The River of the Water of Life
1Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2down the middle of the main street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5There 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 forever and ever.
The Time Is Near
6Then he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. 7Look, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy in this scroll.” 8I, 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 shown them to me. 9But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God.” 10Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, for the time is near. 11Let the one who does wrong go on doing wrong, and the one who is vile go on being vile. Let the one who does right go on doing right, and the one who is holy go on being holy.” 12“Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to repay each one according to what they have done. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. 14Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter the city through its gates. 15Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
The Final Invitation
16“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. 18I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: if anyone adds to them, God will add to them the plagues described in this scroll, 19and if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this scroll. 20The one who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.
