"But the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and
will restore the heavens and the earth to their original condition. He is "the Alpha and the Omega"; therefore, all will be accomplished. 3. Revelation 21:7 "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be God to him, and he will be a son to Me." The overcoming here is different from that in chapters two and three of this book. In chapters two and three it is the overcoming in the matter of conduct, that is, the overcoming that involves a comparing of believers with believers. But the overcoming here is the overcoming that involves a comparison of believers with unbelievers in the world (1 John 5:4). What is the difference between the people in verses 6 through 7 and those in verse 3? (1) According to verse 3, John saw in a vision that the tabernacle of God is with men, that is, God is dwelling with many people on the earth. The people in the second half of 21:6 are those who are thirsty after hearing the gospel preaching mentioned previously. (2) The people in verse 3 are the people of God who live on the new earth; those in verse 7 are the sons of God who live in the new city. (3) The people in verse 3 simply receive the common, entire portion of those on the earth, which is to be the people of God. But the people in verse 7 are not only the sons of God, but also His servants and kings (22:3, 5). (4) "They will be His peoples" in verse 3 indicates something corporate and common. "He will be a son" in verse 7 refers to something particular and intimate. (5) "They will be His peoples" in verse 3 is spoken in the third person; it is said by men. "I will be God to him, and he will be a son to Me" in verse 7 is spoken by God directly. (6) The people in verse 3 dwell on God's new earth, but those in verse 7 dwell in God's house. Differences in position among Christians are limited to the millennial kingdom. In the new heaven and new earth, all believers will be equal.
4. Revelation 21:8 "But the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and fornicators and sorcerers and idolaters and all the false, their part will be in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
"The cowardly." These are the ones who know that they can be saved through believing, but dare not believe for fear of persecution. The "unbelieving" are those who do not believe. The "abominable" are not necessarily the idol worshippers. All those who worship the host of heavenly bodies are also included. "Idolaters" means those who worship images made of gold, silver, brass, and so forth. "Sorcerers" are those who are involved with demons. "The lake which burns with fire." There is no sea in the new heaven and new earth, but there is a lake of fire. V. THE NEW JERUSALEM (REVELATION 21:9-27) A. Revelation 21:9 "And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, Come here; I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." Now the name of the wife of the Lamb is given. Many people say that the wife of the Lamb is the church. They say that there cannot be a real Jerusalem in the future, but there is much evidence that New Jerusalem is a literal new city: (1) At that time the church will no longer be the church, but a part of the redeemed ones. (2) This is a book of revelation. Since chapters two and three explicitly mention the church, why should the New Jerusalem in chapter twenty-one be a sign of the church and not simply the New Jerusalem? (3) According to 3:12 of this book, the New Jerusalem is what the church hopes for. If we say that the New Jerusalem is the church, then the church would be hoping for the church. This would not make sense. (4) In Revelation 19:7-10, the New Jerusalem is the bride, and the church is but a guest. Hence, we see that the church is not the New Jerusalem. (5) There must be a new city in the new heaven and the new earth. Since many people will want to come before God, there must be a dwelling place for them. The Lord clearly said, "In My Father's house are many abodes" (John 14:2). (6) The woman in Revelation 12:1 refers to Jerusalem, and the great harlot in 17:1 refers to the city of Rome. Therefore, the wife of the Lamb in 21:9 must also be a real city. (7) After the blowing of the seventh trumpet, the kingdom will arrive, and all the mysteries will be fulfilled. How can the New Jerusalem, which is after the
kingdom and is in the new heaven and the new earth, be mysterious and not be real? (8) In Revelation 17, John wonders greatly when he sees the great Babylon. It is a mystery which needs an angel to explain it to him. But here, John neither wonders nor needs an angel to explain anything, because this city is real. (9) Some say that the wife of the Lamb must be the church because they regard eternity as something spiritual. They do not realize that in the new heaven and new earth everything is real. God selected the gold and silver used by Solomon to build the temple. Therefore, we cannot say that there would be no use of gold and silver for the building in the new heaven and new earth. (10) At that time many people will be resurrected bodily, that is, they will possess a spiritual body. There must also be a city for them to dwell in. (11) Here we are given the shape, size, and all the building materials of the city of New Jerusalem. How can this description be used for the church? (12) Revelation 21:27 clearly says that many people will enter the city. If the city is the church, how can people enter into people? Also, 21:25 says that the gates of the city shall not be shut by day. Can we say that this speaks about the church? (13) In 21:9 the wife of the Lamb is shown to John. If "the wife of the Lamb" is a mystery and the New Jerusalem is the explanation, how can we not take the New Jerusalem literally? (14) The New Jerusalem is in contrast to the old Jerusalem. As the old Jerusalem is a city, so also is the New Jerusalem. Therefore, how can we say that the New Jerusalem is the church? (15) Galatians 4:26 clearly tells us that there is a heavenly Jerusalem. This Jerusalem is different from the church. Hence, Paul said it (this heavenly Jerusalem) is our (the church's) mother. Therefore, how can we say that the New Jerusalem is the church? (16) Hebrews 11:10 says, "For he eagerly waited for the city which has the foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God." The New Jerusalem is truly a city with foundations. Was Abraham looking for the church? At that time Abraham could not even have known that there was going to be a church. (17) Hebrews 12:22 speaks of the heavenly Jerusalem, myriads of angels, and "the universal gathering." Verse 23 mentions "the church of the firstborn, who have been enrolled in the heavens" (referring to the church); "God, the Judge of all"; and "the spirits of righteous men who have been made perfect" (referring to
the Old Testament saints). Here we have God, the angels, the Old Testament saints, the church, and the heavenly Jerusalem. Thus, the church is clearly different from the heavenly Jerusalem. How can we say that the New Jerusalem is the church?
B. Revelation 21:10 "And he carried me away in spirit onto a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God." "And he carried me away in spirit onto a great and high mountain" is in contrast to "And he carried me away in spirit into a wilderness" in 17:3. C. Revelation 21:11 "Having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, as clear as crystal." This city especially has the glory of God. In ancient times the glory of God in the temple was not obvious since it appeared like a cloud. "Her light." Is this light the glory of God? The answer is no, because in verse 23 "the glory of God illumined it" and the Lamb is the lamp of the city. The illumination of the glory of God is upon everything, but the shining of the lamp is limited to one place. Formerly, the shining in the Holy of Holies was by the glory of God, while the shining in the Holy Place was by the seven lamps. In 4:5 of this book, the seven lamps of fire are mentioned in relation to the Holy Spirit before the throne. Concerning the Holy Spirit's being sent forth into all the earth, it is the seven Spirits. "Crystal" is transparent. Today the shining of the sun is not even universal, but the light of the new city in that day will be transparent. We do not know what color this light will be. All that we know is that it will be beautiful. D. The Gates of the City (Revelation 21:12-13; cf. verse 21) "It had a great and high wall and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. On the east three gates, and on the north three gates, and on the south three gates, and on the west three gates." Both verses 12 and 21 mention "twelve gates." According to verse 21 the street is singular in number. Since there are twelve gates, it should follow that there are twelve streets. How can there be only one street? The street in verse 21 is like a square in the middle of the city, around which are roads. Since every side of the
city has three gates, every side must also have three roads. "And at the gates twelve angels." The angels here are not kings; they are the guards of the gates of the new city. "And names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel." Israel represents the law of God. "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls" (21:21). Pearl represents the righteousness of God. Thus, we can see that one enters the gates of God according to God's law and righteousness. E. The Height of the City (Revelation 21:14-17) "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who spoke with me had a golden reed as a measure that he might measure the city and its gates and its wall. And the city lies square, and its length is as great as the breadth. And he measured the city with the reed to a length of twelve thousand stadia; the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel." Verse 14 says, "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations." Verse 16 says, "He measured the city with the reed to a length of twelve thousand stadia; the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal." Then verse 17 says, "He measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits." The city is twelve thousand stadia in length, width, and height. (One stadia is equal to 606.75 feet.) The total height of the city is twelve thousand stadia, but the height of the wall is one hundred forty-four cubits. The height of twelve thousand stadia is measured from the bottom foundation all the way to the throne of God. The numbers in this chapter are either twelve or multiples of twelve. Twelve thousand stadia is a multiple of twelve, and twelve is the number of eternal completion. The wall of the city has twelve foundations. Each layer probably is smaller than the layer under it, similar to the shape of a pyramid. Thus, all twelve layers can be seen. On the foundations are the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (v. 14). The apostles represent the grace of God; therefore, the grace of God makes up the foundations of the wall of the city.
F. The Materials of the Foundations of the Wall, the Gates, and the Street (Revelation 21:18-21)
"And the building work of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone: the first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eight, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was, respectively, of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass." "And the city was pure gold, like clear glass." The gold here is transparent and is different from ordinary gold. "And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone." The twelve precious stones have twelve colors. Some say that these colors are: (1)green, (2)blue, (3)blue, (4)green, (5)red, (6)red, (7)yellow, (8)sea green, (9)yellow, (10)golden green, (11)purple, and (12) purple. The combination of these twelve colors is very beautiful. The blending of the eight colors from the fifth through the twelfth produces a rainbow appearance. G. Revelation 21:22 "And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." There is no temple in the new city. In the Old Testament times, only the temple was holy; no place outside of it was considered holy. At the time of the Lord Jesus, the temple was still on the earth. During the time of the church, there is a temple in heaven, but none on earth. In the millennium, however, there will be a temple in heaven as well as one on earth. In the new heaven and new earth there will be no temple since there will be no sin and, hence, no need to offer sacrifices. The entire new city is holy. In the ancient times, men fellowshipped with God through the temple. Here all who live in the city can fellowship with God directly, because He and the Lamb have become the center of the new city. H. Revelation 21:23 "And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon that they should shine in it, for the glory of God illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb." It says here that the new city does not need the sun or the moon to shine in it. It does not say, however, that there will be no sun or moon in the new heaven and new earth. The light of the sun and the moon may shine upon the city, but the city itself has no need of this, because the glory of God illumines it and its lamp is the Lamb.
I. Revelation 21:24 "And the nations will walk by its light; and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it." The nations will walk in the light of the city. All those who live in the city have a resurrected body, whereas all those who live on the new earth, that is, the nations, still have a body of flesh and blood. These are the people of the nations. At that time, there will be nations, but no tribes (no distinction of race), no tongues (no distinction of language), and no Jews. The nations are the people who will still be alive after the millennial kingdom but were not deceived by Satan. The saved ones in the city include the believers, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, who are saved by the blood of the Lord (because the gates of the new city have the names of the twelve tribes and the foundations of its wall have the names of the twelve apostles). Those in the city are sons (21:7) and kings (22:5). The ones who live on the new earth are the living people who have passed through the millennial kingdom. They are the peoples on the new earth (21:3). "The kings of the earth" are those who rule the nations in eternity. They are a little greater among those of the nations, yet they are very different from the kings in the city. Our Lord is the King of kings, and we are these kings. "Walk" implies travel. At the time of the millennium, the earthly Jerusalem will be the capital of the whole world. Once every few years, the Gentiles will come to it. In eternity the Gentiles will also travel to the New Jerusalem. Their travel will be guided by the light of the city; thus, they need no other guidance. (The light shall guide them in the same way that the star in Matthew 2:9 guided the magi from the east.) The city will have no need of the light of the earth, but the people on the earth will need the light of the city. According to the Old Testament, the glory here is the best produce of all the earth. If we read Genesis 31:1, we will immediately understand that the glory there refers to riches, or to the best produce of the earth. Here they "bring their glory into it," which means that on the new earth, the kings of the earth will present the good things from their land as offerings to God and to the city (Esth. 1:4).
J. Revelation 21:25 "And its gates shall by no means be shut by day, for there will be no night there."
According to this verse there will still be day and night in the new heaven and new earth (because the opposite of "day" is "night"). The kings of the earth may travel to the new city during the day, but there is no night in the new city. The condition of the inhabitants of the new heaven and new earth will be like that of Adam and Eve, because they will still have bodies of flesh and blood. "Day and night" or "night" is mentioned five times in this book in regard to eternity (7:15; 14:11; 20:10; 21:25; 22:5). Therefore, there must still be day and night in the new heaven and new earth. Nevertheless, there is no night in the city; hence, the people there can serve God day and night. Because those who live in the new city have resurrected bodies, they will never get tired. Therefore, they can serve God day and night. K. Revelation 21:26 "And they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it." "They" refers to the kings in verse 24. The kings of the earth bring their glory into the city. Also, the people of the nations follow them to do the same thing. This is something done absolutely in peace. L. Revelation 21:27 "And anything common and he who makes an abomination and a lie shall by no means enter into it, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life." "Anything common" can also be translated "anything that is cheap." Cheap things are not worth much. "He who makes an abomination" means he who worships idols. "He who makes...a lie" means he who practices sorcery. This does not mean that, at that time, there are still those who practice such abominations and lies. It is only an indication of how clean, solemn, and noble this city is. "Those who are written in the Lamb's book of life." Two kinds of people live in the new heaven and new earth. One kind will be those of us who have been saved by the blood of the Lord and who live in the new city; the other kind will be the living people who have passed through the millennial kingdom and have become the inhabitants of the new earth. Our names are written in the book of life; we may live in the city forever. The inhabitants of the new earth also have their names in the book of life, but they do not live in the city. Instead, they can only go in and out of the new city. In the millennium, only the ones who are invited may take part in the new city, but in eternity this privilege is given to all who have their names written in the book of life.
The eating, drinking, and living of the inhabitants of the new earth will be the same as that of Adam before he sinned (but these will not sin); in eternity they will still have a physical body. There is much evidence in the Bible to support this: (1) The Lord said, "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage" (Matthew 22:30). Only those with resurrected bodies will not be given in marriage. Since the inhabitants of the new earth do not have resurrected bodies, they will still be given in marriage. (2)The new heaven and new earth are the restoration to the situation before Adam committed sin. Therefore, the people will be fruitful and will multiply; they will eat, drink, and live in the same way that Adam did. (3)One of the Ten Commandments says, "And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments" (Exo. 20:6). [Note: "unto thousands" should be translated "unto a thousand generations."] If man could never pass through a thousand generations, why did God ever say such a thing? From Adam to the Lord Jesus, there were only seventy-six generations. (Luke 3:23-38 shows that if we include God as one generation, the total is seventyseven generations.) From Adam to the Lord, there were only four thousand years. Four thousand years was only seventy-six generations. How many generations have there been from the Lord Jesus until now? According to scientific calculations, one generation is, on the average, thirty years. Therefore, two thousand years would only be seventy or eighty generations. In the millennium a man's life span will be greater, so there will be even fewer generations. If we assume that there will be twenty to thirty generations, the total of these three periods will be only two hundred generations. Taking two hundred generations from one thousand, we still have eight hundred. Where are these remaining generations? Therefore, the inhabitants of the new earth must still multiply, except there will be no more death.
VI. THE RIVER OF WATER OF LIFE (REVELATION 22:1-2) A. Revelation 22:1 "And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street." This verse continues to speak about the new city. "Its street" should be a square patch of ground in the center as in 21:21. The former paradise had four rivers
only. However, in the new city there will be a river of water of life, bright as crystal. Therefore, this scene is better than that of the former paradise. "The throne." This book speaks of the throne in the different ages: (1) During the gospel age God sits on the throne, and the Lord sits with God (3:21b). (2) During the millennium God sits on the throne in heaven, while the Lord Jesus also has a throne on earth (3:21a). (3) The time of the great white throne is like the gospel age again; the Son sits on the Father's throne (20:11). (4) In the new city there is only one throne, which is "the throne of God and of the Lamb" (22:1). There is no longer this distinction between the Father and the Son. In eternity the Lord's name will forever be the Lamb. This name will remind men that there was sin in the world but that the Lord came into the world as the redeeming Lamb. It will also remind men that they can now eat the fruit of the tree of life and drink the water of the river of life because the Lord once became a Lamb. B. Revelation 22:2 "And on this side and on that side of the river was the tree of life, producing twelve fruits, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations." The "tree of life" is real. Although in Proverbs 3:18, 11:30, 13:12, and 15:4 the tree of life is a sign, it cannot be interpreted that way here. In 17:15 when "waters" are mentioned, the angel immediately explains what they refer to. Therefore, if the river of water of life and the tree of life in 22:2 are also signs, the angel would have immediately explained them too. But here the angel does not explain; hence, these are not signs. Revelation 2:7 says that the tree of life is in the Paradise of God. Revelation 22:2 says that the river is in the midst of the street of the city. This indicates that the New Jerusalem is the Paradise of God. The garden in Genesis 2:8 is the paradise of man, but this is the Paradise of God. Hence, this shows us that God is bringing man to a better place. "The tree of life" here is singular. How then can one tree grow on both sides of the river? This should not be difficult to understand because even with the banyan tree we find that it can grow several trunks out of one root system and can therefore spread afar. "Yielding its fruit each month" indicates that there still will be months. The days and nights in 21:25 are determined by the sun, and the
months here are determined by the moon. A day is twelve hours, a night is twelve hours, and there are twelve months. The number for eternity is always twelve. "And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations." Revelation 21:4 says that the former things are passed away and that there will be no more pain or death. This also indicates that there will be no more sickness. However, it does not say that there will be no more infirmity. We can see in Matthew 8:17 that sickness and infirmity are different. Where will these infirmities come from? Since the men here have bodies of flesh and blood, they cannot be absolutely exempt from infirmities. Then how can they live forever? It must be that the leaves of the tree of life heal their infirmities continuously, so that they are never tired. Some may ask whether or not the inhabitants of the earth in the new heaven and new earth can gain eternal life as well. This verse does not give a clear word regarding this. (The tree of life is clearly in the paradise of Genesis 2:9. And from this verse we see that the tree of life is also in the new heaven and the new earth. However, we do not know if the people of the nations will eat of it.)
VII. THE SEVEN DIFFERENT BLESSINGS OF THE REDEEMED ONES (REVELATION 22:3-5) A. Revelation 22:3 "And there will no longer be a curse. And the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His slaves will serve Him." "And there will no longer be a curse." This guarantees that there will be no more committing of sins in the new heaven and new earth. The work of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil will be over. Before Adam committed sin in the paradise, his conscience was not functioning, but in the new heaven and new earth, everyone will have a conscience which will be able to distinguish between good and evil. Also the devil shall be no more. Hence, there shall be no more curse because: (1) The curse on the world came from the angels' committing of sins. In eternity, however, the angels will no longer rule; we will be ruling instead. (2) There is no mention of animals being in the new heaven and new earth, because the snake was used by the devil.
(3) Besides the tree of life, there is no mention of any other plant being in the new heaven and new earth. This is because the wine from the vine caused Lot to be drunk, bringing a curse to a certain part of humanity. "And the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it." Seven times in this book the relationship between the Lord Jesus and the new city is mentioned and is based on the name of the Lamb (21:9, 14, 22, 23, 27; 22:1, 3). "His slaves" are the same as those mentioned in 1:1. They include not only us who are saved, but also all the prophets and saints in the Old Testament age. "Will serve Him" here does not mean to serve as laborers, but to serve as priests. Revelation 20:6 says that the overcomers will be priests and kings in the millennium. Since there will be no more sin in eternity, neither will there be priests as there were in the millennium. Therefore, priests are not explicitly mentioned here. Nevertheless, there will still be many ways to serve God. This indicates that we will not be lazy in eternity. In the millennium, only the overcomers can be priests; but in eternity all who are saved will serve God. B. Revelation 22:4 "And they will see His face, and His name will be on their forehead." "And they will see His face." To continually see God is a special privilege. Fallen men are forever kept away from the Lord's face and from the glory of His strength (2 Thes. 1:9). In the Old Testament, Moses was the only one allowed to see even the back of God (Exo. 33:18-23). In the millennium, only the overcomers can see God's face (Heb. 12:14), but in the new city, all those who are saved will see God's face and will draw near to Him. Revelation 22:3 speaks "of God and of the Lamb," but verse 4 says only "His face." This shows that the Lord and the Father are one. The Father and the Son are distinct but not separate. "And His name will be on their forehead." During the millennium the one hundred and forty-four thousand alone have His name on their foreheads (14:1). Now all the saved ones have His name on their foreheads. C. Revelation 22:5 "And night will be no more; and they have no need of the light of a lamp and of the light of the sun, for the Lord God will shine upon them; and they will reign forever and ever." At this time, there will be no need for either the natural light or the man-made light because the Lord God Himself will shine on them. "And they will reign forever and ever." This is the second thing the believers will do in eternity (the
first being to serve God). In the millennium, only the overcomers will be kings and only for a thousand years. Now, however, all who are saved will be kings for eternity. Some famous expositors say that Revelation 21:9—22:5 does not refer to the scene in the new heaven and new earth but, rather, describes the millennium. The reason for their interpretation is that according to 22:2, which says that "the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations," there will still be sickness and, therefore, death on earth. Hence, this would refer to the millennial kingdom. However, they may be proved wrong by the following reasons: (1) According to 21:2 the New Jerusalem comes down only after the former heaven and earth have passed away (v. 1). Before the old earth passes away, the New Jerusalem cannot come down, because the New Jerusalem cannot come down upon the old earth. (2) According to 21:2 and 10, the Jerusalem here is new, and it comes down out of heaven from God. But during the millennium, the old Jerusalem will still be on the earth. Should the New Jerusalem come down at that time, then would there not be two Jerusalems on earth? The New Jerusalem cannot come down before the old Jerusalem passes away. (3) In 21:1 and 2, John first sees the new heaven and new earth, and then he sees the New Jerusalem. How can one say that the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth is in the kingdom? Some would then say that though 21:18 does refer to the new heaven and new earth, Revelation 21:9—22:5 refers back to the scene of the New Jerusalem in the millennial kingdom. But both 21:2 and 10 clearly say that the New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven from God. Therefore, we see that the New Jerusalem in verse 10 is the same city as in verse 2. (4) Since 21:5 says that all things are made new, how can the New Jerusalem be something that was in the millennial kingdom before everything is made new? (5) The people in 21:8 are cast into the lake of fire after the millennial kingdom and after being judged. The new city stands in opposition to the lake of fire. How then can one say that the new city comes first, whereas these people are cast into the lake of fire after the millennium? (6) "And I saw no temple in it" (21:22), but we know there will be a temple during the millennium. Ezekiel 40:48 clearly tells how the temple will look in the millennial kingdom.
(7) "The city has no need of the sun or of the moon that they should shine in it" (21:23), but we know that the Bible states that during the millennium "the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, like the light of seven days" (Isa. 30:26). How can we say that the New Jerusalem descends during the millennium? (8) In 21:24 and 26 there is the word "into." This word proves that men may come into the city. But during the millennium the city is suspended in the air; therefore, men of flesh and blood cannot enter into it. (9) The Lamb's book of life (21:27) appears after the millennium (20:15). How can those whose names are recorded in the Lamb's book of life, which appears only after the millennium, go in and out of the city during the millennium? (10) There will be no more curse in the new heaven and new earth (22:3), but in the millennium such curses as sickness, pain, death, and so forth will still exist. How then can we say that Revelation 21:9—22:5 describes the millennium? (11) Revelation 22:3 speaks of "the throne of God and of the Lamb." During the millennium there is only the throne of the Lord Jesus on earth, not the "throne of God and of the Lamb." Hence, how can one say that Revelation 21:9—22:5 describes the things in the millennium? (12) According to 22:1-3, the throne of God and of the Lamb is in the center of the new city. Nevertheless, Ezekiel says that the glory of God fills the Holy of Holies (43:5; 44:4). If the New Jerusalem does indeed descend during the millennium, will the center of man's worship then be the new city, or will it be the Holy of Holies? Where will God dwell? Our conclusion is that Revelation 6:1—21:8 covers the prophetic part of this book; Revelation 21:9—22:5 speaks about the New Jerusalem; and Revelation 22:6-21 is not the main body of prophecy but, rather, the epilogue of this book.
CHAPTER ELEVEN THE FINAL WARNING (Revelation 22:6-21) I. THE MESSAGE OF THE ANGEL (REVELATION 22:6-11) A. Revelation 22:6 "And he said to me, These words are faithful and true; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show to His slaves the things which must quickly take place."
"These words" refer to the words in the previous verses concerning the New Jerusalem. "These words are faithful and true." Twice in this book the angel declares that these words are faithful and true (21:5; 22:6). "The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets" means that the Lord is the God of the spirits of those who are the prophets. Note that the word "spirits" here is plural. See also 1 Corinthians 14:12, where "spiritual gifts" (KJV) should be translated "spirits." The word "spirits" in its plural form always refers to the spiritual gifts which build up the church. These spirits are also spiritual gifts. See also 1 Corinthians 14:32, where "prophets" and "spirits" are both plural: "The spirits of prophets." Here the spirits of the prophets in both the Old and New Testament times are included. "The Lord, the God" here refers to the Lord Jesus. Compare this with Revelation 1:1: "And He..., sending it by His angel." "He" here refers to the Lord Jesus. In 22:6 the Lord God who sends His angel is likewise the Lord Jesus (see also 22:16). Although beginning from 22:6 we have the epilogue, this verse brings us all the way back to the first chapter of Revelation. "To show to His slaves." This book focuses on our individual responsibility before God as slaves, not as children. "The things which must quickly take place." Some may think that over the past two thousand years God has delayed very long, but what is really long or short is determined by God's "clock," not by our concept of time. B. Revelation 22:7 "And behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this scroll." The angel speaks in verse 6; the Lord Jesus speaks in verse 7. The phrase "I come quickly" is mentioned three times in verses 6 through 21 (vv. 7, 12, 20) for emphasis, so that man would realize that "blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this scroll." This book is given to man for him to keep; it is for him to put into practice. Chapter one says to read, hear, and keep, but here only keep is mentioned because, at this point, everything has already been read and heard. Now what remains to be done is keep. C. Revelation 22:8 "And I John am he who hears and sees these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things." John was moved by the Holy Spirit to see and hear these things. The Lord had instructed him by His angel. Now he has a conclusion. The "angel" here probably is the same angel in 19:9-10 and 21:9. "I fell to worship before the feet of the
angel who showed me these things." This is the second time John failed (19:10 records the first time). John only fell down and was about to worship; he had not yet uttered any praises. The angel stopped him. This shows that Christians should not involve themselves in any prostration which expresses an attitude of worship. D. Revelation 22:9 "And he said to me, Do not do that! I am your fellow slave and a fellow slave of your brothers the prophets and of those who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God." The Lord forbids man to worship anyone other than God. In the Old Testament as well as in this book, the Lord often appeared as an angel. But after the millennium, He will no longer appear as an angel. E. Revelation 22:10 "And he said to me, Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this scroll, for the time is near." This verse clearly indicates that this is a book of prophecy and that it should not be sealed. Daniel 8:26 and 12:9 say that what was written should be sealed because the book of Daniel is a book of signs. It covers a long period of time, and it was to be sealed till the end of the age. The book of Revelation, however, exists at the end of the age. It is here to help man understand and, therefore, should not be sealed. In the parable of the nobleman who went into a far country, the Lord says that when He comes back, He will meet the same servants. This indicates that the Lord will return soon (Luke 19:12-26). What does "seal" mean? From Matthew 13:10-11 and 13-17 we see that to speak in parables is to seal. The phrase "Do not seal" here shows that this is not a parable, an illustration, or a sign. Revelation is not a book of signs or a sealed book, but an open book. (A serious mistake of the historical school of interpretation is to regard the book of Revelation as only a book of signs. Some in the futurist school also consider parts of this book to be signs. Actually, this book has only about twenty-eight signs, fourteen of which are explained, such as the golden lampstands, the seven stars, and so forth. The remaining fourteen are minor points and are easily understood. Besides these, there are no other signs in this book. Of what use would this book be if all the things in it were merely signs?) "For the time is near." Truly, the time is near!
F. Revelation 22:11 "Let him who does unrighteousness do unrighteousness still; and let him who is filthy be filthy still; and let him who is righteous do righteousness still; and let him who is holy be holy still." This sentence is a continuation of the words "the time is near" in the preceding verse. It implies two things: (1)Since the time is near, there will be no opportunity to turn if one does not turn now. (2)Within this short period of time, those who would turn will turn, but those who would not turn will remain the same forever. It is hard to say whether this word is spoken by the Lord Jesus or by the angels. II. THE MESSAGE OF THE LORD (REVELATION 22:12-13) A. Revelation 22:12 "Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me to render to each one as his work is." "Behold, I come quickly." This, along with verse 7, is said to draw our attention. This verse corresponds to verse 11. The reward will be given according to man's deeds. Therefore, let him who does unrighteousness do unrighteousness still, and let him who is filthy be filthy still, for the Lord is coming soon! B. Revelation 22:13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." This expression is mentioned a few times in this book (1:8, 17; 2:8; 21:6; 22:13). The Lord Jesus says this because He wants us to see that Jehovah in the Old Testament is Jesus in the New Testament. Whether it is the age of the patriarchs, the age of the law, or the age of grace, regardless of the method He uses, God Himself remains the same from the beginning to the end. There is only one God. III. TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE (REVELATION 22:14-15) A. Revelation 22:14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter by the gates into the city."
This verse declares today's situation. Those who wash their robes are blessed in two ways: (1) "They may have right to the tree of life" and (2) "may enter by the gates into the city." Entering into the city does not refer to being a visitor to the city. According to verse 19 the holy city is the portion of those who have washed their robes. "Wash their robes" means to let the effectiveness of the blood of the Lord Jesus be applied to them all the time (7:14). B. Revelation 22:15 "Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the fornicators and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and makes a lie." This refers to those who perish. Here we need to consider one thing. Do not the nations live outside the new city? If so, how can we explain this? "Outside" here does not refer to the place where the nations live. If we compare verse 15 with 21:8, we will find that this place "outside" the city is the lake of fire. The new heaven and new earth replace the old heaven and old earth, the New Jerusalem replaces the old Jerusalem, and the lake of fire in the new heaven and new earth replaces today's sea. Hence, the lake of fire outside the new city corresponds to Topheth outside of the old Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:10; Isa. 30:33). A "lake" implies a place of limitation. "The dogs." This is a sign. This sign is not very important, and its meaning is not hard to understand. Matthew 7:6 and Philippians 3:2 explain what "the dogs" signify. "The sorcerers" are those who communicate with demons. Saul died because he communicated with demons (1 Sam. 28:8). God delivered Saul to his enemy to be killed. God hates those who communicate with demons the most; He does not want man to find things out from the dead (Lev. 19:31; Deut. 18:1112). He allows man to understand only the matters that are included within the sphere of this book.
IV. CHRIST'S OWN TESTIMONY (REVELATION 22:16) "I Jesus have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright morning star." This book is written for the church. Fearing that man may not listen, God sends His angel to testify. This verse speaks of God's relationship with man in two aspects. First, it speaks of His relationship to the Jews and to the kingdom. "I am the Root...of David." (According to His divinity, He is the source of David.) This
shows that He is Jehovah in the Old Testament. As David was the first king chosen by God to satisfy His heart's desire, so also the Lord Jesus in the millennium is the chosen King to satisfy God. "And the Offspring of David." (According to His humanity, the Lord Jesus was born of King David.) This speaks of the aspect of His humanity. As Solomon was the son of David and was the king of peace, so the Lord Jesus is the King of peace in the millennium. These two statements answer the question posed in Matthew 22:45, "If then David calls Him Lord, how is He his son?" Second, it speaks of His relationship to the church and to the rapture. "The bright morning star." The "morning star" appears before dawn in the dark hour. The Lord Jesus is the morning star to the watchful believers that they may be raptured. (The dark hour before dawn is the great tribulation, and dawn is the coming of the kingdom.) V. THE RESPONSE OF THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE (REVELATION 22:17) "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! And let him who is thirsty come; let him who wills take the water of life freely." This is the last time that "the Spirit" is mentioned in this book. We do not know why the Spirit is not mentioned in connection with the new heaven and new earth. The "bride" here is not the same as the wife mentioned in 19:7. The bride of prophecy ends at 22:5. The bride here is the bride mentioned in the epistles of Paul. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come!" This is the prayer of the Holy Spirit and the church. Verse 16 is spoken specifically to the church, and verse 17 is the reply. "And let him who hears." This has been mentioned in 1:3, 13:9, and many times in chapters two and three. "Him who hears" always refers to individual persons. "And let him who is thirsty come." This points back to the situation of the church. "Thirsty" means to be thirsty in the soul. "Come" here is the same as "come" in Matthew 11:28. "Let him who wills take the water of life freely." This does not refer to the water of life in 22:1, but speaks of the eternal life which the believers receive, enabling them to be satisfied with Christ and no longer thirst for the world. No one who yearns for the Lord's soon return is indifferent toward the souls of the sinners. On the one hand, they beg the Lord to come soon, and on the other hand, they desire that the sinners would be saved.
VI. THE LAST WARNING (REVELATION 22:18-19) "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this scroll; and if anyone takes away from the words of the scroll of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and out of the holy city, which are written in this scroll." The tree of life and the holy city are the same as those in verse 14. The difference is that verse 14 speaks only of entering into the city, whereas verse 19 speaks of having the holy city as one's portion. This means that one not only enters into the city, but has the city as his portion as well. No one should intentionally add to or take away from the words of this book. Many books which were written two or three hundred years later have also been called books of revelation. These can easily diminish the value of the book of Revelation written by John. That is why the warning here is so serious. VII. THE LAST MESSAGE, PRAYER, AND BLESSING (REVELATION 22:20-21) A. Revelation 22:20 "He who testifies these things says, Yes, I come quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" Here the Lord Jesus Himself testifies. Before, He said, "Behold, I come quickly"; now He says, "Yes, I come quickly." "Come, Lord Jesus!" is John's prayer. We need not ask what people think about the Lord's coming back. Rather, we need only to ask whether or not their hearts want the Lord to come back, whether or not they are like those who wait for the Lord's coming, those who say to Him, "Come, Lord Jesus!" The very last prayer in the Bible is "Come, Lord Jesus!" This prayer will eventually be answered one day. This is a prayer that many faithful believers have uttered countless times for nearly two thousand years. B. Revelation 22:21 "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen." This is John's blessing. Without the grace of the Lord Jesus, sinners cannot be saved, and the saints cannot stand. The grace of our Lord Jesus has the power to prepare us for the rapture and bring us into the kingdom.