And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Who are the persons thus invested with judicial authority of so glorious a nature and to reign, as we see later, with Christ? You don't get salty tomatoes. In Daniel's time it was not at hand. The verses in Revelation 22 sets out for whom the warning is for: 18a states the warning is for everyone who hears [my emphasis] the words of the prophecy of this book. As in the beginning of this book (Re 1:3) a blessing was promised to the devout, obedient student of it, so now at its close a curse is denounced against those who add to, or take from, it. And we thank you Lord for that hope that You have given to us of the New World, the new age where righteousness shall reign and Jesus shall reign where here the sun doth her successive journeys run. At least, not without inviting the curses on yourself. The name was not there at one time, then removed. Nor are its fruits confined to the Jews; its leaves are for the healing of the nations. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is to say that Jesus Christ is not the Son of God: and logically if one denies the Saviour, one cannot be saved this Nation Israel did by saying Jesus was of the Devil (Matthew 12). We briefly referred to this promise in the Study notes on this chapter under "5"--"WORDS OF HIS COMING. For Christ has not only a supreme but an exclusive place. That city will be a constant remembrancer of those who went before restored Israel here below, as undoubtedly it will be used for their blessing during the millennium, but not for theirs only. concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not We had seen Babylon twice: first, in the circle of God's warnings and testimonies; and then as the object of God's judgment under the seven bowls. "For the gifts and calling of To the church the end is always near. Not that any of those judged (and the scene described is solely a resurrection of judgment) are said to be written there: we are shown rather that they were not found in that book. God tells us that we are to WATCH. 6. 12:1). The Bible says that we are "sealed" with the Holy Spirit at the moment of our salvation with the Lord and that nothing can break this seal, no matter how many bad and evil sins a person may commit after getting saved. Is not this reason enough for saying that not even the shadow of solid ground appears for the system? And of course, we have been fooling around genetically with trees and plants and we have been able to do a lot of interesting things with genetic manipulation of plants and trees. It is not only that the angel corrects the act by asserting that he is a fellow-servant of him and of his brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. But that idea is wholly insufficient to cover or meet the word of God, which gives clear and strong reasons that prove the mistake of applying this to the pope as its complete fulfilment. Polyglot, and all editions of the least critical value. What 1 am seeking to stress is that CHRISTS PROMISE "I AM COMING SOON" refers to more than His final coming. The, nature of the case exempts of course the saints of the millennium;* and this very simply, because they are never said to die at all. The other Matthew passage, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a This disposes of many a web of comments; for we find at once what is perfectly simple, what any child of God who believes this to be the word of God must own. "Oh, that is a sealed book. lifestyle because it is 1) pleasing to God; and 2) a more effective way to reach others Therefore says the angel, "I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, that hath* the seven heads and the ten horns. they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made The angel affirms the truth of all that had been spoken, Revelation 22:6-11.. 2. Now, you remember when he talked to Daniel, he said seal up those things and don't write them, for they are for the end. 1. Denying God is punished by death, and after the second resurrection such a sinner is cast into the Lake of Fire. . This verse declares it, and there is no other interpretation that can stand even a moment's fair discussion. And then comes the gathering and the battle. "Sow a thought and reap an act. dismiss this verse as not focusing on losing one's salvation at all. there's nothing I can do to make up for my sins) to that of the Law or works (i.e. The regular ending of the letters to the seven Churches is an invitation to hear what the Spirit is saying ( Revelation 2:7; Revelation 2:11; Revelation 2:17; Revelation 2:29; Revelation 3:6; Revelation 3:13; Revelation 3:22). But He "treadeth the winepress of the fury of the wrath of the Almighty God" another character of judgment never attributed to the saints, that I know of. To this earth He is coming, and not merely to the new earth in the eternal state. Had those who preached said nothing about heathen vanities, had they merely presented the gospel as a better thing than anything the pagans could boast, I do not doubt that the pagans themselves would have acknowledged thus much. I think, therefore, that the elders and the living creatures comprehend both the Old Testament saints and the church, the bride of Christ, that consequently, when the bride is mentioned, there were these others who had been included in the elders and the living creatures, but who are now seen as a separate body. According to the general scope of scripture, then, we may be quite sure that these saints, kept during this universal dissolution of the atmospheric heaven and the earth, will be translated to "the new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness," in a condition new and meet for the eternal state into which they are ushered. First, there is the river of the water of life. Then the book concludes after a solemn warning against either adding to or taking from its contents. And, behold [again the Lord is talking], I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be ( Revelation 22:11-12 ). "You remember the one who received the five talents? Is there proof for the inspiration of the Bible. The living creatures are, from Revelation 5:1-14 coupled with the elders, as we find them in the beginning of Revelation 19:1-21. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22:7). We may have a special task in it, but this is not the work for us, as it seems to me. and now) to struggle with and try to figure out how this Greek word or that Greek phrase and his name shall be in their foreheads. And if any one take from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. What, then, is the meaning of this curious passage which seems to say that men must remain as they are? The political side of this is described here with surprising brightness and brevity. and John Let me know how they sit with you. The Ethiopic version connects the words with the holy city, only reading them, "which is written", &c. The Jews say of their Talmud, that nothing is to be added to it, or diminished from it (o). Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it ( Proverbs 16:22). gymnastics to try and come up with the meaning of these "difficult" verses? body, and its members were dispersed, although I don't believe this means they were In the Greek text it is a strong double negative meaning "I will not, no never blot out". It is confirmed by the testimony of Jesus, which is the Spirit of prophecy. And the truth dawns on Martin the cobbler that Christ does fulfil His promise to come again when Christians respond to the call of duty. (i) Those who wash their robes have the right of entry into the city of God; the King James Version has: Blessed are they that do his commandments. Unhallowed love will end in hatred. The book of Prophecy in Revelation is very important to warn unbelievers and to show believers what will happen, as well as the blessing it will bring to Israel and those who become believers during the Tribulation period (the worst period of time to live within in all of history). Amidst the terrible persecution of his day, the one thing which John longed for was the speedy return of Christ. We should not forget that the religious leaders of the Jews who considered that they knew all about the Old Testament promises of the first coming of Christ made such a terrible mistake that when He came as a babe to Bethlehem they rejected and crucified Him. Jews nor Greeks have any advantage once they are in Christ. We desire that He should come quickly, but we leave this to Him, because we know His love, and can trust Him. What would be the meaning, if so read? Revelation 22:2 Those that are unsaved cannot enter the new city - their taking and adding to the prophecy will be evidence of their unsaved state. That hope was never realized in the way in which he expected, but we can never doubt that Christ nevertheless abundantly kept his promise that he would be with his own even to the end of the world ( Matthew 28:20). If any one shall have added to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if any one shall have taken away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God . The sight of God produces two things. Thus persons committing these acts are unsaved. But "nations of them which are saved," is a most anomalous expression, and betrays man as the author of it. When it said here that God would take away his part out of the book of life, the meaning is not that his name had been written in that book, but that he would take away the part which he might have had, or which he professed to have in that book. It is in Christ alone that men can see God. Foolishness. And Christ comes to us today in every call to DUTY and Christian service. These remain as yet in the condition of separate spirits. That's not a matter of age. * Let us be glad and exult, and give the glory to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." 22:16 I, Jesus, sent my angel to you to testify to these things for the sake of the Churches. and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Instead of judgment being executed on them, it was given to them. Also, it is in a future tense, meaning it will not be blotted out in the future. The one therefore throws much light upon the other. In Daniel's time, and even to Daniel himself, the book was sealed. It is a precisely similar case here. It is a time of strong delusion, be it remembered. These visions and threatenings are too delicate and awful a subject to trifle with, or even to treat in the most solemn manner, where the meaning is obscure. The reason is given at the close; not only "by thy sorcery were all the nations deceived," but above all "in her was found [the] blood of prophets and saints, and of all the slain upon the earth.". It does not mean persons merely, but the souls of beheaded persons. Scripture is clear that a true believer is kept secure by the power of God, sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30), and of all those whom the Father has given to the Son, He will lose none of them: And this is the will of him that has sent me, that of all that he has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up in the last day. Start your free trial today! It was the destruction of the imperial unity of Rome that gave occasion for the well-known ten kingdoms which the barbarians set up afterwards. Then and thus is aggravated guilt in the case of this wicked son. Destructive heresies are those that prevent people being saved; for if the teacher preaches heresy how shall one be saved: How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? The Alexandrian copy, one of Stephens's, and the Complutensian edition, read, "the tree of life"; and so do the Syriac and Ethiopic versions; the sense is the same; see John 15:2 and out of the holy city; the new Jerusalem, before described, a part in which is a right to enter into it through the gates, and possess the glories of it: what is mentioned here is only a seeming one, which wicked men may flatter themselves with; and the meaning is, that such shall never enter into it, and enjoy the happiness of it, but shall ever be without, Revelation 21:27. and from the things which are written in this book; the blessings promised to the overcomers in Revelation 2:7 which such as detract from this book shall have no share in. last! "He that testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. 2 Timothy 2:11-12 - It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: (Read More.) I am never alone." So who might this be? Things are set down without any apparent order; there are repetitions of what has gone before; and it is often very difficult to be sure who is the actual speaker. It isquick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetratingas far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, andis able tojudge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.". "* There is no thought of making such a paradox to perplex the mind. The bride is in view. of the bride, the Lamb's wife. that argue for the position of eternal security. Come, Lord Jesus! Observe another very important fact. They do not like it, so they change it. And he shewed me a pure river ( Revelation 22:1 ). SeekKnockFind Christian Resource | Free Grace, Christian Learning Resource On The Gospel Of Jesus Christ, 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 from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:19 KJV). I will tell thee the mystery of the woman." What does the warning imply? Dog can denote a thoroughly immoral person, and that may be its meaning here. Does the Roman Census Prove Luke is Wrong About Jesus' Birth? But here there is none; a temple is for the earth. And as for the twelve tribes of Israel, they are merely written there, nothing more. In like manner Hymenaeus and Alexander, Christians of the church at Ephesus, were turned over to Satan by Paul so they might be taught a lesson (1 Timothy 1:20). are slightly different than eternal security. And out of the holy city - Described in Revelation 21:0. Is it the Christian believer or some other class of person? The glorified saints are to administer power in a way far beyond angels. Just the bequest of God's grace or the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ upon you. Trust that "bright morning star." On the phrase book of life, see the notes on Revelation 3:5. It is an amazing future God has in store for all who accept Salvation through the only atonement for our sins; belief in Christ Jesus for our Salvation (John 3:18). and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations ( Revelation 22:2 ). (Rev. In the final chapter, a command is given repeatedly to pay attention to this book of prophecy (which, by the way, refers specifically to the book of Revelation). That is, if one rejects Christ, as Judas did he gave Jesus up to be murdered - one cannot be saved: it is illogical to believe otherwise for the one who turns away the rescuer cannot be rescued. Also, the warning in Revelation 22:19 is aimed toward unbelievers who would seek to tamper with God's message. We say it has almost been almost two thousand years. But if you decline it, the place will be given to someone else. Who is the predestinated? Infidels have but little interest in attempting such changes, and but little influence to make them received by the church. simply writing a sermon to the Jews and trying to get his point across. The tricky part in this particular verse is that it talks about us losing our "share" or "part" in the blessings of salvation. She followed and had inherited the spirit of all, from the days of Cain, who had lifted up their hands against their righteous brethren. But Peter said, "God isn't slack concerning His promises," that is the promise of the coming, "as some men count slackness." *It is the aorist in Greek, which in such a case as this it is difficult correctly to represent in English; for neither "reigned" nor "hath reigned" could convey that God had entered on His kingdom, but rather that it was past. "I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God" (alluding to this very city) "[is] with men." "The ten horns which thou sawest AND the beast" would give unquestionably the right form of the verse. It is not what Christ puts on them, but a recognition even at this time of whatever has been of God the working I do not deny of the Spirit of Christ. Men have been beguiled here and there, and from an early date, to set aside the true bearing of this chapter. It is plain that what the verse contemplates is neither the Roman power when there was one head of the empire, nor the eastern or Byzantine part of it after that partition, nor the western state of division under the kings who succeeded the deposition of Augustulus; for in the medieval state there may have been ten kings (in contrast with the ancient state of the beast without them but no beast or imperial system with its chiefs. Ephesian church, not their salvation. And when God does judge, it is not merely for the evil of those then judged, but of all from the first budding of it till that day. That is why he immediately said. But I know that Christ Himself comes. Revelation 22:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. "Those who have washed their robes" is the reading of the best manuscripts, but it is easy to see how a scribe could make a mistake in copying and substitute the more usual phrase. But what I particularly call your attention to is the exceeding importance of heeding the retrospect at the bride, or new Jerusalem here, and the consequent removal of the difficulty caused by taking the last vision of this book as part of the prophetic series which begins in Revelation 19:1-21. needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." The first were such as came out of heaven after Christ, being already raised from the dead and glorified. So we find the Lord has room for all that is the fruit of His own grace only, for the appeal of grace, even when there is not the answer to it. Who were they? I take it literally and I teach it literally, because I don't want to be guilty of adding to or taking away. It is our "reasonable service."(Rom. To add to these things is not merely writing some words. All the sufferers, either in the early persecutions of Revelation 6:1-17, or in the later persecutions (see Revelation 15:1-8) up to Babylon's extinction, were now raised from the dead. Accordingly, "Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me." That truth is that, if the devil wants to deceive people and stop them from believing the knowledge of truth of Salvation in Christ by faith alone and not by works, what will he try to do? "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many diadems." There may be lights of the heaven to mark times and seasons for the earth, and again on the earth. audience. A believer is born again, becoming a son of God; Judas was a son of Satan and was never a believer, but an imposter; Judas was a traitor, and by his transgression (Act 1:25) blasphemed the Holy Spirit and died (Not to say that God had given him no chance to repent, but he chose not to). This is known so well, and on such decided grounds, that it would be unbecoming to withhold the fact. Is the King James Bible Only One That's "True"? He comes to guide, strengthen, encourage and help us. But we can understand that the Lord could and did make that little go far, and do no little good. When the task was done "they bade them pronounce a curse in accordance with their custom upon any who should make any alteration either by adding anything or changing in any way whatever any of the words which had been written or making an omission" (Letter of Aristeas 310, 31 1). There are certain things to note about this solemn warning. Accordingly the rapture of the church with the Old Testament saints must have already taken place, all (as I have no doubt) being caught up at the self-same time to be with the Lord above. Scripture records no name whatever among those judged written there. But it was no such evil which astounded the prophet. As Ezekiel had it: "He that will hear, let him hear; and he that will refuse to hear, let him refuse" ( Ezekiel 3:27). And as Martin sits there, the figure of the cold snow sweeper rises before his eyes--The figure of the woman and her baby--the woman and the boy--and a voice is heard. Verse 6 commends these sayings afresh. He may try to change the words of the time the prophecy is regarding. Amen to the thought of sin and sorrow banished and the victory of Christ over the devil. Once again he stresses the truth of all that John has seen and heard. All these things have their place in Babylon the great. "Upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of the harlots and of the abominations of the earth.". This passage insists that the coming of Christ is close at hand; it must be the Risen Christ who is speaking. But the day is coming when Satan will be allowed to have things his own way. Hard to believe; isn't it? Now manifestly, if the Lord does not come before this, there is no world to come to; for the earth and heavens are fled. Its a wonderful thing to be a Christian, to be sure that we are not alone--but that "The Lord is near,"--and that we are not left to face life alone. The worshippers of the beast, or the antichristian party, who are chiefly regarded here, are not written in it, Revelation 13:8 wherefore taking away the part of such, is only taking away that which they seemed to have; see Luke 8:18 and the sense is, that such shall be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death, and will be the portion of all that are not written in the book of life, Revelation 20:15. Then follows another scene still more solemn the most awe-inspiring of all we can contemplate, at the same time full of blessing for the Christian to look onward to as that which will for ever put aside every trace of evil, and vindicate good where man must altogether fail. It is true, the beast's judgment is only referred to as a defeat under the hand of the Lamb. Or they may simply discard some of the prophecy as rubbish, because they, in their infinite wisdom, assume that a loving God would not act in such a manner. "And the beast that was, and is not, even he is an eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth unto destruction." (Deuteronomy 4:1-2), It is natural to try to modify a message we dont like into something more palatable, and Israels Law was no exception. In this verse we see the book of life is mentioned. The book must not be ignored because we find its language unfamiliar. 9. THE GREAT INVITATION ( Revelation 22:17 ). Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. . (John 6:39). This cannot come too soon. They were bewildered and broken as they walked the 7 miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus. I can't imagine such audacity. This falls in with what we have seen of the book in general; but I do not deny that certain elements which figure in the Apocalypse then existed and still exist.

Arcade1up Replacement Monitor, 2017 F250 Instrument Cluster Swap, Articles R