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Revelation 22

Revelation closes with life flowing from God’s throne, Christ’s promised coming, and a call to keep the prophecy’s words.

An angel shows John the river of life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, with the tree of life beside it. God’s servants will see his face, and the curse will be gone. The vision then gives way to closing words for the assemblies: the angel refuses John’s worship, Jesus promises his coming, and the Spirit and the bride call for him to come. A warning against changing the prophecy precedes the final prayer and blessing.

fear for the futuredeath and what comes afterpraise and worship
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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 am coming soon! 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, “You must not do that! 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 am coming soon! 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, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book.
19If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will 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 am coming soon.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus!
21The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Revelation 22:1The river flows from God and the Lamb’s throne, placing the source of life at the center of the vision.
Revelation 22:14This blessing links obedience with access to the tree of life and entrance through the city’s gates.
Revelation 22:17The call for Christ to come opens into a welcome for anyone who thirsts to receive the water of life.
Where this chapter reaches

John shares the image of life-giving water, while Isaiah shares the welcome to the thirsty and the promise of God’s light replacing sun and moon. Deuteronomy shares the warning against adding to or taking away from the words God has given.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

Which detail of life before God’s throne most shapes your hope, and why?

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How do the chapter’s warnings and its welcome to the thirsty shape your response to Jesus?

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Questions people ask about Revelation 22

What does Jesus mean by coming soon in Revelation 22?

Jesus repeats the promise of his coming, while the angel says the time is at hand. These words give urgency to keeping the prophecy and readiness for judgment. Christians differ over how that timing relates to the book’s events and Christ’s return. The chapter supplies no date for calculation.

Why do the nations need healing in Revelation 22?

The leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations, alongside the promise that the curse will be gone. The image presents life and wholeness flowing from God’s presence. The passage does not explain a medical process or say that illness continues in the city.

What does the warning about adding or taking away mean in Revelation 22?

The warning concerns the words of this book’s prophecy. Adding brings the threatened plagues; taking away brings loss of a share in the tree of life and holy city. Its immediate scope is Revelation, and its severity underscores that hearers must receive the prophecy without altering its message.

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What the Bible says about fear →What the Bible says about death →What the Bible says about worship →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).