Albert Barnes Commentary Revelation 22:20

"He who testifieth these things saith, Yea: I come quickly. Amen: come, Lord Jesus." — Revelation 22:20 (ASV)

He which testifieth these things. This refers to the Lord Jesus, for it was he who had, through the instrumentality of the angel, borne this solemn witness to the truth of these things, and this book was to be regarded as his revelation to mankind. (See Barnes on Revelation 1:1; Revelation 22:16).

He here speaks of himself and vouches for the truth and reality of these things by saying that he testifies of them, or bears witness to them. . The fact that Jesus himself vouches for the truth of what is here revealed shows the propriety of what John had said in the previous verses about adding to it or taking from it.

Saith, Surely I come quickly. That is, the development of these events will soon begin—though their consummation may extend into far-distant ages, or into eternity. (See Barnes on Revelation 1:1, 3; see Barnes on Revelation 22:7; see Barnes on Revelation 22:10).

Amen. A word of solemn affirmation or assent. (See Barnes on Matthew 10:13).

Here it is to be regarded as the expression of John, signifying his solemn and cheerful assent to what the Savior had said, that he would come quickly. It is the utterance of a strong desire that it might be so. He longed for his appearing.

Even so. These, too, are the words of John, and are a response to what the Savior had just said. In the original, it is a response in the same language which the Savior had used, and the beauty of the passage is marred by the translation "Even so." The original is, "He which testifieth to these things saith, Yea—nai—I come quickly. Amen. Yea—nai—come, Lord Jesus." It is the utterance of desire in the precise language which the Savior had used—heart responding to heart.

Come, Lord Jesus. That is, as intended here, "Come in the manner and for the objects referred to in this book."

The language, however, is expressive of the feeling of piety in a more extended sense. It may be used to denote a desire that the Lord Jesus would come in any and every manner: that he would come to impart to us the tokens of his presence; that he would come to bless his truth and to revive his work in the churches; and that he would come to convert sinners and to build up his people in holiness.

It is a desire that he would come to sustain us in affliction and to defend us in temptation; that he would come to put an end to idolatry, superstition, and error, and to extend the knowledge of his truth in the world. Furthermore, it is a desire that he would come to set up his kingdom on the earth, to rule in the hearts of men, to receive us to his presence, and to gather his redeemed people into his everlasting kingdom.

It was appropriate for the aged John, suffering exile on a lonely island, to pray that the Lord Jesus would speedily come to take him to himself. Indeed, there could have been no more suitable close to this marvelous book than the utterance of such a desire.

And it is appropriate for us, as we finish its contemplation—which discloses so much of the glories of the heavenly world and the blessedness of the redeemed in their final state—when we think of the earth with its sorrows, trials, and cares, to respond to the prayer and to say, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly."

For that glorious coming of the Son of God, when he will gather his redeemed people to himself, may all who read these Notes be finally prepared. Amen.