Verse 1,2) “AND HE showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb. 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.”These verses are symbolic, or literal, or both. I believe they are both, and that there is an actual river proceeding out of the throne of God, and the Lamb ( Jesus) and in the middle of the river is the tree of life for the healing of the nations. These verses also show us that God who is ever merciful wants to heal the nations. I believe that God won’t be satisfied until everyone is finally saved and his creation restored as he wanted even before the devil sinned.  (2 Peter 3:9 says; “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” The river and the tree of life are also symbolic of God’s ever flowing Word. If you have ever seen a Banyan Tree you can get some bit of an idea of what this tree might look like. I once saw a tree on the island of Maui in Hawaii that took up a whole city block. However I’m sure that this tree spoken of in these verses is a whole lot bigger.

Verse 3,4) “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: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” The curse that God put upon the earth when Adam and Eve sinned will be removed. It says God will write his name in his servants foreheads. I don’t think this is talking about a tattoo, but more like God and his word will be on our minds and in our hearts, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:2). “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (John 15:3). We need to brain wash ourselves with the Word of God, and let God’s Word cleanse our hearts and minds. The best way to do this is to memorize the scriptures and live in the Word day and night.

Verse 5,6) “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. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.” God’s light and glory will bring us light all the time. We won’t need to sleep. Who would want to sleep anyway with so many exciting and wonderful things happening. “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”  (Psalm 121:4). “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (I Corinthians 2:9). The most wonderful and beautiful things that you could imagine are nothing compared to what God’s got in store for you that love him.

Verse 7-9) “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 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 showed me these things. 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.” When Jesus comes he will come quickly. This prophecy was written around 90 A.D. and Jesus has still not come back yet. This amount of time is nothing to God who lives in the eternal now of the spirit world where a thousand years are like a day. However Jesus is getting ready to appear in the clouds of heaven and take all the saved to be with him, just as all the prophecy’s in the Bible predicted, and which are being fulfilled before our eyes everyday. God does not want us to worship Angels, or make statues of them, and pray to them, or make necklaces out of their likeness, because many of them are just people like you and me, full of mistakes, and faults and sins, but cleansed by the blood of Jesus.(1 John 1:7). You will be blessed by God if you keep the sayings of this book. The best way to keep these sayings is to give them away to as many people as you can.

Verse 10,11) “And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 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.” God does not want us to say in our hearts Oh, I’m just going to wait until I get older or until I see all these end time events happening, then I’ll get right with God and start living for him. Our time is always at hand, in fact the Bible tells us that our life is but a vapor that appears for a little while then vanishes away, and that we have no guarantee of tomorrow.(James 4:14). If the Christians living back in John’s day new that Jesus wasn’t coming for around a couple thousand years they might have gotten a little discouraged. Jesus said “no man knoweth the day or hour of his return, not even the angels of heaven but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:36). However there are many signs being fulfilled in our life time now.

Verse 12-17) “And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give everyman according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 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. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 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. 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.” Jesus is the beginning of God’s creation. The Bible tells us in Revelation 3:14 “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;”  ^“in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” (Colossians 1:14-20). Our Heavenly rewards are based upon what we do in this life for Jesus Christ.Being born again is to be cleansed from our sins by asking Jesus to come into our heart and accepting him as your saviour who died for our sins, and rose from the dead. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with thy mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans10:9,10). The saved will be able to go into the city and even live there. Jesus not only created the royal lineage of King David but he was also born on this earth from it. Jesus is also symbolized by the bright and Morning star, the brightest star in the sky. Jesus does not force people to come to him and drink of the water of life of his word. He wants us to want him and his Word.

Verse 18-19)” 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 which are written in this book: 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”. This is a very serious warning to not change GOD’S WORD or teach false doctrine. “If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any mans work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (I Corinthians 3:14,15).”Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men  so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:19). You can’t loose your salvation, but you can bring God’s chastisements down upon yourself. (Hebrews 12:1-11). Apparently teaching false doctrine is a very serious sin in the eyes of God. Are you sure that you want to teach the false doctrine of a works Salvation, or pre-tribulation rapture? You better make sure that what you are teaching is the truth, or you will receive the plagues written in this book. This is a very serious warning from the Lord ! The Lord does not want his children to be taught poisonous false doctrine ! Repent and change while you can !!!

Verse 20,21) “He which testifieth these things saith, ‘Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. GRACE is a Gift Received At Christ’s Expense.

Say this prayer to be saved: Jesus, I want to know you, and to live forever in Heaven, I know I have made mistakes and done bad things- and I am sorry. Please forgive me. I know I don’t deserve it, but I accept your love and I accept you as my Saviour. I believe you died on the cross for my sins ,and rose from the dead. Please come into my heart and life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me your peace. Amen.