HE SHEWED ME (εδειξεν μο). The angel as in Revelation 21:9; Revelation 21:10 (cf. Revelation 1:1; Revelation 4:1). Now the interior of the city.A RIVER OF WATER OF LIFE (ποταμον υδατος ζωης). For υδωρ ζωης (water of life) see Revelation 7:17; Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:17;... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE MIDST OF THE STREET THEREOF (εν μεσω της πλατειας αυτης). Connected probably with the river in verse Revelation 22:1, though many connect it with verse Revelation 22:2. Only one street mentioned here as in Revelation 21:21.ON THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER AND ON THAT (του ποταμου εντευθεν κα εκ... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE SHALL BE NO CURSE ANY MORE (παν καταθεμα ουκ εστα ετ). No other example of καταθεμα has been found outside of the _Didache_ XVI. 5, though the verb καταθεματιζω occurs in Matthew 26:74, meaning to curse, while we have αναθεματιζω in Mark 14:71 in the same sense. It may be a syncopated form o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL SEE HIS FACE (οψοντα το προσωπον αυτου). Future active of οραω. This vision of God was withheld from Moses (Exodus 33:20; Exodus 33:23), but promised by Jesus to the pure in heart (Matthew 5:8) and mentioned in Hebrews 12:14 as possible only to the holy, and promised in Psalms 17:15. Ev... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL BE NIGHT NO MORE (νυξ ουκ εστα ετ). As in Revelation 21:25.THEY NEED (εχουσιν χρειαν). Present active indicative, "They have need," though A has εξουσιν (shall have), future like εστα. Here again there is repetition of part of Revelation 21:23, but for the purpose of showing the delightso... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SAID UNTO ME (ειπεν μο). Apparently the same angel as in Revelation 22:1 (Revelation 21:9; Revelation 21:15).THESE WORDS (ουτο ο λογο). The same words used in Revelation 21:5 by the angel there. Whatever the application there, here the angel seems to endorse as "faithful and true" (πιστο κα α... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY (κα ιδου ερχομα ταχυ). Christ is the speaker, either through this angel or more probably directly from Christ without introduction as in verses Revelation 22:12; Revelation 22:16. About Christ coming quickly see Revelation 2:5; Revelation 2:16; Revelation 3:11; Revelatio... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I JOHN (Καγω Ιωαννης). Here John the Seer is the speaker. He had already given his name (Revelation 1:1; Revelation 1:4; Revelation 1:9). Here he claims to be the "one who hears and sees these things" (ο ακουων κα βλεπων ταυτα).I FELL DOWN TO WORSHIP (επεσα προσκυνησα). Second aorist active... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE THOU DO IT NOT (Hορα μη). The angel promptly interposes (λεγε, dramatic present). See Revelation 19:10 for discussion of this same phrase ορα μη when John had once before started to worship the angel in his excitement. Here we have added to the words in Revelation 19:10 "the prophets (των προ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAITH UNTO ME (κα λεγε μο). The angel resumes as in Revelation 19:9.SEAL NOT UP (μη σφραγισηις). Prohibition with μη and the ingressive first aorist active subjunctive of σφραγιζω. Charles takes this to be the command of Christ because in verses Revelation 22:7; Revelation 22:18 "the word... [ Continue Reading ]
LET HIM DO UNRIGHTEOUSNESS STILL (αδικησατω ετ). First aorist (constative) active imperative of αδικεω, viewed here as a whole. The language is probably ironical, with a reminder of Daniel 12:10, in no sense a commendation of their lost estate. Charles rejects this verse as not like John. It is th... [ Continue Reading ]
MY REWARD IS WITH ME (ο μισθος μου μετ' εμου). It is Christ speaking again and he repeats his promise of coming quickly as in verse Revelation 22:7. He speaks now as the Rewarder (ο μισθαποδοτης) of Hebrews 11:6. Cf. Revelation 11:18; Isaiah 40:10; Isaiah 62:11.TO RENDER (αποδουνα). Second aoris... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA (Εγω το Αλφα κα το Ο). Applied to God in Revelation 1:8; Revelation 21:6, and here alone to Christ, crowning proof in this book of Christ's deity. So in Revelation 21:6 God is termed, as Christ is here, η αρχη κα το τελος (the beginning and the end), while ο πρωτος κα... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED (μακαριο). This is the last beatitude of the book and "deals with the issues of the higher life" (Swete).THEY THAT WASH THEIR ROBES (ο πλυνοντες τας στολας αυτων). Present active articular participle of πλυνω. See Revelation 7:14 for this very verb with στολας, while in Revelation 3:4 t... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT (εξω). Outside the holy city, with which compare Revelation 21:8; Revelation 21:27. Dustierdieck supplies an imperative: "Out, ye dogs."THE DOGS (ο κυνες). Not literal dogs, but the morally impure (Deuteronomy 23:18; 2 Kings 8:13; Psalms 22:17; Psalms 22:21; Matthew 7:6;... [ Continue Reading ]
I JESUS (Εγω Ιησους). The last and most solemn attestation to the book that from Jesus (the historic Jesus known to the churches), in harmony with Revelation 1:1.HAVE SENT (επεμψα). First aorist active indicative of πεμπω, used here in the same sense as αποστειλας in Revelation 1:1 as his perso... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE (το πνευμα κα η νυμφη). The Holy Spirit, speaking through the prophets or the Spirit of prophecy (Revelation 2:7; Revelation 16:4; Revelation 18:24), joins with the bride (Revelation 21:2), the people of God, in a response to the voice of Jesus just heard. After the pictur... [ Continue Reading ]
I TESTIFY (Εγω μαρτυρω). Commentators disagree keenly about the words in verses Revelation 22:18; Revelation 22:19. Charles rejects them as an interpolation and out of harmony with the rest of the book. Beckwith takes them to be John's own warning, drawn from Deuteronomy 4:2 "to every man that he... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY MAN SHALL TAKE AWAY (εαν τις αφελη). Also condition of the third class with εαν and second aorist active subjunctive of αφαιρεω, with απο repeated both in the condition and in the conclusion (αφελε απο, future active indicative of αφαιρεω for the more usual αφαιρησε).WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN T... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WHICH TESTIFIETH (ο μαρτυρων). That is Jesus (Revelation 1:2) who has just spoken (Revelation 22:18).YEA: I COME QUICKLY (Ναι, ερχομα ταχυ). Affirmation again of the promise in Revelation 22:7; Revelation 22:12. On Να (Yes) see Revelation 1:7 for the Lord's assent to the call. Then John expre... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS BE WITH THE SAINTS (η χαρις του Κυριου Ιησου μετα των αγιων). John's own benediction, an unusual ending for an apocalypse, but suitable for one meant to be read in the churches (Revelation 1:3). Grace is Paul's unvarying word in conclusion of his letters, as is true of... [ Continue Reading ]