May 29, 2011 Sunday School Lesson Revelation 22:1-9, 13-17

Perhaps you have wondered what you will experience in eternity. God will, most certainly, provide in the most wonderful ways for us.

There will be a “pure river of water of life,” John tells us. It is reasonable to believe that in a new heaven and earth God will create a river, and it will be a perfect river flowing with the water of life. The river flows from God and from Christ Jesus. The river will forever be a sign that Jesus Himself is the water of life.

We will also see the tree of life, and it will have two characteristics that interest us. It will produce fruit continuously, yielding a different crop each month. The tree’s leaves, we are told, heal the nations. The tree’s fruit is a sign we will live forever and its leaves will remind us of the perfection Christ Jesus gives to our new bodies.

There will be no more curse in eternity. One look around in the world today reveals the curse that weighs so heavily on the earth. We see aging, corruption, death and disasters here, but in the heavenly Jerusalem there will be none of these things.

We will see, also, “the throne of God and of the Lamb,” a display of the rule of God and Christ Jesus. It will be comforting to know in eternity that they are in control, and we will be serving them.

God’s name will be written on our foreheads, an indication that we belong to Him and because we are His possessions, we will be absolutely secure. The new Jerusalem will be forever illuminated by the light of the Lord.

What we read in Revelation can be relied upon so surely as to consider it is already accomplished. These sayings, the Lord God said, are faithful and true.

The Book of Revelation is a fascinating book, to say the least. It is not always easy to understand, but we are told to study this book. We will learn about future events, but more importantly will grow closer to the Lord.

John said he was overcome by all he had seen, and he fell down in worship. He fell down at the feet of an angel who told John he was not worthy of his worship. One of the lessons of Revelation is that we must worship in a right way, worshiping only the one, true and living God.

Who will enjoy life in the new Jerusalem? Scripture tells us, “they that do his commandments” are the ones who will be able to eat from the tree of life.

The Sunday school lesson is written by Ed Wilcox, pastor of Centerville Baptist Church. edwilcox@nc.rr.com