The Ruin of Rome, Commentary on Revelation · Chapter 22
Chap. 22.
IN this Chapter S. Iohn proceedeth yet more largely, to deſcribe the bleſſed eſtate of all Gods Saints in the kingdome of glory, and the principall ſcope and drift of this Chapter is yet more to enlarge the ioyes of Gods people, after this life, and to ratifie the authoritie of this propheſie.
This chapter containeth foure principall parts.
…er. 1.2.3.4.5.The firſt, is an amplification of the ioyes of Gods kingdome.
…er. 6.7.8.9.16.19.The ſecond, is a confirmation of the authoritie of this booke.
ver. 9.10 11.12 13.14.15. The third, is an exhortation both to ſpread abroad the knowledge of this booke: and alſo for eueryevery man to prepare himſelfe for the comming of Chriſt vntounto iudgement.
ver. 17 20. The fourth, is the feruent deſire of the Church, for the ſecond appearing of Chriſt.
The text.
ver. 1 AND hee ſhewed me a pure riuer of the water of life, cleare as Chriſtall, proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lambe.
ver. 2 In the middeſt of the ſtreete of it, and of either ſide of the riuer, was the tree of life, which bare twelue manner of fruits, and gaue fruit eueryevery monethmonth, and the leaues of the tree, ſerue to heale the nations with.
ver. 3 And there ſhall bee no more curſe, but the throne of God, and of the Lambe, ſhall bee in it, and his ſeruants ſhall ſerue him.
ver. 4 And they ſhall ſee his face, and his name ſhall bee in their foreheads.
ver. 5 And there ſhall bee no night there, and they neede no candle, neither light of the Sunne: For the Lord God giueth them light, and they ſhall raigne for euermore.
The Angell doth yet further ſhew vntounto Iohn a pure riuer of the water of life. Whereby is ſignified the ouerflowing aboundance of all good things, which the righteous ſhall enioy, in the kingdome of glory.
This riuer is ſaid to proceede out of the throne of God, and of the Lambe, becauſe God in Chriſt is the originall of all this life and happineſſe.
Further it is added, that in the midſt of the golden ſtreet of this new Ieruſalem, and of both ſides the riuer, there was a tree of life. Which repreſenteth Chriſt, now in this heauenly paradiſe: as in former time, it repreſented Chriſt in the earthly paradiſe: and alſo that eternall and bleſſed life, which our firſt parents ſhould enioy, if they did continue in the obedience of God.
This tree ſtandeth not in an out corner of the citie, but in the very middeſt of the ſtreete, and of both ſides the riuer, that all the Citizens of the new Ieruſalem, might hauehave free acceſſe vntounto it, and taſt of the moſt daintie fruits thereof, in great varietie: for it beareth twelue manner of fruits, that is, in Chriſt all varietie of pleaſure and endleſſe delight, is to bee found.
This tree beareth fruit eueryevery monethmonth, as well in winter as in ſommer: for heere eueryevery monethmonth is Autumne. The ſenſe is, that in Chriſt the new and freſh fruits of immortall ioy, without any ſatiety or loathing, are for euer to be found.
The leaues of this tree are very medicinable and ſauatiue. For they ſerue to heale the nations with, that is, to preſerue them from all diſeaſes, and griefes: which argueth a moſt bleſſed life, not ſubiect to ſickneſſe, or any other infirmitie. For Chriſt is our neuer failing phiſition, which in this life healeth all our ſpirituall diſeaſes, and infirmities. And after this life, will preſerue vsus in perpetuall health and happineſſe.
There ſhall bee no more curſe, that is, in the heauenly paradiſe, we ſhall no more be ſubiect to any curſe, as Adam was in the earthly paradiſe. Which alſo argueth the perfection of happines after this life, & yet for further amplification of this moſt glorious eſtate: it is ſaid, that the throne of God, & of Chriſt ſhall be erected in the middeſt of this golden ſtreet, and all his choſen people ſhall there accompany him, dwell with him, bee alwaies about him, yea and ſerue him without wearines for euer. Yea, all his faithfull worſhippers, ſhall come ſo neere his throne, that they ſhall ſee his very face, and bee rauiſhed with his glory, hauing his image, his name, his wiſdome, and merciemercy imprinted in their foreheads: yea, his vnconceiuable light and glory, ſhall bee ſo reſplendent, that there ſhall bee neither night, nor neede of candle: but in his glittering and moſt glorious chamber of preſence, ſhall all his elect raigne, and triumph with him, for euermore, in infinit felicitie: and the very fruition of eternall delectation, where ſhall bee mirth without meaſure, and ſolace without ſorrow: as the Prophet ſaith:Pſal. 16. in thy preſence is the fulneſſe of ioy, and at thy right hand there is pleaſure for euermore.
And hee ſaide vntounto mee, ver. 6 theſe wordes are faithfull and true, and the Lord God of the holy Prophets, ſent his Angell to ſhew vntounto his ſeruants, the things which muſt ſhortly bee fulfilled.
Beholde I come ſhortly. Bleſſed is hee that keepeth the words of the propheſie of this booke. ver. 7
And I am Iohn, which ſaw and heard theſe things, ver. 8 and when I had heard and ſeene, I fell downe to worſhip before the feete of the Angell, which ſhewed me theſe things.
But hee ſaid vntounto mee, ſee thou doe it not, for I am thy fellow ſeruant, and of thy brethren the Prophets, ver. 9 and of them which keepe the wordes of this booke: worſhip God.
In theſe foure verſes, are foure ſpeciall reaſons brought, to confirme and ratifie the authoritie of this booke.
The firſt of them is, the affirmation of the Angell.
The ſecond, the authoritie of the moſt high God.
The third, the teſtimonie of Ieſus, pronouncing them bleſſed, which keepe this propheſie.
The fourth, the teſtimonie of Iohn, who heard and ſaw theſe things. But beecauſe in the epiſtle to the Reader, I hauehave more at large handled this argument, and theſe ſame verſes: therefore heere I doe of purpoſe relinquiſh them. And that alſo of Iohns adoration, and the Angels refuſall, beeing thinges moſt manifeſt and eaſie to vnderſtand.
ver. 10 And hee ſaid vntounto mee, ſeale not the words of the propheſie of this booke, for the time is at hand.
ver. 11 Hee that is vniuſt, let him bee vniuſt ſtill, and hee which is filthie let him bee filthie ſtill, and hee that is righteous, let him bee righteous ſtill, and hee that is holy, let him be holy ſtill.
ver. 12 And behold I come ſhortly, and my reward is with mee, to giuegive euerie man, according as his worke ſha…l bee.
ver. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the firſt and the laſt.
ver. 14 Bleſſed are they that doe his commandements, that their right may bee in the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the citie.
…er. 15.For without ſhall bee dogges, and enchanters, and whooremongers, and murtherers, and Idolaters, and whoſoeuer loueth or maketh lies.
Heere is firſt an exhortation, to publiſh and proclaime the knowledge of this booke to all people, and in no wiſe to conceale it, or keepe it cloſe, as formerly hath beene ſhewed in the epiſtle.
Heere is a further admonition, that they which are vnrighteous ſhould bee vnrighteous ſtill, &c. Which is no allowance or encouragement granted vntounto wicked men, to continue in their euill waies, but is rather a terrible threat, if wee take all the wordes together, in this and the next verſe, as if he ſhould ſay, if men will needes continue in their filthines, yet certainely Chriſt will come ſhortly and reward them according to their workes.
Or elſe it may bee a phraſe of ſpeach, which they call an ironicall conceſſion: as in another place the holy ghoſt ſaith to the young man.Eccleſ. 11. Walke in the wayes of thine owne heart, and in the ſight of thine eies: but know that for all theſe things, 1 King. 22.15. Math. …6.45.God will bring thee vntounto iudgement: So likewiſe in other places.
After this, heere is bleſſedneſſe pronounced vponupon all ſuch as keepe the commandements of God, and it is ſaid, that there right is in the tree of life, not meaning thereby, that their keeping of the commandements is the cauſe of their right in Chriſt: but onelyonly an effect or conſequence. For our good works doe not goe beefore, as cauſes of our iuſtification: but follow after, as declarations of the ſame. For by doing wee are not made iuſt, in the ſight of God, but onelyonly declared to bee iuſt, in the ſight of men.
And as for the keeping of the commandements, wee doe it not in ſuch perfection as Gods iuſtice requireth, but in ſuch meaſure, as his merciemercy accepteth through Chriſt. And heere the holy ghoſt ſaith, that all they which hauehave a right in Chriſt, which is the tree of life, and indeauour to keepe the commandements, ſhall enter in through the gates, into the new Ieruſalem: but on the contrarie, all the rout of reprobates, whom hee calleth dogges, enchanters, whooremongers, &c. ſhall bee vtterly ſhut out, as hauing nothing to do, in this euerlaſting citie, their portion, beeing allotted in the infernall lake.
ver. 16 I Ieſus hauehave ſent mine Angell, to teſtifie vntounto you theſe things. I am the root, and the generation of Dauid, and the bright morning ſtar.
ver. 17 And the ſpirit and the bride ſay Come. And let him that heareth, ſay Come: and let him that is a thrift come: and let whoſoeuer will, take of the water of life freely.
ver. 18 For I proteſt, vntounto eueryevery man that heareth the words of the propheſie of this booke. If any man ſhall adde vntounto theſe things, God ſhall adde vntounto him, the plagues that are written in this booke.
ver. 19 And if any man ſhall diminiſh of the wordes of the booke of this propheſie, God ſhall take away his part out of the booke of life, and out of the holy citie, and from thoſe things, which are written in this booke.
ver. 20 Hee which teſtifieth theſe things ſaith, ſurely I come quickly. Amen. Euen ſo come Lord Ieſus.
ver. 21 The grace of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, bee with you all. Amen.
The authoritie of this booke is heere againe ratified from the perſon of him vvho is the author of it, that is, Ieſus Chriſt, vvho is heere called the root and generation of Dauid: both becauſe he is diſcended of the houſe of Dauid, according to the fleſh: and alſo becauſe the eternall kingdome vvhichwhich all the prophets did foretell, ſhould ſpring out of the houſe of Dauid, vvas indeed and in truth eſtabliſhed in Chriſt, vvho is our true Dauid, and our righteous braunch, and as it is heere ſaid, the bright morning ſtarre, vvhichwhich hath moſt gloriouſly riſen vponupon the vvorld, to diſpell all darkneſſe, and to bring the great and euerlaſting light.
Moreouer, heere is great proteſtation made in the eightene and ninteene verſes, of great plagues to bee inflicted vponupon all ſuch as ſhall adde any thing vntounto this booke, or take away any thing from it. Which alſo maketh greatly for the confirmation of the authoritie of this booke, for that to the which nothing may be added, and from the which nothing may be taken away, muſt needes bee abſolute and perfect. But this booke is ſuch a one: therefore this booke is abſolute and perfect, being a part of Gods euerlaſting truth.
Laſt of all, heere is ſet downe the feruent deſire of the bride, after the bridgrome, for ſhee being inflamed with the ſpirit, deſireth him to come, and make vp the match betwixt them, that ſhee may bee ioyned to him in marriage, celebrate the ſolemnization, and liue together with him in the eternall triumph. Which is the ſence of theſe words, the ſpirit, and the bride ſay come, and let him that heareth, ſay come. For it is proper and peculiar onelyonly to the brid, to heare, waite, and long for the comming of Chriſt. And let him that is a thirſt, come. That is, all ſuch as thirſt after righteouſneſſe, may truely ſay, come ſweet Ieſus. For they are allowed freely, to drinke of the water of life. The plaine menaing of all this is, that the Church being directed by the holy ghoſt, moſt vehemently prayeth and longeth for the comming of Chriſt, that ſhee may hauehave her topfull happineſſe, and full fruition of all thoſe ſuper excellent things, which are prouided and purchaſed for her through him. And therefore to ſatisfie her deſire, Ieſus Chriſt the heauenly bridegroome ſaith, I come ſhortly. To the which the bride ſaith, Amen, Amen. Euen ſo be it. Come Lord Ieſus, come quickly, and make an end of theſe ſinfull and conflicting daies, that all thy deer ones may hauehave and enioy, their long … ked for happineſſe, and felicitie in the heauens, for euer and euer.
FINIS.
End of the text · Arthur Dent, The Ruin of Rome (1603)