We’ve reached Revelation 22:4 in our studies, with only one more verse to consider. A total (Revelation 21:1 through Revelation 22:5) of 32 related verses of Scripture, all descriptive of a future place called “New Jerusalem.”

Today’s “nugget” reads: “And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.”

The subject of this little verse (this divinely inspired “sentence”) is the pronoun “they.” And its antecedent is the noun “servants” in verse 3. “And His servants shall see His Face; and His Name shall be in their foreheads.” Note that I have now capitalized the words referring to Deity.

To see the Face of Jesus!

The verb “see” translates the Greek word “optanomai,” derived from “horao,” meaning “to stare!” One lexicon says of “horao” that it implies “perception (understanding) in general, with its prominence mainly being in the mental element.” It is of course future tense, but “middle” voice! Meaning the ones who see Him are changed forever, by their clear view of the Saviour!

The noun “face” is “prosopon.” With “pros” meaning “to, toward,” nearly “face-to-Face!” And “ops” meaning one’s “visage, countenance.” Right before Him, apparently, that close!

And “name” is the Greek word “onoma,” being built on the “ginosko” root, imply one’s really KNOWING the person who is so named! Personal, experiential, intimate knowledge!

And the word “foreheads” is “metopon,” a blend of “meta” and ops.” Literally “between the eyes” or of course … the “forehead.” The devil’s crowd wear “666” on their foreheads! God’s people are marked in a much better way!

The verse almost implies that when we see Him … we shall take on some of His very Features! His Character, His Beauty, His Persona, His “aura?”

As Second Corinthians 4:6 taught. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Note the Face of Jesus again here! And the pristine Light! And the way such Beauty impacts us! Clearly, shining hearts, maybe even shining faces … for you and me in Glory!

Looking at Him … eternally!

Sure sounds great.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today we study the third verse of Revelation 22, the Bible’s last chapter. And it is associated with Revelation 21, a “block” of Bible Material describing a future City called New Jerusalem.

“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.” Revelation 22:3

“No more curse” (what wonderful words) means that sin is gone! All sin! The Greek for “curse” is “katanathema,” an intensive form of being “cursed!” It is built on the (heathen) idea of something being dedicated to a god, therefore designated to be sacrificed, killed, destroyed.” None of THAT in Heaven!

And for the second time in this chapter (Revelation 22, not Revelation 21) the expression “the throne of God and the lamb” appears! Look back at verse 1. Looks to me like this is just one Throne. Yet occupied by God … God the Father … and the His Son the Lamb, Jesus our Saviour!

God’s very Residence (“throne in Greek meaning “seat) will therefore eternally be in this City! That too is why there is no more curse! (Jesus removed our Curse, took our curse upon Himself, those of us who are saved. Who have by faith been washed in His Blood! It’s like Paul wrote in Galatians 3:13 … “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Amen to this glorious Truth!

But now look!

“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.” Revelation 22:3

Our eternal state, living in that Place called Heaven, the New Heaven, New Jerusalem (John uses all these terms at one time or another) … will not be a “lazy” state of inactivity, either!

“His servants shall serve Him!”

Surprisingly, the verb “serve” here is “latreuo,” meaning “to do something and be given a reward!” The noun “latris” is simply “a hired menial, a slave!” But with a package of handsome benefits!

The verb “latreuo” also means “worship” 3 times in the King James New Testament. But it implies activity, either way. BUSY for Jesus, BUSY around Jesus! This Place is NOT a retirement home!

And is serving the Lamb a chore, a drudgery?

NO!

It is an honor!

Revelation 7:15 may place a corollary instance of this idea. “Therefore are they (a group of saints) before the throne of God, AND SERVE HIM DAY AND NIGHT IN HIS TEMPLE: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” Wow!

Indeed we have learned another fact or two about our future Home again this morning!

“Sweeter as the days go by,” New Jerusalem!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Three more lessons, after today, the Lord willing. And we shall have come to the end of the most accurate Bible description of Heaven, New Jerusalem, in all literature. That’s because of the “miracle” of Divine Inspiration!

And Revelation 22:2 certainly proves helpful to the student of prophecy. “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.” Revelation 22:2

The “Tree of Life,” as was described in several of the great Millennial Passages of Scripture. (Though the Millennium precedes the “Eternal State,” which we are now studying.)  Ezekiel wrote of the 1,000 year Kingdom Rule of Christ: “And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all TREES for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” Ezekiel 47:12, from which John seems to have borrowed some of the former Prophet’s vocabulary. Though not all of it.

Also Millennial, when these words will be fulfilled. Jesus’ Promise to the Church at Ephesus: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the TREE OF LIFE, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7

So this captivating Tree, first seen in the Garden of Eden, is still in God’s Plan! As in Genesis 2:9. “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the TREE OF LIFE also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”

Then look!

Yes food … in Heaven! “The tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month ….” Do recall that Jesus, even in His post-resurrection, glorified Body, ate “broiled fish and honeycomb” one evening! Luke 24:42 proves it. “And they (the Disciples) gave him (Jesus) a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.” After He surprisingly asked, “Have ye here any meat?”

Like each Season here on earth now produces its own set of “blessings.” So each “month” in Heaven will do the same. A tree that bears different kinds of fruit apparently! Sounds just like our Lord, His Handiwork!

And instead of a local pharmacy?

“Leaves” as medicines, though there is no longer any sickness! Maybe medicine like “vitamins?” The (Greek) noun “healing” (in English this would be called a “gerund”) is spelled “therapeia,” our very word “therapy!” Eating as an act of worship, maybe? To the Provider of everything good?

And the word “nations” is “ethnos.” Any “ethnic” identity. Remember Revelation 5:9-10 describes for us a worship service in Heaven. (The “old” Heaven, I guess I should say. It has now passed away and the “New Heaven” and the “New Jerusalem” have been created, along with the “new earth.”) Anyway, the verses: “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou (the Lamb, Jesus) art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of EVERY KINDRED, and TONGUE (LANGUAGE), and PEOPLE, and NATION; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Wow, “every nation” John said, observed.

New Jerusalem!

Eternal joy!

Eternal well-being!

Eternal life!

All because of Jesus.

Because of the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

And God willing, even more tomorrow about this amazing Place!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Yes, we have changed chapters, but the theme remains the same, Heaven.

All 27 verses of Revelation 21 tell us, in every increasing specificity, about the thrilling traits of that City. But Revelation 22 adds even more detail!

Let’s listen to John tell us more: “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.”

In New Jerusalem, a River!

And it’s unpolluted, “pure” being in Greek “katharos,” physically clean! Actually, clean in every way!

Not a river of fire or mud … but “water!”

Water of “Life!” Reminds us of John 7:38, doesn’t it? Where Jesus said: “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of LIVING water.”

The adjective “clear” translates “lampros,” our word “lamp,” literally meaning “giving light, lustrous, shining!” Once the King James Bible expresses this word as “gorgeous!”

“Proceeding out” has the idea of going from point “A” to point “B,” all the way through something! Our future Home, the Holy City … has but one Street, brilliant gold. And then one River, 100% pure and glistening! Constantly flowing too, no dry seasons there!

And the word “throne” simply means “seat,” where God rests! (I’m thinking of the Mercy Seat!) He does not sleep, no beds there. At least, no record of any.

One Throne, yet it’s occupancy is dual! “God” and The “Lamb.” We Trinitarians would say this is the Father and the Son! Yes, Jesus is the Lamb, John 1:29. John the Baptist, first time he ever saw our Lord, proclaimed: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

Looks like everywhere God lives, there is a river flowing from His Presence. Remember Eden, the Garden there. “And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.” Genesis 2:10

And Ezekiel says in the Millennium, such will be the case. “Afterward he (an angel) brought me again unto the door of the house (the House of God); and, behold, waters issued out (a river) from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.” Ezekiel 47:1

And now we’ve learned in New Jerusalem as well, for all eternity!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

No wonder Isaiah wrote: “For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her (Israel) like a river …” Isaiah 66:12

 

The City has 12 Gates!

None of which are closed, ever!

Plus, no darkness ever envelopes the special Place!

Not very favorable conditions for any kind of deceptive access to New Jerusalem! (Furthermore, there’s an angel posted at each Gate!)

Yet Revelation 21:27 still says: “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

Only saved people can go into Heaven, the eternal City. (Technically, I should say the New Heaven!) God has totally rebuilt His everlasting Abode!

No filth there! The word for “abomination” in Greek is awkwardly spelled “bdelugma” and means “stinking, detestable, repulsive.” Almost nauseating!

Nothing “plain” or “common” as well! The expression “any thing that defileth” uses the verb “koinoo,” anything “made average.” Actually, “ordinary,” not sanctified! Belonging to the crowds, the non-redeemed crowds! Not having been consecrated! EVERYTHING ENTERING THERE WILL BE SPECIAL, OR NOT ADMITTED AT ALL! Listen to Zeachariah (14:20) talk about the “gear” men put on “horses” during the Millennium. “In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.” Everything, in other words, is made holy! Godly frying pans!

And of course … no lies … in God’s Revelation 21 City! The noun is “pseudos,” and explains itself. (A “psuedomyn” is a name some author takes other than his own! A false identity!) Only truth where the Lord of Truth lives!

This too. Access is granted only to those who are “written” in a Special Book! “Grapho” in Greek can mean “described” or “engraved” …  as well as merely recorded by pencil or pen! Notice … it here does not say their NAMES are written there, but THEY are written there! Isaiah graphically puts it this way, with God talking: “Behold, I have graven thee (His people) upon the palms of my hands.” This Prophet too wrote with a City in the back of his mind, Isaiah 49:16.

Our Text for today, again: “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

The word “Lamb” is a diminutive noun specially meaning “little lamb!” A term of endearment as well as a grammatically precise designation! God’s Darling Lamb! Jesus Christ our Lord!

By the way, back to “are written” … a construction (a “perfect participle”) that suggests ongoing action! People’s names (presumably through the Tribulation and Millennium too) were STILL being written in that amazing Book of Life! Oh, how God loves to save the lost!

Normally now, having reached the end of a Chapter of Scripture … our series of studies would have concluded. But in this case we need to continue into Revelation 22 … for just a few more days. The first five verses there clearly “link” to the continuing description of this City (a Place we’ve grown to love more than ever)!

So, Monday morning we shall reverently tread into that final paragraph!

Something about a River!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell