_And_ Proceeding with his description of the heavenly city, the apostle observes, _he_ That is, the angel who condescended to be his guide on this occasion; _showed me a pure river of the water of life_ The ever fresh and fructifying influence of the Holy Spirit; see Ezekiel 47:1, where also the tre... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ then too _there shall be no more curse_ As there is in this present world, and has been ever since the fall of man; but only pure life and blessing, every effect of the displeasure of God for sin being now totally removed; _but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it_ That is, the glo... [ Continue Reading ]
The glory and felicity set forth in the preceding chapter, and continued in the five verses we have just considered, being great above all imagination, certain as the word of prophecy, and lasting without end, must, if duly considered, be a powerful encouragement to us, and persuasive to constancy i... [ Continue Reading ]
_And 1 John saw these things_ I, who have committed these revelations to writing for the constant use of the churches, do solemnly declare they are no invention of my own, but what I was an eye and ear witness to, having really seen and heard these things in the prophetic visions granted me, as I ha... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he saith unto me_ After a little pause; _Seal not the sayings of this book_ Conceal them not, like the things that are sealed up; _for the time is at hand_ When they shall begin to take place. _He that is unjust_ Or _unrighteous;_ that is, who lives and dies unjustified, _let him be unjust_, or... [ Continue Reading ]
_And behold, I_ Jesus Christ; _come quickly_ To judge the world. _And my reward_ Both of grace and vengeance; _is with me_ The reward which I shall assign, both to the righteous and the wicked, shall be conferred at my coming; _to give_ to _every man according as his work_ His spirit and conduct, hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_I Jesus have sent mine angel_ It was not thought sufficient to represent the angel as speaking in the person of Christ, but Christ himself also is here introduced speaking in his own person, and confirming the divine authority of this book, and attesting it to be properly his revelation; _to testif... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Spirit_ With which I inspire my servants; _and the bride_ The church, whom I have espoused, or the Spirit of adoption in the bride, says, with earnest desire and expectation, _Come_ And accomplish all the words of this prophecy. _And let him that heareth say, Come_ Let every one echo the in... [ Continue Reading ]
_For I testify_ Here the Lord Jesus adds a solemn admonition, not only to the churches of Asia, but to all who should ever hear or read this book. To him that _adds to the things_ contained in it, shall all the plagues mentioned in it be added; and from him that _takes away from the words of this pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_He which testifieth these things_ Even all that is contained in this book; _saith_ For the encouragement of the church in all her afflictions, and the warning of all her opposers and persecutors; _Surely I come quickly_ To judge and punish all my enemies, and the enemies of my cause and people; and... [ Continue Reading ]
_The grace_ The free love; _of our Lord Jesus Christ_ And all its fruits; _be with you all_ Who thus long for his appearing, and with all true Christians. The conclusion, as Bishop Newton says, is truly excellent, as well as all other parts of this book; and nothing could be contrived to leave these... [ Continue Reading ]