Chapter Twenty-Two

The depiction of the river and the tree of life in the new Jerusalem (1–2); the blessedness of the righteous in the complete absence of all sin (3–5). The conclusion to the Apocalypse, consisting in instruction on how to relate to the divine revelation received (6–10); an indication of the speedy coming of the Lord and the necessity of watchfulness (11–17); an exhortation from John and from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. A blessing (18–21).

Revelation 22:1. And he showed me a pure river of the water of life, bright as crystal, coming forth from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Revelation 22:2. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, the tree of life, bearing twelve fruits, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:3. And there will no longer be anything accursed; but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will serve Him. Revelation 22:4. And they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. Revelation 22:5. And there will be no night there, and they will not need a lamp nor the light of the sun, for the Lord God illuminates them; and they will reign forever and ever. The vision of chapter XXII, although it refers to the same new Jerusalem, concerns that aspect of it in which the life of its inhabitants is manifested. John sees water of life, which flows through the city from the throne of the Lamb; its water will be precisely that drink which will satisfy the thirst of the inhabitants of the new Jerusalem. The banks of this river are planted with the tree of life, whose fruits will nourish the inhabitants. Even the leaves of this tree will be suitable for consumption as food with benefit to the organism (healing—in the sense of a further step toward perfection). The depiction of the blessed life given in verses 1 and 2 ends with new concrete features which strengthen the truth that the future blessed life of all its participants will be completely alien to and free from all evil and sin: in the new kingdom there will be nothing accursed. The new kingdom will be exclusively the kingdom of God, which will consist in the closest communion of God with His glorified servants. The closeness to God and this vision of Him as a result of closeness will be reflected on the very life of the blessed, as if on their outward appearance: “his name will be on their foreheads” (cf. Rev 4:3). In the future kingdom the primordial relationship of humanity to nature will be restored again. The blessed will then appear as the true rulers of the renewed nature, which will submit to them not with sighing (Rom 8:22), but freely and willingly. Then everything will be glorified by God: God over all and everyone, people and angels—over external nature.

Revelation 22:6. And He said to me: These words are faithful and true; and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His Angel to show His servants what must soon come to pass. Revelation 22:7. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22:8. I, John, saw and heard these things. When I heard and saw, I fell at the feet of the Angel showing me these things, to worship him; Beginning with verse 6, there is a conclusion to the entire Apocalypse. In concluding all that was perceived, John hears special instructions on how to relate to it. The angel-mediator (Rev 19:9) remarks that all that was seen and heard is trustworthy and true. This revelation, intended for all his servants, although it may seem strange and implausible, will come to pass soon, that is, as necessary by divine predestination. On behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the angel-mediator speaks of His speedy coming, the thought of which should dispose and urge a person to reflection about the dread judgment. Therefore blessed is the one who remembers all the words of the apocalyptic revelation and arranges his life accordingly. John bowed down to worship the angel at his communication of the divine revelation, because the last words were spoken by the angel on behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and John took him either for the Lord Jesus Christ Himself or for His representative. But the angel rejected this worship from himself, calling himself a fellow servant.

Revelation 22:9. but he said to me: See, do not do that; for I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets and those who keep the words of this book; worship God. Revelation 22:10. And he said to me: Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is near. Revelation 22:11. The unrighteous still do unrighteousness; the unclean still defile themselves; the righteous still practice righteousness, and the holy one still sanctifies himself. Revelation 22:12. Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to his deeds. Revelation 22:13. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the First and the Last. Revelation 22:14. Blessed are those who keep His commandments, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. Revelation 22:15. But outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the fornicators and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Revelation 22:16. I, Jesus, have sent My Angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star. Revelation 22:17. And the Spirit and the Bride say: Come! And let the one who hears say: Come! Let the one who is thirsty come, and let the one who desires take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:18. And I testify to everyone hearing the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues written in this book; Revelation 22:19. and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city and in what is written in this book. Revelation 22:20. The One testifying to these things says: Yes, I come quickly! Amen. Yes, come, Lord Jesus! All that has been seen and heard, having been written down in a book, must not be hidden (sealed); Christians must arrange their life in accordance with it. Let people remember that it will not be long before they will have the possibility of remaining in their former conditions of activity. The time is near when these conditions will change, for the time of retribution will come. Blessed will be only those who keep the commandments of God; all others will remain outside the kingdom of God. To John, and through him to all readers of the Apocalypse, Jesus Christ appeals with confirmation of the truth of the revelation communicated and indicates His personal authority. He is the direct descendant of David. He is the bright morning star, that is, the foundation of Christian hope for the arrival of the eternal day of the future kingdom. Therefore the entire Christian Church (the bride), guided by the Holy Spirit, must cry out to Him with the plea: “Come.” With such a plea, each believer in turn must also appeal, becoming like one who thirsts. Jesus Christ once more refers to the book of the Apocalypse, to the prophecies in it, and warns against any distortion of it: he who does so will be deprived of a share in the book of life, in eternal blessedness.

Revelation 22:21. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen. Ending his book, Saint John, already from himself personally, like the Apostle Paul, conveys his blessing to the readers: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.” * * * Hengstenberg, Suller.