Paths in Biblical Studies

Book of Revelation · Chapter 22 of 22

Revelation 22: Verse-by-Verse Commentary (with Videos)

21 verses · 5 video commentaries from 3 courses · Berean Standard Bible

1Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

2down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him.

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

5There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.

6Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.”

7“Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.”

8And I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things.

9But he said to me, “Do 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!”

10Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near.

11Let 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.”

12“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.

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

14Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.

15But 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 give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”

17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.

18I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

19And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.

20He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

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

Revelation 22 Section and Chapter Commentary

Rev 22:1-5

The Bible's Full Circle: From Garden to Garden

The entire biblical narrative can be viewed as a journey from a garden to a garden, symbolizing the restoration of creation and humanity. It begins in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2), culminates in the new Heaven and new Earth with a new Garden of Eden (Revelation 21-22), and includes the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus, the 'second Adam' (Romans 5), makes the obedient choice that Adam failed to make. This motif underscores the ultimate purpose of the biblical story: to restore creation and humanity to a state free from the curse.

Summarized by AI · Jesus and the Old Testament · Lecture 6: Some Thoughts to Ponder About What the Bible is and What We're Supposed to do with it · watch the clip

Rev 22:16-21

Erasmus's Translation of Revelation's Ending

When Erasmus produced the first printed Greek New Testament in 1516, his manuscript of Revelation was missing the last six verses. To complete the text, he translated the Latin Vulgate back into Greek, creating a Greek wording for Revelation's ending that is not found in any other Greek manuscript. This version, part of the 'Textus Receptus,' influenced subsequent translations like the King James Bible.

Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Who Changed the Bible, and Why? · watch the clip

Revelation 22 Verse Notes

Rev 22:13

Purpose of Revelation: Destruction of God's Enemies

John of Patmos's primary purpose in writing Revelation is to emphasize the imminent destruction of God's enemies, which include the Roman Empire, its emperor, and most of humanity. Only Christians who adhere to John's specific viewpoint will be saved and rewarded, while other Christians, Jews, and pagans face violent destruction. The author explicitly describes the book as being about the wrath of God.

Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Does John of Patmos Accept the Gospel of Jesus? · watch the clip

Revelation's support for Christ's equality with God

During the 4th-century Arian controversy, which debated Christ's divine status, Revelation became useful for supporting the orthodox view. The book states that both God and Christ are the 'Alpha and the Omega,' the beginning and the end. This implied their equality, countering Arius's argument that Christ was subordinate to God, and thus helped solidify Revelation's place in the canon.

Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Why is the Book of Revelation in the Bible? · watch the clip

Rev 22:18-19

The Curse Against Altering the Book

Revelation includes a curse at its conclusion, warning against adding to or taking away from its prophetic words. This feature, also found in other ancient texts like the Letter of Aristeas, was intended to preserve the integrity of the book. It promises plagues for those who add and loss of their share in the tree of life for those who subtract.

Summarized by AI · The New Testament: Exploring the Christian Bible · Lecture 26: Visions of the End | Decoding Revelation · watch the clip

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