Although conjecture only on my part, it may also have something to do with the great deception to take place during this time period as well. May we walk worthy of our calling as we watch forthe anyday return of our God andSaviour. Salvation is God's work, not ours (Titus 3:5), and it is His power that keeps us. If the books proclaim the evil works of the dead that stand before the throne, the book of life offers no defence on the score of God's grace. When the apostle Paul wrote to the, saints at Rome, he particularly specified at that very time the duty of absolute subjection on the part of Christians to the powers which then were. These sayings are faithful and true See the preceding chapter, Revelation 21:5.From this verse to the end of the chapter is reckoned the epilogue of this book.. 1. I speak not of anything that might be deemed exceptional or peculiar, but of two acts of raising saints. Anyway, you asked for thoughts, so these are mine. Support Come Reason's Apologetics Missions Trip. However, in careful reading one finds this is not the case Jesus had not lost one of his own, but the "son of perdition". If the person who corrupts Revelation is an unbeliever, he or she will have no part (share) in the blessings of the new creation. We should also note that the text does not say that God will remove a name from the Book of Life. To the Christian this book is not sealed. After that we have the admonitions to the end of this book. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. (John 10:28-29b). This is the second death." It is clear that Paul was painstaking in ensuring the early church clearly knew and understood their salvation was secure, repeating multiple times that God the Father had given them the Spirit in their hearts as a guarantee. Thus there is a completeness and perfection about it suited to its present character. The Alexandrian copy, with some others, and the Syriac version, leave out the copulative "and", and read "which are written", &c. connecting them with the book of life, and holy city, which are written, and spoken of, in this book. Christ COMES to us, knowing all our griefs and burdens. I am not raising any question about the ten. The Apostle Peter warns against the very men Jesus is warning in Revelation: But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1). When the beast dares to fight with the Lamb He shall overcome the beast; and they that are with Him, "called and chosen and faithful" terms, as a whole, entirely inapplicable to the angels. addressed the Hebrews concerning this issue. Also, the warning in Revelation 22:19 is aimed toward unbelievers who would seek to tamper with God's message. Hence we have to own the divine source of government even when its holders abandon all such thoughts themselves, and maintain their rule in the world as a thing flowing from the people irrespective of God. It is a heavenly warfare which is to the finish. The reference is to this book, Revelation, the letter written to the seven churches of Asia. (Rev. However, the unbeliever who is foolish enough to take away the words of this prophecy will receive the gravest of punishments - eternal separation from God in the Lake of Fire. "Living waters," says Zechariah, "shall flow out from Jerusalem" ( Zechariah 14:8). After so many sorrows, trials, difficulties, dangers, how sweet to have such a word, and to know that He who speaks is the holy and the true, and surely about to come in the faithfulness of His love! Those who enter into the city of God are those who have accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Nothing more, nothing less than nothing else. In fact, most of the corruptions of the sacred Scriptures have been attempted by those who have professed some form of Christianity. 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 face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life ( Proverbs 10:11). 22:1-2 And he showed me the river of the water of life, shining like crystal, coming out from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the midst of the city street. Learn more [Note: Beasley-Murray, p. It is all plain and simple "the beast that was, and is not, and shall be present.". Those who take away from Johns words will be judged (see Deut 4:2; 12:32). That hope was never realized in the way in which he expected, but we can never doubt that Christ nevertheless abundantly kept his promise that he would be with his own even to the end of the world ( Matthew 28:20). We pray that nothing will more interfere with, diminish, distract, take away from me the word of worship this day. This brings in idolatry, real shameless idolatry too, not merely that subtle working of the idolatrous spirit that every Christian has to guard against. This statement (2 Peter 3:9) The tree of Life can be thought of as big enough Paul also illustrates this clearly in 1 Corinthians 3 as he talks of But the day is coming when Satan will be allowed to have things his own way. It is no longer a question of sustaining His saints in grace, but of sovereign power for judging the earth. And we look now at the last words of this book and we notice that they are: The Lord God has spoken to open the door of revelation to His people. "The nations shall walk in the light of it," Any one of spiritual judgment can see that it should not be "nations of them which are saved." This phrase shows man's part in salvation. Closely allied with this is the picture so common in Scripture of the fountain of life; we have it in Revelation 7:17; Revelation 21:6 in the Revelation. "And to the bride was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of saints." According to the general scope of scripture, then, we may be quite sure that these saints, kept during this universal dissolution of the atmospheric heaven and the earth, will be translated to "the new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness," in a condition new and meet for the eternal state into which they are ushered. And the river of life may well stand for the abundant life God provides for his people which is there for the taking. In short, Babylon, the disgusting counterpart of the holy city, in earthly ambition seeks the kings and the masses for her own present objects, while the other suffers now and will reign then. In short, it is as we saw in Revelation 17:1-18, after Babylon had been brought before us in the course of the prophecy. It will be understood when one says "spiritual" that none is meant save of a wicked kind. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered. Is this loss of salvation? 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. It is called "the first resurrection." If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book. We can easily understand that the overthrow of the ecclesiastical power is necessary to leave a full field unimpeded for the imperial power to develop itself in its final form of violence and rebellion and apostacy against the Lord. You will recall that verses 18 and 19 are a warning for those who do not accept the invitation given in verse 17. All the sufferers, either in the early persecutions of Revelation 6:1-17, or in the later persecutions (see Revelation 15:1-8) up to Babylon's extinction, were now raised from the dead. Not that any of those judged (and the scene described is solely a resurrection of judgment) are said to be written there: we are shown rather that they were not found in that book. "Oh, how my heart yearns for the Lord to come and the establishing of His kingdom. Judgment, although it goes on from day to day is brought at last to completion upon all humanity and upon every devilish source of evil. there is no sword proceeding out of our mouth; nor are the saints or heavenly hosts said to be arrayed in such a sort as the Lord. It is also clearly a personal reward to those who had suffered. Then there is the reigning power, but not the execution of judgment in this awful fashion which is attributed to the Lord Himself. Afterwards we come to the description of itself, of its wall, its building, its foundations, and its gates. The sight of God produces two things. The Other Half of the Gospel (Ephesians 2:8-10), The Asbury Revival-What We Can Learn From It. Life itself, "For the entrance of thy word giveth life." Again this is not so that Christians might try to calculate the date of his coming, but so that they might be faithful to God and pure in their lives. I do not acknowledge the language to be either difficult or ambiguous. And it appears to me that here we are bound to account for the presence of these others that are at the marriage-supper of the Lamb, but appear as guests, and not at all in the quality of the bride. He comes to the believer in times of crises--to guide, strengthen, encourage and help. The consequence for adding to the words of the prophecy is suffering the plagues described in Revelation, thus that person goes through the Tribulation. And I heard as it were a voice of a great multitude, and as a voice of many waters, and as a voice of mighty thunders, saying, Alleluia, for the Lord God the Almighty reigneth. "And so, all the jarring notes of life Seem blending in a Psalm. "And here is the mind which hath wisdom. And the coming of the Lord is urged in connection with it. Of course there must needs be a consultation with the kings, when the kings exist and become an accredited part of that empire, as rulers subordinate to the beast. And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, nor sorrow, nor crying nor shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. At the same time the attempt to apply Babylon to ancient Rome is almost as unhappy; and for a plain reason. "I am coming soon." 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. is a myth. 3. Man has always sinned in one or other of these two ways, looking now at sin in its broadest forms. sure would be nice if it did. Who is the predestinated? Now, you remember when he talked to Daniel, he said seal up those things and don't write them, for they are for the end. The Living Water never runs dry - Jesus told the woman at the well whoever drinks of the water of life will never thirst again. Eusebius (The Ecclesiastical History 5.20.2) quotes the way in which Irenaeus, the great second century Christian scholar, ends one of his books: "I adjure thee who mayest copy this book, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by his glorious advent, when he comes to judge the quick and the dead, to compare what thou shalt write, and correct it carefully by this manuscript, and also to write this adjuration, and to place it on your copy.". So, seal them up there will be a time that they will be understood, but they are not for you, Daniel. If he or she is a believer, the part (share) lost must be some special privilege in the eternal state. He is no longer to be allowed to prowl about the world ensnaring and destroying. "Cursed will be the ground; thorns and thistles will it bring forth. Is not this reason enough for saying that not even the shadow of solid ground appears for the system? But along with that God warns of her ruin, and calls on His people (verse 4) to come out of her. Hebrews 6:4-6 - For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (Read More.) "The Spirit of prophecy" and such it is all through the Revelation after the seven churches are done with "is the testimony of Jesus." Jesus Christ is coming (18-21). Before we get to the context, we should point out that some manuscripts say tree of life rather than book of life, but in the end, the interpretation stays the same. The decisive victory of Christ at His Cross decided the end of the conflict. But no believer comes into judgment. The Jewish rabbis took over this idea and applied it to God, with their own interpretation. It is our "reasonable service."(Rom. He certainly leaves us in no doubt that worship of angels is wrong and that worship must be given to God alone. (verse 16)--that is, He is the promised Messiah, the Saviour of mankind. Hence the effort of some to prop up a manifestly false reading. Skeptics would be found in this category. Scripture and facts refute all such theories. Still God acts in a wisdom far above man, and holds to His principles even there. I admit that there may be something more in the symbol than the literal hills of Rome, because they are said to be also seven kings. Whereas for the Jew, there are necessary dates and momentous changes that must take place; and hence, as Daniel represents the Jew, we have the difference kept up. There are two different interpretations of this passage. The Tree of Life will reside in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:2) and those saved from the great tribulation shall eat thereof. Does it mean if you add something to the book or take something away, that you lose your salvation? Revelation 22:19 in all English translations, KJV, Journal the Word Bible, Large Print, Red Letter Edition: Reflect, Journal, or Create Art Next to Your Favorite Verses, KJV, Deluxe Reference Bible, Super Giant Print, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print, KJV, Thinline Bible, Large Print, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, King James Version, KJV, Reference Bible, Personal Size Giant Print, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print, KJV, The King James Study Bible, Red Letter, Full-Color Edition: KJV Holy Bible, KJV, Reference Bible, Center-Column Giant Print, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. ". In the Fourth Gospel Jesus says: "He who believes in me, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water." I never hear a voice. "The God of the spirits of the prophets" means the God who inspired the minds of the prophets. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations unto it. Here again the rabbinic dreams of the future are very close. "And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is near." That is, Babylon is viewed in this chapter not so much in her mysterious and religious form, giving currency to every kind of confusion of truth and error, of good and evil, intoxicating, corrupting, and seducing, as all can see, through her wickedly religious influence; but she is viewed here as the most conspicuous aider and abettor of the world in its luxuries and delights and the pride of life, of what men call "civilization." That, of course, begins with context. And it is pretty well ascertained that there was a discussion among them, even to the suggestion by one of the most wicked of their emperors, whether Christ should not be owned and worshipped in the Pantheon, hundreds of years before Constantine, indeed from the earliest epoch of the gospel. That an openly heathen metropolis, devoted to the worship of Mars, and Jupiter, and Venus, and other wicked monstrosities of pagan mythology should be irritated with the gospel which exposes it all, and should consequently seek to injure the faithful, was to be expected, and a necessary result, directly that the uncompromising spirit of Christ was known. He who is not circumcised." salvation. There will be no more curse. But now, when those symbols disappear, because of a new action of God (namely, the consummation of the church's joy), the elders and the living creatures disappear, and we have not the bride alone, but another class of saints, who at once come forward. The angel implies nothing of the sort. There are two possibilities. So I dug it up and got it out of the napkin and it's all preserved. higher or better of the two). The Old Testament closed with the promise that the sun of righteousness will arise with healing in its wings (Malachi 4:2). It so happens that the text is, in fact, in bad condition and we do not know for certain what the actual wording is. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Had he really penetrated under the surface, and seen that beneath the fair guise of Christendom the woman was, of all things under the sun, the most corrupt and hateful to God, it would not be so much to be surprised at. Thank You for Your Word that is so precious to You and to me. It will be remembered that it was said to them that they must wait. Nor are its fruits confined to the Jews; its leaves are for the healing of the nations. Andreas suggests that the dogs are not only the shameless and the unbelieving, but also Christians who after their baptism "return to their vomit." Sow an act and reap a habit. So who might this be? The, nature of the case exempts of course the saints of the millennium;* and this very simply, because they are never said to die at all. In a chilling reminder of the possibility of losing salvation by separating Enter into the joy of the Lord." Cf. The visions of this prophetic book open, not with the rapture of saints to heaven, but the sight of saints already raptured, often before the seer in the visions, but seen always in a complete condition without addition to their number. While is is said and referred to here to Revelation, the principle of course applies to all of Gods Word. Jesus is saying that in him is the fulfilment of this prophecy, that he is at one and the same time the eternal source of being from which David came and his promised descendant. No one can understand it." On him the blow comes, not on the wretched parent. I say "righteousnesses," not "righteousness." What is there to hinder it? This explains, it seems to me, the wounded head that was afterwards healed. Cursed be man, by the sweat of his brow shall he earn his bread" Genesis 3:18-19 ), and so forth. This is termed a revelation, but it is a revelation of symbols; an exhibition of enigmas, to which no particular solution is given, and to which God alone can give the solution. A mysterious lawlessness inherits the well-known name of Babylon when Rome is brought forward; and it does not merely embrace Christian times, but the end of the age after the church has gone, when the course of divine judgment comes. Foolishness. This is known so well, and on such decided grounds, that it would be unbecoming to withhold the fact. It is confirmed by a most solemn sanction, condemning and cursing all who should dare to corrupt or change the word of God, either by adding to it or taking from it, Revelation 22:18; Revelation 22:19. The Lord sent it for the churches. My rewards are with Me and I'm going to reward every man according to his work. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Acts 4:2, Colossians 1:19-22, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 1:5-6, Ephesians 2:1-5, Ephesians 2:19, . He reiterates that his return is not to be long delayed. Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Jeremiah 26:2. It is the judgment of the dead as such, who now rise and give account of their deeds. It is partly because of this that many excellent men have endeavoured to apply the vision to Romanism; and I admit that there is found a measure of analogy. Surely in our experience we have all known the fulfilment of His promise "Lo, I am with you always": Christs promise "I am coming soon" takes my thoughts back to the experience of two disciples on the road to Emmaus that first Easter Sunday, as recorded in Luke 24:1-53. More than that, this would recall the great Messianic prophecy: "A star shall come forth out of Jacob" ( Numbers 24:17). Still closer is Ezekiel's picture of the river which issued from the Temple ( Ezekiel 47:1-7). Verses 1-6 of Revelation chapter 12 speak of the beginning of this holy war. body, and its members were dispersed, although I don't believe this means they were Romans 11 speaks of Israel was a branch that was "cut-off" because of It is only when you try to spiritualize everything in it, and give everything some kind of a weird meaning, that it becomes a difficult book to understand. I must leave these things to time and event, the surest interpreters. (o) Ganz. Sharp and terrible words are spoken to any who add to or take away from its words. Verses 18, 19: Remind us that this book of Revelation must not be treated lightly. although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date will not forgive your transgressions." All rights reserved. This is what nations have been constantly occupied with, lest any one power should become the beast. Verse 15: In contrast to those who enter the city of God and have access to the tree of life are the impure who are described by SIX different impure characteristics. Bad as pagan Rome was, it would be false to affirm that it ever had come out of the bottomless pit. If so, they are there in the quality not of the bride, but of those invited to the marriage of the Lamb; but I do not think them the Apocalyptic saints for the simple reason that, as shown in the next chapter, the Apocalyptic saints are not raised from the dead yet. To whom else could they say it? Just the bequest of God's grace or the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ upon you. The book must not be ignored because we find its language unfamiliar. In as many things as she glorified herself, and lived luxuriously, so much torment and sorrow give to her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am not a widow, and I shall in no wise see sorrow.". Christ is "the root and offspring of David." It is most convenient for them, as it is most agreeable to their feelings, to reject the Bible altogether. The Spirit of God implies that it is decidedly not the righteousness here which is by another, and we thereby imputed righteous, but righteousnesses personal and actual. He gave her warm clothing and food. Bible verses about Lose Salvation. Take this quite simply and literally. It is to Jesus. It is confirmed by the joint testimony of the Spirit of God, and that gracious Spirit that is in all the true members of the church of God; the Spirit and the bride join in testifying the truth and excellency of the gospel. I don't feel the writer was writing some sort of "Crypto-Greek" when he What To Look For When Trying to Find a Church. We can fairly trust God that He will not give a worse place to Paul; yet I do not think that this is his place. I cannot imagine the audacity of man to mess around with the book of Revelation with a warning like that, or to try to read something into or read something out of it. "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. "I have exulted My Word above My Name," I start to understand how important these two warnings in Revelation 22 are. The twelve apostles of the Lamb will accordingly have their own special place. Satan will bring forth an empire suited to his purposes, as it springs from Satanic principles which deny God; and this is part of what appears to be meant by the beast ascending out of the bottomless pit. Since then the world has not seen the imperial power to which all bow. And, behold [again the Lord is talking], I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be ( Revelation 22:11-12 ). riches become a hindrance to seeking salvation at all, not losing salvation. "And the dead were judged," but not out of the book of life, which has nothing to do with judgment. As in the beginning of this book (Re 1:3) a blessing was promised to the devout, obedient student of it, so now at its close a curse is denounced against those who add to, or take from, it. (verse 16). If we set down these two phrases in English capital letters, we see how closely they resemble each other. There never has been a like experience. It falls into three sections. (18-19) I testify unto every man that heareth.--Omit "For," and read, I testify to every one that hears. He was severe in his temporary judgment of blinding the Jews and He can be severe with the Gentiles if they do not continue to respond to God's goodness in Christ. Adding and subtracting from the Bible demonstrates the unsaved state of the person, thus they will lose out on dwelling in Heaven and on judgement will be sent to the Lake of Fire their final resting place. Life is dark and tragic with despair for many troubled people on earth today. Thus persons committing these acts are unsaved. Little do they know, because they believe not what is here written, that it is about to come out of the abyss or bottomless pit. "And he that spoke with me had a golden reed as a measure, that he might measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. This very naturally filled him with intense wonder. There is nothing in Jesus to harm him; there is every thing to bless there is Himself to be enjoyed, even if they have failed in the full knowledge of it here below. necessarily so, as God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should Revelation 22:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. hold fast until the end." Do the Gospels Mess Up the Genealogy of Jesus? * Let us be glad and exult, and give the glory to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." In the midst of the street of it, and on 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. H. B. Swete says: "No one who has watched the dogs that prowl in the quarters of an eastern city will wonder at the contempt and disgust which the word suggests to the oriental mind." We know that the change of all those caught up takes place in the twinkling of an eye. It is a description, and not one of the visions that carry us onward. Can anything be less reasonable (even taking that ground, low as it is) than that the various rulers of the western powers, Catholic kings, join the Pope in destroying his own city, or his own church, whichever Babylon may be made? Either John would have removed this passage as a needless repetition, if he had had opportunity fully to revise his book; or he was so aware of the danger of angel worship that he believed it necessary to give the same warning twice. God's Word of life is unchanging and unchangeable, and verse 19 warns that the punishment for anyone who tampers with the words in this book of prophecy will have their names removed from the Book of Life. But the church consists of souls called out from the earth, and is not of the world: consequently to the church the time is always at hand. (vs.29) In Galatians 3, Paul then states that neither Verse 6. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2), It is natural to try to modify a message we dont like into something more palatable, and Israels Law was no exception.
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