Revelation 22

Revelation 22

The River of Life

1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb[#Ezek 47.1; Zech 14.8; Rev 4.6; #22.1 Gk he]

2through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.[#Gen 2.9; Ezek 47.12; Rev 2.7; #22.2 Or the Lamb . In the middle of the street of the city, and on either side of the river, is the tree of life]

3Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him;[#Zech 14.11; Rev 7.15]

4they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.[#Mt 5.8; Rev 14.1]

5And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.[#Dan 7.27; Rev 21.23, 25]

6And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”[#Rev 1.1; 19.19; 21.5]

7“See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”[#Rev 1.3; 3.11]

Epilogue and Benediction

8I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me,

9but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters the prophets and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”

10And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.

11Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”[#Ezek 3.27; Dan 12.10]

12“See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work.[#Isa 40.10; Jer 17.10; Rev 2.23]

13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

14Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.[#22.14 Other ancient authorities read do his commandments]

15Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.[#Gal 5.19ff; Phil 3.2; Col 3.6; #22.15 Or prostitutes]

16“It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”[#2 Pet 1.19; Rev 1.1; 2.28; 5.5]

17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”[#Isa 55.1; Rev 2.7; 21.2, 6]

And let everyone who hears say, “Come.”

And let everyone who is thirsty come.

Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

18I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book;[#Deut 4.2; Prov 30.6; Rev 15.6—16.21]

19if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

20The one who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.”[#Rom 16.20; 2 Thess 3.18; 2 Tim 4.8]

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.[#22.21 Other ancient authorities lack all or the saints or Amen]

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by: National Council of the Churches of Christ