Revelation 22

Revelation 22 concludes with a vivid description of the new heaven and earth, featuring the river and tree of life, where God's servants reign and see His face. The chapter emphasizes the truthfulness and immediacy of the prophecies, with Christ affirming His swift return and offering a final invitation to take the water of life freely. It also includes stern warnings against altering the words of this prophetic book.

The final chapter of Revelation presents a glorious vision of the new Jerusalem, where a pure river of the water of life flows from the throne of God and the Lamb, and the tree of life yields its fruit monthly, with leaves for the healing of the nations. There, God's servants will see His face, reign eternally, and experience no night, for the Lord God provides light. An angel confirms the truth of these prophecies, and Christ declares His imminent return, promising reward according to works and identifying Himself as the Alpha and Omega. John attempts to worship the angel but is corrected, being told to worship God alone. The prophecy is not to be sealed, as the time is at hand, and a clear distinction is drawn between the blessed who keep God's commandments and the unrighteous who are excluded from the holy city. The chapter ends with Jesus's self-identification and a universal invitation to receive the water of life, followed by a solemn warning against adding to or taking away from the words of this prophetic book, culminating in a final plea for Christ's return and a benediction.

Revelation chapter 22 opens with a magnificent depiction of the new Jerusalem, where John is shown a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb. Along its banks stands the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit monthly, whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. In this eternal city, there will be no more curse; God's throne will be present, and His servants will serve Him, seeing His face with His name on their foreheads. There will be no night, nor need for sun or lamp, as the Lord God Himself will be their light, and they shall reign forever. The angel assures John that these sayings are faithful and true, signifying that the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to reveal things that must "shortly be done." Christ Himself interjects, declaring, "Behold, I come quickly," and pronounces a blessing upon those who keep the prophecy. John, overwhelmed, attempts to worship the angel, but is swiftly corrected, being reminded that the angel is a fellowservant and that worship is due to God alone. The angel then instructs John not to seal the sayings of the prophecy, for "the time is at hand," emphasizing that the state of the unjust and the righteous will be fixed. Christ reiterates His swift return, bringing His reward to give to every man according to his works, and proclaims His divine identity as "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." A blessing is pronounced upon those who do His commandments, granting them access to the tree of life and entry into the city, while a list of the excluded, including "dogs, sorcerers, and murderers," is provided. Jesus testifies that He sent His angel to deliver these messages to the churches, identifying Himself as "the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." The Spirit and the bride issue a final, urgent invitation for all who thirst to come and take the water of life freely. The chapter concludes with a severe warning against altering the words of this prophecy, stating that adding to it will bring the book's plagues, and taking away from it will remove one's part from the book of life and the holy city. Christ's final assurance, "Surely I come quickly," is met with John's fervent response, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus," followed by a concluding benediction.