THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST - From Commencement to Completion (video series)- Chapter 6, Revealing the Annointed King Part 22
by Brett Jacobsen
The focus of this teaching is to promote the biblical truth that Christ’s Kingdom is active and increasing right now on this earth, in this age. Erroneous eschatology has detracted from this truth in many circles of the Christian faith.
All of the major eschatological (study of how things end) passages are covered but the end of the world is not the important issue and true eschatology is merely a means to an end- Christ Himself as King of kings. Though we will look at the glorious end of earthly history from time to time, we will more so continually use the scriptures to interpret the scriptures and arrive at the present victorious Kingdom of Christ.
For most Christians this teaching will challenge you deeply in your understanding of the New Covenant and Christ’s Kingdom as well as liberate you greatly in the truth of His Word.
Revelation chapter 22
Below are the notes from this teaching so you can read along:
Chapter 22:1-2
22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. [1]
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life [2], 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. [3]
[1] “clear as crystal” – like the multitude/sea in Rev 4:6
- Read the whole of Ezek 47:1-12
This is a picture of the Holy Spirit/God’s glory flowing from the throne in heaven to earth at the time on the 1st century church… and now too.
[2] Redeemed to eternal life by the tree of life:
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Gen 2:9)
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: (Gen 3:22)
Jesus’ tree of life- the cross:
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: (Gal 3:13)
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Pet 2:24)
(see also Acts 5:30, 10:39 and 13:29)
Chilton – “was tree [plural] of life”
Me – one tree/cross- Jesus’. We all bear the same cross- His. “…God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Gal 6:14) (also Mat 10:38, 16:24, Gal 2:20, 5:24, Rom 6:6)
We who bear the cross of Christ do huddle around the river of God’s glory in New/heavenly/holy Jerusalem.
He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the [1st Century Asiatic] churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Rev 2:7) (Ephesus)
[3] 12 = church, the cross yields healing fruit through the church who bares it. The church’s fruit is the fruit of the Spirit.
The nations in John & the Asiatic churches’ time needed the healing of Christ’s cross…
- “the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” – This is what the Kingdom age is all about – the healing of the nations by the cross of Christ.
Chapter 22:3-5
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; [1] and his servants [doulos] shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. [2]
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they shall reign for ever [aion] and ever [aion]. [3]
[1] No more curse = Edenic redemption:
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: (Gal 3:13)
- “shall be in it [New Jerusalem chpt 21]” - We are seated with Christ Eph 2:6 He is on the throne at Father’s right hand Rom 8:34 - The 1st century church (and us) are free from the curse.
Throne in the river of life - God rules on His throne in the river from heaven to earth…
[2] “his servants [doulos] shall…” - The early church served Him; we also serve Him, now (see v6).
- “see His face” – John 14:7 “have seen him” – Matt 5:8 “shall see God”
- Name in forehead – Rev 3:12 “name of my God…” was a promise to the 1st century Asiatic churches:
Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Rev 3:12) (Philadelphia)
[3] No need of natural light in a celestial city, God gives Spiritual light there…
- “ever and ever” - Ages and ages doesn’t deny eternal rule but focuses more on the then present, and now present, reign of Christ…
Chapter 22:6-7
6 And he said to me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show to his servants the things which must shortly be done [en tachos]. [1]
7 Behold, I come [erchomai] quickly [tachu] [2]: blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book. [3]
[1] Like in the opening chapter, here in the last chapter he declares that he is showing the 7 Asiatic churches of the first century “things which must SHORTLY be done” (see Rev 1:1)
[2] “come” – erchomai-
So shall it be at the end of the world [aion- age]: the angels shall come [exerchomai] forth [exerchomai], and sever the wicked from among the just, (Matt 13:49)
That upon you may come [erchomai] all the righteous blood shed upon the earth [ge]… (Matt 23:35)
Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord does come [erchomai]. (Matt 24:42)
Verily I say to you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming [erchomai] in his kingdom. (Matt 16:28)
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth [ge] mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming [erchomai] in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matt 24:30)
… the high priest arose, and said to him, Answer you nothing? what is it which these witness against you? 63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said to him, I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you be the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus said to him, you have said: nevertheless I say to you, Hereafter shall you [Caiaphas] see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming [erchomai] in the clouds of heaven. (Matt 26:62-64)
- “quickly” – tachu- shortly, without delay, soon.
- “come quickly” 3 times in this chapter (7, 12, 20) plus once in Rev 3:11.
Tachos and tachu used elsewhere – Matt 5:25, 28:7&8, Luke 14:21& 16:6- tacheos, John 11:29, 13:27- tachion, read these two- Acts 12:7, 22:18.
[3] The letter was to the 1st century Asiatic churches; they were clearly able to “[keep] the sayings of the prophecy of this book”…
Chapter 22:8-10
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them [1]. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.
9 Then said he to me, See you do it not: for I am your fellowservant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. [2]
10 And he said to me, Seal [sphragizo] not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time [kairos] is at [eggus] hand [eggus] [3].
[1] Saw – visions, heard – revelations.
[2] Not ‘of them which one day will keep the sayings of this book’.
[3] “Seal [sphragizo- keep secret] not the sayings” – Unlike Daniel who was to shut and seal till the time:
But you, O Daniel, shut up [catham- keep secret] the words, and seal [chatham- close] the book, even to the time of the end:… (Dan 12:4)
And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut you up the vision; for it shall be for many days. (Dan 8:26)
- “the time [kairos] is at [eggus- near, ready] hand [eggus]” – (see Rev 1:3)
Again he closes with an opening statement from chapter one. This reemphasises the eminency.
Chapter 22:11-15
11 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. [1]
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [misthos] is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. [2]
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. [3]
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. [4]
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. [5]
[1] Because they have had the last days (a generation- 30-70AD) to repent…
[2] “I come quickly” – there it is again.
- “my reward [misthos- wage, pay for service] is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” – His coming [erchomai] in judgement on apostates is also a reward for the just as it frees them further into the Kingdom. (Not just one payment/judgement/reward but regular ongoing wages for work).
Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (Is 40:10-11)
Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the world, Say you to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 12 And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and you shall be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken [New Jerusalem]. (Is 62:11-12)
[3] Same as in chapter one – (1:8).
[4] The then present “they” was the 1st century church who did “his commandments” and so John was showing them that they had “right to the tree of life [the cross]” and they were in “the city”.
[5] Outside the New Jerusalem (Christ’s celestial Kingdom on earth) were all manner of sinners- they are excluded in this life (and the next) from the Kingdom city.
Chapter 22:16-21
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel [John? Rev 1:1] to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David [Luke 20:41-44], and the bright and morning star. [1]
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come [erchomai]. And let him that hears say, Come [erchomai]. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. [2]
18 For I testify to every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add to these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. [3]
20 He which testifies these things says, Surely [nai] I come [erchomai] quickly [tachu]. Amen. Even so, come [erchomai], Lord Jesus. [4]
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. [5]
[1] Jesus was testifying from heaven through John (His angel) to the then churches.
- Jesus is the root (before) and offspring (after) of David:
And he said to them, How say they that Christ is David’s son? 42 And David himself says in the book of Psalms, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit you on my right hand, 43 Till I make your enemies your footstool. 44 David therefore calls him Lord, how is he then his son? (Luke 20:41-44)
[2] The bride is already active and able to speak (come). “let him that hears [the bride] say, come”.
These are then present invitations for the 1st century church- “say come” “come” “take”.
[3] He is warning that He will “take” people “out of the holy city”. There was clearly already the holy city with people already in it.
[4] “Surely [nai] I come [erchomai] quickly [tachu]” - Surely
[5] “you all” is to all the first century saints, but it is also true for us.
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Thank you.