Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Revelation 22

Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

a pure river of water of life

a river; cf. Rev 20:15.

the throne

Rev 4:2-3.

Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

the street

Rev 21:21.

the leaves of the tree

Contra, Gen 3:6-7.

Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

no more curse

Cf. Zec 14:11; contra, Gen 3:17.

the throne of God and of the Lamb

Rev 22:1.

his servants shall serve him

Rev 7:15.

Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

no night there

no more night.

candle

lamp.

the Lord

Jehovah. Isa 60:19.

Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

holy prophets

spirits of the prophets.

sent his angel

Rev 1:1.

shortly be done

Heb 10:37.

Rev 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

angel

Scofield Hebrews 1:4, note.

Rev 22:9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

fellowservant

Heb 1:14.

Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Seal not the sayings

Contra, Rev 10:4; Rev 5:9.

the time is at hand

Rev 1:3; cf. 1Co 7:29.

Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

is unjust

doeth unrighteously.

be unjust

do unrighteously

righteous

See definitions

• O.T. righteousness (Luk 2:25);
• N.T. righteousness (Scofield Romans 3:21, note; Rom 10:10);
  righteous living (1Jo 3:7);
  self-righteousness (Rom 10:3).

holy

Sanctify, holy (persons) (N.T.). (Mat 4:5.)

Sanctification, holiness, Summary:

1. In both Testaments the same Hebrew and Greek words are rendered by the English works "sanctify" and "holy," in their various grammatical forms. The one uniform meaning is, "to set apart for God."
2. In both Testaments the words are used of things and of persons.
3. When used of things no moral quality is implied; they are sanctified or made holy because set apart for God.
4. Sanctification when used of persons has a threefold meaning.
   1. In position, believers are eternally set apart for God by redemption, "through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once" (Heb 10:9-10). Positionally, therefore, believers are "saints" and "holy" from the moment of believing (Phl 1:1; Heb 3:1).
   2. In experience, the believer is being sanctified by the work of the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures (Jhn 17:17; 2Co 3:18; Eph 5:25-26; 1Th 5:23-24).
   3. In consummation, the believer's complete sanctification awaits the appearing of the Lord (Eph 5:27; 1Jo 3:2). See "Salvation," Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

I come quickly

See Rev 22:20.

reward

Rewards. 1Co 3:14. (Dan 12:3; 1Co 3:14.)

to give every man according as his work

Judgments (the seven). Rev 20:12. (2Sa 7:14; Rev 22:12).

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

do his commandments

wash their robes.

Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

the churches

Churches (local). Phl 1:1. (Act 2:41; Phl 1:1).

Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Spirit

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Act 2:4. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

I testify

Inspiration. (Exo 4:15.)

Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

words of the book

Inspiration: Summary. The testimony of the Bible to itself.

1. The writers affirm, where they speak of the subject at all, that they speak by direct divine authority.
2. They invariably testify that the words, and not the ideas merely, are inspired. The most important passage is 1Co 2:7-15, which see.
3. The whole attitude of Jesus Christ toward the Old Testament, as disclosed in His words, both before His death and after His resurrection, confirms its truth and divine origin, and He explicitly ascribes the Pentateuch to Moses.
4. In promising subsequent revelations after the predicted advent of the Spirit (Jhn 16:12-15), our Lord prepared the way for the New Testament.
5. The writers of the New Testament invariably treat the Old Testament as authoritative and inspired. See Scofield 2 Peter 1:19, note; 1 Corinthians 2:13, note.

life

Life (eternal). Rev 22:1-2, 14, 17, 19. (Mat 7:14; Rev 22:19.)

Eternal life, Summary of the teaching:

1. The life is called "eternal" because it was from the eternity which is past unto the eternity which is to come—it is the life of God revealed in Jesus Christ, who is God (Jhn 1:4; 5:26; 1Jo 1:1-2).
2. This life of God, which was revealed in Christ, is imparted in a new birth by the Holy Spirit, acting upon the word of God, to every believer on the Lord Jesus Christ (Jhn 3:3-15).
3. The life thus imparted is not a new life except in the sense of human possession; it is still "that which was from the beginning." But the recipient is a "new creation" (2Co 5:17; Gal 6:15).
4. The life of God which is the believer is an unsevered part of the life which eternally was, and eternally is, in Christ Jesus—one life, in Him and in the believer—Vine and branches; Head and members (1Co 6:17; Gal 2:20; Col 1:27; 3:3-4; 1Jo 5:11-12; Jhn 15:1-5; 1Co 12:12-14).

Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

I come quickly

Christ (Second Advent). Rev 22:7, 20. (Deu 30:3; Acts 1:9-11.)

Amen

Bible prayers (N.T.). (Mat 6:9.)