Revelation 22:4 - Printer Friendly

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

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

NASB: they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.

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

NLT: And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.

KJV: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

NKJV: They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.

One of the beatitudes promises that the pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5:8). John 1:18 declares that no one has seen God at any time, but that situation no longer exists in the heavenly city. God's redeemed, glorified servants will see His face, as Revelation 22:4 tells us. Although New Jerusalem is a beautiful place, undoubtedly the best thing about it is the privilege given to God's servants to see His face. The experience suggests a degree of intimacy previously unknown.

Further, God's name will be on His servants' foreheads. This might be a poetic reference, or a literal physical seal. God's "name" stands for His character and His ownership of His servants. In the tribulation unbelievers received the mark of the beast on their foreheads as a pledge of their loyalty to him (Revelation 13:16–17). Throughout eternity God's servants will demonstrate their loyalty to the One who redeemed them.

First Peter 1:18–19 reminds us that we were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. It is appropriate that we should not wait until heaven to serve Him. He gave His all for us, therefore we should give our all to Him.

Revelation 22:1–5 provides further details of New Jerusalem, which was introduced in the preceding chapter. Based on the language used, some interpreters debate whether New Jerusalem will exist during the thousand-year reign of Christ, providing sustenance for those who live on the earth; or, if it will only appear after the end of the millennium. Either way, in New Jerusalem eternal conditions exist in perfection and peace.

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.

This passage completes the description of New Jerusalem. Earlier chapters in Revelation described the final judgments against sin and death. Genesis chapter 3 described humanity's loss of paradise; Revelation 22 describes paradise regained. Concluding remarks by Jesus begin in verse 6 and continue through verse 20. Verse 21 records the apostle John's benediction, which marks the end of the New Testament canon.

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''