STUDY IN REVELATION 39
The People and The Provisions of The New City
Revelation 21: 24-22:5
21: 24-27 Five things are said about the citizens.
1. They are the saved from every nation on earth. Once again we see that the gospel of Jesus Christ is universal. Anyone who will can be saved, no matter who they are or where they are from.
2.They walk in the light of the city. This means:
a. They will walk in the light of the glory of God.
b. They will walk in the light of the full knowledge of God.
c. They will walk in the light of perfection of purity and righteousness and perfection of wisdom, knowing exactly
what to do and how to do it.
3. They will bring their glory and honor to the city. They will reign as kings. I don’t know exactly what we will be doing BUT Scripture tells us that we will rule and reign with Christ and that we will serve Him in responsible positions.
Mat 19:28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mat 25:23 His lord said to him, ’Well [done], good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
1Cr 6:2-3 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
Rev 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
There is something that we need to understand, before we go any further. The glory and honor that we bring into this new city for one reason; to give it to the Lord Jesus Christ. We are simply returning what He gave us
1Cr 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
Eph 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
to Him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Rom 11:33-36 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable [are] His judgments and His ways past finding out!
"For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?"
"Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?"
For of Him and through Him and to Him [are] all things, to whom [be] glory forever. Amen.
4. They will have constant unbroken access to God. Notice that gates are never closed and there is no night there.
Some say that we will no longer sleep, since we will have perfect bodies and perfect strength.
I believe that our rest will be found in the perfect presence of God.
Isa 26:3 You will keep [him] in perfect peace, [Whose] mind [is] stayed [on You], Because he trusts in You.
5. They are guaranteed a perfect life and service. There will never be anything that can defile mankind or break our relationship with God, allowed to enter this NEW city.
22: 1-5 There are seven provisions listed.
Let’s read the NLT version of these verses.
“And the angel showed me a pure river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb,
coursing down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.
No longer will anything be cursed. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.
And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.
And there will be no night there--no need for lamps or sun--for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.”
1. There is a pure river running through the city. Is it real or just a symbol?
I believe that some of us, too often, try to spiritualize everything; especially when it comes to Heaven.
If we will be living in a real city that is nearly 4 billion cubic miles, why can’t God put a crystal clear river running through that city?
Now for the symbolic side of the river. Where does this river have it’s origin?
New Jerusalem water works The Throne of God
The symbolism here is that God is the source of life and no one will enter in this new city without first drinking from the fountain of life.
Jhn 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ’Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."
Jhn 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."
Jhn 7:37-38 On the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
2. There is a tree of life in the city. Where else have we seen the “tree of life”?
ƒThe middle of the garden of Gethsemane ƒThe garden of Herod‘s palace ƒThe Garden of Eden
When man sinned and was removed from Eden, he no longer had access to the tree of life.
Some say this was a literal tree and it was for life giving nourishment. Others say it was a symbol of the perfect and life giving environment that God had placed Adam in.
Which ever view you hold, the tree is in this new Jerusalem.
Notice two things about this tree.
a. The tree bears 12 crops of fruit, one for each month. The tree will bear fruit year round, which symbolizes a constant source of nourishment. It also symbolizes that the person who eats from this tree will live forever.
b. The leaves of the tree are used for the healing of the nations. The symbol here is of the perfect healing and deliverance from suffering that Jesus Christ gives.
Eze 47:12 Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all [kinds of] trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."
STUDY IN REVELATION 39
The People and The Provisions of The New City
Revelation 21: 24-22:5
21: 24-27 Five things are said about the citizens.
1. They are the from every nation on earth. Once again we see that the gospel of Jesus Christ is universal. Anyone who will can be saved, no matter who they are or where they are from.
2.They walk in the of the city. This means:
a. They will walk in the light of the glory of God.
b. They will walk in the light of the full knowledge of God.
c. They will walk in the light of perfection of purity and righteousness and perfection of wisdom, knowing exactly
what to do and how to do it.
3. They will bring their glory and honor to the city. They will reign as . I don’t know exactly what we will be doing BUT Scripture tells us that we will rule and reign with Christ and that we will serve Him in responsible positions.
Mat 19:28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mat 25:23 His lord said to him, ’Well [done], good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
1Cr 6:2-3 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
Rev 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
There is something that we need to understand, before we go any further. The glory and honor that we bring into this new city for one reason; to give it to the Lord Jesus Christ. We are simply returning what He gave us
1Cr 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
Eph 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
to Him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Rom 11:33-36 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable [are] His judgments and His ways past finding out!
"For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?"
"Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?"
For of Him and through Him and to Him [are] all things, to whom [be] glory forever. Amen.
4. They will have constant unbroken access to God. Notice that gates are never and there is no night there.
Some say that we will no longer sleep, since we will have perfect bodies and perfect strength.
I believe that our rest will be found in the perfect presence of God.
Isa 26:3 You will keep [him] in perfect peace, [Whose] mind [is] stayed [on You], Because he trusts in You.
5. They are guaranteed a life and service. There will never be anything that can defile mankind or break our relationship with God, allowed to enter this NEW city.
22: 1-5 There are seven provisions listed.
NLT version of these verses.
“And the angel showed me a pure river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb,
coursing down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.
No longer will anything be cursed. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.
And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.
And there will be no night there--no need for lamps or sun--for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.”
1. There is a pure running through the city. Is it real or just a symbol?
I believe that some of us, too often, try to spiritualize everything; especially when it comes to Heaven.
If we will be living in a real city that is nearly 4 billion cubic miles, why can’t God put a crystal clear river running through that city?
Now for the symbolic side of the river. Where does this river have it’s origin?
New Jerusalem water works The Throne of God
The symbolism here is that God is the source of life and no one will enter in this new city without first drinking from the fountain of life.
Jhn 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ’Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."
Jhn 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."
Jhn 7:37-38 On the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
2. There is a of life in the city. Where else have we seen the “tree of life”?
ƒThe middle of the garden of Gethsemane ƒThe garden of Herod‘s palace ƒThe Garden of Eden
When man sinned and was removed from Eden, he no longer had access to the tree of life.
Some say this was a literal tree and it was for life giving nourishment. Others say it was a symbol of the perfect and life giving environment that God had placed Adam in.
Which ever view you hold, the tree is in this new Jerusalem.
Notice two things about this tree.
a. The tree bears crops of fruit, one for each month. The tree will bear fruit year round, which symbolizes a constant source of nourishment. It also symbolizes that the person who eats from this tree will live forever.
b. The of the tree are used for the healing of the nations. The symbol here is of the perfect healing and deliverance from suffering that Jesus Christ gives.
Eze 47:12 Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all [kinds of] trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."
