The New Testament with Commentary Revelation 22

Her river

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life,* bright as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of her street. And on either side of the river was a tree of life producing twelve fruits, yielding each month's fruit monthly; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 There will be no accursed thing there, but the throne of God and of the Lamb are in her, and His slaves will minister to Him. 4 They will see His face and His name is on their foreheads. 5 Night will not exist there and they will need neither lamp nor sunlight, because the Lord God illuminates them. And they will reign forever and ever.

Conclusion

6 Then He says to me: “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits† of the prophets sent His angel to show to His slaves the things that must shortly take place.‡ 7 Take note, I am coming swiftly! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”§

8 Now I, John, who heard and saw these things, when I had heard and seen I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, 9 but he says to me: “Don't! I am your fellow slave and of your brothers the prophets, those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”* 10 Then he says to me: “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 He who acts unjustly let him act unjustly still, and let the filthy one be filthy still, and let the righteous one still practice righteousness, and let the holy one still be sanctified.”

Jesus' final word

12 “Take note, I am coming swiftly, and my reward is with me to give to each one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, beginning and end, the First and the Last.” 14 (Blessed are those who do His commands, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, even to enter through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the ‘dogs’† and the sorcerers and the fornicators and the murderers and the idolaters,‡ and everyone who loves and practices a lie.) 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you, in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright morning Star. 17 Both the Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ And let whoever hears say, ‘Come!’ And let whoever thirsts come; whoever wants to, let him take the water of life free of charge.

A serious warning

18 “I myself testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If any one adds to them, may God add to him the seven plagues written in this book!§ 19 And if anyone takes away from the words* of the book of this prophecy, may God remove his share from the tree of life and out of the Holy City, that stand written in this book!”

John signs off

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming swiftly!” Oh yes!! Come, Sovereign Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ† be with all the saints. Amen.

*22:1 This river should not be confused with the one in Ezekiel 47. The present city of Jerusalem will still exist and function during the Millennium. The two rivers share certain characteristics, but are also quite different. Zechariah 14:8 may well have to do with Ezekiel 47.

†22:6 Two of the three main independent lines of transmission (including the best one) have “of the spirits”. The familiar ‘the holy’ of the KJV is based on the third main line.

‡22:6 This is a restatement of 1:1.

§22:7 Here Jesus Christ speaks (and so in verses 12, 16 and 18); see 1:3.

*22:9 I wonder if John was not always sure who was a real angel and who was the Son, appearing as an angel, and so just to make sure…

†22:15 So who are the ‘dogs’? In Deuteronomy 23:18 ‘dog’ apparently refers to a male prostitute, a catamite, and is declared to be an abomination. In OT times dogs were scavengers and therefore unclean, and were generally looked down upon. In Jesus' day Jews referred to Gentiles as ‘dogs’, but since many Gentiles are in the Church that is presumably not the intended meaning here. The ‘dogs’ in Matthew 7:6 react in an aggressively hostile manner against what is holy; I take it that they are people who are overtly serving evil (Philippians 3:2 may be referring to this sort of person). So who are the ‘dogs’ here? At the very least they are the unclean. Take it from there.

‡22:15 Relativism is an idol; Humanism is an idol; Materialism is an idol. One wonders how many Christians today have a worldview that is really Biblical. The world's values are not compatible with Christ's values. Don't forget 1 John 2:15-16!

§22:18 Since God the Son is speaking, I imagine that what He wants will be done!

*22:19 “Words”, plural, includes the individual words that make up the whole. Those textual critics who have wantonly removed words from the Text, on the basis of satanically inspired presuppositions, are out. Those who interpret the Text in such a way as to avoid its plain meaning, likewise. Jehovah the Son affirms that the words are “true and faithful”, and He expects us to interpret them that way.

†22:21 “The Lord Jesus Christ” is now the full name or title of Jehovah the Son.