Read & explore together
Jesus Is Coming
This closing vision in Revelation is urgent and clear. It says the message is trustworthy, repeats that Jesus is coming soon, corrects mistaken worship, and ends with a wide invitation to receive the water of life.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In these verses, John speaks as the one who heard and saw the vision. An angel confirms the truth of the prophecy and tells John not to seal it up. Jesus speaks directly about his coming, his reward, and his testimony to the assemblies, and the passage ends with an invitation to come.
Revelation 22:6–17Main takeaway
This passage urges hearers to trust the prophecy, worship God, and respond to Jesus’ coming with obedience and open-hearted desire for life.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Faithful words that call for keepingThe passage opens by saying these words are “faithful and true”. The Lord God sent his angel to show his bondservants what must happen soon.
Explanation
The passage opens by saying these words are “faithful and true”. The Lord God sent his angel to show his bondservants what must happen soon. Then a blessing is given, not simply for hearing, but for keeping the words of this prophecy. Trust in the message is joined to a faithful response.
02John is corrected: worship GodJohn says he is the one who heard and saw these things. When he falls down before the angel, the angel stops him.
Explanation
John says he is the one who heard and saw these things. When he falls down before the angel, the angel stops him. The angel describes himself as a fellow bondservant with John, the prophets, and those who keep this book’s words. The command is direct and central: “Worship God.”
03The time is at handJohn is told not to seal up the prophecy because “the time is at hand”. The next words are solemn.
Explanation
John is told not to seal up the prophecy because “the time is at hand”. The next words are solemn. The unjust and filthy continue in their ways, while the righteous and holy continue in theirs. In this vision, the nearness of the time gives weight to the direction a person is taking.
04Jesus’ coming, judgement, blessing and invitationJesus says, “I am coming soon”, and his reward is with him to repay each person according to his work.
Explanation
Jesus says, “I am coming soon”, and his reward is with him to repay each person according to his work. He names himself with great titles of beginning and ending. Those who do his commandments are blessed, while others remain outside. Yet the final note is generous: the thirsty may come and take the water of life freely.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reasons does this passage give for taking its message seriously?
Notice the description “faithful and true”, the statement that the time is at hand, and the repeated words that Jesus is coming soon.
02What does the angel’s correction teach John, and the reader, about worship?
Compare John falling before the angel with the angel calling himself a fellow bondservant and saying, “Worship God.”
03How do blessing and warning appear together near the end of the passage?
Look at the blessing for those who do his commandments, the list of those outside, and the open invitation for the thirsty to come.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Revelation 22:6–17
6He 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 am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8Now 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.
9He said to me, “You must not do that! 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.”
10He said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
11He 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 am coming soon! My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.
13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14Blessed 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.
15Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16I, 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.”
17The 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.