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And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
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.
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

New Defender's Study Bible Notes

22:7 blessed. The promised blessing at the beginning of the Book of Revelation (Revelation 1:3) is here repeated at its end, with an emphasis on the vital importance of keeping (that is, safeguarding against dilution or distortion or addition) the “sayings” (that is, the very words) of the book, right up to the always-imminent coming of the Lord.


22:11 filthy still. This startling pronouncement, apparently uttered by Christ Himself, indicates that the direction of one’s character, as developed in this present life, will continue the same trend in the future life. In fact, the word “still” could well be translated “more.” That is, those who refuse the righteousness of Christ in this life will not show regret or repentance when consigned to hell in the future life, but will increase in ungodliness and ugliness instead. That may even be a part of hell’s torment, existing forever in an environment of increasing corruption. Those with Christ in the new Jerusalem, on the other hand, will continue to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).


22:14 Blessed. This is the seventh and last of the “beatitudes” in Revelation. See also Revelation 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7.


22:14 do his commandments. Some manuscripts read “wash their robes” instead of “do His commandments,” and it is true that men are not saved by the law but by grace through faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus. There is a reference (Revelation 7:14) to the tribulation saints who have “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” and the latter rendering would be consistent with that particular verse. However, there are at least a dozen other references in John’s writings to keeping the commandments of Christ (John 14:15,21; 15:10 (2); I John 2:3-4; 3:22, 24; 5:2-3; Revelation 12:17; 14:12). Although no one is saved by keeping commandments, it is surely true that any person who is genuinely saved will love His commandments and seek to keep them. Jesus said: “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15), and John would add: “Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar” (I John 2:3-4). It seems that the strong weight of internal evidence, as well as textual evidence, favors the traditional King James rendering.


22:15 dogs. The inclusion of “dogs” along with whoremongers, murderers, and other gross sinners would indicate that the sin of being a “dog” is also a flagrant perversion of God’s moral law. The most likely connotation of the use of such a pejorative here would be in reference to the sin of sodomy, commonly practiced by the licentious Gentiles of John’s time, even in their pagan temple worship (Romans 1:26-27). This meaning is derived from God’s command in Deuteronomy 23:17-18: “There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” The sin of homosexuality, as well as prostitution of any kind, is “abomination unto the LORD,” and whatsoever “worketh abomination” shall not enter the city (Revelation 21:27).


22:16 churches. This is the first reference to “churches” since the letters to the churches at the beginning of the book (e.g., Revelation 3:22). This is undoubtedly because there will be no true churches as such in the world during the events of the tribulation period, as recorded in Revelation 4–19. However, everything in the book is intended for the instruction of the churches in this present age—hence, this reminder.


22:16 David. The Lord Jesus Christ is both David’s Creator and his descendant (Matthew 22:41-46). That can only be true if He is both God and Man, the God/Man.


22:16 morning star. Satan had aspired to be “Lucifer, son of the morning” (Isaiah 14:12), where “Lucifer” can also be translated “Day-Star” (Hebrew haylel), referring to Venus, the bright star of the dawning. Here, however, after Satan has been forever banished to the lake of fire, Christ proclaims that He alone is “the bright morning star,” where “morning” in this case is the Greek orthoinos, always referring only to Venus, the star of early dawn. At the end of his Revelation, the Lord is reminding all readers that He, not Satan, is the harbinger of eternal light and life. The great conflict of the ages between Satan and Christ, the old serpent and the promised Seed of the woman, will soon be over. Christ is the true Day-Star, Son of the morning.


22:17 whosoever will. This final invitation of the Bible urges “whosoever will” to come to Christ. The water of everlasting life is freely available to all who thirst for God and His righteousness. There is no need for anyone to go to hell, but salvation is given only to those who will to come. Then, those who have come in answer to the invitation, the Bride, through the indwelling Spirit, join in the invitation, but in addition will cry out for Christ to come. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).


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