Tag: Tree of Life
We will see His Face!
Scripture reading for December 29th: Revelation 22:1-11
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Revelation 22:1-4 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His Name will be on their foreheads.”
As great as the vision of the holy city, the New Jerusalem was, the real reward for over-comers will be to see the face of the One who redeemed them and adopted them into His family! The cry of over-coming believers is for more of His presence! His prophets longed for Him, the Apostles longed to touch Him again, and His saints are promised that they will “reign with Him for ever and ever.” (Revelation 22:5)
Observations for over-comers: An old worship chorus declares: “O the glory of His Presence, We His people give Him reverence!” “Then Moses said, “Now show me Your Glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My Name, The Lord, in your presence. . .But, He said, “you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live.” (Exodus 33:18-20)
Overcomers rewards!
Scripture reading for December 1st: Revelation 2
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Revelation 2:4-7 “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent, and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolatians, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
These short letters to the seven churches of Asia, written at the instruction of the glorified Jesus Christ, contain a greeting, a word from Jesus concerning the deeds of the church, and a warning and promise to those who hear and heed. Jesus Christ knows all that goes on in His body. He loves His Church and commends them for the good but warns them about evil. The Nicolatians were involved in sexual immorality and continued sin would result in judgment. Repentance promised the reward of access to the fruit of the tree of life in the paradise of God!
Observations for over-comers: Our Lord reveals our strengths, good works, and needed changes to those who are teachable! “May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer–may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.” (Proverbs 5:18-19)
Jesus is coming soon!
Scripture reading for December 31st: Revelation 22
God had promised that all who would read and heed what was written in this Revelation of Jesus Christ would receive a blessing! (Revelation 1:3) Why? “The time is near!“ Right after this promise, John blessed Jesus, “To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has mad us to be a kingdom and priest to serve His God and Father–to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” “Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will morn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.” (Revelation 1:5-7) He made a prophetic announcement of the soon return of Jesus Christ! And Jesus responded to John’s blessing and announcement: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, Says the Lord God, “Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come, the Almighty.”
In the last chapter of Revelation, Jesus Christ again announces His soon and near return! “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” (Revelation 22:7) The promise of blessing is repeated again to those who will keep the words of the prophecy. Jesus stresses His soon return to John and those who will read and heed through the ages to come. Peter taught that God is not slow, but patient with us because He wants none to perish but all to come to repentance! (2nd Peter 3:8-9) His time is not the same as ours!
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, The beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and may go through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:12-14) Jesus will reward those who have their wedding garments made clean by faith in His blood! Those who have remained in sin will be shut out! (vs.15) “Yes, I am coming soon!” (Revelation 22:20) “Amen, Come, Lord Jesus!”
Come Lord Jesus!
Scripture reading for December 31st: Revelation 22:1-21
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:1-4)
As this magnificent vision came to a climax, John again viewed the throne of God, this time in its setting of the New Jerusalem. Here the throne had a river flowing from it, coming down the main street. Along its banks stood the tree of Life, bearing fruit each month. All His servants would serve God and have access to the water and tree of Life! They would see God’s face and reign with Him forever and ever!
“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” (Revelation 22:7) John was informed of the truth of these words and reminded of the urgency of the message of the book he has written down. As the promise of blessing was given to those who would read and obey in the beginning, it is now repeated as the vision ended. (Revelation 1:3)
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of Life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Revelation 22:12-15) Jesus Christ is coming soon! This is repeated three times! Some would enjoy blessing and reward, others would be left outside. Will you be ready for your part in this abundant life? My prayer is that you can say with John and me: “Amen, Come Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b)
Christ is soon to appear!
Scripture reading for December 31st: Revelation 22:1-21
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:1-4)
As this magnificent vision came to a climax, John again viewed the throne of God, this time in its setting of the New Jerusalem. Here the throne had a river flowing from it, coming down the main street. Along its banks stood the tree of Life, bearing fruit each month. All His servants would serve God and have access to the water and tree of Life! They would see God’s face and reign with Him forever and ever!
“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” (Revelation 22:7) John was informed of the truth of these words and reminded of the urgency of the message of the book he has written down. As the promise of blessing was given to those who would read and obey in the beginning, it is now repeated as the vision ended. (Revelation 1:3)
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of Life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Revelation 22:12-15) Jesus Christ is coming soon! This is repeated three times! Some would enjoy blessing and reward, others would be left outside. Will you be ready for your part in this abundant life? My prayer is that you can say with John and me: “Amen, Come Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b)
“I Am Coming Soon!”
Scripture reading for December 31st: Revelation 20-22
The end of the Bible tells of a new beginning! All who were faithful to Christ get to live in a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells. All who enjoy this new beginning have been faithful and trusted Christ. He has faithfully done what He promised.
John sees a Holy City, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. This city is prepared like a bride for her husband. (Revelation 21:2) A voice from heaven announces that the dwelling place of God is among men and He will live with them. He will comfort them and change the order of their existence. There will be no more tears, crying or pain. God is making everything new and His word is sure!
There will be some who won’t enjoy these new eternal accommodations. These are the cowardly and unbelieving, those who put off deciding to follow the Lord. Those who are murderers and are sexually immoral will not be invited in. Those practicing the occult and living lies will also be excluded and sent to the lake of burning sulfur. This lake is the second death spoken of at the Great White Throne judgment. (Revelation 20:14-15)
However, the new Jerusalem contains the most precious and beautiful treasures for the redeemed. There is the river of life that flows from the throne of God. It’s waters are crystal clear and flowing abundantly. The banks of the river are lined with the tree of life, bearing fruit each month of the year. It’s leaves bring healing to the nations. The best treasure of all is that those who dwell in this city will have God and the Lamb dwelling in their midst and they will see His face! What blessed peace and joy will be ours when we see Him and behold Him in all His glory!
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:12-14)
Three times in this final chapter the Lord speaks of His soon return, and the final “blessed” concerns those who have their wedding clothes ready for His coming! The Spirit and Bride conclude with an invitation to all to come and join the Bridal party of those waiting for the soon return! Just reading the invitation to this party makes me want to be ready! May you be ready too!
As we come to the last day of this year, I am so blessed to have been able to write through the entire Bible. It is something that I haven’t done before but hope to do again next year! I know that I have experienced Jesus Christ in every book. I also know the Lord’s heart better and feel that I have grown spiritually in ways that I would not have without writing. Thank you for sharing this journey with me and please join me again next year! In His Love, Pastor John Morse