Commentary by Ron Beckham

Verse 1.  “Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,”

This “water of life” is the “living water” that Jesus promised to the “woman of Samaria” when He met her by “Jacob’s well” (John 4:6-10 & context).  It is also the “water flowing from under the threshold of the temple” seen by Ezekiel the Prophet (Ezekiel 47:1 & forward).  Initially, as the water flowed from under the temple, it came up only to Ezekiel’s “ankles” (Ezekiel 47:3), but then it was up to his “knees” and then his “waist” (47:4).  After that (47:5) “the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed.”  The waters of salvation in Christ Jesus run deep for you and me.

The “crystal” clear water flows “down into the valley and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed” (Ezekiel 47:8).  The reference is to the Dead Sea, in Israel.  Nothing lives in the Dead Sea.  Just like its name, it is DEAD!  This is a parable that helps us understand humanity (we are dead to God), and what Christ has done (we are made alive in Him).  A “sea” or “waters” in Scripture is often a reference to people (Revelation 17:15).  “This water… enters the (Dead) sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed” (Ezekiel 47:8).  When we receive the Lord, He takes us from death and brings us His life.

Verse 2.  “in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

In addition to the “river” of Revelation 22:1 and Ezekiel Chapter 47, we also find this “tree” both in John’s vision and in Ezekiel’s.  John saw the “tree of life” on “either side of the river,” as reflected in this verse.  Ezekiel, from a slightly different vantage point, refers to “many trees on one side and the other” (Ezekiel 47:7).  John mentions that the tree bears “twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were (are) for the healing of the nations.”  Ezekiel commented about the trees: “They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine” (Ezekiel 37:12).

The “tree” of John, on either side of the river, is the same as the “many trees” of Ezekiel.  Today’s news, whether televised, on the radio, or in the newspapers, includes much about the potential for death in many of the foods we eat.  Fish can contain mercury, beef may have Mad Cow Disease, chickens can carry West Nile Virus, and the more you hear, the worse it gets.  When we are with the Lord, we will still in His wisdom need sustenance, but it will carry HEALTH to all who eat.  The future contains “healing” for all who have trusted in the Son of God..

Verse 3.  “There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;”

You can see it all in Genesis 3.  Since a point in time not long after the creation of mankind, we have been under the “curse” of God.  Adam and Eve were the representatives of the whole human race, living in a gentle place where everything anyone could ever need was provided for them.  If they fell, all of us (who were genetically in them) would fall also.  At the time of this verse, there will no longer be “thorns and thistles” (difficulties) rising out of our actions (Genesis 3:18).  If there is childbirth (3:16) the pain of it will not be there; nor would a husband rule over a wife.  Death and sickness will be gone.

God the Father and God the Son (the Lamb of God) will be with the people of God.  If you want to see God, you’ll get your chance.  He will be wonderful, and all your failure, all your fear and frustration – will be gone!  Note that “His bond-servants will SERVE Him.”  You’ll not just be sitting on some cloud, strumming on a “harp” for all eternity.  You will have a function, an effortless job to do, and you will love the “duties” you are called to perform for Him.

Verse 4.  “they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.”

We shall “see” His face.  With our eyes (or however vision occurs in eternity), we will SEE the Lord, the Son of God.  His actual “name” will be written upon us, for we are His.  It is likely that from His perspective, His mark, His name, is upon His loved ones right now.  We look around and see other sinners like ourselves.  God looks and sees His loving Son in the hearts of His people.

We were in Washington, DC, recently, having lunch with someone who is angry with God.  “I want to SEE Him,” the man said, and he continued, “I want to TELL Him a few things…”  Actually, the best way to see God is to place your trust in His Son, Jesus Christ.  All will see Him, but as we see in references like the “sheep” and the “goats” of Matthew 25:31-46, some will “inherit the kingdom,” whereas others will go away into “everlasting punishment.”  Here’s a suggestion: Let’s be His sheep!

Verse 5.  “And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”

There will “no longer be any night;” no darkness that will cause us to fear.  Nothing frightening or hidden will ever occur again.  There will be no need for light bulbs or candles.  Flashlights will have no meaning at all.  “Light” carries the additional meaning of “understanding” in Scripture.  We will no longer wonder, “Is it true?” for we will know the Truth.  We will see Him, and His Name is Jesus Christ.

We will have no needs of any kind, and we will LIKE the feeling of being completely, utterly and permanently satisfied.  By the way, have you ever felt like a nobody?  No more, for you will REIGN with Him – for all eternity.  You will have His authority and you won’t have to worry that you can’t do the job, for Christ will be with you and He will bring it to pass.  You will be satisfied, and eternal LIFE with Him will also be EXCITING – forever.

Verse 6.  “And he said to me, ‘These words are faithful and true’; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.”

“These words are faithful and true.”  There’s been a problem all of our lives and throughout human history – we don’t know WHAT to believe!  And yet, here it is.  We’ve found it, and it’s true of the whole Word of God as reflected in what we call the “Bible” – we can TRUST that “these words are faithful and true.”  For a long time, scholars have focused on “flaws” in the Bible, denouncing it as “myth,” rather than fact.  That’s unfortunate indeed, for they just do not understand.

God, in the whole Bible and especially right now in this Book of Revelation, has taken us behind the scenes so that we might catch a glimpse of what life is REALLY all about.  And He cares enough about us to send the very best on our behalf.  Throughout history, He has sent His angels, His prophets, and then His Son.  And then more angels, and through His Spirit He has gifted His church, His “bond-servants” so that ALL might understand that which “must SOON take place.”

Verse 7.  “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”

It’s time to look up from the problems of this world and realize that, from the perspective of eternity, it has been just a MOMENT since Christ was here on earth.  He walked and taught, healed the sick, chose His beloved disciples, died for our sins and then rose from the dead so that we might KNOW we are safe through faith in Him.  The 2000 years that have passed since the words of this verse were spoken, only exist because we live in TIME.

The one who has already gone to be with the Lord has left time, and it has only been an instant, if that, since the Lord walked the roads of this planet.  He is returning “quickly” and He expects you will live within the covers of this Book we call the “Bible,” and respond to its teachings.  And lest we don’t understand, He has given His Spirit who helps you and me.  We are “blessed” when we study His Word, and “blessed” is a term in the Greek that includes the meaning: happy!  Those who read and respond to His Word are offered lasting happiness.

Verse 8.  “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things.”

“John” saw these things.  From the beginning, the church received the words in the Book of Revelation as the writings of John the Apostle, who also wrote the Gospel of John and the epistles (letters) of John.  This was attested to by Irenaeus, a disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of John, along with many other writers of the time, including Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen and more.  JOHN is “the one who heard and saw these things.”

John collapsed in worship once again, and he had also fallen in other contexts.  When he saw the Lord (Revelation 1:12), he “fell at His feet as dead,” and he was corrected for falling down to worship his “fellow-servant” in Revelation 19:10.  Daniel was struck down in awe (Daniel 8:27, 10:9), and so was Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:28).  And there were others.  We are going to see beings and situations in eternity that will amaze us – for ever and ever.

Verse 9.  “But he said to me, ‘Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God.’”

All people everywhere are like sheep that tend to follow the wrong shepherds.  We really don’t know very much about this being who was speaking to John the Apostle at the moment, except that he was giving John very good counsel: “Don’t worship me!”  And that is good advice for us all.  We as humans have such persistence in following mere people or thinking about angelic beings, when we should be looking to God.

You BELONG to God.  He created you.  If anyone can ever be the property of someone else, it is in relation to the God who created you and me.  No matter how wonderful the king or president, priest or pastor, singer or athlete may seem to be, they are just people who were created by God.  By the statement in this verse that the speaker is a “fellow servant” of John, it is possible he is a human who had gone to be with the Lord; but that is unlikely.  He is an angel – for they are fellow servants with us also.

Verse 10.  “And he said to me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.’”

We do not have a record all of the words and deeds of Jesus while He was on this earth, as seen in John 21:25.  We do not have a record of most of the interventions of God in the lives of men and women.  This is intimated by John’s observation in places like Revelation 14:6 that the gospel (good news) about Jesus Christ has been preached to “every nation, tribe, tongue and people,” implying widespread interventions of God into history, yet we only have historical information about a few of those instances.

“Seven thunders” uttered their voices in Revelation 10:4, but John was instructed to “seal up” what they said.  Daniel was told to “seal up” the “vision of the evenings and mornings” and not share it with history.  Much of what Daniel saw was to be “sealed up” until the “time of the end” (Daniel 12:4, 9).  It’s interesting that the “end” is defined as a time when people will “run to and fro” and “knowledge shall increase.”  A time like now!  For us who live at or near the end, the words are NOT to be sealed up, “for the time is near.”  If you understand these words, the time IS near!

Verse 11.  “Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”

You can paraphrase this verse: Be who you are!  A major problem with the world is that it is full of deception.  People are just not who they seem to be.  Notice that the games of children or what is called professional sports are actually mock warfare and such activities are based on deception.  If you want to score a goal, it’s best to first feint AWAY from the goal to throw off your opponent, before you strike for the goal.  That’s the way things are done in humanity.

This verse is encouraging us to stop pretending.  ALL of us are sinners (Romans 3:23) and the only true difference between us is Jesus Christ.  Yes we are still sinners, but His righteousness is shared with us, when we place our trust in Him.  All you have to do is look at a daily newspaper or watch a television show and you will understand there is something basically “filthy” about humanity that needs desperately to be made clean.  Jesus, through His death on the cross and the gift of the Holy Spirit, cleanses us inside, and where there was no good in us, “righteous” thoughts and actions begin to flow in and out of our lives.  Be who you are, trust in Him, and He will bring His “righteousness” into you.

Verse 12.  “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is indeed coming back to this earth “quickly.”  Obviously 2000 years is not “quick” to those who are suffering with cancer or have lost their child.  Time crawls during and after the afflictions that seem to fill our lives.  This verse speaks of “hope,” a word that is seldom understood.  Paul the Apostle observed that there are only three things you can take out of this life, and they are: “faith, hope (and) love.”  And all three come from God.

“Faith” is the gift, the reward of the Lord to those who are willing to trust in Him.  We see this in places like Hebrews 12:2 – “Jesus” is the “author and finisher of our faith.”  It says in 1 John 4:8 that “God is love.”  When the Lord comes into our hearts and lives, He brings His love with Him.  The real nature of “hope” is glimpsed in places like this verse in Revelation.  We trust in the Lord who said He is “coming quickly” - to “hope” is to look to Him and trust in what He says.

Verse 13.  “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

What or who is “first” in your life?  If you could perform one last great act in your life, what would it be?  The “alpha” is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and “omega” is the last.  In English, the expression “alpha and the omega,” is much like explaining something “A to Z.”  The idea is completeness, for you would be explaining something from A to Z.  When Jesus says He is the “beginning and the end,” it is declared that all you ever need to know about God is summed up in Him.

One of Jesus’ disciples said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father and it is sufficient for us.”  Jesus responded, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:8-9).  As a people, we do not understand God.  He is aware of our lack of understanding, and you know about it, too, when you think about it.  Give yourself to a prayerful lifetime study of Jesus, and you will learn about God.

Verse 14.  “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.”

The “tree of life” is in the place that was once called the “Garden of Eden.”  Our earliest ancestors lived there, but were forced out of the Garden and were denied the “tree of life,” which would have enabled all humans to live indefinitely.  They lost their innocence by disobeying God and could no longer be allowed to remain in such a place.  The only way to regain that innocence is to “wash” our “robes” in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14).

A key meaning of the word “blessed” in the original Greek language, is “happy,” and it is important to see that these verses direct you in the way of happiness.  “Wash their robes” is an idiomatic expression that includes the idea of a return to the innocence that was lost so long ago.  In order to find and enter such a state, you must return to the One who is the “alpha and omega” of the preceding verse.  He will enter your life and begin the process that will lead you to the place (“city”) where you need to be (see Revelation 21:9).

Verse 15.  “Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”

Scripture is so clear that if our thoughts are murderous, we are murderers in the sight of God (Matthew 5:21-22).  If we entertain, even for a moment, anger in our thoughts, we are eternally to be “outside” the kingdom of God.  To hate another person means your statement of love for God is a lie (1 John 4:20).  If you are angry, you are a liar.  If you’ve ever had an immoral thought, you’re an immoral person (Matthew 5:27).

If we are to be saved by any ability to keep God’s commandments, we will fail.  Indeed, we have ALREADY failed.  “Sorcerers” include those who attempt to “wash their robes” in any way other than through the blood of Christ.  All of us are “dogs,” unworthy of eternity with our great God and Savior, but HE has provided a way: “There is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the Man, Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:3).  Through the grace of God in Jesus Christ we CAN “enter by the gates of the city” (Revelation 22:14).

Verse 16.  “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The “angel” (messenger) of Jesus, who has been speaking to John (and to you) for quite some time, is “one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls” (Revelation 21:8).  The angel was so full of the glory of God that John was overcome with emotion and began to “worship” before his feet (Revelation 22:8).  The angel had to correct John with the advice we all need to hear: “Worship (only) God” (21:9).  We are now listening to the very words of Jesus Christ, which are directed to those in His “churches” (assemblies of His called-out ones).  He identifies Himself as THE descendant of King David (Luke 3:23, 31, Revelation 5:5) and as the “bright morning star” (Numbers 24:17).

At the time of this verse, “morning” has come.  Actually, it is a new day for each of us when we trust in the Lord.  As indicated in Ephesians 2:5-6, those who place their faith in Him are ALREADY “raised up” and are “in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”  Notice that He is not only the descendant of David, but is also David’s “root.”  When David said, “The Lord said to my Lord…” (Psalm 110:1) he was speaking not only of the Father, but also of Jesus, his Lord, the One who would descend from him.

Verse 17.  “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”

There is an urgency deep in the heart of everyone, which contains a very simple message: “Come!”  Come to the waters freely without cost (Isaiah 55:1).  That “voice,” that urging you “hear” is the Spirit of God.  The “bride” (the people of God) often presents the message imperfectly, but when you listen with your heart, it is the same: “Come!” to the Lord, to the “water of life.”

There is an old saying, “the best things in life are free,” and it’s true.  A baby’s laughter, the beauty of trees and mountains, a rose in springtime; a smile from someone you love.  And the greatest free gift of all is the Son of God, given as payment in full for all of our sins.  Because of Him, you can “drink” deeply of the “water of life,” freely and without cost.  “Come” and finally be SATISFIED in Him.

Verse 18.  “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;”

If you are reading these words, you have heard “the words of the prophesy of this Book.”  God has freely given everything we need to see and hear, in order to receive eternal life; but with this gift comes responsibility.  Don’t be afraid though, for the Father gives His Holy Spirit to all who trust in His Son.  And He gradually reveals the meaning of all things to you, and He will show you what to say.  The ones who add to this Word and mislead others, are those who are not looking to His Spirit.

Actually, almost all of us add to the words of this Book by speculating about them, but the good news is that those who trust in the Lord are given God’s grace.  The plagues of this Book are many and they are truly frightening.  But note there are only two kinds of people: Those who place their trust in the Lord, and those who do not.  If you have faith in Him who loves you, these “plagues” for all eternity will NOT be yours.

Verse 19.  “and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.”

While in college, years ago, I was astonished at the many “scholars” who “take away” from the words of the Bible.  Many theologians confidently assert that the miracles of Jesus never happened and state that most of the words He “spoke” were not His.  Often those who make their living from writing and teaching about the Bible in graduate and undergraduate settings, incredibly just don’t believe; dismissing it all as “myth.”  They are in great trouble.

When we are finally willing to read the Bible with an honest open, prayerful heart, we find, through gradual understanding and sudden insights given by God, that all of it is true.  The Holy Spirit actually has prompted believers throughout history to say and write words that are the intention of God.  It is important for us to RECEIVE (and not attack) the Word of God.

Verse 20.  “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

It has been 2000 years since the words of these verses were written.  That fact comforts the atheist and agnostic, who ease their minds, concluding: it’s not true!  But unfortunately for those who do not believe, the time IS coming quickly when all will be revealed; much sooner now than then.  We should join with the one who actually witnessed these events, saw the visions and heard the words, and agree with him: Yes, He is coming quickly!

Note the word “testifies.”  John the Apostle was carefully chosen by God to see these visions and tell us about them.  Revelations and all other Bible Scriptures are accounts, mostly eye witness accounts of events surrounding God’s people, and His interventions into history.  We are each like judges who decide whether these writings are true or not.  You should decide soon, for He IS coming quickly.

Verse 21.  “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”

Salvation, faith, eternal life, the God-given ability to love, the capacity to have hope – It’s all from the grace of God.  The reality of people is that we are not as nice as we like to pretend we are.  As Paul the Apostle said, “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  We have all been helplessly sliding toward a disastrous eternity, except for the wonderful intervening grace of God, expressed in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Paul said, “For by grace have you been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  In the Greek language of that time, word order is far less important than word relationships.  In the quote from Ephesians, the word for “saved” relates to the word “grace.”  The power that saves us is the grace of God.  “Faith” is created in us (Hebrews 12:2) when we merely have the slightest willingness to trust in Him.

“Amen” is “so be it” or “it is true,” which is your statement of belief in the Lord and your trust in what He has done for you.  Let’s pray: Father, thank You for the Lord Jesus who died for me that I might live.  Let me know God’s grace.  Fill me with Your Spirit and let me trust in You.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

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Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
P.O. Box  92131
Long Beach, CA
90809-2131 USA
www.fridaystudy.org
Ron@fridaystudy.org