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EZEK. xlvii.

1.

ZECH. XIV. 8.

+ pure is omitted by all

MSS.

12. ch. xxi. 21.

C GEN. ii. 9. ch. ii. 7.

AUTHORIZED VERSION REVISED.

a

XXII. 1 And he shewed me a

† river of water of life, bright

с

as

our ancient crystal, proceeding out of the throne LEZEK. xlvii. of God and of the Lamb. 2 b In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, the tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruits, and yielding her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were d for the healing of the nations. 3 And eZECH. XIV. 11. e there shall be no more curse: fand the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 and they shall see his

d ch. xxi. 24.

f EZEK. xlviii.

35.

g Matt. v. 8.

1 Cor. xiii.12.

h ch. iii. 12.

1 John iii. 2. face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

& xiv. 1.

i ch. xxi. 23, 25.

+ So all our

ancient MSS.

AUTHORIZED VERSION.

XXII. And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the the street of it, and on Lamb. 2 In the midst of either side of the river, was there the tree of life,

which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month : and the leaves of the tree were 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:

and they shall see his

5 And there shall face; and his name shall

their foreheads.

And there shall be no

be no † more night; and they need be in no [light of] lamp, neither light [of k Ps. xxxvi. 9. the sun]; because the Lord God

& lxxxiv. 11.

nation and falsehood, but only (literally, except) they that are written in the book of life of the Lamb (if then the kings of the earth, and the nations, bring their glory and their treasures into her, and if none shall ever enter into her that is not written in the book of life, it follows, that these kings, and these nations, are written in the book of life. And so perhaps some light may be thrown on one of the darkest mysteries of redemption. There may be,I say it with all diffidence,-those who have been saved by Christ without ever forming a part of his visible organized Church).

CH. XXII. 1-5.] The end of the description: the means of healing for the nations (1, 2): the blessedness, and eternal reign of the glorified servants of God (2-5).

And he shewed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, coming forth out of the throne of God and of the Lamb (which throne is one and the same: see ch. iii. 21, and note on ch. xx. 11. The Old Test. passages in view are Gen. ii. 10; Ezek. xlvii. 1 ff.). In the midst of the street of it (the city), and of the river, on one side and on the other (the meaning being that the trees were on each side in the middle of the space between the street

night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God

and the river. See Ezek. xlvii. 7), [was] the tree of life (ch. ii. 7; Ezek. as above, and what follows, i. e. trees of the kind described as in Ezek.) producing twelve fruits (kinds of fruit, Ezek. xlvii. 12), according to each month yielding its fruit (Ezek. as above): and the leaves of the tree [are] for healing of the nations (so exactly, Ezek. ver. 12: "and the leaf thereof for medicine." On the nations outside, see above, ch. xxi. end). And every curse (accursed thing, see below) shall exist no longer (compare Zech. xiv. 11. There shall no more be those accursed things which bar the residence of God among His people: see Josh. vii. 12, which shews that these words are in close connexion with what follows): and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in her, and His servants shall serve Him (in ministration and holy service, see ch. vii. 15), and they shall see His face (be close to Him, and know Him, even as they are known, Matt. v. 8), and His name [shall be] on their foreheads (see ch. vii. 3). And night shall not be any more (ch. xxi. 25), and they shall have no need of [the light of] a lamp or (and) of [the] light [of the sun] (ch. xxi. 23. The reading is in some doubt, the words in brackets.being omitted

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AUTHORIZED VERSION REVISED.

giveth them light: and they shall shine upon them: 'and they 1 DAN. vii. 27. shall reign for ever and shall reign for ever and ever.

ever. 6 And he said unto

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These sayings 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. 7 Behold, I come quickly blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the

Rom. v. 17.
2 Tim. ii. 12.
ch. iii. 21.

xix. 9.

ancient MSS.

6 And he said unto me, mThese say-mchi. ings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the † spirits of the pro- + So all our phets "sent his angel to shew unto his n servants what things must shortly come to pass. 7+ And

ch. i. 1.

behold, I + So all our

ancient MSS.

ver. 10, 12,

20.

come quickly: P blessed is he that och f. 11. prophecy of this book. keepeth the sayings of the prophecy pch.i.3. And I John saw these of this book. 8 And I John am he things, and heard them.

And when I had heard and who heard these things, and saw

seen, I fell down to wor- them. And when I heard and

ship before the feet of the when I saw, I fell down to wor- q ch. xix. 10. angel which shewed me

these things. Then saith ship before the feet of the angel

he unto me, See thou do it which shewed me these things.

not: for I am thy fellow- 9 Then saith he unto me, See thou r ch. xix. 10. servant, and of thy brethren

10 And he saith unto me,

the prophets, and of them do it not: for I am thy fellow-
which keep the sayings of servant, and of thy brethren the
this book: worship God. prophets, and of them which keep
Seal not the sayings of the the sayings of this book: worship
prophecy of this book: for
the time is at hand. 11 He
that is unjust, let him be

& xii. 4, 9. ch. x. 4.

God. 10 s And he saith unto me, 8 DAN. viii. 26.
Seal not the sayings of the prophecy

t

of this book: for the time is near. tch. i. 3.
11 u He that is unjust, let him be a EZEK. III. 27.

by some of our principal MSS.), because the Lord God shall shine (shed light) upon them: and they shall reign (De Wette well remarks, in a higher sense than in ch. xx. 4, 6) to the ages of the ages.

6-21.] CONCLUDING ASSURANCES AND EXHORTATIONS: and herein, 6, 7, assurance by the angel of the truth of what has been said, in the terms of ch. i. 1. And he (the angel) said to me, These sayings (the whole book, by what follows) are faithful and true: and the Lord (Jehovah) the God of the spirits of the prophets (i. e. of those spirits of theirs, which, informed by the Holy Spirit, have become the vehicles of prophecy) sent His angel to shew to His servants what things must come to pass shortly (on the whole of this, see on ch. i. 1, from which place it is repeated at the close of the book of which that is the opening) And behold, I come quickly (the speech passes into the words of Christ Himself,

Dan. xii. 10. 2 Tim. iii. 13.

reported by the angel: so in ver. 12, and in ch. xi. 3). Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book (the speech is a mixed one: in the words of this book, the Writer has in view the roll of his book now lying all but completed before him but the words are the saying of the angel: "of this prophecy," would express it formally). And I John [am he] who heard and saw these things: and when I heard and saw, I fell down (as in ch. xix. 10, where see notes) to worship before the feet of the angel who shewed me these things. And he saith to me, Take heed not: I am a fellow-servant of thine, and (a fellow-servant) of thy brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the sayings of this book: worship God (the same feeling again prevailed over the Apostle as before, and is met with a similar rebuke). And he saith to me, Seal not up the sayings of the prophecy of this book

+ So all our ancient MSS.

† and is

omitted by all

our ancient
MSS.

x ver. 7.

y ISA. xl. 10.

& lxii. 11. z Rom. ii. 6.

& xiv. 12.

ch. xx. 12. + So all our ancient MSS.

& xliv. 6.

AUTHORIZED VERSION REVISED.

unjust still and he which is filthy,
let him be filthy still: and he
that is righteous, let him † still
do righteousness: and he that is
holy, let him sanctify himself still.

y

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AUTHORIZED VERSION.

is

unjust still: and he which filthy, let him be filthy eous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12 And, behold, I come

still: and he that is right

12 + Behold, I come quickly; and quickly; and my reward

reward is with me, to
my
every man according as his work
† is.
13 a I am the Alpha and the
Omega, first and last, the be-

als, xli. 4ginning and the end. 14 b Blessed
are they that wash their robes,
that they may have power cover the

& xlviii. 12. ch. i. 8, 11. & xxi. 6.

+ So all our ancient MSS.

b ch. vii. 14. & tree of life, dand

i. 5. Isa. i. 18. Zech. iii.

Heb. ix. 14.

1 John i. 7.

+ So our most

give is 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 are 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 are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoreand idolaters, and whomongers, and murderers, soever loveth and maketh a lie.

enter in may

3. & xiii. 1. through the gates into the city. 15 e Without are the dogs, and ancient MSS., the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idola

the later ones reading, do his commandments, as the A. V.

c ver. 2.

ch. ii. 7.

ters, and whosoever loveth and doeth
16 g I Jesus sent mine

d ch. xxi. 27. falsehood.

e 1 Cor. vi. 9,

10. Gal. v. 19-21.

Col. iii. 6.

angel to testify these things unto

ch. ix. 20, 21. you in the churches. I am the

& xxi. 8.

f Matt. vii. 6.

& xv. 26. Phil. iii. 2.

g ch. 1. 1.

h ch. v. 5.

(compare ch. x. 4, where the command is otherwise: also Daniel viii. 26): for the time is near (in Dan. viii. 26, the reason for sealing up the vision is that the time shall be for many days). Let him that is unjust commit injustice still: and let the filthy (morally polluted) pollute himself still: and let the righteous do righteousness still, and the holy sanctify himself still (see Ezek. iii. 27: and compare Matt. xxvi. 45, 66 Sleep on now, and take your rest behold the hour is at hand:" also Ezek. xx. 39. The saying has solemn irony in it: the time is so short, that there is hardly room for change-the lesson conveyed in its depth is, "Change while there is time"). Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me (Isa. xl. 10) to render to each as his work is (these words sound as if spoken by our Lord himself: perhaps at the conclusion, the Apostle puts together, in prophetic shortness, many divine sayings of warning and consolation, with the replies to them). I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the begin

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root

ning and the end (these words have hitherto been said by the Father: see above, ch. i. 8, xxi. 6, and notes. And in all probability it is so here likewise, whether we assume the words to be spoken by Christ in God's name, or by the Eternal Father Himself). Blessed are they that wash their robes (see the margin, and ch. vii. 14, where the expression is fuller, "in the blood of the Lamb." The difference in the readings is curious, being in the original that between poiountes tas entolas autou and plunontes tas stolas auton, either of which might easily be mistaken for the other) that they may have the power (licence) over the tree (to eat of the tree) of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs (impure persons, see reff.), and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one loving and practising falsehood (see on these, ch. xxi. 8).

I Jesus (our Lord now speaks directly in His own person) sent my angel to testify these things to you in the churches. I

AUTHORIZED VERSION.

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and the offspring of David, root and the offspring of David,
and the bright and morn the bright morning star.
ing star. 17 And the Spirit

17 And

and the bride say, Come. the Spirit and the bride say, And let him that heareth Come: and let him that heareth say, Come. And let him

1

that is athirst come. And say, Come: and let him that is
whosoever will, let him athirst
come: † whosoever will,
take the water of life let him take the water of life freely.
freely. 18 For I testify 18 + I testify unto every one that

unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man

shall add unto these things,

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by all our ancient MSS.

drine and

many later
MSS. The
Sinaitic has,
Or I testify.
No MSS. hare
For.

m DEUT. iv. 2.
& xii. 32.

heareth the sayings of the prophecy of this book, m If any shall add unto God shall add unto him them, God shall add unto him the the plagues that are written plagues that are written in this Prov. xxx. 6. in this book: 19 and if any book: 19 and if shall take any man shall take away from from the sayings of the book of this the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall prophecy, " God shall take away his take away his part out part out of the † tree of life, and of the book of life, and

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away

20 He

out of the holy city, and [tout of] the holy city, † which
from the things which are are written in this book.
written in this book. 20 He which testifieth these things
which testifieth these things

saith, 9Amen, 21 The grace

saith, Surely I come quick-Surely I come quickly.
ly. Amen. Even so, come, come, Lord Jesus.
Lord Jesus. 21 The grace

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+ So most MSS., none reading as the A.V.

n

Exop. xxxii. 8x8.5. MSS, one

33. Ps. lxix.

& xiii. + So all our

reading as the A. V. t out of is omitted by the

Alexandrine erted by the

M.S., but in

Sinaitic. o ch. xxi. 2.

and from the

things is omitted in almost all

r Rom. xvi. 20, 24, 2 Thess. iii. 18.

am the root and the race (the offspring, as A. V.) of David, the bright morning star (that brings in the everlasting day).

And the Spirit (in the churches, and in the prophets) and the Bride (the Church herself) say Come (see on ch. vi. 1, &c.): and let him that heareth (the cry of the Spirit and Bride) say Come: and let him that thirsteth come : let him that will, take the water of life freely (this verse is best understood as a reply of the Apostle to our Lord's previous words).

18-20.] Final solemn warning of the Apostle. I (emphatic) testify to every one (or, "of every one") who heareth the sayings of the prophecy of this book, If any one add (shall have added) to them, God shall add to him (lay upon him, as he has laid his own additions upon them the verb being from Deut. vii. 15, where the plagues of Egypt are threatened to the Israelites in case of their disobedience) the plagues which are written in VOL. II.

this book: and if any one shall take away from the sayings of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his portion from the tree of life (strike out his portion from the aggregate of those of which the whole participation of that tree is made up), and out of the holy city, which are written in this book (see Deut. as before. The adding and taking away are in the application and reception in the heart: and so it is not a mere formal threat to the copier of the book. All must be received and realized. This is at least an awful warning both to those who despise and neglect this book, and to those who add to it by irrelevant and trifling interpretations).

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20, 21. FINAL ASSURANCE of the Lord, and REPLY of the Apostle on behalf of the Church and BENEDICTION. He who testifieth these things (the Lord Jesus) saith, Yea, I come quickly. Amen (the reply of the Apostle, not the conclusion of our Lord's saying), Come, Lord Jesus.

4 0

AUTHORIZED VERSION REVISED.

AUTHORIZED VERSION.

tour is omitted of the Lord Jesust be with † the of our Lord Jesus Christ

by almost all

our MSS.

+ Christ is

omitted by

our oldest M88.

saints.

Amen.

be with you all.

Amen.

+ So the Sinaitic MS. The Alexandrine reads, be with all (and no more): the later MSS

read, be with all the saints: but no MS. reads as the 4. V.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with the saints (i. e., with the church of God.

This, the reading of the Sinaitic MS., is nowhere else found as a parting formula).

THE END.

GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTERS, ST. JOHN'S SQUARE, LONDON.

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