Read CHAPTER XXII of The Revelation Explained, free online book, by F. Smith, on ReadCentral.com.

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, dear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and 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. And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

5. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and eVer

The description of the New Jerusalem continues in the first five verses of this chapter. By the “river of the water of life” is doubtless meant full salvation, which as a mighty flowing stream issues “out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” To this fountain of living waters an invitation is now given to all to come and partake to their satisfaction. “The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Verse 17. As a defense to God’s people in this world salvation is represented as a great wall surrounding them (Isa 26:12); but as a source of joy, holiness and happiness, it is a living stream whereof all may partake. While this symbol meets an appropriate fulfilment in the present dispensation, yet salvation will also be the eternal possession of the saints in the world to come, when “they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb, which is in the midst thereof, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Chap 7:16, 17.

In a most appropriate place, upon the banks of the river, grew “the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” The tree of life in the garden of Eden was a symbol of man’s immortality or incorruption, or rather the means of it; for after his fall it was securely guarded and he driven from the garden, “lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” (Gen 3:22) and thus frustrate the decree of God just uttered that he should return unto dust and corruption. In the New Jerusalem, however, that tree of life blooms again and bears fruit abundantly, yea continuously, as symbolized by “every month,” and no cherubim with flaming sword are placed to guard all approach to it. The privilege is open; for it is added immediately, “There shall be no more curse.” This, then, symbolizes the removal of spiritual death and the impartation of everlasting life in this world and immortality in the next. The tree of life grew on both sides of the riVer On this side of the line of mortality we have access to it in one important sense, while those in the future world are preserved also by its healing benefits.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit abide in this city. God reveals himself, not to a few chosen priests only through the Shekinah of his presence, but to all his servants “they all see his face.” As in the ancient tabernacle he manifested himself by “the glory of the Lord,” or the Shekinah, which was represented as “seeing his face”; so, also, the “glory of the Lord” abides in the New Jerusalem, filling the entire city with the holy manifestation of the divine presence. His people are “sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,” by which they possess the name of their Father not the name of the beast nor of his image, but the name of the Father.

“And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and eVer” This city has no need of natural or artificial light, “for the Lamb is the light thereof.” Chap 21:23. The light of the sun stands connected with the light of a candle and both are represented as unnecessary, which denotes that “there shall be no night there,” but one clear eternal day.

6. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

7. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

The language of symbols is discontinued. With the description of the New Jerusalem closes the grand panoramic scene of this book. Wondrous indeed have been the events of earth prophetically outlined, but we have the assurance that “these things are faithful and true.” A continuous political and ecclesiastical history of that portion of the earth made the subject of Apocalyptic vision, from the dawn of Christianity until the last day, was here written down in advance. After the permanent division of the empire, which occurred under Valens and Valentinian in A.D 364, it was necessary that the political and the ecclesiastical history of the empire should be divided in the prophecy. This inspiration has done. The downfall of the Western empire is clearly predicted in the symbols under the first four trumpets; but the eclipse is afterwards lifted, and the same Western empire again appears in Imperial form under the control of the Papacy. After giving their power and strength unto the beast during the Dark Ages, the horns afterward turn against the Papacy and rob her of all her temporal authority and power, thus pointing us clearly to the history of modern Europe, in which the prophecy has been actually fulfilled. They themselves end at the judgment of the last day. Thus, the political history of the Western empire is carried through to the end. The Eastern division of the empire is also made a subject of prophecy, and its overthrow is described under the sixth trumPet This was effected by the second woe, or the rise of the Ottoman power, and that woe is represented as continuing until after the death and the resurrection of the two witnesses and terminating shortly before the end of time. Therefore the political history of the Eastern empire, which has been under the power of the Turks for centuries, is outlined until the end. The ecclesiastical history of the Eastern empire is also given, its most prominent feature being the rise and the development of that pest of Mohammedanism, which rests like a dark cloud over that fair country until this day. In the Western division the rise of the Papacy, its continuation, the rise of Protestantism and its duration, are all clearly outlined, reaching down to these last days. Then the scene is suddenly enlarged and is carried beyond the limits of the earth the Apocalyptic earth into “the whole world,” when the powers of wickedness are combined in spirit to antagonize the reformation of holiness and truth which God is using to gather his faithful ones together in preparation for the coming of the Son of God to judgment. In view of these wonderful events of the last days, how comforting the words of the text before us “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book”!

8. And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.

9. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

The mind of the apostle was so enraptured with the visions he beheld that he could not but adore and worship; but the angel that had been the chosen instrument to reveal these prophecies refused his act of homage and instructed him to “worship God.” Created intelligences are not worthy of such respect; to God alone all honor and praise belongs. Jesus Christ our Redeemer is God God over all, blessed foreVer As such he is worthy of the homage supreme of all our hearts, the praises of all our lips.

10. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

The popular opinion is that this book of the Revelation is sealed; but John received the direct command, “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” The majority of the teachers of Babylon to-day are fulfilling Isaiah 29:9-11, and that is the reason why it has become to them a sealed book. God makes known the blessed truths of the prophecies of this book to his own beloved children, who walk before him in sincerity and truth. A blessing is pronounced upon us if we keep them. His coming is near at hand, and his reward is with him to render unto every man according as his work shall be. No offers of salvation will be extended when Christ appears to give us access to the tree of immortal life and an abundant entrance into the eternal city beyond; but it will then be said, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” “Dogs” are left without. This term as applied to a person is one of great reproach. It is so among us, and much more so among the Jews, by whom that animal was regarded as unclean. It signifies evil workers. Evil characters of every class will have no part in the heavenly realm, but will be cast into the lake of fire. It will be the perfection of misery to be banished forever from the presence of God and the companionship of all that is good and holy. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

16. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

17. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The statements of these verses have been considered heretofore, hence there is no necessity of further comment on them in this connection.

18. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Here is the most solemn warning against any one who should presume to corrupt the prophecies of the Revelation by adding to or taking away from them. Nor was such a warning needless. This book contains the long history of God’s church, and also the history of all her persecutors, painted in colors of deepest infamy, and the final doom that awaits them. These enemies were to ride in triumph over the earth during a long career of centuries, when the children of God should be trodden down beneath their feet, as it were, while they boasted themselves as being the true church, the anointed of heaven. These Revelations were to be handed down to succeeding generations through these very persecutors. The great whore of Babylon had her likeness taken and then committed to her for preservation. Would she not falsify them? Nearly all the early records of the church have been corrupted by the church of Rome. For ages it has been a doctrine of that institution that pious fraud was consistent and even commendable when practised to further the influence of that church. Yea, she has proclaimed openly and unblushingly that if her cause could be promoted by deception and lies they were perfectly justifiable; and her practise has been consistent with her teachings. In view of the fact that God’s Word was to pass through the depths of this “mystery of iniquity,” it is not surprising that we find annexed to this concluding portion of Holy Writ the awful anathema: “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

20. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

What importance is attached to the second coming of Christ! Over and over again it is stated distinctly. It is the grand climax unto which all the series of events in this book leads.

“Are you ready, waiting for the Lord? See, the signs proclaim him near; In the awful thunders of his Word, Now his coming steps we hear.

“Now are many running to and fro, Spreading holiness around; And the evening light begins to glow, Soon we’ll hear the trumpet’s sound.

“Hark! the solemn warning unto all, Judgment’s coming, oh, how soon! Flee, O man, at Mercy’s final call, Heaven trembles at your doom.

“Christ is coming, oh, the heavenly sight! Our Beloved can’t delay, For his bride is robed in snowy white, Ready for the marriage-day.”

Amen. “Even so come, Lord Jesus.” Then will appear the great “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.” In the beginning he “created the heaven and the earth.” In the end, John said, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” In the beginning Satan entered the domain of God’s people to deceive and destroy. In the end he is cast out, and will deceive the nations no more. In the beginning sickness, pain, sorrow, and wretchedness found entrance to the world. In the end “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” In the beginning the people of earth were placed under the iron hand of death, who has claimed his teeming millions. In the end, “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God.... And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them ... and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.” In the beginning was a blooming garden containing the tree of immortal life. In the end we find the tree of life again “in the midst of the Paradise of God.” In the beginning a curse was placed upon this earth. In the world to come “there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it.” In the beginning the first Adam lost his universal dominion over the earth. In the end we find Jesus Christ, the second Adam, crowned King of kings and Lord of lords, and reigning in triumph and glory foreVer In the beginning man was barred from the tree of life and driven from the garden of Eden. In the end, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”