The Bible — World English Bible

Revelation 22

In brief

Revelation 22 is the last chapter of the Bible. John describes the river of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, the tree of life, the end of every curse and the joy of seeing God's face. Then Jesus himself speaks: “I come quickly”. The chapter mixes promise and warning, invites everyone to be thirsty and to come and take the water of life freely, and ends with a prayer, “Yes, come, Lord Jesus”, and with the grace of the Lord for all.

The chapter in 5 parts

  1. v. 1-5The river of life, the tree of life and the face of God
  2. v. 6-11Faithful and true words: “I come quickly”, worship God alone
  3. v. 12-15Jesus comes: the Beginning and the End, and who enters the city
  4. v. 16-17The Morning Star and the invitation: “Come!”, take the water of life
  5. v. 18-21A final warning and the prayer “Yes, come, Lord Jesus”

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 come quickly. 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, “See you don’t do it! 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 come quickly. 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, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book.

19If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God 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 come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.

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

Key verses

Verse 1-2
He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in 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.

The image echoes the garden of Eden: a river and a tree of life. What was lost at the start of the Bible is given back at the end. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations, which speaks of a reconciled humanity.

Verse 5
There 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.

There will be no night, and God himself will be the light. The text describes the presence of God filling everything, with nothing lacking, and promises that his people will reign with him.

Verse 13-14
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed 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.

Jesus presents himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Whoever washes his robes has the right to the tree of life: salvation is presented as an access offered to the city of God.

Verse 17
The 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.

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”, and the invitation is addressed to whoever is thirsty. The water of life is free. The book that describes judgments ends on an open door.

Verse 20
He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.

The last words of Jesus in the Bible are a promise, “Yes, I come quickly.”, and John's answer is a prayer: “Yes, come, Lord Jesus.” Christians have always taken up these words to express their hope.

Bible verses to meditate on

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What the sermons say

Frequently asked questions about Revelation 22

What does Revelation 22:20, “Yes, come, Lord Jesus”, mean?

It is the final prayer of the Bible, answering the promise of Jesus: “Yes, I come quickly”. It expresses the Church's hope for the return of Christ and the end of evil. It echoes a very ancient prayer of the Christian community and invites us to live in expectation, without fear and without calculating dates.

What do the river of life and the tree of life represent?

They recall the garden of Eden, but in a completed version: life comes from the throne of God and of the Lamb, and everything that sin had closed is made accessible again. Many see in them the image of eternal life and of the healing of the nations. The text describes them with images, and we can read them as symbols of a reality that goes beyond our words.

Why does Jesus say “I come quickly” when he has not yet returned?

The word quickly says above all that the coming is certain and may happen at any moment, not that it can be calculated. Christians understand differently what this implies, and the text itself asks us to stay alert. The apostle Peter also reminds us that for the Lord one day is like a thousand years.

Who is invited to come and drink the water of life?

Verse 17 answers: whoever is thirsty, whoever desires. The water is free. It is the final invitation of the Bible, addressed to all, which reminds us that salvation is a gift and not a wage.

Articles quoting Revelation 22

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World English Bible translation — public domain.