Revelation 22 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~AD 95, near the end of the emperor Domitian's reign
Location
Written from Patmos to churches in the Roman province of Asia, closing a letter meant to be read aloud in each congregation
Audience
Seven Christian congregations in western Asia Minor, and by extension later readers of the whole book
Situation
John sees a river of the water of life running down the city's main street with the tree of life on either bank, bearing fruit every month. The book closes with warnings not to alter its words, a promise that Jesus is coming soon, and a final blessing.
Key Background
The tree of life and the river reverse the opening chapters of Genesis, where humanity was barred from that tree, so the story ends by restoring what was lost at the start. Warnings against adding to or subtracting from a text were a standard protective formula in the ancient world, used in treaties, wills, and legal documents to stop copyists tampering, and Deuteronomy uses the same wording. Marana tha, the Aramaic prayer meaning our Lord, come, was already in use in early worship, which shows this closing came out of the churches' actual gatherings rather than being invented for the page.
Then the angel showed me the river of the of clear as crystal, flowing from the of God and of the
It flowed down the middle of the city's main street. On each side of the river stood the of producing twelve crops of fruit — yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the were for the of the
There will no longer be anything under a The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his will him.
They will and will be on their
There will be no more night. They won't need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will shine on them. And they will and
Then the angel told me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord — the God who gives to the prophets — sent angel to show servants what must happen
"Look — I am coming soon! is for anyone who the words of the prophecy in this book."
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.
But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a with you and with your and the prophets, and with all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!"
Then he told me, "Don't up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is
"Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong. Let the one who is continue in corruption. Let the one who does what is right continue to do right. And let the one who is continue to be
"Look — I am coming soon! And my is with me, to give to each person according to what they have done."
"I am the and the the and the the Beginning and the End."
is for those who their so that they will have the right to the of and may go through the gates into the city."
"Outside are the — those who practice the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol-worshipers, and everyone who loves and practices
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the I am the and the of the bright
The and the say, "Come!" Let anyone who hears this say, "Come!" Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wants it take the of as a
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the described in this book.
And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, will take away that person's in the tree of life and in the that to that are described in this book.
The one who to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
The of the Lord Jesus be with all of