"The Book of Revelation, An Eschatological Study of the Endtimes", by Chad J. McCoy

Chapter Thirteen
Paradise



Rev. 22:1-20:
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
6 The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place."
7 "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!"
10 Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11 Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy."
12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."
17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.

John sees the river of life, and it emanates from the throne of God and the Lamb, and flows right through the middle of the Holy City.



On each side of this river are trees of life, whose fruit will be used for the healing of the nations.
If you recall, it was this same tree of life that Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden for, to make sure that they did not eat of it.
Why? Because then they would live forever.
Gen. 3:22-24: And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
Now, it is time for the fruit of the Tree of Life to be eaten. The nations will be healed, and they will live forever.

When the vision of Revelation was finally over, John fell at the feet of the angel that had been showing him these things, and began to worship him.
Again, the angel tells John not to do it. He tells John to make sure he does not seal up the words of this book, because the end of time is near, and the people must be made aware of what will happen, and prepare.
This is the testimony Jesus has sent to his church. Anyone who is thirsty, anyone who wishes, may come and be a part of the kingdom of God.
The book of Revelation end with a warning, and a prayer. A curse and a blessing.
Anyone who adds false information to this book will have added to him the plagues and judgements that are described herein.
Anyone who takes away any of the words that are in this book, will have his place taken away from eternal life in the holy city.
Jesus affirms one last time, "Yes, I am coming soon."
And John prays, "Amen. Come Lord Jesus."
May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people.
Amen.

Back
Home
Next