May 29, 2011
Background Scripture: Revelation 22
Devotional Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21

Although our current study of Revelation deals with just four of its chapters, it is apparent just how rich and deep is the imagery that John reports. We can also recognize that most of John’s images are drawn from other Biblical sources skillfully interwoven into a rich fabric intended to lift us above our normal perceptions and understandings.

For example, the last chapter of the book begins with one of the primal themes of the Old Testament, “the water of life.” From the beginning of time, even up to now, rivers of water are identified as one of life’s primal sources. Such a river watered the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8-16) and Ezekiel tells of a river that flowed from the temple (Ezekiel 47:1-7).

Zechariah speaks of the “Living waters” that “shall flow from Jerusalem” (Zechariah 14:8), while Joel (3:18) describes it as “A fountain” that “shall come forth from the house of the Lord.” This motif reminded me of the river of which the psalmist spoke: “whose streams make glad the city of God” (Psalms 46:4).

Perhaps in our day, when most of us take water pretty much for granted, the allusion to “living waters” is not so compelling as it was to our forbears, and as it is still today in many places of the world. But, if you can remember any times in your life when you desperately wanted water to slake your thirst, the reference is probably still effective.

A tree of life

Another symbol for John is the tree of life that grows next to the river. There was a tree in Genesis 3:6 and there will be trees by the river that flow from the New Jerusalem. John borrows from Ezekiel 47:12 to say:“… and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of nations” (22:2). What awaits us, says John, is a tree of life, not death.

Sometimes, instead of saying Jesus died on a cross, we speak of, as in Acts 5:30, when Peter charges the officials of Jerusalem: “Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.” That is not a contradiction or error, but just an adjustment in imagery.

John goes on to speak again of “the Lamb” as a reference to Christ (22:3), of God as the enduring source of eternal light (22:5a) and God’s eternal reign (22:5b). Perhaps it would seem that with all of John’s soaring imagery, Christians have a pretty precise picture of what our ultimate destiny will be.
But, it appears to me that John is not furnishing us with a photograph so much as an abstract painting that is suggestive of many diverse images and ideas. To some, that may not be very satisfying: as I’ve said, they want “just the facts.” To me, however, my faith is strengthened when I look to a future that I cannot pictorially imagine.

I don’t want a hereafter that I can comprehend in detail; I want something better than anything that my limited mind can conjure. I live in the assurance of that life beyond, but not necessarily the full comprehension of it.

In His presence

Throughout the Old Testament there is a warning that began in Exodus 33:20: “You cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.” Whether that dictum remained throughout the Old and New Testament is a matter of some debate, although in Matthew 5:8, Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” And in Revelation, John says “… and his servants will worship him: they will see his face …” (22:3,4).

My point here is not to make an argument for either seeing or not seeing God’s face in the life to come, but to cut through the imagery and assert that we will be with God; I will be happy to leave to God just how I experience His presence.

Is there proof that in Christ we will survive the grave to see God in eternity? Neither the Christian nor the non-Christian can prove the validity of their different views. Both rely on faith. Both trust that they are right. But the Christian alone is expected to live a life that validates his or her faith. The lives our faith inspires is the evidence: “We do not believe in immortality because we can prove it, but we try to prove it because we cannot help believing it” (James Martineau).
 
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.