The Revelation of John 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.
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.
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:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
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.
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.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
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.
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.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
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.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
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.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
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.
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.
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:
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.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Textual Variants
Revelation 22:14is a controversial verse due to significant textual differences among ancient Greek manuscripts.
In some modern translations, the verse reads: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.” In contrast, other translations present the text as: “Blessed are those who keep His commandments...” These discrepancies raise important questions about the authenticity of the biblical textand the theological motivationsbehind these alterations.
This problem is deeply rooted in the history of the text’s transmission. The two main variants are:
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“Blessed are those who wash their robes”– This variant is supported by earlier Greek manuscripts, including Codex Sinaiticus (4th century)and Codex Alexandrinus (5th century). Modern translations such as the New Romanian Translation (NTLR)and the New International Version (NIV)adopt this reading, based on modern textual criticism.
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“Blessed are those who keep His commandments”– This version appears in later Byzantine manuscripts, which form the basis of the Textus Receptus (16th century). Translations such as the King James Version (KJV)and the Cornilescu Biblereflect this reading.
Possible Textual Alterations
There are two plausible scenarios that could explain the emergence of these conflicting variants:
Scenario 1: Legalistic Alteration: It is possible that the variant “keep His commandments”was introduced later to support a theology based on works and obedience. In the medieval period, when the Textus Receptuswas compiled, theological emphasis was placed on obedience and adherence to divine law. As such, this reading may have been seen as more appropriate to promote a moral life rooted in the observance of God’s commandments.
Scenario 2: Sacrificial Alteration: On the other hand, it is possible that the original variant was “keep His commandments”, but it was later replaced with “wash their robes”to emphasize a theology of redemption through the blood of the Lamb. As Pauline theologygained ground in the 3rd–4th centuries, the variant referring to “washing robes”became more popular as it reinforced the idea of Christ’s sacrificial atonement for sin.
Truth or Manipulation?
Either of these scenarios is possible, and there are balanced arguments on both sides.
However, the core issue remains that—regardless of which version is original—the existence of such changes reflects a desire to impose a particular theological interpretation. The irony is that this very chapter contains the severe warning against adding or removingfrom the prophetic words (Revelation 22:18–19), and the presence of such textual alterations within this context highlights just how vulnerable the text has been to later interventions.
Conclusion
The textual differences in Revelation 22:14are not merely a matter of textual criticism; they are also a striking example of how theological interests have influenced the transmission of the biblical text. The fundamental question remains: Which version truly reflects the author’s original intent? The answer is not definitive, but a careful analysis of the manuscripts provides insight into how theology and text have interacted and shaped each other throughout the centuries.
The Tree of Life
In the opening verses, we are given the description of the River of Life, which flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The water, clear as crystal, symbolizes purity and the eternal life offered by God. On the banks of this river stands the Tree of Life, which bears twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. This image evokes the restoration of Eden, where access to the Tree of Life had been forbidden after humanity gained the knowledge of good and evil. In Revelation 22, access is restored, and humanity once again partakes of eternal life.
It is essential to emphasize that, in Eden, Adam and Eve did not possess the knowledge of good and evil. Their separation from Eden was not a separation from God, but rather a removal from the Tree of Life. After gaining the knowledge of good and evil, humankind became capable of understanding the difference between them and choosing accordingly. Access to the Tree of Life is restored precisely because humanity, by overcoming evil and the serpent who tried to lure them to the side of evil, has proven to have remained on the side of good.
The Reign of God and His Glory
Verses 3–5 present the image of the throne of God and of the Lamb, symbolizing eternal reign and supreme authority. In contrast to Eden, where humanity was removed from the Tree of Life, now, in the Holy City, God’s glory illuminates everything, and the city’s inhabitants will see Him “face to face.”This is an expression of direct communion with God, without barriers and without fear of death.
The phrase “His name will be on their foreheads” signifies the complete belonging and consecration of the redeemed. Human identity is fully restored in God, and His reign is one of peace and righteousness.
The Imminent Coming of Christ
Revelation 22 continues with the repeated promise: “Behold, I am coming soon!”(verse 7). This statement emphasizes the imminence of Christ’s returnand the need for spiritual preparation. The blessing promised to those who keep the prophetic words of the bookis a call to perseverance and faithfulness.
The angel forbids John from worshiping him, thus underscoring that worship must be directed to God alone. This confirms the centrality of authentic worshipin the theology of Revelation, in contrast to the idolatry condemned throughout the book.
Warnings and Blessings
The final part of the chapter contains clear warningsagainst adding to or taking away fromthe words of this prophecy. The integrity of the apocalyptic message must remain intact, and the consequences of altering the text are severe. This reflects the importance of preserving pure and uncorrupted teaching.
Conclusion
Revelation 22 brings together the major themes of the entire book: the restoration of Eden, the reign of God, the coming of Christ, and the call to holiness. The message is one of hope and triumph, highlighting God’s ultimate victory over eviland the establishment of His eternal Kingdom. The restoration of access to the Tree of Lifeshows that humanity’s destiny is not merely redemption, but a restoration to a state of moral and spiritual perfection. Access is granted precisely because humanity—having known good and evil—has overcome evil on earth, proving they have chosen good, crushing the serpent’s head and remaining on the side of Good.
Through this final vision, Revelation offers believers a powerful reason to live in obedience and hope, joyfully awaiting the return of Christ and the fulfillment of all divine promises.