Chapter 22
21 verses — switch translations with the toolbar below.
Scripture
KJV1And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
6And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
7Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
10And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11He 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.
12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14Blessed 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.
15For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16I 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.
17And 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.
18For 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:
19And 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.
20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
“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.”
Overview
The vision concludes with the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, and the tree of life bearing twelve kinds of fruit with leaves for the healing of the nations. There is no more curse, and God's servants see His face and reign forever. Jesus declares three times, 'I come quickly,' and the book closes with an urgent invitation: 'The Spirit and the bride say, Come.' A solemn warning is given not to add to or take from this prophecy.
Key Themes
The River and Tree of Life
The river of life and the tree of life restore what was lost in Eden, bringing the biblical story full circle — paradise is not merely regained but surpassed in the eternal city of God.
Seeing God Face to Face
The promise that God's servants will see His face is the ultimate fulfillment of every human longing — to know God directly, intimately, and without any barrier of sin or separation.
Come, Lord Jesus
The book ends not with fear but with eager longing, as the Spirit, the bride, and every thirsty soul join in the invitation to come — both to Christ and for Christ's return.
Study Questions
How does the tree of life in Revelation 22 connect to the tree of life in Genesis 2-3, and what does this bookend reveal about God's plan?
What does it mean that 'there shall be no more curse,' and how does this relate to the curse pronounced in Genesis 3?
Why does Jesus emphasize 'I come quickly' three times in this closing chapter, and what response does He desire?
How does the open invitation — 'whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely' — summarize the heart of the gospel?
What is the significance of the warning not to add to or take from the words of this prophecy, and how should this shape our approach to Scripture?
Connection to Christ
Revelation ends where the Bible's story has always been heading — the full, unhindered presence of God with His people, made possible through the Lamb. Jesus is the source of the water of life, the light of the eternal city, and the coming King whose return is the hope of all creation. His final words — 'Surely I come quickly' — are both a promise and an invitation to trust Him until that day.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Revelation 22. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?