← All Chapters The Book of Revelation · Chapter 22

Revelation 22: Behold, I Come Quickly

The river and tree of life flow through the city, the curse is gone, and Jesus promises, Behold, I come quickly.

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Revelation 22 (WEB)

1 He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,

2 in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him.

4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

5 There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.

6 He said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon.”

7 “Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

8 Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things.

9 He said to me, “See you don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

10 He said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.

11 He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.”

12 “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 Blessed are those who do his commandments,that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star.”

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.

18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book.

19 If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

20 He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.

Summary

The angel shows John the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the city's street. On either side stands the tree of life, bearing fruit every month, its leaves for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse; the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, his servants will serve him and see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no night, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever. The angel affirms that these words are faithful and true, and Jesus declares, Behold, I come quickly; blessed is the one who keeps the words of this book. When John again falls to worship the angel, he is told to worship God alone and not to seal up the prophecy, for the time is near. Jesus repeats his promise to come and to bring his reward, identifying himself as the Alpha and Omega, the Root and Offspring of David, the bright morning star. The Spirit and the Bride say, Come, inviting all who are thirsty to take the water of life freely. A solemn warning guards the words of the book, and the book closes with Jesus' final pledge, Yes, I come quickly, John's answering prayer, Amen, come, Lord Jesus, and a benediction of grace.

Key Figures

  • Jesus — The Lord who promises, Behold, I come quickly, names himself the Alpha and Omega and the bright morning star, and brings his reward with him.
  • The Spirit and the Bride — The Holy Spirit and the church who together cry, Come, inviting the thirsty to take the water of life freely.
  • John and the angel — John, who hears and sees these things and is told to worship God alone, and the angel who shows him the river and tree of life.

Key Verse

Revelation 22:20 (WEB)

He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.

Lessons Learned

  • In the renewed city the curse is gone and life flows freely from God's throne.
  • God's servants will see his face and reign with him forever.
  • Jesus promises to come quickly, and his people answer, Come, Lord Jesus.
  • The gospel ends with an open invitation to all who are thirsty to take the water of life freely.
  • The curse is undone. “There will be no curse any more” (Revelation 22:3, WEB). What sin brought into the world is fully and finally reversed.
  • We will see God's face. “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads” (Revelation 22:4, WEB). The deepest blessing is unhindered nearness to God.
  • Jesus is coming. “Behold, I come quickly” (Revelation 22:7, WEB). His promised return shapes the church's watchfulness and hope.
  • The invitation is open. “He who is thirsty, let him come… take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17, WEB). Grace is freely offered to all who will come.
  1. How do the river and tree of life echo the garden of Eden and show what God has been restoring all along?
  2. What does it mean that God's servants will see his face, and why is this such a profound promise?
  3. Why do you think the book ends with the repeated promise, I come quickly?
  4. How does the invitation, Come, take the water of life freely, summarize the heart of the gospel?
  5. As you finish Revelation, how do you want to respond to Jesus' words, Behold, I come quickly?
  1. The river and tree of life recall Eden, now restored and surpassed, with healing for the nations and no more curse (22:1-3). Help the group see that the Bible's story comes full circle: what was lost in the garden is gloriously regained in the city.
  2. To see God's face is the fulfillment of humanity's deepest longing, once impossible because of sin (22:4). Discuss the wonder of this intimacy, the goal toward which all worship and faith have been straining throughout Scripture.
  3. Three times in this chapter Jesus says he is coming quickly (22:7, 12, 20). The repeated promise leaves the church living in eager expectation, watchful and faithful, comforted that the wait, however long it feels, is not forever.
  4. The Spirit and the Bride invite the thirsty to come and drink freely (22:17). This open call captures the gospel's generosity: salvation is not earned but received as a gift by all who come to Jesus in thirst and faith.
  5. This is a personal-application question. As you close the study, invite members to answer Jesus' promise with John's prayer, Amen, come, Lord Jesus. As leader, encourage a response of longing, readiness, and hope as you commit the group to him.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.