Revelation 14

Revelation 14:1

Thou doest faithfully. In his kindness to brethren and strangers. In those early ages hospitality to the saints sent on evangelistic missions, and especially to persecuted saints driven from home, was a very important duty.

Revelation 14:2

Which have borne testimony to thy charity. These traveling brethren reported to the Church how Gaius had aided them. Thou shalt do well. A polite exhortation to continue such hospitality in the future. The hospitality was wont to be shown not only by opening the home to these saints, but by helping them on their journey.

Revelation 14:3

Because that for his name’s sake they went forth. The persons named were engaged in the work of Christ, for “his name’s sake”. Taking nothing of the Gentiles. They could not ask aid of the Gentiles. The Greek form does not imply that the Gentiles had tendered presents which had been rejected (“Winer’s Greek Grammar of the New Testament”, p. 388, note 1).

Revelation 14:5

I wrote unto the church. Of which Gaius was a member. The letter referred to is not extant. But Diotrephes. This man is not elsewhere named. He was evidently an ambitious and unscrupulous church official, who Receiveth us not, that is, rebelled against the apostle’s authority, and who refused to heed the letter. The letter may have been sent by those whom Gaius entertained.

Revelation 14:6

Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth. It may be necessary for him to come. If he does, he will arraign Diotrephes for his deeds. Prating against us with malicious words. Excusing himself by maligning John. Neither doth he himself receive the brethren. The messengers John sent. And forbiddeth them that would. Seeks to prevent any of the church from hearing or extending hospitality to these messengers. And casting [them] out of the church. Seeks to have them denied Christian fellowship.

Revelation 14:7

Follow not that which is evil. The wicked example of one like Diotrephes.

Revelation 14:8

Demetrius hath good report by all [men]. Of this Demetrius we know nothing more. Perhaps he was a member of the same church as Diotrephes, whose example is contrasted.

Revelation 14:9

I had many things to write. These verses correspond with 2 John 1:12,13. See notes there.

Revelation 14:10

Greet the friends. An uncommon title in the New Testament, where it is almost supplanted by the dearer title of “brethren” or the holier one of “saints”.

Revelation 14:12

The children of thy elect sister. It is usually supposed that this refers to a sister in the flesh, also one of the elect, whose children, probably grown up and Christians, were at that time with John.

Revelation 14:13

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ. See Introduction for his identification. Had he been an apostle, he would hardly have omitted to state it. See Salutations of the Epistles of Paul and Peter. Brother of James. James, “the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:19), the James of Jerusalem. The brethren of Jesus were James and Joses, and Jude and Simon (Matthew 13:55). Called. Those invited who have accepted are styled the called.

Revelation 14:15

When I gave all diligence to write unto you. His thought was that when he proposed to write diligently and carefully some need impelled him to write at once, more briefly perhaps than he had purposed. Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. He exhorts to contend for the faith delivered once for all, the faith without innovation, the gospel of the apostles in distinction from the adulterations of false teachers. The doctrine of a progressive revelation after the apostles is not found in the New Testament.

Revelation 14:16

For there are certain men crept in unawares. Men who have crept in without their character being understood. Who were before of old ordained. Whose coming was predicted and whose lives were placed under condemnation. See Jude 1:14 and also Jude 1:17. To this condemnation. This condemnation which comes on all the ungodly. Turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness. Of the gospel, instead of self-restraint they live lascivious lives. The warrant for this was found in “the freedom of the children of God”. From the very times of the apostles there have been Antinomians who have held that what was sin to others might be permitted to the sanctified. They asserted that the Spirit was not defiled by the sins of the body. Denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. “Lord God” is not found in the best MS. Their denial of Christ was a denial that he had come in the flesh. These sectaries held that the flesh was wholly sinful.

Revelation 14:17

I will therefore put you in remembrance. Of how God speaks judgments on sinners. That the Lord . . . destroyed them that believed not. Having saved the people out of Egypt, the people were destroyed for their sins in the wilderness. See Numbers 14:29.

Revelation 14:18

And the angels which kept not their first state. These angels, then, had fallen. Created holy, they had sinned and become wicked angels, or evil spirits. See PNT 2 Peter 2:4. And left their own habitation. Their own proper home. Some see a reference to Genesis 6:2. He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness. God hath imprisoned them and kept them for judgment.

Revelation 14:19

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha. See notes on 2 Peter 2:6,10. For their lasciviousness terrible destruction came upon them. Are set forth for an example. Utterly destroyed by fire they are an example that points to the eternal fire.

Revelation 14:20

Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh. These men who are agitated by impure dreams. Despise dominion. See PNT 2 Peter 2:10.