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A REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
[“Those Inside and Those Outside the City”]
Key Word: City
Theme Verse: 1
RV22:1 And the angel showed me
a River of Life.926
[Zechariah 14:8] It was crystal clear
RV22:2 and
it flowed from
the Throne of The God927
and the throne of the Lamb right down
the middle
of her Broadway.928
On either side of the River was a Wood of Life
that
produced
12
fruit crops each month, yielding fruit.
The leaves of the Wood were for the curing of the nations.929
[Ezekiel 48:1, 7, 12]926 River of Life: Zechariah 14:8 has this, ‘And in that Day living water shall come forth out of Jerusalem.’ This establishes
the prophetic contexts of both Zechariah and the Apocalypse here. In Zechariah it is clearly in the land of Israel. 927 It flowed from the Throne of The God: Ezekiel 47:12 has this, ‘For these waters come forth of the Sanctuary.’
These healing waters find their source in God Almighty and the Lamb. In Ezekiel it is from the land of Israel. 928
Down the middle of her Broadway: As though on the ground floor. 929 For the curing of the nations: Or, healing.
This whole section is a paraphrase of the LXX at Ezekiel 47:12, ‘And every fruit tree shall grow by the river even on the bank of it, on this side and on that side. They shall bring forth the first-fruit of their early crop for these their waters come
forth of the Sanctuary and their fruit shall be for meat and their foliage for health.’ These “nations” are those “saved” (Revelation 21:24, Lamsa, KJV) who survived Armageddon and whom the Devil can no longer mislead.
RV22:3 Also
there will be no more curse.930
[Zechariah 14:11] The Throne of The God and the throne of the Lamb will be within the City.931
His slaves will render Him sacred service.932
930 No more curse: Or, accursed thing [BAR]. The Greek here is KAI PAN KATATHEMA OUK ESTAI ETI and is a strong paraphrase of Zechariah
14:11, KAI ANATHEMA OUK ESTAI ETI, the whole phrase reading: ‘They shall dwell in the City (of Jerusalem) and there shall be no more any curse and Jerusalem shall dwell securely.’ This quote from Zechariah 14:11 shows the lifting of any curse related
to the New Jerusalem and its inhabitants. The “curse” has to do with “booty” which is taken from a captured city. The Holy City has been under attack since Revelation 11:2. Some of these “nations” which attack the Holy City
will survive and be required to come and annually attend a Festival of Booths. (Zechariah 14:2, 16) 931 The Throne
of The God and the throne of the Lamb will be within the City: The seat of government of God and the Lamb is within the City. (Revelation 3:21)
RV22:4 They
will see His face933
and His Name will be on their foreheads.934
932 His slaves will render Him sacred service: The glorified Saints. (Revelation 1:1; 6:11; 7:4) They serve day and night just as the Large Crowd of Revelation 7:14, 15. 933 They will see His face: Or, face to face [BAR]. Compare 1 John 3:2, 3; John 14:1-3. John saw the person of God Almighty in chapter
4 but here all the Saints must see God as He really is, the ultimate hope and privilege.
RV22:5 Night will not exist for they have no need of sunlight or a lamp’s light935
because The God YHWH will illuminate them. [Isaiah 60:19] They will reign throughout all future periods of time.936934 His Name will be on their foreheads: Likely God’s Name but possibly the Lamb’s. (Revelation 3:12; 14:1) This would include the 144,000 though they are not mentioned here. 935 No need of sunlight or a lamp’s light: As in Revelation 21:23. Compare Psalm 17:15; 36:9. 936 They will reign throughout all future periods of time: That promise beginning with Revelation 1:6 and Revelation 5:10. The reign of the Saints extends
beyond the 1,000 Years and is compared to God’s own length of life.
RV22:6 And then the angel said to me:937
“These words are faithful and true.938
The Supreme Being, The God, who inspired the Prophets,939
sent His angel to show His slaves940
the things which were binding to occur
suddenly.941
[Daniel 2:28]
937 The angel said to me: Compare Revelation 1:1 and note the angel is speaking, but he speaks with different voices in later verses.
It is sometimes a matter of interpretation for whom he speaks at some moments. 938 These words are faithful and true:
Why would this be stated again? (Revelation 21:5) Surely it is at once mind-boggling and at the same time those of “little faith” may need double reassurance. 939 Who inspired the Prophets: Or, spirit of. Compare Revelation 19:10 with 1 Peter 1:10-12. 940
Sent His angel to show His slaves: We return to Revelation 1:1.
RV22:7 (‘Look! I am arriving suddenly.’942) Happy those who observe the words943
of this prophecy in the Little Bible.”941 The things which were binding to occur suddenly:
Or, quickly, soon. The Greek is TACHEI and though generally translated “quick” as to speed, a form of the word TACHEOS, is also rendered “suddenly” at 1 Timothy 5:22 (KJV). It may have more the sense of Luke 21:34 and 1 Thessalonians
5:3. The whole phrase echoes Daniel 2:28. 942 I am arriving suddenly: This phrase occurs 5 times at Revelation 2:16; 3:11; 22:7, 12,
20. If the context is in the Day of the Master then it may mean something slightly more than three and a half years. This may establish that the whole visionary scene of New Jerusalem’s descent is very much associated with the coming of Christ and therefore
we have flashed back to Revelation 11:12, 15. 943 Happy those who observe the words: Or, bless, divinely favored.
The Sixth Apocalyptic Beatitude: Revelation 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14. This happiness and divine blessing results from reading this Little Bible and then observing or keeping those injunctions and warnings within it. (Revelation 1:3)
RV22:8 I, John, was the one hearing and seeing these things.944
When I heard and saw, I fell to worship before the feet of the angel945
who showed me all these things.
944 The one hearing and seeing these things: There has been much hearing and seeing, and the difference noted.
RV22:9 The angel said to me: “Do you not understand? I am just a fellow slave of you and your brothers the Prophets.946
Give worship only to The God.”947945 I fell to worship before the feet of the angel: John is clearly overcome. He prostrates himself much in the way of Abraham before his celestial
visitors. [Genesis 14-18] But, this apocalyptic Angel realizes a difference between Abraham and John, the latter a Saint and future King, one who will judge angels. [1 Corinthians 6:2] Compare Revelation 19:10 showing this is the second occurrence of this mistake on John’s part. 946
Your brothers the Prophets: John’s “brothers” (Revelation 1:9) are the Saints, Christian prophets. (Acts 2:18; Revelation 11:10, 18; 16:6; 18:20, 24) 947 Give worship only to The God: The Lamb is not included here, neither the Holy Spirit.
RV22:10 Then the angel told me: “You should not seal the word of the prophecy948
of this Little Bible. For the appointed time is approaching.949
948 You should not seal the word of the prophecy: Unlike Daniel 12:10. Compare Revelation 10:4. The Book of Daniel remained “sealed”
until the “time of the end” of Jerusalem and with the Nazarene himself quoting it at Matthew 24:15 and the Apocalypse itself completely opening Daniel. Unlike Daniel, the Apocalypse is fully opened because the Lamb has opened it for all the Saints
to study and draw hope from.
RV22:11 Let the unrighteous continue in unrighteousness.950
Let the filthy remain filthy. But, let the righteous remain righteous.951
Let the holy remain holy.”952949 The appointed time is approaching: From the prophetic perspective of the Angel
in the context of the Master’s Day. Compare Luke 21:8. 950
Let the unrighteous continue in unrighteousness: Whatever anyone may do God’s purpose will be realized. There is a difference between the unrighteous and the filthy. There is a difference between someone righteous and someone holy. The later seems
contrasted to the former. If one is “set” in these ways, they may not change despite the Apocalypse. God’s judgment will surely know the difference. 951 Let the righteous remain righteous: Righteousness means observance of God’s commandments. That is, a law-abiding person. Clearly such a person would not be classified with that conduct mentioned in verse 15. 952 Let the holy remain holy: Or, spiritual pure. Holiness must accompany righteousness. Compare notes on 2 Corinthians 7:1 and 1 Peter 1:15,
16. Holiness involves mental, spiritual and physical cleanness.
RV22:12 “Look! I am arriving
suddenly.
My reward is with me to give back to each one according to his works.”953
[Isaiah 50:10; Psalm 62:12]953 My reward is with me to give back to each one according to his works: This is a paraphrase of Psalm 62.12.
Compare also Matthew 16:27 and 2 Corinthians 5:10. It is Jesus who is speaking about the parousia-Judgment on the Saints.
RV22:13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,954
the First One and the Last One,955
[Isaiah 44:6] the Beginning and the End.
954 The Alpha and the Omega: The Angel speaking with John now speaks for God Almighty. (Revelation 1:8)
RV22:14 Happy are those washing their robes956
so they may have authority to go to
the Wood of Life,957
[Genesis 3:22] so they might enter the City by its Gates.958
955 The First One and the Last One: Compare the HO PROTOS KAI HO ESCHATOS of Isaiah 41:4 and Isaiah 44:6, the possible source. 956 Those washing their robes: The only other case of this is the Large Crowd at Revelation 7:14, 15 showing they are inhabitants of the City. 957 Wood of Life: Compare Revelation 2:7 with Genesis 3:22.
RV22:15 Outside [the City] are the dogs, the spiritistic druggers,959
the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who lies and admires the lie.”958 They might enter the City by its Gates: This may be expanded to include those of the “nations” who qualify during the 1,000 Years. 959 Outside [the City] are the dogs,
the spiritistic druggers: See earlier notes on this subject. While the holy and the cleansed may enter the City there are those contemporary ones “outside” who may not. This may include those “sinners” of Isaiah 65:20 during the
1,000 Years.
RV22:16 “I, Jesus, sent my angel to bear witness to all of you960
these things for all the congregations.961 I am the Root and Offspring
of David,962
the Bright Star of the Morning.”963960 To all of you: This is the Greek plural and includes others besides John himself. Jesus’ words include the congregations of chapters 2, 3 as well as the Saints throughout history. 961 For all the congregations: The whole prophetic message is for all the congregations of Christ. 962 The Root and Offspring of David: Compare Revelation 2:28 and Revelation 5:5 with Genesis 49:9; Isaiah 11:1, 10; Romans 15:12. 963 The Bright Star of the Morning: Compare this with Numbers 24:17 and 2 Peter 1:18.
RV22:17 Then the Pneuma964
and the Bride965
say: “Come!” And let the one who hears say: “Come!”
Let the one who thirsts come.
Let the one who wants966
drink of the Water of Life as a free gift.967
[Isaiah 55:1]964 Pneuma: Or, spirit, inspired message, inspiration. This may be the Holy Spirit but also the prophetic spirit of the prophesy. 965 Bride: The Lamb’s Wife, New Jerusalem, indicating the prophetic context. This would have to be after the marriage and descension of the City. 966 The one who wants: These must be those during the 1,000 Years. 967 Drink of the Water of Life as a free gift: Compare Isaiah 55:1 and the context’s application to ‘an everlasting covenant the sure mercies of David… nations which have known thee not shall call upon thee.’
RV22:18 “I bear witness to everyone hearing968 the prophetic words of this Little Bible:
if anyone add to these words of this Little Bible The God will add to him the plagues written969
within this Little Bible.
968 Everyone hearing: Only these are responsible.
RV22:19 Also, anyone who removes [words] from this Little Bible970 The God will remove his share from the Wood of Life and his share within the Holy City and from those things written in this Little Bible.
969 The God will add to him the plagues written: These may be primarily those seven plagues of chapter 16 and thus it is inferred such a person will not escape Babylon (Revelation 11:12; 18:4)
and thus have to endure these plagues.
RV22:20a He that testifies in this Little Bible, says: ‘Yes, I am arriving suddenly!’”
970 Anyone who removes [words] from this Little Bible: The Apocalypse is serious business and those making commentary must be sure they
neither add nor subtract so as to rewrite it in another form.
RV22:20b Amen! Come, Master Jesus!971
RV22:21 The
unmerited favor of the Master Jesus Christ be with the Saints.972971 Come, Master Jesus: Compare 1 Corinthians 16:22. 972 Saints: Throughout the Church Age to the present, awaiting the Parousia of our Lord.
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Nazarene Commentary 2000© Mark Heber Miller ©2000 All Rights Reserved |
