Revelation

An exegetical study through the book of Revelation from a partial preterist perspective.

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The Living Water, the Tree of Life, the location of the Temple that was, and the temple that will never be (22:1-11)

A partial look at the symbols in the final chapter of the Bible. The water of life is the Holy Spirit, the tree of life is the salvation of the people of God.

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Opening: Chapter 21 pictures the church as a city coming down from Heaven. It is the Church, the bride of Christ.

The picture of this river of life. Heaven is not a specific place--it is the presence of the Lord. It is God's throne, and there is no more separation. The idea of a separate Heaven is part of escapist theology, and this apocalyptic language is on full display in this chapter.

The dome of the rock is not where the Temple stood.

Revelation 22:1-5 -- The pure water of life symbolizes the Holy Spirit flowing, as the rivers flowed in Eden.

Genesis 2:8-14 -- These rivers point toward the eventual life-giving work of the Holy Spirit.

John 7:37-39 -- This is during the feast of Tabernacles (when water out of pool of Silom, fed by the Gihon spring, was poured out--He spoke). Jesus says that out of man's innermost being would flow living water. The work, power, and gifts of the Spirit of God. (Isa 12:3, Rev 22:17, John 4:10-14)

What is true of the temple, and what is not. Judaism is over. God was not pleased with the sacrifices, and no longer dwells in a temple made by human hands. Even Revelation says there is no temple. (Ezekiel 47, Psalm 46:5,

Ezekiel 47:1-2 -- Type of the conversion of the firstfruits (first converts to Christianity) on Pentecost. The Gihon spring was under the temple.

The location of the Temple: Aristeas lived 300 years before Jesus was born. He was a Jew from Egypt, and visited Jerusalem every year. His documentation of where the temple was is literally still preserved.

The only spring within 5 miles of Jerusalem is the Gihon Spring, so the Temple could only have been on the site of Gihon Spring. (Psa 29:3, 93:4, enoch 26:2-3, Tacitus Histories 5.12, Psalm 87:7, Joel 3:18, Psa 46:4, 48:1-3)

1 Chronicles 15:1, 16:1 -- David built a tabernacle for the Ark of the Covenant. This is where David worshipped. This is where they offered sacrifice.

1 Kings 1:38-39 -- Solomon was anointed at the house of God, and the place it was located was Gihon. David goes to the house of the Lord to worship (2 Samuel 12:20), meaning that the Gihon spring was the Temple site.

Ezekiel 47:3-12 -- This is a precursor of Pentecost, because the saved took the living water with them as they want. This is a miraculous river that flows from the throne of God, moving from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The trees on both sides of the river (see Revelation). Fishers all along the river. The swamps (where the river doesn't flow) the

If you are secure, then this is how you can live. As long as we believe our salvation is based on us, we won't be risky.

Revelation 22:1-5 -- bright as crystal, symbolic of water that is not stagnant. The work and life that He brings. Flowing, in the middle of the street, meaning that it goes everywhere.

Revelation 22:2 -- Spurgeon understands the meaning of the tree--this is a collective tree, orchard, or forest of tree descended from a single tree. The lack of the definite article means that the tree of life is 'here, there, and everywhere the the river is doing its work'.

Beale says that this is not paradise restored, but paradise improved. This is the expansion of His creation to its fullest potantial.

Heaven will not be boring. The pictures John is giving us a shadow of the reality in his imagery. We err when we pretend that this shadow is the reality.

Revelation 10:6 -- We will continue to inhabit time forever. God exists outside of time, He inhabits eternity--we must experience it as time. This reality of God is not a communicable attribute. Revelation 10:6 is speaking about time running out, not the end of the reality of time.

Beale says that there is a final healing of memories, culminating in a glorified body. After this transition to glory, nothing will ever need to be healed again.

Revelation 22:7-11 -- the blessing of the ones who keep the words of the book of Revelation, they are fellow servants with this angel. Worship God is the last commandment in the Bible. The time is near.

Jesus personally fulfilled everything the temple is about--there is no future temple coming. Ever.

Worship is a response to the truth of who God is. This is to happen every day, in every area of our lives. We are to worshipping God in every single action, and do all things in His name. If we do not worship God every day in this way, we certainly do not worship Him on Sunday.

The one who depends on an escapist eschatology will never hear 'well done, good and faithful servant'

Closing prayer

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Homework Documents

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