Centuries after came in, not only the division into east and west, but the broken up state of the west, when there ceased to be an imperial chief. Men are so apt to limit their Churches, to shut out those who do not believe as they do or who do not administer as they do. Finally they will destroy her. [ 3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. It is called "the first resurrection." "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. The very reverse is the undeniable fact. Such was her influence stretching out far beyond the beast. That is, there was first the literal Babylon, of course; but here it is symbolical. But that idea is wholly insufficient to cover or meet the word of God, which gives clear and strong reasons that prove the mistake of applying this to the pope as its complete fulfilment. Men may begin designs which they can never bring to perfection; but the counsel of God shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure. Men have been beguiled here and there, and from an early date, to set aside the true bearing of this chapter. WebGreek Reverse Interlinear Layout for Revelation 8:1. It would have been incongruous to bring in that long description before, because this must have interrupted the flow of the prophetic stream. In short, it would seem that God has hedged round His own draft of Babylon so as to make it quite plain that Rome, city and system, figures in the scene; and this too necessarily involving a medieval description, though the full result will not be till the end of the age; for she rides the beast or empire characterized so as naturally to involve the past barbarian irruption and the resulting ten-kingdomed state. It is hard to see how Roman city, or anything civil connected with it, could be called "mystery." The political side of this is described here with surprising brightness and brevity. I go to prepare a place for you. Hence we have to own the divine source of government even when its holders abandon all such thoughts themselves, and maintain their rule in the world as a thing flowing from the people irrespective of God. Then we have a description of Babylon given. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for night shall not be there. It is not only that the angel corrects the act by asserting that he is a fellow-servant of him and of his brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. He is dwelling with His people. Everything that could attract the natural man was there; and all that which to him looks fair enough on the side of religion. ", All things are thus made new; and, further, "these words are faithful." Further, after this Jesus introduces Himself, as well as sends His angel. That is, Babylon is viewed in this chapter not so much in her mysterious and religious form, giving currency to every kind of confusion of truth and error, of good and evil, intoxicating, corrupting, and seducing, as all can see, through her wickedly religious influence; but she is viewed here as the most conspicuous aider and abettor of the world in its luxuries and delights and the pride of life, of what men call "civilization." 2. b T. Bab. of the bride, the Lamb's wife. Nothing of the sort can be plainer. We have here a note of time of signal value. Babylon had once heard the varied testimony of God; for what had she not heard of truth? We have seen that these follow the Lord out of heaven, and are next seen enthroned. He is coming, and coming soon for us. *Most copies, it would seem, read , "of the earth;" the Alex. The east is the place of the rising sun and the beginning of the day. Thus the attempt to apply it during the pagan period is altogether futile on the face of the matter. It is God's word of privilege to Israel: "I will give you for a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth" ( Isaiah 49:6). It is matter of wonder that a holy God should ever dwell with any of the children of men. "For God put [it] into their hearts to do his mind, and to do one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled." I am not aware of any MS. in its favour, though some versions represent it. John has seen the doom of the wicked, and now he sees the bliss of the blessed. "They have one mind, and give their own power and authority to the beast." Such is God's account of Babylon the great. Yet grace despised necessarily ends in judgment. By and by, after our translation to heaven, He will work, and as vitally in those who bow to God, when it will be the reception of the prophetic testimony which is here owned to be none the less the testimony of Jesus. I will tell thee the mystery of the woman." They are not pictures of the physical characteristics of the new heaven and the new earth. See Romans 1:31. Line-By-Line Order: Verse-Reference. Strangely enough it is different when we come to the wall. Thus such as were in the separate state were reunited to their bodies, and lived and reigned like those who were already on the thrones. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The Sinai MS. has both. They need not fear the future, because God is always in control. And what kind God may create after us, who knows? These gates could represent the way into the holy city of those who find Christ in the glad morning of their days. God is the beginning and the end. We had seen Babylon twice: first, in the circle of God's warnings and testimonies; and then as the object of God's judgment under the seven bowls. There are two main ideas here. "And fire came down out of heaven from God, and devoured them. This is of great importance, because if the new Jerusalem be, as I have no doubt it is, the bride the Lamb's wife, then we have her separate condition asserted in eternity. This is probably a reference, primarily, to participants in the rites of paganism and the unmentionable perversions and debaucheries that attended them. According to the general scope of scripture, then, we may be quite sure that these saints, kept during this universal dissolution of the atmospheric heaven and the earth, will be translated to "the new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness," in a condition new and meet for the eternal state into which they are ushered. If you are a believer, do not be afraid, even if you know but little; for the Lord neither forgets nor slights those who may be comparatively unintelligent. "After these things I heard as it were a great voice of a great crowd in heaven, saying, Alleluia, the salvation, and the glory, and the power of our God: for true and righteous [are] his judgments: because he judged the great harlot, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. Verse Only. No one can soberly deny that Babylon in some sort had a place then; but that the special, and above all, the full character of Babylon was manifested as here portrayed is another matter. He equally expresses what God is. Even man himself when he was innocent in Eden was not called. Connected with the city of the gods there are the signs of the Zodiac, the signs of the parts of the heavens through which the sun passes. The fearful Who are the fearful, if not all men? (ii) On the gates are the names of the twelve tribes. WebVerse Revelation 21:8. It is just asphalt. 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. *It now appears that the Cod. Now, these are the angels that had those seven final vials. WebAnd the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. But "nations of them which are saved," is a most anomalous expression, and betrays man as the author of it. help them, the heaven, and God's chariot the sun, and the moon. Creature lights are gone. The greatness of this future felicity is declared and illustrated, 1. Still God does not forget His ways with His people; and the angels here are only in the quality of porters, if we may so speak; they are at the gates. The blessed presence of God with his people is here proclaimed and admired: I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, c., Revelation 21:3; Revelation 21:3. The sea was always an enemy. What is condemned is the cowardice which denies Christ for safety's sake. WebGreek Reverse Interlinear Layout for Revelation 8:13. The Precious Stones Of The City ( Revelation 21:18-21). The Spirit of God implies that it is decidedly not the righteousness here which is by another, and we thereby imputed righteous, but righteousnesses personal and actual. These were simply the characters of provisional judgment that filled the interval after the church was gone, and before the reign with Christ. . Now manifestly, if the Lord does not come before this, there is no world to come to; for the earth and heavens are fled. SKENE ( G4633) --SHECHINAH (compare the Hebrew verb, shakan, to dwell, H7931) --the connection in sound brought it about that men could not hear the one without thinking of the other. He has to use whatever language and illustrations he can find in an attempt to describe the spiritual quality of life in the eternal state.Johns visions symbolize spiritual realities. But now heaven is opened for yet graver facts, and of incalculable moment for man and the universe and the enemy. "And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceedeth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh." The abominable are those who practice abominationsthat is, the blasphemous and licentious practices associated with idolatry. "I will make him the first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth" ( Psalms 89:27). Again John is hearing the voice that the great prophets had heard, "I am the first, and I am the last; besides me there is no God" ( Isaiah 44:6). Before God we have that which is found only by and in Christ, which is another and a higher character altogether as compared with the righteousnesses of the saints. Moral elements too were not wanting: the mystery of lawlessness had long been at work, though the enemy had not yet brought in the apostacy, and still less the manifestation of the lawless one. This is the second death." Next they will seize her resources. When John pictured the nations walking in the light of the city of God and the kings bringing their gifts to it, he was foretelling the consummation of a hope which was always in the hearts of the greatest of his countrymen. He shall be a stall to the righteous whereon to stay themselves. It is to Jesus. Nations who never knew God will run to him ( Isaiah 55:5). The subject-matter of this vision is so great, and of such great importance to the church and people of God, that they have need of the fullest assurances of it; and God therefore from heaven repeats and ratifies the truth thereof. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Who are the persons thus invested with judicial authority of so glorious a nature and to reign, as we see later, with Christ? Such is the hard bondage which mere historical tradition imposes on its votaries. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. There is nothing more to hear of nations; nothing more to do with separate countries, kindreds, or tongues. Its Hebrew name means the stone of Tarshish. And the devil that deceiveth them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where both the beast and the false prophet [are], and they shall be tormented day and night unto the ages of the ages.". 1169 deils (an adjective derived from deid, "fear-driven") properly, dreadful, describing a person who loses their "moral gumption (fortitude)" that is needed to follow the Lord. "Alive the two were cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone." [practice magic arts; evil magic] . Then the prophet falls down to pay homage to the angel; and this gives rise to a weighty admonition. A mystery clearly points to something undiscoverable by the natural mind of man a secret that requires the distinct and fresh light of God to unravel, but which when revealed thus is plain enough. A sweet strain shall they utter from their mouths in hymns. Sorcerers Persons who, by drugs, philtres, fumigations, c., pretend to produce supernatural effects, chiefly by spiritual agency. God can take a man and re-create him, and will some day create a new universe for the saints whose lives he has renewed. The absence of a temple is therefore no loss but a gain for this city. With that love of freedom which they carried from their German forests, they would not allow the one iron rule of the ancient empire to subsist longer, but set up each their own kingdom in the different fragments of the dismembered empire. Some things which seem unbearable are seen to be a path to glory when seen in the light of God. The Whole Earth For God ( Revelation 21:24-27). Without that there can be no such thing as a Church; with that any gathering of people is a real Church. Chagiga, fol. The reason is manifest there is a hinderer "one that letteth." 11 Its light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, glittering like crystal. To the Christian this book is not sealed. pl.") A cubit is about eighteen inches, so the height of the wall is about two hundred feet or so. Those who deny Christ through fear of persecution prove that their faith is false, and will join their tempter in the lake of fire (7-8). "And death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. (ii) We must note the city's dimensions. In presence of grace I do not think this is for His glory, any more than for their own blessing. There will be a new heaven and a new earth and the former will not be remembered or brought into mind. Here I am obliged to say that our authorized version, and not merely it, but our common Greek Testaments, are altogether wrong. "[19] "It is not fear which is condemned. It will be observed that in this case it is one of the angels that had the seven bowls who comes forward and says to John, "Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore (or harlot) that sitteth upon [the] many waters." They stand in contrast with those who overcome, Revelation 21:7. "In thy light," said the Psalmist, "do we see light" ( Psalms 36:9). The glorified saints are to administer power in a way far beyond angels. The presence of God with his people in heaven will not be interrupted as it is on earth, but he will dwell with them continually. "This is the first resurrection. It is a wholly unwarranted interpolation. But the attempt, again, to apply what is said here to a future city of Babylon in Chaldea seems to me no less vain. But all this will be a great reversal of man's history and political maxims. But for the eternal judgment heaven and earth are fled away; and then we see the new and eternal universe. (ii) John, like the ancient prophets, repeatedly speaks of the Gentiles and their kings bringing their gifts to God. Thus the only use that seems made of the book is negative and exclusive. This is the first resurrection.". We have already come upon this claim by the risen Christ in Revelation 1:8. Nor is there any real reason to wonder at their deriving help from partial light. "And the beast that was, and is not, even he is an eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth unto destruction." This is the second death. The desires of his people towards this blessed state furnish another evidence of the truth and certainty of it. WebBehold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. He nails the core problem of fearat the end, it can cause us to reject God in favor of self. The elements will be dissolved and melted with a fervent heat. Hebrew number 3939 365 - 39 = 11/22, JFK murdered 3,939 COMMA = 45 3 + COMMA (45) + 939. Had it been simply a persecution from pagans, what was there to wonder at in their deadly hatred of the truth and of those who confess it? Then come others in the condition of separate spirits or souls, whom the prophet saw two different classes of them those beheaded for the witness of Jesus and the word of God, and those who refused the beast in every form, The proof of the third class should have been given a little more distinctly than in our version. By the tenure and title by which they enjoy this blessedness--by right of inheritance, as the sons of God, a title of all others the most honourable, as resulting from so near and endeared a relation to God himself, and the most sure and indefeasible, that can no more cease than the relation from which it results. He is , Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that worked , Revelation 20:14,15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. So here a description is given of the bride, the Lamb's wife, and we learn how it is that God will use her for unmeasured goodness and blessing and glory in the millennium, as the devil during this age has used Babylon to accomplish his wicked plans here below. Even when Jerusalem was obliterated, the Jews never lost confidence that God would restore it. The particulars are reserved for a later point in this prophecy. When we remember how precious the Temple was to the Jews, this is amazing. and others give , "of her." Verse Only. 21:8 Greek NT: Westcott and Hort / [NA27 and UBS4 variants] / / , . It is not the gospel, nor the Holy Spirit, but the lawless revived Latin empire with its vassal kingdoms of the west, that combine and destroy Babylon. In Jewish dreams the end of the sea is the end of a force hostile to God and to man. True, they expressed their hopes in terms of material things; but these are merely the symbols of the certainty that there is eternal bliss for the faithful people of God. It is not God but the Angel of the Presence who gives the command to write. See John 3:19, also article on "The Marvel of Unbelief," my Commentary on John, pp. Here, again, is a dream of the Jews which never died--the dream of the restoration of Jerusalem, the holy city. For what is happening is the nucleus of an atom is bombarded with slow moving neutrons that upset the delicate balance of the protons in the heart of the atom and it releases them. In my opinion it is not absolutely so. 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. Unbelief is never a consequence of knowledge, education, intelligence, or "honesty." John is saying that all life begins in God and ends in God. 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.". Polyglot, and all editions of the least critical value. It will be remembered that it was said to them that they must wait. Skene ( G4633) is one; and the Hebrew shechinah, the glory of God, is the other. It will be a state of nature unexampled for the fruits of the earth and the enjoyment of all that God has made here below. I do not acknowledge the language to be either difficult or ambiguous. WebThe third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The word used for dwelling-place is skene ( G4633) , literally a tent; but in religious use it had long since lost any idea of an impermanent residence. Web8 But as for the cowards and unbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality], and murderers, and sorcerers [with Ezekiel had his dream of the rebuilt Jerusalem ( Ezekiel 40:1-49 and Ezekiel 48:1-35) in which we find even the picture of the twelve gates of the city ( Ezekiel 48:31-35). The writer of Enoch hears the voice of God say: "All the children of men shall become righteous, and all nations shall offer adoration, and shall praise me, and shall worship me" (Enoch 10:21). It is described as being like the sheen of green on a dove's neck or in a peacock's tail. They must die another death after their natural death; the agonies and terrors of the first death will consign them over to the far greater terrors and agonies of eternal death, to die and to be always dying. We may have a special task in it, but this is not the work for us, as it seems to me. ON THE REVELATION "A TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST" by Tony Garland Description - Garland's work is one of the best commentaries available on the book of the Revelation. Isaiah has a picture of the day when all nations will go up to Mount Sion to be taught the law and to learn to walk in the ways of God ( Isaiah 2:2-4). All the dispensational names of God disappear. Then again the character of it, as derived from Christianity having already taken its place, is asserted. And whoremongers; all unclean persons, that indulge themselves in impure lusts, in fornication, adultery, and all lewdness; as the clergy of the church of Rome, who being forbidden to marry, and being under a vow of celibacy, and making great pretensions to chastity and singular holiness, give up themselves to all lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
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