A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Revelation 22
Revelation 22 is the twenty-second and final chapter of the book of Revelation, and the final chapter of the Christian Bible. The 21-verse chapter concludes the long vision with the river and tree of life, a series of closing announcements, and the final invitation of scripture.
The chapter opens with the angel showing John the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The river runs down the middle of the great street of the new Jerusalem. On each side stands the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. They will reign forever and ever.
The angel tells John that these words are trustworthy and true, and that the Lord has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.
Jesus then speaks directly: "Behold, I am coming soon!" He pronounces a blessing on the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
John falls down to worship the angel but is told not to. Worship belongs to God alone. The angel tells John not to seal up the words of the prophecy, because the time is near.
Jesus speaks again, declaring that those who keep his commands are blessed and may eat from the tree of life. He identifies himself: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."
The chapter closes with the famous final invitation: "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let the one who hears say, 'Come!' Let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life take it freely." Jesus says, "Yes, I am coming soon." The closing line of the Bible is John's response: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."
Verse 1. Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
Verse 2. down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
Verse 3. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him.
Verse 4. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
Verse 5. There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.
Verse 6. Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.”
Verse 7. “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.”
Verse 8. And I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things.
Verse 9. But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
Verse 10. Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near.
Verse 11. Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.”
Verse 12. “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.
Verse 13. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Verse 14. Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.
Verse 15. But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Verse 16. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”
Verse 17. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.
Verse 18. I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
Verse 19. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.
Verse 20. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Verse 21. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.
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