SEAL NOT THE SAYINGS. OF THIS BOOK. To seal them up would be to conceal them from the knowledge of men. "The time was at hand" when the fulfillment would begin; and hence it was desirable that the churches should be forewarned and instructed at once. John wrote about A. D. 96. The fulfillment began... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS UNJUST, LET HIM BE UNJUST STILL. John has just pictured the grand consummation and the blessed state of the righteous. He now refers to the state in which the unrighteous remain. We learn from verse 15 that they are left without the Holy City and not permitted to enter. This verse gives... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD,. COME QUICKLY; AND MY REWARD IS WITH ME. This is to be construed with verse 11, which declares that when eternity dawns upon us our characters will be fixed forever. The Lord now assures us that the time is short; only. little while remains for each individual until he shall appear before t... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA. The same affirmation is found in chapter 1. It means that he is from everlasting to everlasting.... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS. The Revision reads, "That wash their robes." This is probably the reading of the better Greek manuscripts. The two renderings are only different ways of saying the same things. To wash the robes, is to cleanse them,. symbol of being cleansed from sin. We a... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT ARE DOGS. Now comes. description of those excluded. Dogs were an unclean animal under the Jewish law, and this probably represents the wicked, depraved and vile. SORCERERS. Deceivers, whether priestly tricksters, workers of false miracles, or charlatans and mountebanks. IDOLATERS. Not t... [ Continue Reading ]
AM THE ROOT AND OFFSPRING OF DAVID. He is of the root from whence David sprung as well as the offspring of David. THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR. The morning star is the harbinger of the day. When it appears in the east we know that the day is at hand. He is also the Sun of Righteousness, but the sy... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY, COME. Come and partake of all the blessings of Christ's redemption. These can be secured only by coming to Christ. He says," Come to me ye that are weary and heavy laden." Here the Spirit and the bride join in the invitation; that is, the Holy Spirit and the Church... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY MAN SHALL ADD UNTO THESE THINGS. John seems to write with. consciousness that he was closing the sacred canon. There is, therefore,. solemn prohibition of adding more to the word of God than is found in this book. There has been much more added. Writings of saints, decrees of councils, excat... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY MAN SHALL TAKE AWAY, ETC. It is. sin to add to the word of God. It is. like sin to take away from the word. Those would take away who would reject any part, or who would refuse to read and teach it, or who would substitute aught else for it. If. church were to decide that it was not best for... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY. COME QUICKLY. These are the words of the Lord, and mean that the chain of future events revealed shall begin its fulfillment in. short time. John adds the prayer, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." It expresses his complete resignation to the will of the Lord. Verse 21 is the benediction of the a... [ Continue Reading ]