Catholic Commentary on Revelation 22

"Come! And let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life." (Revelation 22:17)

The River of Life

The angel shows John the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stands the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

The tree of life, which disappeared from the story in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden, reappears here in the new Jerusalem, bearing twelve crops and healing the nations with its leaves. The river that flows from the throne of God echoes Ezekiel 47, where water flows from the Temple and brings life to the Dead Sea. But this water flows from no earthly temple: it flows from the throne itself, from the very presence of God and the Lamb. The Catechism identifies this as the fulfilment of all sacramental life: the water of Baptism, the blood of the Eucharist, the oil of anointing, all participate in and point toward this river that flows from the throne of the Lamb (CCC 1090).

Come

The angel testifies to the truth of the prophecy. Jesus himself says: I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this scroll. John falls at the feet of the angel, who corrects him: do not worship me, only God. The one who is holy must continue to be holy; the one who is wicked will continue to be wicked. I am coming soon. My reward is with me. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Come! And let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

The Spirit and the Bride say: come. Let the one who hears say: come. The final exchange of the book, of the whole Bible: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen. The Catechism calls this the final prayer of Scripture, the summary of all Christian eschatological hope, the cry of the Church for the return of her Lord (CCC 2853). The Bible ends not with a statement but with a longing, not with an explanation but with an invitation: come.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, the tree of life is bearing fruit on both sides of the river and its leaves heal the nations. The curse is lifted. Every grief that entered with Genesis 3 is answered in Revelation 22. The God who began the story in a garden ends it in a city that is also a garden, with the river running clear and the tree bearing fruit for every nation. Come. The invitation is open. The water is free. The only requirement is thirst.

Prayer

Come, Lord Jesus. The Spirit and the Bride say come. Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. Alpha and Omega, First and Last, Beginning and End: come quickly. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all your people. Amen. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

22
The River of Life
1 Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
 
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him. 4 They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.
Jesus Is Coming
 
6 Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon * 22:6 Or suddenly or quickly; similarly in verses 7, 12, and 20 take place.”
 
7 “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.† 22:7 Or scroll; also in verses 9, 10, 18, 19”
 
8 And I am John, who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. 9 But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
 
10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near. 11 Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.”
 
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
 
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes,‡ 22:14 BYZ and TR Blessed are those who do His commandments so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. 15 But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
 
16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”
 
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.
Nothing May Be Added or Removed
 
18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.
 
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
 
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus § 22:21 WH and BYZ the Lord Jesus Christ; TR our Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints.* 22:21 SBL, WH, NE, and TR do not include the saints.
 
Amen.† 22:21 SBL, WH, NE, and NA do not include Amen.

*22:6 22:6 Or suddenly or quickly; similarly in verses 7, 12, and 20

†22:7 22:7 Or scroll; also in verses 9, 10, 18, 19

‡22:14 22:14 BYZ and TR Blessed are those who do His commandments

§22:21 22:21 WH and BYZ the Lord Jesus Christ; TR our Lord Jesus Christ

*22:21 22:21 SBL, WH, NE, and TR do not include the saints.

†22:21 22:21 SBL, WH, NE, and NA do not include Amen.

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