Revelation 22: The Dawn of Eternity and the Echo of Invitation
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.
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.
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:
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
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.
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.
Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
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.
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.
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
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.
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
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.
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
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.
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.
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:
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.
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Revelation 22 brings us to the culmination of John's prophetic vision, a breathtaking glimpse into the New Jerusalem and a final, urgent appeal to embrace the grace of God. This chapter serves as both a conclusion to the book and a powerful invitation to all who hear its message. Earlier chapters detailed the judgments against sin and death, but here, we witness paradise restored, echoing the Garden of Eden while surpassing it in glory. Genesis 3 described humanity's loss of paradise; Revelation 22 describes paradise regained. The chapter concludes with final words from Jesus and John's benediction, marking the close of the New Testament canon.
The River of Life and the Tree of Healing (Revelation 22:1-2)
John's vision opens with a scene of vibrant life and restoration. He sees "a river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb" (Revelation 22:1). This river stands in stark contrast to the pollution and decay of the tribulation, and it recalls the life-giving waters of Eden. Water and life are often intertwined in Scripture, especially in the writings of John (John 4:14; 7:37–38).
Alongside the river stands "the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:2). This tree, absent since humanity's fall (Genesis 3:22-24), signifies restored access to God's life-giving presence.
The mention of "healing the nations" raises questions. Since there is no sea on the new earth, water will be supplied by the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb—a single throne shared by God the Father and God the Son (Revelation 22:1). Tony Evans suggests that these nations are composed of those who inherit physical, but not spiritually glorified bodies following the millennial reign. They will need the leaves of the tree for their continued health and well-being.
No More Curse, Only Worship (Revelation 22:3-5)
The curse that has plagued humanity since the fall is finally lifted. "No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him" (Revelation 22:3). This is a return to God's original intention for creation, a state of perfect harmony and unbroken fellowship. The use of the term “servants” implies that believers will be happily serving and working in the new creation, overseeing the planet to varying degrees corresponding to their rewards.
The blessed inhabitants of this New Jerusalem will "see his face" (Revelation 22:4), experiencing the unveiled presence of God. The need for artificial or natural light will vanish, as "the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever" (Revelation 22:5). God’s radiant presence will provide all necessary illumination.
A Call to Heed the Prophecy (Revelation 22:6-11)
The scene shifts from the glorious vision to a renewed emphasis on the truth and trustworthiness of the prophecy itself. The angel who guided John (starting in Revelation 21:9) affirms that "These words are trustworthy and true" (Revelation 22:6), echoing Jesus' promise, "I am coming soon!" (Revelation 22:7).
John, overwhelmed by the vision, once again attempts to worship the angel, but is swiftly corrected: "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God" (Revelation 22:9). This underscores a central theme of Revelation: true worship is directed solely to God. Often, Revelation is portrayed as a book of prophecy, and this is certainly true. But, more fundamentally, it is a book about worship, a theme that recurs from chapters 1-22. Worship of God is the appropriate response to the words of Revelation.
Unlike the prophecies of Daniel, which were sealed until the end times (Daniel 12:9), the words of Revelation are not to be sealed, "for the time is near" (Revelation 22:10). This message is intended for immediate application. The words of the book were not to be sealed up because the time is near (Revelation 22:10). Rather, they are to be read—which will lead people to one of two responses. Some will not heed the admonitions and continue on a path of rebellion against God. As John puts it, the filthy will still be filthy. Others, however, will heed the warnings and move in the direction God wants them to go, namely, righteousness (Revelation 22:11).
Jesus' Promise and the Eternal Reward (Revelation 22:12-15)
Jesus Himself speaks, declaring, "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done" (Revelation 22:12). He identifies Himself as "the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:13), emphasizing His eternal nature and sovereign authority.
The reward for faithfulness is access to the New Jerusalem and the tree of life: "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates" (Revelation 22:14). The greater a person’s faithfulness in earthly life, the greater his or her access will be to special blessings in the eternal state.
Conversely, those who reject Christ will be excluded: "Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood" (Revelation 22:15). The wicked, those who never received Jesus as their Savior, will remain under the curse and be separated from the blessings described in this chapter. Among them will be those whose base, sensual living made them like dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
An Invitation and a Warning (Revelation 22:16-19)
Jesus reiterates the purpose of Revelation: "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star" (Revelation 22:16). Revelation was written specifically for believers. That’s why Jesus declares, I . . . have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. It’s about the future, but it’s for the present-day church. The bright morning star is another way of referring to the sun. In the daytime, it is the one star sufficiently luminous and powerful to light the entire earth. Spiritually speaking, Jesus is “the bright morning star” because he is the most powerful source of spiritual illumination and is the sole source of eternal life.
The Spirit and the Bride (the Church) extend a final invitation: "Come." Let anyone who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price" (Revelation 22:17). John ends the book with an evangelistic invitation. The Holy Spirit, the church, and anyone who hears the message all beckon sinners to come to Christ. Anyone who is spiritually thirsty may have his or her thirst quenched by Jesus. And best of all, this spiritual satisfaction is free. The water of life is a gift. All that is required to possess eternal life in the paradise that has been described is to receive the free gift of salvation by placing your faith in Jesus Christ alone and his substitutionary death. Embrace the agenda of his eternal kingdom. No earthly agenda compares.
A solemn warning follows against tampering with the words of Revelation: "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book" (Revelation 22:18-19). Don’t mess with the Word. That’s John’s admonition in these verses, and it applies specifically to the book of Revelation. It has two components. First, do not add to the prophecy of this book. The penalty for doing so will be the plagues that are written in it (Revelation 22:18). Second, do not take away from the words of the book. Those who do so will have their heavenly rewards taken away, namely, their share of the tree of life and the holy city (Revelation 21:19). This warning applies not only to literal alterations of the text but also to twisting, ignoring, or adding unauthorized interpretations (1 Corinthians 4:6; Luke 4:1-13; John 10:35).
"Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20-21)
The book concludes with a resounding affirmation of Jesus' promise: "Surely I am coming soon." John responds with a heartfelt prayer: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20). Much of Revelation is difficult to understand because of its symbolism, but the book concludes by underscoring with notable simplicity two central themes. First, Jesus is coming soon. You can understand this even if details of the rapture, the tribulation, the second coming of Jesus, the millennium, and the eternal state remain unclear. Second, the glorious future in store for followers of Jesus should inspire worship. John’s response to all that was revealed to him was an exclamation of worshipful affirmation: Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! There is enough truth stated plainly in Revelation for you to thank God for your salvation, for your eternal future, and for God’s grace. If reading Revelation makes you a better worshiper, it has achieved its goal.
The final verse is a benediction: "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all" (Revelation 22:21). The wrath to come on all who do not acknowledge Jesus as Savior contrasts with the grace of the Lord Jesus available to everyone during the church era. It is with a prayer for that saving grace to be broadly bestowed that John closes the book.
Revelation 22 leaves us with a profound sense of hope and anticipation. It reminds us that while the present world is filled with suffering and darkness, a glorious future awaits those who place their faith in Jesus Christ. May we all heed the invitation to "come" and embrace the water of life freely offered to us.
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.
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.
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:
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
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.
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.
Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
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.
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.
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
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.
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
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.
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
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.
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.
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:
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.
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Revelation 22 brings us to the culmination of John's prophetic vision, a breathtaking glimpse into the New Jerusalem and a final, urgent appeal to embrace the grace of God. This chapter serves as both a conclusion to the book and a powerful invitation to all who hear its message. Earlier chapters detailed the judgments against sin and death, but here, we witness paradise restored, echoing the Garden of Eden while surpassing it in glory. Genesis 3 described humanity's loss of paradise; Revelation 22 describes paradise regained. The chapter concludes with final words from Jesus and John's benediction, marking the close of the New Testament canon.
The River of Life and the Tree of Healing (Revelation 22:1-2)
John's vision opens with a scene of vibrant life and restoration. He sees "a river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb" (Revelation 22:1). This river stands in stark contrast to the pollution and decay of the tribulation, and it recalls the life-giving waters of Eden. Water and life are often intertwined in Scripture, especially in the writings of John (John 4:14; 7:37–38).
Alongside the river stands "the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:2). This tree, absent since humanity's fall (Genesis 3:22-24), signifies restored access to God's life-giving presence.
The mention of "healing the nations" raises questions. Since there is no sea on the new earth, water will be supplied by the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb—a single throne shared by God the Father and God the Son (Revelation 22:1). Tony Evans suggests that these nations are composed of those who inherit physical, but not spiritually glorified bodies following the millennial reign. They will need the leaves of the tree for their continued health and well-being.
No More Curse, Only Worship (Revelation 22:3-5)
The curse that has plagued humanity since the fall is finally lifted. "No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him" (Revelation 22:3). This is a return to God's original intention for creation, a state of perfect harmony and unbroken fellowship. The use of the term “servants” implies that believers will be happily serving and working in the new creation, overseeing the planet to varying degrees corresponding to their rewards.
The blessed inhabitants of this New Jerusalem will "see his face" (Revelation 22:4), experiencing the unveiled presence of God. The need for artificial or natural light will vanish, as "the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever" (Revelation 22:5). God’s radiant presence will provide all necessary illumination.
A Call to Heed the Prophecy (Revelation 22:6-11)
The scene shifts from the glorious vision to a renewed emphasis on the truth and trustworthiness of the prophecy itself. The angel who guided John (starting in Revelation 21:9) affirms that "These words are trustworthy and true" (Revelation 22:6), echoing Jesus' promise, "I am coming soon!" (Revelation 22:7).
John, overwhelmed by the vision, once again attempts to worship the angel, but is swiftly corrected: "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God" (Revelation 22:9). This underscores a central theme of Revelation: true worship is directed solely to God. Often, Revelation is portrayed as a book of prophecy, and this is certainly true. But, more fundamentally, it is a book about worship, a theme that recurs from chapters 1-22. Worship of God is the appropriate response to the words of Revelation.
Unlike the prophecies of Daniel, which were sealed until the end times (Daniel 12:9), the words of Revelation are not to be sealed, "for the time is near" (Revelation 22:10). This message is intended for immediate application. The words of the book were not to be sealed up because the time is near (Revelation 22:10). Rather, they are to be read—which will lead people to one of two responses. Some will not heed the admonitions and continue on a path of rebellion against God. As John puts it, the filthy will still be filthy. Others, however, will heed the warnings and move in the direction God wants them to go, namely, righteousness (Revelation 22:11).
Jesus' Promise and the Eternal Reward (Revelation 22:12-15)
Jesus Himself speaks, declaring, "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done" (Revelation 22:12). He identifies Himself as "the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:13), emphasizing His eternal nature and sovereign authority.
The reward for faithfulness is access to the New Jerusalem and the tree of life: "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates" (Revelation 22:14). The greater a person’s faithfulness in earthly life, the greater his or her access will be to special blessings in the eternal state.
Conversely, those who reject Christ will be excluded: "Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood" (Revelation 22:15). The wicked, those who never received Jesus as their Savior, will remain under the curse and be separated from the blessings described in this chapter. Among them will be those whose base, sensual living made them like dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
An Invitation and a Warning (Revelation 22:16-19)
Jesus reiterates the purpose of Revelation: "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star" (Revelation 22:16). Revelation was written specifically for believers. That’s why Jesus declares, I . . . have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. It’s about the future, but it’s for the present-day church. The bright morning star is another way of referring to the sun. In the daytime, it is the one star sufficiently luminous and powerful to light the entire earth. Spiritually speaking, Jesus is “the bright morning star” because he is the most powerful source of spiritual illumination and is the sole source of eternal life.
The Spirit and the Bride (the Church) extend a final invitation: "Come." Let anyone who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price" (Revelation 22:17). John ends the book with an evangelistic invitation. The Holy Spirit, the church, and anyone who hears the message all beckon sinners to come to Christ. Anyone who is spiritually thirsty may have his or her thirst quenched by Jesus. And best of all, this spiritual satisfaction is free. The water of life is a gift. All that is required to possess eternal life in the paradise that has been described is to receive the free gift of salvation by placing your faith in Jesus Christ alone and his substitutionary death. Embrace the agenda of his eternal kingdom. No earthly agenda compares.
A solemn warning follows against tampering with the words of Revelation: "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book" (Revelation 22:18-19). Don’t mess with the Word. That’s John’s admonition in these verses, and it applies specifically to the book of Revelation. It has two components. First, do not add to the prophecy of this book. The penalty for doing so will be the plagues that are written in it (Revelation 22:18). Second, do not take away from the words of the book. Those who do so will have their heavenly rewards taken away, namely, their share of the tree of life and the holy city (Revelation 21:19). This warning applies not only to literal alterations of the text but also to twisting, ignoring, or adding unauthorized interpretations (1 Corinthians 4:6; Luke 4:1-13; John 10:35).
"Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20-21)
The book concludes with a resounding affirmation of Jesus' promise: "Surely I am coming soon." John responds with a heartfelt prayer: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20). Much of Revelation is difficult to understand because of its symbolism, but the book concludes by underscoring with notable simplicity two central themes. First, Jesus is coming soon. You can understand this even if details of the rapture, the tribulation, the second coming of Jesus, the millennium, and the eternal state remain unclear. Second, the glorious future in store for followers of Jesus should inspire worship. John’s response to all that was revealed to him was an exclamation of worshipful affirmation: Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! There is enough truth stated plainly in Revelation for you to thank God for your salvation, for your eternal future, and for God’s grace. If reading Revelation makes you a better worshiper, it has achieved its goal.
The final verse is a benediction: "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all" (Revelation 22:21). The wrath to come on all who do not acknowledge Jesus as Savior contrasts with the grace of the Lord Jesus available to everyone during the church era. It is with a prayer for that saving grace to be broadly bestowed that John closes the book.
Revelation 22 leaves us with a profound sense of hope and anticipation. It reminds us that while the present world is filled with suffering and darkness, a glorious future awaits those who place their faith in Jesus Christ. May we all heed the invitation to "come" and embrace the water of life freely offered to us.