As is well known, the Greek word 'apocalypse' means 'revelation'. When people use this word, they often mean the corresponding biblical book. Still more often, however, they mean a catastrophe, a universal cataclysm, the end of everything. This view is widespread today even among Christians, let alone...
As is well known, the Greek word 'apocalypse' means 'revelation'. When people use this word, they often mean the corresponding biblical book. Still more often, however, they mean a catastrophe, a universal cataclysm, the end of everything. This view is widespread today even among Christians, let alone everyone else.
The Book of Revelation ends with a description not of a catastrophe at all, but of the complete and final renewal of the world, the triumph of the Kingdom of which the first generation of Christians dreamed, hoping it would come about within their own lifetimes. And what of the human being in this renewed world? Physically, a person is evidently renewed like the rest of creation; but spiritually? It is precisely this spiritual dimension that John speaks of when he describes the new quality of the faithful's inner life in the Kingdom fully revealed. There is nothing 'accursed' in the Kingdom. Nothing and no one there opposes God. In the present age, the age of the advancing Kingdom, opposition is plain to see, and it becomes all the more visible and acute as the Kingdom is revealed in an environment hostile to it. After the world's complete transformation, however, it seems there is no longer any room in it for any power hostile to God.
But this is a picture of the new world as a whole; what of the individual? The individual's relationships with God and with Christ appear to change qualitatively, to be renewed; in John's visions the Saviour often appears as the Lamb. Now the faithful see the Saviour face to face, see Him all the time rather than occasionally, as before, when the world was being transformed but had not yet been transformed completely. And they see Him clearly and distinctly, unlike the way it often was before, when His face emerged as though through a mist. Of course, this is not merely a matter of a change in human physical nature. It is above all a matter of the renewal of spiritual life, of the relationships that bind a person to God and to Christ, of that renewal of the covenant of which Jeremiah spoke long ago.
These new relationships, no longer darkened by any sin, constitute the spiritual foundation of this new covenant. For the Kingdom itself is founded precisely on relationships: those of its inhabitants with God and with one another, those they have with Christ, and, finally, that of Christ Himself with His heavenly Father. When these relationships reach their fullness, the Kingdom is revealed to the world in all its transforming fullness.
22
22:1 And he showed me a river of the water of life - The ever fresh and fruitful effluence of the Holy Ghost.See Eze 47:1-12; where also the trees are mentioned which "bear fruit every month," that is, perpetually. Proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb - "All that the Father hath," saith the Son of God, "is mine;" even the throne of his glory.
22:2 In the midst of the street - Here is the paradise of God, mentioned, Rev 2:7. Is the tree of life - Not one tree only, but many. Every month - That is, in inexpressible abundance. The variety, likewise, as well as the abundance of the fruits of the Spirit, may be intimated thereby. And the leaves are for the healing of the nations - For the continuing their health, not the restoring it; for no sickness is there.
22:3 And there shall be no more curse - But pure life and blessing; every effect of the displeasure of God for sin being now totally removed. But the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it - That is, the glorious presence and reign of God. And his servants - The highest honour in the universe. Shalt worship him - The noblest employment.
22:4 And shall see his face - Which was not granted to Moses.They shall have the nearest access to, and thence the highest resemblance of, him. This is the highest expression in the language of scripture to denote the most perfect happiness of the heavenly state, Jo1 3:2. And his name shall be on their foreheads - Each of them shall be openly acknowledged as God's own property, and his glorious nature most visibly shine forth in them. And they shall reign - But who are the subjects of these kings? The other inhabitants of the new earth. For there must needs be an everlasting difference between those who when on earth excelled in virtue, and those comparatively slothful and unprofitable servants, who were just saved as by fire. The kingdom of God is taken by force; but the prize is worth all the labour. Whatever of high, lovely, or excellent is in all the monarchies of the earth is all together not a grain of dust, compared to the glory of the children of God. God "is not ashamed to be called their God, for whom he hath prepared this city." But who shall come up into his holy place? "They who keep his commandments," Rev 22:14.
22:5 And they shall reign for ever and ever - What encouragement is this to the patience and faithfulness of the saints, that, whatever their sufferings are, they will work out for them "an eternal weight of glory!" Thus ends the doctrine of this Revelation, in the everlasting happiness of all the faithful. The mysterious ways of Providence are cleared up, and all things issue in an eternal Sabbath, an everlasting state of perfect peace and happiness, reserved for all who endure to the end.
22:6 And he said to me - Here begins the conclusion of the book, exactly agreeing with the introduction, (particularly Rev 22:6, Rev 22:7, Rev 22:10 with Rev 1:1, Rev 1:3) and giving light to the whole book, as this book does to the whole scripture. These sayings are faithful and true - All the things which you have heard and seen shall be faithfully accomplished in their order, and are infallibly true.The Lord, the God of the holy prophets - Who inspired and authorised them of old. Hath now sent me his angel, to show his servants - By thee. The things which must be done shortly - Which will begin to be performed immediately.
22:7 Behold, I come quickly - Saith our Lord himself, to accomplish these things. Happy is he that keepeth - Without adding or diminishing, Rev 22:18-19, the words of this book.