Revelationchapter 22
21 verses · John, by tradition · AD 95 or 96 · Revelation
Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
Introduction
John, by tradition, Revelation, Revelation Overview.
This is the last chapter of the Bible, and John wrote it as the close of a book sent to seven churches in Asia. The first verses finish the vision of the city, and the rest gathers up the whole book with promises, warnings and a blessing. Several voices speak in turn, and a careful reader asks at each line who is speaking. Listen for the promise of coming soon and count how often it returns. Listen too for the garden of the Bible's first chapters. Read it as the book's last word to people who must wait.
Context
- Who
- The seven churches, being told what to do on Monday morning
- What
- The river of the water of life and the tree of life in the city, then the epilogue of the book: its words confirmed, Jesus' promise to come soon, an invitation and a warning.
- Where
- Received on the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, and written for seven churches of the Roman province of Asia, in the west of modern Turkey.
- When
- Most date the book about AD 95, late in the reign of the emperor Domitian, and some date it to the late 60s under Nero.
- Why
- To confirm that the visions are true, to call the churches to keep the words of the book and to worship God alone, and to hold out the water of life to anyone who is thirsty.
Historical context
The Bible ends where it began, and on purpose. Genesis opens with a garden, a river, and a tree of life that people are shut out from; Revelation closes with a river, a tree of life bearing twelve crops, and leaves for the healing of the nations, and the words "there shall be no more curse."
Show the rest of the historical context, 4 more paragraphs
Water in an ancient city was life and status. Aqueducts were engineering trophies, and a city's water told you how it lived, a point the letter to Laodicea already made. Here the water comes clear as crystal out of the throne itself, and it is free.
The book closes with a written warning against adding to or taking from its words. That was a recognized convention: ancient documents and treaties often ended with a curse on anyone who tampered with the text, and copying was done by hand by people who could, deliberately or not, change things.
Three times in this chapter Jesus says, "I come quickly." The response is a single word that was already in use among Aramaic-speaking Christians, Paul writes something like it at the end of 1 Corinthians, meaning "our Lord, come."
And the last invitation is wide open: the Spirit and the bride say Come, whoever hears says Come, whoever is thirsty may come, and whoever will may take the water of life freely.
Significance
After twenty-two chapters of beasts, bowls, and thrones, the final instruction to the seven churches is not a strategy or a date. It is: worship God, keep the words of this book, and stay ready, because He is coming soon.
Show the rest of the significance, 1 more paragraph
For congregations facing another week of pressure in Ephesus or Sardis, "surely I come quickly" was not a puzzle to solve. It was the reason to hold on until Sunday, and the reason the last words of the whole Bible are a prayer and a blessing rather than a threat.
The heads below are this chapter's scenes. The numbered points under each are its verses.
The River, the Tree, and They Shall See His Face
Revelation 22:1-2
the water of life: The angel shows a river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, as in Ezekiel 47:1-12. On either side stood a tree of life, barred since Genesis 3:24 and promised at 2:7, and its leaves are for the healing.
Revelation 22:1
“And he showed me a river of the water of life - The ever fresh and fruitful effluence of the Holy Ghost. See Ezek. xlvii, 1-12; where also the trees are mentioned which "bear fruit every month," that is, perpetually. Proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb - "All that the Father hath," saith the Son of God, "is mine;" even the throne of his glory.”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
1 more voice on this verseWhat preachers and commentators have said about this verse, in their own words.
Revelation 22:1
“This river is described, 1. By its fountain-head-- the throne of God and the Lamb. All our springs of grace, comfort, and glory, are in God; and all our streams from him are through the mediation of the Lamb.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
ConnectionsEzekiel 47:1, Genesis 2:9
a tree of life: The tree barred to Adam at Genesis 3:24 now stands open by the river. Adam Clarke and John Wesley read the one tree as many trees lining both banks, as Ezekiel 47:12 also describes. Its leaves heal the nations.
Revelation 22:2
“In the midst of the street of it - That is, of the city which was described in the preceding chapter. The tree of life - An allusion to Gen 2:9. As this tree of life is stated to be in the streets of the city, and on each side of the river, tree must here be an enallage of the singular for the plural number, trees of life, or trees which yielded fruit by which life was preserved.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
2 more voices on this verse
Revelation 22:2
“In the midst of the street - Here is the paradise of God, mentioned, chap. ii, 7. Is the tree of life - Not one tree only, but many. Every month - That is, in inexpressible abundance.”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
Revelation 22:2
“But compare Eze 47:12, the millennial type of the final Paradise; which shows that there are several trees of the one kind, all termed "the tree of life." Death reigns now because of sin; even in the millennial earth sin, and therefore death, though much limited, shall not altogether cease.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
ConnectionsEzekiel 47:12, Genesis 3:24
Revelation 22:3-4
will there be any curse: No longer will there be any curse answers the curse on the ground at Genesis 3:17. They will see His face, which Moses was refused at Exodus 33:20, and His name will be on their foreheads, set against the mark.
Revelation 22:3
“God can only dwell where the curse and its cause, the cursed thing sin (Jos 7:12), are removed. So there follows rightly, "But the throne of God and of the Lamb (who redeemed us from the curse, Ga 3:10, 13) shall be in it." Compare in the millennium, Eze 48:35. serve him--with worship (Re 7:15).”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
They will see His face: Moses was told at Exodus 33:20 that no one could see God's face and live. Here His servants see it, which Adam Clarke calls the beatific vision, the sight of God Himself. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown add that the Father is seen in Christ.
Revelation 22:4
“See his face - Enjoy what is called the beatific vision; and they shall exhibit the fullest evidence that they belong entirely to him, for his name shall be written on their foreheads.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
1 more voice on this verse
Revelation 22:4
“God the Father can only be seen in Christ. in--Greek, "on their foreheads." Not only shall they personally and in secret (Re 3:17) know their sonship, but they shall be known as sons of God to all the citizens of the new Jerusalem, so that the free flow of mutual love among the members of Christ's family will not be checked by suspicion as here.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
they will reign forever and ever: There will be no more night, for the Lord God will shine on them, the promise of 21:23, and they will reign forever and ever. The promise to the overcomer at 2:26 and 3:21 reaches its final form, beyond the thousand years of chapter 20.
Revelation 22:5
“And there shall be no night there - notes on Rev 21:25. And they need no candle - No lamp; no artificial light, as in a world where there is night and darkness. Neither light of the sun; for the Lord God, ... - See the notes on Rev 21:23. And they shall reign forever and ever - That is, with God; they shall be as kings. See the notes on Rev 5:10; Rev 20:6. Compare the Rom 8:16 note; 2Ti 2:11-12 note.”
1 more voice on this verse
Revelation 22:5
But A reads, "shall give light." them--so B and ANDREAS. But A reads, "upon them." reign--with a glory probably transcending that of their reign in heaven with Christ over the millennial nations in the flesh described in Re 20:4, 6; that reign was but for a limited time, "a thousand years"; this final reign is "unto the ages of the ages."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
ConnectionsGenesis 1:5, Isaiah 60:20, Revelation 11:15
Faithful and True: Seal Not the Words of This Book
faithful and true: The angel affirms the vision with the double word used of Christ at 19:11: These words are faithful and true. Their source is the God of the spirits of the prophets, and what must soon take place repeats the opening words of 1:1.
Revelation 22:6
But A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic read, "(the Lord God of the) spirits (of the prophets)." The Lord God who with His Spirit inspired their spirits so as to be able to prophesy. There is but one Spirit, but individual prophets, according to the measure given them (1Co 12:4-11), had their own spirits [BENGEL] (1Pe 1:11; 2Pe 1:21). be done--Greek, "come to pass."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Behold, I am coming soon is the third of the book's five sayings of His coming (1:7, 3:11, 22:7, 22:12, 22:20). Here it carries the book's seventh beatitude: Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.
Revelation 22:7
“Behold, I come quickly,.... These are the words not of the angel, but of Christ, as is manifest from Rev 22:12 and which are to be understood not of Christ's coming in his power to destroy Jerusalem, for this was past when John had these visions, and wrote this book; but of the second and personal coming of Christ to judgment, as is clear from Rev 22:12 which though it will not be sooner than the time appointed, yet will be as soon as that time is come, and sooner than is generally expected by men.”
1 more voice on this verse
Revelation 22:7
“Behold, I come quickly - See the notes on Rev 1:3. The words used here are undoubtedly the words of the Redeemer, although they are apparently repeated by the angel. The meaning is, that they were used by the angel as the words of the Redeemer. See Rev 22:12, Rev 22:20. Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book - That receives them as a divine communication; that makes use of them to comfort himself in the days of darkness, persecution, and trial; and that is obedient to the precepts here enjoined.”
ConnectionsRevelation 1:3
Revelation 22:8-9
I fell down to worship: John fell down to worship at the feet of the angel, who refuses him as at 19:10, with the same words: Worship God. The angel ranks himself as a fellow servant with John and his brothers the prophets.
Revelation 22:8
“I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel - The very same words which occur, chap. xix, 10. The reproof of the angel, likewise, See thou do it not, for I am thy fellowservant, is expressed in the very same terms as before. May it not be the very same incident which is here related again?”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
1 more voice on this verse
Revelation 22:8
“Both here and in Re 19:9, 10, the apostle's falling at the feet of the angel is preceded by a glorious promise to the Church, accompanied with the assurance, that "These are the true sayings of God," and that those are "blessed" who keep them.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
The angel refuses worship, here and at 19:10. He ranks himself with John and the prophets as a fellow servant. Athanasius argues the angels worship the Son as one beyond all the creatures, so the worship this angel refuses is the worship due to Christ.
Revelation 22:9
“Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not - See the notes on Rev 19:10. For I am thy fellow-servant - notes on Rev 19:10. And of thy brethren the prophets - In Rev 19:10, it is “of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus.” Here the angel says that, in the capacity in which he appeared to John, he belonged to the general rank of the prophets, and was no more entitled to worship than any of the prophets had been.”
2 more voices on this verse
Revelation 22:9
“The Father shows [the Son] to be his own proper and only Son, saying, "You are my Son," and "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Accordingly the angels ministered to him, as being one beyond themselves; and they worship him, not as being greater in glory but as being some one beyond all the creatures, and beyond themselves, and alone the Father's proper Son according to essence. For if he was worshiped as excelling them in glory, each of the things subservient ought to worship what excels itself.”
Athanasius of Alexandria · written before 373 · Discourses Against the Arians 2.23patristic
Revelation 22:9
Contrast the fallen angel's temptation to Jesus, "Fall down and worship me" (Mt 4:9). for--A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, ANDREAS, and CYPRIAN omit "for"; which accords with the abrupt earnestness of the angel's prohibition of an act derogatory to God. and of--"and (the fellow servant) of thy brethren."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
seal up the words of prophecy: Do not seal up the words of prophecy reverses the command to Daniel to seal his book until the time of the end (Daniel 12:4). The reason given is that the time is near.
Revelation 22:10
“Seal not--But in Da 12:4, 9 (compare Da 8:26), the command is, "Seal the book," for the vision shall be "for many days." The fulfilment of Daniel's prophecy was distant, that of John's prophecy is near. The New Testament is the time of the end and fulfilment.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
1 more voice on this verse
Revelation 22:10
“Seal not the sayings - Do not lay them up for future generations; they concern the present times; they must shortly come to pass, for the time is at hand. See above, Rev 22:6. What concerned the Jews was certainly at hand.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
continue to be unrighteous: Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous sets two pairs against each other, the unrighteous and the vile against the righteous and the holy. The words describe a condition fixed at the end, as the door was shut on the foolish virgins at Matthew 25:10.
Revelation 22:11
“He that is unrighteous - As if he had said, The final judgment is at hand; after which the condition of all mankind will admit of no change forever. Unrighteous - Unjustified.”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
1 more voice on this verse
Revelation 22:11
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still - This must refer to the scenes beyond the judgment, and must be intended to affirm an important truth in regard to the condition of people in the future state. It cannot refer to the condition of human beings on this side the grave, for there is no fixed and unchangeable condition in this world.”
Behold, I Come Quickly: Come, Lord Jesus
Revelation 22:12-13
My reward is with Me: Behold, I am coming soon comes a fourth time, to give to each one according to what he has done, the standard of 20:12-13. The Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End gathers 1:8, 1:17 and 21:6.
Revelation 22:12
But A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and CYPRIAN omit it. behold, I come quickly--(Compare Re 22:7). my reward is with me-- (Isa 40:10; 62:11). to give--Greek, "to render." every man--Greek, "to each." shall be--so B in MAI. But B in TISCHENDORF, and A, Syriac, read, "is."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
1 more voice on this verse
Revelation 22:12
“And, behold, I come quickly,..... This is repeated, to confirm the truth of Christ's second coming, and the speediness of it, and to point at the time when the above shall be, and to add what follows. And my reward is with me: which words are taken out of Isa 40:10 and which being compared together, furnish out a clear proof of Christ being the true Jehovah, the eternal God.”
the First and the Last: Jesus gathers these titles into one. God used the Alpha and the Omega of Himself at 1:8 and 21:6, and Jesus called Himself the First and the Last at 1:17.
Revelation 22:13
“I am Alpha and Omega ... - See the notes on Rev 1:8, Rev 1:11. The idea here is, that he will thus show that he is the first and the last - the beginning and the end. He originated the whole plan of salvation, and he will determine its close; he formed the world, and he will wind up its affairs. In the beginning, the continuance, and the end, he will be recognized as the same being presiding over and controlling all.”
2 more voices on this verse
Revelation 22:13
“I am Alpha and Omega,.... See Gill on Rev 1:8. These characters are all put together here, which are before used in Rev 1:8 and are very pertinently mentioned in this place, when all promises and prophecies, relating to the glorious kingdom of Christ, were just finishing, and that itself was ready to appear, in which Christ alone should be exalted, the mystery of God would be completed, and time itself be no more. The Ethiopic version adds, "the beginning and end of days", or time. A testimony this, of the deity, eternity, infinity, and perfection of Christ.”
Revelation 22:13
“I am Alpha--Greek, ". . . the Alpha and the Omega." A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, ORIGEN, and CYPRIAN transpose thus, "the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." ANDREAS supports English Version.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
ConnectionsIsaiah 44:6, Revelation 1:8
Revelation 22:14-15
enter the city by its gates: Blessed are those who wash their robes follows early manuscripts; the Textus Receptus behind the King James has a similar-sounding phrase about keeping His commandments. The washed robe recalls 7:14, and the list of those outside repeats 21:8 and 21:27.
Revelation 22:14
“Blessed are they that do his commandments - They are happy who are obedient. That they may have right to the tree of life - The original is much more expressive, Ἱνα εσται ἡ εξουσια αυτων επι το ξυλον της ζωης· That they may have authority over the tree of life; an authority founded on right, this right founded on obedience to the commandments of God, and that obedience produced by the grace of God working in them.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
2 more voices on this verse
Revelation 22:14
“Inserting thus the particle of present time, "And now," He shows that He had made for a time, and at present, a prolongation of man's life. Therefore He did not actually curse Adam and Eve, for they were candidates for restoration, and they had been relieved by confession.”
Tertullian · written before 220 · Against Marcion Book IIpatristic
Revelation 22:14
“This reading takes away the pretext for the notion of salvation by works. But even English Version reading is quite compatible with salvation by grace; for God's first and grand Gospel "commandment" is to believe on Jesus. Thus our "right" to (Greek, "privilege" or "lawful authority over") the tree of life is due not to our doings, but to what He has done for us.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
outside are the dogs: Albert Barnes takes the dog, an unclean animal in Israel, as a figure for the vile, citing Deuteronomy 23:18 and Philippians 3:2. The rest of the list repeats 21:8. Outside stands against the open gates of verse 14.
Revelation 22:15
“For without are dogs - The wicked, the depraved, the vile: for of such characters the dogs, an unclean animal among the Jews, was regarded as a symbol, Deu 23:18. On the meaning of the expression, see the notes on Php 3:2. The word “without” means that they would not be admitted into the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, Rev 21:8, Rev 21:27. And sorcerers, ... - All these characters are specified in Rev 21:8, as excluded from heaven. See the notes on that verse.”
1 more voice on this verse
Revelation 22:15
“For without are dogs,.... That is, without the holy city are such persons who are comparable to dogs for their filthiness, impudence, and voraciousness, as are persecutors, heretics, and apostates, Mat 7:6. Some think Sodomites are intended, as in Deu 23:18. So Abarbinel and others interpret the law; and who abound in the Roman jurisdiction, called therefore Sodom, Rev 11:8 and indeed all wicked men, who will be cast out into outer darkness, may be signified hereby.”
I, Jesus, have sent My angel names the speaker plainly, and He calls Himself the Root and the Offspring of David. The bright Morning Star answers the promise at 2:28 and the star of Balaam in Numbers 24:17.
Revelation 22:16
“Am the root - And source of David's family and kingdom; as man, an descended from his loins. "I am the star out of Jacob," Num. xxiv, 17; like the bright morning star, who put an end to the night of ignorance, sin, and sorrow, and usher in an eternal day of light, purity, and joy.”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
ConnectionsIsaiah 11:1, Isaiah 11:10, Numbers 24:17
The Spirit and the bride say: Come; the call passes to the one who hears and to the one who is thirsty. The water of life offered freely is the spring of 21:6 and the water Christ offered at John 4:14.
Revelation 22:17
“It is confirmed by an open and general invitation to all to come and partake of the promises and privileges of the gospel, those streams of the water of life; these are tendered to all who feel in their souls a thirst which nothing in this world can quench.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
3 more voices on this verse
Revelation 22:17
“Since therefore we have such proofs, it is not necessary to seek the truth among others which it is easy to obtain from the Church; since the apostles, like a rich man [depositing his money] in a bank, lodged in her hands most copiously all things pertaining to the truth: so that every man, whosoever will, can draw from her the water of life. For she is the entrance to life; all others are thieves and robbers.”
Irenaeus · written before 202 · Against Heresies Book IIIpatristic
Revelation 22:17
“THE CRY OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION is the simple word, “Come.” The Jewish law said, “Go, and take heed unto thy steps as to the path in which thou shalt walk. Go, and break the commandments, and thou shalt perish; Go, and keep them, and thou shalt live.” The law was a dispensation of the whip, which drove men before it; the gospel is just of the opposite kind. It is the Shepherds dispensation. He goeth before his sheep, and he bids them follow him, saying unto them, “Come.” The law repels; the gospel attracts.”
Revelation 22:17
“There is a descending climax; Let him that heareth effectually and savingly Christ's voice, pray individually, as the Bride, the Church, does collectively, "Come, Lord Jesus" (Re 22:20). Let him who, though not yet having actually heard unto salvation, and so not yet able to join in the prayer, "Lord Jesus, come, "still thirsts for it, come to Christ.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
ConnectionsGenesis 2:24, Isaiah 12:3
Revelation 22:18-19
the plagues described in this book: The warning against adding or taking away echoes Deuteronomy 4:2 and Proverbs 30:6. If anyone adds, God will add to him the plagues described in this book; whoever takes away loses his share in the tree of life.
Revelation 22:18
“If any man shall add - Shall give any other meaning to these prophecies, or any other application of them than God intends, he, though not originally intended, shall have the plagues threatened in this book for his portion.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
2 more voices on this verse
Revelation 22:18
“In the gospel, moreover, I discover a Minister and Witness of the Creator, even His Word. But whether all things were made out of any underlying Matter, I have as yet failed anywhere to find. Where such a statement is written, Hermogenes' shop must tell us. If it is nowhere written, then let it fear the woe which impends on all who add to or take away from the written word.”
Tertullian · written before 220 · Against Hermogenespatristic
Revelation 22:18
“For I testify--None of our manuscripts have this. A, B, Vulgate, and ANDREAS read, "I" emphatic in the Greek. "I testify." unto these things--A, B, and ANDREAS read, "unto them." add . . . add--just retribution in kind.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Note on the text · Revelation 22:19
The KJV's "book of life" at the very end of Revelation is not found in any Greek manuscript; it entered the printed Bible because Erasmus's only copy of Revelation was missing its final leaves and he translated the ending back from Latin.
The witnesses, and what each reads here
- The Greek manuscripts of Revelation · 4th, 15th centuries, all of them"the tree of life", without known exception in Greek.
- The Latin Vulgate tradition · 4th century onward"the book of life", a Latin variation that never had Greek support.
- Erasmus's printed Greek New Testament of 1516 · 1516"the book of life," retranslated by Erasmus from the Latin because his single Greek manuscript of Revelation lacked its closing leaves.
- The immediate context, in every witness · All periodsVerse 19 goes on to say "and out of the holy city", a pairing with the tree standing in the city of Revelation 22:2, which is what makes "tree" the reading the sentence is built around.
his share in the tree of life: The warning echoes Deuteronomy 4:2, where Moses forbids adding to the law or taking from it. The book opens at 1:3 with a blessing and closes by warning that anyone who takes away loses his share in the tree of life.
Revelation 22:19
“And if any man shall take away from the prophecy of this book,.... As he may be said to do, who denies the authority of this book, which has been done by some, and which the Holy Ghost foresaw; or takes it away from, or denies the reading of it to the people, as the Papists do with respect to the whole Scripture; and who wilfully pervert the sense of it, and will not have the things in it, relating to antichrist, to belong to him.”
2 more voices on this verse
Revelation 22:19
“But A, B, Aleph, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS omit "and"; then "which are written in this book" will refer to "the holy city and the tree of life." As in the beginning of this book (Re 1:3) a blessing was promised to the devout, obedient student of it, so now at its close a curse is denounced against those who add to, or take from, it.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Revelation 22:19
“And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy - If he shall reject the book altogether; if he shall, in transcribing it, designedly strike any part of it out.”
Come, Lord Jesus!: Yes, I am coming soon is the fifth of the book's sayings of His coming, and John answers with Amen and Come, Lord Jesus. The prayer is Paul's Aramaic Maranatha at 1 Corinthians 16:22, now closing the canon in Greek.
Revelation 22:20
“A, B, and Aleph omit "Even so," Greek, "nai": then translate for Amen, "So be it, come, Lord Jesus"; joining the "Amen," or "So be it," not with Christ's saying (for He calls Himself the "Amen" at the beginning of sentences, rather than puts it as a confirmation at the end), but with John's reply.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
2 more voices on this verse
Revelation 22:20
“He that testifieth these things - Even all that is contained in this book. Saith - For the encouragement of the church in all her afflictions. Yea - Answering the call of the Spirit and the bride.”
John Wesley · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)evangelical
Revelation 22:20
“Surely I come quickly - This may be truly said to every person in every age; Jesus the Judge is at the door! Even so, come, Lord Jesus - The wish and desire of the suffering Church, and of all the followers of God, who are longing for the coming of his kingdom.”
Adam Clarke · Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
The grace of the Lord Jesus: be with all the saints closes Revelation as Paul closed his letters, with a benediction. The last word, Amen, ends the whole of Scripture.
Revelation 22:21
“The apostolical benediction, which closes the whole: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen. The Bible ends with a clear proof of the Godhead of Christ, since the Spirit of God teaches the apostle to bless his people in the name of Christ, and to beg from Christ a blessing for them, which is a proper act of adoration.”
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
2 more voices on this verse
Revelation 22:21
“Amen--so B, Aleph, and ANDREAS. A and Vulgate Fuldensis omit it. May the Blessed Lord who has caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, bless this humble effort to make Scripture expound itself, and make it an instrument towards the conversion of sinners and the edification of saints, to the glory of His great name and the hastening of His kingdom!”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Revelation 22:21
“THE first saints could never be long without speaking of their Lord and Savior. He filled their hearts and, therefore, they must necessarily speak of Him. How ingeniously they bring Him in! When they commence an Epistle, the salutation will be sure to bear His name. When they are in the midst of a letter, they lay down their pen and offer a prayer. And when they begin, again, it is with a benediction in which His name is prominent, or with a doxology ascribing glory unto Him, with the Father and with the Holy Spirit.”
How this psalm is built
The form: The end of the last vision at 22:1 to 5, then the epilogue at 22:6 to 21: the angel affirms the words at 6 to 11, Jesus confirms them at 12 to 17, and John warns against changing them and closes with the blessing at 18 to 21, as Clarke classes it.
The patterns in this chapter
| Device | What it does | Where to see it |
|---|---|---|
| I am coming soon, three times | Jesus says that He is coming soon at verses 7, 12 and 20. The second time He adds His reward, and the third time John answers with a prayer for His coming. John Gill reads the repetition as a confirmation of the truth of the second coming and of its speed.John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament, on Revelation 22:12. | Revelation 22:7, Revelation 22:12, Revelation 22:20 |
| The garden restored | The Bible opens with a river and the tree of life in Eden, and the tree was barred after the curse of Genesis 3. It closes with a river, the tree of life beside it, and no more curse. Adam Clarke reads the tree of verse 2 as an allusion to Genesis 2:9.Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible, on Revelation 22:2. | Revelation 22:2, Revelation 22:3, Revelation 22:14, Revelation 22:19 |
| John at the angel's feet a second time | John falls to worship the angel at 19:10 and again at 22:8, and both times the angel refuses and tells him to worship God. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that each fall follows a great promise and the word that the sayings are true. John Wesley asks whether the same event is told twice.Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871, on Revelation 22:8. | Revelation 19:10, Revelation 22:8, Revelation 22:9 |
| Come, said four ways | In verse 17 the Spirit and the bride say come, the hearer is told to say come, and the thirsty are told to come and drink. In verse 20 John prays for the Lord Jesus to come. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read verse 17 as a descending climax, from the church's prayer to the invitation to the one who only thirsts.Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871, on Revelation 22:17. | Revelation 22:17, Revelation 22:20 |
The structure
5 more paragraphs on the patterns
Verses 1 to 5 finish the vision begun at 21:1, with the river, the tree of life, the throne and the servants who see God's face. Verses 6 to 21 are the epilogue. The angel affirms the words at 6 to 11, Jesus speaks at 12 to 17, and John warns and blesses at 18 to 21. Several voices speak in turn, and the reader tells them apart by what each says: the angel refuses worship, Jesus names Himself, and John answers with a prayer.
The debate
Readers differ on how soon is soon. John Gill reads verse 7 of the second and personal coming of Christ, sooner than people expect. Adam Clarke reads the time at hand in verse 10 of events that concerned the Jews of that day. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown hold that the whole New Testament age is the time of the end. Albert Barnes reads verse 11 of the state of people after the judgment, when character is fixed.
The text
At verse 14 the Berean reads those who wash their robes, and the King James Version reads those who do His commandments, following different manuscripts. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown say the reading of washed robes removes any pretext for salvation by works, and that the other reading also agrees with salvation by grace. At verse 19 the Berean reads a share in the tree of life, where the King James Version reads the book of life. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown record the older manuscripts at verses 12, 18, 19, 20 and 21.
This site records the readings below for this chapter. Spelling and word-order differences that change no meaning are passed over.
- "Book of life" or "tree of life", and the missing last page Revelation 22:19, at the verse ↑
Keep studying
Studies40
- Creation to New Creation
- Trees of Scripture
- Taw: The Mark of God
- Alpha and Omega
- Son of David
- Root of David / Lion of Judah
Show the next 6 titles
Show the next 6 titles
Words12
Subjects3
Sources for this chapter
The summary
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary.
The context
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, An Exposition of the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
The form and classifications
Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible, on Revelation 22:6 and Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871, on Revelation 22:19.
The exposition
Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes; Athanasius of Alexandria, Discourses Against the Arians 2.23; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.