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He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,
Verse 1. A river of water of life, or of living water. It is spoken with allusion to the rivers of paradise and to the tree of life. Witham.
TR adds “pure”
in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Verse 2. For the healing of the nations, or Gentiles, to signify the call of all Gentiles or nations to this heavenly happiness. Witham.
There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him.
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Verse 4. They shall see his face. Thus in a few words is expressed the happiness of the blessed in heaven; they shall see God, from which vision proceed love, joy, and everlasting praises of the divine Majesty. Witham.
There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.
He said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon.”
Verse 6. These words are most faithful. Here begins the conclusion and close of all these revelations.—The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his Angel to shew, and so forth and in the 16th verse it is said: I, Jesus, have sent my Angel to testify: from whence we may understand that Jesus, as to his person, is the same Lord God with the Father, though as man he is the root of the offspring of David, of the race of David, as the Messias was to be. Witham.
“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Verse 7. Behold I come quickly. Man’s life is short, and at his death he must give an account to God. All time is short, if compared with eternity. Saint John (verse 8) was again for casting himself at the feet of the Angel, though here it is not expressed whether it were to adore God, or whether it were by an inferior veneration to the Angel, often expressed by adoration. Witham.
Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things.
Verse 8–9. This is the second time the saint wishes to adore the Angel, but not with the supreme worship of latria, as he knew the object of his worship was only an Angel, and of course a mere creature; but the Angel, through respect for Saint John, still refuses the proffered honour, (see Calmet. 19:10) and to shew the holy society that was hereafter to exist between Angels and men, who were to compose but one and the same family. V.
He said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
Verse 8–9. This is the second time the saint wishes to adore the Angel, but not with the supreme worship of latria, as he knew the object of his worship was only an Angel, and of course a mere creature; but the Angel, through respect for Saint John, still refuses the proffered honour, (see Calmet. 19:10) and to shew the holy society that was hereafter to exist between Angels and men, who were to compose but one and the same family. V.
He said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
Verse 10. Seal not the words; as not designed to be kept sealed or secret, but to be delivered to the faithful for their instruction, that they may be prepared to suffer persecutions; that their faith, hope, and charity may be enlivened and increased by a firm expectation of their happiness in the next world, after short sufferings in this. Witham.
He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.”
Verse 11. He that hurteth, (by living in sins against God, himself, and his neighbours) let him hurt still; that is he shall be permitted; and he that is just, let him be justified still, and increase in virtues by God’s assistance. Witham.—It is not an exhortation or license to go on in sin, but an intimation that how far soever the wicked may proceed, their progress shall quickly end, and then they must expect to meet with proportionable punishments. Challoner.
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Verse 13. I am alpha and omega. See Calmet. 1:8. Witham.
Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
Verse 14. That they may have a right or power to eat of the tree of life. A right grounded on the promises of God and his graces. Witham.
NU reads “wash their robes” instead of “do his commandments”.
Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Verse 15. Without are dogs; meaning unbelievers, and whosever loveth and maketh a lie, that is all the wicked, who have not walked in the ways of truth. Witham.
I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Verse 17. And the Spirit and the bride say: Come. That is, the Spirit of God, who moves us to love and praise him; and the bride, that is the Church, the spouse of Christ, which earnestly desires to be happy in the enjoyment of God: and every one that heareth these divine promises, let him with all the affections of his soul, with his whole heart, say: Come. He that thirsteth after justice, the Author and Fountain of all justice, let him come and be filled gratis by the bounty and liberality of our merciful God. Witham.
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book.
Verse 18–19. I, John, testify and bear witness of all the truths contained in this revelation: If any man shall add to these things, he becomes guilty of sin, and makes himself liable to the punishments and plagues that are written in this book. Witham.
If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
Verse 18–19. I, John, testify and bear witness of all the truths contained in this revelation: If any man shall add to these things, he becomes guilty of sin, and makes himself liable to the punishments and plagues that are written in this book. Witham.
TR reads “Book” instead of “tree”
He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus!
Verse 20–21. He that giveth testimony of these things, that is God, and Jesus Christ by an Angel, saith, surely, (or even so, or truly, these are certain truths) I come quickly, to reward the good and punish the evil. To which words Saint John himself replieth with a zealous prayer and earnest desire, saying, Amen, let it be so.—Come, Lord Jesus: come, and remain always in my soul by thy grace, and make me partaker of thy glory for ever and ever. Amen. Witham.—Conclusion. The Church in sighs and groans, and by the mouth of her children, solicits the coming of Jesus Christ, her divine Spouse. The fruit to be drawn from the perusal of this sacred book, is ardently to desire the kingdom of God, to sigh after the day of eternity, to feel the weight of the yoke of the present life, and the disgrace of our exile, and to live here below as strangers. Enkindle in me, O Lord, this desire; enable my poor soul to join with the beloved disciple in this prayer: Come, Lord Jesus; that she may go and lose herself in Thee, who art her Centre, her God, her All.
17. The Rev. Fr. Haydock’s original observations, or such, at least, as he could not easily trace to their real authors, either through forgetfulness, or because he adopted some alteration, or received them from some of his learned friends, whose names he was not at liberty to mention will be marked with the letter H
18. The additional Notes in this Edition of the New Testament will be marked with the letter. Such as are taken from various Interpreters and Commentators, will be marked as in the Old Testament.
2. Witham
3. Bible de Vence
4. Witham
17. Tirinus
5. Witham
20. Challoner
11. Witham
10. Witham
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.
Verse 20–21. He that giveth testimony of these things, that is God, and Jesus Christ by an Angel, saith, surely, (or even so, or truly, these are certain truths) I come quickly, to reward the good and punish the evil. To which words Saint John himself replieth with a zealous prayer and earnest desire, saying, Amen, let it be so.—Come, Lord Jesus: come, and remain always in my soul by thy grace, and make me partaker of thy glory for ever and ever. Amen. Witham.—Conclusion. The Church in sighs and groans, and by the mouth of her children, solicits the coming of Jesus Christ, her divine Spouse. The fruit to be drawn from the perusal of this sacred book, is ardently to desire the kingdom of God, to sigh after the day of eternity, to feel the weight of the yoke of the present life, and the disgrace of our exile, and to live here below as strangers. Enkindle in me, O Lord, this desire; enable my poor soul to join with the beloved disciple in this prayer: Come, Lord Jesus; that she may go and lose herself in Thee, who art her Centre, her God, her All.
17. The Rev. Fr. Haydock’s original observations, or such, at least, as he could not easily trace to their real authors, either through forgetfulness, or because he adopted some alteration, or received them from some of his learned friends, whose names he was not at liberty to mention will be marked with the letter H
18. The additional Notes in this Edition of the New Testament will be marked with the letter. Such as are taken from various Interpreters and Commentators, will be marked as in the Old Testament.
2. Witham
3. Bible de Vence
4. Witham
17. Tirinus
5. Witham
20. Challoner
11. Witham
10. Witham