Revelation 22 Study Notes

22:13 On the Alpha and the Omega, see note at 1:8.

22:14-15,17 The final beatitude (blessed) of the Apocalypse is an elegant presentation of the gospel, using the imagery of the “new Eden” (“the tree of life”) and the eternal city (enter the city by the gates). Wash their robes means faith in the shed blood of Christ. The right to the tree of life is what Adam and Eve were cut off from by their sin. The gates of the city and access to the tree of life are made available to those who believe in Jesus, but all unbelievers, with their various sinful lifestyles, are excluded. With the repeated invitation to come and take the water of life as a gift (i.e., free grace; see Eph 2:8-9), Revelation ends with passionate evangelistic appeal. Though Jews referred to Gentiles as dogs, in this case it more likely refers to false teachers, whatever their ethnicity, as in Php 3:2.

22:16 Jesus is a blood descendant of David. On the bright morning star, see note at 2:28.

22:18-19 It is doubtful the wording here directly refers to closing the canon of the Bible (this book). The book (Gk biblion, “scroll”) that is not to be tampered with is the book of Revelation, but the wording does imply that all Scripture should be guarded as sacred, never tampered with. The immediate context in Revelation is of a “new Eden” (vv. 1-5). Also, in Gn 3, Eve added to the word of God (Gn 3:3) and the serpent took away from what the Lord had said (Gn 3:4). As a result, this “biblical bookends” effect of Rv 22:18-19 and Gn 3:3-4 infers that, just as Genesis is the first book in the Bible, Revelation is the last.

22:20 Jesus promised that he is coming soon (see note at 1:1,3). Believers long for Jesus’s return. God’s patience grants the church an opportunity to proclaim his salvation and an unbelieving world an opportunity to repent.

22:21 The book of Revelation, though made up largely of apocalyptic (1:1) and prophetic (1:3) literary forms, begins (1:4) and ends (with its concluding grace) like a letter. In spite of all the works of the devil and the judgment and wrath of God detailed in between, the Apocalypse starts with grace and ends with grace, making a full circle from grace to grace. This is a fitting symmetry for a book that foretells the ultimate victory of “the God of all grace” (1Pt 5:10).