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RUSSELL SANDERS
9-21-2022
THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH
LESSON 5 – DESCRIPTION OF THE ETERNAL CITY
What will things be like where all things will be new? We will examine Revelation 22:5 and Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22-23 to answer that question.
Revelation 22 paints a picture either of heaven or of the New Jerusalem. Since the narrative in Chapter 21 was about the New Jerusalem then Chapter 22:1-5 surely must also be of the New Jerusalem. It is very possible that this New Jerusalem is also “heaven” as we think of it as it is now the very location of God’s throne (22:1) and the throne of the Lamb. So, what do we see there?
Verse 1 tells of “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding (flowing directly) out of the throne of (father) God and of the (throne) of the Lamb (Yeshuah).” Then, verse 2 speaks of the river that is “in the midst (middle) of it, and on either (each) side of it, (there was) the tree of life (eternal life).”
The tree of life bears a different fruit for each of the twelve months. The fruit, that Adam and Eve ate before their fall, and could not eat later is now available for us to eat. It eagerly gives its fruit to the redeemed. Henry Gruver saw this when God transported him to heaven.
Verse 2 says “the leaves (sprout: G5444) of the tree were for the healing (attendance, cure, healing G2322) of the nations (G1484 ethnos, tribe, race, people).” The leaves tend to the eternal health and well-being of the redeemed.
Verse 3 again cites the throne of the Father and the Son, and His servants (the redeemed) shall serve God before His very face ((verse 4) and His name will be in their foreheads. There will be no need for any source of light because the Lamb will be the Light of the whole city forever. Verse 5 says that we, the redeemed, will reign (rule with Him forever. That is what we shall have in the holy city, the New Jerusalem.
Tomorrow we will look at Isaiah 65 and 66 to see additional benefits of the redeemed.
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