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The Temple 21v22-27
The River of Life 22v1-5
Introduction
We come now to the final part of our studies in the Last Things.
We have already seen something of the outstanding glory of the New Jerusalem but there is more.
The Temple and the River of Life.
Slide
1.
The Temple 21v22-27
Slide
a. God Is the Temple v22
Slide
Throughout the Apocalypse [Revelation], John has mentioned the presence of a heavenly temple [12 times].
He repeatedly depicted the temple as the very place where God dwells, but now when God takes up residence in the new Jerusalem, John writes that the holy city itself has become the temple.
Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001).
Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol.
20, p. 572).
Baker Book House.
Letter to Philadelphia
Revelation 3:12 (ESV)
12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.
Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
The saints in this city are never outside his presence, for God never departs from his people.
They have immediate and direct access to him and no longer need Christ as the intermediary (Heb.
9:24).
Christ’s mediatorial role as the Lamb has come to an end, for now he functions as bridegroom in a marital relationship with his people (19:7).
Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001).
Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol.
20, p. 572).
Baker Book House.
Slide
Tabernacle
Slide
b.
God Is the Light 21v23
Slide
The LORD God and the Lamb share the same glory (see John 1:14), for here the Lamb is the source of light and in 22:5 it is God himself.
This divine light dims all other sources and renders them irrelevant.
Further, sun and moon, created to mark cosmic time, cease to function in eternity.
Hence, John writes “there is no night there” .
Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001).
Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol.
20, p. 573).
Baker Book House.
Slide
c. Always Open 21:24-26
Slide
The inhabitants of the new Jerusalem originate from every tribe, language, people, and nation; they were purchased with the blood of the Lamb (5:9).
They are part of the great multitude that no one could number (7:9).
The kings of the earth are among those who have the privilege of ruling with Christ because they did not receive the mark on their foreheads or their hands (20:4, 6).
Certainly, these nations and kings are citizens in God’s kingdom and do not live outside the city, “for outside the city of God there is nothing—except the lake of fire.”
The nations walk through the divine light that illumines the holy city, and the kings of the earth glorify God.
They live in the light and as a result offer glory and honour to God (v.
26).
These inhabitants seek not their own glory, but in continual worship they render in to God.
Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001).
Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol.
20, p. 574).
Baker Book House.
Slide
d.
Nothing Unclean 21v27
Slide
While the preceding verses reveal the life of the saints following the last judgement, this verse is directed to the people living on earth before this judgement.
John issues a warning by telling his readers that they are still living in the day of grace.
When the consummation comes, no opportunity will be given for repentance and acceptance into heaven.
Spiritual renewal takes place in the present life, not in the afterlife.
Now is the time to heed the warning, repent, and wholeheartedly follow the Lord by doing his will.
Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001).
Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol.
20, p. 575).
Baker Book House.
2. River of Life 22:1-5
a. Flowing From the Throne of God v1
b.
The Tree of Life v2
On either side of the river are rows of trees, which he presents collectively as the tree of life.
God planted this tree and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden (Gen.
2:9), and cherubim guarded this tree of life with a flaming sword (Gen.
3:24).
With the river and the tree of life, John paints a picture of a renewed Paradise to complete the biblical account of human history.
Adam and Eve driven from the Garden of Eden were prevented from touching the tree of life, but in the garden of the holy city all the inhabitants have a right to that tree (22:14; 2:7).
Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001).
Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol.
20, p. 581).
Baker Book House.
The tree of life bears twelve kinds of fruit, one for each month of the year.
John resorts to chronological divisions of time to express to human beings what otherwise would be incomprehensible.
Standing on the threshold of eternity, he has to express himself in temporal terms of month and year.
The significance of the tree bearing fruit is the abundant yield, and this food sustains the everlasting life of all those who eat.
Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001).
Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol.
20, p. 581).
Baker Book House.
I add that the language is symbolic and implicitly points to the curse that rested on the human race because of the tree in Paradise and that brought sickness, pain, and death.
But the tree in the renewed Paradise provides healing for the nations, which means that its inhabitants can enjoy eternal life free from physical and spiritual needs.
Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001).
Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol.
20, p. 582).
Baker Book House.
c.
No Curse v3-4
After Adam and Eve sinned in Paradise, God pronounced a curse on creation and the human race (Gen.
3:17–19).
And this curse remains in effect until the restoration takes place and everyone can freely take fruit from the tree of life.
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