Jesus closes the Book of Revelation by instructing us not to add to or take away from its message.
The angel mentioned in Revelation 21:9 now shows John the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, Revelation 22:1. This means all the blessings of life are catered for God’s people by God and the Lamb, John 4:10 / John 7:37-39 / Revelation 7:16-17.
All life flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb, Revelation 22:1 / Revelation 22:4. All who belong to God have access to the river of the water of life because it flows through the middle of the city, Revelation 22:1 / Ezekiel 47:1-2 / Ezekiel 47:8-9 / Zechariah 14:1 / Zechariah 14:8 / Joel 3:18.
Notice John is shown the tree of life, Revelation 11:2 / Genesis 2:9. Notice it is set in three places. On this side of the river, in the midst and on the other side of the river, Ezekiel 47:7 / Ezekiel 47:12. Notice the number twelve again, Revelation 22:2 / Revelation 21:12-14.
The number twelve represents God’s people. In the Old Testament, there were twelve patriarchs, and thus the twelve tribes of Israel constituted God’s nation, and in the New Testament, the twelve apostles were the ambassadors of Christ. This whole scene is about the people of God. The tree of life yields twelve crops every month, Revelation 22:2.
McGuiggan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Not only does this tree produce twelve different kinds of fruit, but it also provides them twelve times a year. Over and over again, we are being told that these blessings belong to the people of God. The whole scene takes place inside the city and for its inhabitants.’
Not only are God’s people blessed, but so are the nations around them because of God’s people. Not only does God’s people offer light to the nations around them, Matthew 5:14-16 / Revelation 21:24-26, but God’s people also offer healing from the leaves of the tree of life, Revelation 22:2. In other words, God’s people have everything they need to be blessed in order to be a blessing to those around them, Proverbs 11:25 / Luke 6:38.
When mankind sinned in the garden, both Adam and Eve were cursed by God, Genesis 3:16-19, and as a result, they were both driven from the paradise of Eden, where the tree of life was found, Genesis 3:23. Here, however, there will be no more cursing, Revelation 22:3 / Zechariah 8:13.
Since the throne of God and the Lamb are in the midst of this city, indicating they are ruling, Psalm 2:6 / Isaiah 24:23 / Ezekiel 43:6-7, and since sin and darkness have gone, there will be no more curse, and God’s people will live and serve Him, Revelation 22:3.
Oh, how Christians long to see the face of God, Revelation 22:4. Seeing the face of God means that Christians are in perfect and eternal fellowship with God, Exodus 33:20 / Psalm 11:7 / Psalm 17:15 / John 1:18. The servants of God and the Lamb will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads, Revelation 22:4 / Revelation 3:12.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Having His name on our foreheads means that we will be His and will reflect His divine glory in our persons. Having a name on one’s forehead appeared three times earlier in this book, Revelation 3:12 / Revelation 7:3 / Revelation 14:1. In each case, it was a great privilege indicating ownership and protection as well as identification, Exodus 28:36-38.’
We’re reminded once again, there will be no night, no darkness of any kind, Revelation 22:5. This is because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light, Revelation 21:23 / Isaiah 60:19-20.
Christians will reign for ever and ever, Revelation 22:5 / Daniel 7:27 / Revelation 3:21, simply because God reigns and always has, Exodus 15:18 / Psalm 146:10 / Lamentations 5:19 / 1 Timothy 6:15 / Revelation 1:5 / Revelation 11:15.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The vision ends with the promise that the people of God will reign for ever and ever. In perfect submission to him, they will find perfect freedom and the only true royalty.’
The angel now confirms to John that the words are trustworthy and true. They confirm the contents of the Revelation and an assurance that these things will soon be fulfilled, Revelation 22:6. Revelation 1:1-3.
Remember the words, ‘must soon take place’, Revelation 1:1. In Revelation 1:3, we are told that ‘the time is near’, and the book closes with the reminder that these things ‘must soon take place’, Revelation 22:6, and the words, ‘the time is near, Revelation 22:10.
If we can understand this, it will help us get a good grasp of the Book of Revelation. When God gave this revelation to first-century Christians, it was about things that were going to happen during their lifetimes, Mark 1:15.
Jesus promising to come in judgment upon Rome and deliver the faithful from this awful oppressor, Revelation 22:7 / Revelation 1:3 / Revelation 2:16 / Revelation 3:11 / Revelation 14:14-20 / Revelation 16:15.
John appears to be overwhelmed by everything he has seen and heard, and so, once again, he falls down to worship the angel, and once again, he is told not to do that; he must worship God, Revelation 22:8-9 / Revelation 19:10 / Acts 14:11-18.
Notice the angel puts himself on the same level as a servant, with all who keep the words of this scroll, Revelation 22:9. Notice that John is told not to seal up the words of the prophecy, because the time is near, Revelation 22:10.
This contrasts with Daniel’s prophecies, which were to be sealed because they pointed to far-off events of the first century, including the destruction of Jerusalem, Daniel 8:26 / Daniel 10:14 / Daniel 12:4 / Daniel 12:9. The Revelation was not sealed because it spoke to the conditions of John’s day and the years of persecution to follow until the fall of the Roman Empire.
The angel now gives a stern warning: no one should continue in doing wrong, no one should continue to live vile, Revelation 22:11. The angel also gives encouragement for those who do right and those who are holy; they must continue to do so, Revelation 22:11 / Daniel 12:10 / Isaiah 32:6-8 / Ezekiel 3:27 / 2 Timothy 3:13-14. The goal of the righteous is to be righteous and holy regardless of the actions of others, Romans 12:19-21.
Kercheville, in his commentary, says the following concerning Revelation 22:11.
‘Daniel’s prophecy is the best explanation of what the angel is saying to John. The wicked are not going to understand that their doom is predicted and sealed. The wise, that is the righteous, will understand and remain faithful through the prophesied tribulations.’
Jesus once again reminds John that He is coming soon, Revelation 22:12 / Revelation 1:1 / Revelation 1:3 / Revelation 22:6. He is coming with His reward, to give to each person a reward according to what they have done, Revelation 22:12 / Isaiah 40:10 / Isaiah 62:11 / Romans 2:6 / Romans 14:12 / 1 John 3:5-7 / Revelation 20:12 / Revelation 22:7.
Once again, Jesus declares His deity, Revelation 22:13. How anyone can deny the deity of Christ is beyond me, especially in light of what Jesus Himself declares about Himself here. Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the last letter in the Greek alphabet.
Jesus is the first and the last, Isaiah 44:6, the beginning and the end, and everything in between, Revelation 1:17 / Revelation 2:8 / Revelation 21:6 / Revelation 22:13. Jesus is ruling. Jesus is in control. He is the ‘I AM.’ He is and was and is to come, Revelation 1:4. He truly is the Almighty, Isaiah 9:6-7 / Revelation 19:6.
He says blessed are those who wash their robes, Revelation 22:14 / Isaiah 41:4 / Isaiah 44:6 / Isaiah 48:12 / Revelation 1:8 / Revelation 1:11 / Revelation 21:6. How are their robes washed? They were washed with the blood of the Lamb, Revelation 3:4 / Revelation 7:14 / Revelation 7:14
It’s only those who have been washed with the blood of the lamb who have the right to the tree of life and can enter the city, Revelation 22:14 / Daniel 12:12 / 1 John 3:24 / Revelation 2:7 / Revelation 21:27 / Revelation 22:2.
John tells us that the tree of life answers to the water of life, Revelation 22:1-3. It is the food and the river and the drink of the saints. The tree of life stands for spiritual sustenance; it is the ‘food’ of the righteous.
It reminds us of the events in the garden when man had unbroken fellowship with God. So, whether by life or death, here or hereafter, the victorious Christian is secure.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning ‘the tree of life.’
‘These words regarding the ‘tree of life’ are found in Genesis 2:9, and in Revelation 22:2 / Revelation 22:4 / Revelation 22:19, thus binding the beginning and the end of the Bible together, all of which, first to last, is concerned with the recovery of that which was lost in the Fall.’
Those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood, are not in the city, Revelation 22:15.
Dogs were regarded as despised creatures throughout the scriptures and are used metaphorically of unbelievers, Matthew 7:6. In other words, no one who hurts, or causes pain, or suffering will ever set foot inside, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 / Galatians 5:19-21 / Philippians 3:2 / Colossians 3:6 / Revelation 9:20-21 / Revelation 21:8.
Notice that Jesus personally authenticates the book, Revelation 22:16. He is the root and offspring of David, Zechariah 6:12 / Revelation 5:5, and He is the bright and morning star, Numbers 24:17 / 2 Peter 1:19 / Revelation 2:28.
Peter says the day star arises in our hearts, and so floods us with light, 2 Peter 1:19. Paul speaks of the Galatians needing Christ to be formed in them again, Galatians 4:19. Some of the Galatians had gone from Christ, but many had not. It was as if they had to come to know Jesus all over again.
Here we read that the Spirit and the bride, that is, God’s people, invite the saints to come, Revelation 22:17. The promise is to give to the thirsty freely from the spring of living water as a gift, Revelation 22:17 / Revelation 21:6 / Isaiah 55:1-2 / John 4:14 / John 6:44-45 / John 7:37-39.
It is those who are victorious who will inherit all these blessings, Revelation 22:7. He will be their God, and they will be His children, Revelation 21:6 / 1 John 3:2.
Then we have another warning about the seriousness of what has been revealed within it, Revelation 22:18 / Deuteronomy 4:2 / Proverbs 3:6 / Proverbs 30:6 / 2 John 9.
McGuiggan, in his commentary, says the following concerning the plagues, Revelation 22:18.
‘The plain import of the passage is, that as man had better not tamper with the book, or else God will punish them.’
There are those who believe that this is speaking about literal plagues upon anyone who tampers with God’s Word in Revelation. However, if it is to be taken literally, why do we not see this happening throughout history? If they speak of nuclear war and such, how could that have happened to those in the centuries before?
Then we have another warning about the seriousness of what has been revealed within it, Revelation 22:19. Those who tamper with God’s word, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, Revelation 22:19. This again emphasises how serious God’s Word is. There are terrible consequences for anyone who would tamper with God’s Word, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
Kercheville, in his commentary, says the following.
‘I fear that many will suffer the consequence described in Revelation 22:18-19, because they have falsely taught from this book. They have distorted and perverted the message of Revelation for their own financial gain and notoriety. God will judge anyone who adds or takes from God’s holy word, 2 Peter 3:16.’
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The Book of Revelation opened with a blessing on all who obey its instructions, Revelation 1:3, and it closes with a strong curse on all who disobey it.’
A final assurance is given in Revelation 22:20 that Jesus will act on behalf of the faithful, Revelation 22:6-7 / Revelation 22:10 / Revelation 22:12 / Obadiah 15 / Luke 18:8 / John 14:1-3 / Romans 16:20 / 1 Corinthians 16:22-24 / Philippians 4:5 / Revelation 1:4 / Revelation 1:7.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following concerning Revelation 22:20.
‘He who testifies to these things is Jesus. The things in view are the words of Jesus in Revelation 22:12-19, but beyond that, everything in this book, Revelation 1:2.’
We can imagine John thinking about all the horrors God’s people have to go through at the hands of the Roman Empire as he responds by saying, ‘Amen. Come, Lord Jesus,’ Revelation 22:20.
If there were ever a time in history when God’s people needed the grace of the Lord Jesus to be with God’s people, it was during this time. No wonder John ends with the amen, signifying, so be it, Revelation 22:21.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘There is both pathos and glory in the way in which the Revelation ends. Amidst the terrible persecution of his day, the one thing which John longed for was the speedy return of Christ. That hope was never realised in the way in which he expected, but we can never doubt that Christ nevertheless abundantly kept his promise that he would be with his own even to the end of the world, Matthew 28:20.’
The message of the Book of Revelation is simply this: Jesus wins! To be true to God and His kingdom, which will rule and reign over all kingdoms. If we remain faithful unto death, the Lord will give us a crown of life. May God bless us as we strive amidst trouble and tribulation to be faithful to Jesus.