The Tree.

The Bible ends where it began — with the tree of life.  Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden because of their sin.  The Bible in Genesis 3 explicitly states that they were forced away from the tree of life so that they would not live on this earth forever.  To eat of the tree would have been a curse and God in his grace did not want to compound our curse.  But here in Revelation 22 the tree of life removes the curse so that there is healing.  God’s original intent is restored as he gives us a new heaven and a new earth.  God’s intent from the beginning was life.  Our sin distorted God’s original intent but through Jesus life has been restored.  Remain faithful to God and the Lamb.  Real living is found only in the Lamb.  He is the giver of life.  Healing is found in God’s stream of waters.  Life never ends with God.  For the believer death has no hold.  Life doesn’t end but we are moved from one form of life into eternal life with Him.  All who have washed their robes in the water of life have access to the tree of life.  Come Lord Jesus!

God’s Wrath.

Throughout this section, we are told that eventually God’s wrath is exerted.  There are times for evil to win, but then God steps in and punishes.  His punishment is severe and final.  Evil is destroyed.  As believers we long for evil to be destroyed.  We anticipate a time when God reveals himself fully and completely.  We want to be vindicated. There is a warning for believers in this section.  Our allegiance to the Lamb must be obvious.  To join with evil is to deny one’s faith.  We cannot drink of living water and stagnant water at the same time.  Our attitudes and actions in opposition to evil must be consistent.  The more we align with this world, the more we pull away from the Lamb.  The warning — we too will receive God’s wrath because of our alliance with the world.  We are in the world but we must not allow the world to be in us.  We are citizens of the kingdom of God.  As citizens we long for God to be seen through us.  We patiently endure and remain faithful to our King.

Judgment.

Seven seals leads to seven trumpets.  Two out of three woes occur.  Angels are released and they act.  Two witnesses die and are resurrected.  Lots of activity and events.  There is a common thread through this section.  Those who love God plead for God to judge the evil in the world.  The dead saints in 6:10 beg for God to judge and they are told to be patient.  At the end of chapter 7, white robed saints are before God’s throne praising him as he begins to judge (are these the same white robed saints in chapter 6?).  At the end of chapter 11, praise is given to God for judging the dead and the living.  Among the truths of this writing is the one that speaks about judgment.  A day will come when all will stand before God.  Patience is expected until that time and confidence is needed as we wait.  Catastrophes may come.  Death and destruction may be the outcome of evil, but a time for God to judge the world will come.  As we wait we keep our hearts open to praise for God is worthy.  We also are aware that the evil in this world drives us toward God.  We want him to act.  We grow weary of evil’s victory.  We may become discouraged.  This speaks of our hearts desire to be with God and know that a better place is waiting.

Jesus the Lamb.

From the beginning, we are told that Revelation is from Jesus about events that are soon to take place.  We are told that it is intended to reveal that Jesus is King of kings and that he is worthy of praise and honor.  Seven congregations of God’s people are specifically identified and these seven congregations are encouraged to remain faithful to Jesus who has overcome and won the victory.  Jesus has been victorious.  Jesus has overcome.  Jesus is the only one who is worthy to take the scroll from God’s hand.  While this writing challenges us in terms of language, symbolism, and explanation, the intent must not be lost.  The writing is to reveal God’s purposes through Jesus and calls on all who read it to respond in faith and trust.  Let’s imagine the scene around God’s throne.  Let’s imagine what it would have been like to hear the voices and to see the Lamb approach God.  Let’s imagine the intensity of that moment and let’s allow the images to affect how we live today.  “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!”

Encouragement.

In the latter part of the 1st century, preachers and teachers depended on the generosity of fellow Christians to survive financially and physically.  Believers provided food, lodging, and money for these teachers as they traveled from place to place.  2 John warns against supporting false teachers and 3 John endorses supporting true teachers even though there is opposition.  John reminds his readers that these teachers need encouragement to continue the work of preaching and teaching.  John’s letters are to encourage the readers who in turn will encourage the teachers.  This is the nature of encouragement.  It is passed on.  Encouragement results in new found strength and confidence.  Because of our love for one another, our words and actions need to build up not tear down.  When we build each other up, then we foster a desire to continue in our work and ministry.  While some have the special gift of encouraging (Romans 12:8), all of us have the ability to speak words and to engage in actions that support confidence.  Let’s be encouragers.

Confidence.

John wants us to be confident about our relationship with God.  He wants us to know that we have continual forgiveness because of Jesus.  We have confidence because our love for God leads us away from sin.  We are confident that we will have an eternal relationship with God.  We have confidence because the Holy Spirit lives within us.  Our confidence allows us to boldly ask God for his will to be done in our lives.  Our confidence increases as we see that the world turns against us.  Knowing that we have lived like Jesus in this world results in greater confidence when we finally see God face to face.  It is because of our confidence that we can truly love another person seeking what is best for that person rather than seeking what that person can do for us.  We know that we have eternal life because of Jesus.  We will never die.  We will live forever with God.  Live confidently and boldly.

Scoffers.

There will always be those who do not believe in Jesus.  Those who believe in Jesus, his life, and his saving actions will always be open to ridicule from those who do not believe.  In our culture, there are those who question Jesus’ existence.  There are those who believe Jesus existed but who do not believe in the resurrection.  There are those who think Jesus to be a prophet similar to other prophets.  These are mild in comparison to those who poke fun at God and those who are foolish enough to believe in God.  As believers we defend our faith as best as we can remembering that faith finds its fullest depth trusting in things that cannot be seen.  But we also remember that God’s patience is to give everyone an opportunity to repent.  We want that too.  So while we may find ourselves uncomfortable even angry because there are those who ridicule us and our faith, we wait patiently knowing that God will eventually bring destruction and judgment.  We want all to know God.  While we wait, we pray.  There will always be scoffers because there will always be believers of God’s word and actions through Jesus. Remain faithful.

Finishing well.

This is Paul’s last letter.  Paul encourages Timothy to complete his tasks with confidence and boldness.  While there are several encouraging texts in this letter, the one that expresses Paul’s point well is found in 4:6-8.  Knowing that his life was coming to an end, Paul uses a metaphor of completing a race to illustrate the victory that was his.  Paul is confident that the victor’s crown was waiting for him but this same crown would be given to all who completed the race.  Notice the end of verse 8.  This crown will be given to all who long for or eagerly look forward to the appearing of Jesus.  There are many things that we anticipate.  Today lots of children are anticipating Christmas.  Some are anticipating having a few days off.  Families anticipate the return of sons and daughters who serve in the military.  To look forward to the return of Jesus means that we want Him to return.  Anticipating his return means that we remain ready.  We do not get distracted or lose our focus.  Life is lived with his return in mind.  Let’s run our race well.  Let’s persevere to the end.  Let’s keep our eyes focused on Jesus.

Faith.

Faith is confident about our hope.  Faith trusts in what cannot be seen.  Faith perseveres.  Faith understands that challenges will come.  Faith acts when others ridicule.  Faith believes God can do the improbable.  Faith sees a future that others cannot see.  Faith understands that actions matter even as our attitude seeks to honor God.  Faith is willing to undergo discipline and discomfort so that God can be seen.  Faith wants nothing to do with sin.  Faith listens.  Faith submits.  Faith does good for others.  Faith waits.  Faith prays.  Faith knows that there will be a day when we will be with God forever.

Worship.

As believers we long for the time that we will see God face to face.  Until that day, worship becomes the means by which we enter into God’s presence.  Jesus is the one who made that possible for us.  Previously, under Moses’ law, only the high priest could enter into God’s presence on behalf of the people and then only once a year.  The people waited with cautious expectation for the high priest’s return to assure them that God had forgiven them.  Jesus has made it possible for each one to be in God’s presence.  Jesus became our High Priest and through his death, we all have access to God and his throne room.  We can draw near to God with great confidence and boldness.  God wants us with him.  By faith we approach God individually as well as corporately and through worship we are reminded that the day will come when we will see God face to face.  This is our hope.  Let’s encourage each other in our faith as we anticipate the day when we will be with God forever.