BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY

Having seen the outside description and dimensions of the New Jerusalem in the previous chapter (chapter 21) of the previous posting in this Revelation series, we shall now take a look at chapter 22 as we have arrived at the last chapter and thus, the last installment of this Revelation study series. We shall now enter the city for a brief view of the spectacular eternal abode of the saints i.e. those who have personally received Christ. Not those who tried to live a righteous life on their own, expecting that God would look at their good deeds and weigh them against their bad deeds and “hope” that the good will outweigh the bad and be allowed entrance to the Heavenly city. But only those who fully trusted in, and personally received Christ for the full pardon of sins past, present and future and nothing else. The first stop on our tour is at the river of life. At long last, a look at the tree of life. The Apostle John speaks …

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, 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” (Revelation 22:1-2).

The River of Life

Historically, rivers have been vital to the very existence of civilization. They have provided water for crops and a highway and a highway for travel across country. When ancient man traversed the globe and moved through continents, he did so in boats on waterways. Most major cities were built along rivers. Even the ancient city of Jerusalem was mindful of its Kedron River and Gihon Spring. The Psalmist wrote …

“There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High” (Psalm 46:4).

The Garden of Eden could not have survived without its rivers – the Tigris, Euphrates, Gihon and Pison. They irrigated the entire area, including the famous Tree of Life, here seen in the heavenly New Jerusalem.

But the most famous river in the Bible was the Jordon. It symbolized the spiritual elevation of the Holy Land above all other countries. It was a sacred river with many memories connected to it. Today, there are several songs that remind us that the Jordon River illustrates the barrier between this life and the blessed hope of reaching our destination in Heaven. Thomas Ramsey once wrote …

“When I come to the river at ending of day,
when the last winds of sorrow have blown;
There’ll be somebody waiting to show me the way,
I won’t have to cross Jordon alone.”

Samuel Stennett added to the songs that many Christians know as he penned …

“On Jordon’s stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan’s fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.
I am bound for the Promised Land,
I am bound for the Promised Land.
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the Promised Land.”

A southern spiritual reminds us of Elijah’s flight to Heaven after crossing Jordan:

“I looked over Jordan an’ what did I see,
Comin’ for to carry me home!
A band of angels comin’ after me,
Comin’ for to carry me home!
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Comin’ for to carry me home!
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Comin’ for to carry me home!

These are among the many songs that endear the hearts of many Christians to the river. Jesus was baptized there. Jordan means “the going down of the Dan.” It symbolizes death, leaving the lofty heights of Mt. Hermon, winding its way through the rift valley and ending up some 1,200 feet below sea level in the Dead Sea. It reminds us of humanity, for all men and women are appointed to die. Even baptism is a symbol of death – quite the opposite of the river of life in the New Jerusalem.

Ezekiel tells us about a new river that will flow out from the Temple Mount during the Messianic Kingdom rule of Christ and the saints on Earth – winding its way down to the Jordan, flushing out the Dead Sea and bringing it to life …

“Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

“Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

“And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.

“Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

“Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

“And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.

“Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.

“And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

“And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.

“But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine” (Ezekiel 47:1-12).

Ezekiel’s vision of a river emanating from Jerusalem’s Temple Mount during the millennial kingdom is an earthly manifestation of the greater river in the New Jerusalem that will issue from the throne of God when this splendid time comes. In Judaism, water that flows is called “living water,” as opposed to a stagnant pool. The fact that Ezekiel’s river heals the waters of the Dead Sea reminds us of Heaven’s river. The infusion of living water from Christ’s future Temple into the concept that water from the Jordan ends up stagnant in the Dead Sea, sets forth the idea of the blessed hope of eternal life for a dying human race. The typology is significant. This earthly river becomes an instrument for teaching us about the greater reality in the New Jerusalem.

Finally, we should note that the New Jerusalem’s wonderful river, filled with living water, is quite the opposite to that of the dried up Euphrates River of Babylon, described in Revelation 16:12 …

“And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared” (Revelation 16:12).

Throughout the book of Revelation, we have seen the pitiful counterfeits of the Dragon’s revolution replaced with Heaven’s reality: the devil’s Babylon versus Heaven’s Jerusalem; the devil’s Antichrist versus Heaven’s Christ; the devil’s harlot versus Heaven’s virgin; the devil’s river versus Heaven’s river, etc. It seems that Satan never had an original thought. He could only counterfeit God’s creation.

The Tree of Life

On either side of Heaven’s river grew a special type of tree – the Tree of Life. We saw this tree growing in the Garden of Eden in the opening chapters of Genesis …

“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” (Genesis 2:9).

Because of Adam’s disobedience to God’s command to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and resulting fall, man was forbidden to partake of its life-giving properties. However, in the New Jerusalem, its fruit and leaves are once again flourishing for the benefit of God’s people.

The nineteenth-century scholar, Dr. Joseph Seiss wrote …

“It was not one individual tree, but a particular tree as to its kind, as we speak of ‘the apple’ or ‘the oak,’ denoting a species of which there are many specimens. It has the name of the ‘Tree of Life,’ because man in innocence was to keep and preserve his life by eating of its fruits. It was the symbol and support of eternal life, both for body and for soul. And it is one of the special joys and provisions of the New Jerusalem that it is supplied with this same tree, in the same multitudinous sense, fulfilling something of the same offices” (Apocalypse, page 506).

Dr. Seiss saw the tree as a veritable orchard producing fruit continually. That compares with Ezekiel’s river with its trees providing continual fruit …

“And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine” (Ezekiel 47:12).

The Apostle John writes with utmost similarity …

“In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, 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” (Revelation 22:2).

In his letter to Ephesus, the church of the first century, Jesus encourages all believers to be over-comers, with the promise that they will be able to do what Adam could not …

“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the Paradise of my God” (Revelation 2:7).

And again, in this final chapter, John is reminded …

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life” (Revelation 22:14).

As a quick side note to Revelation 22:14 above, I would be doing a disservice if I did not clarify the actual meaning of the admonishment to “over-come” (see here) and “do his commandments so that one may have the right to the Tree of Life.” Many would see this verse as one that would indicate that a person is admitted to Heaven and to the Tree of Life based on works and what they do or fail to do. This view is inconsistent with the Bible’s clear and concise narrative that salvation is not dependent upon works. We know the exact opposite is true …

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Some skeptics of the Bible may see a contradiction in scripture here, but when the true context and meaning of Revelation 22:14 is fleshed out, one will see that it is declaring the opposite. In the original Greek, one can see that this verse is speaking of one who has “washed their robes” so that they may partake of this Tree of Life. The ESV translates it as follows …

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.”

As we all know, washing one’s robes in the blood of Christ involves believing on him and personally receiving him for the salvation of the soul, thus it is a salvation received freely by grace through faith and not works. So, do not let the King James translation befuddle and worry you.

Continuing on, I would not be surprised if the Savior brought hundreds or thousands of trees from the Tree of Life and planted them along the new river, seen in Ezekiel’s vision, for the healing of the nations during his earthly reign. And though we are told that the leaves from New Jerusalem’s Tree of Life are for the healing of the nations, by this time, there are no ailing nations left to heal. It seems that the healing must take place earlier.

We are told that the tree bears a different fruit each month and yet, there is no need of the sun and moon. Will time continue to be the choice of discernment for the new heavens and the new earth? Will time cease to exist while eternity flourishes? We are told that there will be “no night there” (verse 5). But will there be seconds, minutes, hours and months? Did John simply have a slip of the tongue while trying to describe this eternal phenomenon?

Because of this one verse, we are left without a definitive answer. We are confident that the new heavens and new earth will be eternal, but without some of these time markers to give us an appreciation for the extent of eternity, we would have no way of comprehending it. From a purely mathematical perspective, even Heaven should have clocks. Otherwise, how will we know when to be where we need to be for any kind of meeting, whether it is a simple visit with a friend, or for a congregational or corporate meeting. The old song that suggests, “I’ll meet you in the morning, just inside the Eastern gate,” still impresses upon us the need to know just when our promised meeting should take place.

No More Curse

As noted in verse 3, God’s throne is in the city, making it Heaven’s capital city for reigning over the entire universe. Though not given details of our existence, we are told that we shall serve the Lord. That is, we shall be busy with delightful work in the course of running a great universe. We will have the privileges of being in his presence; of seeing his face; and our countenance will reflect his name and glory …

“And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads” (Revelation 22:3-4).

The curse brought on by Satan’s pride and Adam’s fall will be forever lifted. Both Heaven and Earth will be reconciled and restored. Look up at night and see a sky filled with inky blackness, except for starlight. However, when the universe is made anew, this present kingdom of darkness will be turned into a kingdom of light. There is no night there.

I am of the personal opinion that when we think about what Heaven is going to be like and the wonders that await us there, we should allow our imaginations a bit of latitude. We know so little and imagine so much. The mind of man cannot conceive of the impossible; God did not program our minds with impossibilities. What we can imagine, we can someday see. The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote …

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2: 9-10).

Later, in that same epistle, Paul explained …

“For now, we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Surely, the technology that abounds today is still primitive when compared to the gadgets and gizmos that will be available at our fingertips in that day. The genius minds that are sprinkled across our culture today will be commonplace in that day. We shall know. We shall know as we are known.

There will be a whole new level of communication and transportation. We can traverse the universe without the use of cumbersome rockets. We can communicate without having to wait for radio signals to zoom across the universe at the speed of light. Today, it takes eight minutes for the light of the sun to get to the earth. But in that day, there should be no delay – not in light or in radio communications.

Today, the New Jerusalem awaits us, sitting somewhere in another dimension. It is there, just as surely as we are here. But in that day, trans-dimensional travel will be available to all. Today’s science fiction will seem so primitive to tomorrow’s realities. Will there be other worlds to explore? Will Creation continue with new species of plants, animals and intelligent beings? Have you ever been bored? Well, you won’t be then.

The Forever Reality

We will never need rest or sleep. There is no night there. This implies that our eternal bodies will never become weary. We will simply never wear out …

“And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:5).

Since we are told that we shall “reign for ever and ever,” it stands to reason that the New Jerusalem will be recognized as our capital city over the earth and, for that matter, the entire universe.

Throughout the Bible, hints are given that our lives shall continue forever. The Hebrew term translated “ever (as in forever),” “of old,” “always,” “perpetual,” or “everlasting,” is olam עוֹלָם, used 384 times in the
Old Testament with the vav ו and 33 times as olam עֹלָם, without the vav ו. In every case, it seems to refer to eternity, or an eternal existence, not bound by time. It is used thirteen times in the book of Genesis. Eleven of those references use a vav ו in the spelling. The vav ו appears to refer to a divine connection (vav ו means “hook”). It seems to have a spiritual reference to the Messiah, for without him, we would have no chance of being connected with Heaven.

Furthermore, when used for the first two times, the Hebrew term is written without a vav ו. We see this in Genesis 3:22, as God drives man from the Garden, lest he eat of the Tree of Life and live “forever” (עֹלָם) …

“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 (okg)” (Genesis 3:22).

Omitting the vav ו from this first use implies that man’s eternal existence could have been achieved without the vav ו, and that would be a dreadful thing. Imagine Adam living forever in the state of mortal flesh! To avoid such a catastrophe, God drove Adam and Eve from the Garden and placed angels with flaming swords at the entrance.

The second use is also without the vav ו, as God laments that his Spirit will not “always” (עֹלָם) strive with man …

“And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always (And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always (עֹלָם) strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years” (Genesis 6:3).

In other words, God said that there was a limit to his patience. He uses the term “not always” to express an earthly rather than a divine eternal limit to his attitude toward man. The vav ו is, therefore, left out of the spelling. For eleven times, thereafter, the vav ו is added, showing the significance of its connection with Heaven. The first place we see this eternal existence is in reference to the “sons of God” …

“There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old (עוֹלָ֖ם), men of renown” (Genesis 6:4).

The use of olam (עוֹלָ֖ם) with a vav ו marks these “sons of God” as angels from the eternal heavenly realm. They are not the offspring of Cain as some suppose, but rather, they are beings from an eternal existence.

The next use of olam (עוֹלָ֖ם) appears in a covenant made with Noah …

“And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual (עוֹלָ֖ם) generations” (Genesis 9:12).

Does this mean that the human race will continue to exist on Earth forever? Obviously, but the use of the vav ו in “perpetual” seems to imply that the eternal or perpetual generations will be invested in a redeemed human race – redeemed by the Messiah (as seen in the vav ו). I fail to see the eternal existence of a fallen human race in this verse, but I do see the promise of eternal life for a redeemed human race. The Noahic covenant offered the promise of eternal life. A few verses later, God gives the rainbow as a token of the everlasting covenant …

“And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting (עוֹלָ֖ם) covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth” (Genesis 9:16).

Because of the use of the vav ו, this covenant is no ordinary earthly covenant. It is stamped with Heaven’s connection with Earth. It is vitally linked to God’s protection and provision forever. This concept is continued in the Abrahamic covenant …

“For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever ” (עוֹלָ֖ם) Genesis 13:15).

In this verse, God promises the land to Abraham’s chosen seed forever. Next, God promises to be their God forever …

“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting (עוֹלָ֖ם) covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee” (Genesis 17:7).

The fact that this is an everlasting covenant automatically offers the promise of eternal life. Next, God returns to his promise of the Holy Land for an everlasting possession …

“And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting (עוֹלָ֖ם) possession; and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:8).

Not only will Israel live in the New Jerusalem, but in the countries of a redeemed earth as well. Evidently, the New Jerusalem will become the capital city of the new heavens and the new earth.

The next use of the divine olam (עוֹלָ֖ם) gives the earthly symbol of Abraham’s eternal covenant …

“He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting (עוֹלָ֖ם) covenant” (Genesis 17:13).

This mark of the covenant was to distinguish the Jews from all the other races as being the ones through whom the Messiah would come. It was given to those “born in the house,” meaning Israel only, not the Gentiles who would later receive eternal life through the death of Christ. For those Gentiles who were not directly linked to Abraham’s people, the New Testament replaces circumcision with the ordinance of baptism.

Next, God extends the divinely ordained Abrahamic covenant to Isaac …

“And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting (עוֹלָ֖ם) covenant, and with his seed after him” (Genesis 17:19).

Isaac was designated to produce the Jews, as opposed to Ishmael or the sons of Keturah. Next, Abraham prays to the eternal and everlasting God …

“And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting (עוֹלָ֖ם) God” (Genesis 21:33).

God is known for his promise of eternal life. Only the eternally existing God can give life that will never end.

As a side note, did anyone notice the numbers of this chapter and verse number that gives us the picture of Abraham (the one through whom the everlasting covenant of eternal life by grace through faith would manifest in Christ) praying to the eternal and everlasting God? Take another look and see what you come up with? Did you see it? No? O.k., let’s break it down then.

First, Genesis 21 (we are in the year 2021) and, of course, for those of us in the watching community, next year is the year that is highly recognized among many as being the year that will mark the outer limit year for the rapture based upon Jesus’ the fig tree generation for his physical return (Second Coming event) in 2028/2029. Backing off seven years for the Tribulation Period puts the rapture at 2022 according to this prophetic model. So, the year 2021, according to this prophetic thinking and model, would be the last year of the Age of Grace (the Church Age) before the rapture and Tribulation set in.

Second, verse 33 of Genesis 21 is the number of years Jesus was on Earth before being crucified at 33 years old. How interesting it is that we should see Abraham, the Father of all who believe, praying to the everlasting God in verse 33 – the number representing the completion of Christ’s mission on Earth before his ultimate act of sacrifice so that we could obtain eternal life through faith (represented in Abraham, the father of all who believe). Putting this “wink” and “nod” together to behold the message that Divine Providence may be intending for us to see here is that Christ’s completion of the Age of Grace/Church Age that Christ himself began occurs next year. Is this a Divine wink and nod? Possibly. With God and the Bible, nothing seems to be by coincidence.

Continuing on, the next two uses of the term divinely eternal olam (עוֹלָ֖ם), translated “everlasting” involve Jacob’s telling of the Promised Land being an eternal possession …

“And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting (עוֹלָ֖ם) possession” (Genesis 48:4).

Here, we learn that Israel will always belong to the Jews, not just in the historical setting of 7,000 years, but for all eternity. In fact, Jacob refers to the hill country of the heartland as “the everlasting hills” …

“The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting (עוֹלָ֖ם) hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren” (Genesis 49:26).

Even after the New Jerusalem becomes the center of our eternal abode, the earth will also be a part of our habitation as well. There would be no reason to make a new Heaven and a new Earth if we are confined to the perimeters of the New Jerusalem. Indeed, the entire universe could become inhabited. Otherwise, why would God make it so big? The Apostle Paul explains that Abraham was promised, not only the land of Israel, but eventually, the entire world …

“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith” (Romans 4:13).

We can understand it no other way than to believe that the New Jerusalem will not be alone as the dwelling place of the saints. It will be the capital of a vast universe. Earth will be inhabited. Otherwise, Abraham would not be the “heir of the world.” The Abrahamic covenant promised it all …

“And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee” (Genesis 13:14-17).

It seems that everywhere Abraham’s progeny have walked, the land was promised to them. Over the centuries, wherever they have been scattered, they will one day receive the territory as their inheritance – not just Israel, but throughout the entire world. But, through Christ’s death on the cross at Calvary that secured our redemption, we who have personally received Christ i.e. the body of true, born again believers, have become a part of the commonwealth of Israel. That means, we too shall inherit the earth. This is the glory that awaits the born again, saved believer in Christ.

And That’s the Truth!

In the following verses, we return from the eternal state, back into time, the Apostle John is taken back to the “Lord’s day.” He has not yet been transported back to the first century. He is once again at the onset of the Tribulation Period. We have three people speaking: the angel-guide, Jesus and John. First, the angel-guide (one of the seven angels who poured out the vials of wrath) tells John that what he has seen and heard is absolutely true. Then Jesus comes up to tell John that he is coming quickly. Then John tells us that he was overwhelmed with the glory of it all and fell down to worship at the guide’s feet. This is the second time that John did such a thing, only to be kindly told to worship only God.

First, the angel-guide speaks …

“And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.”

Then, Jesus speaks …

“Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”

Then, John writes …

“And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

Then, the angel-guide speaks again …

“Then said he unto me, See that 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” (Revelation 22:6-9).

John is now done with receiving his revelations. He has seen the Church Age ending in failure with Laodicea, just as every other dispensation has ended in failure: The Dispensation of Innocence ended with Adam’s fall; The Dispensation of Conscience ended with Noah’s Flood; The Dispensation of Human Government ended with Babel’s Tower; The Dispensation of Promise ended with Egypt’s bondage; The Dispensation of Law ended with Jesus’ crucifixion; The Dispensation of Grace ended (will end) with Laodicea’s unbelief and the years of the coming judgment of the Tribulation; and the Dispensation of the coming Messianic Kingdom ends/will end with Satan’s final revolt.

John has given us the essential features of the Tribulation period. The first three chapters that introduced his vision and the Church Age, along with the last three chapters with his glimpse of Armageddon, the Kingdom, the Great White Throne Judgment and the New Jerusalem are only there to frame the main message – the events of the Tribulation Period. All of the details seem to be concentrated on the judgments of the trumpets and vials – the rise of world government and its ultimate fall. Revelation is primarily the story of the final conflict between God and the devil – Christ and Antichrist. It is the revelation of Jesus as the victorious “Lamb” of God. For all these reasons, we are told very little about the Church Age, Armageddon, the Messianic Kingdom and the New Jerusalem.

But, rest assured, what we are told is the absolute truth. Some scholars would have us believe that John’s visions are fanciful wisps of his imagination. The Preterist believes that all of the prophecies in the book were fulfilled by A.D. 70. Little do they know that the subject matter of the entire book is both “faithful and true,” and should be taken as a literal account of things to come.

Of course, the book is filled with symbolic metaphors. John uses the metaphors gleaned from the pages of the Old Testament and explains them in such a way that those living in the Tribulation Period can understand them. The serpent of Revelation is none other than the serpent that beguiled Eve in the book of Genesis. The beast out of the sea is a metaphor taken from Daniel’s visionary beasts. MYSTERY BABYLON shows us the conclusion of Nimrod’s ancient city and tower and of the end of Nebuchadnezzar’s grand schemes. The trumpets and vials are taken from Temple liturgy – something the Jews would readily understand. These are not fanciful adventures of John’s imagination. They are there to explain a future reality.

The Christian that avoids the study of Revelation will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and face the fact that: “These sayings are faithful and true” (Revelation 22:6). He or she will miss the promise of the blessing and reward that will be given to: “he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy” (Revelation 1:3). He or she will miss the blessing of: “He that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7). There is not a book in the entire Bible that should escape our study. We cannot afford to avoid any chapter or verse. If there is a passage that we cannot understand, then that should become the target of our research. After all, it is the word of the eternal God. When understanding prophecy and watching for his coming and the accompanying signs thereof, God promises a special reward in the Kingdom for such …

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8)

It is not to say that we’re going to “have it all figured out” as regarding when specifically he will appear, but as we watch for the signs of his appearing in joyous anticipation, the Lord is going to richly reward those who have diligently sought his appearing.

Three times in this chapter (verses 7,12 and 20), Jesus tells John that he is coming “quickly.” To whom is he talking? Is this a message to the saints of the first century? In the opening chapter, John tells us that the Holy Spirit transported him into the future – to the “Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10). A study of Creation week, and its metaphoric meaning that a day represents a thousand years (see here), will help us to understand that John was given a vision of events that will occur in the seventh millennium – which is the 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ on Earth. Therefore, it is a message to the saints of the Tribulation generation that Christ says “I come quickly” (Revelation 22:12).

The Time is At Hand

In the following verses, we have messages from both the angel-guide and the Savior. First, the angel-guide speaks …

“And he said unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he that 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.”

Then, Jesus speaks …

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according to his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Revelation 22:10-13).

This book opens what Daniel was told to seal …

“But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4).

The message is clearly to those who will live in the generations that will live in the generation that experiences the events of the Tribulation period. As we have seen in chapter 9, verse 21, there will come a time when mankind will cross the deadline of grace, at which time his fate is sealed and only judgment lies ahead …

“Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts” (Revelation 9:21).

In chapter 16, verse 9, when the vial is poured out upon the sun and every man and woman on Earth is scorched by great heat, they will only blaspheme the name of God and will still not repent and give him glory …

“And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory” (Revelation 16:9).

It is to those hardened hearts of the Tribulation period that the message is given: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still” (Revelation 22:11).

The angel also has a message for the saints of the Tribulation period – those who found and received Christ after the rapture has already occurred. It is to no other generation. This message is not given to the generation prior to the onset of the Tribulation. It cannot be given to those who presently live in the dispensation of Grace. It is for those Christians who are suffering the persecutions of the Antichrist. The angel-guide says …

“… he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still” (Revelation 22:11).

In other words, “Hang in there! Help is on the way!” Jesus chimes in with: “Behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according to his work shall be” (verse 12). And then, to make it clear who is speaking, Jesus says: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (verse 13).

As we have said before, each chapter in the book of Revelation follows the theme of its corresponding Hebrew letter and its theme, or meaning. In twenty-two chapters, we have the story of the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. To emphasize that fact, Jesus repeats something that he said in the first chapter of this book. Note that he makes this statement in both the “first” and “last” chapters: “I am Alpha and Omega …” These Greek letters are merely the translations of the Hebrew aleph אֶ and tahv תָּ – the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This statement by Jesus frames the book as alphabetic.

The Hebrew Letter Tahv

Though this is the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet, it by no means represents a conclusion. As time developed, the letter came to be drawn with a foot stepping out into the future. It seems that the Hebrew alphabet is divided up into sets of seven letters, repeating the message with each new level, much like the seven notes on the musical scale. Every eighth letter above its previous level harmonizes perfectly with its counterpart. Therefore, it seems as if the tahv תָּ is another aleph אֶ – the first letter – but without its succeeding six letters. To be sure, they are there, only we cannot see them. We have only the twenty-two letters and know not what came before them, nor what goes on after them. As we shall see, this chapter contains only 21 verses. It is as if the chapter is left unfinished. It implies the message that there is more – much more.

According to Michael Munk, in his book The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet,” the letter tahv תָּ is the symbol of “truth and perfection.” The Hebrew word for “truth” is emet (אֱמֶ֔ת), spelled with the first אֱ and last תָּ letters of the alphabet, including מ mem, a letter found at the center of the alphabet. It seems that truth encompasses the message of the entire Hebrew alphabet, including every letter between the aleph אֶ and tahv תָּ.

The very theme of this chapter (chapter 22), the last chapter of the book of Revelation, can be seen in the meaning of the tahv תָּ (the 22nd and last letter of the Hebrew alphabet) as the angel-guide says, “These sayings are faithful and true” (Revelation 22:6). Furthermore, in verse 4, we are told that the saints have the name of God in our foreheads: “… and his name shall be in their foreheads.” This “name of God” may very well be a tahv תָּ. Michael Munk suggested that God called upon the angel Gabriel to place a mark (tahv תָּ) on the foreheads of all who wept over the abominations done in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 9:4). In Ezekiel’s day, the tahv תָּ was drawn like a cross (pictured below).

Nevertheless, it is the very letter used in the Hebrew language of Ezekiel 9:4. It is quite remarkable that the angel-guide referred to God’s “name … in their foreheads” in the tahv תָּ chapter.

In his dissertation on the aleph and tahv תָּאֶ, Munk writes …

“Simultaneous with the Jew’s inner struggle to penetrate the inner chambers of God’s wisdom in the knowledge that even after he has attained his personal tahv תָּ – the apparent limit of his capacity – the Jew pushes onward as if he were starting anew. This concept is graphically implied in the structure of the tahv תָּ, which indicates that – contrary to common belief – the Aleph-Beit does not reach the ultimate completion with its last letter. The forward leg of the tahv תָּ shows a protruding foot which – in the world of Magen David – denotes the feet of the herald (Isaiah 52:7). The tahv’s foot תָּ is a signpost alluding to the future miracles that are beyond human comprehension. It alludes to the feet of Elijah who will stride upon the mountains of Jerusalem proclaiming the final redemption, the resuscitation of the dead, as well as the ultimate world to come.”

Furthermore, he writes …

“The Aleph-Beit is a ladder and a link. It binds us to the spiritual origin of creation and life. It enables us to aspire to heights and to infuse all areas of existence with the celestial summit. It illuminates us with renewed aspiration for new life and redemption. It teaches us to pull ourselves from the aleph אֶ of potential to the tahv תָּ of achievement – and then to begin again to attain ever new levels of accomplishment until our aspirations for the Messianic times will be fulfilled.”

Though he was not a believer in Jesus, Munk carefully noted the various shades of meaning in the tahv תָּ – the same themes expressed in the context of this remarkable concluding book of the New Testament.

John Commends the Tribulation Saints

At this point, John has returned to the “Lord’s day” and gives a message to the Tribulation saints. At this point, he is not speaking from an eternal state, but from that special time when wickedness abounds, which he describes as dogs, sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, idolaters and those who love to lie. He is addressing the believers who are surrounded by the unsaved God haters in the kingdom of the Antichrist …

“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. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Revelation 22:14-15).

He promises the saints (those who have personally received Christ) that in the future, they will be able to enter into the New Jerusalem and that the wicked unsaved will not.

Now, Jesus adds that he has entrusted this entire book tot he churches for preservation, that it might be available for the saints of the Tribulation period, adding that he, its author, is both the root of David (living in eternaity past), as well as David’s offspring (living into eternity future). He is the bright and morning star – the star that was to rise out of Jacob (Numbers 24:17) …

“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” (Revelation 22:16).

With that said, John sees the opportunity to offer an invitation to all who would desire to receive Christ as their Savior …

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).

John leads with the thought that only the Holy Spirit can bring a person to a saving knowledge of Christ, and that the bride (body of believers), for whom the New Jerusalem is prepared, should carry this Gospel message to the world. All who are spiritually thirsty can partake of the saving power of the Holy Spirit, of whom the water of life is a type. And it is free. Salvation is a free gift from God, who “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16).

Now that the last chapter has been written, John warns those who might be tempted to change its message over the course of the next two-thousand years or during the entire remainder of the Church Age until the coming again of Christ, that they dare not do it …

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 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. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:18-21).

This message is so important, being the only definitive work on the rise of Antichrist, world government and the Tribulation period, stern judgments are reserved for those who would attempt to deliberately change its message in any way. Here at this juncture, a word of clarification should be added. John’s warning does not apply to those Christians who may interpret a certain part of the book of Revelation incorrectly in their sincere attempt to understand it. This scripture speaks of those unsaved who deliberately try to change its message from what it is intended to be for the purpose of deceiving.

Then, for the third time, the saints of the seventh millennium are told that the Savior is coming soon, to which John adds, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

After giving such a rebuke to any who might want to change its message, followed by his promise of Christ’s imminent return, John returns to the dispensation of Grace beginning in the first century – a dispensation that we are still currently and presently living in today – the Church Age – and offers his concluding statement: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:21). This is the only time in the entire book that all three titles are put together – “Lord Jesus Christ” – though he is called “Jesus Christ” in the first and second verses of this book. The term “Lord” is here added to his name. “Lord” seems to be a direct reference to Jehovah, spelled in the Old Testament as “LORD.” John wants all to know that the “revelation of Jesus Christ” is only complete when we realize that Jesus is “Jehovah.” If he is the “root” of David, how can he be anyone other than the very Jehovah who stood on the brink of eternity and created the heavens and the earth. He is not only the author of the book of Revelation, but the rest of the Bible as well.

John, who in the opening verses of his first work, introduced Jesus as the great Creator: “Word … all things were made by him” (John 1:1,3), now concludes his final work by telling us that Jesus is Lord.

Now that our study of the book of Revelation has been concluded, lets step back and take a look at a peculiar anomaly concerning this book and the point in time we all find ourselves at here in the year 2021 going into 2022 – especially given the number of chapters in this book as well as its last two verse numbers.

As mentioned earlier and in previous posts, it has been mentioned several times here and in others studies that the year 2022 is a landmark year for the high possibility of the rapture event based on Jesus’ prophecy of the fig tree generation in Matthew 24 and the length of a generation found in Psalm 90:10 – with the year 2022 the beginning of judgment upon an unbelieving world. As we all know, the Tribulation will lead into the start of the Tribulation period. In closing, think about this peculiar anomaly – the Tribulation itself, which is seven years in duration, features 21 judgments (seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls of wrath). The last two verses of the Bible are 20 and 21 (Rev. 22:20–21).  Are these subtle hints pointing to 2021 as the starting point leading up to the year 2022 for the rapture event and the start of the seven-year Tribulation? Lets break it down like this …

• 20 = the starting year for the Covid-19 initial stages of the world government beast system signalling the starting point of the true beginning of the end of the Church Age just before the rapture event occurs.
• 21 = the beginning of the last year for the Church Age before the rapture as the lock-downs and Covid-19 injections are now being forcefully pushed onto world populations that are only growing more and more tyrannical and mandatory as we go into 2022.
• 22 = the year of the end of the Church Age which started in 2021 (overlapping of the two years as we take into account the Hebraic calendar).

Let’s think about this for a moment – it seems like no accident that the Bible’s most detailed book of End Time prophecy, the Book of Revelation, has 22 chapters. The number 22 is biblically linked to chaos and judgment. Interestingly, it is also linked to hope and restoration. With that in mind, let us be reminded of what the Bible through the Apostle Paul tells us about the rapture …

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

It seems that 2022 is declaring chaos and destruction on one hand, but hope in the other. Are we looking at the hope of the rapture for the Church before chaos and destruction arrive at our doorstep in 2022? In the “Recommend Reading and Viewing” section below are links to some of the other postings that make the case that 2022 could possibly signal the year of the rapture. Certainly, if nothing else, 2022 promises to be a very prophetic year in signs of its approach.

As tempting as it is to declare that 2022 will be the end of the Church Age and the year that the rapture and Tribulation will begin, it is wise to stop short in declaring that it will positively be “the year” for these events. However, based upon all the currently available and known signs occurring, the right now up-to-date prophetic clues seem to be pointing to 2022 as a very suspicious year for the fulfillment of the rapture. Again, we shall have to wait and see without being dogmatic, but make no mistake, things cannot continue as they are for much longer without the world slipping into that dark hour that the Bible ominously speaks of called “The Tribulation.” Although the Lord can indeed hold it all back and, perhaps, put the brakes on and slow it all down if he chooses, the signs at present at least indicate that 2022 should/could be rapture go time. If not, belief that we are in the very closing days of the Church Age before the rapture and Tribulation judgment still stands. It only means that there are a few more things that need to occur before the appointed hour arrives. However, there has never been a year that looks more suspiciously prophetic than the year 2022.

• Verse 20 – “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus“
• Verse 21 – “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

That said, I’ve noticed that I have completed this Revelation study series with its 22 chapters and its last two verses 20 and 21 at the very end of the year 2021 – the year that signifies the end of the Church Age? I can tell you it wasn’t purposeful on my part.

Coincidence or the Lord working in mysterious ways?

THE RAPTURE AND YOUR ESCAPE FROM THE COMING JUDGMENT

The demonstrably divinely inspired text that we call the Bible promises a coming horrendous seven-year Tribulation period of judgment upon Earth for all of mankind, no matter what your religion, belief or creed is, and even to those who don’t believe anything spiritual at all. We can now clearly see the signs of this approaching nightmare. However, as we’ve already seen, this same divinely inspired text that we call the Bible promises a dramatic escape from off the face of the earth before this horrendous time of judgment only to a certain category of people.  

Put simply, an event is coming that will be so stupendous that it strains the mind to contemplate such an event happening.  It is an event that will see millions upon millions of people across the globe suddenly disappear without warning.  The millions of disappeared will have literally ascended into Heaven itself after instantaneously receiving a new glorified body fit for Heaven.  A body that will be able to withstand the atmosphere and glory of Heaven.  This event is known as the “Rapture.” But the promise of escape is only to those who are “born again” in Christ.  This is why it is crucial to understand what Christ meant when he declared in no uncertain terms that only those who are “born again” in him will enter the Kingdom of God.  For the explanation of this, keep reading below.

In order to accept the offer of God’s grace and his salvation, you must take the crucial three steps of …

1. Agreeing – A belief and agreeing with God in all that he says in his word, the Bible, about the fact that you are separated from God, as every man and woman on the face of the earth are before accepting his salvation.  The Bible reveals that all are separated from him in a spiritual state of death, or said another way that the Bible reveals it, in a state of sin, that will result in damnation in the afterlife.  Agreeing with God in your heart that you are in need of his salvation.  The Bible reveals that God looks upon the heart of a man or woman, and thus, responds accordingly to the person who comes to him for salvation in recognition of his inability to save himself.  The Bible makes these facts very clear – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).  The Bible describes these three kinds of death:  

• physical death (the state experienced when life leaves our bodies); 

• spiritual death (spiritual separation from God caused by our state of spiritual death inherited from the first man Adam – the state of sin that results in our daily outward acts of sin, whether deliberate or not, whether omissive or not; and finally … 

• the second death (the fixed state entered into by the individual who dies physically while he or she is dead spiritually). This state is entered into after the death of the body which results in punishment in the afterlife until the event of the Great White Throne Judgment occurs wherein the damned are resurrected from Hades, or Hell, and are judged according to their works and finally destroyed and cease to exist after being cast into the Lake of Fire. Revelation 14 refers to this tragic end of the unsaved as the “Second Death” (verse 14). It is this state of suffering entered into after physical death and then final destruction at the Great White Throne Judgment in particular which is the horrible result of receiving the wages of sin (unforgiven due to unbelief and rejection of Christ). The Lord Jesus Christ frequently described such a death as being irrevocable in a destiny which he called Hell.  He described Hell as a literal place of judgment (Matthew 13:42); a place of everlasting fire (Matthew 18:8); a place of torment (Luke 16:24,28); a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:50); a place of remorse (Mark 9:44-48); of bitter memory (Luke 16:25), and a place originally prepared for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).  In fact, Jesus more often warned about Hell than he spoke about Heaven.

It is not God’s will or desire that any person should be consigned to perish in Hell (2 Peter 3:9), but rather that all should come to repentance of unbelief toward him and believe on him for the salvation of the individual’s soul.  But God’s justice requires that the “soul who sins” (remains in it’s state of death or state of sin) is the one who will die a second time after a long period of torment (Ezekiel 18:4).  So, agree with God, admitting that you are unable to save yourself and in a state of sin under God’s just condemnation for that sin and that you are in need of his salvation.

2. Believing – Then, believe that God does not want you to perish eternally in the torment of Hell because of your sin.  Believe that God loves you so much that he provided a way whereby he could still be a just, holy and righteous God, and yet pardon you.  Believe that God did not just overlook sin, but that he sent his only begotten son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to provide salvation by personally paying the penalty for sin.  Believe that Jesus Christ, whose life, death, burial and resurrection is the best-attested fact of antiquity, did come to earth to live, die, rise again and ascend to Heaven in order to provide justification and salvation for all who trust him.  Believe that he, and he alone, can save you because he has fully satisfied the just demands of God.  Believe that you can’t become righteous in God’s sight by your own effort.  Believe that he wants to save you and that he will save you.  The Bible provides a solid basis for such belief …

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17). 

“But God demonstrates his love toward us in this:  while we were yet sinners,  Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). 

God presented him (Jesus Christ) as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood.  He did this to demonstrate his justice because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies the man or woman who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:25-26). 

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures … ” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). 

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). 

“Jesus answered, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).  “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out [drive away]” (John 6:37).

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

3. Calling – It is not enough to agree with God, admit your need, and believe that Christ can and will save you.  You must act upon those facts. God’s requirement is that you repent of your unbelief toward him and actively call upon him for the salvation of your soul based on the fact that you cannot save yourself because of your sins. It is unbelief in particular that damns the soul to its horrible fate …

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

You must be willing to completely turn from your own efforts to save yourself or from any other hope. You must come to Christ, calling upon him for salvation and counting on the fact that he will do what he has promised. This means simply taking the gift of pardon and eternal life which he offers. Merely believing about Jesus Christ without coming to him makes as much sense and is as effective as believing that a medication can successfully treat a fatal disease, but failing to take it. Yet again, the Bible emphatically and authoritatively provides the basis for such statements.

The word translated “believe” here means to “rest one’s entire weight and trust on the object or person in which the belief is placed.”  It requires action in keeping with the intellectual assent of that belief.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

” … but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

The logical question you may be asking at this point is:  “how do I come to Christ and call upon him?”  The answer is that “calling upon the Lord” is just another term for praying, or talking to God.  To talk to God is not a complicated process, dependent upon some special rituals.  God has invited people to approach him through his Son in simple, straightforward terms.  In fact, Jesus approved of the dishonest, despised tax collector who simply prayed, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”  While the exact words of your prayer to God are not of vital importance (since God sees and knows the attitude of your heart), the following is the kind of prayer that you could pray in calling upon God for salvation …

“Dear Lord Jesus:  I realize that I need you.  I admit that I have sinned and that I deserve your just, eternal punishment for that sin.  But I am sorry for my sin and I am turning to you and asking for forgiveness.  I believe that you died and rose again to pay sin’s penalty on my behalf.  I come to you and open my heart to you.  I ask you to come into my life, forgive me for all of my sin and make me your child.  I invite you to take control of my life and to cause me to be the kind of person you would have me to be.  I thank you for doing this because you have promised that whosoever calls upon you, as I am doing now, shall be saved.  I pray this in the name of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.”

If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, I urge you to sincerely and genuinely express it to God as your prayer.  The Bible makes clear that when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in our heart, God forgives our sins and counts us righteous, and that when we openly confess with our mouth what we have done in our heart,  God gives us assurance of that salvation (Romans 10:9-10).

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:3-7).

Recommended Reading and Viewing”

A HEBREW PROPHETIC VIEW ON 2022

AMERICA THE VINEYARD AND THE YEAR 2020: THE 400 YEAR PROPHETIC CYCLE

PROPHECY ALERT: HIGH WATCH TIME AS MAN IS GULPED BY A WHALE OFF CAPE COD – THE GENESIS LOCATION OF THE VINEYARD PROPHECY FULFILLMENT

MASS CORONAVIRUS OCCULT RITUAL AND THE RISE OF MYSTERY BABYLON (פ)

THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON AND THE PROPHETIC PSALMS: DOES PSALM 122 SIGNAL THE RAPTURE IN 2022?

THE WRITING ON THE WALL: THE HIDDEN 4TH LETTER AND THE 2022 RAPTURE “GATE” PSALM SIGN?

PSALM 90:13 BALAAMIC RAPTURE PROPHECY ALERT: WILLIAM SHATNER LAUNCHES INTO OUTER SPACE AT 90 YEARS OLD ON THE 13TH OF OCTOBER

BREAKING PROPHECY ALERT: SPIRIT OF THE BEAST RISING – “PEACE AND SECURITY” BEAST STATUE APPEARS OUTSIDE OF U.N. HEADQUARTERS

Questions and comments can be left in the comment section further below.