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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Revelation XXII].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC66021.HTM">Previous</A>]
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>R E V E L A T I O N.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have,
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I. A further description of the heavenly state of the church,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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II. A confirmation of this and all the other visions of this book,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:6-19">ver. 6-19</A>.
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III. The conclusion,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:20,21">ver. 20, 21</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Re22_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The New Jerusalem.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 95.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as
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crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
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2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the
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river, <I>was there</I> the tree of life, which bare twelve <I>manner
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of</I> fruits, <I>and</I> yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves
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of the tree <I>were</I> for the healing of the nations.
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3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and
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of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
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4 And they shall see his face; and his name <I>shall be</I> in their
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foreheads.
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5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle,
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neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and
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they shall reign for ever and ever.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The heavenly state which was before described as a city, and called the
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new Jerusalem, is here described as a paradise, alluding to the earthly
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paradise which was lost by the sin of the first Adam; here is another
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paradise restored by the second Adam. A paradise in a city, or a whole
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city in a paradise! In the first paradise there were only two persons
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to behold the beauty and taste the pleasures of it; but in this second
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paradise whole cities and nations shall find abundant delight and
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satisfaction. And here observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The river of paradise. The earthly paradise was well watered: no
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place can be pleasant or fruitful that is not so. This river is
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described,
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1. By its fountain-head--<I>the throne of God and the Lamb.</I> All our
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springs of grace, comfort, and glory, are in God; and all our streams
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from him are through the mediation of the Lamb.
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2. By its quality--<I>pure and clear as crystal.</I> All the streams of
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earthly comfort are muddy; but these are clear, salutary, and
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refreshing, giving life, and preserving life, to those who drink of
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them.</P>
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<P>
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II. The tree of life, in this paradise. Such a tree there was in the
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earthly paradise,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+2:9">Gen. ii. 9</A>.
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This far excels it. And now, as to this tree, observe,
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1. The situation of it--<I>in the midst of the street, and on either
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side the river;</I> or, as might have been better rendered, <I>in the
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midst between the terrace-walk and the river.</I> This tree of life is
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fed by the pure waters of the river that comes from the throne of God.
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The presence and perfections of God furnish out all the glory and
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blessedness of heaven.
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2. The fruitfulness of this tree.
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(1.) It brings forth many sorts of fruit--<I>twelve sorts,</I> suited
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to the refined taste of all the saints.
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(2.) It brings forth fruit at all times--<I>yields its fruit every
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month.</I> This tree is never empty, never barren; there is always
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fruit upon it. In heaven there is not only a variety of pure and
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satisfying pleasures, but a continuance of them, and always fresh.
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(3.) The fruit is not only pleasant, but wholesome. The presence of God
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in heaven is the health and happiness of the saints; there they find in
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him a remedy for all their former maladies, and are preserved by him in
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the most healthful and vigorous state.</P>
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<P>
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III. The perfect freedom of this paradise from every thing that is evil
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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<I>There shall be no more curse;</I> no <I>accursed
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one</I>--<B><I>katanathema,</I></B> no serpent there, as there was in
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the earthly paradise. Here is the great excellency of this paradise.
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The devil has nothing to do there; he cannot draw the saints from
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serving God to be subject to himself, as he did our first parents, nor
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can he so much as disturb them in the service of God.</P>
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<P>
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IV. The supreme felicity of this paradisiacal state.
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1. There the saints shall see the face of God; there they shall enjoy
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the beatific vision.
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2. God will own them, as having his seal and name on their foreheads.
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3. <I>They shall reign with him for ever;</I> their service shall be
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not only freedom but honour and dominion.
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4. All this shall be with perfect knowledge and joy. They shall be full
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of wisdom and comfort, continually walking in the light of the Lord;
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and this not for a time, <I>but for ever and ever.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Re22_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The New Jerusalem.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 95.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 And he said unto me, These sayings <I>are</I> faithful and true:
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and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto
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his servants the things which must shortly be done.
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7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed <I>is</I> he that keepeth the
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sayings of the prophecy of this book.
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8 And I John saw these things, and heard <I>them.</I> And when I had
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heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the
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angel which showed me these things.
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9 Then saith he unto me, See <I>thou do it</I> not: for I am thy
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fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them
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which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
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10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy
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of this book: for the time is at hand.
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11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is
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filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let
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him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy
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still.
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12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward <I>is</I> with me, to
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give every man according as his work shall be.
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13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first
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and the last.
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14 Blessed <I>are</I> they that do his commandments, that they may
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have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the
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gates into the city.
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15 For without <I>are</I> dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and
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murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
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16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these
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things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David,
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<I>and</I> the bright and morning star.
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17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that
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heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And
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whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
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18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the
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prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things,
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God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
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19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of
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this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of
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life, and out of the holy city, and <I>from</I> the things which are
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written in this book.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here a solemn ratification of the contents of this book, and
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particularly of this last vision (though some think it may not only
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refer to the whole book, but to the whole New Testament, yea, to the
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whole Bible, completing and confirming the can on of scripture); and
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here,
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1. This is confirmed by the name and nature of that God who gave out
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these discoveries: he is <I>the Lord God, faithful and true,</I> and so
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are all his sayings.
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2. By the messengers he chose, to reveal these things to the world; the
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holy angels showed them to holy men of God; and God would not employ
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his saints and angels in deceiving the world.
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3. They will soon be confirmed by their accomplishment: they are things
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that must shortly be done; Christ will make haste, <I>he will come
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quickly,</I> and put all things out of doubt; and then those will prove
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the wise and happy men who have believed and kept his words.
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4. By the integrity of that angel who had been the apostle's guide and
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interpreter in these visions; this integrity was such that he not only
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refused to accept religious adoration from John, but once and again
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reproved him for it. He who was so tender of the honour of God, and so
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displeased with what was a wrong to God, would never come in his name
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to lead the people of God into mere dreams and delusions; and it is a
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still further confirmation of the sincerity of this apostle that he
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confesses his own sin and folly, into which he had now again relapsed,
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and he leaves this his failing on perpetual record: this shows he was a
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faithful and an impartial writer.
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5. By the order given to leave the book of the prophecy open, to be
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perused by all, that they might labour to understand it, that they
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might make their objections against it, and compare the prophecy with
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the events. God here deals freely and openly with all; he does not
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speak in secret, but calls every one to witness to the declarations
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here made,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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6. By the effect this book, thus kept open, will have upon men; those
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that are filthy and unjust will take occasion thence to be more so, but
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it will confirm, strengthen, and further sanctify those that are
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upright with God; it will be a savour of life to some and of death to
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others, and so will appear to be from God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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7. It will be Christ's rule of judgment at the great day; he will
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dispense rewards and punishments to men according as their works agree
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or disagree with the word of God; and therefore that word itself must
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needs be faithful and true.
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8. It is the word of him who is the author, finisher, and rewarder of
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the faith and holiness of his people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:13,14"><I>v.</I> 13, 14</A>.
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He is <I>the first and the last,</I> and the same from first to last,
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and so is his word too; and he will by this word give to his people,
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who conform themselves to it, <I>a right to the tree of life,</I> and
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an entrance into heaven; and this will be a full confirmation of the
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truth and authority of his word, since it contains the title and
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evidence of that confirmed state of holiness and happiness that remains
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for his people in heaven.
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9. It is a book that condemns and excludes from heaven all wicked,
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unrighteous persons, and particularly <I>those that love and make
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lies</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
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and therefore can never be itself a lie.
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10. It is confirmed by <I>the testimony of Jesus, which is the Spirit
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of prophecy.</I> And this Jesus, as God, is <I>the root of David,</I>
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though, as man, his offspring--a person in whom all uncreated and
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created excellencies meet, too great and too good to deceive his
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churches and the world. He is the fountain of all light, the <I>bright
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and the morning star,</I> and as such has given to his churches this
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morning light of prophecy, to assure them of the light of that perfect
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day which is approaching.
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11. It is confirmed by an open and general invitation to all to come
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and partake of the promises and privileges of the gospel, those streams
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of the water of life; these are tendered to all who feel in their souls
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a thirst which nothing in this world can quench.
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12. It is confirmed by the joint testimony of the Spirit of God, and
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that gracious Spirit that is in all the true members of the church of
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God; <I>the Spirit and the bride</I> join in testifying the truth and
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excellency of the gospel.
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13. It is confirmed by a most solemn sanction, condemning and cursing
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all who should dare to corrupt or change the word of God, either by
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adding to it or taking from it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:18,19"><I>v.</I> 18, 19</A>.
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He that adds to the word of God draws down upon himself <I>all the
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plagues written in this book;</I> and he who takes any thing away from
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it cuts himself off from all the promises and privileges of it. This
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sanction is like a flaming sword, to guard the canon of the scripture
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from profane hands. Such a fence as this God set about the law
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+4:2">Deut. iv. 2</A>),
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and the whole Old Testament
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+4:4">Mal. iv. 4</A>),
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and now in the most solemn manner about the whole Bible, assuring us
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that it is a book of the most sacred nature, divine authority, and of
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the last importance, and therefore the peculiar care of the great
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God.</P>
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<A NAME="Re22_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re22_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Conclusion.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 95.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come
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quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
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21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ <I>be</I> with you all. Amen.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have now come to the conclusion of the whole, and that in three
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things:--</P>
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<P>
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I. Christ's farewell to his church. He seems now, after he has been
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discovering these things to his people on earth, to take leave of them,
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and return to heaven; but he parts with them in great kindness, and
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assures them it shall not be long before he comes again to them:
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<I>Behold, I come quickly.</I> As when he ascended into heaven, after
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his resurrection, he parted with a promise of his gracious presence, so
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here he parts with a promise of a speedy return. If any say, "Where is
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the promise of his coming, when so many ages have passed since this was
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written?" let them know he is not slack to his people, but
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long-suffering to his enemies: his coming will be sooner than they are
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aware, sooner than they are prepared, sooner than they desire; and to
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his people it will be seasonable. The vision is for an appointed time,
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and will not tarry. <I>He will come quickly;</I> let this word be
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always sounding in our ear, and let us give all diligence that we may
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be found of him in peace, <I>without spot and blameless.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. The church's hearty echo to Christ's promise,
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1. Declaring her firm belief of it: <I>Amen, so it is,</I> so it shall
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be.
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2. Expressing her earnest desire of it: <I>Even so, come, Lord Jesus;
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make hast, my beloved, and be thou like a roe, or like a young hart on
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the mountain of spices.</I> Thus beats the pulse of the church, thus
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breathes that gracious Spirit which actuates and informs the mystical
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body of Christ; and we should never be satisfied till we find such a
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spirit breathing in us, and causing us to <I>look for the blessed hope,
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and glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour Jesus
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Christ.</I> This is the language of the church of the first-born, and
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we should join with them, often putting ourselves in mind of his
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promise. What comes from heaven in a promise should be sent back to
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heaven in a prayer, "<I>Come, Lord Jesus,</I> put an end to this state
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of sin, sorrow, and temptation; gather thy people out of this present
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evil world, and take them up to heaven, that state of perfect purity,
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peace, and joy, and so finish thy great design, and fulfil all that
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word in which thou hast caused thy people to hope."</P>
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<P>
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III. The apostolical benediction, which closes the whole: <I>The grace
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of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen.</I> Here observe,
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1. The Bible ends with a clear proof of the Godhead of Christ, since
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the Spirit of God teaches the apostle to bless his people in the name
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of Christ, and to beg from Christ a blessing for them, which is a
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proper act of adoration.
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2. Nothing should be more desired by us than that the grace of Christ
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may be with us in this world, to prepare us for the glory of Christ in
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the other world. It is by his grace that we must be kept in a joyful
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expectation of his glory, fitted for it, and preserved to it; and his
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glorious appearance will be welcome and joyful to those that are
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partakers of his grace and favour here; and therefore to this most
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comprehensive prayer we should all add our hearty <I>Amen,</I> most
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earnestly thirsting after greater measures of the gracious influences
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of the blessed Jesus in our souls, and his gracious presence with us,
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till glory has perfected all his grace towards us, for he is a sun and
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a shield, <I>he gives grace and glory, and no good thing will he
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withhold from those that walk uprightly.</I></P>
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