Bible Study

BOOK OF REVELATION UNCOVERED: Chapter 22

by: Dr. Dean Crosby

[Editor's Note: For this study, the author uses easy to understand Contemporary English Version (CEV) of Bible that has been created by the American Bible Society. His insights are given in capital letters. This include explanations and historical background information for the words you have just read in order to make the startling predictions made in this important and fascinating book comprehensible. Occasionally make changes will be made in the CEV words if a variance is detected from the meaning found in the King James Bible.]

REVELATION 22

1 The angel showed me a river ( THIS IS A REFERENCE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT) that was crystal clear, and its waters gave life. The river came from the throne where God and the Lamb (JESUS) were seated. 2 Then it flowed through the city's (HEAVEN) street. On each side of the "river" were trees of life that grow a different kind of fruit each month of the year. The fruit gives life and the leaves are used as medicine to heal (AND MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF) the nations. (THE VARIETY OF PEOPLE IN HEAVEN)

3 God's curse (BECAUSE OF SIN) will no longer be on the people of the city. He and the Lamb will be seated there on thrones, and the people will serve God (CONTRARY TO MOST PEOPLE'S BELIEFS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEIR BEHAVIOR, THE VERY PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES NOW AS WELL) 4 and will see Him face to face. God's name will be written on the foreheads of the people ( ( A WAY OF EXPRESSING THAT THEY NOW BELONG TO GOD. THESE VERSES EXPLAIN THIS FURTHER: 1Corinthians 6:19-20 You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. 20 God paid a great price for you. (THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF HIS SON ON THE CROSS) So use your body (WHICH RULES OUT DRUG ADDICTION) to honor God. ) )

5 Never again will night appear, (IN HEAVEN) and no one who lives there will ever need a lamp or the sun. The Lord God will be their light, and they will reign (LIVE LIKE KINGS WITH GOD AND JESUS) forever 6 Then I was told: "These words are true and can be trusted. The Lord God of His holy prophets, sent His messenger to show his servants what must be done shortly. (THIS IS A REFERENCE TO THE TRIBULATION PART OF JOHN'S VISION DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. ) 7 Remember, I (JESUS) am coming quickly" (ANOTHER WARNING THAT HIS APPEARANCE IN BOTH THE RAPTURE AND THE "SECOND COMING" WILL BE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED) God will bless everyone who remembers the information in this book. (SURE LOOKS LIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF CHRISTIANS AREN'T GETTING GOD'S BLESSING HERE!)

8 My name is John, (JESUS' BELOVED APOSTLE WHO ALSO WROTE FOUR OTHER BOOKS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT) and I am the one who heard and saw these things. (IN A VISION ) Then after I had heard and saw all of this, I knelt down and began to worship (BECAUSE HE WAS SO OVERWHELMED BY THE LOVE OF GOD THAT FLOWED THROUGH HIM AT THIS TIME ) at the feet of the angel who had shown these events to me. 9 But the angel said, Don't do that! I am a servant, just like you. I am the same as a follower and a prophet and everyone else who obeys what is written in this book. God is the one you should worship.

10 Don't keep the prophecies in this book a secret. These things will happen soon. (ACCORDING TO HEAVEN TIME WHICH IS ONE DAY FOR EVERY 1000 YEARS OF EARTH TIME) 11 Evil people will keep on being evil, and everyone who is filthy-minded will still be filthy. ( FOR THOSE WHO QUESTION AN ETERNAL DAMNATION; EVEN HELL WILL NOT CHANGE PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR WHICH IS OF COURSE WHY THEY MUST REMAIN THERE ) But let good people remain righteous, and let God's people remain holy.

12 Then I was told: I (JESUS SPEAKING HERE) will come quickly. (THIS IS WHAT IS CALLED "KEEPING THEM ON THEIR TOES" BY ONCE AGAIN WARNING OF HIS SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL) And when I come, I will reward everyone for what they have done. (YES WORKS OR SERVICE TO GOD IS IMPORTANT !) 13 I am Alpha (THE FIRST LETTER IN THE GREEK ALPHABET) and Omega, (THE LAST LETTER IN THE GREEK ALPHABET) the first and the last, the beginning and the end. ( OF ALL CREATION) 14 God will bless all who have washed (SPIRITUALLY CLEANSED) their robes in the blood (SHED DURING JESUS' SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF ON THE CROSS ) of the Lamb. They will each be given access to the tree of life, (SALVATION) and they can enter the gates of God's city. (HEAVEN)

15 But outside the city (IN HELL) will be those who engage in animal-like behavior, (EASILY ANGERED AND QUICK TO FIGHT ) witches, (THOSE WHO PRACTICE HARRY POTTER TYPE WITCHCRAFT) (SEXUALLY) immoral persons, murderers, idol worshipers, (THOSE WHO WORSHIP ANYTHING EVEN THEIR OWN FAMILY OR COUNTRY, AS MUCH OR MORE THAN GOD) and everyone who loves to tell lies. (CONSIDERING THE ESSENTIAL ROLE THAT DECEIT PLAYS IN THE SELLING OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AND EVEN POLITICIANS, IT LOOKS LIKE HEAVEN CERTAINLY IS NOT GOING TO HAVE AN OVER-POPULATION PROBLEM !)

16 I am Jesus! (HERE JESUS IS DICTATING WORDS TO THE APOSTLE JOHN ) I am the one (VERIFICATION OF THE AUTHENTICITY OF THIS BOOK) who sent my angel to tell all of this to you for the churches. I am David's Great Descendant, (REFERS TO JESUS' PARTIALLY HUMAN NATURE DURING HIS MINISTRY ON EARTH) and I am also the bright morning star. (THIS IS THOUGHT TO REFER TO THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE A SPECTACULAR NEW BEGINNING FOR OUR LIVES THROUGH THE SAVING AND TRANSFORMING POWER OF JESUS AND HIS HOLY SPIRIT) 17 The (HOLY) Spirit and the Bride (JESUS) say, "Come!" Everyone who hears this (BY HAVING THESES VERSES READ IN CHURCHES WHICH ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS) should say, "Come!" (THEY SHOULD TESTIFY TO OTHERS BY SAYING TO THEM "COME TO GOD") If you are thirsty (HAVE A SPIRITUAL THIRST OR A NEED FOR GOD IN YOUR LIFE), come! If you want life-giving water, (THE HOLY SPIRIT) come and take it. It's free! (THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A FREE BUT NECESSARY "LIFE-GIVING" GIFT FROM GOD )

18 Here is my warning for everyone who hears the prophecies in this book: If you add to them, God will make you suffer the punishments written about in this book. 19 If anyone takes away words from these prophecies, (INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY THE PROPHETIC STATEMENTS ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH RAPTURES) God will remove his name from the Book of Life (THE RECORD OF THOSE CHOSEN FOR SALVATION) and prevent him from entering the Holy City (HEAVEN) and receiving the other blessings described in this book. (THIS IS THE LAST AND ONE OF THE MOST DEFINITIVE OF THE BIBLE'S REFUTATIONS OF THE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SATANIC "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED" HERESY AS WE ARE WARNED HERE THAT OUR NAMES CAN BE REMOVED FROM SALVATION RECORDS AND ACCESS TO HEAVEN DENIED WHICH MAKES RESIDENCY AVAILABLE IN ONLY ONE OTHER LOCATION)

20 The One (JESUS) who has spoken these things says, "I come quickly!" (HERE IS A FURTHER EXPLANATION OF THIS WARNING: 1THESSALONIANS 5:1-6 1 I don't need to write you about the time or date when all this will happen. 2 You surely know that the Lord's return will be as a thief coming at night. 3 People will think they are safe and secure. But destruction will suddenly strike them like the pains of a woman about to give birth. And they won't escape. 4 My dear friends, don't live in darkness, and so that day won't surprise you like a thief. 5 You belong to the light and live in the day. We don't live in the night or belong to the dark. 6 Others may sleep, but we should stay awake and be alert. ) Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

21 I pray that the Lord Jesus will be kind to all of you. (WHAT A TERRIFIC WAY, USING MODERN ENGLISH, TO END THIS TOTALLY AMAZING AND ASTONISHING BOOK)

( THANK YOU GOD!! )

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