1The river and tree of life: 3the glorious state of the servants of God. 8John is forbidden by the angel to worship him; 10and commanded to seal up the prophecy. 12Christ's coming and eternity. 14The blessedness of them that do God's commandments. 18Nothing must be added to or taken from this prophecy. 21The concluding benediction.
1AND he shewed me 1aa pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding 2out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
1 What is related here of this river and of the tree of life, is, by way of comparison, taken from paradise, Gen. 2:10, and from the renewed Jerusalem, Ezek. 47:1, etc. By this river of the water of life is understood everlasting bliss, which by reason of the operation of the Holy Spirit and the observance of God’s countenance by the elect in the life to come, shall be and remain always abundant, fresh and pure. See hereof also John 4:14; 7:38; Rev. 2:7.
a Ezek. 47:1; Zech. 14:8.
2 That is, out of the glorious observation of the countenance of God and of Jesus Christ. See Psalm 16:11; 1 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thes. 4:17; 1 John 3:2.
2In the midst of the 3street of it, and 4on either side of the river, was there 5theb tree of life, which bare 6twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and 7the leaves of the tree were for the healing 8of the nations.
3 Or, the public place, the market, as Rev. 21:21.
4 Not that there were many trees seen, since Christ alone is this Tree of life, but that His roots downward and His branches upward spread themselves all along that entire river, as appears in Rev. 2:7, whereof see also there the further explanation.
5 Gr. the wood.
b Rev. 2:7.
6 That is, the quickening virtue of Christ’s merits and Spirit, which is all vigorous and efficacious throughout the year, that is, for ever and ever, to preserve always this spiritual life and this blessed refreshing for the twelve tribes of the Israel of God without any enfeeblement or enervation.
7 This last clause is also taken out of Ezek. 47:12; not that there shall be any infirmities anymore in this life everlasting, but that the healing of all infirmities, which was wrought here by the merits and Spirit of Christ, shall forever be kept there by the same power and be preserved unharmed, not only for the Israelites, but also for all other believing nations.
8 Namely, who have been saved, as is said in Rev. 21:24, 26.
3And there shall be 9no more curse: but 10the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and 11his servants 12shall serve him:
9 Or, no banishment; that is, nothing worthy of a curse, as Rev. 21:17, no unclean thing, or that worketh uncleanness. And this also seems to be taken from Zech. 14:11, where this is also foretold of the times of the New Testament; which notwithstanding would not be fully accomplished until Christ would have purged His threshing floor, and cast all the chaff into the fire, Mat. 3:12; 13:40, etc.
10 That is, the glory of God and of Jesus Christ, as true God and Man, shall fill it. See Rev. 21:22, 23.
11 Namely, both angels and blessed men. See Rev. 7:15.
12 That is, stand round about His throne ready to praise and to magnify Him, and to obey His commands.
4And they shall see 13his face; and 14hisc name shall be in their foreheads.
13 That is, His majesty and glory, to be partakers thereof; as is said of the angels, Mat. 18:10, and of all blessed ones in heaven, Mat. 5:8; 1 John 3:2.
14 Namely, as belonging and appertaining unto Him, and making open profession thereof, as the high priest also in the Old Testament did wear a plate of gold on his forehead, whereupon was written The holiness of the Lord. See hereof the further exposition, Rev. 3:12; 14:1.
c Rev. 3:12.
5Andd15there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and 16they shall reign 17for ever and ever.
d Isa. 60:19; Zech. 14:7; Rev. 21:23.
15 See Rev. 21:23, 25.
16 For, though all believers are also kings and priests here, Rev. 1:6, yet they shall only reign fully as kings then when all their enemies and death itself are put under their feet, and when God shall be all in all in them. See Rom. 16:20; 1 Cor. 15:28.
17 Gr. in eternities of eternities.
618And he said unto me, 19Thesee sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord 20God of the holy prophets sent 21his angel tof shew unto his servants the things which must 22shortly be done.
18 Here begins the conclusion or last part of this revelation.
19 Namely, of this entire revelation, as is declared hereafter in verses 18, 19; whereby its Divinity is testified. See also Rev. 19:9.
e Rev. 19:9; 21:5.
20 That is, Who revealed the prophesies unto the prophets, and Who sent them unto His people, 2 Peter 1:20, etc. By which God of the prophets here is also meant the Person of Christ, as appears by the sequel, that He sent His angel to show the things which must shortly be done, which is expressly ascribed unto Christ, verse 16; Rev. 1:1.
21 That is, me, who am His angel.
f Rev. 1:1.
22 See hereof the annotation at Rev. 1 on verse 1.
7Behold, 23I come quickly: blessedgis he that 24keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
23 Namely, to reward every man according to his works, as is expressed in verse 12. These words are the words of Christ, which confirm what was said in the previous verse. See also 1 Thes. 5:2.
g Rev. 1:3.
24 That is, gives diligent heed thereunto, and abstains from the things which are forbidden therein, namely, from having fellowship with the dragon and the beast and his adherents; and follows after the things that are therein commanded and commended. See also Rev. 1:3.
8And 25I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I 26fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
25 Thus John does also confirm his Gospel in its conclusion, John 19:35; 21:24. This is also, next to others, a suitable proof that the evangelist John is the author of this prophesy.
26 See hereof what is noted on Rev. 19:10.
9Then saith he unto me, Seehthou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
h Acts 10:26; 14:14; Rev. 19:10.
10And he saith unto me, 27Seali not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for thej time is at hand.
27 That is, do not shut them up and do not keep them hidden, but reveal them before all; being differently commanded in Rev. 10:4, as also in Dan. 8:26; 12:4. The reason is, because the things, that were revealed there, could yet be kept hidden for a while, without disadvantage to the church of God, till the accomplishment would tell us the exposition thereof. But not so here, because the accomplishment of some things would begin forthwith as what was taught in Revelation 2; 3; and because the church of Christ ought to be straightway informed and warned of all those troubles, that would come upon her, in order that she might in good time provide herself against them, and that the members thereof be on their guard of having fellowship with the antichrist, when they would perceive his ascent, whereof the mystery began to work already at that very time, 2 Thes. 2:7.
i Dan. 8:26; 12:4.
j Rev. 1:3.
1128He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, 29let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
28 Hereby an objection is prevented which might be made upon the previous verse, namely, that some, if it were made known to everyone, would misuse this revelation to carnal security, or to provocation against the church of Christ; whereupon this answer follows, as Ezek. 2:3; Dan. 12:10, by which phrase no permission of doing evil is signified, but a sorer judgment of God against such is threatened, as Christ also said unto Judas, John 13:27: That thou doest, do quickly. See also 2 Cor. 2:15.
29 That is, he who is righteous, let him show more and more his righteousness by the fruits of it, as is declared in James 2:18, 24. For, the word righteous is here in opposition to doing wrong, as the word being holy to the word being filthy.
12And, behold, 30I come quickly; and my reward is with me, tok give every man 31according as his work shall be.
30 From this place and on to the middle of the 20th verse, Christ Himself begins to speak unto the apostle, as all circumstances and the 16th verse plainly imply; and He does thus confirm with His own words what was proclaimed previously by the angel.
k Psalm 62:12; Jer. 17:10; 32:19; Mat. 16:27; Rom. 2:6; 14:12; 1 Cor. 3:8; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:5; Rev. 2:23.
31 Namely, whether it be good or evil; as was often promised and threatened previously; see 2 Cor. 5:10. Whereby is signified, not any merit, but a gracious rewarding of good works, and a righteous punishment and recompense of evil works. See Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8, etc.
13 Il am 32Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, them first and the last.
l Rev. 1:8; 21:6.
32 Thus Christ speaks of Himself, as the only and eternal God with the Father and the Holy Spirit to signify His steadfastness and omnipotence in the execution of His promises and threatenings. See hereof further Rev. 1:8; 21:6.
m Isa. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12; Rev. 1:8; 21:6.
14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have 33right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates 34into the city.
33 That is, power, lot, portion, that they may enjoy the fruits of the Tree of life; whereof see verse 2.
34 Namely, of the new and heavenly Jerusalem; this has been described earlier.
15Forn35without are 36dogs, and 37sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and 38whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
n 1 Cor. 6:10; Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:6.
35 Namely, outside the heavenly Jerusalem, in the lake of fire, into which they are cast forever by God’s righteous judgment. See Rev. 19:15; 21:8.
36 That is, raging enemies, and barkers against Christ and the Gospel, as Christ calls them, Mat. 7:6. Or those who, having once made profession of the truth, turn again to their own vomit, as Peter also calls such kind of persons dogs, 2 Peter 2:22.
37 Or, poisoners; for, the Greek word signifies both.
38 Namely, whether it be against the third or against the ninth commandment; whereby are meant all perjured persons, unfaithful ones, double-dealing men, and deceivers of their neighbor.
16 Io Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto 39you these things in the churches. Ip am 40the root and the offspring of David, and 41theq bright and morning star.
o Rev. 1:1.
39 Namely, unto the angels or shepherds and overseers of the seven churches, and by you unto your churches, and consequently to all other pastors and churches in the world. See Rev. 1:11; 2:1, etc.
p Isa. 11:10; Rom. 15:12; Rev. 5:5.
40 See hereof in Rev. 5:5. Christ is so called here with respect to His human nature, which descended from David, Mat. 1:1; Rom. 1:3.
41 Namely, which exceeds all other stars in light. Christ is here so called, because He is the Light of the world, and by His knowledge enlightens all things unto salvation. See John 1:9; 8:12. Yea, also in respect of the heavenly Jerusalem, where there shall be neither sun or moon, but the night of this age being passed, Christ with the Father and the Holy Spirit will be the perfect Light of all the elect, as the morning star is in the morning. See in Rev. 2:28; 21:23; 2 Peter 1:19.
q 2 Peter 1:19.
17And 42the Spirit and 43the bride say, Come. And let him 44that heareth say, Come. 45Andr let him that is athirst come. And 46whosoever will, 47let him take the water of life 48freely.
42 That is, the Spirit stirs up in the hearts of all believers such motions and prayers, with groanings which cannot be uttered, as Paul speaks in Rom. 8:23, 26.
43 That is, the entire church of Christ, yea even they, who, according to the soul, triumph in heaven, wish and long for this last coming to be united and glorified with Christ, both in soul and body. See Luke 21:28; Rev. 6:10, 11.
44 Namely, with a believing heart.
45 That is, those who earnestly and with a sense and feeling of his own infirmity longs after this.
r Isa. 55:1; John 7:37.
46 Namely, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, Who works in us both to will and to do, Philip. 2:13. That is, everyone who has a desire to it.
47 That is, be partakers of this heavenly grace and comfort, according to the promise laid down in Rev. 21:6.
48 That is, for nought, or, by grace, only by virtue of Christ’s merit and intercession. See Isa. 55:1; Rom. 3:24, 25; Eph. 2:8.
1849For 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:
49 This is the last sealing of the Divinity of this book, joined with a threat of Christ against those who shall add anything unto, or take anything away from this book. This is not only a sealing of this book, but it is also a conclusion of the complete Scripture, since John has been the last of all the apostles and has written, as also a similar conclusion is to be seen in his Gospel, John 20:30, 31; 21:24. And Moses also before him had placed in his last book similar prohibition of not adding or taking away, namely, by any human authority; Deut. 4:2; 12:32.
19Ands if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away 50his part out of thet book of life, and 51out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
s Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:6.
50 Namely, which he may imagine to have. For, that none of those, who are truly written in the book of life, are blotted out, this appears in Rev. 13:8; 21:27.
t Rev. 13:8; 17:8.
51 Namely, of the heavenly Jerusalem, as previously in verse 14.
2052He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. 53Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
52 Namely, Jesus Christ, as appears afore from verse 16, and from the words themselves, which do not belong to the angel, but to Christ.
53 These are the words of John, who, being now come to an extreme age, does also testify of his longing for the coming of Christ, and for the redemption and glorification of all believers.
2154The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 55Amen.
54 This conclusion agrees with the conclusion of almost all the epistles of the apostles, because this prophecy was in manner and form of an epistle directed to the churches.
55 This word is also an end, not only of the prayers, but also of the epistles of John and of the other apostles to give to understand the stability and certainty of all that before was written and treated; as the previous verse also requires such a meaning of this word amen.