Revelation 22:6-21 When truth is revealed, each soul must take its own journey and embrace what follows

Revelation 22:6-21

A

And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.

“And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. But he said to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God.”

B

And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”

C

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

D

“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.”The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

I 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; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

 

Background

The words of the book of Revelation affirm God’s faithfulness in fulfilling every prophecy that unfolds through the scroll of seven seals, culminating in salvation for the righteous and destruction for the wicked. Jesus commands John to proclaim these truths, emphasizing human free will—each person must choose righteousness or sin, holiness or corruption. His return is framed by mercy, granting all the chance to repent before judgment. Those purified from evil shall enter the holy city, while others remain outside until they yield to God. The Spirit and the Bride invite all to partake of the water of life, warning against distorting Scripture. Believers must reveal truth without coercion, respect free will, and trust that God will judge motives rather than appearances. Today’s devotion teaches us: When truth is revealed, each soul must take its own journey and embrace what follows.

 

Observation

A

The phrase “These words” refers to the prophetic revelations contained in the scroll sealed with seven seals, which unfold the divine plan leading to the salvation of Christ’s servants and the ultimate destruction of Satan and his followers. In this declaration, Jesus underscores the unwavering faithfulness of God in fulfilling every prophecy recorded in the book, regardless of how long its completion may take.

B

Jesus instructs John to swiftly proclaim the prophecy recorded in this book. In saying, “Let the one who does wrong, continue to do wrong; let the one who is filthy, continue to be filthy; let the one who is righteous, continue to practice righteousness; and let the one who is holy, continue to keep himself holy,” Jesus emphasizes the sacred role of free will. Each person must ultimately choose their own path—whether to persist in sin or to pursue righteousness and holiness—knowing that divine judgment will confirm the choices made in the heart.

C

Jesus then affirms that His coming will not be delayed without purpose—He is returning as soon as the divine plan allows. His delay is not neglect, but mercy, born of His desire that all might be saved. Therefore, He will not return until every person has been given the opportunity to understand God’s righteousness. Only then will He judge each one according to their deeds. Once again, Jesus declares blessed those who have purified themselves from evil, for they shall be granted the right to dwell in the holy city.

The dogs, sorcerers, immoral persons, and others represent the nations—those who, though they did not join Satan’s rebellion after his release, have yet to wholly devote themselves to God. Such individuals will remain outside the city. Yet Christ, in His enduring mercy, continues to extend to them the opportunity for transformation, that they might one day enter the holy city as His bond-servants.

D

The Holy Spirit and the Bride of Christ extend an open invitation to all: to come, partake of the water of life, and dwell in the holy city. In essence, this is a call to become Christ’s bond-servants. In closing, Jesus issues a solemn warning to those who distort or add to the prophetic words of Scripture. Some, misled by allegorical interpretations, claim that Christ has already returned or that the millennial kingdom has already come. Others, lacking understanding, deny the coming judgment of the wicked and the exaltation of the righteous. Such errors arise from reading beyond what is written, rather than trusting the plain and faithful truth of God’s Word.

 

Truth

When truth is revealed, each soul must take its own journey and embrace what follows.

The believer’s role is not to fix others, but to enlighten them; to reveal truth and prophecy so they may act with understanding and accountability. Our duty is to warn of the coming judgment while refraining from imposing our convictions through argument or coercion. True guidance respects free will, allowing each person to follow the intentions hidden in their heart. For on the day of judgment, God will examine not the outward deeds but the inward motives. As Jesus said:

“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” — Matthew 7:22–23

These individuals performed works that seemed righteous, yet their motives were self-serving. Their deeds lacked the purity of genuine love and obedience. Jesus rejected them not because their works were insufficient, but because their hearts were corrupt.

Therefore, believers must learn to discern the motives that drive human behaviour. At the same time, they must grant others the freedom to choose their own path, for only through choice can one bear the fruit or consequence of their heart’s intention. Intervention, even when seemingly well-meaning, can hinder this divine process. For when actions are guided by impure motives, no matter how noble they appear, the end remains destruction.

 

Application

• Study Scripture with reverence, recognizing that every prophecy – fulfilled or awaiting completion reveals the steadfastness of God’s character.
• Respect others’ freedom to choose, even when they reject truth. Your role is to testify faithfully, not to coerce belief.
• Refrain from endorsing or evaluating others hastily; it is only with the passage of time that the genuine motives of the heart will become apparent.

 

Prayer

Lord Jesus, faithful and true, open my heart to trust every word You have spoken. Teach me to walk in righteousness, to honor Your mercy in patience, and to proclaim Your truth without coercion. Purify my motives, preserve my faith, and prepare me to dwell in Your holy city. Amen.