The Story

We have read together about the Holy City, which John saw coming down out of heaven from God. What do you remember about the city? What was its name? Was there a wall? What were the foundations made of? What names were written upon them? Were there gates? How many? Where? What were they made of? What names were on the gates? Who measured the city? With what did he measure it? Did John see a temple in the city? Was there light in the city? What could not enter?

There was, too, a beautiful river from the Lord which ran through the street of the city. The tree of life was growing on the banks, with fruit every month and healing leaves. How had the people found their way to this beautiful and happy city? By keeping the Lord's commandments. "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." The book ends with the benediction with which the service ends in church: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

Look again in verse 21 of chapter 21 and tell me what is said about the street of the city: "pure gold, as it were transparent glass." What more do you find about the street, in verses 1 and 2 of our new chapter? The prophet Ezekiel also saw waters coming out from the temple, bordered by trees. "And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat: . . . it shall bring forth new fruit according to the months: . . . and the fruit shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine." (Ezekiel 47:12) Look back still farther in the Bible to the story of Eden in the second chapter of Genesis. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and a river went out of Eden to water the garden." (Genesis 2:9-10) The vision of the Holy City at the end of the Bible takes us back to the garden of Eden at the beginning. The tree of life is in both, and the river of life, but the garden has become a glorious and beautiful city.

Several times in chapter 21 the angel is spoken of who showed John the Holy City and who measured the city. (Verses 9, 15) In our new chapter the angel speaks from the Lord's Spirit the Lord's own words, as if he were the Lord: "Behold, I come quickly" (Verses 7, 12) ; "I am Alpha and Omega" (Verse 13); "I Jesus have sent Mine angel." (Verse 16) At one moment the angel spoke in this way from the Lord's Spirit, and another moment he spoke simply from himself, as an angel, a brother and a fellow-servant of John, worshiping the same Lord. (Verses 8, 9)

"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still." Read verses 10 to 12 very carefully. If you or I have done something wrong today, we can repent of it, can be sorry for it and with the Lord's help not do so any more. Or we may have done right today, and if we are careless we may fall back into bad ways again. But our lesson tells us that this will not always be so. There is a time for each one when the Lord comes and takes him to the other world, when he cannot change from evil to good or from good to evil. When we die our character is essentially fixed, and it will not be changed from evil to good or good to evil. If at heart one is good, the wrong things that have clung to him are then taken away; if he is evil, the good things that have been only on the outside are dropped off. This world is the place, and now is the time, to choose between good and evil. The other world is the place for the great increase of the good that is chosen here.

Verse 14 is one that we ought to learn by heart. We might say it whenever we recite the Ten Commandments.

Near the end of the chapter there is a very solemn charge not to add to or take away from "the words of the book of this prophecy." It is true of this Book of Revelation, and it is true also of the whole Bible, that every word is holy and full of power. You remember how the Lord said, "Verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled." (Matthew 5:18) We should remember that every word is holy; when we learn it we should be careful to learn it and say it just as it is. Let us read the whole chapter.

What way of life leads to the beautiful gates and into the Holy City? The Lord in the beginning of Revelation invites all who will to come. Now at the end of the book He pleads still more tenderly, and asks all those who know of Him to help others to come. "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen." It is the Lord's promise to live with us, if we are willing. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." It is our prayer that He will come.

The book ends still looking forward with a wonderful promise and hope.

1. What did John see growing in the Holy City? Where were they growing?

2. How were the trees watered? What is said about their fruit? their leaves?

3. Who talked with John? Why would he not let John worship him?

4. What determines what one's life and home in the other world will be?

5. Who will enter in, and even now are entering in, by the gates into the city?

Spiritual Study

We will take up the same points that have been spoken of in the talk with the younger students, and give them a little fuller study.

"The street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass." The city and its gates and walls were measured with a golden reed, and the whole city was "pure gold, like unto clear glass." The same is now said particularly of the street. Gold is the symbol of the highest principle of life, love to the Lord. The city is measured with a golden reed because the truths that are represented by its walls are such as can be perceived by one who loves the Lord and not by others. The city is of transparent gold, because the blessed state that it pictures is all from love to the Lord. The street is the doctrine that guides the steps of daily life. This especially is the expression of love to the Lord, bright with the light of that love. (R. 904, 912, 917) The pure river of the water of life flows through the street. It is the Lord's truth that teaches the ways of goodness. The tree of life on either bank means intelligence and power from the Lord to do heavenly uses. The fruits are the heavenly uses. The leaves that heal the nations are rational truths that have power to correct evil and bring soundness to affairs of natural life. (R.936)

In H. 116-125, we learn about two ways in which the Lord is seen by angels; as the sun of heaven, and in an angel who is filled for the time with His Spirit. Of this latter kind of presence it is said, "The Lord does appear to the angels in heaven, but then it is under an angelic form; for He fills an angel with His look, and thus with His presence from afar, and this in various places, but everywhere accommodated to the good of love and faith in those to whom He thus appears." (E. 412. See also H. 55, 121; R. 938; E. 1228.)

The quality of one's life forever is determined by his life in this world -whether good or evil, and the kind of good or evil. His central or ruling love cannot be changed in the other world. There is however great development in the other world of the beginnings of heavenly life that are planted here. Life in this world is like the seed in the ground; life in the other world like the tree with blossoms and fruit. Remember the saying to the rich man :in the parable: "Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed; so that they which would pass from us to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence." (Luke 16:26) "The life of man cannot be changed after death, but remains then such as it had been in the world. . . . Hence it is plain that they who come into hell remain there to eternity, and that they who come into heaven remain there to eternity." (N. 239) Man must be withdrawn from hell and led into heaven in the world; "for such as man is in the world as to his spirit, such will he remain forever, with the sole difference that his state becomes more perfect if he has lived well." (R. 937 end)

The warning against adding to or taking away from the words of this book is a warning against adding to or taking from the doctrines concerning the Lord and concerning faith in Him, which all the Revelation teaches, with intent to destroy them. If these truths are willfully denied, there is no power to protect from the evils that are represented by the plagues in the Revelation, or to lead into the strong and blessed state represented by the Holy City. (R. 957-959)

The Lord again declares His purpose to come to us, and He desires our response, praying for His coming. (Revelation 22:20)

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