And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. Ver. 1. _A pure river_] Not muddy as Nile, but clear as Calirrho. The allusion seems to be to that earthly paradise so well watered, Genesis 2:8,14, or else to Ezekiel 47:1,12. Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, _was there_ the tree of life, which bare twelve _manner of_ fruits, _and_ yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree _were_ for the healing of the nations. Ver. 2. _In the midst of the street of it_] _In medio foro ei... [ Continue Reading ]
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: Ver. 3. _And there shall be no more curse_] No casting out by excommunication; no cause of any such thing. _ Of God and of the Lamb_] He and the Father are one, John 10:30. _Se... [ Continue Reading ]
And they shall see his face; and his name _shall be_ in their foreheads. Ver. 4. _And they shall see his face_] How we shall see God, whether with our minds only, or with bodily eyes we shall behold his invisible Majesty in the glorious face of Jesus Christ, there can be nothing determined. _ And... [ Continue Reading ]
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. Ver. 5. _And there shall be no night_] See the note on Revelation 21:25 . _ For the Lord God_] He that is Αυτοφως, light essential. _ A... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto me, These sayings _are_ faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Ver. 6. _And he said unto me_] This is the conclusion of the whole prophecy; and it is very august and majestical. _ The... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I come quickly: blessed _is_ he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. Ver. 7. _Blessed is he that keepeth_] In memory and manners, Revelation 1:3. Those were pronounced happy that read and hear, but so as they retain in mind and practise the contents of this book.... [ Continue Reading ]
And I John saw these things, and heard _them_. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Ver. 8. _Saw these things and heard them_] So that there is no colour of cause why any one should doubt or distrust such a witness. _ I fe... [ Continue Reading ]
Then saith he unto me, See _thou do it_ not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. Ver. 9. _See thou do it not_] _See Trapp on "_ Rev 19:10 _"_ This was a flat prohibition, not a merry repulse; as Lorinus and Veig... [ Continue Reading ]
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. Ver. 10. _Seal not_] Keep them not up for thine own proper use (as he did that wrote upon his writings, τα εις εμαυτον, things for myself), but freely impart them, and in such sort as that others may c... [ Continue Reading ]
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Ver. 11. _He that is unjust, &c._] _q.d._ Let things be foretold never so plainly, and fall out never so acc... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward _is_ with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Ver. 12. _Behold, I come quickly_] Therefore quicken your pace, bestir yourselves lustily; your time is short, your task is long, your wages inconceivable.... [ Continue Reading ]
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Ver. 13. _I am Alpha and Omega_] And am therefore worthy to be believed in my predictions of future events, which I can easily bring about and effect, since to me all things are present.... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed _are_ they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Ver. 14. _That they may have right_] That they may be assured of their interest in Christ and his kingdom. Plutarch tells of Eudoxas, that he would be willing... [ Continue Reading ]
For without _are_ dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Ver. 15. _For without are dogs_] In outer darkness. The Irish air will sooner brook a toad or snake to live therein, than heaven will brook a sinner. It was not permitted to... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 16. _Have sent mine angel_] With weariness of flight, as Daniel 9:21 . _ I am the root_] That bear up David by my Deity; but am born of h... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 17. _And the Spirit and the Bride_] _i.e._ The Bride sanctified and set to work by the Spirit,Romans 8:26 . _ And let him th... [ Continue Reading ]
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: Ver. 18. _If any man shall add unto these things_] Either to this or to any of the foregoing books of Scripture... [ Continue Reading ]
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and _from_ the things which are written in this book. Ver. 19. _And if any man shall take away_] Since every word of God is pure, precious, and... [ Continue Reading ]
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Ver. 20. _Even so; Come, Lord Jesus_] This is the common and constant vote of all good people; and is therefore pinned as a badge upon their sleeve, 1 Thessalonians 1:10. _See Trapp on "_ 1Th 1:10 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ _be_ with you all. Amen. Ver. 21. _The grace of our Lord_] An epistolary conclusion. The Revelation is rather to be counted an epistle than a book. Read it as sent us from heaven, and ruminate what ye read. _ Deo soli Gloria._... [ Continue Reading ]