Revelation chapter 21 describes the celestial cities of New Jerusalem and Old Jerusalem as symbols of the celestialized earth.¹ Revelation 22:1-5 adds more detail to the description in chapter 21 without interruption.² The final details compare the celestial earth at the end of time with the paradisaical earth at the beginning of time.³ The common elements include a river and tree of life (Revelation 22:1-2),⁴ God's presence on earth and removal of the curse from Eden (Revelation 22:3-4),⁵ and the comparative glory of Eden and the celestial earth (Revelation 22:5).⁶

Revelation 22:6-19 is the epilogue for the Book of Revelation,⁷ which closely parallels the prologue found in Revelation 1:1-5.⁸ The epilogue confirms the truth of John's prophecies throughout the Book of Revelation⁹ by the testimony of three witnesses.¹⁰ These include an angel,¹¹ John the Revelator,¹² and Jesus Christ himself.¹³

In the epilogue, Christ declares three times that he will come quickly to bless righteous people in their tribulations or because of their tribulations.¹⁴ Amid this trilogy of sayings, John is told that the Book of Revelation is to be an unsealed book,¹⁵ that all people must come unto Christ to have eternal life,¹⁶ and that no one must add to or take away from John's prophecy.¹⁷

After the epilogue, John gives his final apostolic benediction and prayer in Revelation 22:20-21.¹⁸