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2 lines
5.7 KiB
HTML
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<p>We have here a solemn ratification of the contents of this book, and particularly of this last vision (though some think it may not only refer to the whole book, but to the whole New Testament, yea, to the whole Bible, completing and confirming the can on of scripture); and here, 1. This is confirmed by the name and nature of that God who gave out these discoveries: he is <i>the Lord God, faithful and true</i>, and so are all his sayings. 2. By the messengers he chose, to reveal these things to the world; the holy angels showed them to holy men of God; and God would not employ his saints and angels in deceiving the world. 3. They will soon be confirmed by their accomplishment: they are things that must shortly be done; Christ will make haste, <i>he will come quickly</i>, and put all things out of doubt; and then those will prove the wise and happy men who have believed and kept his words. 4. By the integrity of that angel who had been the apostle’s guide and interpreter in these visions; this integrity was such that he not only refused to accept religious adoration from John, but once and again reproved him for it. He who was so tender of the honour of God, and so displeased with what was a wrong to God, would never come in his name to lead the people of God into mere dreams and delusions; and it is a still further confirmation of the sincerity of this apostle that he confesses his own sin and folly, into which he had now again relapsed, and he leaves this his failing on perpetual record: this shows he was a faithful and an impartial writer. 5. By the order given to leave the book of the prophecy open, to be perused by all, that they might labour to understand it, that they might make their objections against it, and compare the prophecy with the events. God here deals freely and openly with all; he does not speak in secret, but calls every one to witness to the declarations here made, <a class="bibleref" title="Rev.22.10" href="/passage/?search=Rev.22.10">Rev. 22:10</a>. 6. By the effect this book, thus kept open, will have upon men; those that are filthy and unjust will take occasion thence to be more so, but it will confirm, strengthen, and further sanctify those that are upright with God; it will be a savour of life to some and of death to others, and so will appear to be from God, <a class="bibleref" title="Rev.22.12" href="/passage/?search=Rev.22.12">Rev. 22:12</a>. 7. It will be Christ’s rule of judgment at the great day; he will dispense rewards and punishments to men according as their works agree or disagree with the word of God; and therefore that word itself must needs be faithful and true. 8. It is the word of him who is the author, finisher, and rewarder of the faith and holiness of his people, <a class="bibleref" title="Rev.22.13,Rev.22.14" href="/passage/?search=Rev.22.13,Rev.22.14"><span class="bibleref" title="Rev.22.13">Rev. 22:13</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Rev.22.14">14</span></a>. He is <i>the first and the last</i>, and the same from first to last, and so is his word too; and he will by this word give to his people, who conform themselves to it, <i>a right to the tree of life</i>, and an entrance into heaven; and this will be a full confirmation of the truth and authority of his word, since it contains the title and evidence of that confirmed state of holiness and happiness that remains for his people in heaven. 9. It is a book that condemns and excludes from heaven all wicked, unrighteous persons, and particularly <i>those that love and make lies</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Rev.22.15" href="/passage/?search=Rev.22.15">Rev. 22:15</a>), and therefore can never be itself a lie. 10. It is confirmed by <i>the testimony of Jesus, which is the Spirit of prophecy</i>. And this Jesus, as God, is <i>the root of David</i>, though, as man, his offspring—a person in whom all uncreated and created excellencies meet, too great and too good to deceive his churches and the world. He is the fountain of all light, the <i>bright and the morning star</i>, and as such has given to his churches t
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