ofwrev22

OUR FATHER'S WORD

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

Psalm 119:105

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Revelation

A Message For The End Time

by Jim Lisenby

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CHAPTER 22

Paradise Restored

This is the final chapter in Revelation. It reveals where the saved will live and work and other specific priviledges that they will be given, and it also reveals where the unsaved will live and work and other specific priviledges that they will be given. It is here that we find out what the Earth will be like after the so-called judgment and after the sheep have been separated from the goats. It is the closure chapter of Revelation with Jesus validating the book as coming through Him. Toward the end of this chapter certain curses and blessings are written concerning how we should treat this book. Let's get into it now and see how life will be during the Millennium for those living in the New Jerusalem.

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.

Delete pure. Water of life should read living water. According to Ezekiel, and Appendix 88 in the Companion Bible, the city of New Jerusalem and its suburbs, or the reservation area associated with it will cover some 3,600 square miles. A walled portion will be situated on the south side of this reservation covering as much as 144 square miles. There will be a sanctuary which will be located 10 to 12 miles north of the walled city which will cover at least one square mile of area, perhaps more. It is where God will dwell. Here it is called the throne of God.

This living water is the truth of God and it flows out from where He dwells to supply the entire world with correct knowledge and how it should be applied. This will be the first time that the vast majority of the people who have lived in the flesh on the Earth have even come close to knowing what God is really like and what they should have been doing with their lives. Why is truth characterized as water here? In much of the world, and especially the Middle East where John lived, water is frequently in short supply. Without it people die quickly and so it is very precious. Using water to symbolize the very essence of life and salvation like this is very fitting. It is offered to everyone except those who have blasphemed unto death. Don't worry, the chances are very high indeed that you have not done so, but if you are concerned about it go and the article on Blasphemy at ourfathersword.org.

Rev. 22:2 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.

The water of life in verse 1 is for everyone but here we have a tree of life and it is reserved for those who were restored (resurrected) in the first resurrection to the former glory that they had in the age that was before this present flesh age.

Rev. 22:3 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:

The curse is found in Genesis 3 where Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden and denied further direct access to God and access to the tree of life. His throne will be in the New Jerusalem and those of us who are accounted worthy to partake in the first resurrection will live and work there as we serve Him. Those who are not accounted worthy to inherit eternal life in the judgment after Christ appears will be denied access to the city during the Millennium and remain outside of it for the duration which we shall see shortly. Those outside will have the living waters but they will not have access to the city or to the tree of life, which things are reserved for those who were accounted worthy to once again receive the blessing of eternal life.

Rev. 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

To see God's face will truly be an honor because there is no evidence in the scriptures that any of us have ever seen it, at least whilst in the flesh. John even goes so far as to say in 1 John 4:12 that "no man hath seen God at any time". This verse is generally taken to mean that no man has perceived the mind of God, but it is possible that he meant seeing God as He really is. It would be tantamount to looking into the sun, or something like that.

Concerning His name in their foreheads, His servants are marked with His mark just as those who accepted and worshipped the beast had accepted the mark of the beast. It is in their foreheads because it is in their brains, that is to say, in their minds. They love Him and they willingly serve Him. That is what it means to have His name in their foreheads, and they know His name just as He promised.

Rev. 22:5 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.

John knew nothing about lighting except basically firelight and daylight, but the city will be ultra high tech and won't need them just as most modern buildings today don't need them. Firelight is beautiful but very primitive, and even today in most of the world it is used mainly for ambiance. This truly miraculous city will be constantly and perpetually lighted by other sources which God will provide. Perhaps it will be illuminated by the light that emanates from Him and His throne, who knows.

The last clause is simply saying that the servants of God will have positions of authority within the government of God on a continuing basis.

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.

Verse 6 begins the final statements leading to closure of the book of Revelation.

Rev. 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Render blessed as happy. Once again, Jesus is warning of His imminent return, and He is also validating the book, but even today, here at the end of time, men still argue over it as they did in the beginning of the Christian era. It was not considered valid by many when it first appeared and it was not accepted by church leaders for inclusion in the New Testament until after 400 A.D.

Rev. 22:8 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.

John is overcome with emotion again and repeats the same mistake he made in chapter 19. He couldn't help it, poor thing. He was overawed by it all.

Rev. 22:9 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.

This is the final witness to us that we should not worship angels. Don't be taken in by all of the angel claptrap being sold in the market place and promoted by the media today. If you encounter any angels treat them well but don't worship them. The only exception would be the Angel of the Lord, or as some say, the Angel of the Presence, because He is the manifestation of God in angelic form, a Theophany as it were. As the angel said here in verse 9, worship God only.

Rev. 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

The seals had been removed by the Lamb in chapter 5 of this same book and it will remain unsealed until the prophecies contained therein will take place. Remember verse 10 in chapter 1 where John said that he was in the Spirit on the Lord's day? It is critical that you understand that these events will be played out on the great and terrible day of the Lord as spoken of by the prophets from the very beginning. The last clause is referring back to the statement made in the first clause of verse 7 above, "behold I come quickly".

Rev. 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

At the moment that He appears we will all be whatever we are and we will go into the Millennium and the judgment that way. That is why Jesus warned numerous times in the four gospels that there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. When men, especially those in mainstream corporate churchianity, find out how they have been duped into religious nonsense and traditions of men that God took no pleasure in, they are going to be stunned, remorseful, and incredibly angry. All to no avail because it is too late for them to be in the first resurrection, they must wait for the second one.

Rev. 22:12 ~~And~~, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man ~~according~~ as his work shall be.

Render every man as each one. Render shall be as is. Again, notice the emphasis on works.

Friends, this is the year 2004 and the seals are soon to be opened (if it hasn't begun already), the prophecies will begin to come to pass, the Antichrist will appear, and the true Jesus will appear immediately after that. Time is short, but I believe there is still time to change and grow in God's word. There is still time to do some works for God. In the very near future verses 11 and 12 will have to be fulfilled, so if you think that you would like to do something, start right now before we get to that point in time.

At this time I believe that you can still qualify for inclusion in the first resurrection and achieve a position of authority within God's government. You can still be one who has access to the New Jerusalem and the tree of life during the coming Millennium. Think about it!

Rev. 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

He is Alpha (the first letter of the then Greek alphabet), the One who was, and is, first and foremost, but Lucifer rebelled and attempted to become the Alpha God so to speak. He convinced a third of us to do the same. With the exception of a few who fought for our Father, the other two-thirds stood around like spectators and did nothing at all. This sedition and rebellion is inferred in Revelation 12:4. That is why we are here in the flesh being tested as we are. That is why there is an elect, and that is why many are called but few are chosen. The end of it is that the Antichrist and those who follow him will soon perish and be gone forever, and that is why Christ is also the Omega (the last letter of the then Greek alphabet. He is always the One in charge, at the first, and also at the end.

Rev. 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Do his commandments is rendered wash their robes in some texts. During the Millennium only those who repented, loved, and obeyed Him in this life in the flesh will have these specific rights. The living water will be for everyone living on Earth during the Millennium but access to the New Jerusalem and to the tree of life are reserved for those who are in the first resurrection.

Rev. 22:15 ~~For~~ without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Those without are those who were not resurrected in the first resurrection. They are alive as spirits but they are not saved yet and so they must remain outside the city. They absolutely will not have access to the city or the tree of life until they overcome and qualify. During the thousand years they must remain outside the city and learn to overcome through proper education and discipline, which incidentally, will be administered by those who did overcome during this flesh age.

At the end of the thousand year Millennium those not resurrected in the first resurrection will have a final test to pass. Satan will be released from his chains in the abyss and he will once again set about subverting souls and convincing them that he has a better way of doing things. Incongruously, even after a thousand years of hearing God's honest truth and receiving the proper discipline, some will still love Lucifer's wonderful, sweet, religious ways and will once again follow him. They will succumb to his final swan song and this time it will be to their utter destruction. How sad!

Rev. 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, ~~and~~ the bright and morning star.

The angel mentioned is that angel He sent to John in Revelation 1:1. Once again, Jesus is validating what is to be delivered to the churches, and that it is He who was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament scriptures. He is in the Old Testament writings, the apocryphal writings, and the pseudepigraphal writings, but especially in the law, the prophets, and the psalms.

Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Heareth here means to hear and understand. This invitation is extended to all even to us living now in 2004, but also including those dwelling outside the New Jerusalem during the Millennium. Take the water of life freely and live in the truth.

Rev. 22:18 ~~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:

Render every man as everyone, any man as anyone, and these things as them.

Rev. 22:19 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.

Render book of life as tree of life. Don't change the intent and contents of the book.

Rev. 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. ~~Even so~~, come, Lord Jesus.

Omit even so. Once the day of the Lord commences, Jesus appears quickly thereafter.

Rev. 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus ~~Christ~~ be with you all. Amen.

Render our as the, and you all as all the saints. Many texts omit Christ.

Well, that's it friends, the whole book of Revelation. The only thing remaining are some closing comments.

God bless with understanding of His word.

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