Understanding the Book of Revelation:Chapter 22
Unless you have a strong aversion to news reports,this thought must have crossed your mind recently:OH NO! THESE MUST BE THE BIBLE PREDICTED "LAST DAYS"!! Hey you sure are perceptive !!! With the firm belief that we have now entered into the Tribulation time,I am publishing a series of studies of the Book of Revelation,that difficult to understand road map that shows exactly where we are headed,using the easy to understand Contemporary English Version (CEV) Bible that has been created by the American Bible Society.I will then add insights in capitol letters which will provide explanations and historical background information for the words you have just read, which will be in agreement with leading biblical commentaries,in order to at long last make the startling predictions made in this important and fascinating book comprehensible. I will occasionally make changes in the CEV words if I detect variance from the meaning found in the King James Bible.
OK Ready? Let's find out what's going down!
Revelation 22
1The angel showed me a river ( THIS IS A REFERENCE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT) that was crystal clear, and its waters gave life.The river came from the throne where God and the Lamb (JESUS) were seated. 2Then it flowed through the city's (HEAVEN) street.(HEAVEN'S PATH) On each side (ALONG SIDE) of the "river " were trees of life that grow a different kind of fruit each month of the year. The fruit gives life, (AS DOES THE "RIVER") and the leaves are used as medicine to heal (AND MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF) the nations. (THE VARIETY OF PEOPLE IN HEAVEN) 3God's curse (BECAUSE OF SIN) will no longer be on the people of the city.(HEAVEN) He and the Lamb (JESUS) will be seated there on their thrones, and the people will serve God 4and will see Him face to face. God's name will be written on the foreheads of the people( (A WAY OF EXPRESSING THAT THEY NOW BELONG TO GOD.THESE VERSES EXPLAIN THIS FURTHER: 1Corinthians 6:19-20 You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. 20God paid a great price for you.(THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF HIS SON ON THE CROSS) So use your body (WHICH RULES OUT DRUG ADDICTION) to honor God.)) 5Never again will night appear,(IN HEAVEN) and no one who lives there will ever need a lamp or the sun. The Lord God will be their light, and they will reign (LIVE LIKE KINGS WITH GOD AND JESUS) forever6Then I was told: " These words are true and can be trusted.The Lord God of His holy prophets, sent His messenger to show his servants what must be done shortly.(THIS IS A REFERENCE TO THE TRIBULATION PART OF JOHN'S VISION DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. IN OTHER WORDS THE CREATION OF THE NEW HEAVEN DESCRIBED IN THIS CHAPTER WILL OCCUR SOON AFTER THE TRIBULATION ENDS)7Remember, I (JESUS) am coming quickly" (ANOTHER WARNING THAT HIS APPEARANCE IN BOTH THE RAPTURE AND THE "SECOND COMING" WILL BE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED) God will bless everyone who remembers the information in this book.(SURE LOOKS LIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF CHRISTIANS AREN'T GETTING GOD'S BLESSING HERE!)8My name is John,(JESUS' BELOVED APOSTLE WHO ALSO WROTE FOUR OTHER BOOKS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT) and I am the one who heard and saw these things.(IN A VISION ) Then after I had heard and saw all of this, I knelt down and began to worship (BECAUSE HE WAS SO OVERWHELMED BY THE LOVE OF GOD THAT FLOWED THROUGH HIM AT THIS TIME ) at the feet of the angel who had shown these events to me.9But the angel said, Don't do that! I am a servant, just like you. I am the same as a follower and a prophet and everyone else who obeys what is written in this book. God is the one you should worship.( YES NO DEAD SAINTS, YES NO CHURCH LEADERS,YES NO JOSEPH OR MARY WHO ARE NOT MENTIONED IN THIS BOOK AND IN FACT NOT MENTIONED IN ALMOST NONE OF THE REST OF THE BIBLE EITHER) 10Don't keep the prophecies in this book a secret. These things will happen soon.(ACCORDING TO HEAVEN TIME WHICH IS ONE DAY FOR EVERY 1000 YEARS OF EARTH TIME) 11Evil people will keep on being evil, and everyone who is filthy-minded will still be filthy. ( FOR THOSE WHO QUESTION AN ETERNAL DAMNATION, EVEN HELL WILL NOT CHANGE PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR WHICH IS OF COURSE WHY THEY MUST REMAIN THERE ) But let good people remain righteous, and let God's people remain holy. 12Then I was told: I (JESUS SPEAKING HERE) will come quickly.(THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED "KEEPING THEM ON THEIR TOES" BY ONCE AGAIN WARNING OF HIS SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL) And when I come, I will reward everyone for what they have done.(YES WORKS OR SERVICE TO GOD IS IMPORTANT !) 13 I am Alpha (THE FIRST LETTER IN THE GREEK ALPHABET ) and Omega,(THE LAST LETTER IN THE GREEK ALPHABET) the first and the last, the beginning and the end.( OF ALL CREATION) 14God will bless all who have washed (SPIRITUALLY CLEANSED) their robes in the blood (SHED DURING JESUS' SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF ON THE CROSS ) of the Lamb. They will each be given access to the tree of life,(SALVATION) and they can enter the gates of God's city.(HEAVEN) 15But outside the city will be those who engage in animal-like behavior, (EASILY ANGERED AND QUICK TO FIGHT ) witches,(THOSE WHO PRACTICE HARRY POTTER TYPE WITCHCRAFT) (SEXUALLY) immoral persons, murderers, idol worshipers,(THOSE WHO WORSHIP ANYTHING EVEN THEIR OWN FAMILY OR COUNTRY, AS MUCH OR EVEN MORE THAN GOD) and everyone who loves to tell lies. (CONSIDERING THE ESSENTIAL ROLE THAT DECEIT PLAYS IN THE SELLING OF CONSUMER GOODS AND SERVICES AND EVEN POLITICIANS ,IT LOOKS LIKE HEAVEN CERTAINLY IS NOT GOING TO HAVE AN OVER-POPULATION PROBLEM !) 16I am Jesus! (HERE JESUS IS DICTATING WORDS TO THE APOSTLE JOHN ) I am the one (VERIFICATION OF THE AUTHENTICITY OF THIS BOOK) who sent my angel to tell all of this to you for the churches. I am David's Great Descendant,(REFERS TO JESUS' PARTIALLY HUMAN NATURE DURING HIS MINISTRY ON EARTH) and I am also the bright morning star.(THIS IS THOUGHT TO REFER TO THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE A SPECTACULAR NEW BEGINNING FOR OUR LIVES THROUGH THE SAVING AND TRANSFORMING POWER OF JESUS AND HIS HOLY SPIRIT) 17The (HOLY) Spirit and the Bride (JESUS) say, "Come!" Everyone who hears this (BY HAVING THESES VERSES READ IN CHURCHES WHICH ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS) should say, "Come!" (THEY SHOULD TESTIFY TO OTHERS BY SAYING TO THEM "COME TO GOD") If you are thirsty (HAVE A SPIRITUAL THIRST OR A NEED FOR GOD IN YOUR LIFE), come! If you want life-giving water, (THE HOLY SPIRIT) come and take it. It's free! (THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A FREE BUT NECESSARY "LIFE-GIVING" GIFT FROM GOD )18Here is my warning for everyone who hears the prophecies in this book: If you add to them, God will make you suffer the punishments written about in this book. 19If you take away words from these prophecies,(INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY THE PROPHETIC STATEMENTS ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH RAPTURES) God will remove his name from the Book of Life (THE RECORD OF THOSE CHOSEN FOR SALVATION) and prevent him from entering the Holy City (HEAVEN) and receiving the other blessings described in this book.(THIS IS THE FINAL REFUTATION OF THE "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED" THEORY AS WE ARE WARNED THAT OUR NAMES CAN BE REMOVED FROM SALVATION RECORDS AND ACCESS TO HEAVEN DENIED WHICH MAKES RESIDENCY AVAILABLE IN ONLY ONE OTHER LOCATION) 20The One (JESUS) who has spoken these things says, "I come quickly!"(HERE IS A FURTHER EXPLANATION OF THIS WARNING: 1THESSALONIANS 5:1-6 1I don't need to write you about the time or date when all this will happen. 2You surely know that the Lord's return will be as a thief coming at night. 3People will think they are safe and secure. But destruction will suddenly strike them like the pains of a woman about to give birth. And they won't escape. 4My dear friends, don't live in darkness, and so that day won't surprise you like a thief. 5You belong to the light and live in the day. We don't live in the night or belong to the dark. 6Others may sleep, but we should stay awake and be alert.) Amen.Even so, come Lord Jesus! 21 I pray that the Lord Jesus will be kind to all of you.(A TERRIFIC WAY, USING MODERN ENGLISH , TO END THIS TOTALLY ASTONISHING BOOK)
( THANK YOU GOD! AMEN !! )
(NOW GO TO JESUS IN PRAYER !!)
OK Ready? Let's find out what's going down!
Revelation 22
1The angel showed me a river ( THIS IS A REFERENCE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT) that was crystal clear, and its waters gave life.The river came from the throne where God and the Lamb (JESUS) were seated. 2Then it flowed through the city's (HEAVEN) street.(HEAVEN'S PATH) On each side (ALONG SIDE) of the "river " were trees of life that grow a different kind of fruit each month of the year. The fruit gives life, (AS DOES THE "RIVER") and the leaves are used as medicine to heal (AND MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF) the nations. (THE VARIETY OF PEOPLE IN HEAVEN) 3God's curse (BECAUSE OF SIN) will no longer be on the people of the city.(HEAVEN) He and the Lamb (JESUS) will be seated there on their thrones, and the people will serve God 4and will see Him face to face. God's name will be written on the foreheads of the people( (A WAY OF EXPRESSING THAT THEY NOW BELONG TO GOD.THESE VERSES EXPLAIN THIS FURTHER: 1Corinthians 6:19-20 You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. 20God paid a great price for you.(THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF HIS SON ON THE CROSS) So use your body (WHICH RULES OUT DRUG ADDICTION) to honor God.)) 5Never again will night appear,(IN HEAVEN) and no one who lives there will ever need a lamp or the sun. The Lord God will be their light, and they will reign (LIVE LIKE KINGS WITH GOD AND JESUS) forever6Then I was told: " These words are true and can be trusted.The Lord God of His holy prophets, sent His messenger to show his servants what must be done shortly.(THIS IS A REFERENCE TO THE TRIBULATION PART OF JOHN'S VISION DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. IN OTHER WORDS THE CREATION OF THE NEW HEAVEN DESCRIBED IN THIS CHAPTER WILL OCCUR SOON AFTER THE TRIBULATION ENDS)7Remember, I (JESUS) am coming quickly" (ANOTHER WARNING THAT HIS APPEARANCE IN BOTH THE RAPTURE AND THE "SECOND COMING" WILL BE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED) God will bless everyone who remembers the information in this book.(SURE LOOKS LIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF CHRISTIANS AREN'T GETTING GOD'S BLESSING HERE!)8My name is John,(JESUS' BELOVED APOSTLE WHO ALSO WROTE FOUR OTHER BOOKS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT) and I am the one who heard and saw these things.(IN A VISION ) Then after I had heard and saw all of this, I knelt down and began to worship (BECAUSE HE WAS SO OVERWHELMED BY THE LOVE OF GOD THAT FLOWED THROUGH HIM AT THIS TIME ) at the feet of the angel who had shown these events to me.9But the angel said, Don't do that! I am a servant, just like you. I am the same as a follower and a prophet and everyone else who obeys what is written in this book. God is the one you should worship.( YES NO DEAD SAINTS, YES NO CHURCH LEADERS,YES NO JOSEPH OR MARY WHO ARE NOT MENTIONED IN THIS BOOK AND IN FACT NOT MENTIONED IN ALMOST NONE OF THE REST OF THE BIBLE EITHER) 10Don't keep the prophecies in this book a secret. These things will happen soon.(ACCORDING TO HEAVEN TIME WHICH IS ONE DAY FOR EVERY 1000 YEARS OF EARTH TIME) 11Evil people will keep on being evil, and everyone who is filthy-minded will still be filthy. ( FOR THOSE WHO QUESTION AN ETERNAL DAMNATION, EVEN HELL WILL NOT CHANGE PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR WHICH IS OF COURSE WHY THEY MUST REMAIN THERE ) But let good people remain righteous, and let God's people remain holy. 12Then I was told: I (JESUS SPEAKING HERE) will come quickly.(THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED "KEEPING THEM ON THEIR TOES" BY ONCE AGAIN WARNING OF HIS SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL) And when I come, I will reward everyone for what they have done.(YES WORKS OR SERVICE TO GOD IS IMPORTANT !) 13 I am Alpha (THE FIRST LETTER IN THE GREEK ALPHABET ) and Omega,(THE LAST LETTER IN THE GREEK ALPHABET) the first and the last, the beginning and the end.( OF ALL CREATION) 14God will bless all who have washed (SPIRITUALLY CLEANSED) their robes in the blood (SHED DURING JESUS' SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF ON THE CROSS ) of the Lamb. They will each be given access to the tree of life,(SALVATION) and they can enter the gates of God's city.(HEAVEN) 15But outside the city will be those who engage in animal-like behavior, (EASILY ANGERED AND QUICK TO FIGHT ) witches,(THOSE WHO PRACTICE HARRY POTTER TYPE WITCHCRAFT) (SEXUALLY) immoral persons, murderers, idol worshipers,(THOSE WHO WORSHIP ANYTHING EVEN THEIR OWN FAMILY OR COUNTRY, AS MUCH OR EVEN MORE THAN GOD) and everyone who loves to tell lies. (CONSIDERING THE ESSENTIAL ROLE THAT DECEIT PLAYS IN THE SELLING OF CONSUMER GOODS AND SERVICES AND EVEN POLITICIANS ,IT LOOKS LIKE HEAVEN CERTAINLY IS NOT GOING TO HAVE AN OVER-POPULATION PROBLEM !) 16I am Jesus! (HERE JESUS IS DICTATING WORDS TO THE APOSTLE JOHN ) I am the one (VERIFICATION OF THE AUTHENTICITY OF THIS BOOK) who sent my angel to tell all of this to you for the churches. I am David's Great Descendant,(REFERS TO JESUS' PARTIALLY HUMAN NATURE DURING HIS MINISTRY ON EARTH) and I am also the bright morning star.(THIS IS THOUGHT TO REFER TO THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE A SPECTACULAR NEW BEGINNING FOR OUR LIVES THROUGH THE SAVING AND TRANSFORMING POWER OF JESUS AND HIS HOLY SPIRIT) 17The (HOLY) Spirit and the Bride (JESUS) say, "Come!" Everyone who hears this (BY HAVING THESES VERSES READ IN CHURCHES WHICH ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS) should say, "Come!" (THEY SHOULD TESTIFY TO OTHERS BY SAYING TO THEM "COME TO GOD") If you are thirsty (HAVE A SPIRITUAL THIRST OR A NEED FOR GOD IN YOUR LIFE), come! If you want life-giving water, (THE HOLY SPIRIT) come and take it. It's free! (THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A FREE BUT NECESSARY "LIFE-GIVING" GIFT FROM GOD )18Here is my warning for everyone who hears the prophecies in this book: If you add to them, God will make you suffer the punishments written about in this book. 19If you take away words from these prophecies,(INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY THE PROPHETIC STATEMENTS ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH RAPTURES) God will remove his name from the Book of Life (THE RECORD OF THOSE CHOSEN FOR SALVATION) and prevent him from entering the Holy City (HEAVEN) and receiving the other blessings described in this book.(THIS IS THE FINAL REFUTATION OF THE "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED" THEORY AS WE ARE WARNED THAT OUR NAMES CAN BE REMOVED FROM SALVATION RECORDS AND ACCESS TO HEAVEN DENIED WHICH MAKES RESIDENCY AVAILABLE IN ONLY ONE OTHER LOCATION) 20The One (JESUS) who has spoken these things says, "I come quickly!"(HERE IS A FURTHER EXPLANATION OF THIS WARNING: 1THESSALONIANS 5:1-6 1I don't need to write you about the time or date when all this will happen. 2You surely know that the Lord's return will be as a thief coming at night. 3People will think they are safe and secure. But destruction will suddenly strike them like the pains of a woman about to give birth. And they won't escape. 4My dear friends, don't live in darkness, and so that day won't surprise you like a thief. 5You belong to the light and live in the day. We don't live in the night or belong to the dark. 6Others may sleep, but we should stay awake and be alert.) Amen.Even so, come Lord Jesus! 21 I pray that the Lord Jesus will be kind to all of you.(A TERRIFIC WAY, USING MODERN ENGLISH , TO END THIS TOTALLY ASTONISHING BOOK)
( THANK YOU GOD! AMEN !! )
(NOW GO TO JESUS IN PRAYER !!)
