The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified _it_ by his angel unto his servant John: Ver. 1. _The Revelation_] Or manifestation of many divine mysteries by the Mediator (who came out of his Fath... [ Continue Reading ]
Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Ver. 2. _Who bare record of the word_] This John the divine, then, was John the Evangelist, whatever Dennis of Alexandria dispute to the contrary. It was Moses's honour (saith one), who was God'... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed _is_ he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time _is_ at hand. Ver. 3. _Blessed is he that readeth_] _sc._ With attention, affection, application, and practice; as knowing that this book hath _tot sacramenta,... [ Continue Reading ]
John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace _be_ unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; Ver. 4. _From him which is_] An august description of the Father by a manifest allusion to Exodus 3:14. Some... [ Continue Reading ]
And from Jesus Christ, _who is_ the faithful witness, _and_ the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Ver. 5. _And from Jesus Christ_] Who is here set last of the three persons, because more is to... [ Continue Reading ]
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him _be_ glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Ver. 6. _And hath made us kings_] To rule in righteousness, to lord it over our lusts, to triumph over and trample on all our spiritual adversaries, being more than conquerors through... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they _also_ which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Ver. 7. _Behold, he cometh_] He is already upon the way, and will be with us shortly. Let us hasten his coming, and say, as Sisera's... [ Continue Reading ]
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Ver. 8. _Which is, and which was_] The Father is called "He that is," Exodus 3:14. The Son "He that was," John 1:1. The Holy Ghost, "He that cometh," John 16:8,13, as Are... [ Continue Reading ]
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Ver. 9. _In the kingdom and patience_] Christ hath a twofold kingdom; 1. Of power; 2. O... [ Continue Reading ]
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Ver. 10. _I was in the Spirit_] Acted by him, and carried out of himself, as the demoniac is said to be in the unclean spirit, as being acted and agitated by him. _See Trapp on "_ 2Pe 1:21 _"_ On the Lord's... [ Continue Reading ]
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send _it_ unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. Ver. 11. _Send it to... [ Continue Reading ]
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; Ver. 12. _And being turned I saw_] It is well observed here by a learned interpreter (Mr Brightman), that every godly endeavour doth receive some fruit greater than a man can hope for; John turned h... [ Continue Reading ]
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks _one_ like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. Ver. 13. _And in the midst_] Christ is in the holy assemblies, in the beauties of holiness; he walketh in his garden, Song of Solomon 6:1... [ Continue Reading ]
His head and _his_ hairs _were_ white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes _were_ as a flame of fire; Ver. 14. _White like wool_] Noting his antiquity, or rather his eternity and unspeakable purity. Thales, one of the heathen sages, called God πρεσβυτατον των οντων, the most ancient of beings.... [ Continue Reading ]
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. Ver. 15. _And his feet_] He stood firm then when he was cast into the fire of his Father's wrath. He trod the winepress alone, and set his feet on the necks of all his and our enemies. He l... [ Continue Reading ]
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance _was_ as the sun shineth in his strength. Ver. 16. _And he had in his right hand_] See here the dignity and safety of a faithful minister. While a child hath his father by the hand, thoug... [ Continue Reading ]
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: Ver. 17. _I fell at his feet as dead_] The nearer any one comes to Christ, the more rottenness entereth into his bones. _ And he laid his right hand_] The same... [ Continue Reading ]
I _am_ he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Ver. 18. _That liveth and was dead_] So can every regenerate man say, Luke 16:31; Ephesians 2:1. _See Trapp on "_ Eph 2:1 _"_ All saints are "heirs of the grace of life," 1 Peter... [ Continue Reading ]
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; Ver. 19. _Write the things which thou hast seen_] That is, the gospel, the history of Christ (as some think), which he wrote at Ephesus after his return from Patmos, over forty years after our... [ Continue Reading ]
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. Ver. 20. _The mystery_] In this whole book there are so many words, so man... [ Continue Reading ]