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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
22:6-21 Epilogue. John's epilogue repeats themes of his prologue, reaffirming the transmission and trustworthiness of the book, pronouncing blessing on those who keep its words, and promising the imminent coming of Jesus.
22:6-9 Transmission and Trustworthiness of the Revelation, Promise that Jesus Is Coming Soon, Promise of Blessing. As at the end of the vision of the prostitute (19:9-10), in concluding the revelation of the bride, the angel affirms that God's words are trustworthy, pronounces one of Revelation's seven benedictions (see chart), and rebukes John for starting to worship a creature rather than God alone. This exchange also echoes the prologue: God sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place (cf. 1:1); the one who keeps the words of the prophecy is "blessed"; and Jesus affirms, "I am coming soon" (cf. 1:7).
22:6-7 These words are trustworthy and true. The unique truth and trustworthiness of the revealed word (and words) of God are underscored seven times in the last two chapters of Revelation, as indicated first in 21:5, as repeated in 22:6, 7, 9, 10, and then in the solemn warning in vv. 18 and 19 to anyone who "takes away from the words of this book." The centrality, authority, sufficiency, and eternality of the word (and words) of God are foundational to all of Scripture, from the first words of Genesis to the last words of Revelation, as seen, e.g., in: Gen. 1:3 ("And God said"); Ex. 20:1 ("God spoke all these words"); Deut. 6:6 ("these words . . . shall be on your heart"); Deut. 32:47 ("by this word you shall live"); Psalm 12:6 ("The words of the Lord are pure words"); Isa. 40:8 ("the word of our God will stand forever"); Matt. 4:4 ("Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word"); Matt. 24:35 ("Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away"); Luke 24:44 ("These are my words"); John 1:1 ("In the beginning was the Word"); John 6:68 ("You have the words of eternal life"); and 1 Pet. 1:25 ("the word of the Lord remains forever"). Blessed is the one who keeps the words of . . . this book. A timeless promise for believers in every age. "Blessed" here in Rev. 22:7 echoes the first "blessed" (see 1:3 and note) and is the sixth of seven benedictions throughout the book of Revelation.
