Revelation 22:9-19

9 But 1he said to me, "Do not do that. I am a 2fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of 3this book. Worship God."

The Final Message

10 And he said to me, "4Do not seal up 5the words of the prophecy of this book, 6for the time is near.
11 "7Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy."
12 "Behold, 8I am coming quickly, and My 9reward is with Me, 10to render to every man according to what he has done *.
13 "I am the 11Alpha and the Omega, 12the first and the last, 13the beginning and the end."
14 Blessed are those who 14wash their robes, so that they may have the right to 15the tree of life, and may 16enter by the 17gates into the city.
15 18Outside are the 19dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
16 "20I, Jesus, have sent 21My angel to testify to you these things 22for the churches. I am 23the root and the 24descendant of David, the bright 25morning star."
17 The 26Spirit and the 27bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And 28let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the 29water of life without cost.
18 I testify to everyone who hears 30the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone 31adds to them, God will add to him 32the plagues which are written in 33this book;
19 and if anyone 34takes away from the 35words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from 36the tree of life and from the holy city, 37which are written in this book.

Revelation 22:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 22

This chapter contains a further account of the above city, a confirmation of the visions of this book, and the conclusion of it. The city is further described by the river that ran by it, or through it, called a river of water of life, said to be pure and clear as crystal, and to have its rise from the throne of God and the Lamb; and by the tree of life in the midst of it, situated on each side the river, bearing twelve sorts of fruit, yielded every month, the leaves of which heal the nations, Re 22:1,2 and the happiness of the inhabitants of it is set forth, by there being no curse in it; by the throne of God and the Lamb being in it; by the service of the saints in it; by the pleasure they enjoy, and the honour put upon them; by the light of the place, and the duration of the saints' reign, Re 22:3-5 next follow testimonies concerning the authority of the book, and the truth of things in it; and first, the testimony of the angel that talked with John, declaring that the things in it were true and faithful; and that he was sent from the Lord God of the prophets to show to the saints things that would quickly come to pass; and that Christ himself would quickly come; and that they were happy who kept and observed the sayings and prophecies of it, Re 22:6,7 then the testimony of John who saw and heard them, and was about to worship the angel that declared them, but was forbid by him, and dissuaded from it, by observing to him who he was, a fellow servant of his and of his brethren, and that God only was to be worshipped, Re 22:8,9 who is ordered, as it seems by Christ, not to seal up the prophecies delivered to him, since the time of their fulfilment was at hand, when men would remain just as they were, whether ungodly and filthy, or righteous and holy, Re 22:10,11 and who declares that he should quickly come to reward every man according to his works; and that he was the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last; and that they were happy that did his commandments, since it would appear they had a right to the tree of life, and to entrance through the gates into the city before described, when wicked men, whose characters are given, would be without, Re 22:12-15 and still more clearly and fully Christ asserts himself to be the author of this revelation, and the sender of the angel, to testify it to the church, who is David's root and offspring, and the morning star, whose coming is to be wished for by the Spirit and bride, and every truly gracious soul, Re 22:16,17 and to show the perfection and authority of this book, as well as of the whole Scripture, and to deter persons from adding to it, or taking from it, he threatens to inflict on such persons the plagues herein written, and to take the names of such out of the book of life, out of the holy city, and from the things written in this book, Re 22:18,19 and then he delivers out a fresh asseveration of his speedy coming, to which John adds his hearty "Amen", and earnest request that he would come quickly; and the book is concluded with a benediction usual in the epistles, especially in those of the Apostle Paul, Re 22:20,21.

Cross References 37

  • 1. Revelation 19:10
  • 2. Revelation 1:1
  • 3. Revelation 1:11; Revelation 22:10, 18
  • 4. Daniel 8:26; Revelation 10:4
  • 5. Revelation 1:11; Revelation 22:9, 18
  • 6. Revelation 1:3
  • 7. Ezekiel 3:27; Daniel 12:10
  • 8. Revelation 22:7
  • 9. Isaiah 40:10; Isaiah 62:11
  • 10. Psalms 28:4; Jeremiah 17:10; Matthew 16:27; Revelation 2:23
  • 11. Revelation 1:8
  • 12. Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 48:12; Revelation 1:17; Revelation 2:8
  • 13. Revelation 21:6
  • 14. Revelation 7:14
  • 15. Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:22; Revelation 22:2
  • 16. Revelation 21:27
  • 17. Revelation 21:12
  • 18. Matthew 8:12; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 5:19f; Revelation 21:8
  • 19. Deuteronomy 23:18; Matthew 7:6; Philippians 3:2
  • 20. Revelation 1:1
  • 21. Revelation 1:1; Revelation 22:6
  • 22. Revelation 1:4, 11; Revelation 3:22
  • 23. Revelation 5:5
  • 24. Matthew 1:1
  • 25. Matthew 2:2; Revelation 2:28
  • 26. Revelation 2:7; Revelation 14:13
  • 27. Revelation 21:2, 9
  • 28. Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 21:6
  • 29. Revelation 7:17; Revelation 22:1
  • 30. Revelation 22:7
  • 31. Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:6
  • 32. Rev 15:6-16:21
  • 33. Revelation 22:7
  • 34. Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:6
  • 35. Revelation 22:7
  • 36. Revelation 22:2
  • 37. Rev 21:10-22:5

Footnotes 4

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