In this chapter the Lord repeatedly speaks of returning.  In verse 7 He says, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”  In verses 12-13 He says, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”  In verse 16 He says, “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

In verse 17, the Spirit and the bride respond to the Lord’s words, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”  Let’s look at each of these expressions individually.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.”  “Come” seems to be the prayer of the Spirit in the Church in reply to Christ’s words, “I come quickly.”  It expresses a true desire to be with the Lord and to live with Him in Glory forever.  The Lord Jesus said in John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”  How precious the thought that the Lord Jesus actually longs for that time when we can be with Him in Heaven.  Here in Revelation 22:17, we see that the Spirit and the bride (the church) share that same desire and hence call out to the Lord to COME.

“And let him that heareth say, Come.”  To each individual believer who hears the Spirit and the bride calling out for the Lord to come, let them join them in the call for the Lord’s return.  Let them raise their voices in unison and call out to the Lord to COME.

“And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”  This phrase is not a call for Christ to come to us, but for the unsaved to come to Christ.  It is a loving plea to those who are thirsty…those who realize their unmet need of satisfaction.  We read these words of the Lord in John 7:37-38, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”  This gentle plea is the last invitation to come to the Lord that is found in the Bible. 

Since you stated that you need to be saved, then this last part of the verse is definitely for you.  It is the Lord gently imploring you to come to Him and “take of the water of life freely.”  It is only the one who is thirsty that will come to Him to drink.  It is the one who feels his/her need of a savior that will come to Christ to receive the free gift of salvation that He gives to all who will come to Him in faith.

Let me express to you the urgency of coming to the Lord today.  He speaks once more in this chapter of His coming again.  The Lord says in Revelation 22:20, “Surely I come quickly.”  The time will soon come when it will be too late to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior.  2 Corinthians 6:2 tell us, “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.)”  (406.2)