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Texts -- Revelation 22:1-21 (NET)

Context
22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life – water as clear as crystal – pouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb , 22:2 flowing down the middle of the city’s main street . On each side of the river is the tree of life producing twelve kinds of fruit , yielding its fruit every month of the year . Its leaves are for the healing of the nations . 22:3 And there will no longer be any curse , and the throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city . His servants will worship him , 22:4 and they will see his face , and his name will be on their foreheads . 22:5 Night will be no more , and they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun , because the Lord God will shine on them , and they will reign forever and ever .
A Final Reminder
22:6 Then the angel said to me , “These words are reliable and true . The Lord , the God of the spirits of the prophets , has sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon .” 22:7 (Look ! I am coming soon ! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy expressed in this book .) 22:8 I , John , am the one who heard and saw these things , and when I heard and saw them, I threw myself down to worship at the feet of the angel who was showing them to me . 22:9 But he said to me , “Do not do this! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets , and with those who obey the words of this book . Worship God !” 22:10 Then he said to me , “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy contained in this book , because the time is near . 22:11 The evildoer must continue to do evil , and the one who is morally filthy must continue to be filthy . The one who is righteous must continue to act righteously , and the one who is holy must continue to be holy .” 22:12 (Look ! I am coming soon , and my reward is with me to pay each one according to what he has done ! 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega , the first and the last , the beginning and the end !) 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can have access to the tree of life and can enter into the city by the gates . 22:15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the sexually immoral , and the murderers , and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood ! 22:16 “I , Jesus , have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches . I am the root and the descendant of David , the bright morning star !” 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say , “Come !” And let the one who hears say : “Come !” And let the one who is thirsty come ; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge . 22:18 I testify to the one who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book : If anyone adds to them , God will add to him the plagues described in this book . 22:19 And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy , God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book . 22:20 The one who testifies to these things says, “Yes , I am coming soon !” Amen ! Come , Lord Jesus ! 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all .

Pericope

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Arts

Hymns

(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
  • 'Ku Heran, Allah Mau Memb'ri [KJ.387] ( I Know Not Why / I Know Whom I Have Believed )
  • 'Ku Mengasihi Yesus, Tuhanku [KJ.305]
  • Angin Ribut Menyerang [KJ.30a] ( Jesus, Lover of My Soul )
  • Angin Ribut Menyerang [KJ.30b] ( Jesus, Lover of My Soul )
  • Bangunlah! Dengar Suara [KJ.276]
  • Berlaksa-laksa Orang [KJ.270] ( Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand )
  • Bila Kulihat Bintang Gemerlapan [KJ.64]
  • Bila Muka dengan Muka [KJ.267]
  • Bila Tugasku Kelak Selesai [KJ.265]
  • Dalam Kota Raja Daud [KJ.113]
  • Datanglah, Ya Yesus [KJ.273]
  • Hai Bangkit Bagi Yesus [KJ.340] ( Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus )
  • Hai Berdandanlah, Jiwaku [KJ.313]
  • Hai Musafir, Mau ke Mana [KJ.269]
  • Kabar Yang Indah Benar [KJ.271]
  • Kaulah, ya Tuhan, Surya Hidupku [KJ.405] ( Be Thou My Vision )
  • Kibarkan Panji RajaMu [KJ.206] ( Fling out the Banner )
  • Kota Sion, Kota Allah [KJ.262] ( Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken )
  • Kudengar BerkatMu Turun [KJ.235] ( Even Me / Lord, I Hear of Showers of Blessmg )
  • O Hari Istirahat [KJ.20] ( O Day of Rest and Gladness )
  • O, Datanglah, Imanuel [KJ.81]
  • Sebelum Semua Jadi [KJ.136]
  • Sekawanan yang Esa [KJ.272]
  • Setiap Pagi RahmatMu [KJ.321]
  • Suara Yesus Kudengar [KJ.144a] ( I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say )
  • Suara Yesus Kudengar [KJ.144b] ( I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say )
  • T'rang Bintang Fajar Berseri [KJ.139]
  • Tuhan Yesus, Jurus'lamat [KJ.275]
  • Tuhan, Kau Kekal Raja Hati Kami [KJ.308]
  • Tuhanku Seg'ra 'kan Kembali Ke Dunia [KJ.277]
  • Tumbuhlah Tunas Baru [KJ.93]
  • UmatMu Bersembah Sujud [KJ.227]
  • Yang Mahakasih [KJ.381]
  • Yang T'lah Menang [KJ.263]
  • Yesus Kristus Memerintah [KJ.220]
  • Yesuslah Raja yang Menang [KJ.248a]
  • Yesuslah Raja yang Menang [KJ.248b]
  • [Rev 22:1] Beautiful Waters Of Eden
  • [Rev 22:1] By And By (rexford)
  • [Rev 22:1] Clear As Crystal
  • [Rev 22:1] Fresh From The Throne Of Glory
  • [Rev 22:1] Living Stream, As Crystal Clear, A
  • [Rev 22:1] Living Where The Healing Waters Flow
  • [Rev 22:1] Near The Cross
  • [Rev 22:1] O Have You Not Heard?
  • [Rev 22:1] On Let Us Go
  • [Rev 22:1] Shall We Gather At The River?
  • [Rev 22:1] There Is A Pure And Tranquil Wave
  • [Rev 22:2] Those Eternal Bowers
  • [Rev 22:4] When I Look In His Face
  • [Rev 22:5] City Of Gold
  • [Rev 22:5] Come, Blessed Spirit! Source Of Light
  • [Rev 22:5] O Christ, Who Art The Light And Day
  • [Rev 22:5] I Wandered In The Shades Of Night
  • [Rev 22:5] Light’s Abode, Celestial Salem
  • [Rev 22:5] Morning Land, The
  • [Rev 22:5] O Christ, Who Art The Light And Day
  • [Rev 22:5] Shadows
  • [Rev 22:12] Christ Is Coming
  • [Rev 22:12] How Sweet Are The Tidings
  • [Rev 22:12] King Is Coming, The
  • [Rev 22:12] Light Of The Lonely Pilgrim’s Heart
  • [Rev 22:12] Lord Is Coming, The
  • [Rev 22:12] Lord Will Come And Not Be Slow, The
  • [Rev 22:12] Soon!
  • [Rev 22:13] Be Near Us, Holy Trinity
  • [Rev 22:13] Christ! I Am Christ’s
  • [Rev 22:13] Hark, What A Sound
  • [Rev 22:16] Brighten The Corner Where You Are
  • [Rev 22:16] Hail, All Hail!
  • [Rev 22:16] How Bright Appears The Morning Star
  • [Rev 22:16] How Brightly Beams The Morning Star!
  • [Rev 22:16] How Lovely Shines The Morning Star
  • [Rev 22:16] Morning
  • [Rev 22:16] My God, The Spring Of All My Joys
  • [Rev 22:16] O God, We Pray For All Mankind
  • [Rev 22:16] O Morning Star, How Fair And Bright
  • [Rev 22:16] Pull For The Shore
  • [Rev 22:16] Star Of Morn And Even
  • [Rev 22:16] Star Of Peace To Wanderers Weary
  • [Rev 22:16] Ye Clouds And Darkness, Hosts Of Night
  • [Rev 22:17] Are You Coming To Jesus Tonight?
  • [Rev 22:17] Beautiful Beckoning Hands
  • [Rev 22:17] Enter And Worship Here
  • [Rev 22:17] He Included Me
  • [Rev 22:17] Head Of Thy Church, Whose Spir­it Fills
  • [Rev 22:17] O Joyful Sound Of Gos­pel Grace!
  • [Rev 22:17] Spirit In Our Hearts, The
  • [Rev 22:17] Water Of Life, The
  • [Rev 22:17] Whoever Will
  • [Rev 22:17] Why Will Ye Wander?
  • [Rev 22:18] Behold The Wondrous Love
  • [Rev 22:18] “whosoever” Mean­eth Me
  • [Rev 22:18] Whosoever Will
  • [Rev 22:20] Beyond The Smiling And The Weeping
  • [Rev 22:20] Come, Lord Jesus, Our Re­deeme­r
  • [Rev 22:20] Come, O Lord, Like Morning Sun­light
  • [Rev 22:20] Come, O Thou God Of Grace
  • [Rev 22:20] Come, Savior, Jesus, From Above
  • [Rev 22:20] Kum Ba Yah
  • [Rev 22:20] O Quickly Come, Dread Judge Of All
  • [Rev 22:20] On What Has Now Been Sown
  • [Rev 22:20] Thou Art Coming, O My Sav­ior
  • [Rev 22:20] With Glorious Clouds En­com­passed Round

Questions

Sermon Illustrations

Who Is Jesus Christ?; Water of Life; Reverend; Matthew 11:28; The Invitations of Christ; Mark 16:16; Types in the Bible; The Word “Amen”; The Invitations of Christ; Faith Alone; Names of Jesus; Thirty-one New Testament Descriptions of Sinful Mankind; Rest in Six Aspects; Judgments in Scripture; Biblical Resources; Motivations For Obedience; Mark 16:16

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • 1:3 The world came into being by God's word (cf. Ps. 33:9; Heb. 11:3). Each of the six creative days began with God speaking.55Jesus Christ, the Word of God, was the Creator (John 1:3). The theme of God's word (spoken, writte...
  • 2:4 Having related the creation of the universe as we know it, God next inspired Moses to explain for his readers what became of it.129Sin entered it and devastated it."The destiny of the human creation is to live in God's wo...
  • Joseph lived to see God's blessing on his children's children. He died 54 years after Jacob's death when he was 110 years old.950Many Egyptian texts refer to 110 as the ideal life span.951Joseph probably could have experience...
  • "Chapters 23 and 24 are two of the brightest chapters in the book of Numbers. Scores of wonderful things are said about Israel, mainly prophetical. The dark sins of the past were forgotten; only happy deliverance from Egypt w...
  • Israelites were not to become or to dedicate their children as cult prostitutes as the Canaanites did. They were not to offer to God money earned by prostitution to pay for a vow to Him either. The "dog"(v. 18) was a male san...
  • These verses conclude the account of the division of the land proper (chs. 13-21; cf. 1:2-6; 11:23). They bind the two parts of the second half of the book together. They form a theological conclusion to the entire book up to...
  • 46:4-5 God's presence in Jerusalem was similar to that of a refreshing life-giving river rather than the raging sea (v. 3; cf. Isa. 8:6; 33:21). Old Jerusalem, of course, had no literal river flowing through it (cf. Rev. 22:1...
  • 69:13-15 David wanted deliverance from a premature death and a word from the Lord that would enable him to know what to do.69:16-18 The king based his petition on the loyal love and compassion of God. He asked God to redeem h...
  • 110:3 When Messiah comes to rule over His enemies His people will willingly join in His reign (cf. Judg. 5:2). They will be holy in contrast to the unholy whom Messiah will subdue. They will be as youthful warriors, namely st...
  • Even though the price one has to pay for wisdom (i.e., life within the will of God) includes submitting to God's discipline (vv. 11-12), it is worth it (vv. 13-20)."Loath"(v. 11b) means to shrink back from (cf. Heb. 12:5-6). ...
  • Agur began with three declarations. The subject of each is God.30:2-4 Behind this ironical section one can perhaps imagine Agur's sons claiming to be wiser than their father. Agur confessed his own limited understanding while...
  • 9:1 "All this"refers to the general pattern of God's inconsistent retribution that Solomon had discussed. Even though he could not predict whether a given person would experience prosperity or adversity, he believed all peopl...
  • These verses reflect the desire that Solomon and the Shulammite still felt for each other. Solomon seems to have spoken verse 13 and the Shulammite verse 14. The mountains probably refer to her breasts (cf. 2:17; 8:14).The na...
  • Isaiah next described the remnant who will stream to Zion praising God at the beginning of Messiah's reign. Notice the many triadic formations in the structure of this chapter, creating a feeling of the completeness of joy. T...
  • 26:1 The prophet revealed another song that will be sung "in that day"(the Millennium, cf. ch. 25) by those in Zion.The New Jerusalem that God will set up will be a place of strength and security for the redeemed (cf. Rev. 21...
  • There are two more "woes"that deal with Jerusalem in this chapter (vv. 1-14, 15-24) in addition to the one in chapter 28. The first of these is similar to the previous "woe"(cf. vv. 1-8 with 28:1-6, and vv. 9-14 with 28:7-13)...
  • There is general correspondence between this sixth "woe"and the third one (29:15-24), but this one deals more with application and the third one more with principles. It is the most eschatological of the "woes,"though it cont...
  • The first strophe of this poem (vv. 1-2) sets the tone for the rest of the chapter and for the rest of the book. It is an introduction to an introduction. In spite of affliction that lay ahead for the Judahites, God's ultimat...
  • The Lord, through His prophet, assured fearful Israel in this segment. Israel need not fear the nations (vv. 1-7) because Yahweh remained committed to His people and would use them to accomplish His purposes in the world (vv....
  • Isaiah continued to show that Yahweh was both willing and able to deliver His people, a theme begun in 42:10. He confronted the gods, again (cf. 41:21-29), but this time he challenged them to bring forth witnesses to their de...
  • The Israelites cried out for God to act for them. He had done so in their past history, but they needed His help now. Probably the believing remnant was requesting help.51:9 Israel's call for God to awake assumes that He had ...
  • The people would need to listen to and rely on God's unconditional promise, but their salvation would cost them nothing.55:1 "The introductory particle (hoi) is mainly an attention-getting device, but it expresses a slight to...
  • Light would dawn on Israel, and as a result the Gentiles would seek her out.60:1 God had called Israel to be a light to the nations (43:10), but presently she was darkness (56:9-57:13; 59:1-15a). The Lord had promised that He...
  • 65:1 God replied that He had been gracious in allowing a nation to call on Him and to obtain responses from Him since that nation did not normally pray to Him. The Apostle Paul applied this verse to the Gentiles, people to wh...
  • God not only will be faithful to His promises in spite of Israel's unfaithfulness (63:1-65:16), but He will demonstrate His ability and desire to provide righteousness for sinful humankind by creating new heavens and a new ea...
  • Having given a true prophecy about the future, Jeremiah proceeded to announce God's judgment on the false prophets who were misleading His people with false prophecies (cf. v. 1). This section consists of six different messag...
  • The prayer begins with a long ascription of praise to Yahweh (vv. 17-23) and concludes by expressing incredulity that the Lord had commanded His servant to buy the land in Anathoth (vv. 24-25; cf. Neh. 9:6-37; Dan. 9:4-19).42...
  • 3:22 While Ezekiel was among the exiles in Tel-abib, the Lord directed him to go out to the nearby plain where the Lord promised to speak with him (cf. ch. 1; Acts 9:6; Gal. 1:16-17).3:23 Ezekiel obeyed the Lord. While he was...
  • The Book of Ezekiel begins with a vision of God's glory (ch. 1), records the departure of God's glory (chs. 8-11), and ends with another vision of God's glory (chs. 40-48). This is the longest vision outside the Book of Revel...
  • Earlier Ezekiel hinted that there would be a future temple in the restored Promised Land (20:40; 37:24-28). Now he described it in considerable detail. Some of the detail is here to help the reader understand what the writer ...
  • 47:1 Ezekiel's guide, who appears to have been his original guide in this vision (v. 3), brought him back to the main entrance to the temple proper. Ezekiel saw water flowing to the east from under the temple threshold.565It ...
  • Ackroyd, Peter R. Exile and Restoration. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1968.Alexander, Ralph H. Ezekiel. Everyman's Bible Commentary series. Chicago: Moody Press, 1976._____. "Ezekiel."In Isaiah-Ezekiel. Vol. 6 of The Expo...
  • 7:15-16 Even though Daniel understood all kinds of visions and dreams (1:17), much of what he had just seen baffled and alarmed him (cf. 7:28). He now saw himself participating in the events of his vision. He evidently addres...
  • In conclusion the angel instructed Daniel to close the record of this revelation. In the ancient Near East, people wrote official documents and then, after making a copy for reference, deposited the original in a safe place. ...
  • 2:28-29 After this, namely, after the deliverance from the northern invader just described, God promised to pour out His Spirit on all mankind without gender, age, class, or position distinction.29In Old Testament times God g...
  • 7:1 Sovereign Yahweh showed Amos a mass of locusts swarming in the springtime after the first harvest and before the second. The Lord was forming this swarm of locusts. The very first crops harvested in the spring went to fee...
  • 14:1 The Lord announced through His prophet that a day was coming, for His benefit primarily, when the nations that had plundered Israel victoriously would divide their spoil among themselves in Jerusalem. This would be the L...
  • Matthew separated the explanation of this parable from its telling in the text (vv. 24-30). He evidently did this to separate more clearly for the reader the parables Jesus spoke to the multitudes from the parables He told Hi...
  • The other important quality that will make a servant blessed when Jesus returns, in addition to prudence, is faithfulness (cf. 24:45-46). This parable explains what Jesus regards as faithfulness. Essentially it involves using...
  • Jesus told the parable of the fig tree to illustrate the certainty of what He had prophesied. He then gave other assurances of fulfillment. Luke omitted Jesus' statement that no one would know the day or hour when He would re...
  • In one sense the Gospel of John is more profound than the Synoptics. It is the most difficult Gospel for most expositors to preach and to teach for reasons that will become evident as we study it. In another sense, however, t...
  • 14:1 Jesus was troubled because of what lay before Him, and the Eleven were troubled (Gr. tarassestho) because they did not understand what lay before them. Jesus had just told them that He was going to leave them (13:33), bu...
  • 10:23b-24 Peter wisely took six other Jewish Christians with him (11:12). A total of seven believers witnessed what took place in Cornelius' house. The trip from Caesarea to Joppa took part of two days (v. 30). Cornelius was ...
  • Luke devoted more space to Paul's evangelizing in Philippi than he did to the apostle's activities in any other city on the second and third journeys even though Paul was there only briefly. It was the first European city in ...
  • Paul's final argument in support of justification by faith was a development of his previous emphasis on the solidarity that the saved experience with their Savior (5:1-2, 9-10). In this section (5:12-21) he expanded that ide...
  • The apostle dealt first with the importance of not judging one another. This was a particular temptation to those Christians who believed that they should refrain from some practices that they believed were displeasing to God...
  • 3:10 In the new illustration Paul laid the foundation of the church in Corinth by founding the church, and others added the walls and continued building on that foundation. Paul's special mission from God was to found churche...
  • Paul concluded his answer to the Corinthians' question concerning spiritual gifts (chs. 12-14) and his teaching on tongues (ch. 14) with a strong call to cooperation. He zeroed in on their individualism (v. 36; cf. v. 33) and...
  • "The letter now concludes with a series of standard (for Paul) greetings (vv. 19-22) and the grace-benediction (v. 23). But Paul cannot quite give up the urgency of the letter, so he interrupts these two rather constant eleme...
  • In these opening words Paul rebuked his readers for turning away from the gospel that he had preached to them and for turning toward a different "gospel."He accused them of being religious turncoats. He did so to impress them...
  • The spiritual blessings that have come to us are the work of all three members of the Trinity. God Himself is the basis of these blessings.1:4 The first blessing is election. God has sovereignly chosen some people for salvati...
  • 3:22 Paul probably made this section longer than the preceding two because he sent this epistle to Colosse with the Epistle to Philemon. Onesimus, Philemon's run-away slave, carried them.166Moreover there may well have been m...
  • The writer proceeded to explain the exaltation of Jesus Christ to help his readers appreciate the fact that He fulfilled Old Testament prophecy concerning the Son of David. He did this so they would appreciate Him properly an...
  • The writer concluded his warning by reminding his readers of their former faithfulness when tempted to encourage them to endure their present and future testings (cf. 4:12-16; 6:9-20)."The juxtaposition of 10:26-31 and 32-35 ...
  • 13:1 When love for Jesus Christ falters, love for the brethren normally flags as well (cf. Rom. 12:10; 1 Thess. 4:9-10; 1 Pet. 1:22; 2 Pet. 1:7; 1 John 2:9).13:2 Abraham entertained angels when he showed them hospitality (Gen...
  • Peter proceeded to emphasize that the witness of the apostles, as well as the witness of Scripture, came from God. He did this to help his readers see that their choice boiled down to accepting God's Word or the word of men w...
  • Peter drew application for his readers and focused their attention on how they should live presently in view of the future.3:11 Peter believed that an understanding of the future should motivate the believer to live a holy li...
  • John continued a structural pattern that he established in the previous section (vv. 6-7) in which he used pairs of clauses to present a false assertion followed by his correction.1:8 This second claim (cf. v. 6) is more seri...
  • The opening verses of the book state that "John"wrote it (1:1, 4, 9; cf. 22:8). >From the first century to the present day almost all orthodox scholars have concluded that this means the Apostle John.1Two noteworthy exception...
  • The subject of the Book of Revelation is Jesus Christ (1:1). It is an unveiling ("revelation") of Him. What does this book reveal about Christ? The Book of Revelation is the unveiling of the person of Jesus Christ, the power ...
  • I. The preparation of the prophet ch. 1A. The prologue of the book 1:1-81. The preface 1:1-32. The address and doxology 1:4-63. The theme 1:7-8B. The commission of the prophet 1:9-201. The first commission to write 1:9-112. T...
  • The Apostle John wrote these opening verses to introduce to his readers the main subject dealt with in this book and his purpose for writing it.1:1 "The revelation of Jesus Christ"is the subject of this book. "Revelation"mean...
  • "As is true of NT epistles in general, the address of Revelation contains three elements: the writer, the addressees, and the greeting."181:4 John sent this letter to the seven churches mentioned in chapters 2 and 3, which we...
  • These verses contain the first prophetic oracle of the book. The only other one in which God speaks is in 21:5-8.1:7 "Behold"(Gr. idou) indicates special divine intervention. This verse summarizes the main features of the rev...
  • John turned to see the person who had given him his commission. These verses describe what he saw.1:12 When John turned to see the person who spoke to him he saw a majestic figure clothed in a long robe standing among seven l...
  • John's response to this revelation was similar to Daniel's response to the vision God gave him (cf. Dan. 10:7-9). Jesus then proceeded to give John more information about what He wanted him to do.1:17 This revelation of Jesus...
  • Before analyzing each of the seven letters that follows we should note some of their features as a group. They are similar in that they are all brief, and each contains a unique description of the Lord Jesus drawn from 1:12-2...
  • An invitation preceded the promise, as in all the letters to follow (cf. 1:3). Jesus was the only person to issue this invitation in Scripture. The Gospels also record Him doing so seven times (Matt. 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9...
  • The prize for faithfulness was the privilege of reigning with Christ in His earthly kingdom (cf. 1:6; 12:5; 19:15; Ps. 2:8-9; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 20:4-6). As with the promises in the other letters, this one is probably for all ...
  • Jesus Christ held out blessings for the faithful few in the congregation to stimulate the rest to repent. White garments symbolic of one's works (19:8) are pure and free of defilement (cf. 7:9, 13; 19:14; Matt. 22:11-12). Sar...
  • Jesus Christ gave no rebuke to this church, as was true of the church in Smyrna. He gave the Christians five promises instead.1. Their Jewish antagonists would eventually have to acknowledge that the Christians were the true ...
  • In the context we note that God addressed well-known verse 20 to Christians."The first thing which a person mustget fixed in his mind when studying the message to the Church in Laodicea is the fact that the Spirit of God is a...
  • John recorded the rest of this book to reveal those aspects of the future that God wanted His people to know (cf. 1:19). He revealed the events in chapters 4-18 to enable the readers to understand events leading up to Jesus C...
  • 4:2 As soon as John heard this invitation, he entered another ecstatic state (cf. 1:10). His body remained on the earth, but he saw a throne and someone sitting on it in heaven (cf. Ezek. 11:1, 5). "Throne"occurs 45 times in ...
  • 4:9 Whenever it is appropriate and possible the four living creatures give praise to eternal God. They glorify and honor Him for His perfections, and they thank Him for His great works, especially His creation (v. 11).4:10 Th...
  • There are a number of contrasts between the 144,000 and this great multitude. The number of the first group is not only smaller but definite whereas the number of the second group is larger and indefinite. People from the 12 ...
  • 9:13 Someone near the four horns (symbolic of power) of the golden altar in heaven, probably the angel identified with it in 8:3, gave a command after the sixth angel blew the sixth trumpet (cf. 8:2, 6). Instead of seeing som...
  • 9:20 These three severe judgments (fire, smoke, and brimstone, vv. 17-18) will not move the remaining unbelievers as a whole to repent (cf. Exod. 7:13, 23; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 12, 35; 10:20; 11:10)."In all cases in the apocaly...
  • 11:1 "And"(Gr. kai) ties this chapter closely to the previous one. John's first prophetic assignment after receiving his fresh commission was to provide this information.Again John became an active participant in his vision (...
  • This verse is transitional (cf. 9:12). It refers to the end of the second woe (the sixth trumpet, 9:21) and ties this judgment in with the third woe (the seventh trumpet). It clarifies that God interjected the revelations of ...
  • John's revelation continued to unfold future events as God revealed these to him in his vision. The scene John saw next was in heaven. The seventh trumpet judgment did not begin immediately (cf. 8:1-5), but John received info...
  • John recorded these scenes of his vision to assure his readers of the triumph of believers and the judgment of unbelievers at the end of the Tribulation."The two previous chapters have prepared Christians for the reality that...
  • 14:1 "And I looked"(Gr. kai eidon) introduces three scenes in chapter 14 (vv. 1, 6, 14), as this phrase did twice in chapter 13 (vv. 1, 11). "Behold"(Gr. idou, cf. v. 14) calls special attention to the greatness of the sight ...
  • 14:9 A third angel followed the former two with a third message in this sequence warning the beast-worshippers of their judgment (cf. 13:11-17). The goal of this warning is to alert potential beast-worshippers to their doom, ...
  • This "voice"was probably the Lamb's (1:10-11, 19; cf. 10:4, 8; 11:12; 14:2; 18:4; 21:3). The voice told John to record that it would be a blessing for the believers who live during the Great Tribulation to die as martyrs. The...
  • The final three bowl judgments all have political consequences.16:12 The problem that this judgment poses for earth-dwellers is not a result of the judgment itself but its consequences, namely, war. It does not inflict a plag...
  • 17:1 The fact that this chapter describes the judgment of Babylon referred to in 14:8 and 16:19 seems clear. It was one of the angels who poured out the bowl judgments who served as John's guide as he viewed these events in h...
  • 18:4 Another voice from heaven instructed God's people to separate themselves from the system that the city symbolizes so they would avoid getting caught in her judgment. The being speaking is evidently an angel who speaks fo...
  • This pericope has strong ties to what precedes (16:17-18:24). It is the concluding revelation concerning the fall of Babylon, the latter-day Egypt and Tyre, and Antichrist, the ultimate Pharaoh of the Exodus and King of Tyre....
  • 20:11 This "And I saw"introduces something else John saw in this vision (cf. 19:11, 17, 19; 20:1, 4, 12; 21:1, 2). The continuation of chronological progression seems clear from the continued use of "And"to introduce new info...
  • The next scenes in John's visions proved to be of conditions that will exist after the Millennium. He recorded this insight to reveal the final home of believers. There are many allusions to Isaiah 60 and 65 and Ezekiel 40-48...
  • John now saw a new scene that elaborated on the passing away of the present earth and heaven to which he had just referred briefly (20:11). The new earth and heaven will come into existence after the Millennium and the great ...
  • 21:2 In the same vision, John next saw a city descending out of heaven from God (cf. v. 10; 3:12; Heb. 11:13-16). It was holy in contrast to the former Jerusalem (cf. 11:8; Isa. 52:1; Matt. 4:5; 27:53). As the old Jerusalem w...
  • God now provided John with more information about the New Jerusalem (v. 2).734The chronological progression of the revelation in 19:11-22:5 locates the New Jerusalem in the new creation, not in the Millennium....
  • 21:9 One of the angels with the seven bowls of judgment served as John's guide in this part of his vision (cf. 17:1). The fact that one of these particular angels helped John understand both the mystery of Babylon and that of...
  • 21:23 Evidently there will be no sun and moon (and stars) in the new heaven because God's glory will illuminate the whole earth. The need for created light sources will end when the Creator Himself lives among His people. God...
  • Essentially what John saw next was Paradise regained (cf. 2:7; Gen. 2; Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:2). Having viewed the splendor of the New Jerusalem he now saw what will nourish and enrich the lives of God's people there."Up to t...
  • In this final section of the book John reported concluding information and instructions that God gave him. He did this to comfort and caution his readers and to affirm the authority of this book."The concluding paragraphs of ...
  • 22:6 The angel who had been revealing the new creation to John, one of the angels who had the seven bowls (21:9), continued to speak to him.782He assured John that the things prophesied to happen soon (4:1-22:5), which John h...
  • 22:8 John resumed addressing the reader, which he had not done since 1:1, 4, and 9. He affirmed the angel's words that the prophecy was genuine. He himself had heard and had seen the things that he had recorded (cf. Dan. 8:15...
  • 22:12 Jesus Christ repeated His promise to return soon (v. 7, cf. 1:3; 22:20)."Nowhere is a date set, nor was there any definite promise that the consummation would occur within the lifetime of the first century Christians. N...
  • Symbols Used in the Book of Revelation That the Book Itself Interprets1. The seven lampstands (1:12) are seven churches (1:20).2. The seven stars (1:16) are seven angels or messengers (1:20).3. The morning star (2:28; 22:16),...
  • Abbott-Smith, George. A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1950.Aldrich, Roy L. "The Divisions of the First Resurrection."Bibliotheca Sacra128:510 (April-June 1971):117-19.Alford, Henry. ...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • Exodus 28:36, Zech. 14:20, Rev. 22:4.You will have perceived my purpose in putting these .three widely separated texts together. They all speak of inscriptions, and they are all obviously connected with each other. The first ...
  • Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.'--Malachi 4:6.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.'--Revelation 22:21.IT is Of course only an accident that these words close the Old and the New Testaments. ...
  • The Word dwelt among us.'--John 1:14.He that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell among them.'--Rev. 7:15.Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them.' --Rev. 22:3.THE word rendered dwelt,' in these th...
  • "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2. In the midst of the street of it, anti on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which ...
  • "His servants shall serve Him: 4 And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads."--Rev. 22:3-4.One may well shrink from taking words like these for a text. Their lofty music will necessarily make all wo...
  • "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."--Rev. 22:14.The Revised Version reads: Blessed are they that wash their robes, that ...
  • "Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."--Rev. 22:17.The last verses of this last book of Scripture are like the final movement of some great concerto, in which we hear all th...
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