The Kingdom Road Map, Part 4: The River of Life—Life Flowing from God

Today’s Stop

In Revelation’s vision of the New Jerusalem, John sees “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1, KJV). The river gives us another landmark on the Kingdom Road Map. To understand its meaning, we can follow its image backward through Scripture.

Read the Map

The river first appears in the garden of Eden. Genesis 2:10 says, “And a river went out of Eden to water the garden.” The garden was a place of life and fellowship with God. Its river nourished the land, and the tree of life stood there.

The prophets later used water flowing from God’s house to picture life and restoration. Ezekiel saw water flowing from the temple. As it moved, it became a river that brought life wherever it went. Ezekiel 47:9 says, “Every thing shall live whither the river cometh.” The vision also describes fruit trees whose leaves were for healing.

The image becomes clearer when we read Jesus’ words. At the feast, He called to those who were thirsty: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” (John 7:37). John explains that Jesus was speaking about the Spirit, which believers would receive. The life pictured by the river comes through Christ and the gift of the Spirit.

Connect the Landmarks

These passages share a pattern. In Eden, a river waters the garden. In Ezekiel, water flows from the temple and brings life. Jesus invites the thirsty to come to Him. In Revelation, the river proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

The source matters. The river does not begin with human effort. It flows from God’s presence and, in Revelation, from the throne shared by God and the Lamb. The picture points to life, blessing, and healing that come from God through Jesus.

Revelation also shows the tree of life beside the river. Its fruit is abundant, and its leaves are “for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2). This brings Eden’s tree and river into the vision of the New Jerusalem. The story of Scripture has not left the garden behind; it shows God’s purpose reaching its promised destination.

Kingdom Connection

The New Jerusalem is presented as the place where God dwells with His people. The river and tree show the life found in that relationship. Through Jesus, people are invited to receive the life God gives and to live as His people.

The prophetic images help us recognize the connection between the garden, the prophets, the words of Jesus, and Revelation’s final vision. Each landmark adds to the picture: life begins with God, comes through Christ, and reaches the nations.

Live It Today

Where do you look for life and renewal? Jesus’ invitation is still clear: come to Him and drink. As we receive what God gives, we can become people who bring encouragement, mercy, and care to others.

This week’s reflection:

Am I drawing life from God through Jesus, and does that life reach the people around me?

Next stop: The Promises of the Prophets

Nick Aschenbrenner
Kingdom of God Outreach

The Kingdom Road Map, Part 3: Reading the Time Signs—“Near,” “Quickly,” and “This Generation”

A road map helps us recognize our destination. But the signs along the road also tell us how close we are.

In Part 2, we considered the city and the Bride—the New Jerusalem. Now we turn to another important question: When did Jesus and His apostles expect the events they described to happen?

If we want to understand their message, we must pay attention to the time signs they gave their original listeners.

The Bible does not simply tell us what God promised. In many passages, it also tells us when those promises were drawing near.

The Kingdom Was “At Hand”

John the Baptist announced:

“Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
—Matthew 3:2, KJV

Jesus proclaimed the same message:

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
—Mark 1:15, KJV

Notice those words: “The time is fulfilled.”

Jesus was announcing that God’s promised work had reached a decisive moment. His hearers were being called to respond because the Kingdom was approaching them in their own day.

Jesus also connected the Kingdom’s presence with His works:

“But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.”
—Matthew 12:28, KJV

The Kingdom was already being revealed through its King. Understanding how its arrival relates to the judgment Jesus foretold requires following His words carefully.

“This Generation”

After Jesus spoke about the temple’s destruction, His disciples asked when these things would happen.

Jesus told them:

“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
—Matthew 24:34, KJV

We should pause before moving that statement thousands of years beyond the people who first heard it.

Earlier in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus had addressed the scribes and Pharisees about coming judgment:

“Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.”
—Matthew 23:36, KJV

He then lamented over Jerusalem and declared:

“Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.”
—Matthew 23:38, KJV

These passages connect His warning to the people, city, and religious leadership He was addressing.

The destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in AD 70 is therefore central to the fulfilled-prophecy reading of these passages. It provides a historical setting for Jesus’ warning that judgment would come within that generation.

The Apostles Continued the Message

The language of nearness did not disappear after Jesus’ resurrection.

James wrote:

“Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”
—James 5:8, KJV

He immediately added:

“Behold, the judge standeth before the door.”
—James 5:9, KJV

Peter likewise wrote:

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”
—1 Peter 4:7, KJV

What “the end of all things” encompasses must be understood from its context. But the time language deserves to be taken seriously: Peter told his readers that the end he described was near.

These were letters to real congregations. Their warnings and encouragement were meant to guide those believers through circumstances they faced.

Revelation’s Opening and Closing Signs

Revelation begins by describing:

“Things which must shortly come to pass.”
—Revelation 1:1, KJV

Just two verses later, John writes:

“For the time is at hand.”
—Revelation 1:3, KJV

The same message appears near the book’s conclusion:

“Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.”
—Revelation 22:10, KJV

That instruction offers a useful comparison with Daniel, who was told to seal his book until the time of the end in Daniel 12:4. John was told not to seal his prophecy because its time was near.

Christians disagree about how every vision fits these statements. Even so, any interpretation should explain why Revelation emphasizes nearness at both its beginning and its end.

Reading the Signs Together

The Kingdom Road Map invites us to read these time statements together:

The time is fulfilled. The Kingdom is at hand. This generation will not pass. The Judge stands at the door. These things must shortly take place.

From the fulfilled-prophecy perspective developed in this series, these signs point toward the first-century transition and judgment that culminated in Jerusalem’s destruction in AD 70.

That does not make Scripture irrelevant today. Fulfilled promises give us a foundation for faith. We learn who our King is, how faithfully He keeps His word, and how we should live as His people.

As you read this week, ask three questions: Who was being addressed? What event was being described? What time words were used?

Recognizing the destination matters. Reading the time signs helps us understand the road that led there.

Nick Aschenbrenner
Kingdom of God Outreach

The Kingdom Road Map, Part 2: The City and the Bride—Who Is the New Jerusalem?

When you follow a map, reaching the correct location depends on recognizing the landmarks. A familiar name can mislead you if you assume you already know what it means.

The same can happen when we read about Jerusalem in Scripture. Are we reading about the earthly city, its people, or the heavenly Jerusalem? The surrounding verses help us identify which destination is being described.

In Part 1, we began with God dwelling among his people. Today, we examine a remarkable connection: an angel promises to show John a bride, then shows him a city.

All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.

The Angel Identifies the Landmark

Revelation 21:9–10:

“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

“And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.”

John does not have to invent a connection between the bride and the city. The angel introduces the vision in those terms.

This gives us an important interpretive clue. To understand New Jerusalem, we need to understand the people who belong to the Lamb.

The city’s beauty communicates something about their relationship with Christ. Its meaning involves identity, belonging, and the presence of God.

Who Is Joined to Christ?

Paul uses marriage imagery when speaking to believers.

2 Corinthians 11:2:

“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

“Espoused” means promised in marriage. Paul addresses a community of believers and describes their relationship with Christ using the language of a bride and husband.

He develops that relationship further in Ephesians.

Ephesians 5:25–27:

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

These passages support understanding the bride in Revelation as God’s people united with Christ. Their glory comes from his love and his cleansing work.

This interpretation connects the city with a living community.

Follow the Names on the Foundations

Revelation 21:14:

“And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”

Why are the apostles’ names part of the city’s foundations?

Consider how Paul describes God’s household.

Ephesians 2:19–20:

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”

The correspondence is striking. Revelation describes a city with apostolic foundations. Ephesians describes believers as God’s household, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone.

These shared images strengthen the case that the city represents the people God has brought together through Jesus.

Jerusalem Above

Galatians 4:26:

“But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”

In this chapter, Paul contrasts two covenants and connects them with two Jerusalems. His discussion gives Jerusalem a meaning that extends beyond a geographical location.

This helps explain why our Kingdom Road Map must pay attention to covenant relationships. We are exploring how people belong to God through his promise and through Christ.

The connection between these passages supports the understanding that heavenly Jerusalem concerns a present spiritual identity for believers. Identifying the city this way does not settle every question about the timing of Revelation, but it gives us a substantial landmark from which to continue.

Living as Members of the City

What difference should this make today?

If the city represents a people joined to Christ, its beauty should challenge the way we treat one another. We are called to reflect the character of the one who loves us.

That means forgiving someone who has hurt us, speaking honestly, helping a struggling neighbor, and refusing to treat fellow believers as strangers.

Our study of prophecy should bear fruit in our conduct. Recognizing our place in God’s household carries the responsibility of living as members of that household.

This week’s reflection:

What is one action I can take this week that reflects Christ’s love for his people?

Next stop: You Are Here—What Does It Mean to Have Come to Heavenly Jerusalem?

Nick Aschenbrenner
Kingdom of God Outreach

The Kingdom Road Map, Part 1: Start With the Destination

When you open Google Maps to plan a trip, you enter your destination. Then you examine the route, identify important stops, and locate your starting point.

What if we studied the Bible that way?

We could begin at the end of Revelation, examine the destination God reveals, and then work backward through Scripture to understand how the journey brings us there.

Welcome to the Kingdom Road Map.

Throughout this series, we will explore the biblical case that believers belong to God’s Kingdom today and share in the spiritual life pictured in the New Jerusalem. We will follow the passages carefully, explain the connections, and address the difficult questions along the way.

All Scripture quotations below are from the King James Version.

Stop 1: Enter the Destination

Revelation 21:2–3:

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

Notice the direction: New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven.

Notice also the central promise: God dwells with his people. “Tabernacle” means a dwelling place. At the heart of this vision is fellowship between God and humanity.

This gives us our first landmark. To understand the destination, we must examine what it means for God to live among his people.

Stop 2: Identify the City

Revelation 21:9–10:

“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

“And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.”

The angel promises to show John a bride. Then he shows him a city.

That connection matters. It gives us a reason to examine the city as a picture of a people united with Christ. Its meaning reaches beyond streets, walls, and buildings.

Paul uses related language when describing believers:

Ephesians 2:19–22:

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

“In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

“In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

These believers are fellow citizens and members of God’s household. Together, they form a dwelling place for God through the Spirit.

Here we find another landmark: God’s people described as a building in which he dwells.

Stop 3: Find the “You Are Here” Marker

A map becomes useful when we can locate ourselves on it.

Hebrews 12:22–24:

“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

“To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

Look closely at the words “ye are come.” The writer speaks to those believers as people who have already approached heavenly Jerusalem and Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant.

This passage gives us strong grounds for exploring heavenly Jerusalem as a present spiritual reality for those who belong to Christ.

It does not, by itself, settle every question about Revelation’s fulfillment. But it must have a place on our map.

Stop 4: Pay Attention to the Difficult Signs

Revelation 21:4:

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

How does this promise fit with the suffering we still experience?

That is an important question. A study emphasizing fulfillment must explain what death, sorrow, and the passing of the former things mean in this setting. We cannot simply pass over those words.

In this series, we will examine the case for understanding these promises through Christ’s victory and the transition between the old and new covenants. We will distinguish the biblical wording from our interpretation and consider the passages that challenge our conclusions.

Our Route From Here

We will trace the landmarks backward: the city and its people, the river of life, the promises of the prophets, the work of Jesus, the blessing promised to Abraham, and finally the garden of Eden.

The purpose is to understand where we belong and how that belonging shapes our lives.

If we are members of God’s household, our conduct should reflect his character. Our citizenship should be visible in our love, honesty, forgiveness, and care for others.

This week’s reflection:

Am I living with an awareness that, through Jesus Christ, I belong to God’s household today?

Next stop: The City and the Bride—Who Is the New Jerusalem?

Nick Aschenbrenner
Kingdom of God Outreach

Welcome to: Kingdom Connection Plus! “New posts every Friday!”

Welcome! Kingdom Connection Plus is a place to explore Scripture more deeply and discover what living in God’s Kingdom means for our lives today.

Here you’ll find Bible questions and answers, studies of fulfilled prophecy, encouragement for everyday faith, and insights from our books.

Our Daily Scripture readings will remain in their own section, ready for your daily time with God. Visit Kingdom Connection Plus whenever you want to explore further, at your own pace.

Open your Bible, bring your questions, and grow with us as we seek to understand God’s Word and put Jesus’ teachings into practice.

Nick Aschenbrenner
Kingdom of God Outreach