Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.

I have a confession. Please don't judge me or think unkindly of me when you read this. I have read just about every book written by fiction writer Dean Koontz. I love his characters and how he brings them to life on the page. One of my favorites is Odd Thomas. He is one of those rare fictional characters who feels less like a literary creation and more like someone you could actually bump into at a small-town diner—probably while he's serving you pancakes and quietly saving the world on the side.

I don't know about you, but finishing a really good book leaves me with an emotional hangover. You close that last page, stare blankly at the cover, and wonder what you're supposed to do with your life now. When I read the last page of Koontz's Odd Thomas book, I actually went back and reread the last paragraph about ten times—half in denial, half hoping the author might have snuck in an extra chapter while I wasn't looking. 

That's kind of how Revelation 22 feels. It's the last page of the Bible—the end of the grand story—and yet somehow, it doesn't feel like the end at all.

John's vision closes with scenes that sound almost too good to be true: a river of life flowing from God's throne, streets brighter than morning, trees that heal nations, and the curse gone. Everything broken is fixed. Everything sad is forgotten. It's the ultimate restoration. But the most striking part isn't the scenery; it's the Person. "They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads" (Revelation 22:4).

Think about that for a second. The same God humanity has longed for since Eden—the One we've misunderstood, doubted, and resisted will look us straight in the eyes. No more distance. No more guessing what He's like. We'll finally see.

It's a reminder that heaven isn't just a reward; it's a reunion. Throughout Scripture, God has been moving closer, walking with Adam, speaking to Moses, dwelling in the tabernacle, taking on flesh in Jesus, and sending His Spirit to live within us. Revelation 22 is the finish line of that pursuit: God and His people together, face to face.

But if you notice, Revelation doesn't just end with "happily ever after." It ends with urgency. Jesus says three times in this chapter, "I am coming soon." That's His way of reminding us that eternity isn't just a someday-thing, it's already spilling into now. The same river of life that flows from His throne is meant to flow through us today. We carry glimpses of that coming kingdom when we forgive, when we serve, when we choose peace over payback and hope over cynicism.

Back to Odd. I cannot describe how excited I was to find out Mr. Koontz didn't plan for Odd Thomas to be a standalone book. It was actually just the first installment in a series of books on the story of Odd Thomas.

And that's what the end of the Bible does—it invites us to trust the One who started the story and who promises to finish it beautifully.

Application:

Take a little time this week to reread Revelation 22 slowly. Picture what's described, not as a fictional story, but as your future home. Let that hope shape how you live right now. If Jesus is coming soon, then today matters. Live like someone who knows how the story ends—and like someone who can't wait for the next chapter to begin.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God's Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today's passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

Be Generous 2025

On Be Generous Sunday, November 30th, through Tuesday, December 2nd, 100% of all financial gifts will go toward funding three special projects to ignite ministry and lead more people to know, love, and follow Jesus! For more information, visit venturechurch.org/begenerous.