Revelation 22
What’s your hope for the future; more specifically, after you die? This final chapter pictures a blessed community of believers who are granted access to a phenomenal new city with a river flowing from God’s throne (both Father and Son) through the middle of Main Street. That’s certainly easier to imagine than some of the former symbolism we’ve discussed, however, this tree-lined, divine river uses several 12’s again indicating an abundance of healing and face-to-face intimacy with Jesus; stretch your imagination on that one.
As Jesus wraps up the visions for John He makes an emphatic declaration three times: “I am coming soon.” He doesn’t want us to miss the point; He’s returning in victory as our NIKE Savior with rewards for us based on the individual gifts the Holy Spirit gave us. That reminds me of the parable Jesus told of the Ten Minas (Luke 19:11-27); the first servant doubled the king’s investment by doing ‘business’ and was rewarded with authority, the second one gained a 50% return with accompanying reward, and the third example gained nothing because he did nothing.
Jesus is returning, as the parable indicates, with repayment (vs. 12) for what we’ve done and part of our reward will be judicial authority over the new creation. He’s named the divine and eternal Judge, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the Root of David, the bright Morning Star, and returning King. Need I say more?
The obvious question is therefore, how do you know if you’ll be granted access to this community? Look at verse 14 since it gives us the answer. Have you been washed of your sin-stained robe by the blood of the Lamb, have you experienced His forgiveness and mercy, and you’re ready to meet Him whenever He calls you home? This free gift of salvation is like drinking fresh, living water every day. It’s experiencing kingdom living now but not in its fullness; that’s reserved for His Second Coming. The ‘already, but not yet’ will be complete as the circle is completed and we’re literally, not just symbolically, back in the Garden of Eden where we began. It was always God’s Plan for His image bearers to fellowship with Him but sin separated us, consequently, we’ve had to wait. The waiting period is over in this chapter. We’ve come full-circle.
So far we’ve only seen the Father and the Son but now the trinity is complete (vs. 17) as the Spirit joins with the Bride, the Church of all time, with a plea to our Savior: “Come!” three times. We’re eagerly anticipating sharing in the tree of life in the holy city, reigning with Him, our Bridegroom.
Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Psalm 24:7-8
Nice job, everyone.
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