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.
This passage establishes Christ’s superiority over angels, a central argument in Hebrews. While Jews revered angels as intermediaries of the Law of Moses (Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19), the author of Hebrews demonstrates that Christ, as the eternal Son of God, is far greater.
Unlike angels or even Adam (Luke 3:38), Christ is not called the Son of God by creation or adoption, but by inheritance. This means that His Sonship is intrinsic to His divine identity as God, not something conferred upon Him.
The title “only-begotten” (John 3:16) excludes all other beings—angels, humans, and any created entity—from sharing in Christ’s unique Sonship. He is not merely one among many sons of God, but the eternal Son, distinct in nature and authority.
The author cites Psalms 2:7: “You are My Son; today I have begotten You.”
This verse does not suggest a beginning of existence but rather affirms Christ’s divine status and eternal relationship with the Father (John 3:17).
Jesus was never created; He has always existed. He declared, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), declaring His divine unity and eternal nature. The following passages confirm His existence from eternity past:
Unlike angels or any created being, Christ is the eternal, uncreated Son of God, superior to all. The New Testament affirms His divine preexistence and unity with the Father, demonstrating that He always existed and will always reign supreme.