Pray: for God’s help as you look and think on his word now.

Read: Revelation 22:1–21

¹Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ²through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. ⁴They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever. ⁶And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” ⁷“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” ⁸I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, ⁹but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” ¹⁰And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. ¹¹Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” ¹²“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. ¹³I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” ¹⁴Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. ¹⁵Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practises falsehood. ¹⁶“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” ¹⁷The 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 desires take the water of life without price. ¹⁸I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, ¹⁹and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. ²⁰He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! ²¹The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Think: this is the final chapter in the Bible; what effect does it have on us as readers? Look through some of the details and the images, how should it help us as the church long more for Jesus’ return? What will it be like for the church when he does come? What might it look like for you to be doing Revelation 22:17? How could you help others in your church or small group to listen to this verse?

Pray: echo the words of John in your prayers today: ‘Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!’ Whether you find praying that prayer easy or difficult spend some time asking God to help you long more for the coming of Jesus? Pray that the details of this passage would help you long more for his return.

Today: think about who in your church or small group you encourage today with words from this passage. Send them a message! Take some time today to take about what you are going to reflect on from God’s word going forwards. If you would like to continue thinking on the church, why not move to 1 Peter next? Each day read a few verses, think on them, and pray in response to them.