This a Revelation that Jesus gave to the Apostle John showing him (and us) what will take place in the future. These verses are what paradise will be like and who will be allowed in or not.
Let’s look at 3 parts of God’s invitation to us in Revelation 22.
The contents of the invitation — Verses 1-5
How do we respond to the invitation? — Verses 6-17
What does God want us to do with the invitation? — Verses 18-21
The Contents of the Invitation — Verses 1-5
Key Concept: Jesus desires and invites everyone to be saved and experience wholeness in Him and eternal life.
Key Verse: I John 4:9-10 – This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Community Group Application: As we grow in understanding God’s word by attending church on Sunday and a community group during the week, we understand Jesus’ invitation to us.
How Do We Respond to the Invitation? — Verses 6-17
Key Concept: Forgiveness and new life are free; we just must open the invitation from Jesus.
Key Verse: John 4:13-14 – Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Community Group Application: We make the decision to admit our sin and turn to Jesus, believing He died for us. We demonstrate this in Baptism.
What does God want us to do with the invitation? — Verses 18-21
Key Concept: There will be a final separation between those who are saved and those who are not; therefore we deliver the invitation to salvation to all we know with urgency.
Key Verse: I Corinthians 11:23-24 – For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
Community Group Application: As followers of Jesus, we are called to deliver His invitation to others in our lives: family, friends, and contacts.