Welcome back to the last series in the study of the book of Revelation. In the last post, we looked at the description of the beauty of the new Jerusalem where God dwells. We saw how the glory of God continuously lit up the city so that there was never nighttime. As a result, the city’s gates were always open. In this fourth installment, we’re going to look at the tree of life, how the curse is lifted from mankind, and how, once again, we shall be able to look into the face of God Himself! Let’s begin!

Revelation Chapters 21 and 22

Fourth in a Five-Part Series
by Karen Thompson

Revelation 22

Rev. 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear 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.

We’ve come to the very last chapter of Revelation. In the first few verses, we see more closure to the story that began in Genesis. For instance, in verse one, John described seeing a river saying, “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” In Genesis 2:10, we read about man’s original home being by a river, and here we read about a pure river of the water of life. We again see man’s eternal home being beside a river.

The Tree of Life

The next verse also gives us more closure to the story that began in Genesis: “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” (v. 2). At the beginning of the book in Genesis 3:22–24, we read about the most famous tree in the Bible—the tree of life. Here at the end of the book, we again read about the tree of life. Not only does it bear fruit every month, but it bears 12 different kinds of fruit. We are told its leaves will be used for the healing of nations.

No More Curse

The beginning of verse three says, “And there shall be no more curse….” After Adam and Eve sinned, the ground became cursed (Gen. 3:17). But now we read in verse three that there will be no more curse. Having no curse is another aspect of the new earth.

His Servants Will See His Face

Let’s look at the rest of verse three and also verse four: “but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” Though there won’t be a temple in the new Jerusalem, there will be a throne. God’s throne will be present in the new Jerusalem and it says His servants will serve Him. Verse four says God’s name will be in their foreheads. Having His name on the forehead is one of the rewards for the overcomers in Revelation 3:12: “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”

And then lastly, we are told something extraordinary in verse four: “And they shall see his face….” We will be able to see the face of God! In Genesis 3:24, because of sin, Adam and Eve were driven from the presence of God. God had to remove Himself from man’s presence, because He is a consuming fire and His very presence would have burned up mankind because of sin. The Lord told Moses that no man could see his face and live (Exo. 33:20). Here we are reading how the ability to look into the face of God will be restored to mankind!

No Night Time

We see a theme repeated about the Lord being the source of light in verse five: “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.” Again, we are told there will be no need for candles or the sun because God is the one that will provide the light.

Notice the last part of verse five says, “and they shall reign for ever and ever.” The new Jerusalem will reign on the earth forever and ever. There are many verses in the Bible that prophesy God’s kingdom will be forever. Psalm 10:16 is just one of them: “The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.” We’ve already read in three different verses that say the heathen are perished out of His land: 21:8, 21:27, 22:15. They will not have a place in the new earth.

The Vision Has Ended

Rev. 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew 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. 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 shewed 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 revelation Jesus sent His angel to reveal to John has officially come to an end. Starting at verse eight to the end of the chapter are closing comments. After the vision was over, John said, “I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things” (v. 8). This is the second time we see John falling down to worship at the feet of the angel. And the angel responded by saying, “See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” The angel said not to worship him, as he is on the same level as John is. The angel told John, “Worship God.”

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