Revelation 22:11

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

He that is unjust {G91}, let him be unjust {G91} still {G2089}: and {G2532} he which is filthy {G4510}, let him be filthy {G4510} still {G2089}: and {G2532} he that is righteous {G1342}, let him be righteous {G1344} still {G2089}: and {G2532} he that is holy {G40}, let him be holy {G37} still {G2089}.

Complete Jewish Bible

“Whoever keeps acting wickedly, let him go on acting wickedly;
whoever is filthy, let him go on being made filthy.

“Also, whoever is righteous, let him go on doing what is righteous;
and whoever is holy, let him go on being made holy.”

Berean Standard Bible

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.”

American Standard Version

He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Revelation 22:11 delivers a profound and solemn declaration regarding the ultimate and unchangeable nature of human spiritual states. Far from being a command, this verse is a prophetic pronouncement that at a decisive, future moment, the opportunity for repentance and transformation will cease, and the moral and spiritual character of every individual will be eternally fixed. It underscores the finality of God's judgment and the permanent consequences of choices made during one's earthly life, highlighting the stark division between those who persist in unrighteousness and those who are found righteous and holy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the concluding chapters of the book of Revelation, specifically in the final messages and warnings delivered by Jesus Christ Himself. It follows the glorious descriptions of the [new heavens and new earth](/revelation/21 "Revelation 21 - The New Creation") and the [New Jerusalem](/revelation/21-9-27 "Revelation 21:9-27 - The New Jerusalem"), setting the stage for the book's ultimate climax. The immediate preceding verses include Jesus' repeated affirmation, "Behold, I come quickly!" found in [Revelation 22:7](/revelation/22-7 "Revelation 22:7 - Jesus' Imminent Return") and [Revelation 22:12](/revelation/22-12 "Revelation 22:12 - Jesus' Promise of Reward"), which frames this declaration as a declaration of what will occur at His imminent return. This declaration of fixed states precedes the final, gracious invitation to "take the water of life freely" in [Revelation 22:17](/revelation/22-17 "Revelation 22:17 - The Invitation to Life"), creating a powerful juxtaposition between the present opportunity for salvation and the future cessation of that opportunity.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Revelation was written by John during a period of intense persecution of Christians under the Roman Empire, likely during the reign of Emperor Domitian (c. AD 95). Believers faced immense pressure to conform to imperial cult worship, which demanded allegiance to the emperor as a deity. This context of testing and tribulation informs the book's emphasis on perseverance, divine judgment, and the ultimate vindication of God's people. The concept of a fixed, eternal state, while deeply theological, would have resonated with a community grappling with the immediate consequences of their faith choices. The stark contrast between "unjust/filthy" and "righteous/holy" would have served as a powerful encouragement to remain steadfast in their moral and spiritual purity, knowing that their faithfulness, or lack thereof, would have eternal ramifications. The cultural backdrop of Roman power and its demands highlighted the urgency of choosing allegiance to Christ.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes found throughout Revelation and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the **Finality of Moral State**, proclaiming that at a specific eschatological point, the spiritual and moral condition of humanity will become irrevocably fixed, ending the period of grace and decision. Secondly, it highlights the **Consequences of Choice**, emphasizing the eternal weight of decisions made during one's earthly life, whether leading to unrighteousness and defilement or to righteousness and holiness. This aligns with the biblical principle that individuals are accountable for their actions, as seen in passages like [Romans 2:6](/romans/2-6 "Romans 2:6 - God's Impartial Judgment"). Thirdly, it speaks to **Divine Justice and Sovereignty**, revealing God's ultimate authority to declare and establish the immutable state of all humanity, reflecting His perfect righteousness and judgment. Finally, while a declaration of finality, the verse implicitly serves as an **Urgency of Repentance** in the present, emphasizing the critical importance of responding to God's invitation for salvation and living righteously now, while the door of grace is still open, echoing the sentiment of [2 Corinthians 6:2](/2_corinthians/6-2 "2 Corinthians 6:2 - The Acceptable Time").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Unjust (Greek, _adikéō'_):** From _adikos_, meaning to be unjust, to do wrong, or to injure. In this context, it refers to a moral state of unrighteousness, actively engaging in or being characterized by injustice and wickedness, failing to conform to God's righteous standards.
* **Righteous (Greek, _díkaios'_):** From _dikē_, meaning equitable in character or act, innocent, or holy. It describes someone who is just, upright, and conforms to God's divine standard of righteousness, reflecting a state of moral integrity and alignment with God's will.
* **Still (Greek, _éti'_):** Meaning "yet" or "still" in terms of time or degree. In this verse, it emphasizes the continuation and permanence of the described states. It is not a command for individuals to remain as they are, but a prophetic declaration that at a certain point, these established character states will persist eternally without change.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still:"** This clause declares that those who have persistently chosen a path of unrighteousness and injustice will have that state permanently fixed. It signifies the cessation of the opportunity for repentance and change for those who have refused God's grace, sealing their character as unrighteous for eternity.
* **"and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still:"** Parallel to the first clause, this pronounces the eternal fixation of moral defilement for those who have embraced spiritual impurity. It underscores the lasting consequences of a life lived in rebellion against God's purity, where their state of spiritual uncleanness becomes irreversible.
* **"and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still:"** In stark contrast, this clause affirms the eternal security and permanence of righteousness for those who have been justified by faith and have pursued a life of uprightness. It assures believers that their standing before God, established through Christ, will be eternally preserved and confirmed.
* **"and he that is holy, let him be holy still."** Completing the parallel, this declaration guarantees the perpetual state of holiness for those who have been sanctified and set apart for God. It speaks to the enduring nature of their consecrated character, assuring them that their purity and devotion to God will be eternally maintained and perfected.

#### Literary Devices
Revelation 22:11 employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey its solemn message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically **Antithetical Parallelism**, where contrasting ideas are presented in a similar structure. The verse juxtaposes "unjust" and "filthy" with "righteous" and "holy," highlighting the binary and mutually exclusive nature of these spiritual states. This stark contrast underscores the definitive separation between those who reject God and those who embrace Him. The repeated phrase "let him be... still" functions as an **Anaphora**, emphasizing the finality and immutability of these conditions. It is not an imperative command but a declarative **Prophetic Pronouncement**, signaling a future point of no return. The use of **Chiasmus** can also be observed in the structure, where the first two clauses ("unjust," "filthy") mirror the last two ("righteous," "holy") in their emphasis on fixed states, creating a balanced yet stark declaration of ultimate destinies.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Revelation 22:11 stands as a profound theological statement on eschatological finality and divine justice. It reveals that God's patience and the season of grace, while expansive, are not infinite. There will come a definitive moment when the moral and spiritual trajectory of every human life is irrevocably sealed. This declaration is not about God actively making people unjust or righteous at that moment, but rather affirming the permanence of the choices they have already made. It underscores the biblical truth of human accountability and the ultimate realization of God's righteous judgment, where character formed in life becomes destiny in eternity. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the urgency of repentance and faith in the present, for the opportunity to change will not last forever.

* [Daniel 12:10](/daniel/12-10 "Daniel 12:10 - The Cleansing and Refining of the Wise")
* [Matthew 25:46](/matthew/25-46 "Matthew 25:46 - Eternal Punishment and Eternal Life")
* [2 Corinthians 6:2](/2_corinthians/6-2 "2 Corinthians 6:2 - The Acceptable Time for Salvation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Revelation 22:11 serves as a deeply sobering yet profoundly motivating verse for personal reflection and application. It forces us to confront the reality of eternal consequences and the finite nature of our time to respond to God's grace. For those who have not yet committed their lives to Christ or who persist in patterns of sin, this verse is an urgent call to immediate repentance and faith. The "still" implies a fixed state, not an ongoing opportunity for change. It reminds us that procrastination in spiritual matters carries eternal peril. For believers, it is both an affirmation and a challenge. It affirms the security of our salvation and the permanence of our righteous standing in Christ, encouraging us to persevere in holiness. Simultaneously, it challenges us to live out our righteous and holy identity with greater intentionality, recognizing that our present choices are shaping our eternal character. It compels us to examine our lives: are we actively pursuing righteousness and holiness, or are we drifting towards spiritual indifference and defilement? The verse underscores the immense value of the present moment as the "acceptable time" for salvation and sanctification.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the finality expressed in Revelation 22:11 impact your understanding of the urgency of the Gospel message today?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be passively allowing "unjust" or "filthy" patterns to persist, and what steps will you take to pursue righteousness and holiness?**
* **How does this verse encourage you to persevere in your faith and sanctification, knowing that your righteous and holy state will be eternally fixed?**

### FAQ
**Does Revelation 22:11 mean God wants people to remain in their sin?**

Answer: No, absolutely not. This verse is not a divine command for people to remain in their current moral or spiritual state. Instead, it is a prophetic declaration about a future, decisive point in time when the opportunity for repentance and change will cease. It describes the ultimate consequence of choices made during one's lifetime. God's desire is always for all people to come to repentance and be saved, as expressed in [2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord's Patience for Repentance"). The verse highlights the finality of human decisions, not a divine preference for unrighteousness.

**When will this "fixed state" occur?**

Answer: The verse does not specify an exact chronological moment, but the context of Revelation 22 suggests it is intimately connected with the second coming of Christ and the final judgment. Passages like [Revelation 22:7](/revelation/22-7 "Revelation 22:7 - Jesus' Imminent Return") and [Revelation 22:12](/revelation/22-12 "Revelation 22:12 - Jesus' Promise of Reward"), where Jesus declares, "Behold, I come quickly," immediately surround this verse. This implies that the sealing of destinies will occur at or around the time of His return, marking the end of the age of grace and the beginning of eternal states. It aligns with the broader biblical teaching that judgment follows death or Christ's return, as seen in [Hebrews 9:27](/hebrews/9-27 "Hebrews 9:27 - Appointed to Die Once, Then Judgment").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Revelation 22:11 declares a future reality of fixed spiritual states, its profound Christ-centered fulfillment lies in how believers achieve the "righteous" and "holy" state that is eternally sealed. Humanity's natural state is "unjust" and "filthy" due to sin, as affirmed by [Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned"). However, the gospel reveals that through faith in Jesus Christ, the "unjust" can be declared "righteous." Christ Himself became sin for us so that "in Him we might become the righteousness of God," as powerfully stated in [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness"). His atoning sacrifice on the cross cleanses us from all "filthiness," making us holy and blameless before God, a truth echoed in [Ephesians 1:4](/ephesians/1-4 "Ephesians 1:4 - Chosen in Him Before the Foundation of the World"). Therefore, the eternal sealing of the righteous and holy is not based on human merit but on the finished work of Christ, who justifies and sanctifies His people. He is the source of our righteousness ([Philippians 3:9](/philippians/3-9 "Philippians 3:9 - Righteousness Through Faith")) and the one who sets us apart as holy ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through the Offering of Jesus Christ")). Thus, Revelation 22:11 ultimately points to the glorious and permanent security found in Christ, whose work ensures that those who are "in Him" will indeed be "righteous still" and "holy still" for eternity.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Daniel 12:10

Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Proverbs 4:18

But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Ezekiel 3:27

But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they [are] a rebellious house.

2 Timothy 3:13

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Matthew 15:14

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Job 17:9

The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

Matthew 5:6

Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.