Revelation 22:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

NIV: Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.'

NASB: And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.'

CSB: "Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

NLT: 'Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book. '

KJV: Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

NKJV: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

The translated words of this verse have produced controversy. Here, in English, Jesus promises to return "soon." The Greek word translated here is also used in Revelation 22:12, and 20: tachy. This word may also be translated "quickly." This means Jesus' emphasis here is on the nature of His return, rather than the schedule of His return. The prospect of the imminent return of our Lord should motivate every Christian to long for His return and maintain personal purity, just as Jesus is pure (1 John 3:2–3).

Those who neglect the warnings of Revelation deprive themselves of the blessings it promises. This promise of blessing is the sixth beatitude in this message (Revelation 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:14). A blessing was stated at the beginning of the message (Revelation 1:3) and this sixth blessing is found near the close. A seventh blessing is announced in verse 14. We may not understand perfectly everything that is written in Revelation, but we will find blessing if we study it and seek to follow what information it gives us.

Revelation 22:6–13 moves on from the description of life in New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9—22:5) and focuses on Jesus' return. This marks the end of John's visions of the future, returning to more immediate instructions for Christian believers; this is the epilogue to the book of Revelation. Both the beginning and closing of Revelation offer a blessing (Revelation 1:3; 22:7). Both stress the importance of keeping the prophecy being given (Revelation 1:3; 22:7). And both identify Jesus as the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8; 22:13).

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.''

Accessed 5/8/2024 7:41:42 AM