Revelation 22
22
Chapter 22
The river and the tree that give life
1Then the angel showed me a river. It had water that gives true life to people. The water shone like clean glass. The river of water started from the throne where God and the Lamb sit to rule. It ran from the throne 2along the middle of the city's biggest street. I saw a tree that was growing on each side of the river. It is the tree that gives people true life. It has 12 different kinds of fruit, a new fruit every month. The tree's leaves are like medicine. They make people of every nation well again.
3Nothing that is in the city will be under a curse. The throne where God and the Lamb sit to rule will be in the city. God's servants will worship him there. 4They will see his face. His name will be on the front of their heads. 5There will be no more night, so nobody will need a lamp to make light. They will not need light from the sun, because the Lord God will shine on them. They will rule as kings for ever.
The final message
6Then the angel said to me, ‘All these words are true and everyone should believe them. The Lord God uses his prophets to speak his messages. He has sent his angel to speak to his servants. The angel will now show them what must happen soon.’
7Jesus says, ‘Listen! I will come soon. #22:7 ‘I will come soon’ or ‘I will come quickly.’ God will bless everyone who obeys the words of the prophecy that is in this book.’
John finishes his book
8I am John. I myself heard these things and I saw them. When I had heard them and I had seen them, I bent down low at the angel's feet. I wanted to worship him because he had shown these things to me. 9But the angel said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am only a servant of God, the same as you are. I serve God like all God's prophets, who are believers like you. I serve God like everyone who obeys God's message that is written in this book. God is the one that you must worship!’
10Then he said to me, ‘Do not hide the words of God's prophecy that are written in this book. The time is near when these things will happen. 11Let everybody continue to live as they choose. Everyone who does wrong things will continue to do wrong things. Everyone who is disgusting will continue to be disgusting. Everyone who does right things will continue to do right things. Everyone who belongs to God will continue to be holy.’ #22:11 Each person chooses what they will do. They choose whether they will do right things or wrong things. God will decide what is fair for each person. He will judge them because of what they have done.
12Jesus says, ‘Listen! I will come quickly! I know what each person has done. I will give each one what they ought to have. I am ready to do that. 13I caused all things to begin and I will cause the end of all things. I am the first and the last. I am the beginning and the end.
14 Believers who keep themselves clean will be happy. They are like people who always wash their clothes. I will let them eat the fruit from the tree that causes people to have true life. I will let them go through the gates into the city. 15But other people must stay outside the city:
wicked people;
people who do magic;
people who have sex in a wrong way;
people who murder other people;
people who worship idols;
everyone who likes to tell lies and deceive people.
16I am Jesus. I have sent my angel to tell you this message. You must tell it to all the people in the churches. I am called the Root of King David. I am his descendant. I am the bright morning star.’ #22:16 See Revelation 5:5 and the note there. Jesus was born into King David's family when he came to this earth as a man. Jesus is greater than David. He has always been alive and he made everything and everyone.
17God's Spirit and all God's people answer Jesus. They say, ‘Yes, come!’ God's people are like a bride for Jesus. Everyone who hears this should also say to Jesus, ‘Come!’ Anyone who is thirsty should come to Jesus. Then that person will receive from Jesus the water that gives life. Anyone who wants it may take it. They will not have to pay anything for it.
18Now John says this. I say clearly to everyone who hears the words of God's prophecy that are written in this book: If anyone adds any more words than are already in this book, God will punish them. The terrible troubles that this book describes will happen to them. 19And if anyone takes away from the words that are in this book, God will punish them too. He will not let them eat the fruit from his tree that gives life. God will not let them live in his holy city either. This book describes all these things.
20It is Jesus who tells us that all these messages are true. He says, ‘Yes, I will come soon!’
Amen! We agree! Come, Lord Jesus!
21I pray that the Lord Jesus will continue to be kind to all of you.
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Revelation 22: EASY
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