"I John Saw These Things" Rev 22:8
John saw a vision of heaven, a parabolic analogy which he wrote about in the book of Revelations. He saw a pure crystal clear river of life coming from the throne and also a tree of life whose leaves heal the nations. The purpose of this letter is not to focus in the "real" existence of what was seen, but to observe the spiritual light contained in that analogy.
Consider Revelation 21:1: "And He shewed me a pure river of water of life clear as crystal preceding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb". What you must see with your spiritual eyes is "the spoken WORD of life proceeding out of the mouths of the Father, Jesus, and the "throne". The key to this concept is John 4:14, 7:38, where Christ told the woman at the well, "I have water of life to give" and "whoever believes in me shall have flowing out of his belly rivers of living water". Jesus' words have also been defined as "spirit and life", John 3:63. There is no "death and condemnation" in those waters, 2 Corinthians 3:6-12. These waters make void the "letter of the law" because "death" was removed and rendered stingless by the death of Christ on the cross, Hosea 13:14; 2 Corinthians 5:18. This message is "clear" as (CHRIST-ALL) crystal. As the Lamb said, "God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved", John 3:17. "I will draw ALL MEN unto me", John 12:32. "And he that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out", John 6:37. THAT pure water of life is a message "clear as crystal" and flows like a river from God's belly, and from the belly of Jesus, and from the bellies of those who comprise a living "throne".
In Revelation 22:2 is "the tree of life which bare twelve manner of fruits and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations". GOD IS THAT TREE OF LIFE! And Jesus has been called the "Branch" of that tree, Isaiah 11:1-2,10,12. "Men" are the "leaves", Psalm 1:3, for two reasons. (1) They "leave" the earth being redeemed from among men to make up that group "which no man could number", Revelation 5:9-10, 7:9-14. (2) On earth leaves shade men from the heat of the sun. Therefore these "leaves" from the tree of life also shade men from the heat of the Son, Psalm 2:11-12, 91:1,4,11. Since the leaves came from all nations of the earth, it is their job to "heal" the nations by revealing and testifying God's love, Psalm 145:4-7,10-12. What better way can be found to heal the nations' hatred and rivalry than to teach them we are all brothers?! They tell them HE is AL in ALL and all our spirits are little fragments of His spirit Self. Understanding this oneness heals the nations lack of brotherhood and love for one another. Every leaf on the tree of life has that function. The tree also bares twelve MANner of fruits. We have been called the fruit of the womb, Psalm 100:3, 127:3. This points to the fact that God made twelve orders of children to inhabit twelve heavenly orbits. The twelve tribes of Israel were chosen to enact that fact, Deuteronomy 32:7-8. Therefore John saw the Heavenly Jerusalem as a City having twelve foundations, Revelation 21:14. And the twelve MANner of fruits are understood to be part of the tree, Psalm 82:6-8; John 12:24; Acts 17:24-29. Even so man is a part of God.
Let us examine how Christ rules above as King of kings and Lord of lords and as Governor of the nations as Isaiah prophesied, Isaiah 9:6-7. The work of the "mystery of God" is to have Jesus free men held on earth by the Dragon, Luke 4:18-19. Isaiah prophesied how this work was accomplished for the kings of the nations in contrast to the fate of Satan and his invisible offsprings, Isaiah 14:12,18,21-22. Verse 18 says, "All the kings of the nations, even ALL of THEM, lie in glory, every one in his own house". Of course Jesus drew them up to glory through the Father to bow down before Him and to acknowledge Him as King of kings and Lord of lords, Isaiah 11-13, 23, 45; John 12:32. Isaiah prophesied further that "the gates of heaven shall not be shut day or night so that the kings of the nations and their forces" may be drawn up to honor God: Isaiah 60:3-5,11-14. Only Lucifer and his invisible powers will be left for hell. To confirm Isaiah's prophecy, John wrote, "And the nations of them which ARE SAVED shall walk in the light of it: the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it", Revelation 21:24-26. The "leaves" of the tree of life have the honor of educating and converting the nations to HEAL them, Isaiah 60:5; Revelation 17:15. John saw their massive numbers as a multitude of generations, a number no man could count, Revelation 7:9-17.
"And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing and honor, and glory, and power,be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever", Revelation 5:13. Obviously the "leaves" of the tree of life are very effective in their HEALING work.
Now let us see what God's throne really is. In your mind you may envision the throne as some great white fancy chair with the Father sitting on it. John saw such a vision, Revelation 19:11. But God has said, "Heaven is my throne and the earth my footstool", Isaiah 66:1. So what is God's "real" throne, which is much bigger than what John saw?....yet it is alive! A chair is a seat upon which one rests. God's great massive living throne which moves and upon which He rests is US. Citizens of Heaven were seen dressed in clean white linen to give the throne a white appearance, Revelation 19:8. God dwells in them, walks in them, and rests in them, 2 Corinthians 6:16, via His own spirit substance, His thoughts and His WORDs. To sit upon THIS THRONE IS TO PUT WORDS AND IDEAS IN THE MINDS OF THE HOSTS, SO THAT THOSE WORDS AND IDEAS REST AND RESIDE THERE. When Jesus said, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, Revelation 3:21, he was saying that person shall help teach and direct those under his authority by the implantation of ideas and words. Therefore the seat or resting place of God, or the "throne" is everywhere. Collectively ALL OF US constitute a living, moving great throne for God to rest upon.
John saw many marvelous wonders in the visions given to him by Jesus Christ. John was like a child to Christ, and it is written that he rested with his head on Jesus' breast. Being so beloved and close to Christ as his own son, it is not surprising that John should be the recipient of such visions as a blessing and a legacy for later generations of chosen men. Much of what John saw was in the hidden form of parables, and some things were plain light. We have considered several parables in this letter:
(a) The crystal clear waters of the river of life are found to be words of nothing but life coming from the mouth of God, Christ, and those who constitute a LIVING THRONE for God.
(b) The tree of life is a parable representing the Father, where Jesus is the "Branch" of that tree. Redeemed men are its "leaves". These redeemed men are given the task of converting the nations as fast as they rise and healing their perverted natures and ignorance, John 11:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:19. They in effect are teachers and consciences for men still in this life, Psalm 91:11; Isaiah 30:21; John 16:13-15. Twelve MANner of fruits or offsprings are borne by the tree of life, namely the Father, as Twelve Orders of children, which Israel only symbolized prophetically for teaching purposes.
(c) Jesus does reign as King of kings at this very moment. God told him to "Sit at my right hand until I (subdue) thine enemies", Psalm 110:1-2, "rule thou in the midst of thine enemies". In fulfilling this the kings of the nations and their armies are drawn up to heaven and converted every day. This being done they gladly "bow before the Lamb" and joyfully proclaim Him King of kings and Lord of lords even over them. The gates of heaven are never closed day or night that men may be resurrected or drawn up from dying in battles which are continually fought everyday somewhere on earth", .
(d) The "Great White Throne" is ALL GOD'S CHILDREN, those above and on earth in whom He dwells and rests. As far as He is concerned, WE ALL have HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS including men on earth actively engaging in sin after sin!! Isaiah 45:24-25, 54:17; Jeremiah 23:6. (This imparts to the WHOLE "throne" a white appearance). Men on earth are the recipients of that "free gift" which was bestowed without "qualifications" or exceptions!...and men are unaware of it! Romans 5:18-19. I am not prepared to "argue" with God, the JUDGE, about this or to protest to Jesus about conferring this on every man! I recall the Father's words to the elder son in the parable about the prodigal son. But He is God of ALL and it is His WILL and prerogative to LOVE ALL THE SAME! Matthew 5:44-45,48. If YOU would be "perfect", then love all men both saint and sinner just like God and Jesus do, Matthew 22:9-10. Those among us with a "holier-than-thou" attitude cannot do this. They perceive a "difference" between them and so-called "sinners". But LOVE covers all sins, discounts them, refuses to mention them (something earthly preachers cannot seem to do), and forgets them, Isaiah 44:22; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; 1 Peter 4:8. God sees "no difference" as men perceive and respond to "differences"! Romans 11:29-36. All I can say to God for that is "AMEN"! "And He said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true....blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book..." Revelation 22:6-7.