Revelation 22

1 Then the angel showed me a river [pure and crystal clear] of the water of life [eternal and abundant], as clear [bright and shining] as crystal [a precious and transparent stone], flowing [proceeding continuously] from the throne [the seat of divine authority and power] of God [the Almighty and loving Creator] and of the Lamb [the sacrificial and redeeming Savior] word study 2 down the middle [in the midst] of the main street [wide road] of the city. On either side [from here and from there] of the river [stream of water] stood a tree [wood or a wooden object] of life [eternal existence], bearing twelve [a dozen] kinds of fruit [the product of the tree] and yielding a fresh crop [giving its fruit] for each month [every month]. And the leaves [the green parts] of the tree are for the healing [service or restoration] of the nations [Gentiles or people]. word study 3 No longer [there shall be no more, will not exist] will there be any curse [condemnation, evil]. The throne [seat of power, authority] of God [the Almighty, Creator] and of the Lamb [Jesus Christ, the Savior] will be within [in the midst of, among] the city, and His servants [slaves, devoted followers] will worship [serve, minister to] Him. word study 4 They will see [behold, gaze upon] His face [presence, countenance], and His name [character, authority] will be on [written upon, inscribed] their foreheads [brows, the front of the face]. word study 5 There will be no more [absolute darkness, night’s absence] night in the city, and they will have no need for the light [illumination, radiance] of a lamp [portable light source] or of the sun [heavenly body, solar light]. For the Lord [supreme authority, Master] God [the one true deity, Creator] will shine [illuminate, give light] on them, and they will reign [rule, have authority] forever [eternally, without end] and ever [perpetually, throughout all ages]. word study 6 Then the angel [messenger of God] said to me, “These words [sayings, prophetic messages] are faithful [trustworthy, reliable] and true [genuine, authentic]. The Lord [Master, Sovereign], the God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] of the spirits [breath, vital principle] of the prophets [those who speak forth God’s message], has sent [dispatched, commissioned] His angel [heavenly messenger] to show [reveal, exhibit] His servants [bondservants, those who serve Him] what must [is necessary, destined to] soon [quickly, swiftly] take place [happen, come to pass].” word study 7 “Behold [see, perceive], I am coming [approaching, arriving] soon [quickly, without delay]. Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] is the one who keeps [observes, watches over] the words [messages, teachings] of prophecy [divine utterance, revelation] in this book [scroll, written document]. ” word study 8 And I am John [the apostle, a disciple of Jesus], who heard [listened and understood, perceived with my ears] and saw [perceived with my eyes, witnessed] these things [events, visions]. And when I had heard [listened and comprehended] and seen [beheld, observed] them, I fell down [collapsed, prostrated myself] to worship [show reverence, honor, and adoration] at the feet [in the presence, before] of the angel [messenger, heavenly being] who had shown [revealed, exhibited, made known] me these things [mysteries, revelations]. word study 9 But he said to me, “Do not [refrain from, stop] do that! I am a fellow servant [a slave of the same master] with you and your brothers [believing siblings] the prophets [those who speak God’s message], and with those who keep [obey, guard] the words [logos, divine messages] of this book [scroll, written revelation]. Worship [bow down to] God [the one true Deity]!” word study 10 Then he told me, “Do not [refrain from, let alone] seal up [keep secret, lock away] the words [messages, sayings] of prophecy [foretelling, divine revelation] in this book [scroll, written document], because the time [appointed hour, opportune moment] is near [at hand, close at hand]. word study 11 Let the unrighteous [who act unjustly] continue to be unrighteous, and the vile [morally filthy] continue to be vile; let the righteous [just] continue to practice righteousness [living according to God’s will], and the holy [set apart] continue to be holy [sanctified].” word study 12 “Behold [see, perceive, attend to], I am coming [approaching, drawing near] soon [quickly, without delay], and My reward [wage, payment for work done] is with [accompanied by, in the company of] Me, to give [pay, render, bestow] to each one [every individual, each person] according to [in proportion to, corresponding to] what he has done [his work, his deeds, his actions]. word study 13 I am the Alpha [the first letter of the Greek alphabet] and the Omega [the last letter], the First [having no beginning] and the Last [having no end], the Beginning [the origin, the starting point] and the End [the culmination, the final result].” word study 14 Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] are those who wash [purify, cleanse] their robes [garments], so that they may have the right [authority, privilege] to the tree [wood or a wooden object] of life [eternal, spiritual existence] and may enter [go into, access] the city [heavenly, spiritual community] by its gates [entrances, portals]. word study 15 But outside [beyond the city gates, in the darkness] are the dogs [those who are morally unclean, worthless], the sorcerers [those who practice magical arts, witchcraft], the sexually immoral [fornicators, those who engage in sinful lust], the murderers [those who take innocent lives], the idolaters [those who worship false gods, images], and everyone who loves [has a strong affection for] and practices [makes, invents] falsehood [lies, deception]. word study 16 “I, Jesus [the Son of God, the Messiah], have sent My angel [a heavenly messenger] to give you this testimony [a witness, a declaration of truth] for the churches [assemblies, communities of believers]. I am the Root [the source, the origin] and the Offspring [the descendant, the heir] of David [King of Israel, an ancestor of Jesus], the bright [shining, radiant] Morning Star [a celestial body].” word study 17 The Spirit [the vital principle] and the bride [a newly married woman, the church] say, “Come [to come or go]!” Let the one who hears [listens and understands] say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty [having a strong desire] come, and the one who desires [wills or intends] the water [literal or figurative] of life [physical and spiritual existence] drink freely [without cost or obligation]. word study 18 I [as a witness] testify to everyone who hears [listens and understands] the words [messages, prophecies] of prophecy [divine revelation, God’s spoken word] in this book: If anyone adds [appends, inserts] to them, God [the Almighty, Creator] will add [impose, lay upon] to him the plagues [judgments, afflictions] described [written, recorded] in this book. word study 19 And if anyone [diminishes] takes away from the words [messages, prophecies] of this book [scroll] of prophecy [God’s foretelling, divine revelation], God [the Supreme Being, Creator] will take away [remove, cut off] his share [portion, inheritance] in the tree [wood or a wooden object] of life [eternal existence, spiritual vitality] and the holy [set apart, sacred] city [heavenly dwelling, New Jerusalem], which are described [written, recorded] in this book [scroll, written document]. word study 20 He who testifies [gives witness, bears testimony] to these things [all the prophetic words] says, “Yes [verily, truly], I am coming [will arrive, will return] soon [quickly, without delay].” Amen [so be it, may it be so]. Come [draw near, approach], Lord [Master, Sovereign] Jesus [God is salvation]! word study 21 The [divine, unmerited] grace [favor, loving-kindness] of the Lord [God, Master] Jesus [God is salvation, the Christ] be with [among, accompanying] all [every, the entire group of] the saints [holy ones, set apart]. Amen [so be it, trustworthy]. word study