The Reformed Presbyterian Church   154 City Line Road   Oswego, New York   13126-2905
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Bible Study Series: 1999-2001
The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Final Salvation of the Church (21:1-22:21): Part 4 (22:1-5)                   31 May 2001

  I. PREPARATIONS
A. PRAISE & PRAYER (Please pray for the Lord’s Blessing on the Teaching & Preaching! see 2Th.1:11,12; 3:1; Eph.6:19,20; Col.4:2-4)
B. SCHEDULE
1.	No Study next week (of June 3rd) but Psalm Tune Scholarship Award presentations and performance are on Tuesday evening, June 5th, 7:30 p.m. at the OHS Theater
2.	Final Studies on Wednesdays, June 13, 20 & 27
C. NOTE: EQUIPPED TO SERVE (Ephesians 4:12; Hebrews 5:12)
D. READ: Genesis 2:4-17; Ezekiel 47:1-12; Revelation 22:1-5

 II. THE FINAL SALVATION OF THE CHURCH (21:1-22:21)
•	CHAPTER 22: THE NEW CREATION

YOUR OBSERVATIONS & QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 21:1-22:5 (& etc.)

REVIEW

1. What is the continuity in the development throughout 21:1-22:5?

2. What is the consistent theme throughout 21:1-22:5? 

a. 21:1f with 19:7f; see 1Cor.11:7

b. 21:11f,23; 22:5

THE SIGN (22:1,2; see 1:1)

1. What marks off this section as distinct within 21:1-22:5? (1; see 17:9,10)

2. What was the first thing John was shown? (1a; Ezk.47:1f; Zech.14:8; Joel 3:18)

a. What two things are striking about this water? 

1) 1a; see Ezk.47:8f; Gen.2:10f; see Jn.7:37f with 6:63,68

2) 1a; see Ezk.47:2-5

3) see 22:17; 7:17; Is.55:1

4) see Ps.1:3; 23:2; 36:8; 46:4; 65:9; 78:16=105:41; 126:4(Ezk.47:8f)

b. What is the significance of its appearance? (1b; see 21:11,18)

c. Where is this coming from? (1a; Ezk.47:1f; Joel 3:18; see Zech.14:8)

d. How may this be significant theologically? (1a; Ezk.47:1f; see Jn.7:37-39; see Jn.14:26; 15:26; also see Rev.1:4-6; 5:6; also see Ezk.36:25-27; Jn.3:5; 

e. What is significant about the description of the throne? (1b; see 3:21; 5:6(4:8f//5:9f); 7:10,17; 11:15; 14:1; see 21:22,23)

3. What was John shown next? (2,14; 2:7; see Ezk.47:7,12; Gen.2:9; see Is.35:6-9(Rev.21:27))

a. What is significant about the placement of the tree? (2)

b. How do the elements of this picture fit together? (2; see Ezk.47:7,12; Gen.2:9)

c. Where have we seen these images before?

1) Ezk.41:18-26; 1Kngs.6:18,29,32,35

2) Ex.25:31,32

3) Ex.25:22 with Gen.3:22

4) What is the significance of this? (see Is.51:3-6; Ezk.36:26-35)

5) What is the difference here? (21:1f (Ezk.40:3); constrast Gen.2:8f; 

6) How do we eat and drink? (22:14; see Heb.10:19f; chps.8-10; see Jn.6:54,40; see 63!)

d. What is the benefit of this tree? (2; see Ezk.47:8,9,12; see Gen.2:9)

e. What is significant of this number? (2; see 12,14,16,20,21(24-26); see 5:9; 7:9; see Is.60:11; 19,20 with Rev.21:23)

f. What is parallel in imagery between the river and the tree?  Why this parallelism? (see 21:2f)

g. What contrast continues here? (21:9 vs. 17:1; chps.21,22 vs. chps.17,18)

THE SIGNIFICANCE (22:3-5)

1. What is the significance of these images? (3a; see 4; 21:1,4; see Zech.14:11; Is.65:22,23; see Gen.3:14f; Rom.8:18f)

2. How thoroughgoing is this? (3a; see 21:1,4)

3. What is the cause and consequence of this? (3b; see 1; 21:11,22)

4. What is the consequence of this for us? (3c; see 7:15,17; Is.61:6; see Rev.4:10; 5:14)

5. What evidences our full and final fellowship with God? (4)

a. 4a; see Ps.11:4f; 17:15; 27:4; 1Jn.3:2; contrast Ex.33:20

b. 4b; see 2:17; 3:12; see 7:2,3; 14:1; see Is.62:2; 65:15; see Ex.28:36-38(Rev.1:6); Zech.14:20,21(11))

6. What is the imagery of the fullness of our fellowship with God? (5; see 21:23f=Is.60:19,20; see Num.6:25,26; Ps.4:6; 31:16)

a. What else does this reinforce? (1f; see Gen.2; Ezk.47)

b. What is common in the language between 22:3,5 and 21:1,4?  What is the significance of this?

7. In this context, what is the significance of the rule of the people of God?

a. Is it the same as that in 20:4-6? Why or why not?

b. If not, what is this reigning? (5; see 1:5)

III. DISCUSSION including suggestions for sermon focus, theme or topic

1. What is the main point of the book of Revelation?

2. What is the main purpose of the book of Revelation?

V. CLOSING PRAYER

NEXT WEEK: NO STUDY (resume on Wednesday, June 13th with Revelation 22:6-15)
Please pray for God’s Blessing on the Teaching, Preaching, Hearing, Believing & Doing of His Word!

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