Useful Bible Studies > Revelation Commentary > chapter 22
John’s vision (the extraordinary things that God showed to John) had finished; or it had almost finished. However, John continued still to be very aware that God was speaking to him. Also (unless Revelation 22:8-9 repeats the incident in Revelation 19:10), the angel (special servant of God) remained with John.
In these final verses in the Book of Revelation, it is sometimes hard to know who is speaking. John does not always tell us, and the speaker changes quickly. However, Revelation 22:6-7 seem to be the words of Christ.
‘I am coming soon’ in verse 7 is Christ’s message to his church; that is, his people. They are called his bride in Revelation 19:7-8, and this is like a bridegroom’s message to his future bride. He has gone away for a short time but he will return soon. Then they will marry, and they will be together always. That promise is the certain hope of all God’s people (Hebrews 6:19); they know that he will not disappoint them (John 14:3; Ephesians 5:25-32; Hebrews 11:13-16).
That was why God sent his angel to John, to show him these things. God’s people need to know these things. They are living in a world that is very evil. They must not think that nothing in the world will ever change. If they believed that, then a sense of complete despair would certainly overcome them. They need to hear about God’s plans for the future (1 Corinthians 2:9), even if they can hardly understand them yet. They need to know that God will defeat every evil force; they need to know that he will establish his rule (1 Samuel 2:8-10; Psalm 2, Psalm 110). They may not understand how these things will happen; but they must trust in the promises of God. Then they will have the strength to stand with God and to overcome the evil forces that oppose them (21:7).
Next part: The blessing for the people who read Revelation (Revelation 22:7)
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© 2016, Keith Simons.