◄ What Does Revelation 22:17 Mean? ►

The book of Revelation is divided into distinct sections. The first few chapters are addressed to the Church and explain where we are in history and what is God's expectation of those that are saved, by grace through faith in Christ. John is given the important task of revealing the Person of Christ - the Lamb of God Whose sacrificial offering of Himself on the Cross is brought to a climax in this book, as He is revealed in all His might, majesty, dominion, and glory.

The larger, middle portion, gives us a peep into the heavenly realm and reveals, in great detail, what is to come in the future. It starts with the unsealing of the seven-sealed scroll in the council chambers of heaven and the release of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse on the earth. The main focus of this section is the seven-year Tribulation Period, which is often referred to as, 'The Time of Jacob's Trouble', in the Old Testament. 

It is a time of Great Tribulation when God's wrath will be poured out on a God-hating, Christ-rejecting, sinful world, with the purpose of bringing repentant Israel back to faith in God and to trust in Jesus Christ, their Messiah and King. The last part is concerned with the distant future - beyond Christ's Millennial Kingdom, when there will be a new heaven and a new earth - and sin will be no more.

This final chapter talks of the certainty of Christ's soon return. John proclaims the importance of the revelation of Jesus Christ within this book and makes proclamations about coming judgement, future rewards, God's offer of salvation, and the promise of forthcoming blessings for all who will COME. He also gives a serious warning to those that do not believe in the only begotten Son of God.

Here in verse 17, we have a most beautiful invitation to all people, from the Holy Spirit of God and the Church, which is the Bride of Christ. We read that the Spirit and the Bride invite everyone to 'Come': "COME" they encourage those that are overwhelmed with fatigue and thirst. "Come" is the call to those that are dead in their sins. "Come, and drink of the water of life," is the beautiful invitation. "Drink, and do so freely." 

Their invitation is to come and receive living water, which is life eternal: "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 desires, take the water of life without cost." This is the most lavish of invitations and whosoever will, may come!

Everyone is given the opportunity to freely drink of the living water  - to drink without cost or payment. What the Spirit and the Bride are offering is the opportunity to come to JESUS  - to drink of the Living Water - to receive forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. JESUS is the Fountain of Life and Source of all life. He is the Living Water and the Bread of Life that came down from heaven, and the invitation to those who are thirsty is to come. COME and drink freely. COME! Drink and live.

This is a pleading call to everyone who wishes to partake of the water of life. All who come may drink freely from its healing flood without any charge. We also read that the one who responds to this call, repeats the beautiful invitation and calls out to other thirsty souls to come. ALL are encouraged to drink freely of the Living Water, without cost and without fear.

This invitation is open to every person in each generation, no matter what their gender, race, or station in life. All are welcome to participate in the free gift of salvation which is given freely, by faith in Christ's finished work on Calvary.

When one looks at this verse carefully, one can see two different appeals. One is an entreaty to those that are dead in their sins and facing a lost eternity to come and drink of the water of life, while the other is the call of the Church for Christ to return and set up His earthly kingdom, in power and great glory. It is the call of the indwelling Spirit in the bosom of His Bride, to return to this world and bring in that promised period of peace and prosperity, when Christ will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords - and all who were thirsty have drunk deeply of His living water.

As the Bride of Christ who is awaiting His soon return, let us join our prayer and praise with the Spirit of God and 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 cost."

Maranatha, come, Lord Jesus. Praise God that: "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."

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus is the Living Water in Whom are the words of eternal life and Who satisfies the thirsty. Thank You that I am part of His Bride. I long for that day when Christ returns to take us to be with Himself into heaven. I pray that the many souls who are lost in sin and facing a lost eternity without God and without hope, would come and drink of the living water and be saved through faith in Him. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.