The Source of Life

22 Then he showed me the river[a] of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb(A) down the middle of the broad street of the city. The tree of life[b] was on both sides of the river, bearing 12 kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month.(B) The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, and there will no longer be any curse.(C) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city,[c] and His slaves will serve Him. They will see His face,(D) and His name will be on their foreheads.(E) Night will no longer exist,(F) and people will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.

The Time Is Near

Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.(G) And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets,[d] has sent His angel to show His slaves what must quickly take place.”[e](H)

“Look, I am coming quickly!(I) The one who keeps the prophetic words of this book is blessed.”(J)

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow slave with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”(K) 10 He also said to me, “Don’t seal the prophetic words of this book, because the time is near.(L) 11 Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy go on being made filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; and let the holy go on being made holy.”(M)

12 “Look! I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me(N) to repay each person according to what he has done.(O) 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega,(P) the First and the Last,(Q) the Beginning and the End.(R)

14 “Blessed(S) are those who wash their robes,[f] so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.(T)

16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to attest these things to you[g] for the churches. I am the Root(U) and the Offspring of David,(V) the Bright Morning Star.”(W)

17 Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Anyone who hears should say, “Come!” And the one who is thirsty should come. Whoever desires should take the living water as a gift.(X)

18 I testify to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, written in this book.(Y)

20 He who testifies about these things(Z) says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!(AA)

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus[h] be with all the saints.[i] Amen.[j]

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 22:1 Other mss read pure river
  2. Revelation 22:2 Or was a tree of life, or was a tree that gives life
  3. Revelation 22:3 Lit in it
  4. Revelation 22:6 Other mss read God of the holy prophets
  5. Revelation 22:6 Or soon
  6. Revelation 22:14 Other mss read who keep His commands
  7. Revelation 22:16 In Gk, you is pl
  8. Revelation 22:21 Other mss add Christ
  9. Revelation 22:21 Other mss omit the saints
  10. Revelation 22:21 Other mss omit Amen.

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river(A) of the water of life,(B) as clear as crystal,(C) flowing(D) from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life,(E) bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.(F) No longer will there be any curse.(G) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.(H) They will see his face,(I) and his name will be on their foreheads.(J) There will be no more night.(K) They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.(L) And they will reign for ever and ever.(M)

John and the Angel

The angel said to me,(N) “These words are trustworthy and true.(O) The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets,(P) sent his angel(Q) to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

“Look, I am coming soon!(R) Blessed(S) is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”(T)

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.(U) And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet(V) of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll.(W) Worship God!”(X)

10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up(Y) the words of the prophecy of this scroll,(Z) because the time is near.(AA) 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”(AB)

Epilogue: Invitation and Warning

12 “Look, I am coming soon!(AC) My reward is with me,(AD) and I will give to each person according to what they have done.(AE) 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega,(AF) the First and the Last,(AG) the Beginning and the End.(AH)

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes,(AI) that they may have the right to the tree of life(AJ) and may go through the gates(AK) into the city.(AL) 15 Outside(AM) are the dogs,(AN) those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus,(AO) have sent my angel(AP) to give you[a] this testimony for the churches.(AQ) I am the Root(AR) and the Offspring of David,(AS) and the bright Morning Star.”(AT)

17 The Spirit(AU) and the bride(AV) say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.(AW)

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:(AX) If anyone adds anything to them,(AY) God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.(AZ) 19 And if anyone takes words away(BA) from this scroll of prophecy,(BB) God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life(BC) and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

20 He who testifies to these things(BD) says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”(BE)

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.(BF)

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.(BG) Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 22:16 The Greek is plural.