There’s a phrase we use in our house often. My kids can recite it by heart. It first came about when my son asked me if Indiana Jones got crushed by the giant boulder. He had never seen Raiders of the Lost Ark, a problem I remedied as quickly as possible. He knew Indy had to run from a boulder, and he wanted to know how that ended. I refused to tell him, saying he needed to discover that on his own. He said, “Why won’t you just tell me?” My answer, and the phrase we’ve all since memorized, was this: “Let the storyteller tell the story in the way they want to tell it.”
In other words, let’s not spoil the ending. Let’s get there honestly. Let’s let others do the same. If you jump to the ending, you may discover what happens, but you will have missed so much of the context for why it matters.
Here we are, in the last chapter, not only of Revelation, but of the entire Bible. Revelation 22 tells us that Jesus is coming again, and soon (vv.7,20). With that promise comes a call for believers to “keep the words of the prophecy of this book” (v.7). Those two details carry so much importance in light of the context of the book of Revelation and the whole of Scripture. How so?
Jesus is coming again. When we go all the way back to the beginning of the Bible, we find God at work creating everything we know and calling it good. We see Him make mankind in His image, and we see humanity rebel against Him. Then we hear the clink of the flaming swords of Eden as our first parents are cast out of the garden. What follows is an ongoing struggle between God and His people. Will we ever be reconciled? Will that reconciliation be the kind that lasts? Revelation 22 reveals the answer: Yes.
Until that day, we are to “keep the words of this book” (v.9). What will God’s reconciling work in Christ look like? Will it be empty tolerance or intimate affection? The call to obey Scripture reassures us that God’s eternal plan for His people is one of relational intimacy. We are not merely tolerated by God. We are loved. We are kept. We will live in an ongoing eternal relationship with Him, and in this life, we practice the life to come by seeking to live according to the Word of our God, who does not change.
This is how the Storyteller has told the story. We are called to persevere in obedience and live in light of the reality that Jesus is coming back, knowing that when He does, it will be as a bridegroom coming for His bride. And all will be well. Forever.
“Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (v.20).
Written by Russ Ramsey
Leave a Reply
39 thoughts on "The Source of Life"
I have never read Revelation before. I found it fascinating, interesting, beautiful and at times difficult to understand. I am so glad for this guide and the opportunity to read the devotional and read your comments.
CEEGEE the reply button is not working. Thank you!
❤ and now it is! ☺
The tech team will get the glitches worked out and it will be worth it to have the edit option! So thankful for their smarts and dedication!
Ah, wow I can’t believe we finished Revelation already…it’s been so good!!! How I love to see His prophecies and His Word, every time I read the, they get better and better. He is so faithful and timely and awesome and good!!!
Amen!!!
*fear not fair-typing and can’t see it on the screen as I type! Praying not prying as well! HA!
YES! Come, Lord Jesus!
I can’t believe this study is over and I wish it wasn’t. I never would have thought I would feel that way. I should have study Revelation sooner.
.
We are loved. We are kept.
.
I struggled at Thanksgiving yesterday with my stepsons girlfriend. She was talking about occult type things with my stepdaughter who agreed with it. I only caught a bit, but I felt yucky hearing just a little. I’m trying, but it is clear she doesn’t like me anymore than I care for her. Oomph..this is going to be a tough situation.
Oh my goodness, I read your post and thought I needed to give you a quick word that I just referred back to in my study notebook! <3 Nehemiah 6- He was facing slander and was challenged to defend himself in his fair, but in my study, I noted from one of my readings “ Don’t waste your time trying to give facts, evidence, or explanations to people like this.” That you have discerned this gal’s spirit shows you have focus on all the right things. God will take care of this and He will take care of YOU. Family gatherings can be so hard; we have them in my family as well! Stay strong! Nehemiah 6 v 8: “But now, my God, strengthen my hands.” Just speak the truth and trust God as Nehemiah did! (Easy to say, hard to do without God’s help!)Prying you have a wonderful holiday season all around.
Good word, PATTY! ❤
TRACI – Prayers, sister! ❤❤❤
Thank you so much for this Patty! It truly helps. I hope your holiday was enjoyable.
❤️
No matter how hard I try to imagine heaven, I just can’t fathom the beauty of it because it will be more beautiful and spectacular than any place on earth! But oh what a day it will be when we get to experience it for ourselves – and to be in the presence of our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit…for all those times I expressed to God in prayer that I wish He would come and sit on my bed and tell me face to face, what I should do or to look in His eyes and know it will be OK. We WILL be in His presence in heaven and will be able to commune with Him face to face. Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus come!
.
This older hymn by Don Wyrtzen comes to mind. It’s title is “Finally Home”. Years ago I was at a funeral of my friends mom – who was a music instructor. She had recorded herself singing this song sometime before her death, and then had it played durdng the service – she sang it at her own funeral!
.
When engulfed by the terror of tempestuous seas,
unknown waves before you roam.
At the end of doubt and peril is eternity,
though fear and conflict seize your soul.
(Chorus)
But just think of stepping,
On shore and finding it Heaven,
of touching a hand and finding it God’s
Of breathing new air and finding it Celestial,
Of waking up in Glory and finding your Home.
When surrounded by the blackness of the darkest night,
oh how lonely death can be.
At the end of this long tunnel is the shining light,
for death is swallowed up in victory
but just think of stepping,
On shore and finding it Heaven,
of touching a hand and finding it God’s
Of breathing new air and finding it Celestial,
Of waking up in Glory and finding your Home.
—
Happy Friday She’s!
So thank for this Revelation study! God’s words are true! We can rest in that!
We are called to persevere in obedience and live in the light of reality that Jesus is coming back!
Praying for all! Have a blessed day!
OH NO…the Reply button isn’t working!!!
But laughing face to you Cee Gee!! I sure would like to hear a combination of Cee Cee Winans and Stephen McWhirter singing it together!
Amen!!
RHONDA J- Reply button is finicky today, but I just wanted to say I knew you would share that song so I didn’t. ☺❤☺
Thanks so much for introducing me to it and Stephen McWhirter a while back.
Praying for Shalan and for your ministry today. ❤
What great story teller you are, RUSS RAMSEY! Thank you for sharing that analogy.
Russ said, “persevere in obedience and live in light of the reality that Jesus is coming back,…”
Revelation 22:11b NLT –
“let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”
.
That’s a great charge with which to end!
.
.
The healing of the nations (Rev. 22:2) is intriguing and we briefly discussed it in my in-person study of Revelation last year. There are lots of commentaries on v. 2 (8 on Bible Hub!). This commentary from Bible Hub is comforting and encouraging:
“Conclusion: Eternal Restoration, Not Residual Suffering-
Thus, the “healing of the nations” in Revelation 22:2 reflects the final state of flourishing and wholeness under God’s eternal reign. It is a symbolic testament to creation’s absolute restoration and unending sustenance in the presence of the Almighty. The verse does not contradict the promise of “no more pain” (Revelation 21:4); rather, it solidifies it, illustrating that the aftereffects of sin have been fully removed, replaced by perfect and perpetual wellbeing flowing from God’s provision.
In the new heavens and new earth, no affliction remains. The leaves of the tree of life are the emblem of complete and everlasting peace, declaring that God’s redeemed creation remains forever in His protective care. The consistent biblical theme is that once the curse is eradicated (Revelation 22:3), nothing will ever threaten God’s people again, and they will enjoy unceasing fellowship with Him, the Source of all life.”
.
SONG SHARE: (This immediately came to mind):
Shall We Gather at the River (hymn) by Robert Lowry 1864.
Verses 1 and 4:
1 Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have trod;
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?
4 Soon we’ll reach the shining river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace. [Refrain]
Refrain:
Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.
.
.
I am so thankful to have walked through this study with you SHES! THANK YOU, SRT and HRT staff! Love y’all!
.
Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
Oh! I had forgotten that song!! So good…yes, we’ll gather at the river…the beautiful, beautiful river…
I can hear us singing it at church! Oh I love the old hymns!!
Right now, “Let It Be A Hallelujah” with the beautiful vocals of Lauren Daigle sings! It goes beautifully…in the chaos..he remains, the Glory of His name!! With every breath that’s in me…
Let it be a Hallelujah!! We don’t say that word often in common talk, but it is the word on my lips this morning!! Hallelujah we know the end!!
❤❤❤ yes, love that song!!! And Yes to your other comment where the option didn’t work (re: Cece and Stephen)!
Every time I finish Revelation, I have so many feelings. Then comes Revelation 22:16: “I, Jesus… am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
And that verse brings everything into focus. I think we get caught up in what can feel like a cinematic light show and the “when will x, y, and z happen?” that we sometimes miss that Revelation is simply about Jesus love for us.
When He calls Himself the “Root and Offspring of David” and the “bright Morning Star”, it feels like a warm blanket around my shoulders for me, because He brings it back to the OT, a loving savior anchoring Himself in the story God has been telling since the beginning, with His light ultimately and permanently breaking through the darkness.
In the end, Revelation is a declaration of God’s deep love for us. The love that sent His Son to die for our sins. The love that redeems. The gospel—the good news—from beginning to end. We know how this story ends. Come, Lord Jesus.
Yes Maria!! Spot on! Amen!
Yes! ❤
Lovely, Maria B. Just lovely.
Thankful for his words
He who testifies about these thingsh says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord JesusD be with everyone. Amen. Rev 22:20-21
Yes and Amen Lord. Let me be ready. Fill my heart with your Word, your Truth and your Ways. ❤️
Come Jesus Come! Yes! We long for you! To come and make all things right in a wrong, hurtful, sad world!
We long for people to “get it!” To know the light that we know. The truth that changes everything! We want them to eat of the fruit, to drink the living water so they will never truly thirst again! The word of life that is the game changer. Changes, in fact, our eternal destination. But it’s not the fear, which that is helpful, it’s the LOVE that we will live among, flowing from our Creator to His people, his children! It’s something our soul and Spirit longs for, looking for, and craving now–the heavenly kingdom to come. To live with our Savior Jesus Christ! The visual of the river flowing from His throne with the beautiful, huge, brilliant, fruit filled trees on the sides is so amazing. Our minds just can’t fully picture its magnificence!
I love that we had this study before our advent season. As we turn now to Jesus’ birth! I pray that our loved ones will feel the need, the cry of every heart, for the living water and nourishing bread of life. The babe that was born to save the weary world! Oh, turn on the Christmas music today!
We go later today to serve the homeless with an amazing prepared Thanksgiving feast! We have one of our Pastors coming to give a Word, and her husband is going to play the guitar and sing! I’m going to take my prayer table and offer them food for their soul and that living water! I pray it will be fruitful for them! Prayers please! And also for Shalan that is in the hospital again for kidney infection and stones.
The song Come Jesus Come of course comes to mind-
Come Jesus Come
We’ve been waiting so long
For the day You return
To heal every hurt and right every wrong
We need You right now
Come and turn this around
Deep down I know this world isn’t home
Come, Jesus, come.
“Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”
.
May your bride be ready.
I’m actually sad this study is coming to an end – something I never thought I would feel. I am left with a lot of questions but also with HOPE. I have always avoided thinking about death, too scary for me. This study has broken some of that down.
Rev 22:17 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
.
Lord, praying all will thirst and take the water of life You offer. Today.
.
No More Night, David Phelps
❤
looking up that song! Thanks for sharing! ❤
❤️
Amen
Thank you Lord, that your word does not change. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever! Thank you, Lord Jesus, for this time of preparation for Advent so that we may celebrate your coming and look forward to your coming again!
The Rev. and Ez passage so beautiful describing The Life-giving water. (Samaritan woman) How the water flows and becomes fresh water, all the different fish as like of the Great Sea. Fruit trees that continue to monthly produce fruit for food and leaves for healing.
Trees of Life. Thnak you Lord who is faithful and True. Blessed beyond.
Amen ❤️
A resounding Yes, “Amen! Come , Lord Jesus!” I continue to join the prayers of many others for the prodigals and loved ones who aren’t walking with the Lord. I’m grateful God is gracious and more patient than I am waiting for people to turn towards Him.
Amen! I was just thanking Him for the same thing. “Come, Lord Jesus, come….and also thank you for waiting a little longer for the people I love to recognize their need of You…”
I pray as well, along with you and so many others here who are praying for all our prodigals…if they only knew how many were praying for them! And praising God that He is patient, long suffering and not willing that any should perish, and that’s why he tarries.