God’s Word was not written with chapters and verses. Those were added centuries later to
make it easier to find specific parts. With hindsight, some chapter breaks should have been placed better, while others seem
as inspired as Scripture itself.
It is interesting that the first two and last two chapters
of the Bible both tell of a perfect world.
In Genesis 1 and 2, God prepares a paradise for His
special creation. He gives them a choice between Light and darkness. They choose poorly and plunged the world into sin and
decay. A mistake that would cost them eternity.
God’s love was so great that He gave each
person a second chance to make the same choice. Many once again poorly chose the darkness.
Others
wisely chose the Light, and God again prepared a perfect place for those He can now call His children. Revelation
21 and 22 describe this new incorruptible paradise. The focus of chapter 21 is the exterior of the city.
Chapter 22 looks inside.
Enjoy!
Opening Discussion
-Describe
your most perfect day to date.
-What made it so?
Read
Here is this week’s study passage. Please pray before you begin.
Revelation 22:1-5
(NASB)
1 Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne
of God and of the Lamb,
2 in the middle of its street On either side of the river was the tree
of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of
the nations.
3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be
in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;
4 they will see His face, and His name will be on
their foreheads.
5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light
of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.
Scripture
taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The
Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Study
Please read Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-15;
21:1-27.
Revelation 22:1-5 (NIV)
1 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
2 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.
3 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.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them
light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Verse 1:
-What was the author shown?
-How is it
described?
-From where was it flowing?
Verse 2:
-Where was it flowing?
-What stood
on each side of it?
-What was it bearing?
-How often does it yield?
-For what are its leaves used?
-Who will be healed?
Verse 3:
-What will no longer be in the city?
-What
will be there instead?
-To whom does the throne belong?
-What will His servants do?
Verse
4:
-What will they see?
-What will be on their foreheads?
Verse
5:
-What else will no longer exist?
-Of what will the servants have no need?
-Why?
-What
will the servants do?
-How long will they do it?
-What do we learn about God?
-Christ?
-The Spirit?
-The author?
-His readers?
-His purpose?
-What do we learn about our
eternal home?
-Read John 7:37-39. -What is the
significance of the water of life?
-Read Genesis 2-3. -What is the significance of the tree of life?
-Who are the
servants of God and the Lamb?
-How can they serve and reign at the same time?
-How should that affect your
walk with Christ?
-What has God shown you through this passage of Scripture?
-With whom can you share what you
learned this week?
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright ©
1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
This
Week’s Challenges
Challenge A-Reading
Continue reading the book of Revelation. Read at your own pace.
Take notes as you go.
Challenge B-The Text
Read some or all of the verses below. Note any similarities with this
week’s passage.
Genesis 2:9;
Psalm 17:15; 42:2; 46:4;
Isaiah 60:19-20;
Ezekiel 47:1; 47:12;
Daniel 7:18, 27;
Joel 3:18;
Zechariah 14:7-8, 11;
Matthew 5:8; 19:28;
John 4; 7:37-39;
Romans
5:17;
Revelation 1:1; 2:7; 4:6; 7:3-17; 14:1; 20:4; 21:3-25; 22:6-19
Challenge C-Strand Challenge
Read
Genesis
25;
Psalm 25;
Romans 11:25-36.
Note any similarities between each and with this week’s passage.
