Revelation 22:18

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: FOR. 'Aleph (') A B, Vulgate, Andreas, read, "I," emphatic. "I testify." UNTO THESE THINGS. A B, Andreas, read [ ep' (G1909) auta (G846) for pros (G4314) tauta (G5023)], 'unto them.' ADD ... ADD - retribution in kind....

6-19 The Lord Jesus spake by the angel, solemnly confirming the contents of this book, particularly of this last vision. He is the Lord God faithful and true. Also by his messengers; the holy angels showed them to holy men of God. They are things that must shortly be done; Christ will come quickly, and put all things out of doubt. And by the integrity of that angel who had been the apostle's interpreter. He refused to accept religious worship from John, and reproved him for offering it. This presents another testimony against idolatrous worship of saints and angels. God calls every one to witness to the declarations here made. This book, thus kept open, will have effect upon men; the filthy and unjust will be more so, but it will confirm, strengthen, and further sanctify those who are upright with God. Never let us think that a dead or disobedient faith will save us, for the First and t...

Verse Revelation 22:18. _IF ANY MAN SHALL ADD_] Shall give any other meaning to these prophecies, or any other application of them than God intends, _he_, though not originally intended, shall have the plagues threatened in this book for his portion....

FOR I TESTIFY - The writer does not specify who is meant by the word “I” in this place. The most natural construction is to refer it to the writer himself, and not to the angel, or the Saviour. The meaning is, “I bear this solemn witness, or make this solemn affirmation, in conclusion.” The object is to guard his book against being corrupted by any interpolation or change. It would seem not improbable, from this, that as early as the time of John, books were liable to be corrupted by additions or omissions, or that at least there was felt to be great danger that mistakes might be made by the carelessness of transcribers. Against this danger, John would guard this book in the most solemn manner. Perhaps he felt, too, that as this book would be necessarily regarded as obscure from the fact that symbols were so much used, there was great danger that changes would be made by well-meaning per...

EXPOSITION REVELATION 22:1 AND HE SHOWED ME A PURE RIVER. Omit "pure." "And" connects this part of the vision with what precedes (Revelation 21:9). It would have been better, perhaps, if the twenty-first chapter had included the first five verses of the twenty-second, so as to take in the whole of the description of the heavenly Jerusalem. But there is a break at this point, as is indicated by the repetition of "And he showed me," which points to a new phase or section of the vision. In the previous section (Revelation 21:9) the angel had showed St. John the city and its wails with their gates and foundations; in this section he shows him the riv

FOR I TESTIFY TO EVERY MAN,.... These are not the words of a scribe, who having wrote out a copy of this book, added the following adjuration to it, to deter persons from adding to it, or diminishing it; for the book is not yet finished, and both Christ and John speak after this; and to insert such a passage into the text would be a bold and daring action; nor are they even the words of John, the inspired writer of it, but of the Lord Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, as appears from Revelation 22:16 who in a most solemn manner declares to every man, high or low, rich or poor, of whatsoever character, or however dignified, either in a civil or ecclesiastic way, THAT HEARETH THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK read or explained, IF ANY MAN SHALL ADD UNTO THESE THINGS. To "add" to the things contained in this book, is not to deliver, or writ

Revelation 22:1. _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._ Here again we have God and the Lamb uniting in giving that «water of life» which flows down to us by God's grace through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God. Revelation 22:2. _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._ The fruit of this «tree of life « is for all those who have partaken of the water of life; and the tree provides medicine as well as food: « the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.»...

CHAPTER 22:6-21 The Final Messages __ 1. The angel's message (Revelation 22:6) 2. The message of the Lord (Revelation 22:12) 3. The two classes (Revelation 22:14) 4. His final testimony (Revelation 22:16) 5. The answer of the Spirit and the bride (Revelation 22:17) 6. The final warning (Revelation 22:18) 7. The final word--the final prayer ...

THE EPILOGUE. The Epilogue consists of the last words, warnings, and exhortations of the angel and the seer. Revelation 22:6. these words: the contents of the book. SHORTLY COME TO PASS: the author thought his prophecies would be speedily fulfilled. Revelation 22:7. I come quickly: I means Christ. The voice of Christ is heard behind the voice of the angel. Revelation 22:8. I, John: _ cf._ Revelation 1:9. I FELL DOWN: as in Revelation 19:10....

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, excathedra utterances of "infallible" popes have been added unto the word of God, as well as the ravings of Swedenborg, Ellen White, and the Mormon prophets. Upon these rest the curse pronounced by John. Nor would we like to risk adding authoritative human creeds....