The Meaning of Revelation 22:12 Explained

Revelation 22:12

KJV: And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

YLT: And lo, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to render to each as his work shall be;

Darby: Behold, I come quickly, and my reward with me, to render to every one as his work shall be.

ASV: Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is.

Discover Revelation 22:12

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Revelation 22:12?

MEANING: What does Revelation 22:12 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Revelation 22:12 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Revelation 22:12?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And,  behold,  I come  quickly;  and  my  reward  [is] with  me,  to give  every man  according as  his  work  shall be. 

What does Revelation 22:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus Christ repeated His promise to return soon ( Revelation 22:7; cf. Revelation 1:3; Revelation 22:20).
"Nowhere is a date set, nor was there any definite promise that the consummation would occur within the lifetime of the first century Christians. Nevertheless, the possibility of the Lord"s advent was always present." [1]
Christ"s words continue through Revelation 22:19. Instead of promising a blessing, as He did earlier ( Revelation 22:7; Revelation 16:5), this time He promised to judge. He will reward both the good and the bad. This is a reward that He has to give. This prospect strengthens the warning in Revelation 22:11. Jesus Christ will judge all people finally on the basis of their works (cf. Revelation 20:12; Jeremiah 17:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11).
"Whereas salvation is of grace, rewards are according to works." [2]
"God gives us His salvation, but He pays us for our good works." [3]
In view of Jesus Christ"s soon return Christians should be diligent to lay up treasure in heaven while we have the time ( Matthew 6:19-21).

Context Summary

Revelation 22:10-21 - "come, Lord Jesus"
Still, four times repeated, implies the crystallization and permanence of character. The rewards mentioned here are for the faithful service of Christ's stewards, as in Matthew 25:21. For the fourth time, He who began the book and closes it, uses of Himself the divine monogram of Alpha and Omega, Revelation 1:8; Revelation 1:11; Revelation 21:6. In the Authorized Version the way to the tree of life was opened to those who kept the commandments, but it is very comforting to read in the Revised Version that this blessed privilege is for those "who wash their robes." Notice the combination of various titles in Christ: David's Lord and David's Son; the Morning Star and the Sun of Heaven's Day; the Coming One, for whose quick return the whole creation waits; and the Water of Life, of which whosoever will may drink. The appeal of Revelation 22:17 is to our Lord, asking Him to make haste to come, and it is answered in Revelation 22:20. But who shall tell whether that cry may not, sooner than we think, be answered by a spiritual transformation of the things seen and temporal, so that without a break, in the twinkling of an eye, the veil of matter may be rent, and the whole imminent glory of the unseen and eternal swim into view! Let us be on the alert [source]

Chapter Summary: Revelation 22

1  The river of the water of life
2  The tree of life
5  The light of the city of God is himself
7  Jesus Is Coming
9  The angel will not be worshipped
18  Nothing may be added to the word of God, nor taken away

Greek Commentary for Revelation 22:12

My reward is with me [ο μιστος μου μετ εμου]
It is Christ speaking again and he repeats his promise of coming quickly as in Revelation 22:7. He speaks now as the Rewarder (ο μισταποδοτης — ho misthapodotēs) of Hebrews 11:6. Cf. Revelation 11:18; Isaiah 40:10; Isaiah 62:11. [source]
To render [αποδουναι]
Second aorist active infinitive of purpose of αποδιδωμι — apodidōmi to give back. Each will receive the reward according to his own work (Revelation 2:23; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 2:26). [source]
My reward is with me [ὁ μισθός μου μετ ' ἐμοῦ]
Μισθός rewardis strictly wages. Compare Isaiah 40:10; Isaiah 62:11. See on 2 Peter 2:13. [source]
To give [ἀποδοῦναι]
Lit., to give back or in return for, thus appropriate to μισθός rewardHence Rev., better, render. See on give an account, Luke 16:2; and see on gave, Acts 4:33. [source]
Shall be [ἔσται]
Read ἐστιν isi0. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 22:12

Romans 2:6 Who will render [ος αποδωσει]
Paul quotes Proverbs 24:12 as in 2 Timothy 4:14. See also Matthew 16:27; Revelation 22:12. The rendering will be in accord with the facts. [source]
2 John 1:8 Reward [μισθὸν]
See on 2 Peter 2:13, and compare Matthew 5:12; John 4:36; 1 Corinthians 3:8; Revelation 11:18; Revelation 22:12. [source]
Revelation 11:3 I will give [δωσω]
Future active of διδωμι — didōmi The speaker may be God (Beckwith) or Christ (Swete) as in Revelation 2:13; Revelation 21:6 or his angel representative (Revelation 22:7, Revelation 22:12.). The idiom that follows is Hebraic instead of either the infinitive after διδωμι — didōmi as in Revelation 2:7; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 6:4; Revelation 7:2; Revelation 13:7, Revelation 13:15; Revelation 16:8 or ινα — hina with the subjunctive (Revelation 9:5; Revelation 19:8) we have και προπητευσουσιν — kai prophēteusousin (and they shall prophesy). [source]
Revelation 11:14 The third woe [η ουαι η τριτη]
(η ουαι η τριτη — hē ouai hē tritē feminine as in Revelation 9:12) is the seventh trumpet, which now “cometh quickly” (ερχεται ταχυ — erchetai tachu), for which phrase see Revelation 2:16; Revelation 3:11; Revelation 22:7, Revelation 22:12, Revelation 22:20. Usually pointing to the Parousia. [source]
Revelation 11:18 Thy wrath came [ηλτεν η οργη σου]
Second aorist active indicative of ερχομαι — erchomai the prophetic aorist again. The Dies Irae is conceived as already come.The time of the dead to be judged (ο καιρος των νεκρων κριτηναι — ho kairos tōn nekrōn krithēnai). For this use of καιρος — kairos see Mark 11:13; Luke 21:24. By “the dead” John apparently means both good and bad (John 5:25; Acts 24:21), coincident with the resurrection and judgment (Mark 4:29; Revelation 14:15.; Revelation 20:1-15). The infinitive κριτηναι — krithēnai is the first aorist passive of κρινω — krinō epexegetic use with the preceding clause, as is true also of δουναι — dounai (second aorist active infinitive of διδωμι — didōmi), to give.Their reward This will come in the end of the day (Matthew 20:8), from God (Matthew 6:1), at the Lord‘s return (Revelation 22:12), according to each one‘s work (1 Corinthians 3:8).The small and the great (τους μικρους και τους μεγαλους — tous mikrous kai tous megalous). The accusative here is an anacoluthon and fails to agree in case with the preceding datives after δουναι τον μιστον — dounai ton misthon though some MSS. have the dative τοις μικροις — tois mikrois etc. John is fond of this phrase “the small and the great” (Revelation 13:16; Revelation 19:5, Revelation 19:18; Revelation 20:12).To destroy First aorist active infinitive of διαπτειρω — diaphtheirō carrying on the construction with καιρος — kairos Note τους διαπτειροντας — tous diaphtheirontas “those destroying” the earth (corrupting the earth). There is a double sense in διαπτειρω — diaphtheirō that justifies this play on the word. See Revelation 19:2. In 1 Timothy 6:5 we have those “corrupted in mind” God will destroy the destroyers (1 Corinthians 3:16.). [source]
Revelation 11:18 Their reward [τον μιστον]
This will come in the end of the day (Matthew 20:8), from God (Matthew 6:1), at the Lord‘s return (Revelation 22:12), according to each one‘s work (1 Corinthians 3:8).The small and the great (τους μικρους και τους μεγαλους — tous mikrous kai tous megalous). The accusative here is an anacoluthon and fails to agree in case with the preceding datives after δουναι τον μιστον — dounai ton misthon though some MSS. have the dative τοις μικροις — tois mikrois etc. John is fond of this phrase “the small and the great” (Revelation 13:16; Revelation 19:5, Revelation 19:18; Revelation 20:12).To destroy First aorist active infinitive of διαπτειρω — diaphtheirō carrying on the construction with καιρος — kairos Note τους διαπτειροντας — tous diaphtheirontas “those destroying” the earth (corrupting the earth). There is a double sense in διαπτειρω — diaphtheirō that justifies this play on the word. See Revelation 19:2. In 1 Timothy 6:5 we have those “corrupted in mind” God will destroy the destroyers (1 Corinthians 3:16.). [source]
Revelation 2:16 I come [ερχομαι]
Futuristic present middle indicative, “I am coming” (imminent), as in Revelation 2:5 with ταχυ — tachu as in Revelation 3:11; Revelation 11:14; Revelation 22:7, Revelation 22:12, Revelation 22:20. As with εν ταχει — en tachei (Revelation 1:1), we do not know how soon “quickly” is meant to be understood. But it is a real threat.Against them (μετ αυτων — met' autōn). This proposition with πολεμεω — polemeō rather than κατα — kata (against) is common in the lxx, but in the N.T. only in Revelation 2:16; Revelation 12:7; Revelation 13:4; Revelation 17:14 and the verb itself nowhere else in N.T. except James 4:2. “An eternal roll of thunder from the throne” (Renan). “The glorified Christ is in this book a Warrior, who fights with the sharp sword of the word” (Swete).With Instrumental use of εν — en For the language see Revelation 1:16; Revelation 2:12; Revelation 19:15. [source]
Revelation 20:12 Another book which is the book of life [αλλο βιβλιον ο εστιν της ζωης]
This book has already been mentioned (Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8). “It is the roll of living citizens of Jerusalem” (Swete), “the church of the first born enrolled in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23). The books are “the vouchers for the book of life” (Alford). We are saved by grace, but character at last (according to their works) is the test as the fruit of the tree (Matthew 7:16, Matthew 7:20; Matthew 10:32.; 25:31-46; John 15:6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 2:10; Revelation 2:23; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 22:12). [source]
Revelation 22:7 And behold, I come quickly [και ιδου ερχομαι ταχυ]
Christ is the speaker, either through this angel or more probably directly from Christ without introduction as in Revelation 22:12, Revelation 22:16. About Christ coming quickly see Revelation 2:5, Revelation 2:16; Revelation 3:11; Revelation 16:15, and already in Revelation 1:2. Once more we must recall that ταχυ — tachu and εν ταχει — en tachei are according to God‘s time, not ours (2 Peter 3:8). [source]
Revelation 22:20 Yea: I come quickly [Ναι ερχομαι ταχυ]
Affirmation again of the promise in Revelation 22:7, Revelation 22:12. On Αμην ερχου Κυριε Ιησου — Nai (Yes) see Revelation 1:7 for the Lord‘s assent to the call. Then John expresses his absolute belief in the Lord‘s promise: “Amen: come, Lord Jesus” On Ιησου — Amēn see Revelation 1:7. On Μαρανα τα — erchou see Revelation 22:17. Note Kurie with Iēsou As in 1 Corinthians 12:3; Philemon 2:11. For Paul‘s confidence in the deity of Christ and the certainty of his second coming see Titus 2:13; 2 Timothy 4:8. Marana tha (1 Corinthians 16:22). [source]
Revelation 20:12 Books were opened [βιβλια ηνοιχτησαν]
First aorist passive of ανοιγω — anoigō Like Daniel 7:10. The record of each human being has been kept in God‘s books.Were judged (εκριτησαν — ekrithēsan). First aorist passive indicative of κρινω — krinō The sentence upon each rests upon written evidence.Another book which is the book of life This book has already been mentioned (Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8). “It is the roll of living citizens of Jerusalem” (Swete), “the church of the first born enrolled in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23). The books are “the vouchers for the book of life” (Alford). We are saved by grace, but character at last (according to their works) is the test as the fruit of the tree (Matthew 7:16, Matthew 7:20; Matthew 10:32.; 25:31-46; John 15:6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 2:10; Revelation 2:23; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 22:12). [source]
Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega [Εγω το Αλπα και το Ο]
Applied to God in Revelation 1:8; Revelation 21:6, and here alone to Christ, crowning proof in this book of Christ‘s deity. So in Revelation 21:6 God is termed, as Christ is here, η αρχη και το τελος — hē archē kai to telos (the beginning and the end), while ο πρωτος και ο εσχατος — ho prōtos kai ho eschatos (the first and the last) is applied only to Christ (Revelation 1:17; Revelation 2:8). Solemn assurance is thus given that Christ is qualified to be the Judge of Revelation 22:12 (cf. Matt 25:31-46). In Hebrews 12:2 Jesus is the αρχηγος και τελειωτης της πιστεως — archēgos kai teleiōtēs tēs pisteōs (the author and finisher of faith). Christ was the Creator of the universe for the Father. So now he is the Consummation of redemption. [source]
Revelation 3:11 I come quickly [ερχομαι ταχυ]
As in Revelation 2:16; Revelation 22:7, Revelation 22:12, Revelation 22:20. “The keynote of the book” (Beckwith). But allow the author‘s own meaning of “quickly.” [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 22:12 mean?

Behold I am coming quickly and the reward of Me [is] with Me to give to each as the work is his
Ἰδοὺ ἔρχομαι ταχύ καὶ ὁ μισθός μου μετ’ ἐμοῦ ἀποδοῦναι ἑκάστῳ ὡς τὸ ἔργον ἐστὶν αὐτοῦ

Ἰδοὺ  Behold 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἰδού  
Sense: behold, see, lo.
ἔρχομαι  I  am  coming 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
ταχύ  quickly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ταχύς  
Sense: quickly, speedily (without delay).
μισθός  reward 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: μισθός  
Sense: dues paid for work.
μου  of  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
μετ’  [is]  with 
Parse: Preposition
Root: μετά  
Sense: with, after, behind.
ἐμοῦ  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἀποδοῦναι  to  give 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἀποδίδωμι  
Sense: to deliver, to give away for one’s own profit what is one’s own, to sell.
ἑκάστῳ  to  each 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ἕκαστος  
Sense: each, every.
ἔργον  work 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
αὐτοῦ  his 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.

What are the major concepts related to Revelation 22:12?

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Similar Scriptures for Revelation 22:12

Matthew 16:27 [19]
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1 Corinthians 3:14 [13]
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