(Rev 22:6-21 KJV)  And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show 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 showed 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.  

The revelation of Jesus Christ is complete, and the descriptions of the events during the seven-year tribulation period have now been completed.   

6. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.  

a. "He" is the same angel that has been revealing the bride to John in the form of the New Jerusalem.  We have concluded earlier that this angel or messenger is one of the redeemed of the earth that was included in the 24 elders sitting on the 24 thrones.  Therefore, this angel is a member of the faithful portion of the Church that is taken in the separation.  Men are often referred to as angels since an angel is simply a messenger for God.  For example, the angel of each of the seven churches in chapters 2 and 3 was the pastor of that church.  Also, several times in Revelation Jesus is referred to as an angel.  

b. The angel sent by "the Lord God of the Holy prophets" (i.e., Jesus Christ) is referring to the angel that signified it to John in Rev. 1:1.  This angel caused John to actually see the revelation of Jesus Christ, and the primary message of that revelation is repeated as it came directly from Jesus Christ in the following verse.  

7. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 

a. The vision that John saw was of Jesus Christ, and the words were that of Jesus Christ speaking in the first person.  When the vision began the Words of Jesus were,  

(Rev 1:3 KJV)  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.  

b. It is now the end of the vision, and the Words of Jesus omit the exhortation to read and hear since the end of the book has been reached and the book has been read.  Now the exhortation is to simply obey what has been read and heard.  

c. The statement, "Behold, I come quickly," would be more accurately translated, "Behold, I come suddenly."  The idea is not that it would only be a short length of time before He comes, but that when He comes, it will happen very quickly, or suddenly.  

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 showed me these things.  

a. John confirms as the prophet of God that the things the angel was sent to show him has been seen and heard.  John even lends credence to the fact of what he has seen and heard by relating the incident that took place in Rev. 19:10, where he fell down to worship the angel that signified the things to him.  

NOTE:  It appears that the angel that signified these things to John is the very same angel that showed him the bride in the form of the New Jerusalem.  We have concluded earlier that this angel is one of or representative of the 24 elders, who represent the second most faithful group of Christians in the kingdom of heaven.  This means that John was carried forward in time to the time of the tribulation period when the 24 elders had been taken out in the separation.  This seems to be confirmed in the following verse that is still relating what happened to John earlier:  

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.  

a. This angel describes himself as a fellowservant of John.  The Greek word for fellowservant means a servant of the same master, and in the same household.  The reference to "thy brethren the prophets" seems to have particular reference to the Jews who were the Old Testament prophets.  They were John's brethren since John was a Jew and also because John was a prophet.  Prophet's are the messengers of God in the same way that this "angel" is a messenger of God, and in the same way that John was a prophet of God.  John and the prophets were spokesmen for God, and this "angel" was also a spokesman for God.  

b. This "angel" also states that he is "of them which keep the sayings of this book."  This has particular reference to those in the Church who read, study and keep or obey the teachings in the book of Revelation.  The angels of God do not have to exert effort to read, study and obey the teachings in the book of Revelation.  They are perfect and holy, and they automatically obey God without the slightest effort.   

10. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.  

a. The "angel" tells John not to seal the teachings in this book, for the time is at hand.  The time at hand is the Church Age, and it is the time that this book was to be read, studied, and obeyed.  

b. The information in the book of Revelation was given to the Church to read, study, and obey so the Church would be ready when the time for the separation arrived.  This is confirmed in the following verses.  

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.  

a. At the separation, there will be no change in the status of a person.  There are four conditions provided in which an individual can find himself at the time of the separation.  Unjust means an unsaved individual who has not been spiritually regenerated.  Filthy means an individual who is defiled by sin, whether saved or unsaved spiritually.  Righteous means an individual who is saved or has been spiritually regenerated, and he may either be defiled or sanctified.  Holy means an individual who is not only saved spiritually, but he has also been sanctified.  After the separation takes place, every person will be in the same condition that he was before the separation took place.  Only those who are among the righteous and sanctified will be in heaven at this time.  The unsaved will still be unsaved, and they will still be upon the earth in their filthy condition.  The righteous who are defiled will still be saved and defiled, but they will still be upon the earth.  

b. This verse has baffled theologians for hundreds or even thousands of years, and its understanding requires an understanding of the separation that is to take place between faithful and unfaithful Christians. At the Main Harvest Rapture, there will be changes in the status of Christians who have the imputed righteousness of Christ, but are still defiled by sin. Their defiled condition will cease as their souls perish in the Lake of Fire.  

12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  

a. The coming quickly has special reference to the separation, so this verse confirms that the above verse also has reference to the coming separation.  

13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  

a. This is a reiteration of what Jesus has already stated to the seven churches in order to show that the context of these verses relates to the same warnings that have already been given to the seven churches.  

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.  

a. This verse states that those who launder their long garments will be most fortunate, and they will have the right to, or the authority to partake of the tree of life.  They will also be able to enter into the gates into the city.  

b. The tree of life pertains to soul salvation at the separation, and the gates or doors into the city has reference to the open door for the bride and her court.  The following verse confirms the context.  

15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.  

a. The Greek word for without means without the door or on the outside of the door.  Dogs means morally impure who are excluded at the separation.  The other definitions can be reviewed in the description of verse 21:8.  

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.  

a. John hears the testimony of Jesus in the 1st person from the angel.  The angel is speaking in the first person as the messenger of Jesus.  This is confirmed in verse 20 below where the angel attributes the very words of the warnings to Jesus.  The name given, "I Jesus" is the name of His humiliation or the name of His human nature.  

b. Jesus is addressing the seven churches, which represent the entire Church, so the following warnings are to the Church, and not to unsaved people.  

c. In the direct quote, Jesus states that he is the root and offspring of David.  Jesus is both the Lord of David in His divine nature named Christ, and He is the Son of David in His human nature named Jesus.  Jesus is the hope of Israel, and in Him the promises to David will be fulfilled for the nation of Israel.  

d. Jesus states that David is the bright and morning star.  The morning star is Venus and it comes out before the Sun does and it brightly reflects the Sun, which is still over the horizon and has not yet appeared. David was a type of Jesus Christ and he came before Jesus was born so as to reflect the light of Jesus before His actual appearance. In Rev. 3:28 Jesus promised to make those in Thyatira who are overcomers in the tribulation period to be the “bright and morning star.” The verse is as follows:  

(Rev 2:26 KJV)  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

(Rev 2:27 KJV)  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

(Rev 2:28 KJV)  And I will give (i.e., make or commission) him the morning star.  

The Greek word translated “give” in verse 28 is as follows:  

1325  didomi (did'-o-mee):  a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an altern. in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):  

KJV-- adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+with the hand), strike (+with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.  

In Thayer’s Lexicon the word is defined as “commission”. In other words, the overcomers in the Church during the first half of the tribulation period will be commissioned as the morning star to reflect the light of Jesus, Who will come as the Sun of Righteousness after the darkest part of the night. The darkest part of the night is the last half of the tribulation period.  

e. The morning star comes out about 3:00A.M. just before the darkest part of the night.  The picture is the middle of the tribulation period just before the last half of the tribulation period, which is the darkest part of the night.  It is called the Day of the Lord in Scripture, and the following verses confirm that it is a time of deepest darkness:  

(Amos 5:18 KJV)  Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.  

(Amos 5:20 KJV)  Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?  

The first half of the tribulation is a time of darkness, but the Day of the Lord is "very dark, and no brightness in it."  

e. The bride leaves the earth at the time of the separation at midnight, and she does not remain on the earth until the time of the morning star.  The Church section of the Olivet Discourse confirms this in the parable of the Ten Virgins.  It is also confirmed in the book of Ruth when Ruth went to the threshing floor at midnight to be with Boaz.  Ruth is a type of the bride of Christ, and Boaz is a type of Jesus.  The following verse confirms that the bride is not identical to the Church, because Jesus gives a testimony about the bride, and then cautions the rest of the Church (i.e., him that heareth) to be like the bride who is in agreement with the Holy Spirit in looking forward to the Return of Jesus Christ.  

f. Jesus comes to Israel and the Gentiles at the time of sunrise, which is the breaking of the millennial day.  Therefore, Jesus is the Sun of Righteousness to Israel and the Gentiles who are saved during the time of the tribulation.  In summary, Jesus comes for the bride at midnight, the Church at the time of the morning star, and Israel and the Gentiles at the time of sunrise.  Sunrise is the Return of Jesus Christ in Power and Glory.  Jesus comes as a thief in the night at both midnight and the time of the morning star.  Both are secretive and those on the earth do not see Him.  At the time of sunrise, He will be visible to the whole world.  

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.  

a. The Holy Spirit and the bride of Christ say "Come" to the Lord Jesus Christ and this is in reference to His Return to the earth.  Jesus then states that the rest of the Church (i.e., him that heareth) should also say "Come".  This confirms that the bride is filled or controlled by the Holy Spirit in that both long for the Return of the Bridegroom.  The entire Church does not long for the Return of the Bridegroom, but it should.  It should be remembered that it was the five wise virgins that had the extra measure of oil in the parable of the Ten Virgins.  The extra measure of oil was the filling of the Holy Spirit.  In being filled by the Holy Spirit, the bride and the Spirit are in agreement about the Return of Jesus Christ.  

b. Jesus then addresses those in the Church who are thirsty for the water of life.  "Whosoever will" implies desire on the part of those in the Church who want to partake of the "water of life."  The "water of life" has special reference to soul salvation and not spirit salvation.  We addressed this in our exegesis of Rev. 21:6.  The fountain in that verse is the source of supply, but it is not necessarily the original spring.  For example, a well is a fountain from the other verses where this word is used, but the well is fed by a spring.  Therefore, it is believed that the fountain or well is the Bible, but the original spring that feeds the well is the Holy Spirit.  In other words, we need to go to the fountain, which is the Bible to drink of the Holy Spirit.  It is the Holy Spirit controlling us or filling us that allows the life of Christ to live in us.  This is how we are cleansed and have our lives or souls saved.  As stated before, our spirits are saved by the death of Christ, but our souls are saved by the life of Christ.  In order to have "Christ in us", we must go to the Bible, the fountain, and drink of the water, the Holy Spirit, so that we can be filled or controlled by the Holy Spirit in order for Christ to live His life in us.  If we do this, then our souls will be saved.  If we do this before the Midnight Cry, we will be taken in the separation.  If we wait until after the midnight cry, we could still have our souls saved, but we would have to go through the first part of the tribulation. We would then be removed from the earth at the time of the morning star, which is just before the Day of the Lord, or the last half of the seven-year tribulation period.  

c. It is still the eleventh hour, so there is still time to be at the feet of Jesus when the threshing will be taking place on the earth.  The time of threshing is midnight until 3:00 A.M. when the winds off the Mediterranean Sea are blowing upon the land of Israel.  This is the first half of the tribulation period when the threshing of the Church will be taking place to separate the wheat from the chaff.  The wheat is first beaten with a tribulam to loosen the kernels of grain from the stalk and the chaff.  The wheat is then thrown up in the wind to blow away the chaff.  The good part of the wheat falls back to the threshing floor because it is heavier than the chaff, which is light and easily blown away by the wind.  If we allow the chaff (i.e., that which is evil or worthless) to be separated from the kernels (i.e., the fruit or that which is good and valuable) in our lives now, then we will not have to participate in the threshing.  We get the word tribulation from the word tribulam.  

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:  

a. This is a dire warning from the Lord Jesus Christ to the Church.  It is addressed to each member of the Church, "every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book."  It states that if any hearer (i.e., Christian) adds to the words of this book, then he will suffer the plagues that are written in this book.  The plagues that take place in this book take place during the first half of the tribulation period.  Therefore, this verse clearly and unequivocally states that the Christian who adds to this book will go through the first half of the tribulation period.  Common sense tells us that it would have to pertain to purposeful distortion of these Scriptures to fit our own traditions.  

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.  

a. In this verse the dire warning from Jesus continues.  The warning is still to each individual in the Church, as stated above.  If any Christian purposely discounts the words of prophecy in this book, then his part out of the book of life will be taken away.  This means that his name will be blotted out of the book of life, and this pertains to soul salvation.  His part will also be taken out of the holy city, and this means that he will not be part of the bride of Christ.  This does not mean that he will not dwell in the holy city, but that his inheritance or ownership in the city will be taken away.  

b. This person who purposely distorts the prophecy of this book will also not participate in the things described in this book.  This would pertain to the seeing of Jesus Christ having His throne set in heaven, watching the seven sealed scroll being opened, and all of the things that the 24 elders and the four living creatures participate in during the first half of the tribulation period.  This is another of the many confirmations that unfaithful Christians will not be in heaven during the first half of the tribulation period.  

c. The person who adds to or takes away from the words of the book of Revelation would be the Christian who is not filled or controlled by the Holy Spirit.  If a person is filled or controlled by the Holy Spirit, he would be open and teachable concerning the truths in this book.  If a person is not open to the truths in this book, and he is unteachable concerning the truths in this book, then this is evidence that he is not partaking of the fountain of the water of life freely.  Many Christians are prideful, arrogant and unteachable in regard to the deeper truths in the book of Revelation.  It should constantly be our prayer that we will be open to the truths that God has for us.  

20. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  

a. This verse confirms that it is the angel that is speaking the very words of Jesus.  Thus, Jesus is actually speaking His words through the angel that John mistook for Jesus Christ and fell at his feet to worship him.  It was Jesus Christ speaking, but He was speaking through the angel.  

b. The statement "Surely I come quickly" reveals the context of the above warnings to be the time of the separation.  The Greek word for quickly means that when it happens, it will happen suddenly.  It does not mean that the length of time before he comes will be short.  

c. The angel that is relaying the words of Jesus responds to the words, "Surely I come quickly" with a blessed "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  This seems to further confirm that the angel being spoken through by Jesus Christ is part of the Church as one of the 24 elders.  

21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.  

a. John ends the book with the final benediction that assures us once more of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The "you all" in this benediction is the Church.  All of the exhortations and warnings in the book of Revelation and the whole Bible are for the Church.