11/26/12

By unanimous decsion, they say...


When you are young, anything seems possible, but when you are old it becomes more difficult to accomplish. When people tell you you can't do something or that you are wrong, youth ignores it, but age listens. But, regardless of your age, right is still right, period.  And so we come to the aged Paul.  He had done the seemingly impossible and had but a sole companion.  Would he accept the defeat often found in old age, or persevere?  I think you probably already know the answer to this one...

2 Timothy, Chapter 4
 9 Be diligent to come to me soon,  10 for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.  11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. 12 But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.  13 Bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come, and the books, especially the parchments.  14 Alexander, the coppersmith, did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works,  15 of whom you also must beware; for he greatly opposed our words.

  16 At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them.  17 But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

 Of course he strove on!  God had delivered him in the past and there was no reason to believe otherwise!!!  If you are doing your best to serve God, ignore what the critical crowd says, who knows, maybe they are the new "three stooges" and not to be taken seriously.

Bible Reading, Nov. 26


 
Nov. 26
Lamentations 1-5

Lam 1:1 How the city sits solitary, that was full of people! She has become as a widow, who was great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces is become tributary!
Lam 1:2 She weeps sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has none to comfort her: All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they are become her enemies.
Lam 1:3 Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude; she dwells among the nations, she finds no rest: all her persecutors overtook her within the straits.
Lam 1:4 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn assembly; all her gates are desolate, her priests do sigh: her virgins are afflicted, and she herself is in bitterness.
Lam 1:5 Her adversaries are become the head, her enemies prosper; for Yahweh has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her young children are gone into captivity before the adversary.
Lam 1:6 From the daughter of Zion all her majesty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
Lam 1:7 Jerusalem remembers in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that were from the days of old: when her people fell into the hand of the adversary, and none did help her, The adversaries saw her, they did mock at her desolations.
Lam 1:8 Jerusalem has grievously sinned; therefore she is become as an unclean thing; all who honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yes, she sighs, and turns backward.
Lam 1:9 Her filthiness was in her skirts; she didn't remember her latter end; therefore is she come down wonderfully; she has no comforter: see, Yahweh, my affliction; for the enemy has magnified himself.
Lam 1:10 The adversary has spread out his hand on all her pleasant things: for she has seen that the nations are entered into her sanctuary, concerning whom you did command that they should not enter into your assembly.
Lam 1:11 All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for food to refresh the soul: look, Yahweh, and see; for I am become abject.
Lam 1:12 Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look, and see if there be any sorrow like my sorrow, which is brought on me, With which Yahweh has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
Lam 1:13 From on high has he sent fire into my bones, and it prevails against them; He has spread a net for my feet, he has turned me back: He has made me desolate and faint all the day.
Lam 1:14 The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand; They are knit together, they are come up on my neck; he has made my strength to fail: The Lord has delivered me into their hands, against whom I am not able to stand.
Lam 1:15 The Lord has set at nothing all my mighty men in the midst of me; He has called a solemn assembly against me to crush my young men: The Lord has trodden as in a winepress the virgin daughter of Judah.
Lam 1:16 For these things I weep; my eye, my eye runs down with water; Because the comforter who should refresh my soul is far from me: My children are desolate, because the enemy has prevailed.
Lam 1:17 Zion spreads forth her hands; there is none to comfort her; Yahweh has commanded concerning Jacob, that those who are around him should be his adversaries: Jerusalem is among them as an unclean thing.
Lam 1:18 Yahweh is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: Please hear all you peoples, and see my sorrow: My virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
Lam 1:19 I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: My priests and my elders gave up the spirit in the city, While they sought them food to refresh their souls.
Lam 1:20 See, Yahweh; for I am in distress; my heart is troubled; My heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: Abroad the sword bereaves, at home there is as death.
Lam 1:21 They have heard that I sigh; there is none to comfort me; All my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have done it: You will bring the day that you have proclaimed, and they shall be like me.
Lam 1:22 Let all their wickedness come before you; Do to them, as you have done to me for all my transgressions: For my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.
 

Lam 2:1 How has the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger! He has cast down from heaven to the earth the beauty of Israel, And hasn't remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.
Lam 2:2 The Lord has swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and has not pitied: He has thrown down in his wrath the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; He has brought them down to the ground; he has profaned the kingdom and its princes.
Lam 2:3 He has cut off in fierce anger all the horn of Israel; He has drawn back his right hand from before the enemy: He has burned up Jacob like a flaming fire, which devours all around.
Lam 2:4 He has bent his bow like an enemy, he has stood with his right hand as an adversary, Has killed all that were pleasant to the eye: In the tent of the daughter of Zion he has poured out his wrath like fire.
Lam 2:5 The Lord is become as an enemy, he has swallowed up Israel; He has swallowed up all her palaces, he has destroyed his strongholds; He has multiplied in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.
Lam 2:6 He has violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden; he has destroyed his place of assembly: Yahweh has caused solemn assembly and Sabbath to be forgotten in Zion, Has despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.
Lam 2:7 The Lord has cast off his altar, he has abhorred his sanctuary; He has given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces: They have made a noise in the house of Yahweh, as in the day of a solemn assembly.
Lam 2:8 Yahweh has purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion; He has stretched out the line, he has not withdrawn his hand from destroying; He has made the rampart and wall to lament; they languish together.
Lam 2:9 Her gates are sunk into the ground; he has destroyed and broken her bars: Her king and her princes are among the nations where the law is not; Yes, her prophets find no vision from Yahweh.
Lam 2:10 The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground, they keep silence; They have cast up dust on their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: The virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.
Lam 2:11 My eyes do fail with tears, my heart is troubled; My liver is poured on the earth, because of the destruction of the daughter of my people, Because the young children and the infants swoon in the streets of the city.
Lam 2:12 They tell their mothers, Where is grain and wine? When they swoon as the wounded in the streets of the city, When their soul is poured out into their mothers' bosom.
Lam 2:13 What shall I testify to you? what shall I liken to you, daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare to you, that I may comfort you, virgin daughter of Zion? For your breach is great like the sea: who can heal you?
Lam 2:14 Your prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions; They have not uncovered your iniquity, to bring back your captivity, But have seen for you false oracles and causes of banishment.
Lam 2:15 All that pass by clap their hands at you; They hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men called The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
Lam 2:16 All your enemies have opened their mouth wide against you; They hiss and gnash the teeth; they say, We have swallowed her up; Certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.
Lam 2:17 Yahweh has done that which he purposed; he has fulfilled his word that he commanded in the days of old; He has thrown down, and has not pitied: He has caused the enemy to rejoice over you; he has exalted the horn of your adversaries.
Lam 2:18 Their heart cried to the Lord: wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night; Give yourself no respite; don't let the apple of your eye cease.
Lam 2:19 Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches; Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord: Lift up your hands toward him for the life of your young children, that faint for hunger at the head of every street.
Lam 2:20 Look, Yahweh, and see to whom you have done thus! Shall the women eat their fruit, the children that are dandled in the hands? Shall the priest and the prophet be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord?
Lam 2:21 The youth and the old man lie on the ground in the streets; My virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword: You have killed them in the day of your anger; you have slaughtered, and not pitied.
Lam 2:22 You have called, as in the day of a solemn assembly, my terrors on every side; There was none that escaped or remained in the day of Yahweh's anger: Those that I have dandled and brought up has my enemy consumed.
 

Lam 3:1 I am the man that has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
Lam 3:2 He has led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light.
Lam 3:3 Surely against me he turns his hand again and again all the day.
Lam 3:4 My flesh and my skin has he made old; he has broken my bones.
Lam 3:5 He has built against me, and surrounded me with gall and travail.
Lam 3:6 He has made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.
Lam 3:7 He has walled me about, that I can't go forth; he has made my chain heavy.
Lam 3:8 Yes, when I cry, and call for help, he shuts out my prayer.
Lam 3:9 He has walled up my ways with cut stone; he has made my paths crooked.
Lam 3:10 He is to me as a bear lying in wait, as a lion in secret places.
Lam 3:11 He has turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he has made me desolate.
Lam 3:12 He has bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.
Lam 3:13 He has caused the shafts of his quiver to enter into my kidneys.
Lam 3:14 I am become a derision to all my people, and their song all the day.
Lam 3:15 He has filled me with bitterness, he has sated me with wormwood.
Lam 3:16 He has also broken my teeth with gravel stones; he has covered me with ashes.
Lam 3:17 You have removed my soul far off from peace; I forgot prosperity.
Lam 3:18 I said, My strength is perished, and my expectation from Yahweh.
Lam 3:19 Remember my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
Lam 3:20 My soul still remembers them, and is bowed down within me.
Lam 3:21 This I recall to my mind; therefore have I hope.
Lam 3:22 It is of Yahweh's loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn't fail.
Lam 3:23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lam 3:24 Yahweh is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Lam 3:25 Yahweh is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.
Lam 3:26 It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Yahweh.
Lam 3:27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
Lam 3:28 Let him sit alone and keep silence, because he has laid it on him.
Lam 3:29 Let him put his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope.
Lam 3:30 Let him give his cheek to him who strikes him; let him be filled full with reproach.
Lam 3:31 For the Lord will not cast off forever.
Lam 3:32 For though he cause grief, yet he will have compassion according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
Lam 3:33 For he does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.
Lam 3:34 To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth,
Lam 3:35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High,
Lam 3:36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord doesn't approve.
Lam 3:37 Who is he who says, and it comes to pass, when the Lord doesn't command it?
Lam 3:38 Doesn't evil and good come out of the mouth of the Most High?
Lam 3:39 Why does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
Lam 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Yahweh.
Lam 3:41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands to God in the heavens.
Lam 3:42 We have transgressed and have rebelled; you have not pardoned.
Lam 3:43 You have covered with anger and pursued us; you have killed, you have not pitied.
Lam 3:44 You have covered yourself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.
Lam 3:45 You have made us an off-scouring and refuse in the midst of the peoples.
Lam 3:46 All our enemies have opened their mouth wide against us.
Lam 3:47 Fear and the pit are come on us, devastation and destruction.
Lam 3:48 My eye runs down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Lam 3:49 My eye pours down, and doesn't cease, without any intermission,
Lam 3:50 Until Yahweh look down, and see from heaven.
Lam 3:51 My eye affects my soul, because of all the daughters of my city.
Lam 3:52 They have chased me sore like a bird, those who are my enemies without cause.
Lam 3:53 They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and have cast a stone on me.
Lam 3:54 Waters flowed over my head; I said, I am cut off.
Lam 3:55 I called on your name, Yahweh, out of the lowest dungeon.
Lam 3:56 You heard my voice; don't hide your ear at my breathing, at my cry.
Lam 3:57 You drew near in the day that I called on you; you said, Don't be afraid.
Lam 3:58 Lord, you have pleaded the causes of my soul; you have redeemed my life.
Lam 3:59 Yahweh, you have seen my wrong; judge you my cause.
Lam 3:60 You have seen all their vengeance and all their devices against me.
Lam 3:61 You have heard their reproach, Yahweh, and all their devices against me,
Lam 3:62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.
Lam 3:63 See you their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their song.
Lam 3:64 You will render to them a recompense, Yahweh, according to the work of their hands.
Lam 3:65 You will give them hardness of heart, your curse to them.
Lam 3:66 You will pursue them in anger, and destroy them from under the heavens of Yahweh.
 

Lam 4:1 How is the gold become dim! how is the most pure gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
Lam 4:2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, How are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
Lam 4:3 Even the jackals draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: The daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
Lam 4:4 The tongue of the sucking child cleaves to the roof of his mouth for thirst: The young children ask bread, and no man breaks it to them.
Lam 4:5 Those who did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: Those who were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
Lam 4:6 For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid on her.
Lam 4:7 Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.
Lam 4:8 Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: Their skin cleaves to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.
Lam 4:9 Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.
Lam 4:10 The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children; They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Lam 4:11 Yahweh has accomplished his wrath, he has poured out his fierce anger; He has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations.
Lam 4:12 The kings of the earth didn't believe, neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.
Lam 4:13 It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.
Lam 4:14 They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, So that men can't touch their garments.
Lam 4:15 Depart you, they cried to them, Unclean! depart, depart, don't touch! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall no more sojourn here.
Lam 4:16 The anger of Yahweh has scattered them; he will no more regard them: They didn't respect the persons of the priests, they didn't favor the elders.
Lam 4:17 Our eyes do yet fail in looking for our vain help: In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
Lam 4:18 They hunt our steps, so that we can't go in our streets: Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
Lam 4:19 Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky: They chased us on the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.
Lam 4:20 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Yahweh, was taken in their pits; Of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.
Lam 4:21 Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, that dwell in the land of Uz: The cup shall pass through to you also; you shall be drunken, and shall make yourself naked.
Lam 4:22 The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion; he will no more carry you away into captivity: He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom; he will uncover your sins.
 

Lam 5:1 Remember, Yahweh, what has come on us: Look, and see our reproach.
Lam 5:2 Our inheritance is turned to strangers, Our houses to aliens.
Lam 5:3 We are orphans and fatherless; Our mothers are as widows.
Lam 5:4 We have drunken our water for money; Our wood is sold to us.
Lam 5:5 Our pursuers are on our necks: We are weary, and have no rest.
Lam 5:6 We have given the hand to the Egyptians, To the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
Lam 5:7 Our fathers sinned, and are no more; We have borne their iniquities.
Lam 5:8 Servants rule over us: There is none to deliver us out of their hand.
Lam 5:9 We get our bread at the peril of our lives, Because of the sword of the wilderness.
Lam 5:10 Our skin is black like an oven, Because of the burning heat of famine.
Lam 5:11 They ravished the women in Zion, The virgins in the cities of Judah.
Lam 5:12 Princes were hanged up by their hand: The faces of elders were not honored.
Lam 5:13 The young men bare the mill; The children stumbled under the wood.
Lam 5:14 The elders have ceased from the gate, The young men from their music.
Lam 5:15 The joy of our heart is ceased; Our dance is turned into mourning.
Lam 5:16 The crown is fallen from our head: Woe to us! for we have sinned.
Lam 5:17 For this our heart is faint; For these things our eyes are dim;
Lam 5:18 For the mountain of Zion, which is desolate: The foxes walk on it.
Lam 5:19 You, Yahweh, abide forever; Your throne is from generation to generation.
Lam 5:20 Why do you forget us forever, And forsake us so long time?
Lam 5:21 Turn you us to you, Yahweh, and we shall be turned; Renew our days as of old.
Lam 5:22 But you have utterly rejected us; You are very angry against us.


Nov. 26
Hebrews 12

Heb 12:1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don't grow weary, fainting in your souls.
Heb 12:4 You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin;
Heb 12:5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, "My son, don't take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him;
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loves, he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives."
Heb 12:7 It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn't discipline?
Heb 12:8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not children.
Heb 12:9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10 For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11 All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby.
Heb 12:12 Therefore, lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees,
Heb 12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
Heb 12:14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,
Heb 12:15 looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it;
Heb 12:16 lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal.
Heb 12:17 For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.
Heb 12:18 For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm,
Heb 12:19 the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them,
Heb 12:20 for they could not stand that which was commanded, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned;"
Heb 12:21 and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, "I am terrified and trembling."
Heb 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,
Heb 12:23 to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.
Heb 12:25 See that you don't refuse him who speaks. For if they didn't escape when they refused him who warned on the Earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,
Heb 12:26 whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens."
Heb 12:27 This phrase, "Yet once more," signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28 Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can't be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,
Heb 12:29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Revelation, Chapter 22, Mark Copeland

                        "THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

                           Chapter Twenty-Two

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To consider the eternal destiny of the redeemed, in terms depicting
   provision from God

2) To note that things revealed in this book were soon to take place

3) To heed the promises and warnings given as the book concludes

SUMMARY

In the previous chapter John described the glory of the New Jerusalem
as the eternal destiny of the redeemed was revealed.  In the first six
verses of this chapter, John's vision of the glorious future for the 
people of God is completed with a brief description of the river of
life, the tree of life, and the throne of God and of the Lamb.  With
the river of life proceeding from the throne, and the tree of life
bearing fruit every month along with its healing leaves, the picture is
one of provision from God.  Eternal fellowship with God, stressed in
the previous chapter (cf. 21:3-4,7), is emphasized again with the
promise of seeing His face and having His name on one's forehead.  With
no more curse (cf. Gen 3:17-19), the redeemed shall serve God and the
Lamb on the throne.  There is no night nor need for the sun, for the
Lord God gives them light (cf. 21:23).  The redeemed will also reign
forever and ever (1-5).

The remainder of this chapter contains the grand conclusion of this
wonderful book.  The angel who showed John the holy city stressed that
the events described in this book were soon to take place, such that 
John is not to seal the book (cf. 22:6,10; contrast this with Dan
8:26).  Jesus Himself states three times that He is coming quickly (cf.
22:7,12,20), which I take to refer to His coming in judgment as
described throughout this book (cf. 3:10-11).  With a reminder of the
blessedness of those who do His commandments, Jesus, who is the Alpha 
and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the 
Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star, declares that
He sent His angel to testify of these things to the churches.  The
Spirit and the bride join in with an invitation to let those who thirst
come to drink of the water of life freely.  The book ends with a
fearful warning not to add to or take away from the book, a final
promise of the Lord's coming, and a two-fold prayer calling for the 
Lord Jesus to come, and for His grace to be with all the brethren 
(6-22).

OUTLINE

I. THE RIVER, THE TREE, AND THE THRONE (1-5)

   A. THE RIVER OF LIFE (1)
      1. John sees a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal
      2. It proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb

   B. THE TREE OF LIFE (2)
      1. On either side of the river was the tree of life
      2. The tree bore twelve fruits, yielding fruit every month
      3. The leaves were for the healing of the nations

   C. THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB (3-5)
      1. There shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the
         Lamb shall be in it
      2. His servants shall serve Him
         a. They shall see His face
         b. His name shall be on their foreheads
      3. There shall be no night there
         a. They need no lamp nor light of the sun
         b. For the Lord God gives them light
      4. They shall reign forever and ever

II. THE GRAND CONCLUSION (6-21)

   A. THE TIME IS NEAR, DO NOT SEAL THE BOOK (6-11)
      1. John is told by the angel that these words are faithful and
         true
         a. The Lord God has sent His angel to show His servants the
            things which must shortly take place
         b. The Lamb proclaims:  "Behold, I am coming quickly!  Blessed
            is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
      2. John attempts to worship the angel
         a. He falls down at the feet of the angel who showed him these
            things
         b. The angel forbids him
            1) The angel is his fellow servant, and of his brethren the
               prophets and of those who keep the words of this book
            2) John is to worship God
      3. John is told not to seal the words of the prophecy of this
         book
         a. For the time is at hand
         b. Let he who is unjust be unjust still, the filthy be filthy
            still
         c. Let he who is righteous be righteous still, the holy be 
            holy still

   B. THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS (12-17)
      1. His first declaration:
         a. "Behold, I am coming quickly"
         b. "My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to
            his work"
         c. "I am the Alpha and the Omega"
         d. "The Beginning and the End, the First and the Last"
      2. The promise:
         a. Blessed are those who do His commandments (or wash their
            robes)
            1) That they may have the right to the tree of life
            2) That they may enter through the gates into the city
         b. Those outside the city
            1) Are dogs, sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers, and
               idolaters
            2) Whoever loves and practices a lie
      3. His second declaration:
         a. "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these
            things in the churches"
         b. "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and
            Morning Star."
      4. The invitation:
         a. The Spirit and the bride say "Come!"
         b. Let him who hears say "Come!"
         -- Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely

   C. A WORD OF WARNING (18-19)
      1. Do not add to the words of this book, or God will add to him
         the plagues that are written in it
      2. Do not take away from the words of this book, or God will take
         away his part from:
         a. The Book (or Tree) of Life
         b. The holy city
         c. The things written in this book

   D. CLOSING PROMISE, FINAL PRAYERS (20-21)
      1. The promise of Him who testifies to these things:  "Surely I
         am coming quickly."
      2. John's two prayers:
         a. Concerning his Lord:  "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
         b. Concerning his brethren:  "The grace of our Lord Jesus 
            Christ be with you all. Amen."

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The river, the tree, and the throne (1-5)
   - The grand conclusion (6-21)

2) What does John see proceeding from the throne of God and of the
   Lamb? (1)
   - A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal

3) What is on either side of the river? (2)
   - The tree of life

4) How many fruits did the tree bear and when?  What were the leaves
   for? (2)
   - Twelve fruits, each yielding its fruit every month
   - The healing of the nations

5) What no longer existed?  What was in the city instead? (3)
   - There shall be no more curse
   - The throne of God and of the Lamb

6) What is said concerning the servants of God and of the Lamb? (3-5)
   - His servants shall serve Him
   - They shall see His face
   - His name shall be on their foreheads
   - They shall reign forever and ever

7) What is said of night and the light of the sun? (5)
   - There shall be no night there
   - They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives
     them light

8) What is John told about the things which he has seen? (6)
   - "These words are faithful and true"
   - The Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His
     servants the things which must shortly take place

9) What promise and assurance is given in verse 7?
   - "Behold, I am coming quickly!"
   - "Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

10) What did John try to do when he heard and saw these things? (8)
   - Fall down and worship before the feet of the angel who showed them
     to him

11) What did the angel tell John? (9)
   - "See that you do not do that."
   - "I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and
     of those who keep the words of this book."
   - "Worship God."

12) What is John told regarding the prophecy of this book?  Why? (10)
   - Not to seal the words of the prophecy of this book
   - For the time is at hand

13) What is said of the unjust and filthy? The righteous and holy? (11)
   - Let them be unjust and filthy still
   - Let them be righteous and holy still

14) What promise and assurance is given in verse 12?
   - "Behold, I am coming quickly"
   - "My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work"

15) How does Jesus describe Himself? (13)
   - "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the
     First and the Last."

16) What blessedness is promised to those who do His commandments (some
    manuscripts say "wash their robes")? (14)
   - They will have the right to the tree of life 
   - They will enter the through the gates into the city

17) What is outside the city? (15)
   - Dogs, sorcerers, sexually immoral, murderers and idolaters
   - Whoever loves and practices a lie

18) Why had Jesus sent His angel? (16)
   - To testify these things in the churches

19) How does Jesus describe Himself? (16)
   - "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning
     Star."

20) Who extends the invitation to "Come!"?  Who else is to extend this
    invitation? (17)
   - The Spirit and the bride
   - Him who hears

21) To whom is this invitation extended?  What is offered? (17)
   - To him who thirsts
   - To take the water of life freely

22) What warning is given to those who hears the words of the prophecy
    of this book? (18-19)
   - If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues
     written in the book
   - If anyone takes away from the words of this book, God will take
     away his part from the Book (or Tree) of Life, the holy city, and
     the things written in this book

23) What promise is given by Him who testifies of these things? (20)
   - "Surely I am coming quickly."

24) What two prayers does John express as he closes the book? (20-21)
   - "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
   - "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."