Reading for Tuesday, Dec 11: Revelation 22

We’ve come to the final chapter of Revelation — and, the final chapter of the canon in the Scriptures. The image is a fitting one: “No longer will there be anything accursed,” (v3). This is a reversal of the story’s beginning when Adam and Eve’s disobedience led to the curse in Genesis 3. Here we see the glorious unraveling of all that is wrong with the world: this present realm of darkness and pain eventually ceding to God’s redemptive purposes. The people of God are pictured here enjoying the supreme richness of communion with God and one another: “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (v4-5)

Night will be no more. This is a comforting thought, particularly to those who are presently enveloped in thick darkness. To those who are gripped by grief, paralyzed by fear, shrouded in shame, haunted by insecurities…this dark night is not eternal. Dawn is breaking. Heaven’s light will break through…because God said it would be so. He spoke the world into being in the beginning; now, at the end of all things, His spoken Word is yet again the catalyst for new creation.

The final scene is one of blessedness for those who have washed their robes (v14). These have the right to the tree of life; they are freely granted entrance into the holy city. Spirit and Bride say together, “Come” (v17) and those who answer this call will forever drink from the water of life.

And so the Bible closes with these words: “The grace of the Lord Jess be will all. Amen.”