The chronology of chapter 22 is as follows:
1. The Rivers, Streets, and Fruit of the New Jerusalem – Revelation 22:1-2
2. The Rulers of the New Jerusalem – Revelation 22:3-5
3. Conclusion of Revelation – Revelation 22:6
4. Blessing for Keeping the Truths of the Book – Revelation 22:7
5. A Common Mistake in Worship – Revelation 22:8-9
6. Command Not to Seal the Book – Revelation 22:10
7. Eternal State of Men to Be as They Are When They Die – Revelation 22:11
8. Christ’s Coming Predicted – Revelation 22:12-13
9. The Last Blessing for Those Who Keep the Truths of the Book – Revelation 22:14
10. Last Warning Against Sin and Eternal Punishment – Revelation 22:15
11. Authenticity of the Book Affirmed – Revelation 22:16
12. An Invitation to All Men to Be Saved – Revelation 22:17
13. A Warning to All Men – Revelation 22:18-19
14. Conclusion and Benediction of Revelation and of the Whole Bible – Revelation 22:20-21
The Rivers, Streets, and Fruit of the New Jerusalem – Revelation 22:1-2
As we know, the coming of Christ takes place in Chapter 19 of Revelation with Chapter 20 giving a bit of information concerning the thousand-year reign with Christ. At the conclusion of this thousand-year reign with Christ, the devil will be loosed for a little season when he will be defeated. Then, there will be a new heaven and new earth. We are told very little about how this will happen, but we do know that it will take place at the conclusion of the thousand-year reign with Christ. Chapters 21 and 22 pertain to the new Heaven and the new earth, and more specifically, the New Jerusalem that will come down from God out of Heaven.
Among all the great rivers that will be in the New Jerusalem, there will be one great river called “…a pure river of water of life,…” It proceeds out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, meaning The Lord Jesus Christ. It must always be remembered that all life comes from Christ. It must also be understood that this river of the water of life that is clear as crystal is symbolic of The Holy Spirit. This river will run through all of the New Jerusalem, 1,500 miles.
The second verse indicates that there will be a great broad way that will run on either side of the river. It seems that it’s similar to a four-lane highway with the river in the middle. On either side of the river was a tree of life. The Scripture portrays it as rows of trees along the river on both sides for the length of the highway and the river. These trees will bear 12 manner of fruit, one for each month. The leaves will be for the healing of the nations. This speaks of the preservation of life for the natural, earthly nations as well as for the resurrected saints. This will cause or bring about eternal life according to Revelation 2:7; 22:2. There will be no sickness, so eternal health and life will come from the leaves of the trees. One must compare this with the tree of life which was never used that grew in the Garden of Eden. Praise God this tree or trees will be used forever. There will be many other rivers besides this one in Jerusalem. There will be twelve great rivers flowing down the midst of the twelve great broad ways through the twelve gates into all parts of the earth. There will also be innumerable fountains of water of life throughout the city and many lakes and rivers in the earth.
The Rulers of the New Jerusalem – Revelation 22:3-5
The Holy Spirit specifically points out that there will be no more curse. This speaks of the curse that came as a result of Adam’s rebellion. The same conditions as before the curse will prevail eternally and things will continue as though it had never been. All rebels will be confined to the lake of fire as an eternal monument to God’s wrath on sin and as a warning to the coming generations that sin does not pay.
The new Heaven, the new earth, and the new people will be the same ones we have today but in a new state. All things will be made new. The servants in verse 3 refer to the faithful angels, the redeemed men, and all of the creatures who have not rebelled or have been redeemed from all possibility of rebellion for eternity (Ephesians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28).
Some people ask the question when we get to Heaven, will we really see God? The Scripture plainly says that we will. All creatures of the eternal state will actually look upon God’s face, and His Name shall be in their foreheads. The Scripture states that the glory of the Lord shall fill the city until there will be no night there. It will be perpetual day.
Conclusion of Revelation – Revelation 22:6
John comes to the conclusion of the book of Revelation, and The Holy Spirit through him says do not doubt these things that you read in these books because the sayings are faithful and true. In other words, they will come to pass exactly as foretold. Over and over again, John mentioned the angel (redeemed saint) who told John of these wonderful events. The meaning of the phrase “the things which must shortly be done” speaks of the fulfillment of the book of Revelation. This is started in John’s day and in the light of eternity, even though the past two thousand years already seems to us a long time, yet it will be very short in comparison to forever and forever.
Blessing for Keeping the Truths of the Book – Revelation 22:7
Christ is saying “I am coming.” In view of eternity, it will not be very long from the time this was given to John until the Second Coming takes place. The book of Revelation ends with a pronounced blessing upon individuals who hear, read, and keep the truths of this prophecy. Sadly, many Christians seldom read the book of Revelation, the excuse being, “I can’t understand it.” However, in Revelation 1:1-3, we are told that we will be blessed if we read this book. So, the desire of the Christian should be to master its contents. This volume will help in that capacity.
A Common Mistake in Worship – Revelation 22:8-9
John is attesting to the fact of the book of Revelation. He says, “I…saw these things and heard them…” There is no greater witness in a court of law than an eye witness. John was a personal eye witness. Who this angel is, showing John the scenes of the New Jerusalem, we are not told. It could be the same angel or fellow servant recorded in Revelation 19:10. This one was so glorious in appearance that John even thought it was The Lord Jesus Christ. So, he fell down to worship at the feet of the angel. The admonition was given “…See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets,…” This information is given about the angel or fellow servant showing John these scenes.
He’s a little more direct than in Revelation 19:10. This one, the redeemed saint, who looks like an angel, says that he is one of the prophets of the past. Whether it is a prophet that we are familiar with in the Old Testament or one that we are not familiar with, we are not told. At any rate, there is no evidence that he told John which prophet he was. Then he said, “…worship God.” Once again, we are told to worship only God. It is Biblically incorrect and unscriptural to worship angels, saints, the virgin Mary or anything else. The command is, “…worship God.” How clear and simple can it be? Yet a great percentage of what is called the Christian church worships angels, the virgin Mary, saints, relics, etc. It must be remembered, worship is when we give adoration, praise, honor, and love expecting to be redeemed and to have our prayers answered. When this is directed to any other except deity, we commit a grave sin. Worship in any form is to be reserved for God only. There is absolutely no indication in the Word of God that it is permissible to pray to saints, the virgin Mary or anyone or anything else other than The Lord of Glory (John 16:23).
Command Not to Seal the Book – Revelation 22:10
Many people consider the book of Revelation a mystery when actually, the angel told John that the sayings of the prophecy of this book were to be opened to all. These truths were to be understood and kept by all, and hence, they are not hidden truths. They are simple and clear to all who will believe them but hidden from those who refuse to believe (1 Corinthians 4:4). When the term “…for the time is at hand.” he was speaking of the immediate fulfillment of the events which were to happen in consecutive order from John’s day into eternity. First, the letters to the churches up to the Rapture, chapters 1-3. Secondly, events between the rapture and the Second coming of The Lord, chapters 4-19. Thirdly, events of the thousand-year reign with Christ, the Millennium and the new earth forever, chapters 20-22. So, the book of Revelation is being fulfilled even as we read these words. At this moment, we are living in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. At any time, the Rapture of the church could take place. Then, Revelation chapter 4 will begin and will follow in very close order.
Eternal State of Men to Be as They Are When They Die – Revelation 22:11
The passage above plainly states that the first, second, third, and fourth opportunities are on this side of the grave. There are no second chances left after death. Consequently, there is no such thing as purgatory taught in the Bible. There is no such thing as people getting right with God after they are dead. If they are unjust when they die, they will continue to be unjust forever. If they are filthy when they die, they will be filthy forever. If they are righteous when they die, they will be righteous forever. And if they are holy when they die, they will be holy forever.
Chapter 16 of Luke, Jesus told the story of the rich man and the beggar. The story is rather strange to us because we do not understand the Jewish culture of the day. At that time, the Jews believed that if a fellow Jew was rich, that reflected the favor and blessing of God, and most certainly, he was saved. If he was a beggar, such as Lazarus, that portrayed the curse of God meaning the individual was lost. So, Jesus completely destroyed their doctrine by telling them that riches or poverty had nothing to do with one’s salvation. In this case, the rich man was lost. He was not lost because he was rich, but he was lost because he did not allow the goodness of God (his riches) to bring him to God. Lazarus, even though he was a beggar and received no creature comforts whatsoever in his life, was saved. He did not allow his poverty to keep him from God. In other words, he stated, “I don’t know why I am in this situation. I don’t know why The Lord would allow it. But I do know that I love Him, I trust Him, and I serve Him.” Then, Jesus finished the story by giving the chilling account of Lazarus being in paradise and the rich man being in hell. The prayer that the rich man prayed “…Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus,…” is the only example of praying to a dead saint in Scripture. But those who do this, remember that prayer to all others will avail nothing.
As the book of Revelation is closed, The Holy Spirit once more reminds us that if we are basing our hope on a second or third chance after death, it is a fool’s hope. What you are now is what you will be forever in eternity. If you are not washed in The Blood of Christ, you will never be washed in The Blood of Christ. If you are now washed in The Blood of Christ and thereby saved, you will forever be washed in The Blood of Christ and thereby saved. That is, if you continue to trust Christ for your salvation.
Christ’s Coming Predicted – Revelation 22:12-13
Christ declares that He is coming and that His coming will be quickly. First, He is reminding the reader that He is coming back. Secondly, He is saying that when He does come, it will be done quickly with no announcement, so we are to be ready at all times. When He comes, He will give reward to every person according to His work. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 “Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” As the Holy Spirit gave these words to Paul, we are told that all the work that cannot stand the fire will be burned up. In other words, wood, hay, and stubble will be burned up in this test of fire and no reward will be given. However, if a man’s work is built upon the foundation of “gold, silver, and precious stones” he will receive reward because this will stand the test of fire. Paul is not speaking of the prosperity Gospel. He is using symbolism. The works that Paul is speaking of here have nothing to do with one’s salvation. It does have everything to do with one’s reward. The question becomes, what is your work built upon? Is it personal ambition, greed, love of denomination, envy, jealousy, money, position? If so, the fire will reveal it, and there will be no reward. If it is built upon the love of God, the desire to carry out his work and the servant principle, then it will stand the acid test of fire, and there will be great reward.
Christ announces that He is the “…Alpha and Omega…” which means the beginning and the end, the first and the last. He is the One to Whom we will answer. He will be our Judge. He will be the One Who will determine what the works will be. He will not judge after the seeing of the eye or the hearing of the ear. He will judge from omniscience because He knows all things. He will also have the power to carry out His judgment because of His omniscience.
The Last Blessing for Those Who Keep the Truths of the Book – Revelation 22:14
The redeemed will have two great rights:
1. Right to the tree of life forever
2. Right to enter the New Jerusalem forever
The Lord said “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) Those commandments are “…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
If you will notice, Jesus did not say, “blessed are they who know His commandments.” But He did say, “Blessed are they that do His commandments.”
Last Warning Against Sin and Eternal Punishment – Revelation 22:15
Jesus was not speaking here of the canine variety when He mentioned dogs. He was speaking of homosexuals. “Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” (Deuteronomy 23:18) In Hebrew, the word “dog” is keleb. It means male prostitute, homosexual, or sodomite.
Sorcery has to do with all types of witchcraft. Incantations, spirits, and fortune telling. Whoremongers involve themselves with all types of immorality. Then, there are murderers, idolaters and those who love and tell lies. There are many others who will not make Heaven their eternal home as well according to Revelation 21:8. He is telling us that we cannot live a life of sin and expect to gain the rewards of salvation. Many tend to think from the structure of these Scriptures, that those without the city may engage in these things. That is not the meaning at all. When he used the term “For without…” He meant the eternally lost would have no place in God’s kingdom of righteousness whatsoever. These (the lost) would be confined to eternal hell.
Authenticity of the Book Affirmed – Revelation 22:16
Here The Lord tells us that He wants these things (the book of Revelation) to be known in the churches. If we are ignorant of what is stated here, then the ignorance is willful ignorance. The reason for the book of Revelation is that we may know what is going to come upon this world as well as the eternal future of the redeemed and the lost.
The word “churches” is used in the plural. The Lord is going to deal with every church according to the way it has allowed the light to shine or has stifled that light. No church will be able to say, “The denomination made me do it.” The churches will answer, not some denominational hierarchy. Sadly, in too many circles, preachers answer not to The Lord Jesus Christ but to a religious hierarchy. God help us.
Beautifully, the name of David is the first human name in the New Testament according to Matthew 1:1 and the last human name in the New Testament. What an honor. The statement is made not so much to honor David but to project the incarnation of Christ. The Lord is reminding us that He became man and suffered all the privations of man that we might be saved. As man, Jesus overcame satan. As a man full of The Holy Spirit, He healed the sick and cast out devils. As a man, Jesus went to The Cross. As a man, Jesus was buried in tomb. As a man, Jesus arose from the dead. And as The Man Christ Jesus, He, today, sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for the saints (Hebrews 7:25).
As He calls Himself, “…the bright and morning star.” He is once again reminding the human race that when He became man, He forever lost His expression of deity. He never, for a moment, lost His possession of deity, but the expression of His deity would be lost forever. And even though He became man, He never ceased to be the bright and morning star.
An Invitation to All Men to Be Saved – Revelation 22:17
This is the great invitation verse. Several things are said here that should be called to our attention:
1. First of all, this is a call to repentance, so The Holy Spirit closes out the great Canon of Scripture with the great clarion call to repentance. Little is heard today about repentance in our local churches. Very little is preached from most pulpits concerning this basic, foundational doctrine. Yet, it is the clarion call of The Holy Spirit and the bride.
2. This is the only time in the Word of God that The Holy Spirit is shown praying. It is a plea from the heart of God.
3. This passage, verse 17, shows the true heart of God. The heart of God is for people to be brought to The Lord Jesus Christ and to be saved. Everything else must be secondary. The priority in too many religious circles is anything but.
4. Not only does the Spirit say Come, but the bride says Come as well. We are talking about the redeemed of The Lord. Whenever the church makes every effort to win the lost, they are doing what is priority with The Holy Spirit.
5. Three classes are invited to come: those who hear, those who thirst, and those who will come.
6. Here, The Holy Spirit is telling us that it is no longer left up to God. It is left up to the individual. It is “…whosoever will,…” God has already made known His will. He is not willing that any should perish, so the responsibility is now with the individual.
7. Then, we are told that this great eternal life is free. It cannot be purchased. It comes by the grace and love of God. Man has
no choice about coming into the world. But after he is here and old enough to be responsible, he is held accountable for
his salvation or damnation. In over 4,000 Scriptures in the Word of God, where the words “choose" or “will” and other
similar words are used, not one suggests that God forces any man to accept Him and do His will. Man’s relationship with
God is entirely on a voluntary basis. No man, recognizing that endless decisions are necessary to daily life, can deny the
fact of free acts and conduct. For, he knows that he has freedom of action, that is, moral action concerning right and wrong,
and that he is responsible to God for his every act. If one can deny these facts, he can deny his very existence and prove it
on the same basis he tries to prove that he is not a free moral agent. He is free to choose his own destiny in daily moral
actions.
A Warning to All Men – Revelation 22:18-19
The solemn warning in the above passages applies not only to the Book of Revelation but to all the Bible. One cannot change God’s eternal Word and escape His judgment. One cannot add to it or take from it without having what is stated in verses 18 and 19 literally fulfilled in his or her case. The Scripture plainly tells us that the names that have once been placed in the book of life can be taken out according to Exodus 32:32-33; Psalms 69:20-29; Revelation 3:5. So, the unscriptural teaching of unconditional eternal security is blown away. Not only by many other passages, but especially by this passage. Yes, there is eternal security for those who remain in Christ, but that security is not unconditional. It is conditional upon man following The Lord (John 3:16).
Conclusion and Benediction of Revelation and of the Whole Bible – Revelation 22:20-21
The last promise in Scripture concerns the Second Coming of The Lord Jesus Christ to earth. Surely, this helps us to understand that this is one of the most important doctrines of The Holy Bible. His Second Coming is referred to hundreds of times in both Testaments. When it comes to promises, some say that there are 33,000 promises in Scripture. There are not that many verses in the Bible. Actually, there are some 750 promises in the New Testament. But only about 250 separate the benefits due to the fact that many of the promises are repeated in different books. Some are not in the form of a promise, but the truths they contain make the basis of our claims for Gospel benefits, so they are listed as promises. The Canon of Scripture closes out with a promise, the coming of The Lord. John adds his statement to the “Amen” of The Holy Spirit by saying “…Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
The Holy Spirit could have ended the Canon of Scripture in any manner He desired. However, He chose to end the great Canon of Scripture by lifting up the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. What a blessing! It could have ended with judgment, but instead, it ended with grace. It could have ended with hell, but instead, it ended with Heaven. It could have ended with sin, but instead, it ended with salvation. For there is no other way for poor, mortal man to be saved than by the redemptive grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, the law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
And then then final word to the Great Plan of God, what else could it be? What else could it be? It has to be the word that will give acclaim to the Finished Work of Christ. It is done. It is finished, and thereby all of Heaven belong with the church, and all of mankind must say “Amen.”
The New Jerusalem
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
-symbolic of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39)
proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
-This “…water of life,…” is made possible by what Jesus did at The Cross, hence, the word “Lamb.”
2 In the midst of the street of it,
-proclaims that this “…pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,…” flows in the middle of this street of pure gold
and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life,
-The fruit of this tree of life must be eaten every month, and we’re speaking of the part of the population who do not have glorified bodies.
which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month:
-We have the number “twelve” again which signifies the government of God as it relates to the manner of eternal life. There are twelve different types of fruit, but we are not told what they are.
and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
-This pertains to the stopping of any type of sickness before it begins. As stated, the population on earth, which will never die and will not have glorified bodies, will need these things. These are they who were saved during the Kingdom Age and thereafter.
Rulers
3 And there shall be no more curse:
-A curse was placed on the earth at the fall. There will be no more curse because there will be no more sin.
but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it;
-The authority of rulership will be as great with God The Son as it is with God The Father. By the use of the word “Lamb”, we realize that all of this is made possible because of what Jesus did at The Cross.
and his servants shall serve him:
-The idea is that every believer in the Perfect Age will so love The Lord and The Lamb that they will gladly “…serve him:”
4 And they shall see his face;
-shows intimate relationship
and his name shall be in their foreheads.
-refers to ownership. We were bought “with a price” and that price was the blood of The Lamb.
5 And there shall be no night there;
-This speaks of the New Jerusalem only, for night and day will be in the balance of the earth forever.
and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light:
-presents the source of this light
and they shall reign for ever and ever.
-It has never been known for servants to “reign” like kings. However, these servants shall.
Alpha and Omega
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true:
-proclaimed in this fashion because many of the statements made are so absolutely astounding, they defy description
and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants
-The Greek word “aggelos” is translated “angel” but should have been translated “messenger.” We know this man is not an angel, nor is he Christ.
the things which must shortly be done.
-is not speaking of John’s day but rather the setting of the vision is a timeframe which has not come about even yet. It will take place immediately after the Rapture of The Church. From that point forward, which is meant here, we have “…the things which must shortly be done.” referring to the Great Tribulation.
7 Behold, I come quickly:
-has to do with the manner of His coming. When he does come, which will be at the height of the battle of Armageddon, it will be sudden, even immediate.
blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
-This is the only book in the world that gives a preview of the future. Every believer ought to study the book of Revelation as much as they do any other book in the entire Bible.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them.
-presents an impeccable witness
And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
-John, it seems, will make the same mistake twice.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not:
-presents the same words used by the previous man when John did the same thing (Revelation 19:10).
for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book:
-He, evidently, is one of the great prophets of the Old Testament who eagerly awaits the fulfillment of these prophecies as well.
worship God.
-includes both God The Father and God The Son
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book:
-refers to the fact that these things given in this book are meant to be known and understood. They are not to be hidden truths.
for the time is at hand.
-speaks of the immediate fulfillment of events which were to happen in consecutive order from John’s day to eternity. It began with the church age, which is now almost over, the Great Tribulation will follow, concluding with the Second Coming which will usher in the Kingdom Age followed by The Perfect Age.
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still:
-proclaims the fact that men are building up their destiny by the actions and habits of their lives
and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
-records that which The Spirit of God can bring about in a person’s life irrespective that they have been “unjust and morally filthy.” This is all done through The Cross and only through The Cross.
12 And, behold, I come quickly;
-is not meant to portray the “time” of His coming but rather the suddenness of His coming. The idea is that whatever we are at His coming, whenever that coming takes place, is what we will be forever.
and my reward is with me,
-The word “reward” can either be positive or negative.
to give every man according as his work shall be.
-Our faith, however placed, will produce a certain type of works. Only faith in The Cross is accepted.
13 I am Alpha and Omega,
-presents the first letter in the Greek alphabet (Alpha) and the last letter in the Greek alphabet (Omega). It is another way of saying, “the first and the last,” which includes all in between.
the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
-This does not mean Christ, as God, had a beginning, for He didn’t. It is speaking of whatever is in question. Christ is the beginning of all things and the end of all things.
Blessed
14 Blessed are they
-presents the seventh and last beatitude in the Book of Revelation
that do his commandments,
-should have been translated “who washed their robes in the Blood of The Lamb.” The Greek text used for the King James version of the Bible was the Textus Receptus. It is the text that Erasmus, the famous renaissance scholar, published in AD 1516. It was the first New Testament Greek text ever published. Since 1516, the world of scholarship and archaeology has discovered thousands of earlier Greek texts. By comparing these thousands of manuscripts, the scholars can easily ascertain the original text the apostle wrote.
that they may have right to the tree of life,
-proclaims the fact that this “right” can be obtained in only one way. “By washing our robes in the Blood of The Lamb.”
and may enter in through the gates into the city.
-proclaims the eternal abode of the redeemed. We shall enter that city by means of His grace which is The Cross of Christ.
15 For without are dogs (homosexuals), and sorcerers (witchcraft), and whoremongers (pertains to all type of immorality), and murderers (pertains not only to killing in cold blood but as well, murdering one’s reputation through gossip), and idolaters (pertains to placing anything above God or on par with God. Religion is the greatest idolatry of all), and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie (refers to anything that is untrue).
16 I Jesus
-This short phrase is found only here in Scripture emphasizing its importance. Christ is closing out the book of Revelation here, but most of all, He is testifying to the truth of what has been given.
have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.
-The word “angel” here means “messenger” and refers to the pastors of the respective churches in question and for all time.
I am the root and the offspring of David,
-is meant to project the incarnation of Christ
and the bright and morning star.
-The “…morning star.” speaks of a new beginning that any person can have irrespective of their present situation if they only look to Christ.
Invitation
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
-This presents the cry of The Holy Spirit to a hurting, lost, and dying world. What The Holy Spirit says should also be said by all believers.
And let him that heareth say, Come.
-It means if one can “hear” then one can “Come.”
And let him that is athirst come.
-speaks of spiritual thirst, the cry for God in the soul of man
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
-opens the door to every single individual in the world. Jesus died for all and, therefore, all can be saved if they will only come.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
-proclaims the inerrancy of the book of Revelation. In other words, John testifies that it is The Word of God.
If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
-proclaims the fact that changing the meaning of the prophecies in this book can bring upon one the judgment of God
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
-The idea is that the “…words of…this prophecy,…” should not be changed in any manner whether by addition or deletion.
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.\
-This is a warning given to believers and should be understood accordingly.
20 He which testifieth these things
-proclaims the fact that the office of the Messiah as Savior is repeated again and again throughout the prophecy. He is The Lamb Who was slain, and His blood washes from sin and alone makes fit for entrance into the eternal city.
saith, Surely I come quickly.
-leaves the promise to come as the last message from The Lord Jesus to the believers’ hearts, and on this sweet note, the prophecy ends
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
-proclaims the answer of the true church to the promise of Christ regarding the Second Coming
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
-presents John using the very words of Paul in his closing benediction. Christ is the source, and The Cross is the means.
be with you all. Amen.
-This proclaims that it is the same message for all and is available to all. The word “Amen” closes out the book of Revelation and in fact, the entire Canon of Scripture which took about 1600 years to bring forth in its entirety. It gives a claim to the Finished Work of Christ. It is done. It is finished. Thereby, all of Heaven, along with all the redeemed must say, “Amen.”
The Book of Revelation
Chapter 22
Revelation
Chapter 22
Key:
Scripture is in BLACK FONT
Words of Jesus in RED FONT
Notes in BLUE FONT