New Narrative

The Revelation of Jesus Christ Part 2: Session 9 – Revelation 22:6-21

Cheat Sheet

Those who wash their robes is a metaphor describing those who continue to resist the beast and the temptation to compromise their faith in any way. It also refers to a specific challenge given to the church at Sardis in Revelation 3, some of whom had “soiled their clothes.” This theme is developed in Revelation 7:14, where one’s robes can be washed in the blood of the Lamb, and again in Revelation 16:15, where remaining alert in faithful saves an individual from going “naked and [being] shamefully exposed.” Dirtied robes can be made clean, but once cleaned, the wearer must make every effort to keep them clean!

The dogs may refer to a group of male prostitutes who worked out of a particular pagan temple; they are given this rather derogatory nickname in Deuteronomy 23. Or it could be a more general term describing people who are neither pure nor gentle in their actions.

The bright Morning Star was a familiar symbol in Jewish thought, and it represented their long expected king, who would come and free God’s people from slavery and oppression.

Study

Read Revelation 22:6-21

One Work

Some scholars have noticed that these final verses in Revelation have a lot in common with the introduction to the book. Take a quick look back at Revelation 1:9-18, and see if you can find any similarities with today’s reading.

Why might John have concluded Revelation like this?

What is John saying about this text, and about what he had experienced?

Warnings

Revelation 22 contains a number of blessings and warnings, places where John and the churches are told either what or what not to do.

Work your way carefully through the reading, stopping each time you find a command such as this.

What do you see here?

What is the point of these blessings and warnings?

The Spirit

The final words of Revelation contain some strong indications about what John believed and how he understood his ministry:

• John took the ministry of prophecy very seriously (v.6-7, 10, 18-19)
• He held a high view of Jesus Christ (v.9, 12-13, 16, 20-21)
• He held a hard line on compromise: it was not to be tolerated! (v.11-12, 14-15)

As a group, work through each of these things in turn, and talk about how you think the Holy Spirit can inspire us in each area.

What is your view on prophecy in the church today?

How does the Holy Spirit help us connect with Jesus?

How can we ask God to help us resist the temptation to compromise our faith?

Close the session by talking about how you have found the series on Revelation. Also, if you have time, listen to the song below!

Optional Extra Resources

A song celebrating some of the key themes found at the end of Revelation:

https://open.spotify.com/track/5qsFGzsk7aqCNZTq4YxUIc

And a poem, by Tanya Runyan. “The River of Life.”

At the end of it all, I find you on the street.

That you? I ask.

Yes, you too?

We touch His name on our foreheads.

Well.

You take my hand, but our fingers

slip like feathers.

No longer given in marriage, you say.

Oh, I smile. Right.

We watch the river tumble

through fruit-heavy trees.

So clear, I say, like those beads

from the craft store.

Or more like his spit, you laugh.

Crafts. Stores. A world smaller than a leaf.

Remember that river we crossed with the kids?

You snap your fingers. The kids!

At Glacier, a footbridge, no rails.

You carried them over, and I closed my eyes.

I remind you that a woman fell

from that bridge the next day. But now —

I peer at you sideways — no death.

Yes. I think that’s her now, crossing.

Where?

By His face.

Where is His face?

You spread your arms wide. Can’t you see?