Revelation 22:6-11
Keep the Words of the Prophecy
Read the passage
6Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.”
7“Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.”
8And 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 shown me these things.
9But he said to me, “Do 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!”
10Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near.
11Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
The angel tells John that these words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show His servants what must soon happen. Jesus announces that He is coming soon and blesses the one who keeps the prophecy's words.
John identifies himself as the one who heard and saw these things. He falls at the angel's feet to worship, but the angel stops him. He is a fellow servant with John, the prophets, and those who keep the book's words. God alone is to be worshiped.
The angel tells John not to seal the prophecy, because the time is near. Its words are to be heard. He then speaks of the unrighteous continuing in wrongdoing, the vile in vileness, the righteous in righteousness, and the holy in holiness.
That last statement is a solemn warning about the course of a life as Christ's coming approaches. It does not make evil good or cancel the book's calls to repent. The hearers must take their response seriously. Revelation's blessing belongs to those who keep what it says, and its message directs their worship to God.
Questions
1 How are the words described?
AnswerThey are trustworthy and true, given by the God who speaks through the prophets. The vision is presented as a message meant to be trusted and lived, not as religious entertainment.
2 What does Jesus promise?
AnswerHe says that He is coming soon, and He calls blessed the person who keeps the words of the prophecy. His promise joins expectation to faithful obedience.
3 Why does the angel refuse John's worship?
AnswerThe angel is a fellow servant, not God. He directs John away from a glorious messenger and back to the One who alone deserves worship.
4 Why must the prophecy remain unsealed?
AnswerThe time is near, so the message is to remain available. The closing command exposes each person's direction rather than giving permission to remain morally undecided.
What This Means for Us
Choose something this book has clearly taught you about Christ and your response to Him. Put it into words and ask God to help you live by it. That may mean renewed prayer, turning from false worship, or continuing in a difficult obedience. The blessing is attached to keeping His words, so give them a place in today's decisions.
Prayer
God of truth, keep us from worshiping Your messengers instead of You. Make us attentive to Your word, steady in obedience, and ready for the coming of Jesus without fear or empty speculation. Amen.