CHAPTER XXII. The division of Chapter s here is rather unfortunate. There is no line of cleavage in the thought at this point. The division should have been made between the fifth and sixth verses. The first five verses of this chapter goes on to describe that "home of the soul.... [ Continue Reading ]
John saw the river of water of life proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb. No sea there, symbol of restlessness and turmoil, but a river, symbol of springing verdure, refreshment, and perennial life.... [ Continue Reading ]
On either side of the river the tree of life. The word tree is used generically, many trees of the species, on either side of the river. In Eden there was a "tree of life" from which man was excluded for his sin, a cherubim and a flaming sword guarding the way to it. Here in the last chapter of the... [ Continue Reading ]
"And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it." Sin is gone, and where there is no sin, there is no curse. "The throne of God and the Lamb" singular number, one throne. "And they shall see his face." The supreme blessedness of heaven is to look on the divine fa... [ Continue Reading ]
This sixth verse is almost a duplicate of the first verse of the book, showing that we are looking at the whole revelation from the outlook of the starting point, a fit method of conclusion. Both state that this book is a revelation from God, communicated by his angel "to show unto his servants the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse seven begins, "Behold I come quickly." It is an entire misconception to apply these words to the event technically known as Christ's second personal coming, as so many do in these days. The last chapter like the first has its standpoint among the churches of the first century. Christ, through... [ Continue Reading ]
"And I John saw these things and heard them," bringing in again the human author of the book and reminding us of his place and time in the story.... [ Continue Reading ]
"Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book." These words were not to be left in obscurity, but to be read, and made known to the churches of John's day, "for the time is at hand," These were things that vitally concerned them, then and there, they were written for their encouragment, to gird... [ Continue Reading ]
"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still." If the wicked persists in his wickedness, refuses all warnings, and resists all the exhortations that are so plentifully scattered through this book, and which reach him through other channels, let him go on to his doom, for his doom will overtake him so... [ Continue Reading ]
The book draws to a close with a solemn warning neither to add to these words of God nor to take from them. Both these tendencies are prominent in the world today. A great host of interpreters are expert users of Jehoiakim's pen-knife, and an equal number on the other hand are reading into the Scrip... [ Continue Reading ]
"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly." And John responds: "Amen, Even so, come. Lord Jesus." This coming has, in my humble judgment, no reference to the technical second personal coming of Christ, else it would not be described as "quickly," and as something which in John'... [ Continue Reading ]