Brothers and sisters, I am going to devote one more sermon after this one to the book of Revelation. I have three reasons which I’ll mention in order from most important and serious to least. One, I’m finding the conclusion to the book of Revelation to be very rich. What I thought could be covered in one or two sermons I’ve found to need three. Two, I’ve thought to myself, this may be the only time that I preach through Revelation, and this might be the only time that the saints at Emmaus hear a series on this book. We might as well take our time. And three, if we devote just one more sermon to the book of Revelation then that will make 66 sermons in the series. I thought this would appropriate given the symbolic nature of numbers in the book of Revelation and given that the key to understanding the symbolism of this book is to consider it in light of the rest of the scripture. As you know, there are 66 books in the Bible, and so there being 66 sermons in this series seemed appropriate. Of course, I make this last point with tongue in cheek.

Let us now give ourselves to the reading of God’s holy, inspired, inerrant, clear and authoritative word.

Sermon Text: Revelation 22:8-12

“And he said to me, ‘These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.’ ‘And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.’ I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.’ And he said to me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.’ ‘Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.’ Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. ‘I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 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 desires take the water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:6–21, ESV)

Introduction

As I said last week, the conclusion to book of Revelation consists of a series of five exhortations or encouragements to live holy in response to what we have encountered in this book. The first is found in verses 6-7, the second in verses 8-10, the third in 11-12, the fourth in 13-17, and the fifth in 18-20.

We considered the first exhortation to holy living last week and it can be summed up by the words of Christ in verse 7, “Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7, ESV). The book of Revelation is to be kept. It was written to promote obedience to God and faithfulness in Christ Jesus to the end. Brothers and sisters, are you keeping the prophesies of this book? Are you living according to the truths that  have been revealed to us here? All of this was considered in more detail in the previous sermon.

Worship God Alone

If I were to sum up the second exhortation to holy living found in this conclusion it would be with the words, “worship God alone.” The book of Revelation reveals what it reveals in order to promote the true and right worship of God alone.

Stated negatively we might say that the book of Revelation from beginning to end is concerned to combat idolatry. Idolatry is the worship of created things as opposed to the Creator of all things. And idolatry it is a problem, not only for the unbelieving, but also for those who have faith in Christ. Even true Christians are tempted to commit idolatry. We are prone to bow down to things that are not God. Sometimes we may be tempted to literally bow, but oftentimes we are tempted to bow to idols of the hearts and mind. We are prone to love created things supremely instead of God who is the Creator of all things. We are prone to trust in created things, to hope in created things, to make created things our source of contentment and joy. This, brothers and sisters, is the sin of idolatry, and the scriptures forbid it.

The first of the ten commandments is “You shall have no other gods before me.” This does not mean, you shall have no other god’s above me (but you may have other gods below me that come after me). No, it means that we shall have no other gods at all – no other gods should be set up by us in front of God, or before his face. This is the meaning of the word “before”.  And then the second commandment is, “‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” (Deuteronomy 5:7–8, ESV). This is what men and women are prone to do. We are prone to worship (to attribute ultimate worth) to created things, when in fact only God is worthy to be worshipped.

The trouble with idolatry is twofold.

One, the idols that we erect for ourselves, whether they be physical and visible or invisible and in the heart, cannot deliver. You trust in them, you set your hope upon them, you expect them to bring you lasting joy and contentment, but they cannot deliver. No created thing is worthy of our worship. No created thing – neither angels nor men nor things crafted of wood and stone – is worthy of worship, for they are not God and they are incapable of meeting our deepest needs and expectations. You heap up expectations upon these idols of yours, but they quickly crumble under the pressure. When you bow down before that statue and pray to it you expect it to hear and to answer, but it does not hear you. It cannot see you. And even if it could, it does not have the strength to help you in your time of need. It is a deaf thing. It is a mute thing. It is an impotent thing. It is not the Creator, but is a part of creation. It is not worthy to be worshipped.

I doubt that many of you are struggling with idolatry of this kind – the actual carving of and bowing down before an image. But I know that you are struggling with idolatry of another kind, that is, idolatry of the heart.

How easy it is for us to look to created things and to worship them in the heart and mind. Your natural impulse will be to deny that you do this, but I would urge you to think more deeply. Men and women the world over worship  health, prosperity, and their possessions. They live for these things. They make them their aim and they are undone if they lack them. Men and women worship government – they put their hope in it and despair when it is not as they think it should be. Men and women worship angels and dead relatives when they pray to them and expect them to answer. We are prone to worship friends, and family, our spouses and children, the church, or some religious leader within. We attribute to them undue worth. How easy it is to love these things supremely. How easy it is to begin to hope and to trust in these things ultimately. We pile expectations upon these created things. We expect them to come through for us, but they soon crumble under the pressure, for they are not God. They are not able to deliver. They are not worthy or worship. Only God is to be worshipped.

Idolatry of the heart can be a tricky thing. It is easy to justify it or to explain it away, saying, but aren’t these things important? Aren’t they a blessing from God and to be enjoyed? Shouldn’t I invest in my health and seek to build wealth and to proser? Shouldn’t we be involved in our government given that God has instituted it for the common good? And isn’t it right that we honor the dead? And are not Angels real – ministering spirits created by God? And what should we say of our friends and family, our spouses and our children? Don’t the scriptures command us to love these people fervently and from the heart? And should we not also love the church and honor those who minister within it?

Brothers and sisters, all of this true. And you know very well that this is not idolatry. For it is right that these created things be given their proper place. But you also know how quickly these created things can turn into idols of the heart. They turn to idols when you make them central and supreme. They turn to idols when you set them on the throne of your heart. They turn to idols when they become the things that you trust in, hope in, find ultimate satisfaction in, and therefore serve.

The second problem with idolatry is the obvious one. It keeps us from the worship of the one true God, Creator of Heaven and earth, for which we are made. And unlike the idols that we make for ourselves, he can deliver. He does hear and see and he has power to act. Nothing can thwart his purposes. And he does love you in Christ Jesus. Idolatry is a great folly in that it is a chasing after empty things and a forsaking of the one who is worthy.

I belabor the point because I have grown convinced that idolatry is a problem for the people of God today. It is something that tempts all of us, and if it present within the heart of the Christian it is very destructive. Idolatry will consume the one who professes faith in Christ if it goes unchecked.

One question you should ask is, is this principle of idolatry in the heart biblical? That the scriptures forbid bowing down to physical idols is clear. But some might object saying, it goes to far to say that idolatry is a sin that can be committed in the heart. 

Many scriptures text in the Old Testament and New could be appealed to to prove that there are idols of the heart. Listen, for example, to the way that Paul speaks in Ephesians 5:5. He says, “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Ephesians 5:5, ESV). Paul equates the sin of covetousness with the sin of idolatry. Covetousness is a sin of the heart. It involves looking at what another person has and wanting it for yourself. Covetous can lead to external sins – theft, adultery, lies and murder – but it is a sin of the heart. And Paul calls it idolatry. To covet is to look at a created thing and to say in the heart, I must have it. To covet is to look at a created thing – a person, a possession, or a position – and to say in the heart, if only I had that then I would be satisfied! Paul says, this is a form of idolatry. You cannot see the idolatrous act, but it resides invisible within the heart.  In Colossians 3:5 Paul exhorts Christians, saying, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5, ESV).

This is what I am now urging you to do. To identify the idols of your heart and to put them to death. Dash them to pieces, metaphorically speaking. Throw them to the ground, and worship God alone. May you love him supremely, place all of your hope in him, trust in him, and give him the glory that he alone deserves.

Why do I say that this text is concerned to promote the worship of God and to warn against idolatry? Notice what happens in verses 8 through 10. John the Apostle, who is the “one who heard and saw these things”, when he “heard and saw them fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to [him], but [the angel] said to [him], ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.’ And he said to me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near’” (Revelation 22:8–10, ESV).

This event should sound familiar to you, for it is the second time that it has happened in the book of Revelation. Back in 19:10 we read the words of John, “Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10, ESV).

And so twice John stumbled in regard to the sin of idolatry. He, being overwhelmed with the glory of the angel and splendor of the vision delivered by him, fell down to worship him. And twice John was rebuked with the words, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers…” Never should we bow down to worship angels or men or anything in all creation, but God alone.

Why do you suppose that the book of Revelation concludes, not with one, but two instances of John himself slipping into the sin of idolatry? Is it not to show how easy it is for even the godly to stumble in this regard? We are prone to it, brothers and sisters.

Idolatry was warned against consistently in the letters to the seven churches. That God alone is worthy of worship was shown in the visions of chapters four and following. Also, that the things of this world, though seductive, are not worthy of our worship was also shown in these visions. But here at the conclusion of the book of Revelation we are reminded that the sin of idolatry is always at hand. How easy it is for us to stumble here and to bow, either literally or in the heart, before things that are not God as if they were God. Brothers and sisters, let us worship God alone.

The greatest remedy to idolatry is to remain active in the worship of the one true God. Yes, it good that we examine our hearts and ask, is there an idol there – is my heart covetous, etc. And if the answer be yes then we should throw that idol down. But even more helpful is this: let us remain active in the worship of the one true God.

Brothers and sisters, God has called us to worship him. And he has prescribed how he is to be worshiped. Do not break the Lord’s Day Sabbath, friends. Do not neglect the assembling of yourselves together on the Lord’s Day. Come to worship God. Come to pray to God. Come to hear his word. Come to feast upon Christ in the supper. But be sure to come with your hearts prepared and full of faith. There is no greater protection against the sin of idolatry than this – the active worship of God alone.

Let The Righteous Continue To Be Righteous

The third exhortation to holy living in this conclusion is found in verses 11 through 12 which says, “‘Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.’ ‘Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done’” (Revelation 22:11–12, ESV).

Here in these verses those who have been made righteous are commanded to do right, and those who have been made holy are commanded to be holy. Really, there is nothing difficult to understand about this. The difficult part to understand is found in the commanded (for that is what they are – commands)“let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy.” It sounds strange to hear the Lord command these things.

The key to understanding the meaning of this verse is to recognize that it is connected to the passage in Daniel chapter 12 which, in fact, stands behind much of what is said in this conclusion to the book of Revelation. Daniel 12 contains prophesies concerning the end of time, and it says, among other things, “Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:10, ESV). The last days are described to Daniel as a time where the wicked will act wickedly and not understand whereas others will wash themselves and be refined. The description of the last days that we find in Daniel is turned into a command in Revelation 22 to indicate that the days described in Daniel have come. These are the last days. And by these I mean all of the days between Christ’s first and second comings (this is the way that the scriptures speak). And the book of Revelation is saying, let it be so.

These verses are not anti-evangelistic as if they meant, do not call the unrighteous and wicked to repentance. That cannot be what they mean for that would contradict the rest of scripture, not to mention other portions of the book of Revelation, including statements in the immediate context. Indeed, the church is to evangelize. Indeed, the gospel is to be preached to the unrighteous and they are to be urged to repent. The elect of God will repent in due time as the Spirit of God works. These verses are not anti-evangelistic. Instead, they reinforce what was said in Daniel concerning the last days. In the last days there will be wicked who will not listen to God’s word, and there will be the righteous who do hear who wash themselves in the blood of the Lamb. The presence of the wicked and unrighteous does not mean that God’s purposes are being thwarted.

It is not at all unfrequent for me to have conversations with Christians outside of this church. And it is interesting how often the conversation goes to the current state of the world once they find out that I am a Pastor. I don’t direct the conversation in this way, but others take it there. And it is often that I hear Christians say, “wow, the world is becoming a crazy place, isn’t it?” Or, “can you believe how sinful the world is?” etc. How I respond depends upon the setting and how much I want to invest into the conversation. But I always think the same thing, which is, why do you seem surprised? And, no, the world is not necessarily growing more sinful, but always has been! And, why do I see fear in your eyes as if things were somehow out of control?

Brothers and sisters, this is how things have been since Christ’s first coming, and even before. He himself warned that things would be this way. His Apostles also warned of it. This is why Paul wrote to Pastor Timothy, saying, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people” (2 Timothy 3:1–5, ESV). When Paul told Timothy that this is how things will be “in the last days”, he was not speaking of the future, but rather he was saying, “Timothy, do not be surprised when people are this way now”, for Timothy and Paul were living in the last days, as are we. The last days began with Christ first coming – his death, burial and resurrection – and will conclude when he returns. In theses last days the wicked will be wicked and the the righteous will be righteous. These things are not outside of God’s control, but he is accomplishing his purposes through them.

“‘Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy’”. Brothers and sisters, have you been made righteous through faith in Christ? Then do right! Have you been made holy by the blood of Christ? Then be holy. Do not presume upon the grace of God. Do not abuse it. Do not say to yourself, “my salvation is by the grace of God alone, received by faith alone, and is not dependent upon my works, therefore my sin does not matter.” If this is how you think then it is concerning. It either shows that you are very immature in Christ or that you have not been regenerated by the Spirit. Instead, we should expect the Christian to say, “because I have been declared righteous by the blood of Christ through faith in him, I will now do that which is right, and because I have been made holy, having been washed in the blood of Christ through faith in him, I will pursue holiness with all that is in me by the grace of God.” If this is the attitude of your heart then it is evidence that you are maturing in Christ and that the Spirit of God has indeed regenerated you, having renewed your mind, your will and your heart to make you able and willing to keeps God’s will.

“‘Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.’ ‘Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done’” (Revelation 22:11–12, ESV).

As I said in the previous sermon there is no problem at all with the words of Christ when he says, “Behold, I am coming soon…” Yes, over 1,900 years have passed from the time of the writing of this book to the present day. If taken to mean, “I am coming in a short amount of time”, then I suppose that the text would be problematic. But the thing being communicated here is that the return of Christ is near. It is the next thing that will happen in the history of God redemptive activities. When he comes, he will come suddenly and like a thief in the night. No, there will not be a distinguishable 7 year tribulation or a thousand year millennium that comes prior the return of Christ, the final judgment, and the new heavens and earth. Instead, these things are next. In that sense, they are near. This is to be understood in contrast to the words spoken to Daniel the prophet in Daniel 12 which indicated that, from his perspective the end of time was a long way off. The Christ still had to come, atonement still had to be made, then the last days. But now that the Christ has come and atonement has been made, the only thing left is the second coming and finishing of all things. These things are near to us.

When Christ comes he will, “bringing [his] recompense with [him], to repay each one for what he has done.” No, this is not teaching that Christians will be saved at the end of time by their works. That would contradict what has just been revealed in Revelation, that at the end of time humanity will be divided into two groups – those who’s names were written in the book of life before the creation of the world and those who’s names were not found in that book. Those not found in the book of life will be judged by what they had done, that is, by their deeds. Here we have a reminder of this fact – Christ will judge those not in Christ by what they have done, that is by their works and none will stand. They Christian will not endure this kind of judgement. But instead the one in Christ will be received based upon Christ’s works done on our behalf and received by faith.

Of course this does not take away the obligation for the Christian to live holy. The Christian is to live holy because he has been made holy. The Christian is to live right before God because she has been made right by him through faith in Christ. In the end it is true that “the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10, ESV). If this is you – if you are these things – then you ought not to expect to inherit the kingdom. But that is not to say that you inherit the kingdom by not being these things. No, you inherit the kingdom of God by grace alone through faith alone. And when God saves a sinner by his grace through faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit, he changes them so that they are no longer these things – sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers. The Christian may struggle with these sins, but he or she will not remain in them so as to be identified by them. That is what Paul goes on to say to the Corinthians: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11, ESV).

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, I am glad that we are taking our time in this conclusion to the book of Revelation, for it is important that we hear these exhortations to holiness. It is good that you understand the book of Revelation. It is good that know sound doctrine. But please do not stop there. Worship God alone. Obey him. Pursue righteous and holiness. Remember that you are the bride of Christ. He is sanctifying you now, washing you with the water of the word so that he might present you to himself with spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Indeed, that is the aim of our ministry here, to “proclaim [Christ], warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28, ESV).

Sermon Text: Revelation 22:6-21

“And he said to me, ‘These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.’ ‘And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.’ I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.’ And he said to me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.’ ‘Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.’ Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. ‘I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.’ 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 desires take the water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:6–21, ESV)

Introduction

Brothers and sisters, we have now come to the conclusion of the book of Revelation, but not to the end of this sermon series. We will spend two weeks here.

The conclusion does something very important. It reminds us that this book, above all else, is a letter. Like Paul’s letter to “those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints” (Romans 1:7, ESV), or Peter’s letter, to the “elect exiles of the Dispersion” (1 Peter 1:1, ESV), the book of Revelation was a letter written by John the Apostle, “to the seven churches that are in Asia” (Revelation 1:4, ESV). The conclusion to the book of Revelation reminds us of this fact as it breaks from its cycle of visions to conclude as you would expect a letter to conclude.

If you are ever asked, what is the book of Revelation?, before you say, it is apocalyptic literature, or, it is prophetic literature, be sure to say, it is an epistle! It was a letter written by an Apostle to churches made up of Christ followers for the purpose of edification and exhortation in the Christian life.

And what is the exhortation that is found within?

The book of Revelation from beginning to end was written to encourage Christians to walk faithfully with Christ in this world. The book, from beginning to end, discourages worldliness and idolatry as it promotes holiness and fidelity in the worship of the Triune God. The book reveals what it reveals, not to satisfy our curiosity about the future, but to promote faithfulness and perseverance among those who profess Jesus as Lord.

This purpose was clearly established in the first three chapters of the book of Revelation.

Remember that in 1:3 a blessing was pronounced upon “the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy”, and upon “those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3, ESV). From the outset the reader is told that what he or she will encounter in this book is to be kept, which means to obey.

I will not linger long here, for we do not have the time. But certainly you remember the opening vision of chapter one where Christ was seen walking in the midst of the seven lamp stands, which symbolize the seven churches to whom the book of Revelation was addressed. Christ was seen radiant in glory and in his holiness. He had eyes of fire, remember, and a sharp two-edged sword proceeded from his mouth. One was left with the impression that he was about to inspect his churches with his piercing gaze and and to speak to what he saw with his penetrating words. And that is what he did! He spoke to each of the churches that he was seen walking in the midst of, as symbolized by the seven lamp-stands. Christ’s words to those churches are found in chapters two and three. In each of these letters Christ encourages holy living, purity in doctrine and in life, and perseverance to the end. And so the book begins with this emphasis. It’s purpose is to promote piety amongst the people of God – true doctrine, holy living, right worship, and perseverance in Christ to the end.

It can be easy to loose sight of this purpose as one encounters the string of visions found in Revelation 4:1 through to 22:5.

Those visions are marvelous. You remember them, don’t you? Perhaps you could take some time this evening to thumb through Revelation and be reminded of the marvelous visions that we encountered in this book – visions of heaven, and of God and Christ who are worshipped there. A sealed scroll! A lamb slain, who is also a lion. He is worthy to open the scroll! The seals are broken. Partial judgements are poured out upon the earth. The souls of saints are seen in heaven! “How long, O Lord”, they ask. More judgements are poured out. An interlude. God’s people are preserved in the midst of tribulation, for he knows who are his. Then the full outpouring of the wrath of God. There is recapitulation. The seals give way to trumpets. More partial judgments are poured out. And there is another interlude. God’s people are preserved in the midst of tribulation, for he knows who are his. And then we come to the end again with the full outpouring of the wrath of God. Then a portrayal of the conflict of the ages. A dragon is seen pursuing a woman with child. The child is caught up to heaven. The woman is preserved in the wilderness. The dragon is cast down. He continues his assault on the woman and her offspring, who is the church, through two beasts – one from the sea and one from the land – and also a harlot. These are quickly judged by God and Christ. The dragon also. Those who belong to these enemies of God go to everlasting death. Those who belong to Christ go to everlasting life. They are his bride. They go to the place prepared by him for them – the new Jerusalem – that is, the new heavens and new earth.

How marvelous the visions of the book of Revelation are! So marvelous are they that many get lost in them. But we are helped along in our journey through them if we keep ever in mind that these visions were given to churches under attack to encourage them to persevere in Christ faithful to the end.

The visions accomplish three things:

One, they show how things are and how they will be in heaven and on earth in the time between Christ’s first and second coming. Christians should walk with confidence in light of these things. God is on his throne, sovereign over all.

Two, the visions make clear the true character of things. For example, the sinful pleasures of this world are seductive but, like a harlot, the world’s beauty is only skin deep. Her way leads to death. But the glory of God and Christ is true and everlasting. The beauty of the bride of Christ, (the church) is substantial. Pursue Christ, is the message. Flee worldliness! Once we see the world for what it truly is, and God and Christ for what they truly are, we are able to choose the right path. Revelation reveals this.

Three, the visions of the book of Revelation also reveals where human history is headed. Revelation reveals some general things about the future, not so that we might speculate about the details – when will Christ return, and who exactly will the beasts find their ultimate fulfillment in, etc? – but so that we might pursue Christ today, tomorrow, and until he returns. What we think about the end will have a dramatic impact upon how we live in the here and now, and so Revelation reveals things about the end.

I’ve tried to demonstrate to you over the past number of months how the visions of Revelation 4:1-22:5 are connected to the first three chapters of the book. The visions give the reason for doing that which the first three chapters exhort Christians to do! Persevere in Christ, the first three chapters say. Overcome! Worship God in Christ alone! Live holy lives! Flee idolatry! Oppose that which is false! Then the the visions of 4:1 and following say, and here is why you should!

If the purpose of the book of Revelation is to promote holy, faithful, and persistent living amongst the people of God it should come as no surprise to see the conclusion of the book do that which the beginning and middle have done. The conclusion of Revelation also says, live holy before the Lord faithful to the end!

The conclusion is repetitive. It consists of a series of five exhortations to live holy in response to what we have heard. The first exhortation is found in verses 6-7, the second in verses 8-10, the third in 11-12, the fourth in 13-17, and the fifth in 18-20. We will consider the first exhortation this week, and the rest on the next Lord’s Day, Lord willing.

Blessed Is The One Who Keeps The Words Of The Prophesy Of This Book

The first encouragement to holy living comes in the form of a blessing pronounced by Christ upon the one who “keeps the words of the prophesy of this book.”

Verse 6: “And he said to me, ‘These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.’ [And then we have the words of Christ himself] ’And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book’” (Revelation 22:6–7, ESV).

That the conclusion of the book is linked up with the introduction of the book is made apparent by the repetition of this blessing. We encountered a similar blessing at he opening of the book. In 1:3 we read, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it…” (Revelation 1:3, ESV). Here in 22:7 we read, “Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book’” (Revelation 22:6–7, ESV). The book begins and ends with the same emphasis.

From beginning to end the objective of the book of Revelation is to move people to “keep” the prophesies of this book. To “keep” means to obey, for that is how the word “keep” is used elsewhere in the book of Revelation. For example, in 12:17 we read, “Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 12:17, ESV). To “keep” is to obey God’s word. In 14:12 we read, “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus” (Revelation 14:12, ESV). Again, to “keep” is to obey. Other examples could be given.

If the prophesies of the book of Revelation were given only for the purpose of revealing the future to us then it is hard to understand how we could keep or obey these prophesies. You cannot obey a prophesy that simply says, in the future this thing will happen. But once we settle with the idea that the prophesies of this book were given to promote holy living, then the meaning becomes clear. We are to receive the prophesies contained within this book as true, and then we are to live according to them. The truths revealed in this book concerning God and Christ, heaven and earth, and the end of history demand a response. And we are to respond with faith and obedience to what God has revealed. This is what it means to “keep” the prophesies of this book. We are to read the book. We are to receive it as true. And then we are to order our lives according to the truth delivered.

Brothers and sisters, are you “[keeping] the words of the prophecy of this book”? Are you living in a way that agrees with the truths reveled here? Are you obeying God and Christ in this world? Are you resisting the world, the flesh, and the devil? Are you storing up treasures in the world to come? Are you living for the glory of God? Are you trusting in God as the Sovereign King of the universe that he is? Are you “[keeping] the words of the prophecy of this book”? Thoughtfulness is required here. Prayerfulness is required. “Lord, does my way of life sync up with what your word reveals concerning this world, the world to come, and your interaction with both?” This is the question that we should be prayerfully asking ourselves.

And do you see that blessings are pronounced upon those who do? “Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book’”. To be blessed is to have God’s favor set upon you. To be blessed by God is to have that which produces true happiness. To be blessed in the book of Revelation is to be blessed with eternal life.

The world can provide us with a kind of happiness. The worldly person is happy when all is going well – when the sun is shining, and the flowers are blooming. But when storm clouds come, the rains fall, and the flowers are washed away, the worldly person is given to despair. Why? Because the world and the things of this world are their treasure.

But the one who is blessed in God is blessed even in the midst of great trials and tribulations, for the world and things of the world are not the source of their blessedness. God who is eternal and unchanging is the source of it. God is to be the Christian’s treasure, and our God does not change.

This is why the book of Revelation is able to pronounce seven blessings upon those who walk faithfully with Christ in this world, while at the same time portraying the Christian life as one of tribulation and struggle. The book of Revelation has not been shy about the fact of Christian suffering. The Christian life is like a war. The Christian has real enemies. Christians are not immune from trial and tribulation. They should expect to suffer. Some will even die a martyr’s death. But the book say that the Christ follow is blessed. They have God favor set upon them. Listen to the seven blessings of the book of Revelation:

1:3: “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3, ESV)

14:13: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!’” (Revelation 14:13, ESV)

16:15: “Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” (Revelation 16:15, ESV)

19:9: “And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.’” (Revelation 19:9, ESV)

20:6: “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6, ESV)

22:7, which is our text today: “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:7, ESV)

22:14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.” (Revelation 22:14, ESV)

This is not to say that Christians will not at times struggle with melancholy. Christians do get depressed. Christians do, from time to time, walk with a dark cloud hanging over them. And the reasons for this are complex.

Our Confession in chapter 18 paragraph 4 does beautifully acknowledge the fact of spiritual depression, and it lists possible reasons for it, some sinful, and some not.

Perhaps the Lord would allow you to walk in darkness for a time in order to refine you and to purify your love for him. Perhaps the evil one would tempt you intensely for a time, and the Lord permit it, again, for the purpose of refinement. But sometimes our melancholy does come as a result of sin.

Perhaps you have sinned in word or deed and the Spirit of God has been grieved within you. Or perhaps you are sinning in thought, failing to believe what God has said in his word. Or perhaps you are sinning in the heart, loving the things of this world more than God.

You are like the man in The Pilgrim’s Progress whom Christiana, Mercy, and the boys saw in the Interpreters House – the one with the muck-rake in his hand. This man, “could look no way but downwards, with a Muck-rake in his hand. There stood also one over him with a Celestial Crown in his Hand, and [offered] him that Crown, for his Muck-rake; but the man did neither look up nor regard; but raked to himself the Straws, the small sticks, and Dust of the Floor.” Christiana’s interpretation of this man was good. She perceived that this was “a Figure of a Man of this World.” The Interpreter confirmed her interpretation saying, “Thou hast said the right… and his Muck-rake doth show his Carnal mind. And whereas thou seest him rather give heed to rake up Straws and Sticks, and the dust of the Floor, than to do what he says that calls to to him from above with the Celestial Crown in his Hand; it is to show, That Heaven is but a Fable to some, and that the things here are counted the only things substantial. Now, whereas it was also showed thee that the man could look no way but downwards: It is to let thee know that earthly things when they are with Power upon Men’s minds, quite carry their hearts away from God.” Christiana’s prayer should be ours. “O! deliver me from the this Muck-rake”, she exclaimed.

Brothers and Sisters, the reasons for our spiritual melancholy can be complex, but often it can be traced back to sin in thought, word or deed. And often I find that Christians struggle with depression when they fail to see this world as God has revealed it in his word, nor have they fixed their eyes upon the true blessings that we have in Christ Jesus. The book of Revelation should help us in this. It shows how the world really is. It shows us the heavenly realm. It shows us who God is. And it shows us where all things are headed. Friends, let us keep the words of the prophesy of this book. “Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7, ESV).

Why should we keep the words of the prophesy of this book? Because “these words are trustworthy and true” (vs. 6).

And why are these words trustworthy and true? Because they are the very words of God: “The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place” (Revelation 22:6, ESV). God, from the beginning of time has graciously revealed himself and his will to man. This he has done, at times, through the prophets. This book is the product of divine inspiration. God sent his angel to show John, who is here numbered amongst the prophets, what must soon take place. This book is to be read, believed, and obeyed because it is the word of God. It is, therefore, trustworthy and true.

The things revealed in this book “must soon [or quickly] take place”, we are told. And remember, “soon” is to be understood, not from our perspective, but from the perspective of the original audience who lived over 1,900 years ago.

How can it be true that the prophesies of the book of Revelation would “soon [or quickly] take place” when taken from the perspective of the first century audience?

Three things should be noted:

One, remember that much of what was revealed in this book finds its fulfillment, not in a single event at the end of time, but in the time between Christ’s first and second coming as history repeats. There will be many manifestations of the two beasts and the harlot, for example. Put differently, it is not that a beast will rise from the sea once at the end of time, but that the sea beast was present and active in the first century A.D.. The beast symbolized Rome, and the many Rome-like empires that have arisen up to this present day and to the end of time. The first century audience did indeed see the fulfillment of these things, as do we.

Two, remember that even the prophesies that will find their ultimate fulfillment at the end of time are partially fulfilled in the time between Christ’s first and second coming. Christ will come to judge fully and finally at the end of time, but he does come with partial judgements even now. Most of the judgements portrayed in the seal cycle and the trumpet cycle were not final and full, but partial and perpetual. Christ will come at the end of time to judge fully and finally, and yet he has come in judgement already many times throughout human history. In other words, things that will be consummated at the end of time have been inaugurated at Christ’s first coming.

Three, remember that the prophesies in the book of Revelation that will find their fulfillment only at the end of time – prophesies pertaining to the return of Christ, the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, the final judgement, and the establishment of the new heavens and earth, are the next events on the time table of human history. In this sense, they are eminent.

Notice the repeated reference to the eminence or nearness of the fulfillment of the prophesies of this book. Verse 6: God sent “his angel to show his servants what must soon take place” (Revelation 22:6, ESV). In verse 7 Christ himself says, “And behold, I am coming soon (Revelation 22:7, ESV). In verse 10 John is told, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near” (Revelation 22:10, ESV). In verse 12 Christ is again heard saying, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done” (Revelation 22:12, ESV). And the in verse 20 Christ says, “Surely I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20, ESV).

Compare the end of the book of Revelation to the end of Daniel, the Old Testament prophetic book which revealed things concerning the time of the end. In Daniel 12:4 we read, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end (Daniel 12:4, ESV). And in verse 9 of Daniel 12 the angels says, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days” (Daniel 12:9–13, ESV).

At the conclusion of the prophesies of Daniel delay is communicated. The time of the end was a long way off from Daniel’s perspective. The end of time was not imminent for him, for the Christ had yet to come to accomplish redemption. Daniel was not living in the last epoch of the history of redemption. But for John, his readers and for us, everything communicated in Daniel and Revelation is eminent, for we are living in the last epoch of redemptive history. The kingdom has been inaugurated. The only thing left is the consummation. Nothing is left to be accomplished except the return of Christ, the bodily resurrection, the final judgement and the new heavens and new earth.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, my prayer for us is that we would understand the book of Revelation and apply it.

It is common, I think, for Christians to be interested in eschatology. Many love to study the book of Revelation and to discuss the various views concerning the time of the end. And this we must do! It is important that we rightly interpret this book which, like the rest of the holy scripture, was given by the inspiration of God. But we must not forget to apply it. This book is to be “kept.”

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” (Psalm 1:1–3, ESV).

Pre-Introduction

The sermon text for today is Revelation 22:1-5. The Old Testament reading is Ezekiel 47:1-12. You’ll notice that we have read often from Ezekiel chapters 40-48 over the past couple of weeks, for that section of scripture clearly stands behind the visions shown to John and recorded for us in Revelation 21 and 22. Long before the first coming of Christ Ezekiel the prophet was shown something of what would happen at the end of time. He was shown a vision of a temple and a city. The book of Revelation makes clear that the visions shown to Ezekiel will be fulfilled, not in some millennium, but in the new heavens and new earth when Christ returns. Let us now turn our attention to the reading of God’s inspired, inerrant, clear and authoritative word.

Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 47:1–12

Ezekiel writes, “Then he [that is, the angel] brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side. Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, ‘Son of man, have you seen this?’ Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, ‘This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.’” (Ezekiel 47:1–12, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Revelation 22:1–5

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1–5, ESV)

Introduction

These first five versus of Revelation 22 serve as a conclusion to the section that began at Revelation 21:1. In this section, which runs from 21:1 through 22:5, we are shown something about the new heavens and the new earth that will be established after Christ returns.

When Christ returns many things will happen. In brief, those not in Christ will be judged and confined to the lake of fire, whereas those who have faith in Christ, who’s names are written in the lamb’s book of life, will take possession of their eternal reward. And what is that eternal reward? It is the new heavens and the new earth.

In this place “death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4, ESV). This place will be perfectly pure. “Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27, ESV). And this place will be perfectly secure. In the vision shown to John the new heavens and earth are symbolized by a city with walls exceedingly high and thick. In reality, I do not expect to see walls surrounding the new heavens and new earth. But in the vision shown to John the symbolism of high and thick walls is unmistakably clear. The walls signify security. This place will be perfectly secure for all eternity. This fully established kingdom of Christ will be everlasting. His “dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14, ESV).

But what characteristic will make the new heavens and earth truly heavenly? More than the abolition of sickness, suffering and death – more than the perfect purity and eternal security of the place – it will be “God with us” that will make the new heavens and earth truly heavenly. Indeed, his glory will fill all. He will be our God and we his people. He will dwell in the midst of us for all eternity in most immediate way.

Just as the honeymoon is not ultimately about the destination but the person you are with, so too the new heavens and earth are less about the place, but the fact that we will be with God and he with us. The place is not unimportant. But the emphasis here is that the place will have been prepared for us so that we might enjoy the presence of God in it. Christ himself said “I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:2–4, ESV).

To put it differently, in the new heavens and earth, heaven and earth will become one.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, ESV). What does that mean except that in the beginning God created two realms: the heavenly realm, and the earthly realm.

The heavenly realm is that place where the angels reside. It is the place where God does, even now, manifest his glory in a most pronounced way. It is the place that the prophets of old were, from time to time, given a glimpse of. Listen to Isaiah 6:

“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:1–3, ESV)

Isaiah was shown a vision of the heavenly realm where God is enthroned, where his glory is manifest and angels do worship him day and night.

John the Apostle also saw visions of this heavenly place. Remember Revelation 4:1:

“After this [John says] I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald”, etc. (Revelation 4:1–3, ESV)

These are two instances of visions of the heavenly realm where God’s glory is manifest and angels do worship him continually. We could pile up examples from the Holy Scriptures where men on earth are provided a glimpse of this heavenly and spiritual realm which is typically invisible to us. It is the place created by God in the beginning where he his glory is concentrated and manifest.

It is not that God is confined to that place, that is, to the heavenly realm which he has created. Indeed, he is omnipresent, which means that he is all places at all times.  And indeed, he has also manifested his glory on earth from time to time in human history. But it is in this heavenly realm where his glory is manifest in a most pronounced and concentrated way.

The matter is put beautifully in Isaiah 66:1 where we read,“Thus says the Lord: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool…” (Isaiah 66:1, ESV). Indeed, God is present both in heaven and on earth, but the heavenly realm is rightly called the throne room of God. It is there in the heavenly realm that God’s glory is manifest, where angels worship him continually, along with those in Christ who have passed from this world, who’s souls are now present with the Lord. They are in heaven – a spiritual realm invisible to us now.

But when Christ returns, that heaven – that is, the third heaven, as Paul calls it in 2 Corinthians 12:2 –  and this earth – I need not describe earth to you, for it is the physical universe that God created in six days, which we are well acquainted with – these two, heaven and earth, will become one.

Let me prove the point.

First of all, notice how the same glory of God that John saw in earlier visions emanating from the throne of God in heaven is, in chapters 21 and 22, described as filing the whole of the creation. Compare Revelation 4:1-6, which is John’s description of a vision of the heavenly throne room of God filled with the glory of God, with Revelation 21:9-27, which is a description of the new heavens and new earth, and it is hard to miss the point. The glory of God that fills the heavenly realm now will, at the consummation, fill all of the new creation. Heaven and earth will become one.

Secondly, notice how the throne of God itself, which up to this point has been seen only in heaven, is in this passage said to be situated in the midst of the new heavens and new earth. The word throne appears 47 times in the book of Revelation. In most instances it is referring to God’s throne in heaven. But here in 22:1 and 3 the throne of God is on now seen on earth. It is situated in the midst of the city which, in the vision, symbolizes the new heavens and new earth. God throne has shifted, therefore, from being centered in heaven, to being at the center of the new heavens and earth.

In Revelation 22:1 we read, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1, ESV). Where is this river? It is flowing through the streets of the city, which is symbolic of the new heavens and new earth. In verses 3 we read,  “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him” (Revelation 22:3, ESV). What will “the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in”? The throne will be situated in “it”, which refers to the city, which symbolizes the new heavens and earth.

In other words, what is true of the heavenly realm now, will, at the consummation, be true of the whole of the new creation. There is nothing impure in heaven now where God is seated in glory. There is no sickness nor death in that place. All who are there, of angels and men, do worship God continually. His glory fills all. This is the heavenly reality even now, though it be invisible to us. But when Christ returns this will become the reality of the new creation. Heaven and earth will become one. God will dwell in the midst of his people, not in some soul-is spiritual realm, but in the new heavens and earth. His glory will fill all. He will be worshipped and served by angels and men. That place will kept pure. Nothing unclean will enter into it. What is true now of the heavenly realm will be true of the new heavens and earth when Christ returns.

Put differently, the current order of things is that “Heaven is [God’s] throne, and the earth is [his] footstool…” (Isaiah 66:1, ESV). But in the new heavens and earth, his throne will be on earth and in the midst of us.

Do you remember how a few years ago I tried to drive into your minds the idea that the whole of human history can be divided up into the five successive stages organized around the principle of the kingdom of God?

The kingdom of God – that is, God’s rule and reign in the midst of his people – is indeed an central and organizing principle found throughout the pages of Holy Scripture. When we talk about a kingdom we should think of three things: a king, his subjects or the citizens of that kingdom, and a realm or territory. When you have those three things you have a kingdom. The whole of human history can be described as the establishment of God’s kingdom where he (the King), dwells in the midst (the place) of his people (his subjects).

And what are the five successive stages that lead to the establishment of this kingdom of God?

First, the kingdom was offered to Adam and Eve. I say that it was offered to them, and not experience by them, because Eden was a place of testing. Everything in that narrative points to the conclusion that what Adam and Eve experienced in that garden was not the end goal. It was not the final and establishment of the kingdom offered to them. It was a place of testing. There were  two trees in that place – the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam was given a task. He was to fill the earth and he was to keep the garden. He was to, like his Maker, finish his work and enter into Sabbath rest. To succeed meant life and rest, to fail mean to death and toil. Adam failed. The kingdom of God was offered to him, but never did he attain it. Adam rebelled against God as King. He obeyed another master, who then began to rule in this world.

Secondly, the kingdom of God was then promised to Adam and Eve. This, of course, was an act of sheer grace. God was not obligate to give the gift of his kingdom to man. But he promised to do it. He would establish his kingdom, not through Adam, but through another representative, namely, the Christ. In due time, the Christ would come. He would be born of the woman. He would succeed where Adam failed. He would obey God perfectly and he would stomp the head of the serpent who did at first tempt Eve and then Adam. This kingdom he would establish in the fullness of time, but the promise of it was made even in the hearing of Adam and Eve. The first promise concerning the establishment of this kingdom is found, not in the New Testament, but in Genesis 3:15 when God pronounced the curse upon the serpent: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15, ESV). This promised was like a seed that would sprout and grow throughout the Old Testament period until, “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4–5, ESV). The kingdom of God was promised shortly after it was offered and refused.

Thirdly, the kingdom of God was prefigured. The promise of the kingdom was preserved by Adam and Eve and the righteous line that proceeded from them. Seth, Enoch, Lamech, and Noah preserved the promise. So too did Shem, Terah and Abram. And this promise concerning the coming of the Christ would also be preserved by Moses and David and the prophets after them. But something unique was done when God called Abram out from the nations and promised to make a nation out of him. His offspring would go to Egypt and would be enslaved there. Then God would rise up a man named Moses who would speak God’s word to Pharaoh saying, “let my people go!” And Pharaoh would, in due time, being coerced by the mighty hand and outstretched arm of God, let Israel go. They went into the wilderness. There they wandered for 40 years. After that they would take the land of promise. A nation was born. And this nation was utterly unique. These were God’s chosen people. Everything about them – their laws and their worship – was to prefigure the kingdom of God that was offered and then promised long ago.

The glory of God dwelt in the midst of them. He was their King, they were his people. And they were given a land. And in that land one city became most significant, the city of Jerusalem. And in that city a temple would be build to “house God”. The scriptures are abundantly clear, though, that the land of Israel, the city of Jerusalm, and the temple of stone, were not the end goal of God’s plan of redemption. Far from it! Those early things were but a shadow of heavenly realities and pointed forward to greater things yet to come. The promise concerning Christ and his kingdom and was preserved and also prefigured in the nation of Israel. Everything about Israel – the laws, the land, the city, the temple and the worship that was conducted there before the glory of God functioned typologically. It was real! But it also pointed forward to greater realities yet to come – things more substantial. The kingdom of God was prefigured in Israel. The glory Spirit of God was present in their midst and working, but a greater outpouring of the Spirit was yet to come.

It wasn’t until the Christ came that it could be said, “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This was John the Baptist’s message. This was the message of Jesus. It was at Christ’s first coming that the kingdom of God was inaugurated. This is the fourth of the five successive stages that will lead to the establishment of the kingdom of God. Kingdom inaugurated.

What can we say about this period? For starters, the Spirit of God was poured out like never before. The Spirit defended upon the Christ and anointed him beyond measure. The Christ was present in the world and he demonstrated his power over the enemies of God. He pronounced the forgiveness of sins. He healed the sick, made the lame to walk and the blind to see. He raised the dead. The glory of God – like the glory that was present at creation, with Israel in the wilderness, and on Sinai when Moses when up to meet with God – the same glory that filled the most holy place of the tavernacle and later the temple – fell on Jesus the Christ on the mount of transfiguration. Jesus was and is the King of kings and Lord of lord’s. He is the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. He was the one to establish God’s Kingdom, functioning as the great Prophet, Priest and King. It was the job that Adam was to do! Jesus the Christ did it! And after keeping God’s law perfectly – after he did suffer and die for his people, paying the price of their redemption to set them free – he did raise from the dead, breaking the power of death itself, and he ascended to the Fathers right hand where he is seated now, having “all authority in heaven and on earth… been given to [him]” (Matthew 28:18, ESV), by virtue of his obedient life, vicarious death, and victorious resurrection. He is the King! And his kingdom is here now. It has been inaugurated.

But you and I know, brothers and sisters, that the kingdom has not been consummated, for when we look about us it is pain that not all is in subjection to Christ. Only some have come to say, “Jesus is Lord”. Only some have been called out of the kingdom of darkness to walk in the kingdom of light. Indeed, the “the prince of the power of the air” is still “at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2, ESV).  The kingdom of God is here, but not in fulness. It is advancing. This is why we pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9–10, ESV). The kingdom of God was inaugurated at Christ’s first coming, but it is moving on towards the consummation. Now is being accomplished what was revealed long ago through the Psalmist, when he wrote, “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool’” (Psalm 110:1, ESV). That is what is being accomplished now. The Lord Jesus the Christ has sat down at the Lord God’s right hand, and now his enemies are being defeated and brought under his feet.

Revelation 22:1-5 describes the new heavens and new earth to us but in such a way so as to make it plain that it will be the consummation of the kingdom of God. It is the fifth and final stage in the establishment of this kingdom.

Who is the king of this kingdom? God and his Christ are King. They are seen enthroned!

Are there any rivals? No, all of their enemies have been confined to the lake of fire.

Who are the citizens of this kingdom? They are those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. They are faithful servants of the King. They “see his face, and his name [is] on their foreheads” (Revelation 22:4, ESV). These “will reign [with him] forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5, ESV).

And what are the boarders of this kingdom? This kingdom fills all of the new heavens and the new earth. Adam was to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28, ESV). This he failed to do. But Christ, the second Adam, will accomplished it when the whole world is filled with the glory of God and all is kingdom.

Here we have a vision of the kingdom consummated at Christ’s return.

I can’t think of a passage of scripture that more clearly demonstrates that the whole of scripture, despite the great diversity we find in it, tells one grand story. It is the story creation, fall and redemption. It is the story of the kingdom go God offered, promised, prefigured, inaugurated, consummated.

Notice that the language of Eden is all over this passage.

The mention the river running through the city in should remind us of the garden of the garden of Eden. In Genesis 2:10 we read that “A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers” (Genesis 2:10, ESV). In Revelation 22:1 we read, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city… (Revelation 22:1–2, ESV).

Even more obvious is the mention of the tree of life. Remember that in the middle of the garden of Eden there was a “tree of life” (Genesis 2:9). And in Revelation 22:2 John describes, “on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2, ESV).

Obviously our minds are to go back to Eden when we read this text in Revelation. Indeed, what Christ accomplished as the second Adam through his obedient life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection has reversed the effects that the fall of the first Adam had upon this world. But thanks be to God, the new heavens and earth will not be a return to the Garden of Eden.

The new heavens and the new earth are not Eden.

The river is called the river of life.

The river flows directly from the throne of God, which is situated in the midst of this place. 

And there is no mention at all of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In Eden there were two trees: “The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9, ESV). Eden was a place of testing. The new heavens and earth is a place of consummate rest. Why? Because Christ past the test!

Notice that tree of life produces 12 kinds of fruit. Here were are to think of the Ezekiel 47 passage that was read earlier where in verse 12 we read, “And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing” (Ezekiel 47:12, ESV). Where as Ezekiel saw many kinds of trees, John saw one kind of tree, the tree of life, lining the river and producing 12 kinds of fruit, one per month.

The idea is that God will supply an abundance of life for his people forever and ever. He will give them water to drink, and he will give them food to eat to sustain them, spiritually speaking, for all eternity.

Notice that leaves of these tree(s) will be for the “the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:2, ESV)

What is described here is like nothing the world has ever known before. Adam and Eve did not even experience what is described here in the garden prior to the fall. It will be as new for Adam and Eve as it will be for us. This was offered to them, but failed to attain. Never did they lay ahold of this consummate, secure and eternal rest. Jesus the Christ earned it. He earned it for himself and for all who believe upon his name.