Revelation 22
1 The angel showed me the river of water [that causes people who drink from it] to live [forever]. The water was sparkling and clear like crystal. The river was flowing out from the throne where God and the [one who is like a] lamb [were sitting].
And he shewed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,
2 It flowed down through the middle of the [main] street of the city. On each side of the river were trees [bearing fruit that causes people who eat it] to live forever. [The trees] bear twelve [crops] (OR, twelve [kinds]) of fruit; [they] produce one crop each month. The [people of the] nations [MTY] [use] the leaves of these trees [as medicine] in order that they may feel stronger
in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve [manner of] fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 There will never be [anyone or anything there that God] will be [under God’s] curse. The throne of God and the [one who is like a] lamb will be in the city. And God’s servants will worship him there.
And there shall be no curse any more: and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein: and his servants shall do him service;
4 They will see him face-to-face, and his name will be [written] {[he] will [write] his name} on their foreheads.
and they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] on their foreheads.
5 There will never again be night. [God’s servants] will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will shine his light upon them. And they will rule forever. (aiōn g165)
And there shall be night no more; and they need no light of lamp, neither light of sun; for the Lord God shall give them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. (aiōn g165)
6 The angel said to me: “These words that [God has revealed to you] are true, and he will certainly do what he has promised to do. The Lord God who ([inspires] the prophets/tells the prophets what to say) sent his angel to show the people who serve him the events that must happen soon.”
And he said unto me, These words are faithful and true: and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly come to pass.
7 [Jesus says to all his people], “Listen [to] this! I am coming soon; [God will abundantly] bless everyone who obeys what [has been commanded] in this book.”
And behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book.
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw [in a vision] these things [that I have written down]. When I had heard and seen [them], I immediately knelt down at the feet of the angel who was showing them to me, in order to worship him.
And I John am he that heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 But he said to me, “Do not [worship me] I am [just] your fellow servant! I am also the fellow servant of your fellow believers who are (the prophets/the ones who tell messages that come directly from God), and I am a fellow servant of those who obey what has been commanded in this book. [Instead], worship God!”
And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets, and with them which keep the words of this book: worship God.
10 He also said to me, “Do not keep secret the message about what [God] has foretold in this book, because it is almost time [MTY] for him to [what he has promised to do in this message].
And he saith unto me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand.
11 [Since that time is near, if] those who act in an evil manner [want to] continue to act that way [IRO], [that is up to them. God will soon] ([pay them back/punish them]) [for that. If] those who are vile [want to] continue to be vile [IRO], [that is up to them. God will soon] ([pay them back/punish them]) [for that]. Those who are [acting] righteously should continue to act righteously. And those who are holy should continue to be holy.”
He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.
12 [Jesus says this to everyone]: “Listen! I am coming soon! And I will pay back everyone according to what each one has done, by [punishing or] rewarding them.
Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is.
13 I [am] the one who began all things [MET] and the one who will cause all things to end [MET]. I existed before [all things existed] and I will exist at the end [of all things] [DOU].
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
14 [God] is very pleased with the people who wash their robes, [making themselves spiritually clean] [MET], because they will be able to [eat the fruit of] [MTY] the tree [that enables people] to live [forever], and because they will [be able] to enter the gates into the [holy] city.
Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right [to come] to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
15 [People who are unholy] will not be allowed to enter the city. They include people who practice sorcery, people who sin sexually, murderers, idol worshipers, and everyone who enjoys telling lies and are continual liars. [They can never enter that city].”
Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.
16 “I, Jesus, sent my angel in order that he might tell you who are in the congregations [that all] these things [that have been said are true]. I am the descendant of [King] David [whom the prophets promised would come] [MET]. I am the [one who is like] the bright morning star [MET], the one [that Moses promised would come].”
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star.
17 [God’s] Spirit and [his people, who are like] [MET] the bride [of Christ], say [to each one who desires to believe], “Come!” Whoever hears [this] should also say [to each one who desires to believe], “Come!” [Spiritually thirsty people should come] [MET]! Everyone who desires the water [that enables people to] live [forever] should take it as a free gift!
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.
18 “I, [Jesus, solemnly] warn everyone who hears what [I] have foretold in this book: If anyone adds anything to this message, God will cause him to experience the plagues that are {that [I] have} described in this book.
I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book:
19 If anyone omits any of the message about what [I] have foretold in this book, God will take away that person’s right [to eat fruit from] [MTY] the tree [that enables people] to live [forever]. He [will also take away] that person’s right [to enter] God’s city. [Both these things] are described {[I] have described [both these things]} in this book.”
and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
20 [Jesus], who says that [all] the things written here are true, says, “Certainly I am coming soon!” [I, John, reply], “(May it be so!/Amen!) Lord Jesus, come!”
He which testifieth these things saith, Yea: I come quickly. Amen: come, Lord Jesus.
21 [I pray that our] Lord Jesus [will continue to] act kindly to all [of you who are God’s people]. (Amen!/May it be so!)
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with the saints. Amen.
