Scripture Daily

Context No. 869 of 4322 · Revelation

Context · Reflection

Revelation 22:17-21: in context

17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely. 18I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book. 19If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. 20He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus! 21The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.

These are the last verses of Revelation, and of the whole Bible. The Spirit and the bride say Come. Anyone who hears is told to say Come. Anyone thirsty is invited to take the water of life freely. Then a solemn warning against adding to or taking from the words of the prophecy, and the final promise: Yes, I am coming soon, with the answer, Amen, come, Lord Jesus.

The Bible does not end with a doctrine or a rule but with a longing and an invitation. The last movement of scripture is an open door: the water of life is offered freely, to anyone who is thirsty, with no price named. And the last exchange is a call and an answer. Christ says he is coming soon; the church says come. The warning between them, about not adding or subtracting from the words, guards the invitation from being edited into something smaller or heavier than it is. Whatever else the reader has carried through sixty-six books of history and law and prophecy and gospel, it narrows here to a single question of desire: are you thirsty, and will you come. The grace of the Lord Jesus is the last word.

When I hear Come, do I actually want him to come soon, or have I quietly made my peace with him staying at a distance?

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