In this final vision shown to the Apostle John, the post millennial era ushers in the complete redemptive state of God’s creation with a new heaven and a new earth with New Jerusalem, expressed with insignias which convey a perfected paradise. Only when all sin and death and wicked souls are fully and finally destroyed, as so executed at the end of the thousand years, can such a perfect state then be realized without any further disturbances or corruptions of any kind. So The Revelation here discloses the blessed state of the consummation.
Let us begin with verses 1-8:
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then, I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying,
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eye’; there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away”
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And he said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexual immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Then witnessing the next vision, the Apostle John saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth had passed away. Here is the fulfillment of what St Peter prophesied — the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Pet 3:12-13
Also Isaiah, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.” Isa. 65:17
And the apostle Paul prophesied, “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” Romans 8:19-21
Here is the consummation of all things, being perfected from its former state of corruption & curse, then unto the fullness of all promises of God. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:12
— Also there was no more sea. — a figurative way of expressing the absence of the multitudes of wicked nations, just as Isaiah expressed, “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and muck.” (Is. 57:20). Only at this time, after all evil has been thoroughly purged, can such a perfect commonwealth commence into eternity.
Verse 2: Then, I, John (emphasizing his testimony), saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. — Here is the perfect state of the Church styled as the holy city, New Jerusalem; And to signify divine origin & authorization, he testifies — coming down out of heaven from God… — whereby the saints may then inherit the full blessings of God with a state of perfect fidelity — prepared as a bride adorned for her husband — in stark contrast to the great harlot.
Verse 3: And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men (tabernacle signifying the presence of God), and He will dwell with them — His presence was originally abiding with Adam until sin entered, then His presence was availed through the tabernacle with its prescribed system of atonement; then He dwelt with man in the humble state of the flesh, then dwelling in man with His Spirit; Now in full glory and majesty He will dwell with them, — and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God — In fulfillment of Ezekiel 37:27, “My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”.
So the psalmist sings, “Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD”! (Psalm 144:15)
Verse 4: And God will wipe away every tear from their eye’; there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” — Here is the ultimate Sabbath everlasting! Sin and death is conquered and swallowed up with all the wicked spirits and evil souls of men that all sources of suffering and sorrow no longer remain. And we will be comforted — “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” ~ Mat 5:4
Verse 5: Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And he said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” — Again, the Apostle John is commissioned to scribe these visions, this time during the revelation of such glorious restoration of all creation, so to emphasize the affirmation of such magnificent testimony — for these words are true and faithful.”
Verse 6: And He said to me, “It is done! (the completion of His whole redemptive plan) — I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End (He is the Author and Executioner of such masterful work of redemption from start to finish). I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts (entailing all the promises of redemption for His faithful saints).
Verse 7: He who overcomes shall inherit all things, — just as He promised in His address to the seven churches:
— To the Church of Ephesus, He said, “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of Paradise of God.” Rev. 2:7
— To the Church of Smyrna, He said, “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” Rev. 2:11
— To the Church of Pergamos, “To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” Rev. 2:17
— To the Church of Thyatira, “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over nations — ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like a potter’s vessel’ — as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the Morning Star.” Rev 2:26-28
— To the Church of Sardis, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Rev. 3:5
— To the Church of Philadelphia, “He who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from God. And I will write on him My new name.” Rev. 3:12
— To the Church of Laodicea, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Rev. 3:21
Overcomes, translated from the Greek nikaó, can also be translated as conquers, or prevails; It implies the adversities one must overcome, which we are informed entails temptations, deceptions, assaults, losses, deprivations, and other such trials and tribulations. As such, we are advised by Apostle Paul, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22. Yet, with all such tribulations is the encouragement of all such blessings as promised to the seven Churches, which are all summed up in He who overcomes shall inherit all things…
— and I will be his God and he shall be My son. — Just as St. John declared in his Gospel, “… as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name…” (Jn 1:12).
Verse 8: But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexual immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” — quoting Moses Lowman’s paraphrase on this verse: “But the case shall be quite otherwise with all the enemies of true religion, who have either deserted it, or apostatized from it, or opposed it. The cowardly and distrustful, who either had not faith in God’s promises, or courage to persevere on the encouragement of His promises; all who indulged themselves in abominable practices; who, to gratify their lusts, were guilty of murders, whoredom, deceit, idolatry, and lying; all these shall have their portion with the devil, to whose party they joined themselves, and shall with him undergo the punishment of the second death, in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.”
After seeing a general account of the final blessed state of the saints of God, Saint John is then taken to be shown more particular detail of the same vision in verses 9-27:
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven vials filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy city Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones; the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need for the sun or the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Now lets break it down:
Verse 9: Then one of the seven angels who had the seven vials filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife. — The same angel who showed St John the great harlot now shows him the bride, the Lamb’s wife — in contrasting antithesis between harlot & wife.
Another form of contrasting antithesis continues in verse 10: And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy city Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. — Before, the great city was Babylon, which the great harlot sat upon, which is expressive of the apostate Church of Rome; Now that the former great city has been demolished, the faithful Church is raised up to be the great city — the holy city Jerusalem — descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God — to inherit a new heaven and a new earth.
The Apostle John describes how the angel gave him a proper vantage point to view the great city — he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy city Jerusalem — Only by being on a high place could he view the highest place of all, as prophesied by Isaiah 2:2, “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.” — In the same way, God took Ezekiel to a high place to view the temple mount (Ez. 40:2).
Verse 11: having the glory of God — The Shechinah glory, that is the shining presence of God, which effected the face of Moses to shine for a time after being in the tabernacle of the Lord; Yet, upon this consummation of God’s complete redemption, the Shekinah glory shines exponentially, just as Saint Paul so declared, “Now if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?” (2 Cor. 3:7-8)
— Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. — Jasper is an exceedingly bright, valuable, and durable stone, yet this jasper here is described with extraordinary quality — clear as crystal — thus a proper emblem of the everlasting Shekinah glory of the purest and brightest light of God, the Great Illuminator of His Church, which the so-called ‘Illuminati’ could never hold a candle to.
Verse 12: Also she had a great and high wall (signifying strength and security) with twelve gates (indicating access for God’s people from all places), and twelve angels at the gates (sentinel guards representing official protection), and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel (each gate ascribed with one of the names of the twelve tribes of Israel).
Verse 13: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. According to Ezekiel 48:31, the east gates are ascribed to Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan; the north gates are ascribed to Reuben, Judah, and Levi; the south gates to Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulon; and the west gates to Gad, Asher, and Naphtali, which expresses equal access for the whole body of saints coming from all places.
Verse 14: Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. — Here we have the twelve apostles united with the twelve tribes of Israel, which speak of the founders of the house of God who built a united Church; The Apostle Paul expresses this in the same way, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:19-20).
Verse 15: And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates and its walls. — Similar to Ezekiel’s vision of the angel with a measuring rod (Ez 40:3), which symbolizes the righteous standard of God, and in this case, a gold reed, which signifies the highest standard of God, which is ready to take an account of the perfect state of the household of God, expressed here as to measure the city, its gates and its walls.
Verse 16: The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. — The dimensions of a cube denote symmetry, stability and resolution, which corresponds to the same foursquare pattern as the holy city of Ezekiel’s vision (Ez 48:16). For mathematicians who would like to appreciate the algebraic subtleties of how St John’s cubic meter with Roman furlongs corresponds with Ezekiel’s lineal meter of Jewish cubits, see pages 599-601 of A Perpetual Commentary on the Revelation of St. John by Charles Daubuz.
Verse 17: Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. — As twelve is the square root of one hundred and forty-four, this communicates how God’s holy metropolis is built upon the foundation of the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.
Verse 18: The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. — Again, the most exquisite stone of jasper, valued for its exceeding brightness, durability and quality, is said to be the material used for the construction of its wall — to convey the Shekinah glory of God shining through His fully redeemed saints, being secured in everlasting life. The construction of the holy city is said to be made of an extraordinary gold, which has never before been known — and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. — Crystal clear gold expresses a level of purity and quality much higher than anything we have ever known before — “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor 2:9
Verses 19-20: The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones; — the same kind of gemstones were used for the breast plate of the high priest — jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, and amethyst — twelve stones in all, each stone engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, which is emblematic of God’s light and perfection (Urim and Thumin), which not only conveys exquisite wealth & magnificence, but the revelation of God’s wise & sovereign will (Num 27:21).
See in Isaiah 54:11-13 how gems are illustrated to express the blessing of God’s guidance: “O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.”
Verse 21: The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. — Again, such extravagant depictions of gates of pearl and streets of crystalline gold reveal things that have never been seen, heard, or imagined. The wonders of paradise reaching far beyond our reckoning.
Verse 22: But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. — Here, no imagery is used, but rather straight forward language to declare the ultimate temple being none other than God — for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple — the most holy and magnificent God will be immediately present!
Interestingly, Christ Jesus is still called the Lamb as a perpetual memorial of His coming in the flesh to fulfil the righteous standard of God on behalf of man while covering sin with His perfect sacrifice in order for such a holy city to be built.
Verse 23: The city had no need for the sun or the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. — The Shekinah glory of God will be sufficient to illuminate everything and everywhere. The natural lights like the sun and moon will be obsolete; And just like the sun and moon are described as governing agents in Genesis 1:16, all other forms of government and governing agents will likewise be obsolete.
Verse 24: And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. — Distinct from those nations who did not learn righteous and were deceived by Satan to come against God and were destroyed, the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light — that is to say, walk in the illuminated governing care of God Almighty. — and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. — even those godly kings who were looked up to as lamps & luminaries (1 Kg 11:36, 2 Sam 21:17) would come to cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” (Rev 4:11).
Verse 25: Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). — There will be no need for the gates to be shut since gates are only shut during the threat of war, which will no longer exist, or only shut at night, yet there shall be no night there. While we may correctly understand this to literally mean perpetual light with no more night, there is yet a symbolic meaning to this, whereby light and darkness are universal symbols of good and evil; Thus, there shall be perpetual good with no more evil.
Verse 26: And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. — It’s as if all the glory and splendor that could be extracted from heaven and earth were brought to the Holy City to lavish their affections in the utmost honor of the Lord God Almighty.
Verse 28: But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. — Hereby clarifying and confirming that there shall be no more evil but only good. For so did Isaiah see such a blessed state of this glorious consummation as he so exclaimed, “Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean shall no longer come to you.” Isaiah 52:1
Chapter 22 continues with further description of same the final vision shown to St John by the angel in verse 1-5:
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 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. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
This is the last description of this final vision with illustrious detail which we will now get into:
Verse 1: And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and the Lamb.
We already observed how rivers and springs of water are universal symbols of healing, refreshing, and spiritual revival, as literature from all walks of life have used such emblems to convey vitality of life, especially spiritual life. Of course, the holy scriptures abound with such insignias like Psalm 36:8, “They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.” — Such is the general meaning of this detail of paradise described here as a pure river of water of life — to express life to its fullest.
Yet, the details convey a more personal note than just general abundance, but relate to the source of such life as communicated in Isaiah 44:3-4 —“For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring; And they will spring up among the grass like willows by streams of water.’” — Clearly here, streams of water is symbolic for the Spirit of God. Our Lord draws from this same passage to make the same point in John 7:37-38 “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”
And just to be clear about what Jesus meant by the rivers of living water, St John confirms the meaning in the next verse, “But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive…” And those who believed have received indeed the Spirit of God, Who then dwells within His faithful servants; Yet such a blessed gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit would still be conflicting with those other elements which reside in the flesh. Internal influences like ones own ideas and desires could be confused with the Holy Spirit, as well as external influences in conflict with the Spirit of God. “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another.” (Gal 5:17)
However, in the perfected state of redemption, St John’s description of the Holy Spirit rendered as a pure river of water of life is further described as clear as crystal to convey a state of the utmost purity in which the Spirit may have unmistakable expression without any contamination of the flesh. No longer would the Spirit of God be convoluted and confused with the various elements of corruption, as such elements will be finally and permanently abolished.
To further clarify the source of such a perfected state, St John reveals the tributary of the pure river of water of life, clear as crystal — proceeding from the throne of God and the Lamb — whereby there is no doubt that God is the source of life, as well as the Perfector of Life.
Verse 2: In the middle of its street, and either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. — It seems here, the tree of life, standing in the middle of its street, is so large that its expanse branches out to either side of the river, which seems to be in the midst of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem — which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month.
Now we have a pure river of water of life and the tree of life — both symbolizing basic resources essential to life pertaining to food & water. In our physical world, both water source and plant source are essential to any society, and civilizations could only become great by having a great source of food and water to sustain the masses.
Of course we know St John’s description of a pure river of water of life and the tree of life is referring to the spiritual resources essential to the fullness of spiritual life; Yet articulating with physical elements of the natural world helps convey such heavenly concepts, as Jesus did exactly that with His parables. This does not mean there will not be literal trees and rivers in heaven, but the only way such astonishing wonders of paradise can be conveyed in a way physical earthlings may comprehend is by describing with earthly elements. The essence of such illustrative descriptions of a river of life and the tree of life expresses inexhaustible abundance, beauty & majesty, immortality, pleasure, and paradise restored & perfected.
It may be more proper to capitalize The Tree of Life as referring to Jesus Christ, Who is the personification of life (Jn 14:6), and as such, is the source of all things essential to life as so rendered here — which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month — signifying continual provision and care.
— The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. — Not healing from disease or injury that may happen in heaven, for such things will no longer exist; But recovering from such grievous losses and afflictions endured when under the curse of sin. The passage of Ezekiel 47:12 was interpreted by the Jews as pertaining to the future state of Paradise so fitting to St John’s description:
“Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of all kinds will grow. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for healing.”
Verse 3: 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. — The First Paradise, Eden, fell to sin and was then cursed with all creation; The Second Paradise will be incorruptible so there shall be no more curse — Therefore, the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it — there will never again be separation between the Creator and His creation, but His servants shall serve Him — His people will always be before Him, as prophesied by Zechariah 14:11 — “The people shall dwell in it; And no longer shall there be utter destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.”
Verse 4: They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads — Here is the ultimate expression of paradise: ‘to see the face of God’ — They shall see His face — conveying the most elevated state of blessedness to be up close and personal to behold the face of God! This was not possible in our former state, as Moses was informed, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Ex 33:20 — Moses was only able to get a glimpse of His backside passing by while secured in the cleft of a rock (Ex 33:20-23). Yet, only in our perfected state can it be possible to see His face — even to look into the eye of God, so to look into the very soul of God Almighty!
— and His name shall be on their foreheads — indicating their belonging to Him, just as the former High Priest wore the headdress with the inscription, “Holiness to the Lord” to signify complete devotion; so then a more complete devotion than what was ever before possible will be realized upon the consummation.
Verse 5: There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
— As stated before — There shall be no night there — is so significant that the Spirit of prophesy deemed it worth repeating to emphasize the total absence of darkness (evil) with perpetual light (goodness), which will not be interrupted. Therefore, they need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. — The Lord will be their benevolent governor to guide and protect and provide for.
— And they shall reign forever and ever. — just as Christ promised to the Church of Laodicea, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Rev. 3:21) — which is really the promise for His whole Church when saying, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things…” (Rev 21:7). And such a blessed state will endure throughout eternity — forever and ever. What a perfect note to end this final vision of things to come!
Concluding in verses 6-21 is an epilogue spoken by St John, the angel and Jesus Himself — to confirm the truth of these prophesies with an exhortation to keep the words of the prophesy of this book, a warning against adding or subtracting anything from this book, and a closing benediction:
Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophesy of this book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
Blessed are those who do His commands, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexual immoral and murders and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophesy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of this prophesy, God will take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things written in this book.
He who testifies of these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus!
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Notice the language is now rather plain and straight forward, just as the language was in the introduction before the visions were conveyed. Since the descriptions of the prophetic visions are thus finished, so is the use of prophesy language for this conclusion. Now, this closing message is of the utmost importance, so we should not neglect to examine all detail:
Verse 6: Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true” (no matter how strange or incredible these words may seem, they are certain, and will surely come to pass). And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. — The same God of all the prophets, sent His angel to reveal to his people the prophesies which will begin to be accomplished shortly after St John received these visions. This is an exact reiteration of the opening line of Revelation 1:1 — “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.” — so there may be no mistake about the time in which these prophesies are to commence, which plainly says, twice now, must shortly take place — that is from the time John received these visions.
Verse 7: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” — Here, Jesus speaks directly to personally announce an important message, heading with “Behold” to call attention to His word. — “I am coming quickly!” — is often misunderstood to mean very soon; The proper sense is not soon, but suddenly, and even unexpectantly for those who have not taken His message seriously; Like a thief in the night who strikes suddenly & unexpectantly. This sense is better captured in chapter 16:15 when He says, “Behold, I am coming as a thief.” But for those who heed His word and live by His truth, “Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” — they will be blessed beyond words.
Verse 8: Now I, John, saw and heard these things (stating his identity to affirm his testimony of what he saw and heard). And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. — For the second time, St John blundered by worshiping the angel, perhaps because of the overwhelming impression of what the angel revealed that compelled John to feel obliged to give some kind of high civil respect. Though, whatever his thought and intent, the angel signals it inappropriate as he firmly but humbly corrects the Apostle.
Verse 9: Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” — As eminent as this angelic dignitary may be, he corrects John by humbly expressing his equality with not only the apostle John and his fellow prophets, but with all those who keep the words of this book. — As embarrassing as it may have been to error the same way on two occasions, St John was faithful to keep this on record, to not only show how human nature is prone to idolatry, but to instruct otherwise, so the saints will know that veneration of angels and patron saints is misplaced worship. Rather, we are only to Worship God.
Verse 10: And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophesy of this book, for the time is at hand. — Many of these same prophesies were imparted to Daniel, but he was told, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” For Daniel’s time was long before these prophesies would begin to be accomplished, thus they were sealed. But St John was told, “Do not seal the words of the prophesy of this book, for the time is at hand.” — Again, we are informed with very straight forward language of the time in which these prophesies would commence.
Verse 11: He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” — This is a way of expressing how evil will run its course, but those faithful saints of God who are made holy and righteous by His work of atonement should stay their course towards the righteousness and holiness of God. For the next declaration of their Redeemer and Advocate assures us that justice is coming.
Verse 12: “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” — Once again, Jesus emphasizes the assurance of His coming suddenly to deal His positive reward to His saints, but His negative reward to the wicked, using the same expression as Isaiah 40:10, “Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.”
Verse 13: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” — For He is the Lord of all time and space and eternity, from beginning to end, and from everlasting; the Author and Finisher of our faith, whereby possessing all means to most definitely carry out all these oracles He ordained to be accomplished.
Verse 14: Blessed are those who do His commands, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. — After conceiving such splendor and glory of paradise revealed, we may get a more potent concept of the declaration, “Blessed are those who do His commands” — that is those faithful saints who abide in Him, who are made holy by His work of atonement, and empowered to live according to His will; — that they may have the right to the tree of life (eternal life in Christ), and may enter through the gates into the city. — the exceedingly blessed reception of the ultimate paradise.
Verse 15: But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexual immoral and murders and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie — It may be easy to get the wrong idea that such evil elements are just outside of the city, as if they were nearly encroaching on this perfect state, or even close enough to cause disturbances. If that were the case, then this paradise could not be considered a perfect state; Therefore, outside may be better understood as excluded, and since such wicked souls are destroyed in the lake of fire, their total absence would deem this new paradise free from disturbances or defilements of any kind.
It’s interesting that dogs (inhumane) and sorcerers and sexual immoral and murders and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie are listed as if to convey the most damaging and defiling kind of wickedness. Such were the priests and popes and Jesuits of the antichrist system, and the evil spirits empowering them that did the most damage and defilement to the holy city of God in the prior dispensation.
Verse 16: I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” — Jesus here identifies Himself speaking to further affirm this testimony revealed by the angel and scribed by John for the edification of the churches. His stated messianic title, “the Root and the Offspring of David” — proclaims that He is the fulfillment of the divine promise made to David — “And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” (2 Sam 7:16) — He is the Eternal King of New Jerusalem!
— the Bright and Morning Star not only signifies His preeminence, but He, being the first-fruits of the resurrection, is the first light of the everlasting day, and thus called the Dayspring and Dawning Star (Luke 1:78 ~ 2 Pet 1:19). While the expression morning star has been used to characterize angels (Job 39:7), and similar expressions to Lucifer (Is 14:12), Jesus Christ is the Most High Morning Star, and the most eminent, as so stated — the Bright and Morning Star — that no other luminary could compare to.
Verse 17: And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. In response to the promise, “I am coming”, the Church (bride), indwelt by the Spirit, expresses her great longing for her Bridegroom to come, and so expressly calls out, “Come!” — in eager anticipation of the great consummation. Yes, those who hear and heed the words of the Bridegroom — the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” — like a chorus, all those who long and thirst for the lover of their soul are summoned to sing in unison, “Come!”
— Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely — this same chorus in harmony with Isaiah 55:1, “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” The grace of God is a gift (Eph 2:8), free but paid for at a great cost.
Verse 18: For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophesy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; — It’s been well said that the words of the prophesy of this book, “is like a standing monument”, and I would say this monumental testimony is truly the most powerfully expressive testimony of all — The Revelation of Jesus Christ — the most epic account of God’s magnificent redemption!
— If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book — concerning the words of the prophesy of this book, a striking warning is issued to any who would presume to add any innovations to this great testimony — God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book.
Verse 19: And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophesy, God will take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things written in this book. — The word of God has always been highly sacred, and therefore not to be tampered with, just as Moses was advised in Deuteronomy 4:2, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” — Yet an even stronger warning is given to any who would add as well as any who takes away from the words of this prophesy — For such were the priests, popes and Jesuits of the antichrist system, as well as those evil spirits who empowered them; So God will take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things written in this book. — excluded from the whole of eternal life and all such blessings thereof.
Verse 20: He who testifies of these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” — Jesus continues to speak directly and personally in His own person to ratify this monumental testimony, then says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” — so was the longing of the Apostle Paul who exclaimed, “O Lord, come!” (1 Cor 16:22); Maran-atha!
Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus! — The Apostle John then confirms the testimony with his own agreement, saying, Amen. — Then joining the chorus of his fellow apostle Paul and all the saints, exclaiming, “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” — Maranatha! —Thy kingdom come!
Verse 21: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. — Ending with a closing benediction in apostolic tradition.
I shall conclude this exposition with the words of the Apostle Peter:
“For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophesy of Scripture is of any private interpretation; for prophesy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” ~ 2 Peter 1:16-21
Main Sources
– Word & Spirit of God, Who Was and Is and Is to come
– Moses Lowman – “Paraphrases and Notes on the Revelation of St. John“
– John Clark Ridpath – ‘Ridpath’s Universal History’
– Charles Daubuz – “A Perpetual Commentary on the Revelation of St. John“
– E H Broadbent – “The Pilgrim Church”
– John Gill – “Gill’s Exposition of the Bible“
– Thomas Newton – “Dissertations of the Prophesies” – Volumes 1-3
– Albert Barnes – “Barnes’ Notes on the Entire Bible
– Peter DeRosa – ‘Vicars of Christ: ‘The Dark Side of The Papacy’
– Adam Clark – “Clark’s Commentary on the Bible“
– Ian Paisley – ‘The Pope is the Antichrist‘
– Augustus Toplady – ‘The Road To Rome’
– Joseph Benson – “Benson’s Commentary on Revelation”
