SURVEY OF CHAPTERS 21 AND 22

[McGuiggan: Chapters 21-22 are a glorious description of the victorious “new Jerusalem,” the bride of the Lamb. Her glorious vindication is described much as the temple is described in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 47. That is, in respect of the river which flows from her and the trees of life which grow on either side of the river.]

Finally, chapters 21 and 22 form a grand conclusion, not just of this book of Revelation, but really of the entire Bible. It sets a glorious crescendo for the people of the Lord. Through twelve gates of pearl, John sees the procession of the saints on higher ground [21:10-12: “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel;” 21:21:“The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”].

In a land of fadeless day, where there’s no darkness, no sadness, no sickness, no separation forever, Christians will reap an enchanting reward. You see, pearls are produced by friction, by tribulation, by pressure, and the greater the tribulation, the greater the pressure, the greater the friction, the grander the pearl! Heaven belongs to those who press on to higher ground. [21:4: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”22:6-7: “And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” 22:3-5: “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.”]

We’ll close with this verse: “Jesus is coming, my destiny to seal. Jesus is coming, I know that He will. Jesus is coming, in His presence may I stay. Jesus is coming, oh glorious day!” Amen.

CLOSE AND SUMMARY

[McGuiggan: The book closes with the solemn warning that its Message is to be taken seriously and any tampering with it (adding or taking from) would result in the individual losing his right to the tree of life and his place in the new Jerusalem.

Now there you have the survey. Brief I know. The book is not really as difficult as some have said. (1) Luther thought it of little account. (2) Calvin refused to comment on it. (3) Time-setters and modern prophets have brought it into disrepute in some circles. (4) It has suffered most at the hands of its “friends.”

YOU can understand this book. Oh, perhaps not all of it. But you can begin to feel at home in, and find comfort in, its timeless and deathless principles. It is a book written expressly to comfort the Church of God. Go ahead and enjoy it!]