Revelation 22

I a pure river of water of life. An everflowing stream, diffusing life and beauty throughout its course. Cp. vii. 17; Gen. ii. 10; Psa. xlvi. 4; Ezek. xlvii. 1-12; John iv. 10, and notes.

proceeding out of the throne. The source of all the life and bliss of the redeemed.

2. In the midst of the street of it, etc. Or, “Between the broadway thereof and the river, on this side and on that.” The idea is that of a river running through the city, with trees along its banks, and a broad street on each side of it.

the tree of life, etc. Cp. Ezek. xlvii. 12. Instead of one tree “in the midst of the garden,” the tree of life is now “so multiplied that it stands on either side along the river; so fruitful, that it bears every month; so versatile, that its produce is of twelve sorts, applicable to every want and taste; and so accessible, that instead of being protected by a flaming sword, it stands in the very street, and whosoever will may freely pluck its fruit” (Dr. Vaughan). The contrast between the lost Paradise and the New Jerusalem—the Garden and the City—is complete. There, one exit at the east barred by a flaming sword (Gen. iii. 24); here, twelve entrances kept open by twelve angels (xxi. 12); there, the single tree to which the sword prohibited access; here, a grove with its perennial fruit; there, expulsion, evil, and sadness; here, a welcome to the rest of God.

3 there shall be no more curse. Or, “no more anything accursed.”

the throne of God and of the Lamb. Christ occupies the same throne, and receives the same homage and service as the Father.

4 they shall see His face. Cp. Matt. v. 8; 1 John iii. 2. The “name on the forehead” marks them as God’s servants: see vii. 3.

5 there shall be no night there. See note on xxi 24.

6 the Lord God of the holy prophets. Rather (see var. read.), “The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets.”

7 blessed is he that keepeth, etc. See i. 3. The repeated benediction indicates the high importance of this Book, “the book with the blessing” (Dr. Limmer Sheppard in Devotional Commentary).

8. I fell down to worship. Cp. xix. 10.

10. Seal not, etc. Comp. x. 4, and note.

11. He that is unjust, etc. This verse is generally thought to convey the solemn truth, that after the judgement there can be no change of character and condition. But it seems rather to be an expansion of Dan. xii. 10; and to convey both a warning to the ungodly that if he continues in sin, his doom will soon be fixed; and an encouragement to the godly to persevere in the hope of speedy salvation; for “Behold, I come quickly,” etc.

14. Blessed are they that do His commandments, etc. The best manuscripts and versions have, “Blessed are they who wash their robes”: cp. vii. 14.

right to the tree of life. The Vulgate, followed by Luther, gives a different turn to the meaning. The Latin of the former is “ut sit potestas eorum in ligno vitae,” and the German is “dass ihre Macht sei an dem Holz des Lebens”—both meaning “that their power may be in the tree of life.” It is doubtful, however, whether the Greek bears this interpretation.

15 dogs. See Job xxx. 1; Psa. xxii. 16; Phil. iii. 2, and notes.

16 the root and the offspring of David. See ch. v. 5, and Isa. xi. 1.

the bright and morning star. See note on Isa. xiv. 12. “The Herald of the coming dawn—from Him proceeds the light of the eternal day” (Speaker’s Commentary).

17 the Spirit and the bride say, Come. The address appears to be to Christ. “Come, Lord Jesus!” The voice of the Spirit is heard in prophecy, that of the Bride in longing prayer. Or, in another view, the Spirit dwelling in the Church inspires her earnest entreaty.

let him that heareth. The hearer is not only to join in the petition of the Church, but is to offer it for himself.

let him that is athirst come. He who is invoked by the Church to “come” invites men to come to Him. Thus His final word repeats the most gracious invitations of the past (see Isa. iv. 1, and note).

18 if any man shall add, etc. See Deut. iv. 2, etc. The warning in its immediate application refers to “the words of the prophecy of this book,” rather than to the New Testament or the Bible as a whole.

20. Amen. See note on i. 7. This is probably John’s fervent response, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

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MAP 16 Beirut

BS491 I7 1928b

Irwin, Clarke Huston, 1858-1934, ed.

Irwin’s Bible commentary /

BS

I7

1928b

Irwin, Clarke Huston, 1858-1934, ed.

Irwin’s Bible commentary; with an introduction to each book of the Bible and 25,000 text references with explanations, edited by C. H. Irwin … With a foreword on the study of the Bible. Philadelphia, Chicago [etc.] The John C. Winston company [1928]

575 p. front., plates, maps. 22½".

London edition (The Religious tract society) has title: The universal Bible commentary. Published also under title: The international Bible commentary.

1. Bible—Commentaries. I. Title. II. Irwin, Clarke Huston, 1858-1934, ed. The universal Bible commentary. III. Title: The universal Bible commentary. IV. Irwin, Clarke Huston, 1858-1934, ed. The international Bible commentary. V. Title: The international Bible commentary. CCSC/els