RSV ~ Revelation 22 Notes
Rev 22:1 | ISB Notes
the water of life: Symbolic of the Spirit flowing through the main street of the city (21:6; Jn 7:38-39).
⢠The imagery alludes to the river of Eden (Gen 2:10), the river that gladdens the city of God (Ps 46:4), and the fountain of living water springing from Jerusalem (Zech 14:8). For the primary allusion to Ezek 47:1-9, see note on Rev 21:9-22:5.
⢠The water issuing from the Lord and the Lamb is an apocalyptic expression of a trinitarian mystery: in eternity, the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. See note on Jn 15:26.
⢠A single stream issues from the throne of God, and that is the grace of the Holy Spirit in the stream of the Scriptures. That stream has two banks, the Old Testament and the New, and the tree planted on either side is Christ (St. Jerome, Tractate on the Psalms 1).
the throne: According to 3:21, the Father and the Son share the same throne.
Rev 22:2 | ISB Notes
the tree of life: The reappearance of this tree, not seen in the Bible since Gen 3:24, hints that heaven is the celestial counterpart to Eden, i.e., a place of intimate fellowship with God, uncorrupted by sin and death. See note on Rev 2:7.
Rev 22:4 | ISB Notes
shall see his face: The direct vision of God is the great hope of biblical spirituality (Ps 11:7; 42:2) and the preeminent blessing of heaven (Mt 5:8; 1 Cor 13:12). Seeing the face of God points to a profound personal intimacy with him; it is an experience of knowing God that is the fulfillment of human existence. Tradition calls this the Beatific Vision (CCC 102328).
Rev 22:6-9 | ISB Notes
The book draws to a close by restating ideas from the introduction (1:1-3). Once again, the sense that Christ is fast approaching dominates the tone (22:6-7, 10, 12, 20). .
Rev 22:7 | ISB Notes
I am coming soon: Jesus is speaking, a
s also in 22:12 and 22:20. Blessed: The sixth of seven beatitudes in Revelation. See note on Rev 1:3.
Rev 22:8 | ISB Notes
I John: Probably John the Apostle. See introduction: Author.
Rev 22:9 | ISB Notes
Worship God: Recalls the earlier incident in 19:10.
Rev 22:10 | ISB Notes
Do not seal up: John is forbidden to seal the scroll shut. The urgency of his message makes reading it a top priority for his churches.
⢠This is in deliberate contrast to Dan 12:4, where
the prophet was instructed to seal up his prophecy because the time of its fulfillment was still in the distant future.
Rev 22:13 | ISB Notes
the Alpha ⌠the Omega: Christ gives himself the same title given to God in 1:8, showing that he, too, is the divine Lord over history and the world.
Rev 22:14 | ISB Notes
Blessed: The last of seven beatitudes in Revelation. See note on Rev 1:3.
Rev 22:15 | ISB Notes
Outside: The heavenly city is protected from sinful contamination, with evildoers kept far outside its walls.
Rev 22:16 | ISB Notes
the root and the off
spring: Jesus is the Davidic Messiah (5:5).
⢠The heir to Davidâs throne is called the ârootâ of Jesse in Is 11:10 and the âoffspringâ of David in 2 Sam 7:12. morning star: See notes on Rev 2:28 and 2 Pet 1:19.
Rev 22:17 | ISB Notes
the Bride: The Church wedded to Christ (19:7-8). She joins the Spirit in summoning the world to salvation (CCC 2550).
Rev 22:18-19 | ISB Notes
A warning not to tamper with the Book of Revelation, whose contents were carefully dictated by heavenly visions (1:11). Strictly speaking, this is not a general warning against tampering with the Bible, though that, too, is certainly wrong. Moreover, it does not exclude the possibility that there may be Christian revelation outside the books of Scripture, such as in unwritten traditions handed down by the apostles (1 Cor 11:2; 2 Thess 2:15).
⢠Moses used similar words to caution Israel against adding or subtracting from the Book of Deuteronomy (Deut 4:2).
Rev 22:20 | ISB Notes
Come, Lord Jesus!: The cry of the saints, who long for Christâs return. It is probably connected with the liturgical acclamation in 1 Cor 16:22, preserved in Aramaic as marana tha, âOur Lord, come!â (CCC 451, 671).