Revelation 22:17

Jesus continued speaking to John. The "Spirit" is God’s Holy Spirit, and the "bride" is probably the church, not the New Jerusalem, since this appeal is to the present bride of Christ. [Note: Moffatt, p. 492.] Jesus quoted both of these entities reiterating their appeal to Himself to come back to the earth (cf. Revelation 1:7). "The one who hears" is everyone who hears this book read in the churches, as was common in John’s day. This includes modern readers of it, of course. These individuals, as well as the bride gathered corporately, should likewise pray for the Lord’s return (cf. Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:2).

"If the Holy Spirit, the church, and the Apostle John knew that Christ could not return at any moment because of other events or a time period that had to transpire first [i.e., Daniel’s seventieth week], why did they command Him in a way that implied that He could come at any moment?" [Note: Showers, Maranatha . . ., p. 142. See also his brief history of belief in the imminent coming of Christ on pp. 142-47.]

Now Jesus turned the invitation around. He invited the thirsty to come to Him and take the water of life freely (cf. Revelation 22:1; Revelation 7:16; Revelation 21:6; Isaiah 55:1; Matthew 5:6; John 6:35; John 7:37). Unbelievers obviously need to take their first drink of this living water, which represents Christ and eternal life, but believers also need to keep slaking their thirst by coming to Him again and again. The one who is thirsty is the person who senses his or her need (cf. Matthew 5:6; John 4:10). "The one who wishes" is broad enough to include every single individual. This is an unusually winsome invitation (cf. Revelation 21:6; Matthew 11:28). The water of life costs the one who comes for it nothing. It costs us nothing, but it cost Jesus Christ greatly to give Himself for us.