Revelation 22
The River of Life 1–5
Divine Affirmation and Command 6–11
Come, Lord Jesus 12–17
Warning and Final Benediction 18–21
Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain
Study Notes for Revelation 22
Verse 1
river of water of life — Potamos, a river, 'proceeding' (ekporeuomai) from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The river of the first garden 'went out of Eden' (Gen 2:10); here the source is the throne. Ezekiel saw waters 'from under the threshold of the house' (Ezek 47:1), and Zechariah 'living waters' from Jerusalem (Zech 14:8). 'Crystal' (krustallos) occurs only here and in Rev 4:6.
Verse 2
the tree of life — Xulon, tree or timber, the word used of the cross in Acts 5:30 and 1 Pet 2:24. The tree of life stood 'in the midst of the garden' (Gen 2:9), and its fruit is promised to the overcomer (Rev 2:7). 'Healing' is therapeia; of Ezekiel's trees it is said, 'the leaf thereof for medicine' (Ezek 47:12).
Verse 3
no more curse — Katanathema, an imprecation or accursed thing, occurs only here. It answers the sentence on the ground, 'cursed is the ground for thy sake' (Gen 3:17), and echoes Zech 14:11, 'there shall be no more utter destruction'. 'Serve' is latreuo, to render worship, as in Rev 7:15, 'serve him day and night in his temple'.
Verse 4
see his face — Optanomai is used with prosopon, the face. Moses was told, 'Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live' (Ex 33:20); here it is promised to the servants, as in Matt 5:8, 'they shall see God'. The name 'in their foreheads' repeats Rev 14:1, 'his Father's name written in their foreheads'; Rev 3:12 has 'I will write upon him the name of my God'.
Verse 6
faithful and true — Pistos and alethinos are the two words of Rev 21:5, 'these words are true and faithful', and the names of the rider in Rev 19:11, 'Faithful and True'. 'The things which must shortly be done' returns to the opening of the book, 'things which must shortly come to pass' (Rev 1:1), where the angel is likewise the bearer.
Verse 7
Behold, I come quickly — Tachu, quickly or soon. This is the sixth of the seven sayings in Revelation that begin 'Blessed' (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7; 22:14). The one who 'keepeth' (tereo, guards) 'the sayings of the prophecy of this book' recalls Rev 1:3, 'Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear'. The promise returns in vv.12 and 20.
Verse 9
fellowservant — Sundoulos, a co-slave, the word the angel also uses of himself in Rev 19:10, where John likewise 'fell at his feet to worship him' and hears 'See thou do it not'. Here the angel ranks himself with John's brethren the prophets and with those who 'keep the sayings of this book'; the command is 'worship God' (proskuneo).
Verse 10
Seal not — Sphragizo, to stamp with a seal, for security or concealment. Daniel was told to 'shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end' (Dan 12:4); John is told the reverse, because 'the time is at hand' (kairos), the phrase that opened the book in Rev 1:3.
Verse 11
let him be unjust still — This is a settled order: the unjust, the 'filthy' (rhupoo, to be defiled, found only here), the righteous and the holy each remain as they are. Daniel gives the background: 'the wicked shall do wickedly… but the wise shall understand' (Dan 12:10). In the last two pairs the verbs are dikaioo, to be justified, and hagiazo, to be made holy.
Verse 12
my reward is with me — Isaiah's 'his reward is with him, and his work before him' (Isa 40:10) is here spoken by Christ in the first person. 'Reward' is misthos, wages; 'to give' is apodidomi, to give back what is due, 'according as his work shall be', as in Matt 16:27, 'reward every man according to his works'.
Verse 13
Alpha and Omega — These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Three pairs stand in one line: 'Alpha and Omega', 'the beginning and the end', 'the first and the last'. The third is the title of the LORD in Isa 44:6, 'I am the first, and I am the last'; Christ says it in Rev 1:17, and the first pair stands in Rev 1:8 and 21:6.
Verse 14
right to the tree of life — 'Right' is exousia, authority or privilege, the word of John 1:12, 'power to become the sons of God'. 'Do his commandments' (entole, an injunction) is the proof of love in 1 John 5:3, 'this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments'. The tree is that of v.2, and the city's 'gates' (pulon) are the twelve of Rev 21:12.
Verse 15
without are dogs — 'Without' (exo) is outside the city: in Rev 21:27 nothing 'that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie' enters it. The list matches Rev 21:8 (murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, liars). 'Dogs' (kuon) is the word of Phil 3:2, 'Beware of dogs'. The last clause joins two verbs: whosoever 'loveth' (phileo) and 'maketh' (poieo) a lie.
Verse 16
the root and the offspring of David — Rhiza, root, is the source; genos, offspring, the descendant: Christ is both David's origin and his descendant. Isaiah had 'a root of Jesse' (Isa 11:10), Rev 5:5 names him 'the Root of David', and Paul writes 'of the seed of David according to the flesh' (Rom 1:3). 'Morning' (orthrinos) occurs only here; Num 24:17 foretells 'a Star out of Jacob'.
Verse 17
the water of life freely — The Spirit and the bride say 'Come', and the invitation reaches 'him that is athirst' and 'whosoever will'. 'Freely' is dorean, as a gift, the word of Rom 3:24 and Rev 21:6. It repeats Isa 55:1, 'Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters', and John 7:37, 'If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.'
Verse 18
add unto these things — 'Testify' is summartureo, to testify together, the verb of Rom 8:16, 'beareth witness with'. The warning follows Deut 4:2, 'Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it'. For adding (epitithemi, to lay on) God lays on 'the plagues' (plege) 'written in this book', such as the seven last plagues of Rev 15:1.
Verse 19
take away from the words — Aphaireo, to remove, is the counterpart of 'add' in v.18. The loss is a 'part' (meros) 'out of the book of life, and out of the holy city'. The book of life is that of Rev 3:5 and 20:15; the psalmist asks that the wicked be 'blotted out of the book of the living' (Ps 69:28).
Verse 20
Even so, come, Lord Jesus — 'Surely' in his promise and 'Even so' in the reply are one Greek word, nai, yes. The one who 'testifieth' says 'I come quickly' (cf. vv.7, 12), and the answer is a prayer. 'Amen' is of Hebrew origin, meaning firm. Heb 9:28 speaks of those who 'look for him' and the second appearing.
Verse 21
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all — The same sentence closes 2 Thess 3:18. 'Grace' (charis) also opens the book: 'Grace be unto you, and peace' (Rev 1:4). 'Amen' is a Hebrew word for firm and sure, carried untranslated into the Greek.