Revelation 22

22 Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

In Ezekiel 47, verses 1-12, this river is also described, with more detail. It comes from the Temple, in Ezekiel, and is so wide that no one can swim across it. But just as John claims, it gives life, and on its shores, fruits blossom in every season. Since in Revelation, the Temple is the Throne of God and of the Lamb, this River springs directly from them. From the banks of the river grows the Tree of Life, bringing us full-circle through the Bible, right back to Genesis 2:9, where the Tree of Life grew right in the middle of the Garden of Eden. It was so that Adam and Eve could not get to this tree and eat of it to live that God banished them from Eden (Genesis 3:22-24). Now, for His People, who have lived and died for Him, God grants that they may finally eat of that Tree. Liturgically speaking, this Tree is the Cross of Christ, and the fruit of it is the Eucharist, which Jesus promises that those who eat of it will never die, but have eternal life (John 6:54). This truth will be finally consummated at the Heavenly Banquet, but before we enter the City, He offers us His Life-Fruit, for the healing of the nations.

3There shall no more be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall worship him; 4they shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads. 5And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever.

These verses are an allusion to Zechariah 14:1-11, which describe the end judgement. They remind us that nothing impure or unholy can stand before the All-Holy God. Unless we are made perfectly holy, we cannot enter Heaven. This is the reason for Purgatory. It is God's Grace to us yet again, preparing us to truly enter into His presence!

His name shall be on their foreheads: God brands us, owns us, and claims us as His own. He knows us and all who are there are wanted.

6And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. 7And behold, I am coming soon." Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
8I John am he who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me; 9but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

Jesus gives us His own guarantee that these things are certain. Nothing will change. Nothing will take Him by surprise or catch Him off guard. John once again reminds us of the evil of idolatry--worshipping even God's servants in place of God is sin. Even the most glorious and most perfect of God's servants are still His servants.

10And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." 12"Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." 14Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood.

This is a hard passage. Jesus' return is soon, so we should let the sinner keep sinning?! I do not think that is the correct interpretation of those words, for verse 14 says that they are blessed who wash their robes white (through baptism and repentance). However, there is a stern warning in verse 11 that there will come a day when they will fail to hear the words of prophecy and righteousness, and there will come a time when it will be too late to repent. If we are baptised, and remain in a state of Grace, we may eat the Tree of Life (The Eucharist) so that we can enter into the City (Heaven)!

16"I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star."
17The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let him who hears say, "Come." And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price.

Jesus again reminds us who He is, and the Holy Spirit and the Church repeat His promise of Living Water without price. It's not yet too late!

18I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

People hesitate to study Revelation, because it is so confusing. The Reformer, Martin Luther, wanted to remove it from Scripture because he said, "A revelation should be revealing." And yet it is revealing! When we take the time to study it with the Church and the Spirit, we see more clearly the full depth and wonder of Jesus, His plan, and His presence--especially in the Mass!

20He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

AMEN!

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