The End Of The End

THE END OF THE END (REVELATION 22)

Here is how scholars and sages see the book of Revelation:

“The book of Revelation is a very dark, mysterious book.”

“The book of Revelation is a very complicated book.”

“Revelation is a breathtaking book.”

“Revelation is a curious one; there is none other like it in the Bible.”

“Revelation is a book of symbols.”

“Revelation is the strangest book in the Bible. It's the most controversial.”

“Revelation is the most misunderstood book in the whole Bible.”

“Revelation is the worst Greek of the New Testament.”

“Revelation is the most remarkable text you will ever read.”

The end of earth life for believers is eternal life. There’s more “life” (vv 1, 2, 14, 17, 19) in last chapter of Revelation than any chapter in the book – from the water of life (vv 1, 17), to the tree of life (vv 2, 14) and the book of life (v 19). Also, there’s no mention of the “dead” and “death” and dying. The purpose (hina) of the chapter is to assure the blessed doers of His commandments that they have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Rev 22:14). We are blessed when we keep the words of the prophecy in the book (v 7) and also when we observe His commandments (v 14).

Welcome to the Caring King

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. 6 The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place." 7 "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."

These last two years have been more than a shock for me as I was surrounded by death and diseases. Last year in October 2022, I flew to Los Angeles for my vacation. As I stayed at my wedding best man’s home, I asked his wife, “How are you doing?” She said calmly, “I have cancer.” I replied, “What stage? She answered, “Fourth stage.” The next few days I was the only one crying while they showed the utmost calm. She passed away the next month.

My immediate family was not spared. Last year my mother had Covid at the end of the year. As a result, she had amnesia and was paralyzed. I asked her, “Who am I?” she replied, “David.” Then in May this year, my sister’s kidneys failed her and now she’s on dialysis three times a week. She asked my brother to donate to her a kidney. Two months ago, another close relative had colon cancer, so I have been flying back and forth to visit them when I can because they’re all over from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to Los Angeles.

More to come. My former coworker returned to Hong Kong because his mother had died. Then my best man himself had skin cancer last month!

Life on earth as we know it is fallible, fragile and fractious.

The biggest feature in the first section is the throne of God (vv 1, 3). The throne of God is not new in the Bible (Matt 23:22, Heb 12:2, Rev 7:15, 14:5), but it is now revealed as “the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

The progression of nature in the first two verses is a beauty. Water of life (v1) produces tree of life (v 2), trees in turn produces fruits (v 2), and fruits produces leaves (v2). There are four objects directly associated with the phrase “of life,” including “the tree of life” (Rev 2:7, 22:2, 14), crown of life (Rev 2:10), the book of life (Rev 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:12, 15, 21:27, 22:19) and the water of life (Rev 21:6, 22:1). Healing is define as “no more curse” (v 4, kata-thema). Closest to the Greek word of “curse” is “against-placed” or “apart-placed.” Cursed by death, disease, depravit and decay.