Thank You for Your Grace

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore 12 fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 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. They shall see His face, and His Name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” [1]

The imagery is of a tree being fed by living waters that proceed from the throne of God and the Lamb. The tree produces good fruit and healing leaves because of the water it drinks.

David wrote, “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.” David wrote of God’s people being abundantly satisfied with the fatness of God’s house and drinking from the river of His delight. [2]

In the beginning, “the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden, and there He put the man He had formed.” The Hebrew word Eden (עֵדֶן), means “delight” or “pleasure” and refers to “paradise.” The Lord made beautiful trees and delicious fruit grow there. There was one tree called the “tree of life” in the midst of the garden, and another called the “tree of knowledge of good and evil.” [3]

The Lord God commanded Adam, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” [4]

The word “die” is a small word, but within it are all the curses of the Law. After Adam ate from the tree, God drove him out from Eden, to prevent him from living forever under death’s curse.

The seven seal, seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments are consequences of curses on sin. Lists of curses on sin are recorded in Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26. God promised to curse the turning away from Him and to bless the turning toward Him.

Jesus Christ died on a dead tree, on a cross, and transformed death into a door through which we regain our lost paradise. Jesus took away the sting of death. He took away the power of death. Jesus resurrects from the dead and brings to glory all who believe in Him. He has legal grounds to do this, because He took the world’s sin and curses upon Himself. [5]

Paul wrote, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” [6]

Simply put, Jesus Christ restores believers in Him to God. Jesus said, “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; to him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” [7]

In New Jerusalem, there is no more curse. The serpent who beguiled our first parents is gone. The throne of God and Lamb are there which means God is near. His servants are there. They see His face. This is what Job longed for. He said, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.” Job is seeing God now. God and people are together. Rather than a mark of a beast on one’s forehead, the redeemed have the Name of God on their foreheads. One of the plagues during the great tribulation was days of darkness. There is no darkness now. The beautiful brightness of God lights up the city. The redeemed reign with Him forever. [8]

God also revealed to Ezekiel a heavenly river of living waters lined with trees producing fruit monthly and healing leaves healing. There is usually two or more witnesses to the things God reveals in the Bible. John was one witness to this river and Ezekiel is another. [9]

“Then he said to me, ‘These words are faithful and true.’ And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. ‘Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.’” [10]

Jesus began the book of Revelation with the following words, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him, to show to His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.” [11]

Faithful and true! That is what this prophecy is.

God gave this message to John via an angel. Angels are a link between God and His earthly messengers. Stephen told religious leaders, “He [Moses] was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give to us.” “You who have received the Law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it...” The words of the angel Gabriel to Daniel, Zechariah, Mary and Joseph are verses in the Bible. Paul wrote, “It [the Law] was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” And “The Word spoken through angels proved unalterable.” [12]

The phrase ”must shortly come to pass” refers to the suddenness in which these events will happen. The God who made the shoreline to hold back the sea has a timeline. The seals will be opened, the trumpets will sound, the bowls of wrath will be poured out, then, New Jerusalem will descend from God to people.

At the beginning of the Revelation, Jesus said, “Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” [13]

“Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers the prophets, and of those who keep the Words of this book. Worship God.’” [14]

The devil took Jesus to high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” The angel told John not to bow to him. He identified himself as John’s fellow servant, and a prophetic brother. He urged John to worship God. [15]

“And He said to me, ‘Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning, and the End, the First and the Last.” [16]

Now, the Lord is speaking to John because He says that He is the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End, the First and the Last. This is how Jesus introduced Himself in Revelation 1:8, 11; 21:6.

The Lord commands John not to seal the words of this prophecy. This prophecy will be fulfilled suddenly. The unjust will be unjust, the filthy will be filthy, the righteous will be righteous, and the holy will be holy because when Jesus appears there will be no time to change. Now, is the time to change. He will reward those who trust in Him.

“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.” [17]

How do we keep commandments? We keep them by abiding in Christ. What are the rewards? To eat from the tree of life! To enter the gates of New Jerusalem!

Obviously, someone who is practicing sorcery, living immorally, murdering, worshiping idols, enjoying lying and deceiving people is not abiding in Christ.

It’s about direction. What do you seek? Paul wrote, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” [18]

Jesus said, “Not everyone that says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven.’” And “Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He comes He shall find watching...” And “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” [19]

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” [20]

The Lord’s angels testify for Him. This doesn’t mean that they necessarily appear in visible form as Gabriel did to Zechariah, Mary and Joseph, but they do convey messages from Jesus to us.

Hebrews 1:7 states, “He [God] makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.” This passage highlights the dual nature of angels – sometimes described as wind-like spirits, other times as fiery beings. Hebrews 1:14 states that angels are “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.” In any case, the glory belongs to God, the Jesus the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit are sending vital communications to us.

Jesus says, “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” Earlier in the Revelation, one of the elders referred to Jesus as the Root of David. By referring to Himself as the Root and the Offspring of David, Jesus confirmed to the Apostle John and to us that it is indeed He, Messiah, that is speaking to us. Jesus is also the Bright and Morning by whom we, like the shepherds on the first Christmas morn, navigate our way to God, and by whom we reach the Heavenly Jerusalem. [21]

“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” [22]

Let’s be vocal about this! We want it to happen! “We want You Lord!” We want to drink from the fountain of life. The waters of life contrast with the waters during the tribulation era that had been cursed and had turned to bitter blood.

“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” [23]

The Lord gave to Moses a similar warning, saying, “You shall not add unto the Word which I command you, neither shall you diminish ought from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: you shall not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” [24] Many people have taken time to learn the Ten Commandments which is good, but it is even more consequential, due to the blessings and curses involved, to know and teach rightly the prophecies contained in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ ‘Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!’” [25]

Let’s be vocal about this again! “We want this to happen! We want to be with You Lord!”

Revelation began with a blessing of grace: “Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne.” And closes with a similar blessing: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” [26]

“Thank You Lord Jesus Christ for Your grace! You graciously took the curses of humanity’s sin and death upon Yourself on the cross. You resurrected from the dead on the third day, ascended to heaven 40 days later and You graciously intercede for us at the right hand of the Father. Thank You for giving Your Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Thank You for Your grace. Amen.”

[1] Revelation 22:1-5
[2] Psalms 46:4; Psalms 36:8
[3] Genesis 2:8-9
[4] Genesis 2:16-17
[5] Isaiah 53:6; Colossians 2:13-14; 3:15; 1 Corinthians 15:54–56; Hebrews 2:14
[6] Galatians 3:13-14
[7] Revelation 2:7
[8] Genesis 3:13; Job 19:25-26
[9] Ezekiel 47:12
[10] Revelation 22:6-7
[11] Revelation 1:1
[12] Acts 7:38, 53; Daniel 9:20-27; Luke 1:11-20; 26-38; Matthew 1:20-25; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2
[13] Revelation 1:3
[14] Revelation 22:8-9
[15] Matthew 4:8-10
[16] Revelation 22:10-13
[17] Revelation 22:14-15
[18] Hebrews 12:14
[19] Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 12:37-38; John 14:15
[20] Revelation 22:16
[21] Revelation 5:5
[22] Revelation 22:17
[23] Revelation 22:18-19
[24] Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32
[25] Revelation 22:20
[26] Revelation 1:4; 22:21