Revelation 22:1-7 · Genesis 2:0 · Genesis 3:0 · Ezekiel 47:0 · John 4:0 · John 7:0 · Revelation 7:17 · Revelation 21:6 · Zechariah 14:11 · Ephesians 1:6 · Ephesians 1:12 — Revelation
Come
Heaven is a transformed Garden of Eden where God's people will experience eternal life, security, and face-to-face relationship with God—a promise meant to encourage perseverance through present suffering.
The Text
What do you think the Garden of Eden was like? It is often depicted as a perfect place; a place where sin didn’t exist; a place where the temperature was a constant 75 degrees; a place where storms didn’t exist; a place where human beings truly loved each other; a place of great harmony and unity; a place where even the animals cared for one another. Some have said that it was a place where God and his creation were at one; a place where God spoke with his creation and his creation spoke with him.
It is hard for us to imagine the original Eden. Books and documentaries have been done trying to find the original spot for Eden. Throughout history when someone wanted to dream of an idyllic place, the words “Garden of Eden” have often been used. People long for Eden. It is equally interesting and exciting to see how God chose to begin and end his word. Genesis begins with a brief but expressive description of the Garden of Eden. It is in the Garden that humans are given work to do; marriage to enjoy; a relationship with the animals; and an openness with God. All of that falls apart because of sin—poor choices made; a belief that the creature knows more than the Creator. At the end of Genesis 3 we read: “So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”
No longer were humans allowed to eat from the tree of life. No longer were humans allowed to live. Death came. Our sin brought death. And all of creation—not just humanity—all of creation was given over to death because of our sin. But God’s intent for a face to face relationship could not be derailed by our sin. Instead, God had already planned for the day when that relationship could be restored. A day when God and his creature could see each other even in ways that Eden never allowed. And so God ends his Word with the same image as he began it. Revelation 22 has a picture of the Garden of Eden. But this time it isn’t a place on the face of planet Earth. This time it is a spiritual Eden. It is a place that is even better than the original Eden. It is a place that will be like comparing Audubon Park to Yellowstone. But John in his limited language tells us what he sees and he tells us what God promises.
Notice in verse 1, that in addition to the tree of life, there is the river of life and this river flows from the throne of God and the Lamb. Life itself, eternal life, is given by God to those who are his. In Genesis 2, the river flowed from Eden, but here it flows from God. In Ezekiel 47, there is a river which is said to flow from the temple of God. Everything that the river touches becomes fresh and new. But water is such an important image in other places. In John 4, Jesus is the living water. In John 7, the Holy Spirit is living water. In Revelation 7:17, the Lamb leads the victorious saints to streams of living water. And in Revelation 21:6, God gives to believers the spring of water of life freely.
But notice in verse 2, not only is there the river of the water of life but the tree of life is there. What is the point? This new Garden of Eden; this spiritual Eden is full of life. We eat and drink life. And this life is from God. This life brings healing and health. Again, Ezekiel is the background for this image. And there is no curse according to verse 3. Zechariah 14:11 says that Jerusalem will be inhabited and no longer will it be destroyed (or have a curse) and Jerusalem will dwell secure. It is a promise of perpetual peace and security. This vision echoes that promise. It is also a reference to the curse brought against Adam and Eve in the Garden. These have been removed. There is absolute security and peace in this spiritual Eden.
And we will have a new relationship with God. According to verse 3, we will serve God and the Lamb. Just as it was meant to be, we will fulfill our purpose in this new Eden. Ephesians 1:6 & 12 tells us that our purpose is to bring glory to God. In this new Eden we will fulfill that purpose in a way that we never thought possible. But don’t skip verse 4. In this new Eden we will see God face to face and we will wear his name. To see the face of God and to be like him in ways we never thought possible is the promise and it is fulfilled in the new Garden of Eden.
Then finally there is no night there. No evil; no darkness; no impurity; no shame; no deceit. Instead, the light of God will fill our lives and this world so that the radiance of God is all we need to see. Truth, honor, and glory will fill our eyes and we will be with God forever and ever.
Application
The Bible begins and ends in the Garden of Eden. Human life began in a physical Eden; life will exist forever in a spiritual Eden. Writing to Christians who were suffering immeasurably more than we can imagine, John through the inspiration of God allows us to catch a glimpse of life after this earthly life. And what he wrote motivated those initial readers to remain faithful. 2000 years later it still has the same effect. We look forward to a place of healing, security, and seeing God face to face. It will be a wonderful place. A place where we can be with God as he always intended for us to be with him.
But the rest of chapter 22 is both a reminder and an invitation. It is a reminder that Jesus is coming soon. It is a reminder that the glory of the new Eden is not far away. But it is also an invitation. An invitation to drink freely from the water of life. Even as Revelation comes to a close, the readers are encouraged to take of God’s gracious gift.
One of the things I have stressed in this series is that we must not lose sight of what is truly important. God assures us by his nature and his character that these things will happen. And while there are those who scorn such an idea, those who want only what they want now, and those whose faith is a fair weather faith, the words of verse 7 need to be heard again, “Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” This is blessing from Jesus and it is intended to encourage us to persevere. And that is what we must do—persevere. Perseverance: Never give up.
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