What does Revelation 22:17 mean?
The apostle Paul affirmed the truth that salvation is a free gift (Ephesians 2:8–9). This verse extends the final invitation to sinners to come to Christ and quench their spiritual thirst. The Holy Spirit extends this invitation through the Bride, the church. Those who come to Christ drink the water of life freely.During His earthly ministry, Jesus met a spiritually thirsty woman at a well. Her reputation was wretched and she drew water alone and at an inconvenient time of day. Jesus asked her for a drink of water and engaged her in a conversation about water. He told her that water from Jacob's well would quench thirst only temporarily but the water He offered would quench thirst forever: salvation curing a spiritual thirst (John 4:13–14). The woman responded gladly to Jesus' offer of living water. Soon she brought the people of the city to the well to "come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" (John 4:29).
Revelation 22:14–21 concludes the epilogue begun in verse 6. It contains promises, blessing, an invitation, a warning, and a benediction. The Old Testament closed with the promise that the sun of righteousness will arise with healing in its wings (Malachi 4:2). The New Testament closes with the promise that the ''bright and morning star'' will come. Just as the morning star appears before the sun arises, so Jesus will come for the church before He returns to restore Israel to Himself.
John sees additional images of New Jerusalem. The city's depiction stands in contrast to the ruin experienced during the tribulation, and evokes comparisons to the garden of Eden from the book of Genesis. After this, John relates several commands and messages from Jesus Christ. Among these are a dire warning not to manipulate the words of this message. Revelation, along with the canon of Scripture, ends with a benediction and prayer for Jesus to return.