Revelation Chapter 22 brings the Bible’s final book to its powerful conclusion, presenting a vivid vision of the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, alongside the tree of life that yields fruit continually and provides healing for the nations. This imagery symbolizes the restoration of paradise, echoing the garden of Eden, and reflects the eternal life, abundance, and healing that God offers to His people in the fully realized kingdom. There will be no more curse, and God’s servants will see His face and reign with Him forever, marking the fulfillment of intimate and unbroken fellowship with God.
The chapter continues with a solemn affirmation of the truthfulness and reliability of the prophecy contained in the book, as Jesus declares that He is coming soon and pronounces blessing upon those who keep the words of this prophecy. John is instructed not to worship the angel who revealed these visions, but to worship God alone, emphasizing the importance of pure and undivided devotion. The chapter concludes with urgent warnings against altering the words of the prophecy, either by adding to or taking away from it, underscoring the sacredness and completeness of Scripture. Jesus reaffirms His promise to return quickly, and the book closes with an invitation for all who are thirsty to come and freely receive the water of life, followed by a heartfelt prayer for the grace of the Lord Jesus to be with all believers.
Chapter 22 (BBE)
1 And I saw a river of water of life, clear as glass, coming out of the high seat of God and of the Lamb,
2 In the middle of its street. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, having twelve sorts of fruits, giving its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree give life to the nations.
3 And there will be no more curse: and the high seat of God and of the Lamb will be there; and his servants will be worshipping him;
4 And they will see his face; and his name will be on their brows.
5 And there will be no more night; and they have no need of a light or of the shining of the sun; for the Lord God will give them light: and they will be ruling for ever and ever.
6 And he said to me, These words are certain and true: and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to make clear to his servants the things which are now to come about.
7 See, I come quickly. A blessing on him who keeps the words of this book of the prophet.
8 And I, John, am he who saw these things and to whose ears they came. And when I had seen and given ear, I went down on my face to give worship at the feet of the angel who made these things clear to me.
9 And he said to me, See you do it not; I am a brother-servant with you and with your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book: give worship to God.
10 And he said to me, Let not the words of this prophet’s book be kept secret, because the time is near.
11 Let the evil man go on in his evil: and let the unclean be still unclean: and let the upright go on in his righteousness: and let the holy be holy still.
12 See, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man the outcome of his works.
13 I am the First and the Last, the start and the end.
14 A blessing on those whose robes are washed, so that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may go in by the doors into the town.
15 Outside are the dogs, and those who make use of evil powers, those who make themselves unclean, and the takers of life, and those who give worship to images, and everyone whose delight is in what is false.
16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give witness to you of these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him who gives ear, say, Come. And let him who is in need come; and let everyone desiring it take of the water of life freely.
18 For I say to every man to whose ears have come the words of this prophet’s book, If any man makes an addition to them, God will put on him the punishments which are in this book:
19 And if any man takes away from the words of this book, God will take away from him his part in the tree of life and the holy town, even the things which are in this book.
20 He who gives witness to these things says, Truly, I come quickly. Even so come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with the saints. So be it.
Important Verses
Verse 1 and 2 The river of life and the tree of life symbolize eternal life, healing, and restoration of paradise.
Verse 3 and 4 God’s servants will see His face and reign with Him forever, marking perfect fellowship with God.
Verse 7 Jesus affirms His soon return and blesses those who keep the words of this prophecy.
Verse 8 and 9 John is instructed to worship God alone, emphasizing pure devotion above all else.
Verse 12 Jesus reaffirms His promise to return, bringing rewards according to each person’s deeds.
Verse 18 and 19 Warnings against altering the prophecy highlight the sacred and complete nature of Scripture.
Verse 17 An invitation is extended for all who are thirsty to freely receive the water of life.
Verse 20 and 21 The book closes with Jesus’s promise to return quickly and a prayer for His grace to be with all believers.
