*Revelation 22:1-21
John describes a new heaven and new earth, the New Jerusalem, with the tree of life and the river of life, where God dwells with his people.
- The River and Tree of Life:
- The angel shows John a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.
- On each side of the river stands the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
- No More Curse:
- There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him.
- They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more; they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.
- Reign Forever:
- They will reign forever and ever, marking a period of eternal peace and divine governance.
- Affirmation of the Prophecy’s Trustworthiness:
- The angel assures John that the words of the prophecy of this book are trustworthy and true.
- The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent His angel to show His servants the things that must soon take place.
- Behold, I am Coming Soon:
- Jesus declares, “Behold, I am coming soon!” Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
- John is instructed not to seal up the prophetic words of this book, for the time is near.
- Final Exhortations and Warnings:
- The text presents a contrast between the righteous and the wicked: Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.
- Invitation and Warning:
- Jesus reiterates His imminent return, promising to bring His recompense with Him to repay each person according to what they have done.
- He declares Himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
- Blessings and Open Invitation:
- Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
- Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
- Final Prayer and Benediction:
- The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” and let those who hear say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
- John concludes with a warning not to add to or take away from the words of the book of this prophecy.
- The book closes with a benediction: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.”
22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
22:9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.