Revelation 22:20 - Printer Friendly

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

NIV: He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

NASB: He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

CSB: He who testifies about these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

NLT: He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon!' Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

KJV: He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

NKJV: He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

In this verse we read Jesus' affirmation that He is surely coming "soon." As with similar statements in Revelation, this is translated from the Greek word tachys, which most literally means "quickly." This is more a statement on the way Jesus will return than a claim about when He will return. While there are no more major events left preceding His return, we cannot claim to know exactly when that moment will arrive (Matthew 24:36).

His coming may be soon—today or tomorrow, but the time of Jesus' return is locked up in the counsels of God. Whenever He comes, the event will occur quickly. First Corinthians 15:52 describes the event as occurring "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." John and the other disciples heard Jesus promise: "I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:3).

We also read the apostle John's prayer: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" Every prophecy regarding Jesus' first coming was fulfilled literally, and every prophecy about His second coming will be fulfilled literally. Jesus' promise to return must have encouraged John when he endured exile on the island of Patmos.

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.

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.''