Revelation Chapter 22

Verses 1–5: The New Earth

The New Earth is not a new planet that had not before existed. But it is the earth surface made new, the return to Eden. The River of Life will flow through the midst of the holy city. The Tree of Life will be on both sides of the river. This tree produces twelve manner of fruit and bears her fruit twelve times per year. Life-giving properties are contained in this fruit that perpetuates life. 

No more sea: The oceans and rivers of our world make up three-fourths of the earth’s surface. This will not be so in the New Earth. This also teaches us that there will be nothing on the New Earth that will divide its inhabitants. 

No more tears: The surest way to wipe away tears is to remove the cause. It is in this way that God wipes away “all tears.” He removes every cause of weeping so that in the celestial city “the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” Isaiah 65:19. 

No more pain: The text is absolutely true. In heaven there will be no more pain. The wicked are no longer suffering because they are no more. They were completely destroyed in the lake of fire, which is the second death. 

No more death: Death is real. The wicked will die the second death of which there is no resurrection. The penalty for sin is death. See Romans 6:23.

No more curse: No longer will man have to make his living “by the sweat of his face,” for there shall be no more curse. The curse will be removed when the cause of the curse is no more. Satan brought the curse and when he dies, the curse dies with him. 

Verses 6–21: The Last Beatitude

This section includes the last beatitude, verse 14. The book of Revelation contains seven of them altogether. The seventh draws our attention to the importance of obedience. Obedience or cooperation with God is necessary to enter in the kingdom of God. It was through disobedience that man lost access to the tree of life and his Eden home. Obedience by the faith of Jesus is his way of coming back home to Eden. See Revelation 12:17; 14:12. 

The final warning: In verses 18 and 19, we discover a very serious matter. The message of this book is to prepare a people for the soon return of Jesus. If anyone perverts the sayings of this book, or influences others to neglect its reading, they will have to face God in the judgment for such careless behavior. The Revelation may say things we do not like, but that does not give us a license to alter its meaning. 

The final promise: Jesus said, “I come quickly.” After our study of this most wonderful book of Scripture, how can our response be any other than, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Apply It!

The home of the redeemed is more beautiful than we can imagine. We will have a home in the Holy City and a home in the country. We will see Eden restored. But most of all, we will see Jesus face-to-face. 

We do not think of heaven enough. But think of all the heavenly scenes we witnessed in the Revelation. God is asking us to think of our heavenly home more often. Take a moment to contemplate the following heavenly scenes:

Seeing Jesus and His Father.

Imagine being winged to heaven by the angels.

Imagine the first time you will see the Holy City.

Imagine going through the gate into the city.

Can you hear the angels sing?

Can you imagine the vast throng of the redeemed from all ages?

Can you hear the redeemed sing the song of victory?

Can you imagine what it will be like to visit unfallen worlds?

Imagine yourself sharing your testimony to these unfallen beings.

Then there is the New Earth. Here the lion and the lamb will lie down together.

Imagine seeing God re-create our world. 

Have you thought about building your home in the country?

Can you see yourself planting vineyards and flowers?

Can you see yourself going to the New Jerusalem to worship God?

There is so much more to contemplate. But contemplate we should, and more often than we do. In doing so, we will be happier and holier people. All the kind words and acts we perform now by the grace of God are a foretaste of the joys ahead, so let us fill our lives with as much kindness, goodness, truth, and courage as we can. May the Lord continue to richly bless you as you prepare for the soon return of Jesus.