Revelation 22

Chapter Overview

What happens in Revelation 22

The vision concludes with the river of life and the tree of life in the new Jerusalem, where God's servants see his face and reign forever. The book closes with Jesus' promise to return soon and an urgent invitation to come and drink the water of life.

Scripture

The River and Tree of Life

Study note

The angel shows John a crystal-clear river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb through the city's main street. The tree of life stands on both sides of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit monthly, with leaves that heal the nations. The curse is removed forever. God's servants serve him, see his face, and bear his name on their foreheads. There is no night, and they reign with God forever and ever.

1 Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life. It was clear as crystal. It flowed right from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 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.

2 It flowed right down the middle of the city's main street. On each side of the river grew the tree of life, producing twelve different kinds of fruit -- a fresh crop every month. The leaves of the tree brought healing to the nations. 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.

3 There will be nothing cursed there anymore. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 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:

4 They will be able to see him face to face, and his name will be stamped on their foreheads. And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

5 Night will be gone forever. They will not need lamp light or sunlight because the Lord God will be their light. And they will reign as kings forever and ever. 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.

The Authority and Urgency of the Prophecy

Study note

The angel affirms that these words are faithful and true, sent to show God's servants what must soon take place. Jesus declares 'I am coming soon,' pronouncing a blessing on those who keep this book's words. When John again falls to worship the angel, he is redirected to worship God. Unlike Daniel's sealed prophecy, this book is to remain open because the time is near. Jesus will bring his reward, repaying each according to their deeds.

6 The angel told me, "Every word of this is trustworthy and true. The Lord God who inspires the prophets sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon." 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.

7 "Look! I am coming soon! Blessed is the person who pays attention to the words of prophecy in this book." Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw all of these things. After hearing and seeing them, I fell at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, ready to worship him. 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.

9 But the angel said, "Do not do that! I am a servant just like you, just like your brothers the prophets, and just like everyone who follows the words in this book. Worship God!" 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.

10 Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of this prophecy, because the time is near." And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

11 "Let the person who does wrong keep doing wrong. Let the person who is filthy stay filthy. Let the person who does right keep doing right. And let the person who is holy keep living in holiness." 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.

12 "Look! I am coming soon, and I am bringing my reward with me. I will pay each person back based on how they have lived." And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

The Final Invitation and Benediction

Study note

A blessing is given to those who obey God's commandments, granting them access to the tree of life and the city. The excluded are listed. Jesus identifies himself as the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star. The Spirit and the bride together issue the great invitation: 'Come!' to anyone who is thirsty. A solemn warning protects the integrity of the prophecy against addition or subtraction. Jesus affirms one final time, 'I am coming soon,' and John responds with the prayer of the church across all ages: 'Come, Lord Jesus!' The book closes with a benediction of grace.

14 "Blessed are those who obey his commands. They will have the right to eat from the tree of life and to enter the city through its gates." 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.

15 "Outside the city are those who live like dogs. There are those who do witchcraft. There are those who commit sexual sin or murder. There are idol worshipers. There are all who love and tell lies." For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David. I am the bright morning star." 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.

17 The Spirit and the bride together call out, "Come!" Let everyone who hears this echo the call: "Come!" If you are thirsty, come. Anyone who wants to may drink the water of life -- it is free. 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.

18 I give this warning to everyone who hears the words of this book. If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. 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:

19 Someone might take words out of this book of prophecy. If so, God will take away that person's share. They will lose their place at the tree of life. They will lose their place in the holy city this book talks about. 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.

20 The one who confirms all of this says, "Yes, I am coming soon!" Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Key Themes

Themes in Revelation 22

Paradise restoredThe tree of life and river of lifeSeeing God face to faceThe imminent return of ChristThe open invitation of the gospelThe integrity of Scripture

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Revelation 22:1-2 Ezekiel 47:1-12

The river of life flowing from the throne with trees on both sides bearing fruit monthly with healing leaves directly parallels Ezekiel's vision of the river flowing from the temple with trees whose fruit is for food and whose leaves are for healing.

Revelation 22:2 Genesis 2:9

The tree of life in the new Jerusalem restores what was forfeited in Eden, where the tree of life stood in the garden but was barred from humanity after the fall, completing the Bible's redemptive arc.

Revelation 22:3 Zechariah 14:11

The removal of the curse echoes Zechariah's prophecy that in the age to come, 'there will be no more curse' and Jerusalem will be secure, now fulfilled in the eternal city of God.

Revelation 22:16 Isaiah 11:1, 10

Jesus as the root and offspring of David fulfills Isaiah's prophecy of the shoot from the stump of Jesse, the root of Jesse who stands as a banner for the peoples and to whom the nations will rally.

Revelation 22:12 Isaiah 40:10; Isaiah 62:11

Christ's declaration 'Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me' echoes Isaiah's twin announcements that the Lord comes with a strong hand and his reward accompanies him, applying God's promised advent to Jesus' return.

Apply This Today

Living Revelation 22

The final chapter of the Bible brings the story full circle from the garden of Eden to the garden city of the new Jerusalem. What was lost through sin is now fully restored and surpassed: the tree of life is accessible, the curse is removed, and humanity sees God face to face. The repeated declaration 'I am coming soon' is not merely a statement about timing but an invitation to live in readiness and hope. The Spirit and the bride's call to 'Come!' extends to every person who thirsts for God. As we close this book, we are invited to join the ancient prayer that bridges present suffering and future glory: 'Come, Lord Jesus!'

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