Friday, October 10, 2025

Revelation begins and ends with urgent time statements

Today we’re diving into the closing verses of Revelation—chapter 22, verses 6 through 20. These verses aren’t just a nice ending. They are packed with urgent statements about timing.


Over and over again, John hears words like: “things which must shortly be done… Behold, I come quickly… The time is at hand.”


Now, if you’ve ever wondered what Revelation is really about—this is the key. Because whatever John was writing, it wasn’t about events thousands of years away. He was talking about things that were “near,” things that would happen soon in his generation.


So in this article, we’re going to:


  1. Look closely at those time-statements in Revelation 22.
  2. Connect them to the opening chapter of Revelation.
  3. And then show, through Scripture and history, how this all points to the first-century fulfilment of Daniel’s prophecy.


Let’s get into it.


Revelation 22:6&7


And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.


Alright—pause right there.


Did you catch it? “Things which must shortly be done.” “Behold, I come quickly.”


That’s not vague. That’s urgent. John isn’t pointing his audience to events 2,000 years down the line. He’s saying: it’s about to happen.


And if we’re going to be honest with the text, we can’t just stretch “shortly” into “maybe someday way off in the future.” That would’ve meant nothing to the first-century believers who were suffering persecution and waiting for deliverance.


Back to the Beginning: Revelation 1


Now, let’s flip back to Revelation 1, because the book begins with the exact same emphasis.


Revelation 1:1:


The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.


And verse 3:

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy… for the time is at hand.


So, chapter 1 begins with “shortly come to pass” and “the time is at hand.” Chapter 22 ends with “shortly be done” and “I come quickly.”


That’s a perfect inclusio—a frame around the whole book. Revelation starts and ends with the same urgency: the events described are near.


Why the Urgency?


So why would Jesus emphasise over and over again that His coming was “soon”?


The answer is that Revelation is not about our future. It was about their present circumstances and imminent future. 


It was about the end of the Old Covenant age, the judgment on Jerusalem, and the full establishment of the New Covenant kingdom.


Remember Jesus’ own words in Matthew 24:34:

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.


That’s the same timeframe Revelation is pointing to—the first century.


Daniel’s Prophecy


Now, let’s connect this with Daniel.

Daniel 12:4 says:


But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end.



So Daniel is told to seal up his prophecy because its fulfilment was a long way off.


But notice what John is told in Revelation 22:10:


And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.



Do you see the contrast? Daniel: seal it up—it’s for later. John: don’t seal it up—the time is now.


That’s powerful. Revelation is essentially saying: what Daniel foresaw centuries earlier is now coming to fulfilment in John’s day.


The Historical Context


So what was happening in John’s day that could match all this urgency?


The answer is the looming destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

Jesus Himself had prophesied it in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. He said the temple would be destroyed, not one stone left upon another. He warned of great tribulation, wars, famine, false prophets—and He tied it all to “this generation.”


History records that’s exactly what happened.



The Jewish historian Josephus, writing about the Roman siege of Jerusalem, described famine so severe that families turned against each other, false prophets misleading the desperate and the city engulfed in fire as Rome’s armies tore it apart.


Does that sound familiar? It’s the imagery of Revelation brought to life.


The Language of Coming


But what about those words: “Behold, I come quickly”?


Some people assume that has to mean the physical return of Jesus at the end of history. But the Bible often uses the language of God “coming” to describe His judgment on nations.


For example:

  • In Isaiah 19:1, it says, “Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt.” That was about God’s judgment on Egypt, not the end of the world.
  • In Micah 1:3–4, God is said to “come down” to judge Samaria and Jerusalem.


So when Jesus says, “I come quickly” in Revelation, He’s speaking about His coming in judgment on Jerusalem—the covenant-breaking city.


That’s why Revelation 11:8 calls it “the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.” That can only be Jerusalem.



Daniel’s Timeline Fulfilled


Now let’s go back to Daniel.

Daniel 9:26–27 speaks of the destruction of the city and the sanctuary, when “the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.” That’s exactly what Rome did in AD 70.



Daniel 12 speaks of great tribulation, followed by the shattering of the holy people’s power. Again, that fits the Jewish War and the destruction of Jerusalem.


So what Daniel saw centuries in advance, John was seeing unfold in his own time.


Revelation 22:11–12


Let’s read a little more:


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. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

This is a dividing line. There’s no more time to wait. The judgment is at hand. Those who remain in rebellion will face the consequences. Those who are faithful will be vindicated and history bears this out. 


The faithful Christians of Jerusalem, remembering Jesus’ warning to flee when they saw the city surrounded by armies, escaped to the mountains. They were spared. But the city itself was destroyed.



Revelation 22:20

Finally, the book closes with this statement:


He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.


John hears it one more time: “Surely I come quickly.” And his response is: Amen. Let it be.


Because for those first-century believers, the coming of Christ in judgment on Jerusalem wasn’t something to fear—it was vindication. It was the proof that Jesus was faithful, that His kingdom had come, and that His people were now part of the unshakable New Covenant world.


So What Does This Mean for Us?


Now, if Revelation’s prophecies were fulfilled in the first century, what does that mean for us today?

It means we’re not waiting for the kingdom to arrive—it’s already here. We’re not waiting for access to the tree of life—it’s already open. We’re not waiting for the river of life to flow—it’s flowing now, from the throne of the Lamb.



Our task is to live as citizens of that kingdom. To drink freely from the water of life. To walk in obedience because those are the ones who have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.


Wrapping It Up


So let’s sum this up:

  • Revelation begins and ends with urgent time-statements: “shortly,” “at hand,” “quickly.”
  • Those time-statements match the words of Jesus in the Gospels: “This generation shall not pass until all these things be fulfilled.”
  • Daniel was told to seal his prophecy because it was far off. John was told not to seal his, because the time was now.
  • History confirms that the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 brought the Old Covenant age to a close, just as Daniel foresaw and Jesus declared.
  • Revelation is not about a distant future—it’s about God’s faithfulness in that first-century crisis.

And the good news for us? The kingdom is established. The Lamb reigns. The water of life is flowing. And the Spirit and the bride still say: Come.


Thank you for joining me on this journey through the book of Revelation, we've now reached the end. I hope I've inspired or encouraged you to study to show yourself approved.

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Revelation 22: Eden's Symbols Fulfilled through Jesus

Today we’re going to step into one of the most beautiful and hope-filled chapters in the whole Bible—Revelation 22.


This is the last chapter of Scripture. It’s where God’s story of redemption comes full circle. And at the heart of this vision we see two powerful images: the river of the water of life and the tree of life.



But what do they mean? Why do they matter for us today? And how do they connect all the way back to Genesis, the very first book of the Bible?


That’s what we’re unpacking in this article. By the end, you’ll see how the Bible begins with paradise lost but ends with paradise restored—and how right now you and I can freely drink from the water of life.


Let’s start by reading Revelation 22:1–2:


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 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.


Okay—pause for a second.


Did you catch how the water is described? “Pure, clear as crystal.” That’s not just poetic filler. That tells us something about the nature of God’s kingdom. His kingdom is pure. His kingdom is holy. No corruption flows from His throne.


That means not everyone can step into this stream. This isn’t for those living in rebellion against God. Revelation 22 later makes it clear: only those who do God’s commandments have the right to the tree of life. Those who reject Him remain outside the city.


So right away, John is showing us—this is not some vague, universal promise. This is a covenant promise. Eternal life is for those who belong to Christ, those who obey Him, those who seek Him with a sincere heart.



Back to the Beginning: Eden


Now let’s rewind. Because if you know your Bible, Revelation 22 should ring a bell.


Genesis 2 tells us about Eden:

  • In verse 9 we’re told about the tree of life in the midst of the garden.
  • In verse 10 we hear about a river that waters the garden.

Sound familiar?



In Genesis, Adam and Eve had access to the tree of life—symbolising eternal fellowship with God, but when they sinned that access was cut off. 


Genesis 3:24 says God placed cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree.



The Bible story begins with Adam and Eve losing access to the tree of life. And here in Revelation 22, it ends with”whosoever will” regaining it.


So you see how Genesis and Revelation book-end the bible? It starts with paradise lost and ends with paradise restored.


The Big Covenant Story


Think of it this way:

  • Genesis is the story of the first creation, the first covenant world, with Adam as its head.
  • Revelation is the story of the new creation, the new covenant world, with Christ as its head.

In Genesis, fellowship was broken. In Revelation, fellowship is renewed. In Genesis, death entered. In Revelation, life reigns.


This is God’s way of saying: What was lost in Adam has been fully restored in Christ.


Jesus and the Living Water


Now let’s zoom in on how this connects to Jesus.


In John 4, Jesus tells the woman at the well:


Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.



Later, in John 7:37–38, He stands up and cries out during the feast of Tabernacles:


If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me… out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.


And in John 15:5, He says:


I am the vine, ye are the branches.



Do you see it? Jesus is directly connecting Himself to the imagery of Revelation 22. He is the source of the living water. He is the tree of life. Eternal life flows from Him and Him alone.


That’s why in Revelation the river flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Because the Lamb—Jesus Christ—is the one who restored what Adam lost.


Prophecy Fulfilled


But this wasn’t a new idea in the first century. The Old Testament prophets foresaw it.


Isaiah 25:8:

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.


Paul actually quotes this in 1 Corinthians 15, connecting it to Christ’s victory over death.


And then there’s Daniel 12. Daniel speaks of a time when the righteous would be raised to everlasting life. 


Jesus Himself ties that prophecy to the destruction of Jerusalem in Matthew 24. 


The end Daniel foresaw wasn’t the end of the physical world, but the end of the Old Covenant age.


So by the time John writes Revelation, the message is clear: those ancient promises are fulfilled in Christ. The water of life, the tree of life, the healing of the nations—all of it has come through Jesus.


The Invitation


Now here’s where it gets personal. Revelation 22:17 gives this powerful invitation:


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.


Whosoever will. Think about that.


This isn’t restricted to Israel anymore. It’s not limited to those under the Mosaic law. It’s open to all nations, to every single person who thirsts for God.


But here’s the catch—and we can’t ignore this—only those who do God’s commandments have access to the tree of life. 


That’s verse 14:

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.


That means the invitation is open, but it requires a response. You can’t cling to rebellion and still expect to drink from the river. God’s kingdom is pure, clear as crystal. It is holy. Only those who who obey Him from a pure heart motive will taste this eternal life.



No More Sheol, No More Waiting


Now here’s the good news for us today. Because the New Covenant kingdom is fully established, we don’t have to go down to Sheol or Hades like the saints of old, waiting for redemption.


Eternal life isn’t something we’re waiting on. It’s already here, flowing freely from the throne.


Jesus told Martha in John 11:25–26:

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

Never die. That’s our reality in Christ.


Wrapping It Up


So let’s step back.

  • Genesis begins with a river and a tree. Revelation ends with a river and a tree.
  • Genesis begins with paradise lost. Revelation ends with paradise restored.
  • Jesus reveals Himself as the vine, the water of life—the fulfilment of Eden’s symbols.
  • The prophets foresaw it. Christ fulfilled it in the first century.
  • And now, the water of life is flowing. Pure and clear. Open to all who come.


But the choice is ours. Whosoever will. That’s the invitation.


So I’ll leave you with this: have you come to the water of life? Have you laid aside rebellion, pride, self-reliance—and surrendered to Christ? Because the promise isn’t distant. It isn’t future. It’s here, it’s now, and it’s free.


Remember: the Spirit and the bride still say, Come. Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.

Revelation begins and ends with urgent time statements

Today we’re diving into the closing verses of Revelation—chapter 22, verses 6 through 20. These verses aren’t just a nice ending. They are p...