7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. The beast is the expression of the will of man setting itself up in direct antagonism to God. And night will be no more, for they have no need of the light of a lamp, or the light of a sun, for the Lord God will be a light to them, and they will reign for ever and ever. (i) He has his reward with him and will render to every man according to his work. To take a simple analogy, we can supply soap and water, but we cannot compel a person to use them. The writer of Hebrews was It has been remarked by another, and justly, that the expression "they shall be priests of God and of Christ" summarily puts out of court the interpretation that supposes a figurative resurrection. It is written to be believed, not to be ignored or explained away. It was ruled in general that the worldly powers were ordained of God. Tim used a diversion tactic to steer the reader away from his inconsistency. Amidst the terrible persecution of his day, the one thing which John longed for was the speedy return of Christ. mean we will fall from salvation, but from a way of relating to God by grace (i.e. Are we then to understand that the elders and the living creatures are together taken absolutely as the bride now? It is a book that condemns and excludes from heaven all wicked, unrighteous persons, and particularly those that love and make lies (Revelation 22:15; Revelation 22:15), and therefore can never be itself a lie. Support Come Reason's Apologetics Missions Trip. One of the most approved axioms is, that kingdoms are just like men in this respect, that they begin, rise, and fall. Those who live in a civilization in which the turn of a tap will bring cold, clear water in any quantity can scarcely understand how precious water was in the East. In the final chapter, a command is given repeatedly to pay attention to this book of prophecy (which, by the way, refers specifically to the book of Revelation). Indeed, the Ephesian church did not continue as a As explained above, I do not believe these verses pertain to Christians, although it is a clear warning to them: the actual consequences occur in the Tribulation Christians are saved, and therefore do not pass through the Tribulation. Just the bequest of God's grace or the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ upon you. On that account it was altogether out of place to pay homage to him instead of to the God who had sent him to serve. It is confirmed by an open and general invitation to all to come and partake of the promises and privileges of the gospel, those streams of the water of life; these are tendered to all who feel in their souls a thirst which nothing in this world can quench. It will help to show us that, whatever may have been the past conditions of Babylon, there is a future one; and it is in that future one that Babylon is to perish. Who are the persons thus invested with judicial authority of so glorious a nature and to reign, as we see later, with Christ? Approximately one-third of heaven's angels fell with . In short, no testimony can avail, no work, power, or glory without the word of God applied by the Spirit of God. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Without the Lord Jesus Christ this book could not have been written; without Him it cannot be understood; without Him it cannot be obeyed. How he brought them and said, "Lord you gave me five and I increased them and I now have ten." Instead, let's just accept them at face value, as the holy word of God. Must Marriage be Legal to be Blessed by God? And yet this warning would seem to imply the expectation of a long time of reading and copying the book, a time which John himself clearly did not expect. Some MSS read "from the tree of life". Scripture and facts refute all such theories. In like manner Hymenaeus and Alexander, Christians of the church at Ephesus, were turned over to Satan by Paul so they might be taught a lesson (1 Timothy 1:20). The friendships of the evil are not lasting. 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. Exactly the same thing is repeated here, and what makes it more apparent is the similarity of the introduction on each occasion. God shall take away his part out of the book of life - Perhaps there is here an intimation that this would be most likely to be done by those who professed to be Christians, and who supposed that their names were in the book of life. 21:6-8). Here were thrones, and people sat upon them, changed 'before this into the image of Christ's glory. "Let your light so shine before men that when they see your good works they glorify your Father which is in heaven"( Matthew 5:16 ), because we will be rewarded according to those works that have right motivation. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), The Book of Lifecan your name be removed? "Alive the two were cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone." having preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." Now for the context. I Jesus have sent my angel to testify unto you these things in the churches ( Revelation 22:15-16 ). True Christianity does not postpone the presence of Christ to the future, nor recall His presence from the past, but lives in the conscious sense that Christ IS. The thousand years of peace and plenty will have given occasion for an ever-growing population, spite of a world thinned by divine judgments which open that era. Keeping the sayings and words of this Prophecy surely does bless the believer. The next day Martin looks out of his window saying to himself "Was it just a dream--or will He come indeed?" The Lord would not spare him; for then the anger of the Lord and His jealousy would burn against that man, and every curse that is written in this book would settle on him, and the Lord would blot out his name from under heaven. The very first verses in Revelation 22 are showing us a glimpse of what Heaven will be like, the New Jerusalem, to give us a hope of the amazing things to come for believers of Christ: 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. Scripture is positive in Isaiah 65:1-25 that death during the millennium only comes as a specific judgment because of open rebellion. This brings in idolatry, real shameless idolatry too, not merely that subtle working of the idolatrous spirit that every Christian has to guard against. Nevertheless the truth endures, resting firmly on the sovereign faithfulness of God to complete the salvation of his elect. Christ is "the root and offspring of David." But it may well be that there is something simpler here. We say it has almost been almost two thousand years. And this Jesus, as God, is the root of David, though, as man, his offspring--a person in whom all uncreated and created excellencies meet, too great and too good to deceive his churches and the world. Men are not regarded as composing this tabernacle; they co-exist. How Can We Have Free Will in Heaven and Not Sin? with a lifetime warranty and it wore out in one year, you would rightly complain that the This is known so well, and on such decided grounds, that it would be unbecoming to withhold the fact. To my mind the warning concerns adding to the prophecies of the Book of Revelation, because the punishment referred to concerns the plagues that are written in this book [my emphasis] that is the Book of Revelation, which outlines the principal plagues that shall befall all people, except believers (who have been raptured to heaven), in the Last Days. The "saved" is a term which, so far from belonging to the nations, is expressly applied to the Jewish remnant when it is a technical term. Is Christian Exclusivism Really Reasonable? 6. And let him that is athirst come. And then comes the gathering and the battle. Jesus said, "I am the door to the sheepfold.". is discussing believers who are trying to please God by adding the Law to their salvation. Kingdom, Covenants & Canon of the Old Testament, Your Kingdom Come: The Doctrine of Eschatology, He Gave Us Scripture: Foundations of Interpretation, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. So, this is for the churches. What To Look For When Trying to Find a Church. But it is blessed that He says, "I come quickly;" and it is only Christ who in scripture ever says so. "Faithful" is what belongs to a man. It is to be supposed that it will far exceed anything yet seen on the face of the earth. It concerns the expounding, teaching and actions in relation to the prophecies. "Oh, how my heart yearns for the Lord to come and the establishing of His kingdom. But he ought to have withstood it I do not mean in vengeance (for that belongs to the Lord), but as holily hating the sin itself, yet withal in the deepest compassion for his parent. How can a loving God NOT send people to hell? (Jude 1:4). Again, death and hades are said to come to their end, personified as enemies. but it does not follow that various bodies are not raised at different times. This, however, is not necessarily an argument for losing Is it possible for a persons name to be erased from the Book of Life? It is no longer a question either of celebrating the ways and counsels of God, or of the war with the beast and king. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 KJV). Thus the second beast is no longer seen as an earthly power, but as a prophet-of course a false prophet. Before you jump to that conclusion, let me point out two observations, then see what it means for us. Learn more In the first eight verses of Revelation 21:1-27 we have the new heaven and the new earth, but besides, awful to say, the lake of fire. We probably dont like some of what we see in Revelation, either. That age of visible glory is inefficacious to change the heart of man, though in the absence of the enemy and the controlling presence of the great King, they render feigned obedience for a long while. "The woman" is the more general symbol designating her as the great imperial city; "the harlot" is her corrupt religious character, embracing papal Rome, but not ending with Popery as it is. Now there was nothing more repulsive and fatal to paganism in every form than the truth revealed in Christ, which exposed every thing that was not itself not the truth, definite and exclusive. To the same world in which He suffered, according to the scriptures, He will come back. So, during part of the year we could pick the Valencia oranges, during the winter months pick the navel oranges, and in the meantime, eat the grapefruit and have lemonade. I am your fellow-servant, and the fellow-servant of your brothers the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Again, we turn to the apostle John where 1 John 3:9-10 states, "Whosoever is born of However, God is going to reward me according to the works that I do. Cf. At the beginning there will have been carnage, as we know, among both the western powers and the eastern powers. "And the angel said unto him, Wherefore didst thou wonder? The warning therefore relates to those that hear and understand the prophecy then deliberately pervert and corrupt it: it is applicable to the Last or End Days, therefore, to the people who are in the tribulation, but has a broader application, to the whole of Scripture and therefore to unbelievers. Did Jesus Die For Our Sins So That Us Bad People Could Become Good People? Although there is such a levelling of human distinctions, and men have to do directly with God that is men raised from the dead or in their changed condition we still see the holy Jerusalem "the holy city, new Jerusalem," separate from the rest of those that fill the new heaven and earth. But you cant do that with this book. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 KJV), Website Design byWebnetave.com Web Design Avenue. Conclusion: Revelation 22:18-19 is a warning: If you reject God's offer of life, you will experience God's wrath. However, Revelation is the last and final book no other inspired word was written after the Apostles died and since Revelation forms part of the Canon, the warning belongs to the whole Bible. Let me know how they sit with you. Such was her influence stretching out far beyond the beast. This verse in Revelation 22:19 is a very stern warning to anyone. Here occurs a remarkable change in the sequence of the visions, though easily understood; for it must be evident that there is nothing to follow this in point of time. He reiterates that his return is not to be long delayed. God shall take away his part out of the book of life; by which is meant eternal election, which is the meaning of the phrase throughout this book, in which whoever are written shall certainly be saved. The first is one of the angels who have been the interpreters of the divine things to John. Is the King James Bible Only One That's "True"? Jesus Christ confirms what has been affirmed, and pledges himself for the fulfilment of all the prophecies . "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many diadems." Jesus repeated the statement of not losing anyone one in his prayer just before he was crucified (John 17:12). - FSB. No doubt all this may seem to some a little difficult, but it is no use evading what is hard. It would have been incongruous to bring in that long description before, because this must have interrupted the flow of the prophetic stream. God has a special blessing for these believers. They will soon be confirmed by their accomplishment: they are things that must shortly be done; Christ will make haste, he will come quickly, and put all things out of doubt; and then those will prove the wise and happy men who have believed and kept his words. But all this will be a great reversal of man's history and political maxims. That is not at all the way in which the guests are spoken of. Come, Lord Jesus!" But there is a message also for others. Accordingly these are the two main objects of judgment brought before us in the chapter. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright morning star. The Battle for Your Soul: It is Finished! The tricky part in this particular verse is that it talks about us losing our "share" or "part" in the blessings of salvation. He fell asleep and heard a voice "Martin, look into the street tomorrow, I will come." \Questions\What does Revelation 22 v 19 mean for For two thousand years Israel was like dead, but now they have revived. Death and hades, which had so long been executioners in a world where sin reigned, and were still doing their occasional office where righteousness is to reign, themselves disappear where all traces of sin are consigned for ever. The Spirit and the bride offer an invitation to come to those who still need to come. As believers we may have issues of wrongly interpreting a passage but that is not the same as actually changing the words themselves! Website Designed & Managed By Webnetave.com. 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. 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.". For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. 12:1). Can a person's name be erased from the Book of Life? - CompellingTruth.org Verse Revelation 22:6. Such is the hard bondage which mere historical tradition imposes on its votaries. They are glorified saints, and not angels. This is not "Lord you gave me four talents and I went out and used them and I have eight." The true reading here is neither hard nor doubtful save to unbelief. Three emphases mark this epilogue. "for God so loved the world" ). There are probably but few, if any, here who do not understand it as the fore-shadow of a real resurrection. When it said here that "God would take away his part out of the book of life," the meaning is not that his name had been written in that book, but that he would take away the part which he might have had, or which he professed to have in that book. "And so, all the jarring notes of life Seem blending in a Psalm. 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 ( Revelation 22:14 ). believer has "fallen from grace" (vs 4), he is saying that the believer has It is all plain and simple "the beast that was, and is not, and shall be present.". But that the heart of man even so is not renewed becomes manifest, when Satan at the close deceives all that are not converted; and these, as we are told, are countless "as the sand of the sea.". "I am coming soon." H. B. Swete identifies the river of life with the Spirit. "And the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they should shine for it." That is, what does; Does the consequence described in these verses mean that a believer (Christian) loses his or her salvation? None but Rome corresponds. It is a wholly unwarranted interpolation. There may be lights of the heaven to mark times and seasons for the earth, and again on the earth. When we come to the full application of the prophecy, we must look onward to the latter day. gymnastics to try and come up with the meaning of these "difficult" verses? That is, Satan will be the spring of its final rise and power; he, and not God in any way whatever, will give it its character. Revelation 22:19(NASB) . New Jerusalem is principally for Jews - the remnant that turn to God (Romans 9:27, which quotes Old Testament), and gentiles saved during tribulation (as a result of the converted Jews evangelizing the world Revelation 14). With Paul even in a prison of cramping circumstances they can say "The Lord is at hand"--He is near. When a person dies, it will be a positive curse from God; if he die even a hundred years old, it will be like a baby dying now. It will be remembered that it was said to them that they must wait. But is there any reason why we should content ourselves with the measure enjoyed of old? It is interesting.God is going to have a tree that has twelve different kinds of fruit and every month a fruit will be ripe. For those of you who saw me coming in here with the cane. They cite Revelation 22:19, which refers to people who take away or add to the book of Revelation.It seems logical, however, that true believers would not try to take away or add to the Bible. As the perfect character of the all-powerful and omniscient Lordis unveiledto humanity, we discover that the Good Shepherd of the sheep is the holy Son of God - the second Person of the Trinity Who took on mortal flesh so that He could become our Kinsman-Redeemer and sacrifice His sinless life to save the sheep of His pasture. The scarlet thread of redemption streams through the 66 books of God's holy Word and traverses the march of time, as the Lord's plans and purposesare gradually revealedand graciously opened up to men's understanding. When the second beast appeared, he even strove to put to death those who would not worship the beast, nor pay homage to his image, nor receive his mark. Jesus Christ is coming (18-21). I can't deserve that or earn it. 22:16 I, Jesus, sent my angel to you to testify to these things for the sake of the Churches. It supposes the effect and the exercise of faith. that those who were meant under the figures of the elders and of the living creatures assume the name and figure of the bride? (Revelation 22:14). So first we are told there is a blessing for believers who are paying attention to the Prophecy in the Book of Revelation. He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be to him God, and he shall be son to me. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. This, was no lack. For you have taken away the key of knowledge. The consequence for adding to the words of the prophecy is suffering the plagues described in Revelation, thus that person goes through the Tribulation. Then the book concludes after a solemn warning against either adding to or taking from its contents. Christ LIVES in the present tense, and truly blessed is the reader who has grasped this truth. "And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white, pure.". On the contrary, it proved the immediateness of communion. The woman was allowed to ride the beast to influence and govern the empire first, but at last to be the object of hatred to the ten horns and the beast, who expose, rob, and destroy her. Cursed be man, by the sweat of his brow shall he earn his bread" Genesis 3:18-19 ), and so forth. Galatians 5:21 is particularly clear in this when Paul writes "those who practice It is an added digression for the purpose of describing an object already named passingly in the foregoing series, which closes at Revelation 21:8. So far the description has been of the exterior of the holy city; now the scene moves inside. And the truth dawns on Martin the cobbler that Christ does fulfil His promise to come again when Christians respond to the call of duty. "I will raise him up at the last day." His blows on this world come more nationally as on Israel; incomparably more severe, as in possession of greater privileges, is the judgment of corrupt Christendom, or Babylon as it is called here. Should John 1:1 read "the word was a god"? any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. THIS WORLD IS NOT YOUR HOME Revelation 17:1-18. (12-31-22) by It's Your He was the word of God in the revelation of grace; when known, by and by, it will be as the executor of God's judgments. How we need to walk in the light of God's Word.I'm sort of excited about the possibility of starting all over again, getting back into Genesis where it all began and see how the Lord works from the beginning to the end. That is, the sixth head (reigning then in John's day) was the imperial form of government. "So be it. and from the thingsso Vulgate. 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (o) Ganz. We may have a special task in it, but this is not the work for us, as it seems to me. What Does the Bible Say About Lose Salvation? In the days of his flesh Jesus had said: "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" ( John 8:12).
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