It is not now the temple opened there, and the ark of the covenant seen when Israel's security is seen, as the object of God's counsels; nor is it a door opened above, as we saw it when the prophet was giving his introduction to the prophecy of God's dealings with the world as a whole, though in both cases all manifestly clusters round the Lord Jesus. This is never the case with an angel. The glorified saints are to administer power in a way far beyond angels. Some argue this warning only pertains to the Book of Revelation, but the words spoken, under instruction of the Holy Spirit, became part of one book the Holy Canon or Scripture of God the Bible. *It is the more strikingly characteristic, because of such language as Psalms 149:6-9, which speaks of all the saints contemplated on earth for the day of Jehovah. 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. The morning star is the herald of the day which chases away the darkness of the night; before Jesus the night of sin and death flees away. Nor is there any real reason to wonder at their deriving help from partial light. The name was not there at one time, then removed. 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. As far as the display of government goes, it is according to God morally, and for His glory, though I deny not for a moment that there are elements of evil which are never allowed, but kept under if not expelled. The Torah (Law) has a very similar ordinance, forbidding the addition to or subtraction from the law (Deuteronomy 4:2). We had Babylon with a spuriously ecclesiastical but a really murderous character, and at the same time guilty of corruption with the kings of the earth. Jesus guarantees the truth of all that John has seen and heard. If we have caught the real message of the book of Revelation we have come to realize that Christ comes in many ways. 334.]. "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." Thus was concluded all dealing on the Lord's part with both soul and body, and all that pertains to either. Verse Revelation 22:6. It is not the enjoyment of all, but it is the hinge on which all depends. Again, death and hades are said to come to their end, personified as enemies. But you will be surprised what you see when you go deeper into sc. Again, that it supposes Rome after it had professed the name of Christ I think is not to be doubted, if only from the expression "mystery" attached to Babylon. It is an amazing future God has in store for all who accept Salvation through the only atonement for our sins; belief in Christ Jesus for our Salvation (John 3:18). Christ is the Alpha and Omega--Lifes alphabet, the One who is the beginning and the end. Take this quite simply and literally. This is of great importance. Instead, let's just accept them at face value, as the holy word of God. 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. (vs.29) In Galatians 3, Paul then states that neither The Greeks used from alpha ( G1) to omega ( G5598) and the Hebrews from aleph to tau to indicate completeness. It "shall go into perdition," it is therefore added, "and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and shall be present." - FSB. are slightly different than eternal security. They are all to reign concurrently with the beast. That, of course, begins with context. It clearly contrasts this mystery with another. 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. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true ( Revelation 22:6 ): It sounds too good to be true. All rights reserved. of Life means that they had a claim to it previously and now lost it. brother.". And the river of life may well stand for the abundant life God provides for his people which is there for the taking. Now, Jesus said, "If we do our works to be seen of men then we have our reward now." consistent with Matthew 5:15-16, we must understand the lampstand to be the witness of the That is, if one rejects Christ, as Judas did he gave Jesus up to be murdered - one cannot be saved: it is illogical to believe otherwise for the one who turns away the rescuer cannot be rescued. Also, it is in a future tense, meaning it will not be blotted out in the future. These compose the third class here spoken of. In the Fourth Gospel Jesus says: "He who believes in me, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water." And so it is with this very Babylon that comes before us here. It is all plain and simple "the beast that was, and is not, and shall be present.". 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. So be it. May we walk worthy of our calling as we watch forthe anyday return of our God andSaviour. So we can safely This is known so well, and on such decided grounds, that it would be unbecoming to withhold the fact. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Infidels have but little interest in attempting such changes, and but little influence to make them received by the church. But alas! It is a precisely similar case here. This phrase shows man's part in salvation. If we have come to understand what John has taught on the whole book of Revelation, then we will understand that Christs promise "1 am coming soon" refers also to the fact of DAILY EXPERIENCE--THAT CHRIST DOES COME. We have already considered a very similar list in Revelation 21:8 of those who were cast into the lake of fire. I will give to him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. However, to be a careful thinker on issues such as these we must realize that Bear this in mind: to leave the last part out is fatal to any accurate understanding of the Revelation. They were caught in flagrant treason and rebellion: what further need of any process of judgment whatsoever? The sight of God produces two things. And there shall be no more curse ( Revelation 22:3 ): The earth, you remember, was cursed as a result of sin. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Is There More Than One Genesis Account of Creation? H. B. Swete takes the first two parts as an appeal to Christ to fulfil his promise and come quickly back to this world; and he takes the third part as an invitation to the thirsty soul to come to Christ. None but Rome corresponds. 9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. 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). All the energy to mislead men in the presence of the first beast was long in his hands, and now nothing more is spoken of. It is plain that what the verse contemplates is neither the Roman power when there was one head of the empire, nor the eastern or Byzantine part of it after that partition, nor the western state of division under the kings who succeeded the deposition of Augustulus; for in the medieval state there may have been ten kings (in contrast with the ancient state of the beast without them but no beast or imperial system with its chiefs. Even the worst of governments is better than none. Those who accept will not tamper with the message, liberating them from the books terrible prophecies. It is plain that they are not in this city. We may illustrate it by the members of a family. Again, we turn to the apostle John where 1 John 3:9-10 states, "Whosoever is born of Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month. for Christ. When the thousand years expire, Satan reappears on the scene to the sorrow and ruin of the Gentiles who were not born of God. Nothing more, nothing less than nothing else. symbolizes the great truth that every Christian is to be a missionary. The problem is that even the majority of Christian church religions do not preach on the Book Of Revelation nor Bible Prophecy at all. I speak not of anything that might be deemed exceptional or peculiar, but of two acts of raising saints. The beloved city is Jerusalem; the camp of the saints, I presume, is a larger circle and embraces all of Israel and the Gentiles who, being converted, refuse Satan's deceit. will not forgive your transgressions." concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not 11. It is called "the first resurrection." Their doom was awful, but by no means after the same sort as their two leaders. Some evade the difficulty by referring the desolation to the Gothic powers; and these Protestants, as if they were mere Praeterists! They had actually seen goodness in the form of Jesus nailed to a Cross on Good Friday. "The dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." All who have looked back on the history know, that when the ten kings appeared, there was no beast or imperial power. Indeed, the Ephesian church did not continue as a For certain there are two great acts of resurrection, one when the Old Testament saints and the church are caught up to heaven, the other when Satan was bound after the beast and false prophet were thrown into the lake of fire, as well as Babylon judged. saved" viewpoint: What about if you just read it as it is and accept it as such? 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. 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. Christ is "the bright morning star." True believers will be recorded in the Book of Life and will enjoy access to the Tree of Life in the new Jerusalem, both of which indicate eternal salvation. Man alone is to blame who has misapplied it. Revelation 22:19 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. This would awaken other realms of thought. It is simply said that the glorified are to follow the Lord in victorious power, and nothing more, "clothed in fine linen, white, pure." If any man shall take away If any man shall lessen this meaning, curtail the sense, explain away the spirit and design, of these prophecies, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, c. Thus Jesus Christ warns all those who consider this book to beware of indulging their own conjectures concerning it. The writer of Hebrews was HE HAS COME TO ME. Paul also illustrates this clearly in 1 Corinthians 3 as he talks of God in His providence did sanction the great empires of old; and the principle continues as long as the church is here below. The consequence of taking from the words of prophecy is denied access to the Tree of Life, thus is cast into the Lake of Fire. Christ is "the root and offspring of David." Life itself, "For the entrance of thy word giveth life." The worshippers of the beast, or the antichristian party, who are chiefly regarded here, are not written in it, Revelation 13:8 wherefore taking away the part of such, is only taking away that which they seemed to have; see Luke 8:18 and the sense is, that such shall be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death, and will be the portion of all that are not written in the book of life, Revelation 20:15. Still closer is Ezekiel's picture of the river which issued from the Temple ( Ezekiel 47:1-7). Heavenly Father, as I reflect on Psalm 138 where You say, "I have exulted My Wordabove My Name," I start to understand how important these two warnings in Revelation 22 are. Here it is the positive worship of the creature besides the Creator, yea, and notoriously more than He. Jesus Christ is coming (18-21). It is part of Gods message to us. there is a truth here every believer must hear and understand. 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. Christ speaks first to His people as they suffer for Him. 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. Every passage dealing with unbelievers states that their names were not found in the Book But when Christ and the church peacefully reign, such is the imagery that suits "a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. It is for every person, whatever race or religion or economic or social standing, believer or unbeliever. "And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, that hath kingship over the kings of the earth." see that it is in connection with the foregoing not merely His coming for us who will keep the sayings of it, but for those whom He will find here below "to give to each as his work is.". Nothing more is to be done. But I know that Christ Himself comes. He is coming, and coming soon for us. He was told to seal it up (Daniel 8:26). 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. So, we can lose our salvation after all. Knows how to effectively communicate a biblical worldview to students. away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the