Revelation 22:6-21
These verses serve as an epilogue to the book of Revelation as Christ gives a warning to the unredeemed to repent and an encouragement to the redeemed to live for Him and to look for His imminent return.
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
“And he said unto me” – Who is “he?” Apparently it is the angel that has been showing John the New Jerusalem in the previous chapter (Rev. 21:9) because he seems to be speaking of God in the third person. However, over the next several verses it seems the angel is speaking with the voice of Christ for he says certain things that only Christ would say.
“These sayings are faithful and true” – John has seen some amazing sights and incredible sayings over the course of this vision but the angel assures him that everything he has seen and has been told is absolutely true and will certainly come to pass.
“and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done” – The holy prophets have prophesied of many of these things that John has seen and the God that inspired their writings is the same God that has shown these things to John. The purpose of this vision is to show the servants of God throughout the centuries what events will happen both before and after Christ’s return to the earth, which could happen at any time.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
The reason that God wants to show His servants what must be done “shortly” (quickly) is because Christ is coming quickly. Even though it has been over two thousand years since this was written, Christ’s followers must live as if He could return any moment. When He does return it will be quick and without warning. Thus we will be blessed if we “keep” [to attend to carefully; to guard; to observe] what John has written down the the book of Revelation. We are to read and understand the lessons this book teaches us about Jesus Christ, the future of this planet, and our own eternal future and then live our lives in the light of these truths. Those that do so will be “blessed” (happy) in the knowledge that God is sovereign over all.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
“And I John saw these things, and heard them” – John reminds us that these incredible things that he has been describing are not fanciful stories he’s made up or heard from someone else but are things that he witnessed personally.
“And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things” – John is so overwhelmed by what he has been witnessing that again he spontaneously falls down to worship his angelic guide.
“Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not...” - The angel is quick to reject John’s worship and remind him that as an angel he is merely a servant of God like John, the prophets, and all those who observe the things written in the book of Revelation. God alone is to be the object of our worship. Men, angels, idols and other created beings or objects are not to be worshiped.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
“And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand” – Daniel was told to seal up the descriptions of his visions because it was “for many days” (Dan. 8:26). Many things still had to happen before his visions were to come to pass. However, John is told the opposite because “the time is at hand.” If something is “at hand” then it is within quick reach. John is being told that the things he witnessed and heard in his visions could come to pass at any time and so the world needs to be able to read this prophecy and learn from it so they can live their lives accordingly.
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still...” - When Christ returns it will be too late to repent. The unjust and filthy (with sin) at Christ’s return will remain that way while the righteous and holy will remain righteous and holy. The time to repent and come to Christ is now because He could come at any time and it will be too late for repentance.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Christ repeats the fact that He could come at any time to reward people according to their works. The unjust and filthy will get the punishment they deserve while the righteous and holy will be blessed and allowed to enter Christ’s kingdom. He also declares His authority to do this because He is the Alpha and Omega (first and last letters of the Greek alphabet). He is the beginning and ending of all things and so can do as He pleases with His creation.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
The angel draws a contrast between those who will be allowed to enter the New Jerusalem and those who won’t. Only those who “do His [Christ’s] commandments” will be able to enter, and only those who have been redeemed by Christ will be able to obey His commandments. The unredeemed will be in the lake of fire and will never be able to enter the city for they are “without” (outside) the blessings of God.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches” - In chapter 1 Jesus had instructed John to write this book recording all the things that he saw and heard so that the churches could read and be blessed. Now Jesus says that He personally sent the angel that has been showing and telling John all these things in order to benefit the churches.
“I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” – Jesus now describes Himself using two Messianic titles: 1) “the root and the offspring of David” – the Messiah is described as a descendant of David in Isa. 11:1 and Jesus calls attention to the paradox of the Messiah being both “the root” (the Creator) of David as well as his descendant in Matt. 22:41-46. 2) “the bright and morning star” – The Messiah is described as a star in Num. 24:17. The morning star holds the promise of a new day, just as Christ is the promise of a new day in the new heaven and earth.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come” – This line speaks of three parties expressing their desire for Christ’s return: 1) the Spirit – It is the Holy Spirit’s desire to see Christ glorified by His return (John 16:14); 2) the bride – the bride of Christ longs for the day her betrothed husband returns to take her to be with Him; 3) him that heareth – anyone that hears (or reads) the testimony given in this book and comes to Christ will also long for the day of Christ’s return.
“And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” – Those who are spiritually thirsty (a thirst that can only be produced by the Holy Spirit working in a person’s life) are invited to come to Christ and have their thirst quenched in the water of life.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
John has witnessed and written down some amazing things during the book of Revelation and the Lord knows that there will be many who be skeptical of this prophecy or will not believe it. So He adds His testimony that these things are indeed true and come from Him. He warns of dire consequences for anyone who would attempt to “correct” the words of the prophecy, either by adding to them or taking any away. Adding to or taking away from the truth introduces falsehood and God does not tolerate His truth being contaminated in such a way. He gave solemn warnings not to alter His words in the OT. Deut. 4:2 “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” Prov. 30:6 “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Jer. 26:2 “Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:”
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly” – Christ continues to speak, reminding us of the promise of His imminent return, which could happen at any time.
“Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” – John adds his agreement with Christ’s promise to return soon, expressing his own desire to see Christ’s soon return. It’s like he’s saying “Oh yes, by all means Lord Jesus, come!” We should all have a longing to see Christ return in glory to establish His righteous kingdom on earth and do away with sin.
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” – John now concludes with a sentiment directed toward his readers, praying that they would enjoy the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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