CHAPTER 22: END OF REVELATION… ‘SO BE IT’

STUDY NOTES

Verses 1-5: Here we have a contrast with the Lake of Fire. Those without and or absent relationship with God.

Here we are given the image of a river of the water of life. Representing Life from God  freely flowing from his Throne making everything good.  Nothing is accursed.

 Notice those there reign forever.  There are no time terms such as “three and a half years” or “1000 years” since the “now and not yet” period of the Kingdom is over.  In the progression language of Revelation, this is the “not yet” of the coming Kingdom of God.  This is the future fulfillment of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Verses 6-7: God says all this is true and will soon take place.  This is a reminder of the “now but not yet” nature of Jesus’ statement “I am coming soon.” All that is stated in this book is about to unfold.

Verses 8-9:  John claims to be a witness to the book.  In addition, we also see not to worship angels as they are fellow servants and not YHWH.

Verse 10: Most of the visions John saw are not to be sealed (except those in Revelation 10:4) which speaks to the authorship of the book being written before 70 AD and the events of 70AD coming near. 

Verse 12: “coming soon” speaks to the revelatory nature of Christ coming as the First and the Last.

Verses 14-15: These verses point out who is blessed and who is not.  Those inside the Bride-City are blessed, but those outside are not.  See Matthew 22:1-14 for the Parable of the Wedding Banquet which is parallel and quite clear.

Verse 16: Jesus again makes claim of His identity… the Root and Descendant of David, the Bright Morning Star (see Numbers 24:17).

Verse 17: All are encouraged to say “come” extending the offer of life from the Spirit and Bride (Church).

Verse 18a: Warning not to change the book, or else!

Verse 20: “Soon” is repeated.

Verse 21: Grace is promoted and blessed over all the saints.  ‘Amen’ means ‘so be it.’