mh_parser/vol_split/66 - Revelation/Chapter 22.xml

<div2 id="Rev.xxiii" n="xxiii" next="xxvii" prev="Rev.xxii" progress="99.80%" title="Chapter XXII">
<h2 id="Rev.xxiii-p0.1">R E V E L A T I O N.</h2>
<h3 id="Rev.xxiii-p0.2">CHAP. XXII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Rev.xxiii-p1">In this chapter we have, I. A further description
of the heavenly state of the church, <scripRef id="Rev.xxiii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.1-Rev.22.5" parsed="|Rev|22|1|22|5" passage="Re 22:1-5">ver. 1-5</scripRef>. II. A confirmation of this and all
the other visions of this book, <scripRef id="Rev.xxiii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.6-Rev.22.19" parsed="|Rev|22|6|22|19" passage="Re 22:6-19">ver.
6-19</scripRef>. III. The conclusion, <scripRef id="Rev.xxiii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.20-Rev.22.21" parsed="|Rev|22|20|22|21" passage="Re 22:20,21">ver. 20, 21</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Rev.xxiii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22" parsed="|Rev|22|0|0|0" passage="Re 22" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Rev.xxiii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.1-Rev.22.5" parsed="|Rev|22|1|22|5" passage="Re 22:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.22.1-Rev.22.5">
<h4 id="Rev.xxiii-p1.6">The New Jerusalem. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xxiii-p1.7">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xxiii-p2">1 And he showed me a pure river of water of
life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of
the Lamb.   2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either
side of the river, <i>was there</i> the tree of life, which bare
twelve <i>manner of</i> fruits, <i>and</i> yielded her fruit every
month: and the leaves of the tree <i>were</i> for the healing of
the nations.   3 And there shall be no more curse: but the
throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants
shall serve him:   4 And they shall see his face; and his name
<i>shall be</i> in their foreheads.   5 And there shall be no
night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for
the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and
ever.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xxiii-p3">The heavenly state which was before
described as a city, and called the new Jerusalem, is here
described as a paradise, alluding to the earthly paradise which was
lost by the sin of the first Adam; here is another paradise
restored by the second Adam. A paradise in a city, or a whole city
in a paradise! In the first paradise there were only two persons to
behold the beauty and taste the pleasures of it; but in this second
paradise whole cities and nations shall find abundant delight and
satisfaction. And here observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xxiii-p4">I. The river of paradise. The earthly
paradise was well watered: no place can be pleasant or fruitful
that is not so. This river is described, 1. By its
fountain-head—<i>the throne of God and the Lamb.</i> All our
springs of grace, comfort, and glory, are in God; and all our
streams from him are through the mediation of the Lamb. 2. By its
quality—<i>pure and clear as crystal.</i> All the streams of
earthly comfort are muddy; but these are clear, salutary, and
refreshing, giving life, and preserving life, to those who drink of
them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xxiii-p5">II. The tree of life, in this paradise.
Such a tree there was in the earthly paradise, <scripRef id="Rev.xxiii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.2.9" parsed="|Gen|2|9|0|0" passage="Ge 2:9">Gen. ii. 9</scripRef>. This far excels it. And now, as to
this tree, observe, 1. The situation of it—<i>in the midst of the
street, and on either side the river;</i> or, as might have been
better rendered, <i>in the midst between the terrace-walk and the
river.</i> This tree of life is fed by the pure waters of the river
that comes from the throne of God. The presence and perfections of
God furnish out all the glory and blessedness of heaven. 2. The
fruitfulness of this tree. (1.) It brings forth many sorts of
fruit—<i>twelve sorts,</i> suited to the refined taste of all the
saints. (2.) It brings forth fruit at all times—<i>yields its
fruit every month.</i> This tree is never empty, never barren;
there is always fruit upon it. In heaven there is not only a
variety of pure and satisfying pleasures, but a continuance of
them, and always fresh. (3.) The fruit is not only pleasant, but
wholesome. The presence of God in heaven is the health and
happiness of the saints; there they find in him a remedy for all
their former maladies, and are preserved by him in the most
healthful and vigorous state.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xxiii-p6">III. The perfect freedom of this paradise
from every thing that is evil (<scripRef id="Rev.xxiii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.3" parsed="|Rev|22|3|0|0" passage="Re 22:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>): <i>There shall be no more
curse;</i> no <i>accursed one</i>—<b><i>katanathema,</i></b> no
serpent there, as there was in the earthly paradise. Here is the
great excellency of this paradise. The devil has nothing to do
there; he cannot draw the saints from serving God to be subject to
himself, as he did our first parents, nor can he so much as disturb
them in the service of God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xxiii-p7">IV. The supreme felicity of this
paradisiacal state. 1. There the saints shall see the face of God;
there they shall enjoy the beatific vision. 2. God will own them,
as having his seal and name on their foreheads. 3. <i>They shall
reign with him for ever;</i> their service shall be not only
freedom but honour and dominion. 4. All this shall be with perfect
knowledge and joy. They shall be full of wisdom and comfort,
continually walking in the light of the Lord; and this not for a
time, <i>but for ever and ever.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Rev.xxiii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.6-Rev.22.19" parsed="|Rev|22|6|22|19" passage="Re 22:6-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.22.6-Rev.22.19">
<h4 id="Rev.xxiii-p7.2">The New Jerusalem. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xxiii-p7.3">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xxiii-p8">6 And he said unto me, These sayings <i>are</i>
faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his
angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be
done.   7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed <i>is</i> he that
keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.   8 And I
John saw these things, and heard <i>them.</i> And when I had heard
and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which
showed me these things.   9 Then saith he unto me, See <i>thou
do it</i> not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the
prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship
God.   10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the
prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.   11 He that
is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him
be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous
still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.   12 And,
behold, I come quickly; and my reward <i>is</i> with me, to give
every man according as his work shall be.   13 I am Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.   14
Blessed <i>are</i> they that do his commandments, that they may
have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates
into the city.   15 For without <i>are</i> dogs, and
sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and
whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.   16 I Jesus have sent mine
angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the
root and the offspring of David, <i>and</i> the bright and morning
star.   17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him
that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And
whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.   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:   19 And
if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and
out of the holy city, and <i>from</i> the things which are written
in this book.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xxiii-p9">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, <scripRef id="Rev.xxiii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.10" parsed="|Rev|22|10|0|0" passage="Re 22:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. 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, <scripRef id="Rev.xxiii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.12" parsed="|Rev|22|12|0|0" passage="Re 22:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. 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,
<scripRef id="Rev.xxiii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.13-Rev.22.14" parsed="|Rev|22|13|22|14" passage="Re 22:13,14"><i>v.</i> 13, 14</scripRef>. 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> (<scripRef id="Rev.xxiii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.15" parsed="|Rev|22|15|0|0" passage="Re 22:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), 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 this morning light of prophecy,
to assure them of the light of that perfect day which is
approaching. 11. It is confirmed by an open and general invitation
to all to come and partake of the promises and privileges of the
gospel, those streams of the water of life; these are tendered to
all who feel in their souls a thirst which nothing in this world
can quench. 12. It is confirmed by the joint testimony of the
Spirit of God, and that gracious Spirit that is in all the true
members of the church of God; <i>the Spirit and the bride</i> join
in testifying the truth and excellency of the gospel. 13. It is
confirmed by a most solemn sanction, condemning and cursing all who
should dare to corrupt or change the word of God, either by adding
to it or taking from it, <scripRef id="Rev.xxiii-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.18-Rev.22.19" parsed="|Rev|22|18|22|19" passage="Re 22:18,19"><i>v.</i>
18, 19</scripRef>. He that adds to the word of God draws down upon
himself <i>all the plagues written in this book;</i> and he who
takes any thing away from it cuts himself off from all the promises
and privileges of it. This sanction is like a flaming sword, to
guard the canon of the scripture from profane hands. Such a fence
as this God set about the law (<scripRef id="Rev.xxiii-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.2" parsed="|Deut|4|2|0|0" passage="De 4:2">Deut. iv.
2</scripRef>), and the whole Old Testament (<scripRef id="Rev.xxiii-p9.7" osisRef="Bible:Mal.4.4" parsed="|Mal|4|4|0|0" passage="Mal 4:4">Mal. iv. 4</scripRef>), and now in the most solemn manner
about the whole Bible, assuring us that it is a book of the most
sacred nature, divine authority, and of the last importance, and
therefore the peculiar care of the great God.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Rev.xxiii-p9.8" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.20-Rev.22.21" parsed="|Rev|22|20|22|21" passage="Re 22:20-21" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.22.20-Rev.22.21">
<h4 id="Rev.xxiii-p9.9">Conclusion. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xxiii-p9.10">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xxiii-p10">20 He which testifieth these things saith,
Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.   21
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ <i>be</i> with you all.
Amen.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xxiii-p11">We have now come to the conclusion of the
whole, and that in three things:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xxiii-p12">I. Christ's farewell to his church. He
seems now, after he has been discovering these things to his people
on earth, to take leave of them, and return to heaven; but he parts
with them in great kindness, and assures them it shall not be long
before he comes again to them: <i>Behold, I come quickly.</i> As
when he ascended into heaven, after his resurrection, he parted
with a promise of his gracious presence, so here he parts with a
promise of a speedy return. If any say, "Where is the promise of
his coming, when so many ages have passed since this was written?"
let them know he is not slack to his people, but long-suffering to
his enemies: his coming will be sooner than they are aware, sooner
than they are prepared, sooner than they desire; and to his people
it will be seasonable. The vision is for an appointed time, and
will not tarry. <i>He will come quickly;</i> let this word be
always sounding in our ear, and let us give all diligence that we
may be found of him in peace, <i>without spot and
blameless.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xxiii-p13">II. The church's hearty echo to Christ's
promise, 1. Declaring her firm belief of it: <i>Amen, so it is,</i>
so it shall be. 2. Expressing her earnest desire of it: <i>Even so,
come, Lord Jesus; make hast, my beloved, and be thou like a roe, or
like a young hart on the mountain of spices.</i> Thus beats the
pulse of the church, thus breathes that gracious Spirit which
actuates and informs the mystical body of Christ; and we should
never be satisfied till we find such a spirit breathing in us, and
causing us to <i>look for the blessed hope, and glorious appearance
of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.</i> This is the
language of the church of the first-born, and we should join with
them, often putting ourselves in mind of his promise. What comes
from heaven in a promise should be sent back to heaven in a prayer,
"<i>Come, Lord Jesus,</i> put an end to this state of sin, sorrow,
and temptation; gather thy people out of this present evil world,
and take them up to heaven, that state of perfect purity, peace,
and joy, and so finish thy great design, and fulfil all that word
in which thou hast caused thy people to hope."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xxiii-p14">III. The apostolical benediction, which
closes the whole: <i>The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
all, Amen.</i> Here observe, 1. The Bible ends with a clear proof
of the Godhead of Christ, since the Spirit of God teaches the
apostle to bless his people in the name of Christ, and to beg from
Christ a blessing for them, which is a proper act of adoration. 2.
Nothing should be more desired by us than that the grace of Christ
may be with us in this world, to prepare us for the glory of Christ
in the other world. It is by his grace that we must be kept in a
joyful expectation of his glory, fitted for it, and preserved to
it; and his glorious appearance will be welcome and joyful to those
that are partakers of his grace and favour here; and therefore to
this most comprehensive prayer we should all add our hearty
<i>Amen,</i> most earnestly thirsting after greater measures of the
gracious influences of the blessed Jesus in our souls, and his
gracious presence with us, till glory has perfected all his grace
towards us, for he is a sun and a shield, <i>he gives grace and
glory, and no good thing will he withhold from those that walk
uprightly.</i></p>
</div></div2>