Fat Bodies and Lean Souls

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-9-2022

Psalms 106:15; Revelation 3:14-18

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  The historical significance of this Psalm is found in Exodus, chapter 16.  I stand amazed at all that the LORD did for Israel to bring them to this point.  The miracles done in Egypt, the opening of the Red Sea, manna from heaven (I could do with a little that right now!), and then gave them their desire for meat by bringing in quail.

 

B.  Psalm 78 calls their desire for meat “lust.”  Though God had been so good to them and worked wonders that only He can do, it seems that none of this was ever enough.  They complained about the manna, so God allowed:

 

Psalm 78:26-29 – “an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.  (27)  He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:  (28)  And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.  (29)  So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire.”

 

C.  Will the quail was still in their mouths, God slew the fattest of the chosen men of Israel. 

 

Psalm 78:30-31  But while their meat was yet in their mouths,  (31)  The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

 

D.  God judged Israel for their request though He allowed it.  There is an old saying: “God will give you what you want but it will cost you what you have.”  Though God judged them, they chose to continue in their sinful lust and failed to trust God with what He supplied.

 

Psalm 78:32  For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.

 

E.   For this cause, the LORD consumed their days with vanity (to no avail) and their years in trouble!  “Fat bodies and Lean souls!”

 

F.  Temporal blessings tend to make for spiritual decline.  Fatness of the body almost invariably leads to leanness of the soul.  The classic examples are:

 

Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49  Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.),

 

Israel (Psalms 106:15  And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.), and

 

Laodicea (Revelation 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.). 

 

G.  There has never been a time of plenty like the time in which we live.  We truly have need of nothing in a right way.  For this I am truly grateful.  As I look around us at others both here and abroad, it causes me to be thankful to the Lord.  The problem is not found in the things of life but the attitude that sometimes prevails in good times.

 

Revelation 3: 14-18  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; (Fat Bodies) and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Lean Souls)  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

 

H.  Our days are characterized by “fat bodies” and “lean” souls.

 

J.  SEVEN DANGERS OF GOOD TIMES.

 

1.  We tend to forget God!  Deuteronomy 8:11  Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

 

2.  We lose our fear of God!  Ecclesiastes 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

 

3.  We begin to worship other “gods.”  1 John 5:21  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.  Where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also.

 

4.  We begin to live carelessly in sin.  James 1:14-16  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.  Do not err, my beloved brethren.

 

5.  We give Satan the advantage.  2 Corinthians 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.  His devices still work to day as he has effectively swayed the hearts to people in our day.

 

6.  We fail to set an example for our children.  Psalms 78:6-7  That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:  (7)  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

 

7.  We cause God to remove His hedge of protection.  Job 1:10  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

Five Last Things

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-8-2022

Revelation 22:17-21

 

A.  Tonight, we will read the end of the Book of Revelation.  What a joy it has been to preach through this wonderful book of prophecy.  There is so much more that could have been said but then it would have taken a lifetime to do so.  I pray that it has been a blessing to each of you.

 

B.  As the Holy Ghost brings the book to a close, there are five last things found in these verses.  These are important things as we often say that He saved the best for last.

 

C.  Verse 17.  A last invitation.  Salvation offered until the end.  You never know when you will be offered your last invitation to be saved.  I pray that all have come to Christ through faith in His finished work, the Gospel!  His vicarious death according to the Scriptures, His burial, and His glorious bodily resurrection.  "It is finished!"  You cannot add to or take away from the Gospel.  To do so is to destroy the Gospel message.

 

1 Corinthians 15:1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

 

D.  The Spirit says, "Come."  John 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

 

E.  The Bride says, "Come."  The Church is to preach the Gospel to all who come.  Every creature needs a preacher!  The Bible is not speaking of a pastor or evangelist.  It speaks of all who know Christ having an obligation to share the Gospel with the lost. 

 

Romans 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

 

2 Corinthians 4:3-4  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  (4)  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

F.  Those who heareth say, "Come."  We who have heard the Book of Revelation understand that life eternal hinges upon the Word of God and there is a final state to be shunned called the Lake of Fire.  How can we hear, know, and remain silent?

 

G.  The "water of life" is eternal, it is available to all, it is free, and it is satisfying.  He who hears and thirsts for the Water of Eternal Life needs to come while the door of invitation remains open.  This Water of Eternal Life is free to "whosoever will" come.  Christ died for the sins of the whole world and will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

Isaiah 55:1-3  Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  (2)  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.  (3)  Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

 

H.  Verses 18-19.  A last warning!  Leave God's Word alone!  There are three "Sentinels" or "Watchmen" found in the Bible concerning the Word of God.  The last being these two verses.

 

Deuteronomy 4:2  Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

 

Proverbs 30:5-6  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.  (6)  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

 

J.  For the past 140 years, men have become Bible correctors instead of Bible believers and have used other text and "bibles" to correct the King James Bible and the Textus Receptus.  Men now correct the Bible without fear instead of allowing the Bible to correct them in fear. 

 

K.  God said to neither "add to" in verse 18 nor to "take away" in verse 19.  The warning is clear.

 

"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." 

 

"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."

 

L.  In both verses, we find "words" mentioned.  Every critical text and every perverted version add to and takes away from this blessed old King James Bible.  "Every word of God is pure" is found in Proverbs 30:5.

 

M.  Verse 20.  A last promise.  The Old Testament ends with the promise of Christ's First Advent and the New Testament ends with the promise of Christ's Second Advent.  As surely as Christ came the first time and came on time, He will come the second time and on time.

 

John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

N.  Verse 20.  A last prayer.  John's answer to Christ coming begins with a prayer.  The first word of the prayer is "Amen."  "Let it be so!"  I thank God that I know that what Christ says is "so!"  The second part of this prayer is "Even so come, Lord Jesus."  Our prayer is for the Lord to come quickly.  The older that I get, the more I long for the day when I see Christ!

 

O.  Verse 21.  A last benediction.  A benediction is a closing prayer normally prayed at the end of a gathering of God's people. The Bible is a book of grace.  From the salvation of Adam and Eve through sacrifice until the last soul comes to Christ by faith.  Grace for salvation and grace to live in this life and grace to die if that is the way that we must go.  Saved by grace, kept by grace, continue by grace.  What a way to end to the book: "Amen!?  And all God's people said, "Amen!"

Final Things

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-1-2022

Revelation 22:12-16

 

A.  Verse 9-11.  We ended last week with the admonition " And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand."  We who are saved, and Bible believers understand the times in which we live and the timeframe of the prophecy of the end times which begins with the rapture of the church.  One of the saddest verses found in the Bible speaks of the destruction of God's people through a lack of knowledge.

 

Hosea 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

 

B.  Why do God's people not have a knowledge of spiritual things when they have the Bible in their hands? 

 

Because of the Pastors in the Pulpits - Amos 8:11-12  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:  (12)  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

 

Because of the People sitting in the Pews - Jeremiah 5:30-31  A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;  (31)  The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

 

C.  People have this preconceived idea that they can live for self and this world and wait until the last minute to be saved.  Yes, people can be saved on their death beds, but this is a rarity and normally occurs with people who have not heard a clear presentation of the gospel.  How you live is normally how you die!  What you are is what you will always be!

 

D.  Verse 12.  Behold is a strong word and is so much more than to just see something.  To beware of; to perceive; to understand.  The imminence of His return is found in the words "I come quickly!"  When the Lord comes, it will be suddenly but not without warning.  For years God's men have preached on the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the eternality of the state of men, either saved or lost.  No Purgatory and no Limbo.  Heaven or Hell!  When our Lord comes, it will be an immediate thing. 

 

John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

Revelation 1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

 

Revelation 19:11-13  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

 

E.  "and my reward is with me"  While salvation is faith based, reward is works based.  We need to look at a couple of verses in chapter 20 concerning the record of books where our works are recorded.  In these verses, we find that every work that has ever been done has been faithfully recorded.

 

Revelation 20:12-13  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  (13)  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

 

The wicked will be rewarded for their evil works and the saved will be rewarded later for their good works.  The wicked will be judged by their works (Revelation 3:12-13) and the saved will be rewarded for their works (Daniel 12:2; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15).  The wicked will be rewarded both individually and equally; the saved will be rewarded both individually and equally.  God is no respecter of persons.

 

Hebrews 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

 

F.  Verse 13.  Though these three pictures of Christ seem to be the same, there are distinct differences.  "I am" goes with each of these descriptions as it is the name of Jehovah God, I AM THAT I AM.  This name of God refers to both His eternality and self-existence. 

 

"I Am Alpha and Omega" speaks of His Eternal Person: His Omniscience. He knows all things. He Knows the end from the beginning; He knows all about us; He knows our thoughts afar off.  He is Complete.

 

"I AM the Beginning and the End" speaks of His Eternal Power: He is Omnipotence.  In the beginning He created all things and in the end, He will restore all things as they were in the beginning.  He is Timeless.

 

"I AM the First and the Last" speaks of His Eternal Preeminence: He is Omnipresent.  He was the First and He will be the Last.  He will be everything in between.  He is Sovereign.

 

G.  Verse 14.  Here we find the seventh of the Beatitudes of the Blessed.  People of our day are not friendly towards commandments.  Humanism, which is the religion of self, has taught people to be rebellious towards all authority.  God's people are different.  They not only know God's commandments but also endeavor to keep them.

 

1 John 5:2-3  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.  (3)  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

 

In the beginning of creation, the right to eat of the Tree of Life was granted to Adam and Eve through their obedience to God's commandment.

 

Genesis 2:16-17  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  (17)  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

 

The same is in the end of all things.  Those who know and do His commandments will have an eternal right to eat of the Tree of Life.  Right to do is through obedience to God's command.

 

H.  Verse 15.  God's people are within but the wicked are "without," a reference to the Lake of Fire as all wicked people who have not come to Christ in faith will be there.  They are without hope, they are without happiness, they are without rights of any kind, and they are without God's new heaven and new earth!  They will not defile eternity.  This list given goes along with Revelation 21:8, 27.

 

The First Mention of the word "defiled" is the destruction of purity and innocence.  Genesis 34:2  And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

 

The Last Mention of the word is "defileth."" Revelation 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

 

J.  Verse 16.  Here we see the Author, "I Jesus."  This book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ and Eschatology (The study of prophecy or things to come.).  I am glad that we have this precious, powerful book of the Bible so as to know what is coming.  A man once said that he did not like all the vegetables that he was made to eat as a child.  Some he liked and some he did not, but he was taught to eat what was before him.  One thing he loved about meals of his youth was when his heard his mother say, when she took his empty plate away, "Keep your fork!"  Things will get worse and worse in the world but "Keep your fork!" 

 

K.  "I am the root and the offspring of David"  The "root" speaks of His deity as He was the "root" from which David sprang.  Our Lord once told the Pharisees, "Before Abraham was, I am."  In both places, our Lord establishes His eternality.  The "offspring of David" establishes His humanity, born of the seed of the woman through the royal line of David.  Jesus Christ was both God and man, the God-man: 100 percent God and 100 percent man.

 

L.  "The bright and morning star"  When we see Christ, as the bight and morning star opens the day, our Bright and Morning Star will open an eternal one.  A new age will dawn which shall never fade away.

 

God Is Faithful and True to His Word

Temple Baptist Church - 4-24-2022

Revelation 22:6-11

A. Verse 6. As we begin to finish the Book of The Revelation, we find a two-fold promise given in 22:6. The Faithfulness of God to the Veracity of the Word of God. God declares His faithfulness to His Word because all that can be known of God and our future comes from the Bible.

We can trust God. Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Hebrews 6:17-18 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: (18) That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

We can trust what God says about God's Word. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

B. The antecedent of the word "he" found in this verse is one of the seven angels mentioned in 21:9. His message is that God is faithful to His Word of Prophecy. As we finish Revelation, we have discussed the three-fold breakdown of the Book: Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

The things which thou hast seen is chapter one (the years previous to the writing of the Book of Revelation); the things which are is chapters 2-3 (time of the writing of Revelation to the seven churches of Asia Minor) and prophetic of the impending of the church age; the things which shall be hereafter (chapters 4-22: beginning with the Rapture of the Church through eternity future). From chapter 4 and the rapture of the church to the final "Amen" in chapter 22 is future to us and, therefore, prophetic in nature.

C. As we look back over history, the Word of God has been faithfully recorded, from Adam's day to John's Day. Everything that God prophesied came to pass. From John's Day to our day, with everything prophesied coming to pass. As we approach the impending rapture of God's church, we find these last perilous days to be as it was in the days of Noah and Lot, the falling away from the Word of Truth by deceitful men, and the emergence of the Laodicean Church Age.

D. As we find the faithfulness of God in recording our day, we can also put our faith and trust in His prophecies concerning chapters 4-22: "the things which shall be hereafter." In God's faithfulness to the past and present, we find His veracity or truth concerning the things to come. If God said it, and He did, you can "take it to the bank!" The angel is reconfirming the blessing to those who hear, read, and keep the prophecies of this Book.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

What we read must be in our hand. What we hear must come from what we have in our hand. What we obey must be clear and in the Bible.

E. "His servants" encompass both the seven churches of Asia to who He has written individual letters and to those of us who faithfully read, hear, and keep the prophecies of the Book of Revelation. If we walk in the light of God's Word, we will walk as examples to this present evil world in which we live.

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

F. Verse 7. In this verse, we find both the shortness of time and the suddenness of our Lord's promises to come quickly. The word "quickly" refers both to when and how He will return: the shortness of time, though 3,000 years must come to pass is still but a moment in eternity and also the suddenness of time expresses that He will come instantly and without warning.

In verse 7, we also find the sixth of the seven Beatitudes of the Blessed that are given in the Book of Revelation. 1) 1:3 – blessed is he that readeth, heareth, and keepeth 2) 14:13 – blessed are they which die in the Lord hereafter 3) 15:16 – blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments 4) 19:19 – blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper 5) 20:6 – blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection 6) 22:7 – blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book 7) 22:14 - blessed are they that do his commandments.

G. Verse 8. When John saw and heard these things, he fell face down in worship before the angel. Throughout the Bible, God's people have always fallen on their face before God while the wicked of this world have always fallen backward away from God. When watching the Charismatics of our day, the people "slain in the spirit" always fall backwards to the floor. I find no place where God's people react to the things of God in such manner.

H. Verse 9. As John fell at the feet of the angel to worship, we find his immediately giving God the glory for what has been seen and what has been told to him. In Revelation 21:9 and 22:6, the Bible is clear that this one to whom John bowed is an angel. This verse is problematic with some commentators as they believe that the Bible is saying that this one speaking is both angel and human. I believe that he is an angel, not human as there are certainly no transgender or trans angel people in the Bible. The angel is referring to his being a prophetic source that God has chosen which classifies him as a "fellowservant" and, not "one of they brethren" but "of thy brethren the prophets … of them which keep the sayings of this book." I find no contradiction in the verse. The angel is placing himself with those humans who do such things, not saying that he is one of them.

J. Verse 10. When God gave the Book of Daniel to Daniel, he was admonished to "shut up the words, and seal the book" until the time of the end: Daniel 12:4 "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." In John's Day, we find that he was told to "Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand." With the coming of Christ, we entered into the "last days." There were 4 "days" or 4,000 years from the beginning to the coming of the Christ, Israel's Messiah the Promised Seed of the Woman. After the resurrection of Christ, there were to be 3 "days" or 3,000 years until the end of all things. Thus, these, being the last and lesser portion of years were biblically called the "last days" or the "last times."

Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: (This was accomplished on the Day of Pentecost in Acts, chapter 2.)

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (The last days began when Jesus Christ spoke to Israel on earth.)

K. Verse 11. Many people believe that their person and desires will not be the same in eternity but the Bible is clear at this point: if you are not justified in this life, you will not be justified in eternity; if you are filthy now, you will be filthy still in eternity; if you are righteous now, you will be righteous in eternity; and if you are holy now, you will be holy in eternity. Though we that are saved are still sinners by birth and by choice, there is a part of us "sealed" until the day of redemption that is sinless.

2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

That Sounds Like Home To Me! - Part 3

Temple Baptist Church - 4-17-2022

Revelation 21:27-22:5

 

A.  We saw last week that the New Jerusalem was going to be a place of unimaginable beauty.  Walls of Jasper, gates of pearl, foundations garnished with precious stones, a street of transparent gold, ivory palaces, angels attending the gates, having the glory of God, and the light of God to lighten it: like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone as clear as crystal.  A place of unimaginable size.  1500 miles long, 1500 miles wide (From New York City to Colorado and from Canada to Miami, Fl), and 1500 miles high containing 3,375,000,000 cubic miles cube laid beside cube would stretch to the sun 36.29 times,

 

B.  As we end chapter 21, we see that the New Jerusalem is a Holy Place.  A place of absolute purity.  Once again in the last verse of chapter 21, the Bible reiterates that sin is gone from all aspects of eternity.  As it was with "In the beginning God," so will be "In the beginning" of eternity with God.  The sinful who have rejected Christ will be at home in the lake of fire while the sinful who have received Christ will be at home in the New Jerusalem.

 

Revelation 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

 

Revelation 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

 

No sinners, no sin, and no temptation to sin.  The residents of the New Jerusalem have had their sins washed in the blood of Christ and their righteousness found in the person of Christ.  Their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life because they are His.

 

C.  Verse 22:1.  The word "And" shows the continuity of the context: the description of the New Jerusalem.  We saw the City of God in chapter 21 from the outside: its glory, wall, gates, foundations, and Light.  The only description given inwardly thus far was the "street" of transparent gold.  Chapter 22 gives a more vivid picture of certain aspects of the New Jerusalem.  The silence of the Bible on the other inward beauty and design speaks of our inability to imagine such beauty and radiance.

 

D.  "A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal."  In Revelation, chapter 22, we find the Last Mention of "river" found in the Bible. The source of this beautiful river is the "throne of God and the Lamb."  James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."  It is a pure river; it is a life-giving river; it is a beautiful (clear as crystal) river. 

 

Joel 3:17-18  So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.  (18)  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

 

John 4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

 

John 4:13-14  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  (14)  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

 

Revelation 7:15-17  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.  (16)  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.  (17)  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

 

Revelation 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

 

The First Mention of "river" found in the Bible is consistent with the last mention. 

 

Genesis 2:10  And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. (As it was in the beginning, so shall it be in eternity.)

 

E.  Verse 2.  This verse has always thrilled my soul.  Three things are depicted here and the visual that we are granted is a glorious sight. 

 

We have already seen that there will be a "street" of transparent gold and here the "river" of life.  One leads to and the other proceeds from the throne of God and the Lamb.  The street is a boulevard.  A boulevard is a divided road or street with one lane going one direction and the other lane the opposite direction.  The area between the two parts of the street or road, called the median, are normally beautified with trees or plants.  Look at the description that the Bible gives.

 

Here, we find the Tree of Life in the midst of the street.  The Tree of Life is only mentioned in two books of the Bible: Genesis, chapters 2 and 3, and Revelation, chapters 7 and 22. 

 

In Genesis, chapter 2, we find its availability to mankind in the midst of the garden of Eden.  In Genesis, chapter 3, we find its unavailability to mankind, protected by a flaming sword and Cherubims.  As to when God moved the Tree of Life to Paradise, we do not know.  If the Tree of Life was there, then was the River of Life there also.

 

Genesis 2:10  And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

 

 

In Revelation, chapter 2, we find its availability in the paradise of God, the restoration of eternal things that were from the beginning, and in chapter 22, we find its accessibility to those who are saved for all eternity.

 

The Tree of Life is also found here on "either side of the river" as well as "In the midst of the street of it."  Here is the picture that God gives us of the median of the Street of Gold.  The Street of Gold that leads to the Throne of God and The Lamb is divided by The River of Life flows which flows from the Throne of God and the Lamb. 

 

The Tree of Life is also divided as it is in the midst of the street and on either side of the river.  I get the picture of one of the giant sequoia trees out in California that has a road through the middle of it. The Tree of Life has a River of Life running through it.

 

Here is the picture:  we see the Throne of God and the Lamb with the Street of Gold leading to it and, in the median of the Street of Gold, there is the River of Life flowing out of the Throne of God and The Lamb, through the middle of the street and the Tree of Life will grow on both sides of the River of Life. 

 

F.  The Tree of Life will bear "twelve manner of fruits."  There are no identifications of what these different kinds of fruit are but the number twelve, a perfect number in the Bible, will be a perfect variety of fruits.  They will be both available, yielded her fruit every month, and accessible.  In the First Mention of the Tree of Life in the Book of Genesis, we find that Adam and Eve were able to put forth their hand and eat of the Tree.

 

G.  It will be a Tree of Life.  Our trees today either have a dormant season or, once they bear fruit, they will bear no more: such is the Banana Tree.  There will be no dormant season, nor will there be any lack of bearing.  The Bible does not expound upon the phrase found in Genesis, chapter three, which says, " lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever."

 

H.  The leaves of the Tree of Life will be for the healing of the nations.  This is not the healing of the individual because there will be no more sickness there.  Our bodies will be perfect in every way and will need no healing.  The healing of the leaves of the trees has to do with the healing of the nations on earth.  Throughout the history of mankind after the curse, nations have risen against nations with these conflicts of interest in most cases ending in wars. 

 

The leaves of this tree will evidently be used to heal, or to maintain, the relationships of the nations toward each other as eternity will be a time of peace and goodwill among the peoples of the earth.

 

J.  Verse 3.  Here it is reiterated that the curse caused by sin will be no more as God and the Lamb will both reign forever and his servants shall serve Him.  Paul spoke of the requirement of stewards in 1 Corinthians 4:2: "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." As God has been faithful to His people, His people will be faithful to Him.

 

K.  Verse 4.  "And they shall see His face."  Because of the sinfulness of men and the absolute holiness of God, no man had ever seen the face of God.  In eternity, we shall see His face.  Both the face of His person and the face of His audience.

 

Exodus 33:18-20  And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.  (19)  And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.  (20)  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

 

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

L.  "And His name shall be in their foreheads."  Ownership of mankind is once again restored as we were created by God and created for God.  Song of Solomon 2:16 says, "My beloved is mine, and I am his!"  Here, we find ownership: both by the Master and the Bond Slave.  We love and serve God because He has loved and served us.

 

Exodus 21:5-6  And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:  (6)  Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

 

M.  Verse 5.  There will be no night, no canopy of celestial lights, for God will be the Light of eternity and we will "reign for ever and ever" with Him.  Eternity will be structured as God is a God of order and this restored earth, and the New Jerusalem will be the busiest places that you will ever see.  That sounds like home to me!