The angel refuses A. M. 4100. t A. D. 96. 7 ° Behold, I come quickly: Pblessed || ings of the prophecy of this book: for A. M. 4100. is he that keepeth the sayings of the the time is at hand. prophecy of this book. g 8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. 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 thou do it not: for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. 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. X y 12 And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, 2 to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning 10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the say- and the end, the first and the last. as such, employed in the service of God with them: all the praise of the church should be therefore given to God alone, who only is to be acknowledged the author of these Revelations, and who only gives the || Spirit of prophecy for the encouragement and consolation of the faithful. the ways of truth and righteousness. And he said, These sayings are true and faithful-All the things which thou hast heard and seen shall be faithfully accomplished in their order, and are infallibly true. Thus the angel ratifies all the forementioned particulars, by a repetition of the same solemn assurance which he had before given, (chap. xix. 9; xxi. 5,) Verses 10, 11. And he saith unto me--After a little adding that he was commissioned by the same God pause; Seal not the sayings of this book-Conceal who had inspired the ancient prophets, to show the|| them not, like the things that are sealed up; for the things which should shortly be done-That is, which time is at hand--When they shall begin to take would very soon begin to be in part fulfilled, and place. He that is unjust--Or unrighteous; that is, would, in process of time, be completed. Behold, I who lives and dies unjustified, let him be unjust, or come quickly-Here the angel speaks, not in his own unrighteous, still-For after death his state can adperson, but in the person and character of Christ, mit of no change, he that is filthy--Unholy, unwhose ambassador and representative he was. Christ|| sanctified, and dies in that condition; let him, that is said to come, upon any notable and illustrious ma- || is, he shall be, filthy, or unholy, still; and he that nifestation of his providence; and all these are but|| is righteous-That lives and dies justified, or acso many steps to prepare the way for his last coming || counted righteous; let him be, he shall be, righteous to judgment. Blessed, happy, is he that keepeth, still; and he that is holy--That is, renewed in the without adding to or diminishing from, the sayings spirit of his mind, and stamped with the divine of the prophecy of this book—And that is duly in- || image, and perseveres until death in that state; shall fluenced by them. And, as Vitringa devoutly wishes,|| be holy still--Shall be found so at the day of judg"May the Lord grant this favour to us who have be- ment, and shall remain so for ever. Dr. Doddridge's stowed some labour in meditating thereon, that we paraphrase on the verse, connecting it with the prealso may have some share in this blessing.' ceding, is, “The time is just approaching when the Verses 8, 9. And I John saw these things—I, who last seal shall be put on the characters of men, and have committed these revelations to writing for the when it shall be said, on the one hand, Let him that constant use of the churches, do solemnly declare || is unjust be unjust still, &c., for no more opportuthey are no invention of my own, but what I was an || nities shall ever be granted for reforming what has eye and ear witness to, having really seen and heard || been amiss, and récovering the unrighteous and polthese things in the prophetic visions granted me, as I luted soul to rectitude and purity; and on the other have faithfully related them. And when I had heard, I hand, it shall be said, Let him that is righteous be fell down, &c.—And now, my visions appearing to be righteous still, &c.; nothing shall ever happen to at an end, I prostrated myself before the angel who bring the virtues and graces of good men into any had showed me these things—To express the great || future danger, or under any cloud; but their rightrespect and gratitude I felt for a person who had laid eousness and their holiness shall for ever shine, yea, me under such great obligations. See on chap. xix. || shine with an increasing lustre.” 10. Then saith he, See thou do it not-The expres- Verses 12-15. And behold, I--Jesus Christ; come sion, as before, in the original is short and elliptical,|| quickly--To judge the world. And my reward-as is usual in showing vehement aversion: as if the Both of grace and vengeance; is with me—The reapostle had said, The angel hindered me again, as he ward which I shall assign, both to the righteous and had done once before, informing me that I should || the wicked, shall be conferred at my coming; to give not consider him as the author of these prophetic || to every man according as his work--His spirit and visions, but as a fellow-servant of the prophets; and, || conduct, his whole inward and outward behaviour, || || || Nothing may be added to, or A. D. 96. REVELATION. A. D. 96. taken from, the word of God. A. M. 4100. 14 Blessed are they that do his || And let him that heareth say, Come. A. M. 4100. b commandments, that they may have1And let him that is athirst come. right to the tree of life, and may enter in And whosoever will, let him take the water of through the gates into the city. life freely. k 1 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. take away his part 1 out of the book of life, and shall be. And to confirm it further, I repeat it again, Verse 17. And the Spirit-With which I inspire I am Alpha, &c.--Rather, the Alpha and the Ome- my servants; and the bride-The church, whom I ga, &c.-Who exist from everlasting to everlasting. have espoused, or the Spirit of adoption in the bride, How clear, incontestable a proof does our Lord here says, with earnest desire and expectation, Comegive of his divine glory! He is the Lord of the And accomplish all the words of this prophecy. whole creation, by whom all things began to be|| And let him that heareth say, Come—Let every one formed, and by whom all things are to be finished; echo the invitation; and let my people, in all ages, so that he will do all his pleasure, through all the consider it as their duty so to do; and let him that ages of time, to the consummation of all things; and || is athirst-That sincerely and earnestly desires the nothing can prevent or hinder the sure and full blessings of the gospel, whether the blessings of accomplishment of his word. Therefore, blessed,|| grace, or those of glory; come—And partake of happy, are they, and they alone, that do his com- those blessings. Let him apply to the Lord Jesus, mandments--And so prepare for his important ap-in repentance and faith, to be pardoned and repearance; that they may have a right-Through || newed; taken into God's favour, and stamped with his gracious covenant; to the tree of life-To all the|| his image here, and put in possession of eternal life blessings signified by it. When Adam broke his com- || hereafter, and he shall not apply in vain; and whomandment, he was debarred from the tree of life. soever will—Here they also, who are farther off, are They who keep his commandments, who show their invited; let him take of the water of life—He may faith by their works, shall have access to it, and shall partake of spiritual and eternal blessings; freelyeat of it. For without are dogs-That is, the un- Yea, as freely as he makes use of the most common clean, the contentious and quarrelsome, the fierce || refreshments, as freely as he drinks of the running and rapacious. The sentence, in the original, is ab- stream. Such a declaration of free grace seems to rupt, as expressing abhorrence. The gates are ever have been wisely inserted just in the close of the open; but not for dogs. These are, and ever shall sacred canon, to encourage the hope of every humbe, shut out, as also sorcerers, &c.--All that live in ble soul that is truly desirous of the blessings of the the violation of the known laws of God. See on gospel; and to guard against those suspicions of dichap. xxi. 8. vine goodness, which the dark mind of man is so ready to imbibe. The word 2aubavero, which we render take, often signifies receive; and the word || dwpɛaw, rendered freely, implies the same as gratis, namely, the perfect freedom of the gift, and may probably refer to the celebrated invitation, Isaiah lv. 1–3. || Verse 16. I Jesus have sent mine angel-It was not thought sufficient to represent the angel as speaking in the person of Christ, but Christ himself also is here introduced speaking in his own person, and confirming the divine authority of this book, and attesting it to be properly his revelation; to testify || unto you these things-Primarily to you, the seven Verses 18, 19. For I testify-Here the Lord angels of the churches; then to those churches, and Jesus adds a solemn admonition, not only to the afterward to all other churches in succeeding ages. churches of Asia, but to all who should ever hear or I, as God, am the root--And source; and, as man, read this book. To him that adds to the things conthe offspring of David-And his family; and the tained in it, shall all the plagues mentioned in it be bright and morning star—Who wear a glory ex- || added; and from him that takes away from the ceeding that of the most brilliant and celestial lumi- || words of this prophecy shall the blessings spoken of nary, and who put an end to the night of ignorance, in it be taken. And doubtless this guilt is incurred sin, and sorrow, and usher in an eternal day of light,|| by all those who lay hinderances in the way of the purity, and joy. faithful, in order to prevent them from hearing their 20 He which testifieth these things saith, with you all. Amen. • Chap. xxi. 2.- -p Verse 12.-—9 John xxi. 25. r2 Tim. iv. 8. Rom. xvi. 20, 24; 2 Thess. iii. 18. Lord's words, I come, and answering, Come, Lord|| take heed, and attend, 2 Pet. i. 16. Attention, then, Jesus. This may likewise be considered as an to this book is recommended to us upon the auawful sanction given to the whole New Testament; thority of St. Peter, as well as of the writer, St. in like manner, as Moses guarded the law, (Deut. John: a double blessing, as we have seen in the iv. 2; xii. 32,) and as God himself did, (Mal. iv. 4,) book itself, is pronounced upon those who shall in closing the canon of the Old Testament. It is study and observe it; first in chap. i. 3, and here true, however, that this solemn caution particularly || again chap. xxii. 7. Imboldened by which blessings, refers to this book of the Revelation. But, as Dod- with Nehemiah, we would pray, Remember us, Ó dridge observes, "God forbid we should imagine || my God, concerning this also, and spare us, acevery honestly mistaken criticism, where there is a || cording to the greatness of thy mercy, Neh. xiii. 22. question respecting receiving or excluding any par- And now, to use the words of the pious and excelticular verse, should affect a man's salvation, in con- || lent Dr. Doddridge, "How sweetly and delightfully sequence of what is here said. Such a passage, the canon of Scripture concludes, leaving, as it were, however, should make men very cautious, that they the music of heaven upon the attentive ear! 0 may not rashly incur any censure on this account; thou blessed root and offspring of David! O thou though, undoubtedly, the terror of the threatening is || bright and morning star, impress on all our hearts planted against any designed erasement or addition." these thy gracious words, which thou hast condeIt may be observed further on this verse, that since scended to speak from the throne of thy glory; God threatens the plagues written in this book, and thereby, as it were, to aid the weakness of our faith the loss of a part in the holy city, as what might be in those which thou didst deliver while dwelling in the portion of those who should presume to corrupt || mortal flesh! Then did the compassionate Saviour it, and such corruption might happen in any age of proclaim, from an eminence in the temple, to a the church,—it is very evident that the holy city || crowded assembly, on a day of peculiar solemnity, spoken of in the preceding chapter is a representa- || If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink, tion of the heavenly state to be enjoyed by all good|| John vii. 37. And now, behold, he makes the same men, how applicable soever it may seem to any proclamation from the celestial temple: he points glorious scene preceding the final judgment: and as it were, to the fountain-head of happiness, to the that Rev. xx. 11, 12, refers to the universal judg- springs of the water of life, near the throne of God; and says, Whoever will, let him come, let him take, let him freely take, of this living water, verse 17. Yea, and not content with speaking this language by his Spirit only, he calls on his bride to lift up her melodious voice, to publish this kind invitation. calls on every one who hears it to echo it back, as if the excess of his goodness overcame him; as if it were necessary to his happiness that men should. accept of their own salvation ! ment. Verse 20. He which testifieth these things-Even all that is contained in this book; saith-For the encouragement of the church in all her afflictions, and the warning of all her opposers and persecutors;|| Surely I come quickly-To judge and punish all my enemies, and the enemies of my cause and people; and to establish my church in a state of per- || fect and everlasting happiness. The apostle ex-|| presses his earnest desire and hope of this, by answering, Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus-Ac-|| complish thy promises in order: and finally crown the faith, patience, and constancy of thy servants with eternal life. Verse 21. The grace-The free love; of our Lord Jesus Christ—And all its fruits; be with you all—|| Who thus long for his appearing, and with all true Christians. The conclusion, as Bishop Newton says, is truly excellent, as well as all other parts of this book; and nothing could be contrived to leave these things with a stonger impression upon the mind of the reader. In the whole, from first to last, appears the majesty of the divine revealer-The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the Author and Finisher of every good work, and of this more especially. This is the sure word of prophecy, whereunto Christians, as St. Peter saith, do well to He "With what sacred observance should these books be guarded, which contain a message of such infinite importance! of what dreadful curses are they worthy who presume to add to what is already perfect, or to take away, from that which is in every part divine! verse 18. God forbid that any of us should ever presumptuously attempt to do it! And may we be preserved from those mistaken interpretations, in consequence of which we should teach the world, as by his authority, any thing which he has not dictated, or deny any thing which carries along with it the stamp of such an authority! Have pity, O Lord, upon our weakness! Impute not prejudices which thou knowest we do not allow; and give us a greater penetration of mind to understand the true sense of thy word; a simplicity of heart to receive it; an integrity, so far as the duty of our station requires, to declare it; and a zeal to inculcate and defend it. Conclusion of REVELATION. the Revelation. "While we are thus employed,—or employed in be no more necessary; but knowledge, and holiness, any other services which Providence may assign us; and joy, shall be poured in upon their souls, in a —whatever labours may exercise us, whatever dif- || more immediate, a more noble, and a more effectual ficulties may surround us, whatever sorrows may manner. Amen! even so, come, Lord Jesus! depress us, let us with pleasure hear our Lord pro- Hasten the blessed hour to us, and to all the churches, claiming, Behold, I come quickly: I come to put a so far as it may consist with thy wise and holy period to the labour and suffering of my servants; counsels. And, in the mean time, may thy grace I come, and my reward of grace is with me; to re- be with us, to keep alive the remembrance of thy compense, with royal bounty, every work of faith love, and the expectation of thy coming, in our and labour of love. I come to receive my faithful,|| hearts; and to animate us to a temper and conduct persevering people to myself, to dwell for ever in || which may suit the blessings we have already rethat blissful world where the sacred volume, which ||ceived, and the nobler felicity after which thou contains the important discoveries of my will, shall || hast taught us to aspire! Amen and Amen !” 808 b END OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. |