Revelation Chapter 22 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 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.
2 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.
3 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:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 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.
6 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.
Revelation Chapter 22 (New Testament)
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8 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.
9 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.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11 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.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Revelation Chapter 22 (New Testament)
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 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.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 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.
17 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.
18 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:
19 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.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
| Greek Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ποταμός — potamos | Verse 1 — “…a river of water of life…” | “River,” flowing stream. | Potamos (“river”) represents abundant divine life (“river”). It flows from God and the Lamb together. The term expresses unending spiritual vitality. — Philip Schaff, Commentary on Revelation (1882) |
| ξύλον — xylon | Verse 2 — “…the tree of life…” | “Tree,” wood. | Xylon (“tree”) recalls Eden’s lost blessing (“tree”). Its restoration signals redeemed immortality. The term frames salvation as restored paradise. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary (1884) |
| θεραπεία — therapeia | Verse 2 — “…for the healing of the nations.” | “Healing,” restoration. | Therapeia (“healing”) denotes renewal and wellbeing (“healing”). It reverses the curse’s effects. The term conveys comprehensive restoration. — Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon (1889) |
| κατάθεμα — katathema | Verse 3 — “…no more curse…” | “Curse,” ban. | Katathema (“curse”) indicates divine banishment (“curse”). Its removal marks full redemption. The term contrasts fall and restoration. — Richard Trench, Synonyms of the NT (1896) |
| δοῦλος — doulos | Verse 3 — “…His servants shall serve Him…” | “Servant,” bond-servant. | Doulos (“servant”) expresses willing devotion (“servant/slave”). Service is joyful participation in God’s reign. The term signifies honor, not bondage. — B. F. Westcott, Epistles of St. John (1883) |
| ὄψονται — opsontai | Verse 4 — “…they shall see His face…” | “See,” behold. | Opsontai (“to see”) signifies direct, intimate vision (“behold”). Believers enjoy full communion with God. The term fulfills all prophetic longing. — Richard Trench, Commentary on the Seven Churches (1861) |
| μακάριος — makarios | Verse 7 — “Blessed is he that keepeth…” | “Blessed,” spiritually favored. | Makarios (“blessed”) affirms covenant reward (“blessed”). Obedience manifests genuine faith. The term anchors Revelation’s pastoral purpose. — Joseph Thayer, Lexicon (1889) |
| προφητεία — prophēteia | Verse 10 — “…the prophecy of this book…” | “Prophecy,” inspired message. | Prophēteia (“prophecy”) signifies divine revelation (“prophecy”). It is meant for public proclamation. The term stresses urgency of understanding. — Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church (1890) |
| προστίθημι — prostithēmi | Verse 18 — “…add unto these things…” | “Add,” place upon. | Prostithēmi (“to add”) warns against altering Scripture (“add”). It protects divine revelation. The term upholds canonical completeness. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary (1884) |
| ἔρχομαι — erchomai | Verse 20 — “…Surely I come quickly…” | “Come,” arrive. | Erchomai (“to come”) conveys imminent return (“come”). Christ promises decisive intervention. The term closes Scripture with hope. — Richard C. Trench, Synonyms of the NT (1896) |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar | Work | View on Chapter 22 |
|---|---|---|
| R. H. Charles (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1855–1931) | The Revelation of St. John | The chapter concludes with a vision of eternal life, divine presence, and the call to holiness. |
| Adolf von Harnack (University of Berlin, Germany, 1851–1930) | History of Dogma | Harnack interprets the final exhortations as emphasizing moral responsibility and the certainty of divine promise. |
| A. T. Robertson (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, United States, 1863–1934) | Word Pictures in the New Testament | Robertson stresses the literary and theological significance of the river of life and the repeated call to readiness. |
| Alfred Plummer (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1841–1926) | A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St. John | Plummer highlights the chapter’s focus on spiritual vigilance and ethical conduct. |
| William Rainey Harper (University of Chicago, United States, 1856–1906) | Hebrew Bible Studies | Harper notes the chapter concludes the book with both prophetic vision and pastoral instruction. |
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Revelation Chapter 22
Revelation 22:20 - "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"
Lesson:
Revelation chapter 22 concludes the book of Revelation with a vision of the new heaven and new earth. In this chapter, we see the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, and the tree of life on either side of the river. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations, and there will be no more curse in the new creation. The Lord Jesus declares that He is coming soon, and John responds with a heartfelt cry of "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"
What's Next? Read Our Bible Verses About Life With Purpose and Encouragement
The lesson we can learn from this chapter is that the ultimate destiny of God's people is to dwell with Him forever in a new creation where there is no more sin, suffering, or death. The promise of the return of Christ should motivate us to live holy and godly lives, eagerly awaiting His coming and sharing the Gospel message with others.
Conclusion:
Revelation chapter 22 provides a glimpse of the ultimate hope of the Christian faith. We are encouraged to press on in faith, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. We can take comfort in the knowledge that our Lord is coming soon to make all things new, and that in the new creation we will enjoy His presence forever.
Prayer points:
l Thank God for the hope we have in Christ, and for the promise of a new creation where there will be no more sin, suffering, or death.
l Ask for strength to live holy and godly lives, pleasing to Him.
l Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel message with others, so that they too may know the hope of eternal life in Christ.
l Pray for the return of Christ, that He may come soon and make all things new.
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