God will cause there to be abundant life in the city, his servants will worship him face-to-face, no one will be there whom God would curse, and his servants will reign forever and ever.

1The angel showed me the river of water that causes people who drink from it to live forever. The water was sparkling and clear like crystal. The river was flowing out from the throne where God and the one who is like a lamb were sitting.

2It flowed down through the middle of the main street of the city. On each side of the river were trees bearing fruit that causes people who eat it to live forever. The trees bear twelve crops (OR, twelve kinds) of fruit; they produce one crop each month. The people of the nations [MTY] use the leaves of these trees as medicine in order that they may feel stronger

3There will never be anyone or anything there that God will be under God’s curse. The throne of God and the one who is like a lamb will be in the city. And God’s servants will worship him there.

4They will see him face-to-face, and his name will be written {he will write his name} on their foreheads.

5There will never again be night. God’s servants will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will shine his light upon them. And they will rule forever.

God revealed to his servants his message in which he showed them what must happen soon.

6The angel said to me: “These words that God has revealed to you are true, and he will certainly do what he has promised to do. The Lord God who ◄inspires the prophets/tells the prophets what to say► sent his angel to show the people who serve him the events that must happen soon.”

7Jesus says to all his people, “Listen to this! I am coming soon; God will abundantly bless everyone who obeys what has been commanded in this book.”

John attested that he himself has heard and seen all these things. He was told to tell others what has been revealed to him because its fulfillment was near, and everyone should be ready.

8I, John, am the one who heard and saw in a vision these things that I have written down. When I had heard and seen them, I immediately knelt down at the feet of the angel who was showing them to me, in order to worship him.

9But he said to me, “Do not worship me I am just your fellow servant! I am also the fellow servant of your fellow believers who are ◄the prophets/the ones who tell messages that come directly from God►, and I am a fellow servant of those who obey what has been commanded in this book. Instead, worship God!”

10He also said to me, “Do not keep secret the message about what God has foretold in this book, because it is almost time [MTY] for him to what he has promised to do in this message.

11Since that time is near, if those who act in an evil manner want to continue to act that way [IRO], that is up to them. God will soon ◄pay them back/punish them► for that. If those who are vile want to continue to be vile [IRO], that is up to them. God will soon ◄pay them back/punish them► for that. Those who are acting righteously should continue to act righteously. And those who are holy should continue to be holy.”

Jesus announced that he had sent his angel to bear witness to the congregations about all that John had seen. Jesus authoritatively identified himself as the Descendant of King David and as the Messianic Morning Star.

12Jesus says this to everyone: “Listen! I am coming soon! And I will pay back everyone according to what each one has done, by punishing or rewarding them.

13I am the one who began all things [MET] and the one who will cause all things to end [MET]. I existed before all things existed and I will exist at the end of all things [DOU].

14God is very pleased with the people who wash their robes, making themselves spiritually clean [MET], because they will be able to eat the fruit of [MTY] the tree that enables people to live forever, and because they will be able to enter the gates into the holy city.

15People who are unholy will not be allowed to enter the city. They include people who practice sorcery, people who sin sexually, murderers, idol worshipers, and everyone who enjoys telling lies and are continual liars. They can never enter that city.”

16“I, Jesus, sent my angel in order that he might tell you who are in the congregations that all these things that have been said are true. I am the descendant of King David whom the prophets promised would come [MET]. I am the one who is like the bright morning star [MET], the one that Moses promised would come.”

God’s Spirit and the Bride invite all who desire to drink the living water to come and drink, and they invite all who hear that invitation to extend it to others.

17God’s Spirit and his people, who are like [MET] the bride of Christ, say to each one who desires to believe, “Come!” Whoever hears this should also say to each one who desires to believe, “Come!” Spiritually thirsty people should come [MET]! Everyone who desires the water that enables people to live forever should take it as a free gift!

Jesus warned about what would happen to anyone who adds to the message of this book or who takes away any part of its revelation.

18“I, Jesus, solemnly warn everyone who hears what I have foretold in this book: If anyone adds anything to this message, God will cause him to experience the plagues that are {that I have} described in this book.

19If anyone omits any of the message about what I have foretold in this book, God will take away that person’s right to eat fruit from [MTY] the tree that enables people to live forever. He will also take away that person’s right to enter God’s city. Both these things are described {I have described both these things} in this book.”

Jesus declares that he is certainly coming soon.

20Jesus, who says that all the things written here are true, says, “Certainly I am coming soon!” I, John, reply, “◄May it be so!/Amen!► Lord Jesus, come!”

John closes with a prayer that Jesus will continue to bless all God’s people.

21I pray that our Lord Jesus will continue to act kindly to all of you who are God’s people. ◄Amen!/May it be so!►