1He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.
6He said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon.”
7“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. 9He said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10He said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.”
12“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. 15Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.
18I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book. 19If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. 20He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus!
21The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.
The first verse of the book of Revelation provides information about the content and genre of the book. The Greek term apokalypsis (ἀποκάλυψις) means an unveiling or disclosure, and reflects a type of literature that became popular in the early second century A.D., but is also found in the Old Testament. The Revelation written by John the apostle (1:4) is much more, however, because it is also a prophetic book given by Jesus through an angel sent by Him (cf 1:3; 19:10; 22:7, 10, 18-19). The apocalyptic works of the next century are regularly pseudonymous, bearing the name of famous people, but written by unknown people, whereas John's authorship of the Revelation is attested by several church fathers, including Tertullian, Justin, and Irenaeus.
The book is penned by John but comes from Jesus and is about Him. After the introduction of Jesus and the angel, we see a statement that reflects a similar kind of genre written by Daniel the prophet, and contains a similar statement found in verse one: "things which must happen soon" (Dan 2:28, 29, 45). This is not an indication that the events spoken about in the Revelation would occur within a short time after John is given the revelation from Christ. Rather, the events spoken about will occur in the future and in rapid succession (en tachei, έν τάχει) when they begin to occur.
Also see the Word Study on Revelation and the Note "Who Wrote the Revelation" in Rev 1:1, HVSB.