who are the nations in revelation 22:2

But he tells us further that the Spirit of prophecy, who prophesies in this book, is the testimony of Jesus. This brings in idolatry, real shameless idolatry too, not merely that subtle working of the idolatrous spirit that every Christian has to guard against. 1. Praise the Lord for His Word, a lamp unto our feet, a light unto our path, a power in our lives to keep us from sin. This is not one tree, but stands either for many trees of one variety, or even many varieties of trees. Rivers carry away impurities. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month. God has not told us how, nor is it our business. "Having a wall great and high, having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel." The gospel of John and the Revelation perfectly disclose both, whether in grace or in judgment. It is forbidden to offer to God money that has been made by prostitution. This is known so well, and on such decided grounds, that it would be unbecoming to withhold the fact. Bear this in mind: to leave the last part out is fatal to any accurate understanding of the Revelation. Revelation 2:7; Genesis 2; Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:2). They are glorified saints, and not angels. "[11] As a matter of fact, the phrase may be applied: (1) to the river of life; (2) the throne of God; or (3) the tree of life. The description of this trees location is debatable, but perhaps John saw the river dividing and flowing on both sides of it. Athletics vs Reds Game Thread. (3.) The vision ends with the promise that the people of God will reign for ever and ever. But the prophecy shows us the beast revived and the separate kings reigning for the same time, before divine judgment destroys them at the coming of Christ and His saints. He has, I think, exactly that class in view when He sanctions the calling him who hears to say "Come." Who are the persons thus invested with judicial authority of so glorious a nature and to reign, as we see later, with Christ? But what is also of consequence to observe is, that John saw souls the souls of those beheaded on account of the witness of Jesus, and on account of the word of God. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. The Jews interpret the passage in ( Ezekiel 47:12 ) to which this refers, of future time, or the world to come F6; and speak of various trees and herbs of great fragrancy and medicinal virtues, which grow quite round on the sides of a laver that stands in paradise F7. The angel least him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal over him, that he should no more deceive the nations, till the thousand years should be completed: after these things he must be loosed a little time.". "A fountain," says Joel, "shall come forth from the house of the Lord" ( Joel 3:18). That is, there was first the literal Babylon, of course; but here it is symbolical. Sometimes they have contended for its application to pagan Rome. In this passage there is an ambiguity of punctuation. Power must come DOWN from God else all of mans schemes to save our world will come to nothing. That is to say, there will be no more of the pollutions which harm the Christian life. Not only are they supposed to be coexistent, but united in their change of feeling against Babylon. 3) The description of this trees location is debatable, but perhaps John saw the river dividing and flowing on both sides of it. He gets his power and they get theirs for one and the same time. 22, Revelation (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. Then note that the Greek word for tribe, often used in Revelation (and elsewhere), is phule. Everything that could attract the natural man was there; and all that which to him looks fair enough on the side of religion. Here it is the city described in itself, on which we need not now enlarge. a tree of life, yielding twelve fruits, according to each month giving its fruit; and the leaves of the tree are for healing of the nations. In the midst of the broadway of it, and of the river, on this side and on that, [the] tree of life," bearing not merely as the original one did, but now according to the fulness of the provision of God's grace for man, for man in glory first, but for man on the earth also, but for man in glory "producing twelve fruits, in each month yielding its fruit: and the leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations." "Don't do that." A boy can regenerate, so demons eat him for years. Thus, I suggest that the tree of life that grows on either side of the river in the New Jerusalem is for the "service" of the nations as it appears essential for eternal life (Gen 3:23, Rev 2:7). Although there is such a levelling of human distinctions, and men have to do directly with God that is men raised from the dead or in their changed condition we still see the holy Jerusalem "the holy city, new Jerusalem," separate from the rest of those that fill the new heaven and earth. We shall find that the scripture affords much light to decide the true bearing of the prophecy, and that no application to the past can possibly satisfy the conditions satisfactorily. 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. That age of visible glory is inefficacious to change the heart of man, though in the absence of the enemy and the controlling presence of the great King, they render feigned obedience for a long while. For remark, the beast or Roman empire is described here as that which once existed, which then ceased to exist, and which assumes a final shape when it reappears from the bottomless pit. Does God Really Work All Things Together for Good? 24:23; 60:19, 20; Rev. Here is the symbol that Jesus Christ has everything within himself and needs nothing from any other source. Let others speculate, if they will: I am persuaded that he who essays to conceive the details is merely striving to draw a bow beyond the power of man. One of the most approved axioms is, that kingdoms are just like men in this respect, that they begin, rise, and fall. The Philadelphia 76ers, despite missing Joel Embiid due to a knee sprain, took care of the Brooklyn Nets in four games to become the first team to advance to the second round. It does not mean persons merely, but the souls of beheaded persons. - EBCNT, There are many references in Jewish apocalyptic literature to the tree of life found in Gen. 3 (cf. the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit . Everything about it will contribute to sustain life. And they said Alleluia a second time; and her smoke goeth up unto the ages of the ages." The writer undoubtedly conceives of a single river running through the city - probably as meandering along - and that river lined on both sides with the tree of life. And then we come to a most cheering disclosure: "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of those beheaded on account of the witness of Jesus, and on account of the word of God: and those who had not worshipped the beast, nor his image, and had not received his mark upon their forehead, and on their hand; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Then follows a description of the wall, gates, foundations, and general position. Rev 21:4 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes." [Note: E.g., Thomas, Revelation 8-22, p. 27 And he rose and went. There are probably but few, if any, here who do not understand it as the fore-shadow of a real resurrection. When we realize this truth we will be able to sing--, "Love of Christ so freely given, Grace of God beyond degree, Mercy higher than the heaven, Deeper than the deepest sea. Dog can denote a thoroughly immoral person, and that may be its meaning here. 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. In her own course, and in the matters of her portion, the church does not know time at all. He certainly leaves us in no doubt that worship of angels is wrong and that worship must be given to God alone. the leaves -- healing . And now, as to this tree, observe, 1. Unhallowed love will end in hatred. 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. "He that testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. 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." By its fountain-head--the throne of God and the Lamb. 7. 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." 1) We may picture a boulevard (or a plaza) with a river in median, and rows of trees on the banks. Nor are its fruits confined to the Jews; its leaves are for the healing of the nations. I do not suppose that many words are required by the present audience to show that we are not to understand the scene as a mere figure of Christianity. Our glorious adventure learning of Him. The redeemed see their God, bear his name, and share his glory (3-5). It is not now lightnings and thunders and voices. He with the glorified saints will have their home on high, but none the less shall they reign over this very world for the allotted time. It is a question here of distinctive character, apart from that of time, for which we must search other scriptures. Have you ever linked Revelation 22:1-21 verses 1 and 2 with Ezekiels vision in chapter 47 of his prophecy? Creature lights are gone. The answer here hinges on the meaning of the word (therapeia) in Rev 22:2. To whom else could they say it? Men are not regarded as composing this tabernacle; they co-exist. Then and thus is aggravated guilt in the case of this wicked son. People of all nations inhabit the city, adding colour and splendour, yet there is complete purity, because sin is excluded (24-27). It is the truth, and not the wording of the truth, which must not be changed. She does not, it is true, say, "Come quickly." Archbishop Whatley thinks that the tree of life was among the trees of which Adam freely ate (Ge 2:9, 16, 17), and that his continuance in immortality was dependent on his continuing to eat of this tree; having forfeited it, he became liable to death; but still the effects of having eaten of it for a time showed themselves in the longevity of the patriarchs. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. G. B. Caird, The Revelation of Saint John the Divine (ACB; E), H. B. Swete, The Apocalypse of St John (MmC; G), ACB: A. and C. Black New Testament Commentary. (ii) "Let him that hears say: Come!" (ii) He is Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. On the Rock of Ages founded, What can shake thy sure repose? Then comes not the destruction only of these rebels by divine judgment, but the dissolution of heaven and earth. Taking the phrase with the first sentence seems to give the better picture. 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 old oracles were sealed then: not so John's. What prevents me from being baptized? 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. This far excels it. It clearly contrasts this mystery with another. There is no lack of precision, but the very reverse. "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. Other Translations for Revelation 22:2 Discussion for Revelation 22 View All [11] William Barclay, The Revelation of John (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1976), p. 221. I do not doubt that there was a corrupt form in connection with Israel in times past. 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. The nations are groups of people in the new creation viewed according to their old creation divisions (cf. Only in the Spirit of God can the wounds and the breaches of the nations be healed. through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. So, when you pray don't go out on the street corner and do a big thing so that everyone goes by and says, "What is happening? In heaven there is not only a variety of pure and satisfying pleasures, but a continuance of them, and always fresh. And in the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bore twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month ( Revelation 22:1-2 ): So, you have an interesting kind of a tree here. The first part is clear enough. Even the worst of governments is better than none. By his wounds you have been healed. ", Dont dream of the river of the water of life only as in a future heaven. "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." "Healing, of course, implies disease;" but, "That will be one of the things that will be unknown in heaven."[16]. Take notice of this (which confirms the application just now contended for), that when John saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, he wondered with great wonder. If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book. The writer undoubtedly conceives of a single river running through the city - probably as meandering along - and that river lined on both sides with the tree of life. So with a warmer love for the church and a deeper dedication in the service of our local congregation as a part of that great church--realising that the river of water of life is flowing now--we will sing with truer understanding--, "Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God! And I, with John, would respond, "Amen. The idea in the mind of the writer is that of Eden or Paradise; but it is not the Eden of the book of Genesis, or the Oriental or Persian Paradise: it is a picture where all is combined, that in the view of the writer would constitute beauty, or contribute to happiness. It was but an imperfect view they got even of justification; a far scantier perception, if they could be said to have had any, about Christ's Headship of the church, His priesthood, or almost anything else. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life: And the leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations; In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. But now heaven is opened for yet graver facts, and of incalculable moment for man and the universe and the enemy. (i) There comes a time when it is too late to change. "And let him that is athirst come; and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.". Yet it will be found imperfect, for reasons which, I think, will be clear to any unbiassed mind. Polyglot, and all editions of the least critical value. That is, Satan will be the spring of its final rise and power; he, and not God in any way whatever, will give it its character. The words of Ezekiel 47:12 are used here almost verbatim. The tree of life is on either side of the river. But what does it mean? 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. "Behold, I come quickly.". It is not the enjoyment of all, but it is the hinge on which all depends. Here accordingly we have them all. But it may well be that there is something simpler here. Every one who loves and acts falsehood is shut out. And the beast was taken" (taken alive), "and with him the false prophet that wrought signs in his presence, with which he deceived those that received the mark of the beast, and those that worshipped his image." It is not a syllogism that is wanted or that can satisfy here: only require, only believe, the word of God. It is very much what Paul meant, when he said: "If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed" ( Galatians 1:8-9). The seventh bowl contained under it the fall of Babylon, which "was remembered before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.". But who knows; maybe they will be able to develop that in time where the tomato would already be salted when you get it. Bearing twelve manner of fruits every month Leaves for the healing of the nations Norris' Commentary on the Book of Revelation. These remain as yet in the condition of separate spirits. Now, as a child of God I will not be judged for my sins; that has all been covered by Jesus Christ. 1. fol. I admit that there may be something more in the symbol than the literal hills of Rome, because they are said to be also seven kings. "I'm coming quickly. "And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Access 50+ premium resources. The leaves of the tree were for the . By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Again, death and hades are said to come to their end, personified as enemies. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.". We have seen that these follow the Lord out of heaven, and are next seen enthroned. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations. So, there will be a medicinal value in the leaves of the tree. Or else with Durham suppose, the tree was in the midst of the river, and extending its branches to both banks. Swete aptly calls this "the felicitation of the devout student." "Every word of God proves true. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar" ( Proverbs 30:5-6). As long as Rome was pagan, there was neither the full bearing of the seven heads, nor did so much as one of the ten horns exist. The horns have constantly opposed each other, and even sometimes the pope. "That day" does not mean a time when everybody will be converted, but when the Lord Jesus will govern righteously when overt evil will be judged, and good be sustained perfectly for a thousand years. It is the divine judgment of man eternal judgment. vi., Jub. Revelation 18:1-24 need not delay us long. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. And yielded her fruit every month - The word and is also supplied by the translators, and introduces an idea which is not in the original, as if there was not only a succession of harvests, which is in the text, but that each one differed from the former, which is not in the text. It is Jesus Christ who in his Cross has provided that grace by which alone man can be forgiven; but man has to appropriate that sacrifice. In fact, we may say, all nations will be desolated by judgments of one kind or another; but for all this the world proceeding for a thousand years with every outward blessing, and the most admirable government administered by the blessed Lord Himself, will issue in the teeming and prosperous races of mankind. On either side of the river is the tree of life[ a] with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. It is perhaps more likely that he did not finally set in order this last chapter and that we have it in unfinished form. At one mile the water was to the loins. Note the connection. So, seal them up there will be a time that they will be understood, but they are not for you, Daniel. Gods love from His throne. Who were they? 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. "I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled; and place was not found for them." The beast is the expression of the will of man setting itself up in direct antagonism to God. On either side of the river was a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. The great city was either guilty Jerusalem or Babylon. "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse." H. B. Swete says: "No one who has watched the dogs that prowl in the quarters of an eastern city will wonder at the contempt and disgust which the word suggests to the oriental mind." 4 Surely he has borne our griefs But, in point of fact, in giving the description of Babylon, the Holy Ghost enters even more into an account of her relations with the beast, the imperial power of which we saw not a little last night. But it is for the last time, not of the age only but of the various dispensations of God. But the river of the water of life is flowing. But a voice issues from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. Evidently the new creation will not have a lunar calendar, since there will be no moon (Revelation 21:23), but another type of calendar will define months. 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. The "saved" is a term which, so far from belonging to the nations, is expressly applied to the Jewish remnant when it is a technical term. And the river of life may well stand for the abundant life God provides for his people which is there for the taking. We shall find, on the contrary, its aspect is toward the universe, yet is there the special place of Israel; and quite right it is that it should be so. Here were joined good and evil in godless union, for the worse, not for the better, this alliance, unholy in principle, irremediable therefore in practice, between God and the natural man, who substitutes rites for the grace and word of God, for the blood of Christ, and the power of the Spirit, and employs the name of the Lord as a cover for grosser covetousness and ambition, yet more aspiring than the vulgar world. Compare also in the Apocrypha, 2 Esdras 2:12; 8:52-54. on either side of the riverAlford translates, "In the midst of the street of it (the city) and of the river, on one side and on the other" (for the second Greek, "enteuthen," A, B, and Syriac read, ekeithen: the sense is the same; compare Greek, Joh 19:18); thus the trees were on each side in the middle of the space between the street and the river. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life ( Proverbs 10:11). Next they will seize her resources. Why will the nations need healing in the New Jerusalem? You don't want to get into that. And he carried me away in [the] spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God."
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