New Testament

Revelation 22

The River of Life and Closing Promise

7 passages

Overview

In the final chapter of Sacred Scripture, John beholds the heavenly Jerusalem made perfect — a crystal river of life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, the tree of life healing the nations, and the curse of Eden entirely undone — before the risen Christ confirms the truthfulness of the prophecy, forbids any alteration of it, corrects John's misplaced worship of an angel, issues beatitudes for the faithful and warnings for the unrepentant, and seals all of Scripture with His personal promise to return soon, met by the Spirit, the Bride, and every thirsting soul with the cry: "Come, Lord Jesus."

Passages

1–5The River of Life and the New Eden 6–9Faithful Words, Imminent Coming, and Worship of God Alone 10–11The Unsealed Prophecy and the Finality of Human Choice 12–16The Coming Lord: Judge, Eternal Word, and Root of David 17The Universal Invitation: "Come!"18–19The Sealed Word: Solemn Warning Against Altering the Prophecy 20–21Maranatha: The Final Promise and Closing Blessing

Study Resources

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Revelation 22

¹He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, ²in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him. ⁴They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.

⁶He said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon.”

⁷“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

⁸Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. ⁹He said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” ¹⁰He said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. ¹¹He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.”

¹²“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. ¹³I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. ¹⁴Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. ¹⁵Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. ¹⁶I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

¹⁷The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.

¹⁸I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book. ¹⁹If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. ²⁰He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus!

²¹The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.

Revelation 21