NOTE: This Bible study on the end times comes from the perspective of a pre-tribulation Rapture.
Tonight, we will be looking at Revelation 21 and 22, and work toward finishing our Revelation and Endtimes Overview study. This evening’s session will present “a glimpse into eternity.” We will be examining some descriptions of the New Jerusalem, including its size, dimensions and inhabitants; and we will be discussing the Tree of Life and the River of Life. We will also view the urgent invitation that is extended for all people to come and join Jesus in the new heaven and new earth for all eternity. Therefore, I want to encourage you to be filling out the provided handout, as we go along, so you can keep track of all this information.
(Refer to Handout: “The Symbolism of Chapters 21 and 22”)
Location of the New Jerusalem
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 21:1-5:
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
• According to verse 1, what happens to heaven and earth?
The first heaven and earth pass away, and God creates a new heaven and earth. The term “heaven” does not refer to the abode of God. Tim LaHaye says the atmospheric heaven is what is being described here. He says, “Whenever we read about heaven in the Bible, we should keep in mind that there are three heavens: 1.) the atmospheric heaven around the earth, 2.) the stellar heaven, and 3.) the third heaven (or the throne of God).” He adds that the text in no way indicates that God will destroy the stellar heaven or the third heaven. I think he is right in saying that the third heaven, or throne of God, will not be destroyed; however, I beg to differ about the stellar heaven, based on some texts that we will see in a moment.
Bruce Metzger says, “Whether John would have us think of the new heaven and new earth as a transformation of the existing order, or whether the present cosmos will come to an end and a new creation will replace it, is not quite clear. In any case, the word ‘new’ used by John does not mean simply another, but a new kind of heaven and earth. The new creation will have some kind of continuity with creation as we know it, yet it will be radically different” (Hindson).
• Do you think there will be a brand-new heaven and earth, after the present heaven and earth is destroyed? Or, do you think that God will renovate and transform this present heaven and earth?
Allow me to share some Scripture that will shed some light on this question. In Matthew 24:35, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” In 2 Peter 3:10-13, we read, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
According to these verses, there will be a complete and total destruction of the present atmospheric heaven and earth; and probably the stellar heaven as well. I believe verse 5 is being literal when God declares, “Behold, I make all things new.”
• According to verses 2 and 3, where will God’s city, the New Jerusalem, be located?
On the new earth; or rather, on earth with men. LaHaye says, “The new earth will be the Christian’s heaven. When Christians talk about going to heaven, they mean in the soul state, provided they die before the Rapture. After the resurrection of the body, believers will come to earth to reign with Christ during the Millennium. After that thousand years, we will live forever on the new earth described in our text.”
On your provided handout, for Location of the New Jerusalem, fill in “On the New Earth.”
• According to verses 3 and 4, how is the new earth different?
God is there (v. 3) first of all; and there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain (v. 4).
LaHaye says that “God’s tabernacle will no longer be in the third heaven, for He will move his headquarters to the new earth and will literally take up His abode in the New Jerusalem. We simply do not have the metal capacity to comprehend the significance of living in an economy where God himself exists.”
The Completion of Redemption
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 21:6-8:
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
• In verse 6, who is speaking?
Jesus is the one speaking. Back in Revelation 1:8, Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”
• Notice how Jesus said, “It is done” (v. 6). Have you ever heard this statement before?
In John 19:30, as Jesus died on the cross, He declared, “It is finished!” I must point out that these two words are not the same in the Greek. The word in Revelation 21:6 for “it is done” is ginomai; whereas, the word in John 19:30 for “it is finished” is tetelestai. Nevertheless, they both communicate completion.
In Matthew 5:18, Jesus said, “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” The expression “all is fulfilled,” which Jesus connected with heaven and earth passing away, is the word ginomai.
When Jesus was hanging on the cross and said tetelestai, He was commenting on “the way to the Lord” being finalized, meaning that the bridge between God and man had been reestablished. Salvation is now possible. Here, in Revelation 21:6, Jesus was referring to “the final consummation.” Everyone who believed in Him was with God forever, and all who rejected Him were in Hell forever. Believers can now partake of the water of life freely, as there is no veil of separation.
On Your provided handout, for It Is Done, fill in “The Completion of Redemption.”
We must not overlook or minimize the fact that, according to verse 8, unbelievers will spend eternity in hell. LaHaye says, “These are individuals who through fear, unbelief, or a lust for sin rejected Jesus Christ.”
He adds, “The location of verse 8 in the eternal plan of God revealed in this book should be carefully examined. It once and for all repudiates the suggestion of many that there is a second chance for sinners after death. This scriptural concept is made to appease the conscience of those libertines who have rejected Jesus Christ and prefer sin. But not one shred of evidence in the Bible substantiates it! And certainly, the location of this verse pronounces and everlasting death sentence on the idea. Here in the eternal order, human beings are pictured already in their eternal state as based on their own personal decision about God; He refers to them one last time, revealing their part in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Inhabitants of the New Jerusalem
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 21:9-11:
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
Here, we’re taken back to viewing the New Jerusalem descending down from heaven. The city is glowing, or radiating beautiful and clear jasper colored light. The city is not self-lit, but as it descends and enters the presence of the Lamb, it reflects His glory (v. 23).
• According to verse 9, who inhabits the New Jerusalem?
The answer is the Bride of Christ, or the Church.
On your provided handout, for The Bride of Christ, fill in “Inhabitants of New Jerusalem.”
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Hebrews 12:22-24:
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
• This passage from Hebrews pictures the New Jerusalem before it descends from heaven, but it still provides us with a picture of who all resides there. From these verses, can you tell me who all inhabits the New Jerusalem?
The answer is: 1.) innumerable angels; 2.) the church, or those made perfect through Christ; 3.) Jesus; and 4.) the living God.
Dimensions of the New Jerusalem
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 21:12-21:
12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. 17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
In verses 12-14, we see 12 gates which had the names of the 12 tribes of Israel; and 12 foundations which had the names of the 12 apostles. Tim LaHaye says, “Twelve seems to be the governmental or administrative number” of heaven (p. 362). Therefore, believers are finally under the Lord’s perfect reign, government and authority forever and all eternity.
In verse 15, John is told to measure the city. This city is in the shape of a square that is 1,500 miles long on each side, and its height is the same. To gain a scope of its size, it would go from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and from the Atlantic Ocean to Colorado. It is actually in the shape of a cube; being around 3 billion, 375 million cubic miles in size.
Just for the sake of speculation; assuming that there are 20 billion believers and seventy-five percent of the city is dedicated to public places, and leaving twenty-five percent for private dwellings, then each believer would have one thirtieth of a cubic mile. Now that’s a big mansion! Now, the walls on the city are 72 yards, or about 216 feet thick.
On your provided handout, for Dimensions of the New Jerusalem, fill in “1500 x 1500 miles.”
No Temple Is Necessary
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 21:22-27:
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
• Verse 22 says there is no temple, for God and the Lamb are its temple. Why is a temple no longer necessary?
The original function of the temple allowed human beings to experience God’s presence without actually beholding His glorious face. Formerly human beings were unrighteous, but because of the blood of Christ, we can now enter boldly into God’s presence (Hebrews 4:16); therefore, no temple is needed. Listen closely as I read Acts 7:47-50 and 17:24-25.
In Acts 7:47-50, the apostle Stephen declared, “Solomon built [God] a house. However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?”
In Acts 17:24-25, the apostle Paul declared, “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.”
• According to Revelation 21:23, how is the New Jerusalem illuminated?
It is illuminated by the glory of God. Verse 23 says, “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it.” This verse further substantiates how the stellar heaven will be destroyed right along with the atmospheric heaven and the first earth. There is no longer any need for the moon and stars, as the glory of God provides the light.
On your provided handout, for Illuminated by the Glory of God, fill in “No Temple Is Necessary.”
• According to verses 24 and 27, who will be allowed to dwell in the holy city?
“The nations of those who are saved” (v. 24); and also, “those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (v. 27). Only believers in Jesus Christ will be there – Christians and Messianic Jews alike – those who have put their faith and trust in the Messiah, the Lamb of God, for their salvation.
The Tree and River of Life
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 22:1-5:
1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
• Where in the Bible have we heard about the “tree of life” before?
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Genesis 2:8-9, and 16-17:
8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil . . . 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Turn over to the very next chapter, and let’s read Genesis 3:1-6:
1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
God set two trees in the Garden of Eden – the “tree of life” and the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” The Lord gave mankind the freedom to eat of any tree of the Garden, except one. We learn how the serpent (or the devil) tempted Eve to partake of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” against the Lord’s command, and then she gave to her husband and he ate also.
What we behold here is the very first sin committed in the history of mankind. Romans 5:12 says, “Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”
• Who can tell me what God did to punish Adam and Eve? The answer is found in Genesis 3:24.
He kicked the man and woman out of the garden, never to return again. This act represented separation from the Lord’s presence. Isaiah 59:2 says, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” When Jesus died on the cross, He sought to bridge the divide between God and mankind, as He paid the once-and-for-all sacrifice for sin with His perfect and sinless blood.
• What do you think the presence of the “tree of life” on the new earth represents?
In Revelation 22:1-2, we see the completion of our victory in Christ. Genesis 3:22 says that the tree of life will allow a person to live forever: “Lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.” The tree of life represents how believers shall forever abide in the presence of God, never to be separated from Him again.
On your provided handout, for The Tree of Life, fill in “Abiding Forever in God’s Presence.”
• We also read here of the “river of life.” What do you think the “river of life” on the new earth represents?
We learn in the gospel of John how the water in this river is equivalent to salvation in Jesus Christ (John 4:5-14, 7:37). Jesus said, “But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). We read in Psalm 1:1-3, how the person who puts His faith in God “shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither” v. 3).
On your provided handout, for The River of Life, fill in “Salvation in Jesus Christ.”
• How can the “tree of life,” which is a single tree, be on either side of the river, as described in verse 2?
It could be the “tree of life” had multiple runners tapped into the river to where it sprang up on either side; or perhaps the sheer abundance of life in heaven resulted in an entire grove of these trees. Commentator John Walvoord says, “The picture presented is that of a river flowing through the broad street which intersects the city, a row of trees being on either side.”
What we can’t miss is the fact that the tree of life absorbed its life from the river of life found in Jesus. The tree’s power, strength, and sustenance came straight from Jesus; and so will ours for all eternity!
• We also read here that the leaves “were for the healing of the nations.” Why should healing be necessary in eternity, when everything has already been made brand new?
Walvoord says, “The word for ‘healing’ is therapeian, from which the English word therapeutic is derived, almost directly transliterated from the Greek. Rather than specifically meaning ‘healing,’ it should be understood as ‘health-giving,’ as the word in its root has the idea of serving or ministering. In other words, the leaves of the tree promote the enjoyment of life in the new Jerusalem, and are not for correcting ills which do not exist” (p. 330).
On your provided handout, for The Leaves of the Tree, fill in “The Enjoyment of Eternal Life.”
• Verse 3 says there shall be no more “curse.” What is the curse?
It is the curse of sin. Sin is the result of disobeying the law. Galatians 3:10 says, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them’.” James said, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). The good news, according to Galatians 3:13, is that, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.”
On your provided handout, for The Curse, fill in “The Curse of Sin.”
Jesus Is Coming Quickly
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 22:6-21:
6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. 7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. 14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.”
16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. 18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
I want to first address verses 18-19. We read, “If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” There are two things I wish to point out:
1.) Many people will use these two verses to say that if someone adds or takes away from any part of the Bible, they will be cursed. I agree that we should not add or take away anything from the Bible, but in context, these verses are only referring to adding or taking away from the book of Revelation.
2.) When someone, such as a teacher or commentary writer, interprets the text, could that be seen as adding to the text; as he or she is adding information? Perhaps, Revelation is a stand-alone book, with no teaching or interpretation necessary. I must admit that, as a Bible teacher, I find these words sobering. But I think what they show us is the great care and seriousness with which we must handle the book of Revelation.
• Look at verses 7, 10, 12, and 20 and tell me what appears to be the main theme that is being emphasized in these verses.
The answer is that Jesus is returning soon.
Revelation 22:7: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:10: “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.”
Revelation 22:12: “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”
Revelation 22:20 - “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
Jesus is returning very soon and so it is extremely important to make sure that our lives are right with the Lord by knowing Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Jesus told us in Matthew 24:42-51,
“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.”
“But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
I said that Jesus is returning very soon; but of course, with the Lord, “soon” could be another thousand years. But this is no excuse to become idle. The apostle Peter told us in 2 Peter 3:8-13:
“Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”
“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
On your provided handout, for The Main Theme, fill in “Jesus is Coming Quickly.”
We need to make sure that we know Jesus Christ. Therefore the invitation is to “come.” In verse 17 we read, “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Jesus offers us the opportunity to drink of the water of eternal life freely, if we will accept Him as our Lord and Savior. We must do this now before it is too late.
On your provided handout, for The Invitation to Come, fill in “Partaking of Eternal Life.”
