St. John in this and the four following verses, goes on with the description of the heavenly Jerusalem, which he had begun in the former chapter; and here we have observable, 1. The city described, as having. CLEAR RIVER running through it, and this OF THE WATER OF LIFE; an illusion doubtless to th... [ Continue Reading ]
Note here, 1. That as there was. river and. tree of life in the terrestrial paradise, so in allusion thereunto both are said to be in the heavenly paradise; behold here. tree of such vast proportion and extent, that its branches extend to both sides, that all may receive benefit by it; who can this... [ Continue Reading ]
St. John has not yet done with this copious description of the New Jerusalem, but here he closes it by doing these two things, 1. He shows what shall not be found there: THERE SHALL BE NO CURSE, no accursed person, or accursed thing, no sin, nor any thing sinful, that deserves the curse; AND THERE... [ Continue Reading ]
The prophetical part of this book being now ended, here follows the conclusion, which is managed in. way of dialogue, between Christ, the angel, and the apostle. Note here, 1. How the divine authority of this book is strongly asserted, and its excellences commended: THESE SAYINGS ARE FAITHFUL AND TR... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. strict charge given unto St. John, not to seal or close up the words of this prophecy, but to publish and make it known for the use and benefit of the church, for which reason this book is called. revelation: SEAL NOT THE SAYINGS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK. Where mark, That altho... [ Continue Reading ]
The former verses contained. dialogue or interlocutory discourse between the angel and St. John: here Christ begins to speak, and continues his speech to the middle of the 20th verse, wherein he declares, that it will not be long before he comes to judge the world, to give unto those who are good ev... [ Continue Reading ]
As if Christ had said, "I am the eternal God, the first cause and the last end of all things;. first made the world, and. will at last put. period to it; and when time shall be no more, they shall for ever be happy in the enjoyment of me, who have here obeyed me, and lived in conformity to my doctri... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT, that is, without the gates of the city of the New Jerusalem, are all filthy and unclean sinners, all cruel and bloody persecutors, all raging and furious enemies to me and my people, all idolaters and all liars; these shall be shut out of heaven, as dogs are shut out of the house; and shut... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ is the author of this Revelation, and owneth it to be his; the angel did but declare it, St. John did but write it, Christ himself was the inditer of it; they were not the inventions of St. John, nor the sayings of the angel, but the revelation was Christ'... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The persons mentioned, THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE; by the Spirit understand the Holy Ghost, and by the bride the whole Catholic church in general, both in heaven and earth, and every true believer in particular. Behold how the Spirit speaks in the bride, and how the bride speaks from... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have. dreadful commination and severe threatening denounced by Christ against all such as shall add any thing to the scriptures in general, and to this prophecy in particular; not by way of true interpretation, but either FORMALLY, by joining any thing to be received as scripture which God n... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, Jesus Christ, the faithful and true Witness, from whom St. John received this revelation, as he formerly had done the holy gospel, saith, SURELY. COME QUICKLY. Where note, 1. That this prophecy or promise of Christ's second coming to judge the world, is here left as Christ's second coming... [ Continue Reading ]
"This is an epistolary conclusion, used almost in all the epistles of the New Testament, and so here, because this prophecy was in the manner of an epistle directed to the churches. St. John began this epistle with this salutation, Revelation 1:4 and so ends with it here; he knew there would be. lon... [ Continue Reading ]