For a desert dweller, the image of water has always been a symbol of life. In the biblical books this image received additional meaning: it became a symbol of the Kingdom of God, or the messianic Kingdom, as it was revealed to the prophets...
For a desert dweller, the image of water has always been a symbol of life. In the biblical books this image received additional meaning: it became a symbol of the Kingdom of God, or the messianic Kingdom, as it was revealed to the prophets.
Ezekiel sees a river of living water flowing from beneath the Temple he saw in a vision. It was revealed to him that the Second Temple, which the repatriates returning from the Babylonian captivity would build in due time, would meet the Messiah and see the beginning of the Kingdom that the Messiah would bring into the world. The righteous person, as the author of the First Psalm testifies, will come to the blessed land where rivers of living water flow: the path of righteousness ends in the Kingdom.
John also speaks of this same water of life: he sees it flowing straight from the Kingdom, whose triumph was revealed to him in his apocalyptic vision. The apostle testifies that this water, the life of the Kingdom, is available to everyone. The very breath of the Kingdom testifies to this life and calls people to share in it, and the Church, called in the text "the bride," as the other apostles often called her as well, bears witness to it too.
Here, as in few other places in the New Testament books, what formed the basis of the early Christian Church's teaching about salvation is clearly reflected: the Kingdom has already entered the world, its history began on the day of Pentecost, it is no longer future but present, and one can share in its life right here and now.
At the same time, its history has only just begun. The Kingdom is taking only its first steps in the world; an entire age still lies ahead of it, and by the standards of this old world it will last a long time. But an individual person does not need to wait for its completion and for the triumph of the Kingdom, the day when it will be revealed in all its fullness.
The possibility of living its life is available to everyone who desires it, even now, when the history of the Kingdom has only just begun. For its fullness is always the same; it is only revealed to the world in different measure at different stages of its becoming and entering the world. Therefore a person seeking the Kingdom can always find it in all the fullness he can contain. The history of salvation has begun, and the apostle calls every seeker to join it so that the day of the Messiah's return and the triumph of the Kingdom will become his day too.
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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.
22:8 I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel - The very same words which occur, Rev 19:10. The reproof of the angel, likewise, See thou do it not, for I am thy fellowservant, is expressed in the very same terms as before. May it not be the very same incident which is here related again? Is not this far more probable, than that the apostle would commit a fault again, of which he had been so solemnly warned before?
22:9 See thou do it not - The expression in the original is short and elliptical, as is usual in showing vehement aversion.
22:10 And he saith to me - After a little pause. Seal not the sayings of this book - Conceal them not, like the things that are sealed up. The time is nigh - Wherein they shall begin to take place.
22:11 He that is unrighteous - As if he had said, The final judgment is at hand; after which the condition of all mankind will admit of no change for ever. Unrighteous - Unjustified. Filthy - Unsanctified, unholy.
22:12 I - Jesus Christ. Come quickly - To judge the world.And my reward is with me - The rewards which I assign both to the righteous and the wicked are given at my coming. To give to every man according as his work - His whole inward and outward behaviour shall be.
22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last - Who exist from everlasting to everlasting. How clear, incontestable a proof, does our Lord here give of his divine glory!
22:14 Happy are they that do his commandments - His, who saith, I come - He speaks of himself. That they may have right - Through his gracious covenant. To the tree of life - To all the blessings signified by it. When Adam broke his commandment, he was driven from the tree of life. They who keep his commandments" shall eat thereof.
22:15 Without are dogs - The sentence in the original is abrupt, as expressing abhorrence. The gates are ever open; but not for dogs; fierce and rapacious men.
22:16 I Jesus have sent my angel to testify these things - Primarily. To you - The seven angels of the churches; then to those churches - and afterwards to all other churches in succeeding ages. I - as God. Am the root - And source of David's family and kingdom; as man, an descended from his loins. "I am the star out of Jacob," Num 24:17; like the bright morning star, who put an end to the night of ignorance, sin, and sorrow, and usher in an eternal day of light, purity, and joy.
22:17 The Spirit and the bride - The Spirit of adoption in the bride, in the heart of every true believer. Say - With earnest desire and expectation. Come - And accomplish all the words of this prophecy. And let him that thirsteth, come - Here they also who are farther off are invited. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life - He may partake of my spiritual and unspeakable blessings, as freely as he makes use of the most common refreshments; as freely as he drinks of the running stream.
22:18 I testify to every one, etc - From the fulness of his heart, the apostle utters this testimony, this weighty admonition, not only to the churches of Asia, but to all who should ever hear this book. He that adds, all the plagues shall be added to him; he that takes from it, all the blessings shall be taken from him; and, doubtless, this guilt is incurred by all those who lay hinderances in the way of the faithful, which prevent them from hearing their Lord's "I come," and answering, "Come, Lord Jesus." This may likewise be considered as an awful sanction, given to the whole New Testament; in like manner as Moses guarded the law, Deu 4:2, and Deu 12:32; and as God himself did, Mal 4:4, in closing the canon of the Old Testament.
22:19 See note on Rev 22:18
22:20 He that testifieth these things - Even all that is contained in this book. Saith - For the encouragement of the church in all her afflictions. Yea - Answering the call of the Spirit and the bride. I come quickly - To destroy all her enemies, and establish her in a state of perfect and everlasting happiness. The apostle expresses his earnest desire and hope of this, by answering, Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
22:21 The grace - The free love. Of the Lord Jesus - And all its fruits. Be with all - Who thus long for his appearing!
contents of this book.
In the year of the world,
The several ages, from the time of St. John's being in Patmos, down to the present time, may, according to the chief incidents mentioned in the Revelation, be distinguished thus:-
O God, whatsoever stands or falls, stands or falls by thy judgment.
Defend thy own truth! Have mercy on me and my readers! To thee be
glory for ever!