Please forgive this rough draft format, as these are my raw study notes. I felt a great sense of urgency to publish them rather than waiting until I had the time to pretty them up. Thank you and I pray that God blesses you through this material.
Stacey
Take a few minutes to savor Revelation Chapter 22. Then return here and ponder the thoughts, answer the questions, and be sure to leave comments about your own revelations.
22:1 — there is a river that runs down the center of the city from God's throne. 22:2 — see Psalm 1:1-3; Ezekiel 47:1-12.
There is a tree of life on each side of the river. It bears 12 crops of fruit, one per month, implying that the calendar (which is really no longer needed because this is eternity) has 12 months. Will there be seasons? Is that why months are mentioned?
I wonder what kind of fruit it will be. Apples? A different fruit each month? Something we’ve never seen or tasted before?
See Genesis 2:9 (AMP)
22:2 – see Psalm 1:1-3; Ezekiel 47:1-12.
22:3 — there will be no more curse - compare with Genesis 3:14-17. This fulfills Zechariah's prophecy (see Zechariah 14:11).
See Zechariah 14:21 (AMP)
22:4 — we will see His face. His name will be on our foreheads — we belong to Him. He lovingly marks us as His property just like we mark our possessions. Like Andy wrote his name on Woody's foot in the movie “Toy Story”. We may hide our marks, but God puts His where all can see it— on our foreheads because His mark makes us more lovely!!!
See Psalms17:15 (AMP)
22:5 — no night, so there is no need for lamps or sun. God provides the light. Compare with Genesis 1:5.
22:6 — soon — tachos — quickness, speed.
22:8 —this is the second time John attempted to worship an angel (see 19:10). He certainly knew better than to do so. This angel must have been awesome!!! This angel says the same thing as in 19:10. Is it the same angel? Probably.
22:11 — See Daniel 12:10 (AMP)
22:12 — See Isaiah 40:10; Jeremiah 17:10 (AMP) 22:13 — See Isaiah 44:6; 48:12 (AMP)
22:14 — the tree of life — compare with Genesis 3:24. There's no longer a flaming sword guarding the tree.
See Genesis 2:9; 3:22-24 (AMP)
22:14-15 — "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices
falsehood." - implies that the righteous remain inside the city and those outside the city are those being punished eternally in the lake of burning sulfur. So why are the gates never shut as recorded in 21:25? Is the city surrounded by the lake of burning sulfur? Is part of the eternal torment the ability to see what they are missing inside the city? See Isaiah 65:22-24.
22:16-See Isaiah 11:1 (AMP)
22:17 - See Isaiah 55:1 (AMP)
22:18-19 - take care when speaking of the prophecies in this book. To do so inaccurately will bring great consequences.
- Remember that the main message of the book of Revelation is the infinite love, power and justice of the Lord Jesus Christ. How is this evident in today’s text?
- What attributes of God do you see in this chapter?
- What scripture seemed to be God speaking directly to you? What is He teaching you in these verses? How does He want you to respond?
Here are some suggestions for further study of Revelation: - Read in other versions.
- Choose passages or topics for word studies. Study earthquakes and trumpets.
- Study the hymns of Revelation - 4:11, 5:9, 7:15-17, 11:17, 15:13, 19:16. "The context in which they appear implies that the praise of the church on earth is an echo of the liturgy of heaven." (Int'l Bible Commentary)
- Study chapter 13 in light of Satan's mockery of God.
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