Youve heard about the New Earth and New Jerusalem. (John 6:39). Can names be blotted out of the book of life (Psalm 69:28)? H. B. Swete identifies the river of life with the Spirit. It is the eternal state; and also, in fact, the fullest description of that state which is furnished in the Bible. From the disappearance of the Tree of Life in Eden when Adam fell, to its glorious restoration in the book of Revelation, we trace the intertwining events and intriguing happenings in God's story of redemption and the restoration of mankindinto fellowship with His Creator and Saviour. This cannot come too soon. The political side of this is described here with surprising brightness and brevity. Personally I never see a vision. The, nature of the case exempts of course the saints of the millennium;* and this very simply, because they are never said to die at all. Such a person cannot be saved, for they will deny the saving grace of God, and thus will be punished by the Lake of Fire. The warning pertains to the prophecy in Revelation. The consequence of perverting the gospel was excommunication and being put out of the congregation, until they had learnt the lesson. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy - If he shall reject the book altogether; if he shall, in transcribing it, designedly strike any part of it out. Is not this reason enough for saying that not even the shadow of solid ground appears for the system? "Living waters," says Zechariah, "shall flow out from Jerusalem" ( Zechariah 14:8). Another example are the Jews, whom Paul points out are distant from God. The Risen Christ once again announces his speedy coming; and he makes two great claims. And on either side of the river was the tree of life, which produced twelve kinds of fruit, rendering its fruit according to each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Some evade the difficulty by referring the desolation to the Gothic powers; and these Protestants, as if they were mere Praeterists! More than that, this would recall the great Messianic prophecy: "A star shall come forth out of Jacob" ( Numbers 24:17). The warning to Christians is this: evidence of the unsaved state of a person, whatever he or she says, is that he or she will add or take from Scripture, nullifying the prophecies of God. So far the description has been of the exterior of the holy city; now the scene moves inside. There is both pathos and glory in the way in which the Revelation ends. This is Christ in glory, offering to His church all she needs in her trials. writes, "Now I say, as long as a heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. John takes his picture of the tree of life from two sources--from the tree in the Garden of Eden ( Genesis 3:6); and even more from Ezekiel. willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.") commandments." Again John making the mistake that man so often makes worshipping the instrument of God. *Most copies, it would seem, read , "of the earth;" the Alex. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come." Then, as we have seen, comes the final test of the nations of the earth after that kingdom has run its course, and the devil let loose once more deceives flesh and blood after the analogy of all other dispensations. Like most Bible passages, verses 18 and 19 join in a thought that runs not only throughout chapter 22, but the whole book of Revelation. "And he that sat upon him called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war." Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Christians who believe a person can lose their salvation point to the term "blotted out" in connection with the Book of Life. Things are set down without any apparent order; there are repetitions of what has gone before; and it is often very difficult to be sure who is the actual speaker. And we look now at the last words of this book and we notice that they are: The Lord God has spoken to open the door of revelation to His people. Not so good. It gives a retrogressive account of Babylon's character, and shows how it morally compelled the divine judgment. "And if any one was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire." We can easily understand that the overthrow of the ecclesiastical power is necessary to leave a full field unimpeded for the imperial power to develop itself in its final form of violence and rebellion and apostacy against the Lord. Life is dark and tragic with despair for many troubled people on earth today. Patience or endurance of hope is what becomes us. This passage insists that the coming of Christ is close at hand; it must be the Risen Christ who is speaking. She is, the mother of the harlots, but also (and with still deeper guilt) of the abominations of the earth. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. What 1 am seeking to stress is that CHRISTS PROMISE "I AM COMING SOON" refers to more than His final coming. fallen from the more perfect way of seeking God's will in his life to the more base 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. Your email address will not be published. All who have looked back on the history know, that when the ten kings appeared, there was no beast or imperial power. Let him that is athirst come. "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood." In fact, later in the chapter Paul argues elemental things of the world. This prophecy of John describes incredible suffering that will come upon the earth as Gods holy wrath exacts retribution from rebellious sinners and the nation of Israel finally recognizes her Messiah. Heavenly Father, as I reflect on Psalm 138 where You say, "I have exulted My Wordabove My Name," I start to understand how important these two warnings in Revelation 22 are. It is partly because of this that many excellent men have endeavoured to apply the vision to Romanism; and I admit that there is found a measure of analogy. that those who were meant under the figures of the elders and of the living creatures assume the name and figure of the bride? correct. 2 Timothy 2:11-12 - It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: (Read More.) Then the word is, "Award her even as she awarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she mixed, mix to her double. Is it possible for a persons name to be erased from the Book of Life? 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. 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. We know that sometimes there were nine, sometimes eleven or more; but supposing this all perfectly certain, I affirm that, according to history, they did not receive their power as kings for one and the same time with the beast. They reject Gods judgment on humanity that permeates Revelation, so they attempt to soften it up a bit. All the energy to mislead men in the presence of the first beast was long in his hands, and now nothing more is spoken of. I see little need to stress the clear teaching of the New Testament to the promise of the final coming of Christ. Such a fence as this God set about the law (Deuteronomy 4:2), and the whole Old Testament (Malachi 4:4), and now in the most solemn manner about the whole Bible, assuring us that it is a book of the most sacred nature, divine authority, and of the last importance, and therefore the peculiar care of the great God. Amen to the thought of sin and sorrow banished and the victory of Christ over the devil. THE GUARANTEE OF TRUTH ( Revelation 22:16 ). The fallen angels are not called, and the holy angels never need to be they are kept. Maranatha! come to repentance." What Is the Book of Life in the Bible? The other Matthew passage, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a Taking away "his part" from the tree of life and the New Jerusalem does not mean he will lose his salvation either. 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 Lord Jesus Christ also proclaimed: And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. . Behold ( Revelation 22:6-7 ). 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. Jesus Christ confirms what has been affirmed, and pledges himself for the fulfilment of all the prophecies . God is sovereign. All rights reserved. "The day is nearly over and He hasnt come." It is most convenient for them, as it is most agreeable to their feelings, to reject the Bible altogether. "Cursed will be the ground; thorns and thistles will it bring forth. 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.". 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. Paul clearly outlines the action and purpose, none linked to salvation. The gospel of John and the Revelation perfectly disclose both, whether in grace or in judgment. I say "righteousnesses," not "righteousness." 22:3-5 No longer shall there be any accursed thing. But there is a message also for others. Who enjoys watching God slaughter a third of humanity in one bloody fell swoop? This remains true. We may surely say her cup was not yet full. unbelief (vs. 20). I do not, of course, complain of particular persons, but of the general vagueness in which the passage has been taken unless, indeed, the more common course be not to ignore it. Bible verses about Lose Salvation. Unhallowed love will end in hatred. I "For the glory of God enlightened it, and the Lamb is the lamp thereof." 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. Trust that "bright morning star." 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. (i) It is not to be interpreted with absolute literalness. So, the Lord assures you these are true and faithful sayings. from grace" (Gal. Here I am obliged to say that our authorized version, and not merely it, but our common Greek Testaments, are altogether wrong. And who would defraud either the soul of salvation, or the Lord of showing it? The next admonition comes from the mouth of an angel. The tree of life is no longer forbidden; it is there in the midst of the city for all to take. There is a distinct contrast between the city John describes and the ancient Babylon, in that the latter was built on the plain of Shinar, while the former is expressly said to have seven heads, and these explained to mean seven mountains. And the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall worship him, and shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads. The millennial nations, "the number of whom is as the sand of the sea," fall a prey to Satan. It is necessary that we should all bear in mind, if we have not observed it before, thatRevelation 17:1-18; Revelation 17:1-18 does not pursue the chronological course of the prophecy. (vs. 18) This passage, therefore, doesn't apply to But to the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part [is] in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.". and now) to struggle with and try to figure out how this Greek word or that Greek phrase identifier or distinguishing trait of those that are truly saved. It does not say they have it and lose it. I don't deserve it. God are irrevocable." (Revelation 22:14). . But He "treadeth the winepress of the fury of the wrath of the Almighty God" another character of judgment never attributed to the saints, that I know of. On that account it was altogether out of place to pay homage to him instead of to the God who had sent him to serve. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. We know that if He tarries, it is not that He is "slack concerning His promise," but that "His long-suffering brings salvation to many." I am such a fruit lover anyhow; I am going to see if I can get a few of those planted in my yard. Acts 4:2, Colossians 1:19-22, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 1:5-6, Ephesians 2:1-5, Ephesians 2:19, . And we thank you Lord for that hope that You have given to us of the New World, the new age where righteousness shall reign and Jesus shall reign where here the sun doth her successive journeys run. It is confirmed by the testimony of Jesus, which is the Spirit of prophecy. I am going to make you ruler over ten cities. The fact is, in the very best authorities it does not exist at all. This is termed a revelation, but it is a revelation of symbols; an exhibition of enigmas, to which no particular solution is given, and to which God alone can give the solution. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. And in these visions the book describes the struggle in every individual, in every generation between good and evil, and in every case the Lord comes in judgment on evil and brings victory to the good. It contains promises, blessing, an invitation, a warning, and a benediction. Thus persons committing these acts are unsaved. The worshippers of the beast, or the antichristian party, who are chiefly regarded here, are not written in it, Revelation 13:8 wherefore taking away the part of such, is only taking away that which they seemed to have; see Luke 8:18 and the sense is, that such shall be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death, and will be the portion of all that are not written in the book of life, Revelation 20:15. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: born of God. "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. inferences, or common knowledge and experiences shared by the writer and his intended If it looks like the interpretation of passage is in conflict with another, it is always the person at fault not Scripture. The Holy Spirit, the universal church and individual believers join in urging him to return. 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. ", How like those two disciples are we! It means that it is given to unbelieversnot believers. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. we are unaware of. When the Risen Christ said that he was the morning star, he claimed again to be the light of the world and the vanquisher of all the world's darkness. All the sufferers, either in the early persecutions of Revelation 6:1-17, or in the later persecutions (see Revelation 15:1-8) up to Babylon's extinction, were now raised from the dead. Against the dark background of night, wise men once saw the clear shining of the Star of Bethlehem, and today we have hope because we see Jesus "the bright morning star" the herald of a new day. The word part means allotment. In other words, there is an allotment reserved for someone who will not receive it. Who is a dog? There is therefore much to be said for the ]Protestant application of the chapter as compared with the Praetorist theory of pagan Rome. It is much more likely that the whole passage is a great invitation to all men to come to Christ. Now, these words were declared of God the Father in chapter one. On these I may say but a very few words. They "lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.". So, seal them up there will be a time that they will be understood, but they are not for you, Daniel. . "By grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourself it is a gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast"( Ephesians 2:8-9 ). Revelation 22:19 says, "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (KJV). And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! The words of Revelation 22 mimic those of the Law adding to Gods commands (Deuteronomy) or Gods prophecies (Revelation) is sin; it places that person above God either overtly or surreptitiously and both are punishable. "I am coming soon" is a promise with wider and immediate application. How Can We Have Free Will in Heaven and Not Sin? THE GREAT INVITATION ( Revelation 22:17 ). We know from the rest of the Bible, though, that our salvation is secure. But here there is neither; and this again is an evidence of gain, not of loss. It supposes the effect and the exercise of faith. The judgment of the dead is strictly individual, judgments in this world are not. But it was no such evil which astounded the prophet. We see a similar warning given by Moses as he addressed the people of Israel before they entered the Promised Land. Church believers will not be present during the Tribulation, having been raptured out of this world and therefore cannot have the plagues added to him the Christian will be in heaven! In short, no testimony can avail, no work, power, or glory without the word of God applied by the Spirit of God. Jesus taught us in John 14: 15 "If you love me, keep my Here it is the city described in itself, on which we need not now enlarge. Is it possible for a person's name to be erased from the Book of Life? When the Lord takes His own throne, they take theirs by grace. The church is heavenly; and in heaven there are no times nor seasons. Lord we want to serve You because we love You. The full verse runs: "You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the Lord your God in payment for any vow." As to some of the other passages you cite, we can briefly examine them also. All we have to do is a little hermeneutical examination, and I believe we can gain a correct understanding. . Then, right after the invitation comes a dire warning: For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. will not forgive your transgressions." He will not fail to take up the gage He has given our hearts. Hard to believe; isn't it? Matthew 10:22 "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.". "Blessed are they that read, hear and practice the words of this prophecy, putting them into practice in their lives." And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. life. First, let me compliment you on your Web site - very clean and neat. (2 Corinthians 1:22, 2 Corinthians 5:5, Ephesians 1:14, Ephesians 4:30b). but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face ( Revelation 22:3-4 ); "Blessed are the pure in heart", Jesus said, "for they shall see God" ( Matthew 5:8 ). 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." Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Or they may simply discard some of the prophecy as rubbish, because they, in their infinite wisdom, assume that a loving God would not act in such a manner. This is the meaning of "one hour with the beast.". And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, nor light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever ( Revelation 22:3-5 ). For I am not aware that any scripture treats of the subject, beyond laying down principles such as we have sought to apply to the case. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2), It is natural to try to modify a message we dont like into something more palatable, and Israels Law was no exception. In the older Apocalypses, written between the Testaments, the instruction is always to seal them and lay them up for a distant future. He did this a little earlier and the angel said to him to stand up. This would not be fitting for the church nor the Christian. In presence of grace I do not think this is for His glory, any more than for their own blessing. In the Greek text it is a strong double negative meaning "I will not, no never blot out". There the apostle But he tells us further that the Spirit of prophecy, who prophesies in this book, is the testimony of Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. "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. Then follows another scene still more solemn the most awe-inspiring of all we can contemplate, at the same time full of blessing for the Christian to look onward to as that which will for ever put aside every trace of evil, and vindicate good where man must altogether fail. It is the word of him who is the author, finisher, and rewarder of the faith and holiness of his people, Revelation 22:13; Revelation 22:14. From the manner in which resurrection is referred to in scripture, does not God leave room for this? True Christianity does not postpone the presence of Christ to the future, nor recall His presence from the past, but lives in the conscious sense that Christ IS. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. of Life. Thus persons committing these acts are unsaved. His blows on this world come more nationally as on Israel; incomparably more severe, as in possession of greater privileges, is the judgment of corrupt Christendom, or Babylon as it is called here. It reveals that he was never truly converted." - Paul Washer And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Now we find the symbol of the bride brought before us, and the elders and the living creatures disappear. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. From Rome saints had suffered; and it was easy to see that the revealed persecutress is called Babylon, and identified with the governing city of Rome. It is because they don't attempt to or they attempted to spiritualize the meanings, and if you do that it becomes meaningless. Capnionis, which was used by Erasmus, and lately discovered after a long obscurity by Dr. Delitzsch, reads (not ) . I would be interested in arguments showing how everlasting life doesn't The first example is given by Jesus Himself in the form of a blessing for those who pay attention to the message of Revelation. "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb. Week 1 Salvation Sermon by Dr. Ronald Shultz, 2 Peter 1:10, Acts 4:2 Christ comes to His church in its witness and need. When the second beast appeared, he even strove to put to death those who would not worship the beast, nor pay homage to his image, nor receive his mark. "Called" is most evidently inapplicable, because calling supposes that the person is brought out of one condition and raised into another and a better one. 22:14,15 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and that they may enter into the city by the gates. So we find the Lord has room for all that is the fruit of His own grace only, for the appeal of grace, even when there is not the answer to it. I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and the morning star. Of course the application to the Roman empire would be immediately in the mind of any Christian at Rome. God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is salvation. "And here is the mind which hath wisdom. You know it is going to be new, because these don't exist anymore here. saved" viewpoint: What about if you just read it as it is and accept it as such? We should also note that the text does not say that God will remove a name from the Book of Life. For instance, Abraham kept the whole Law from aleph to tau. Likewise Paul speaks of being shipwrecked when a believer runs astray which is not losing one's salvation (1 Timothy 1:19), but an act of loving discipline by the Father. I just started getting into the bible and started learning more about the bible and my faith. But then while there is such a call to Christ, while the believer is not to be afraid, but to call on the Lord to come, the church does not forget those that are poor sinners, let them be deeply conscious of it, or let them be those that are only made willing by the grace of God (which is the feeblest expression of the sinner's need, just as you have the feeblest expression of the saint in the previous call). The Gothic hordes were not yet incorporated with the empire, still less were they horns of the beast, nor did they give their power to it, but destroyed it rather. "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it; that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you" ( Deuteronomy 4:2). He who has been found by Christ must find others for Christ. Such is the hard bondage which mere historical tradition imposes on its votaries. The Book of Revelation opened with a blessing on all who obey its instructions (Revelation 1:3), and it closes with a strong curse on all who disobey it. Polyglot, and all editions of the least critical value. I feel because I talked about the bible before and a way I perceived it ( I didnt say it was a fact i said it was my perception at the time ) that I will lose my part in the book of life. I see no profit in date fixing or sign watching for the future event of Christs final coming. "And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, that hath kingship over the kings of the earth." Is there a difference between the book of life and the Lambs book of life? In this final section of the book John reported concluding information and instructions that God gave him. I am never alone." Ra McLaughlin is Vice President of Finance and Administration at Third Millennium Ministries. He saw their condition: it was part of the vision. Clearly, therefore, it is future. My rewards are with Me and I'm going to reward every man according to his work. 8 All these . Not only are they supposed to be coexistent, but united in their change of feeling against Babylon. He gets his power and they get theirs for one and the same time. Those that do rise at the same time rise, no doubt, in a moment; but that there are to be various acts of resurrection is not only not contrary to scripture, but required by its own descriptions. Therefore the messages John received came from the same God as inspired the great prophets of the Old Testament, and must be treated with equal seriousness. "And when the thousand years are completed, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to war." "The God of the spirits of the prophets" means the God who inspired the minds of the prophets. Here the vision was of thrones with sitters, and others caused to join them; and the inspired explanation is that it is the first resurrection the rising of the just from the dead.
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