What does "the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come'" signify in Revelation 22:17? Text “‘And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come; and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.’ ” (Revelation 22:17) Immediate Literary Context Revelation 22 concludes John’s apocalypse with a series of rapid-fire assurances: Christ is “coming quickly” (22:7, 12, 20), blessing rests on those who heed the prophetic words (22:7), and a solemn warning is issued against tampering with the book (22:18-19). Verse 17 sits between the promise of Christ’s return and the threat of judgment, forming a gracious invitation that tempers awe with mercy. Identification of the Speakers: The Spirit “The Spirit ” is the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, who throughout Scripture draws sinners to salvation (John 16:8-11) and intercedes (Romans 8:26-27). In Revelation He speaks directly only here, underscoring the urgency of the appeal. Pneumatological consistency appears: just as the Spirit pleaded through the prophets (Nehemiah 9:30) and the church (Acts 13:2), He now pleads at history’s threshold. Identification of the Speakers: The Bride The “bride” is the redeemed, corporate church (Revelation 19:7-8; 21:2, 9). Having been purified, she now echoes her Bridegroom’s promise. The dual voice—Spirit and bride—demonstrates the intimate union of God and His people; believers are so conformed to God’s will that their invitation is indistinguishable from His (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:17). Imperative Invitation: “Come” The Greek erchou is a present imperative. The verb functions in two overlapping movements: a petition directed upward to Christ (“Come [back]!”) and an evangelistic summons outward to humanity (“Come [to Him]!”). Most translators preserve the ambiguity because John intends both nuances simultaneously. Two Directions of the Invitation 1. Toward Christ: The church and Spirit yearn for the Parousia, echoing “Maranatha” (1 Corinthians 16:22). Early liturgies corroborate this eschatological ache; the Didache 10.6 reads, “Let grace come and this world pass away.” 2. Toward the Lost: The latter half of v. 17 pivots from plea to proclamation—“let the one who is thirsty come.” The Spirit-inspired church not only longs for Jesus’ appearing but also pleads with unbelievers to receive salvation before He arrives. Eschatological Significance Verse 17 collapses time: present evangelism anticipates future consummation. The unsealed nature of Revelation (22:10) means its invitation persists across generations until the final “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (22:20). Missionary Impulse and Evangelism The text undergirds Great Commission fervor. Christians are not passive spectators of prophecy but active heralds. Historical revivals—e.g., the Welsh Revival of 1904, where Evan Roberts repeatedly pled “Bend us, O Lord!”—illustrate how Spirit-empowered invitations swell into large-scale awakenings. Relationship to Old Testament Prophetic Invitations Isaiah 55:1-3 and Proverbs 9:4-6 present identical come-and-drink language. The canonical arc reveals divine consistency: God invites the needy to covenant fellowship throughout redemptive history. Patristic Reception and Early Church Application Justin Martyr (Apology I.61) alludes to “living water” when defending Christian baptism. Tertullian (On Baptism 4) cites Revelation 22:17 to certify the church’s role in wooing the lost. Augustine (City of God 20.20) regards the verse as conjoined “groaning” of Spirit and church for the final advent. Practical and Pastoral Implications 1. Assurance: Believers, fortified by the Spirit’s voice, may confidently long for Christ’s return. 2. Evangelism: Every Christian who “hears” (i.e., believes) is deputized to repeat the invitation. 3. Worship: Liturgical contexts (communion, hymnody) appropriately incorporate the cry “Come, Lord Jesus,” linking doxology with mission. Concluding Synthesis Revelation 22:17 encapsulates the entire biblical message in one breath: God’s Spirit and God’s people join in imploring both the Savior to return and sinners to repent. The verse fuses eschatology with evangelism, divine sovereignty with human responsibility, and heavenly yearning with earthly mission. Until the Lord answers with His visible appearing, the church’s Spirit-filled refrain remains unchanged: “Come!” |
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