). Apparently the Lord Jesus had sent His angel with this very personal message. "I Jesus" -- You and I are going to spend eternity centering on Him and His person.

22:17-19 The bride is the church. This is a twofold invitation: an invitation to Christ to come and an invitation to sinners to come to Christ before He returns. The Holy Spirit is in the world today, and He joins in the prayer of the church which says, "Lord Jesus, come, come."The Holy Spirit is performing His work in the world today in converting and convicting men. He works through the Word and through the church which proclaims His Word. The invitation to men is to come and to take the Water of Life: Isa. 55:1.

The Lord Jesus stood and said, ". . . If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John 7:37). That is the invitation that goes out today. If you are tired of drinking at the cesspools of this world, He invites you to come. What an invitation this is to come to Him!