Let's Study the LAST Chapter of the Bible

[Hoshiyya]

BACKGROUND​

I have always considered the Book of the Revelation of Yeshua to John on Patmos the greatest written text in existence.

For a long time I have considered the final chapter of Revelation particularly important.

It's importance derives from it being the last chapter in the last book. This is his final words to mankind. His last message.

Possibly, some epistle could have been written after this. Maybe, chronologically speaking, it is not the final Inspired Word of God to make it into text format.
But it is very clear - to me - that Revelation is intended to be placed, both physically and (more importantly) conceptually, as the last book in a collection of books.

And of course, God might speak to us spiritually at any moment. But as regards the revealed Word placed into hierotextual format, Rev. 22 is the last installment, as I see it.

PURPOSE​

The purpose of this thread is to provide a specific avenue for studies and contemplations relating specifically to the last chapter of the Bible, the last chapter of the Word of God.
Particularly, I will be looking at this chapter not just as a chapter unto itself, but specifically analyzing it in light of its being the final chapter.

Formatting choices:
Instead of paragraphs I decided making each verse (according to their traditional versification) its own paragraph, as making it into smaller units facilitates both reading as well as serious analysis and study thereof. It will be easier to notice patterns, contrasts, juxtapositions, repetitions, development of ideas, etc.

I decided to incorporate the red letter format, whereby the utterances traditionally ascribed to Yeshua are colored red. It appears to me the red letters Bibles sometimes inaccurately ascribe certain utterances to Yeshua, but, while prone to flaws, it can be a useful tool for study purposes.

The red letter format helps us to specifically focus in on the last words of Yeshua to mankind. As an example, the study of this subject could lead us to compare or contrast his "last words" to the Disciples, at his Ascension from the mount of olives, or the "last words" on the cross, or the "last words" prior to that, at the last supper.

Warning:
If you believe the Revelation of John (as it is usually called) is actually not the final book of the Bible, and / or that Rev. 22 is not the final chapter, then obviously this thread is not for you. That being said, I'm aware that other Biblical texts may have been written after Revelation, yet nevertheless find Revelation to be clearly inteded to be placed last in the collection of books. So it is - at least - conceptually the last book.

THE FULL TEXT OF THE REVELATION OF YESHUA TO JOHN, CH. 22
Ca. 95 CE.​

1Then 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

2down 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.

3No 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.

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 for ever and ever.

6The 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.”

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 been showing them to me.

9But 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!”

10Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.

11Let 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.”

12“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.

13I 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.

15Outside 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 this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and 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; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

18I 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.

19And 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.

20He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

 

[Hoshiyya]

Verse 7 is ambiguous as to who is speaking.

I think I understand why the red letter Bible editors decided to interpret that verse as a "red letter verse", because, taken out of context, it sounds like something Yeshua could say. But in the text itself, following directly from verse 6, that reading/intepretation could indeed be questioned. Speaking without agenda, it seems the most immediate interpretation would be to ascribe the two sentences in verse 7 to the angel who also utters the two sentences in verse 6.

This is why John falls down before the angel.

 

[Hoshiyya]

However, it seems the Amen immediately following "Yes, I am coming soon" may actually be ascribable to Yeshua.

 

[Hoshiyya]

Let's look at the titles of or references to Yeshua in this chapter:

The Lamb - v.1
The Lamb - v.3
Light *** - v.5
Lord God who inspires the prophets ? *** - v.6
The Alpha and the Omega - v.13
The First and the Last - v.13
The Beginning and the End - v.13
I, Jesus - v.16
The Root and the Offspring of David - v.16
The bright Morning Star - v.16
Lord Jesus - v.20
Lord Jesus - v.21


*** To me, the "Lord God (who) will give them light" (v.5) seems distinct from the "Lord God who inspires the prophets" (v.6).
The "Lord God" who gives light is the father, and the light is the son. But in the next verse, it seems the "Lord God" who inspires the prophets may be Yeshua, who has the right to be called by essentially every name his father is called by. But it could be that the Lord God in both cases is the father.

A few other terms are used that, in another context, could have been names for Yeshua, but which in this case don't appear to be, such as the term Amen. However, especially relative to this particular example, I think the double meaning of the term IS relevant.

 

[Hoshiyya]

Let's look at the final personal names mentioned:

John - v.8
Jesus - v.16
David - v.16
Jesus - v.20
Jesus - v.21

In the Greek manuscripts these names would appear as:

Ioannes
Iesous
Dauid
Iesou
Iesou

The original Hebrew of these names may have been:

Yochanan
Yeshua
Prob. Daweed
Yeshua
Yeshua

A possible interpretation of these names:

YHWH is gracious / giving
YHWH helps / is help ***
Beloved
YHWH helps / is help ***
YHWH helps / is help ***


*** YHWH + Yasha. The latter can be rendered different ways depending on context. The two major English translations are to Save and to Deliver. To save really means to help (in English it can also meant to exempt, spare, store up). When rendered as Deliver instead of Save, it has overlap with Chanan. Both Save and Deliver can carry the connotation of moving someone from one place to another, which is apparently found in the original Hebrew word as well. Relative to the person of Yeshua, it has the connotation of him delivering people from the grave (helping them by moving them out, similar to Moses leading Israel out of Egypt, thereby delivering them.)

 

[Hoshiyya]

The mention of David in Rev. 22 was always very amazing to me. He, John and Jesus are the final persons to have their names mentioned in Scripture. God made that selection. Let us consider it !

There is a whole army of prophets and a whole library of saints to choose from - Abraham, Moses - as well as other historical characters of import - Adam, Eve - that could have been natural to mention in the last chapter.

The first shall be last, and all that. Adam could have been brought up in context of Yeshua being the second Adam; being contextually appropriate also in that this chapter, and the preceeding one, contains references to the garden of Eden narrative, eg. it mentions the tree of life.

Emphasizing the Davidic heritage of Yeshua is always interesting, but particularly so in this chapter, the final chapter of the Bible. Yeshua's Davidic aspect and "heritage" could have been more natural to bring up in context of him fighting against the antichrist, the false claimant to the throne. Yeshua has been granted by God the kingdom, as David was, even all throne and dominion is theoretically his, yet this other person (like Saul) is claiming and excercising kingship over the world.

The primary difference is that Saul's army was defeated in battle, but not by David's army. Whereas the antichrist's army apparently will be ultimately defeated in battle by the Davidic king Yeshua and his army.

 

[visionary]

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!”

I always thought it strange after all the John has had revealed to him, he fell down to worship at the feet of the angel. Surely, my mind thinks, he of all people should know better. He is the beloved one of Yeshua. He is the blessed on to be the only living apostle. He is the one who in vision is given the grandiose view of all the will come to pass. He, up to this moment, has worshiped God.

 

[Hoshiyya]

Great observation, Visionary.

I think it may tie to the "red letter issue", as in: "who is speaking ?"

If we start reading at v.6, or at the beginning of the chapter, and continue to v.7 and onward, there is no identifiable shift-over in who is speaking. The angel begins speaking, but half-way through his sentence his words become rendered in red, as if Yeshua is speaking.

It occurs to me that maybe Yeshua suddenly began speaking through the angel, in first person, making John think he was bowing to Yeshua.


Let's look at the progression of words and events:


6The 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.”

COMMENTARY: John narrates what the angel said to him. The angel mentions "the angel", a third person reference to himself.

7“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

COMMENTARY: Let us be aware that the original writings would not have been versified. John's quoting of the angel's words to him are still being narrated to us. Yet the Red Letter Bibles chose to render this part of the angel's statement in red letters, indicating that they believe Yeshua has begun speaking at this point. The speaker is making a first person reference to himself, saying he will come soon. It makes sense to read it as though Yeshua is speaking, but the fact that he is never specified to be the one speaking is the clue as to why John apparently is confused about the identity of the speaker.

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 been showing them to me.

COMMENTARY: Having heard "and seen" what the angel told him, John apparently kneels or prostrates to give respect to the angel. The cause and effect, or sequence of events, is that hearing "and seeing" the words in v.6 and/or v.7 caused John's reaction.
His emphasis of "I, John" could be meant as "even I, John, committed such a mistake", as if to warn us that we might be even more likely to do so. That being said, I don't think John literally intended to worship the angel, even if he thought this angel actually was Yeshua. Relatedly, we note that the same word that can mean to worship God can also mean to respect someone or something in a non-religious way, and the same word that can mean to pray to God can also mean to entreat or reason with or supplicate an evil king.

9But 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!”

COMMENTARY: The angel here speaks unambiguously of himself in the first person, possibly for the first time and only time in this text.

 

[visionary]

Excellent observation.

 

[Hoshiyya]

I also noticed that:

Rev. 22:6 parallels Rev. 1:1-2
and Rev. 22:7 parallels Rev. 1:3.

This points us to the perfect symmetry of the Bible. Let's investigate, with mature intellectual seriousness, with childlike wonder and with reverent awe, for this text deserves it all:

Ch.1
1The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
2who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

John emphasizes in ch. 22 that he "saw" the word of God. Here he mentions seeing the testimony of Jesus Christ, in the same breath as he mentions the angel was the one sent to him. So maybe the angel was partially "taken over" by Yeshua for a while, in v.7 ? The emphasis on seeing the word (and the Word can be a name for Yeshua) makes us think that maybe the face of Yeshua appeared, superimposed over the angel's own face for the duration of verse 7, or something along those lines.

Ch.22
6The 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.”

The parallel passage here mentions the angel (cp. "his angel") and the phrase "to show his servants the things that must soon take place" (cp. "to show his servants what must soon take place").
In ch. 1 John mentions himself in the third person, in ch.22 John mentions himself in the third person.

Now let us look at the second set of parallel verses:

Ch.1
3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Ch.22
7“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

Besides the blessing upon the reader, which phrased very similarly in both cases, both verses also have another commonality in that "the time is near" and "I am coming soon" are parallel sentiments.

As in the beginning, so in the end.

Praise be to God, the greatest of artists, the most thoughtful of authors. His art is TRULY high art.
What man could write this ?
The symmetry is too perfect, too sublime, and too subtle. A man would inevitably try to call attention to whatever mysteries he implanted into a text. An author of murder-mysteries doesn't go many pages without having a character express confusion at something the author assumes the reader may be confused about. But there are mysteries and sublime characteristics in the Revelation of John that are still yet to be discovered !

This is also an opportunity for me to mention something I wanted to mention earlier, namely the ABBA or ABCBA structure which is found throughout scripture. This pattern informs the structure of subjects discussed in the Law.
For example a book of the law might discuss sacrifices (A), sexual conduct (B), inheritance (C), sexual conduct (B) and back to sacrifices (A).
There is a very interesting instance of this pattern that stretches through the entire Pentateuch, but it is only identifiable using ELS software.

 

[Hoshiyya]

There are so many great mysteries in the text, specifically designed to amaze and excite us and make us excited about committing to God.

If it was just one or two things, fine, but this book (in particular, out of all the holy books) is a tour de force in divine eloquence, far surpassing any text from any other religion, in terms of the thoughtfulness of its structure, the flow from one word to the next, the information packed into each verse, the sense of awe and excitement it inspires, the obedience it inspires, and the knowledge, power and eloquence it imparts onto its readers as a consequence of reading it.
It is super-hard to put down the Revelation once you begin reading it as you get naturally sucked in by the exciting and fantastical narrative, because it is written so well.
And no other text so strongly motivates me to serve God as this does; no other text creates as much Torah-action as this does, for me.

 

[visionary]

If we see it as clear scroll, written within and without, sealed with seven seals, rolled up within each other as one scroll, then the unraveling of it solves the mystery. Take Rev 10.. with the eating of the scroll... it is like the center when all the seals have been broken and the scrolls are all flattened out before you.. Then Rev 11 starts the events in earnest, not over the last two thousand years, but in rapid order as it is laid out.

 

[Hoshiyya]

Were you aware of the parallel between Rev. 1 and Rev. 22 ?
I just discovered it today while writing up the preceeding response to you, and was blown away.

Here's the moral: CARING about the text pays off. You WILL find gold in these hills, and there is no end to it. Studying the Bible, if done correctly at least, is the most immediately rewarding, and long-term rewarding, study that can be undertaken. The fun never stops. Literally.

 

[visionary]

The truth keeps unfolding before the eyes of the sincere, serious, prayerful student of the Lord who wants to get even closer to Him in every way. I love it, It is an adventure that never ends in rejoicing, praising, beholding beauty, grace humbling, awe inspiring, and grateful for the Life He has given.

 

[ContraMundum]

Verse 7 is ambiguous as to who is speaking.

Might be interesting to note that the Ethiopian manuscripts add "as a thief" which would indicate Yeshua as speaking.

I think I understand why the red letter Bible editors decided to interpret that verse as a "red letter verse", because, taken out of context, it sounds like something Yeshua could say. But in the text itself, following directly from verse 6, that reading/intepretation could indeed be questioned. Speaking without agenda, it seems the most immediate interpretation would be to ascribe the two sentences in verse 7 to the angel who also utters the two sentences in verse 6.

This is why John falls down before the angel.

Possible, but I think the Greek lends itself to another context as well- in line with verses 12 and 16. The word "I" in "I come quickly" is important here. "καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔρχομαι ταχύ" is definitely someone saying that they themselves will come quickly, so the plain grammar is someone speaking for himself. However, an Angel could deliver that message vicariously. Whether the message is being delivered through an Angel or directly matters not in the end- the theology is the same.

 

[ContraMundum]

Were you aware of the parallel between Rev. 1 and Rev. 22 ?
I just discovered it today while writing up the preceeding response to you, and was blown away.

It's one of the first things you pick up in NT studies in a sem/Bible college setting, if my experience is anything to go by (YMMV). Also the correspondence between the last three chapters of Revelation and the first three of Genesis.

 

[Hoshiyya]

The reference to Genesis is pretty clear, yes.
That's part of the reason why I thought the mention of David was interesting. Adam could have been brought up, at least in the sense of calling Yeshua the 2nd Adam, but it was David and John that got to have their names mentioned in the last chapter.

But I am glad you mentioned it.
I'm now investigating to see if we can correlate Gen. 1 to Rev. 20,
Gen. 2 to Rev. 21,
Gen. 3 to Rev. 22,
and it seems like there is some validity to that.

 

[visionary]

And then somewhere in all this Ezekiel and Daniel play a part in us understanding Revelation. I believe the feast play a key role in the appointed times when it will come to pass.

 

[pinacled]

Revelation 1King James Version (KJV)
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Yeshua/Jesus
62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
{Seven Churchs brought me to Pauls inspiration.} [We are the Temple]
<And then Yeshua/Jesus's Word on the matter>
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
59 But neither so did their witness agree together.
60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
{From Ezekiel the Glory of the Lord entered from the East Gate}
{Abraham Faced West}Cardinal Directions are consistent.
<Yeshua/Jesus>
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The Candle Stick was given to Abraham.
God Confirms His Promise
8He said, "O Lord GOD, how may I know that I will possess it?" 9So He said to him, "Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds.…
17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
West sunset
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

9and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
Blessings
14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

 

[YESLORDIWILL]

Rev 21:8 But the fearful... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone ...oh dear