who are the nations in revelation 22:2

"Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible". It does not refer to every individual word of the Revelation. Some authors believe the tree of life here symbolizes the cross. After "the nations" in verse 24 omit the words "of them which are saved." If the books proclaim the evil works of the dead that stand before the throne, the book of life offers no defence on the score of God's grace. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations. All is opened, and this because we have the Holy Ghost dwelling in us; "for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them (for he is Lord of lords and King of kings), and they that are with him, called, and chosen, and faithful.". "I am the bright morning star," he says. (2.) And so I do believe that the day of the Lord is at hand. (ii) He is Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. There are also too many who are students, but not devout; they are interested too much in intellectual knowledge and too little in prayer and in service of their fellow-men. The tree of life is on either side of the river. Jesus is coming again, foolishness. is a word to him that hears. There was the sad register of undeniable sin on the one side; there was no writing of the name on the other side. This too must not be viewed as if it were a loss. (i) There comes a time when it is too late to change. But there never was the thought of giving Christ the only place He could take. each month . and others give , "of her." The visions of this prophetic book open, not with the rapture of saints to heaven, but the sight of saints already raptured, often before the seer in the visions, but seen always in a complete condition without addition to their number. All this gives us a true and just view of the various parties that have a share in the resurrection. Who were they? Revelation 2:7; Genesis 2; Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:2). In general this has been either passed over in the chapter, or some unsatisfactory inference has been flung out, which can only embroil the prophecy. Revelation 22:1-2 In-Context. As such, tribe is synonymous with ethnos, that is, an ethnos or nation is the coming together of all the various tribes found in one geographical location, for better of for worse. But the church consists of souls called out from the earth, and is not of the world: consequently to the church the time is always at hand. Consequently there will be an increase in population such as never has been approached since the world was made, yet it afterwards appears, that Satan will not fail to turn the masses of the nations into one vast rebellion against the objects of God's special favour on the earth the saints wherever they may be, and the beloved city of Israel, as we have seen. "Let him that is unrighteous be unrighteous still: and let the filthy be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." It was the barbarians who brought in the prevalent ideas of liberty as well as feudalism, and accordingly it is they that have firmly stood for freedom; so that all the efforts to reconstitute the empire which have been tried over and over again have hitherto issued in total failure. Apparently a total of twelve trees (or more) that yields fruit each month (is the monthly fruit different?). A mystery clearly points to something undiscoverable by the natural mind of man a secret that requires the distinct and fresh light of God to unravel, but which when revealed thus is plain enough. As this tree of life is stated to be in the streets of the city, and on each side of the river, tree must here be an enallage of the singular for the plural number, trees of life, or trees which yielded fruit by which life was preserved. He, whose word cannot be broken, Formed thee for His own abode. 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? Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, In the midst of the street of it That is, of the city described in the preceding chapter, which shows that this vision belongs to that, and is a continuation of it, and which street was all of pure gold, ( Revelation 21:21 ). [15] R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John's Revelation (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Augsburg Publishing House, 1943), p. 650. But in the final and heavenly city on earth, sin and death shall utterly cease. Is not this reason enough for saying that not even the shadow of solid ground appears for the system? That hope was never realized in the way in which he expected, but we can never doubt that Christ nevertheless abundantly kept his promise that he would be with his own even to the end of the world ( Matthew 28:20). Here is an echo of the Psalmist: "No man who practises deceit shall dwell in my house; no man who utters lies shall continue in my presence" ( Psalms 101:7). THE ACCEPTED AND THE REJECTED ( Revelation 22:14-15 ). What confusion! The imagery of abundant fruit and medicinal leaves should be understood as symbolic of the far-reaching effects of the death of Christ in the redeemed community, the Holy City. twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. 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. So abundant is its vitality that it bears a crop of fruit each month! This chapter explains how it was that Babylon was so offensive to God, and wherefore He judged her thus sternly. Just the bequest of God's grace or the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ upon you. No hint whatever is given that they constitute the city, but there is the inscription of their names outside. Essentially what John saw next was Paradise regained (cf. 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. "And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and encompassed the camp of the saints, and the beloved city." It is not meant that he who was more honoured in service than any of the twelve, he whom the Lord used for bringing out the church of the heavenly places, will not have his own most singular dignity in this glorious scene. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. That is to say, the heavenly saints are viewed still as the heads of the glorified priesthood, and also the executive in the administration of God's judgments. He gets his power and they get theirs for one and the same time. 22:18,19 I give this warning to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. In this respect, this new Paradise stands in strong contrast with that in which Adam was placed at his creation, where there seems to have been a single tree that was designated as the tree of life, Genesis 3:22-23. 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. Lenski correctly observed that all these terms: avenue, river, and wood (tree) are comprehensive and collective."[15]. "The ten horns which thou sawest AND the beast" would give unquestionably the right form of the verse. Hence the horns and the beast join together and desolate the harlot. Here occurs a remarkable change in the sequence of the visions, though easily understood; for it must be evident that there is nothing to follow this in point of time. Can anything be less reasonable (even taking that ground, low as it is) than that the various rulers of the western powers, Catholic kings, join the Pope in destroying his own city, or his own church, whichever Babylon may be made? What is there to hinder it? There is not going to be any interruption in history. Revelation 22:1-2 New International Reader's Version (1998) (NIrV) 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life. Bear this in mind: to leave the last part out is fatal to any accurate understanding of the Revelation. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life ( Proverbs 13:14). The dog may, then, be a symbol of all that is disgusting. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations". 22 # Matt. It does not make the slightest difference which view is taken. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the fornicators and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and acts falsehood. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. This is not unrighteous, but, on the contrary, the highest justice from a divine point of view. "Hey, Lord, I know you are an austere man. "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. Thus the language of symbol is as definite as any other. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Finally they will destroy her. And then comes the gathering and the battle. H. B. Swete identifies the river of life with the Spirit. Here it would seem we have just what answers to that: this name none knew but He Himself. And he said to me: "See that you do not do this. In as many things as she glorified herself, and lived luxuriously, so much torment and sorrow give to her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am not a widow, and I shall in no wise see sorrow.". [Note: Dillow, p. Again John making the mistake that man so often makes worshipping the instrument of God. So far they were right. Instead of taking warning from the wickedness of those before her, who had seduced on the one hand, and persecuted. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. The question is, why is she thus designated? The tree of life is mentioned three times in Genesis 2, in Eden, and again four times in Revelation, three of those in the final chapter. Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. That is not at all the way in which the guests are spoken of. ". "The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." (Revelation 22:2d) Just like in Ezekiel's vision, the leaves of the trees that grow alongside this river of life are for healing. Could this be some literal tree with visible fruit? . Their doom was awful, but by no means after the same sort as their two leaders. II. The leaves which are for the healing of the nations in Revelation 22:2 is derived from the word which refers to tribes of people, particularly the tribes of Jacob/Israel (e.g. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright the morning star. There never has been a like experience. He will not fail to take up the gage He has given our hearts. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, See, here is water! It is going to be a neat tree. The heavenly state which was before described as a city, and called the new Jerusalem, is here described as a paradise, alluding to the earthly paradise which was lost by the sin of the first Adam; here is another paradise restored by the second Adam. Foolishness. These are the martyrs of Revelation 6:1-17, those long since seen under the altar, poured out like burnt-offerings to God. Revelation 22:2 down the middle of the main street of the city. He includes in himself all time, for he is the first and the last. 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." It is the truth, and not the wording of the truth, which must not be changed. We have just seen that it is the eternal state. Babylon must hear, I do not doubt, the final testimony of God the gospel of the kingdom that is to go forth in the last days; but she loves her pleasure and power, and refuses truth. 2. 27 And he rose and went. It is reigning. What does Revelation 22:2 mean? Thus there is, indeed, a succession of fruit-crops, but it is the same kind of fruit. how the Greek for salve derives from kolla, which often denotes "in ancient medical language of the uniting of wounds". John returns to his vision that in the city of God there can never be any darkness nor need of any other light, for the presence of God is there. Bible Gateway passage: Revelation 22 - Tree of Life Version Then there is the reigning power, but not the execution of judgment in this awful fashion which is attributed to the Lord Himself. All our springs of grace, comfort, and glory, are in God; and all our streams from him are through the mediation of the Lamb. The gospel is always in season, 2 Timothy 4:2. And he said unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand ( Revelation 22:10 ). 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. Man on the earth has his portion in the goodness of a God who is manifesting His kingdom. 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. In short, no testimony can avail, no work, power, or glory without the word of God applied by the Spirit of God. Its appearance is as the dazzling display of a fabulous jewelry store; we wonder if there is no soft grass to sit upon, no green trees to enjoy, and no water to drink or food to eat. In the midst of the city street may be taken, not as the end of the first sentence, but as the beginning of the second. All is then fixed. But this seems to be a fanciful interpretation. 22:1, 2; Gen. 2:9-11). By the crystal flowing river With the ransomed I will sing And forever and forever Praise and glorify the King". Directly he had sinned, the word of God came, and he was called. 22:12,13 Behold, I am coming soon, and I have my reward with me, to render to each man, as his work is. Look back over the years since you found Jesus Christ as your Saviour and first committed yourself to Him. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. There was no doubt at all of the character of the emperor; there never had been a worse than he; yet God took that very opportunity to lay this on the Christians as their duty to the worldly authority outside and over them. Here is the symbol that Jesus Christ has everything within himself and needs nothing from any other source. But he ought to have withstood it I do not mean in vengeance (for that belongs to the Lord), but as holily hating the sin itself, yet withal in the deepest compassion for his parent. This, then, would be another warning that every man is writing his own destiny. Moral unfitness has its just censure; but sovereign grace must be asserted also. Closely allied with this is the picture so common in Scripture of the fountain of life; we have it in Revelation 7:17; Revelation 21:6 in the Revelation. For who knows not the horrors of Mariolatry? This gives great beauty to the imagery. III. It was important, just because it is the bride, the Lamb's wife, to show that angels are there, and further, that Israel is not forgotten. So we'll go back now and retrace the rebellion of man from the beginning; its effect upon man, mankind and God's patient dealing in love, longsuffering as He draws forth His plan and draws man to His plan that ultimately we might share with Him that eternity in His kingdom of love and grace.So may the Lord be with you and may the Lord bless you and may He prepare your heart as we prepare to start through once more. "And he that spoke with me had a golden reed as a measure, that he might measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. It is certain that we ought to read (not "upon" but) "and* the beast." There will be no accursed thing there. Nor is there any real reason to wonder at their deriving help from partial light. 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." The Greeks used from alpha ( G1) to omega ( G5598) and the Hebrews from aleph to tau to indicate completeness. Rev 21:5 "I am making all things new." 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. Everything about it will contribute to sustain life. In this passage there is an ambiguity of punctuation. as the Complut. 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. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years." By its quality--pure and clear as crystal. We are not to suppose that there will be sickness, and a healing process in heaven, for that idea is expressly excluded in Revelation 21:4; but the meaning is, that the life and health of that blessed world will have been imparted by partaking of that tree; and the writer says that, in fact, it was owing to it that they who dwell there had been healed of their spiritual maladies, and had been made to live forever. (ii) "Let him that hears say: Come!" It is, therefore, by no means impossible that these words are the words not of John but of a later scribe, anxious that none should alter the book in the days to come. The Cincinnati Reds (11-15) will put their four-game win streak to the test when they visit the Oakland Athletics (5-22) Saturday at 4:07 PM ET on. The heavenly city, which is the full expression of blessedness on high, has no temple because it is all a temple. ", It is I John who am the hearer and the seer of these things. 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. We are not to infer, however, that there will not be variety in the occupations and the joys of the heavenly state, for there can be no doubt that there will be ample diversity in the employments, and in the sources of happiness, in heaven; but the single thought expressed here is, that the means of life will be abundant: the trees of life will be everywhere, and they will be constantly yielding fruit.
Washington County Bookings Utah, Articles W