Warning to All – Revelation

The book of Revelation is the last book in the Bible. The author was John the Apostle, and it was written between A.D. 90 and 96. It is the “revelation” of Jesus Christ as given to the apostle John. The location was on the island of Patmos where the Roman government had exiled him for preaching the Word of God. It was written to be sent to the seven churches in Asia Minor (modern Turkey).

Many think of this book as a description of the “end times” and it is that and much more. We are told that “evil” will be punished and that Christians will face difficult days of persecution because of our faith. Our faith will be tested, and some will give in to evil. Different chapters are letters to each of the seven churches with a message for that church. As Christians, all scripture is a message to each of us.

There are way more messages in the entire book than I can cover here, so my focus is on the last chapter of the Bible. Revelation 22 “The river of life and the tree of life.” The angel shows John a beautiful vision of the throne of God and of the Lamb. Then beginning with verse 18 a warning to all about changing the smallest detail of God’s Word. Nothing can be added, nothing can be removed, and nothing can be changed. This reaffirms what Jesus meant by “I am the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Revelation 22 New International Version

Eden Restored 
22 Then the angel showed me the 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 great street of the city. On each side of the river stood 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. ³ 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. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ 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.
John and the Angel
⁶ The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” ⁷ “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.” ⁸ I, John, am the one 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 been showing them to me. ⁹ But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!” ¹⁰ Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. ¹¹ Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”
Epilogue: Invitation and Warning
¹² “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have 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, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. ¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you^[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” ¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. ¹⁹ And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.