Revelation Study Series 28 - God's Mysterious Plan Fulfilled (Chapter 22) Series

We have reached the end of our Revelation Series today. But, you will find that the end is truly only the beginning!

Revelation 22:1-2

1 Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 It flowed 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.

So, in Heaven we have a river of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb of God (Jesus). It flows right down the center of Heaven with the tree of life on both sides of it.

Whether this is one tree, or more than one is debatable. It is all rather fascinating!

The Tree of Life is mentioned several times in scripture. Obviously, Adam and Eve had access to the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. There were two trees mentioned, the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They were not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil…however, they did. They sinned. And, then they were kept/prevented from eating from the Tree of Life.

Genesis 3:24

After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And He placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

The tree of life never died, nor was it destroyed. Mankind in his sin was kept from it! In Heaven, believers will have access again!

Revelation 22:3-7

3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and His servants will worship Him.

4 And they will see His face, and His name will be written on their foreheads.

5 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.

6 Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires His prophets, has sent His angel to tell His servants what will happen soon.”

7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”

God’s Word is trustworthy and true!

All that was revealed to John was trustworthy and true!

God asks for your obedience!

And, by your obedience to His Word you will be blessed!

Revelation 22:10-11

10 Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near.

11 Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”

What does vs. 11 mean?

Matthew 13:24-30

24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;

25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.

27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’

28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’

29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

My wife and I have these tiny evergreen trees we planted in our backyard. They are small. We have dreams of them being huge. We may never live long enough to see that. Maybe, our kids will!

But, they are horrible to mow around. And, worse, the weeds grow up through the branches. The only way to deal with those weeds is to pluck them out by hand individually. You have to be careful that you don’t pull up or damage the tree with the weeds.

Jesus called those that are His, “wheat”.

And, He called those that are not, “tares”/weeds.

You may not like living among weeds! But, God protects you. And, He will one day separate you!