Welcome to the very last post in our study on the book of Revelation. In our last post, we looked at a river flowing out of the new Jerusalem and the tree of life made available to the healing of the nations. In this last post, we will look at the closing comments given to the apostle John about the vision. And then lastly, we’ll look at the word of warning issued toward anyone that would read the words of John’s revelation. Let’s get into this!

Revelation Chapters 21 and 22

Fifth in a Five-Part Series
by Karen Thompson

Closing Comments

Rev. 22:10 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. 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. 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.

His last instruction to John was to not seal the words of the prophecy of this book: “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand” (v. 10). John was told not to seal up the revelation, meaning he wasn’t to keep the vision private. He was to distribute the vision to the seven churches. The only thing John was supposed to seal up was what the seven thunders said in Revelation chapter 10. He was to keep that secret.

Let’s look at verse 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.” A verse in Daniel 12:10 is a comparative verse: “Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be tried, smelted, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but the teachers and those who are wise shall understand.” Some people will receive the words in the book and some will not. Whether he receives the words or rejects the words, verse 12 tells us every man will be judged according to his actions, be they just or unjust: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

We again see the repeated expression in verse 13 when He says, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” Everything begins and ends in Him. What is interesting is that in the beginning of Revelation, Jesus said twice that He was Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end (Rev. 1:8 and 11). And He ends the vision of Revelation by again saying twice that He is Alpha and Omega (Rev. 21:6; Rev. 22:13), creating a full circle, where the book of Revelation begins and ends in the same place. 

Verses 14 and 15 tell us who will have the right to enter the city and who will not: “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. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” Only those who keep God’s commandments will be permitted to even enter the city through the gates to within the city to the tree of life. Verse 15 is yet again another list of the kind of people who will not be permitted inside the city: sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, idolaters, or liars. They are part of the old earth.

Jesus Is the Root and Offspring of David

Rev. 22:16 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. 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.

In verse 16, Jesus ended the vision by saying:“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.” Jesus ends the vision by saying He sent His angel to testify to John the things in the vision. That is exactly how Jesus began the vision. The first verses in the book of Revelation say, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw” (Rev. 1:1–2).

Jesus then declared, “I am the root and the offspring of David….” This is an expression that means He is a descendant of King David. Because His roots are from King David, the prophets called Him “the Branch.” (Isa. 11:1, Jer. 23:5, Zec. 6:12)

Jesus then called Himself “the bright and morning star.” If you recall, this is one of the overcomers’ rewards. Revelation 2:28 says to the overcomer, “I will give him the morning star.”

Verse 17 is a three-fold invitation to come and drink of the water of life freely: “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.” This is a reference to the river of life at the beginning of chapter 22: “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” There is an open invitation to anyone who desires to drink from the river of life to come and partake. The Father offers it freely.

Final Words of Warning

Rev. 22:18 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. 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.

John ended the prophecy of Revelation by giving a dire warning to those who would try to add words to the prophecy.He warns, “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book…” (v. 18). They’ll experience the plagues that are written inside the vision. Then he gives a warning to anyone that would try to subtract some of the words of the book: “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” (v. 19). They will lose everything. His name will be blotted out of the book of life, which means they’ll never have the privilege of access to the new Jerusalem.

 The book ends with a final blessing: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

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