Revelation 22:6-21 - Jesus Is Returning - Bible Studies With Mark

 

And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place." "And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, "You must 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." And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 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, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. [Rev 22:6-21 ESV] 

 

The concluding passage of the Bible, Revelation 22:6–21, serves as both a grand finale and a final appeal. It transitions from the vision of the New Jerusalem back to the immediate reality of the first-century reader, emphasizing that the prophecies are "trustworthy and true."

The Validation of the Vision (22:6–9)

The passage begins with a validation of John's vision: "These words are trustworthy and true." Further, the angel reinforces the divine source and authority of the message: "the words are from "the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets."" This establishes that John is in the line of the biblical prophets. The angel emphasizes that the return of Jesus is imminent. The phrase "I am coming soon" appears for the first of three times in this chapter. In the Greek context (tachy), this suggests "certainty" and "suddenness" rather than a specific calendar date. The angel also reminds us to use caution in our worship. When John falls at the feet of the angel, the angel quickly rebukes him. This emphasizes that only God is worthy of worship. This is a critical reminder for a church facing the pressure of Emperor worship.

The Final Invitation and Warning (22:10–15)

Unlike Daniel, who was told to "seal up" his prophecy (Daniel 12:4) because the time was distant, John is told not to seal it.

The Fixed State (v. 11)

“Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong... let the one who is holy continue to be holy."

This isn't an encouragement to sin; it's a sobering observation. As the end approaches, people tend to settle into their chosen spiritual trajectories. Character becomes permanent. Verse 14 describes the Blessed. They are those who “wash their robes”, who have the right to the Tree of Life, and who may enter the gates of the city.

Not so with the Excluded. They are called “dogs”, a first century metaphor for the impure. They are described as sorcerers, sexually immoral, murders, and those who love falsehood. And they will have no part in God’s kingdom.

The tension between verse 11 and verse 17 is the topic of much debate among Biblical scholars. The message for the reader (or hearer) is: "If you are going to ignore this prophecy, then go ahead—continue in your filth. But know that the end is here, and you will be found exactly as you are." The nature of humans is rebellious and resistant to change. God will not force us to believe Him; He gives us a choice (free will). But that choice comes with an expiration date. Time is running out, and the opportunity for repentance and salvation is growing short. The finality is not about God forcing people to be evil; it is about the end of the era of change. It serves as an urgent reminder that while grace is infinite in its quality, it is finite in its duration. The message sits right on the edge of human responsibility and divine timing, thus the debate.

Christ’s Personal Testimony (22:16–17)

Jesus speaks directly here, using titles that bridge the Old and New Testaments. The Root and Offspring of David indicate that He is both the source of David and his descendant (the Messiah). The Bright Morning Star tells us that He is the herald of a new day. He is signaling the end of the "night" of human history. The symbolism of the Spirit and calling the Bride (the Church) is a dual invitation. The Church calls for Christ to return, and together they invite the thirsty world to come and drink the water of life freely.

The Canonical Warning (22:18–19)

These verses are often called the "Canon Formula." John issues a severe warning against adding to or taking away from "the words of the prophecy of this book." Adding to the Book will result in the offender receiving the plagues described in the book. Subtracting from the Book will result in God taking away the person’s share in the Tree of Life. While specifically referring to Revelation, this has traditionally been viewed as a seal on the entire biblical canon.

The Final Benediction (22:20–21)

The book ends with a short dialogue and a blessing:

• The Promise: "Yes, I am coming soon." 
• The Prayer: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus" (The Aramaic Maranatha).
• The Grace: "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen."

It is significant that the Bible, which begins with the tragedy of the Fall in Genesis, ends with the word "Grace." It shifts the focus from the terrifying judgments of the preceding chapters back to the sustaining power of Christ for the believer.