Revelation 22

Jesus identified the living water he spoke of as the Spirit (John 7:37-39). But when Jews spoke of living water, they usually meant the kind of water required for ritual washings and baths. It was water from a flowing source, such as a stream or a well, which tapped into underground rivers and lakes. A pond wouldn’t work because the water sat still.

In the creation story, fruit from the tree of life is even better than drinking from the fabled fountain of youth. “The LORD God said, ‘Humans know right from wrong, just as we do. We need to make sure they don’t eat fruit from the tree of life. If they do, they will live forever’” (Genesis 3:22).

The prophet Ezekiel wrote about a river like this with trees like these—“their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing” (Ezekiel 47:12, New American Standard Bible).

More literally, “No one is going to be under the curse of war.” The tough word is katathema in Greek. It could mean “a curse” in general. But there’s also a “curse of war” sometimes called a “ban,” but it’s herem in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament. It means that when soldiers conquer a city, for example, they are banned from keeping anything for themselves—everything in the city is under the curse of war and must die. Joshua fought by those rules. His orders at the Battle of Jericho: “Keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it” (Joshua 6:18, English Standard Version). The prophet Zechariah wrote about a day when “Jerusalem will be filled, safe at last, never again to be cursed and destroyed” (Zechariah 14:11, New Living Translation).

A seal “on their foreheads” sounds a little like the brand or the tattoo that many in Roman times put on their slaves, marking them like livestock. Here, many scholars say it’s a metaphor that distinguishes God’s people as those under his protection. It’s a word picture intended to help people visualize an invisible spiritual reality. In this way it’s like the parables of Jesus, in which he used fictional stories to teach people what it means to live like a citizen of God’s spiritual kingdom. This symbolic seal of God would be the opposite of the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:16).

Something similar happened in Revelation 19:10.

“God’s devoted” comes from the Greek word hagios, often translated as “holy” or “sanctified.” Worship utensils such as lampstands were considered holy because they were reserved for sacred use, devoted to God. People, too, were considered holy when they devoted themselves to God. But they weren’t perfect, by a long shot.

“Root” may refer to a prophecy in Isaiah 11:10, which says that from “the root of Jesse” (King David’s father) a descendant will come and save the world. “The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place” (New Living Translation). King David’s dynasty lasted 400 years, until Babylonian invaders from what is now Iraq destroyed Jewish cities including Jerusalem and deported many survivors in 586 BC. Jewish prophets spoke about a descendant of David who would come and save God’s people. New Testament writers say Jesus fulfilled that prophecy. “Morning star” also became one of the many titles for the expected savior, or Messiah: “A star will come from Jacob [father of 12 men whose families grew to become the 12 tribes of Israel]; a ruler will rise from Israel” (Numbers 24:17, New Century Version). See also the footnote for Revelation 2:28.

“Morning star” was Jewish code for the Messiah. The idea seems to have come from Numbers 24:17, and the promise that a star will rise from among the Jewish people. Some associate the morning star with Venus, which rises in the sky a few hours before the sun. Some Roman armies carried emblems of Venus on their banners, to symbolize their strength. Julius Caesar claimed to descend from the goddess Venus. His banners called her the goddess “who conquers.”

The Spirit and the bride are Jesus and his church. Paul compared the intimate relationship between Christ and the church to the relationship between husband and wife. “Husbands, love your wives with the kind of love Jesus showed for the church when he gave his life for her” (Ephesians 5:25). In Old Testament times, prophets often described the Jewish people as God’s wife. “I will make you my wife forever” (Hosea 2:19, New Living Translation). For “Lamb” see the footnote for Revelation 5:6.

Jesus said he was coming back soon. Two thousand years later, people ask what part of “soon” didn’t Jesus get. Actually, many wondered about that 2,000 years ago. One answer in the Bible: he’s giving people time to change their ways (2 Peter 3:4, 9). Another idea presented: “soon” in heaven’s time can be a long time here, “a thousand years are as a passing day” (Psalm 90:4, New Living Translation). To many, that might sound like the small print in a contract. Another theory: prophecies aren’t set in stone. God adjusts his plans as people adjust their behavior. Jewish King Hezekiah got the prophecy of his terminal illness reversed by praying (Isaiah 38:1-20). Perplexed by all the theories, many God-loving people seem to fall back on one statement of faith: In God we trust. All others pay, well, you know.