Revelation 22 -
VERSE 18. For I
testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If
any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that
are written in this book: 19. 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.
(Excerpt taken from
Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith 1897-1911 Editions)
What is it to add
to, or take from, the book of this prophecy? Let it be borne in mind that it is
the book of this prophecy, or the Revelation, which is the subject of remark;
hence the words concerning adding to or taking from have exclusive reference to
this book. Nothing can be called an addition to this book except something
added to it with the intention of having it considered as a genuine part of the
book of Revelation. To take from the book would be to suppress some portion of
it. As the book of Revelation could not be called an addition to the book of
Daniel, so if God should see fit to make further revelations to us by his
Spirit, it would be no addition to the book of Revelation, unless it should
claim to be a part of that book.
VERSE 20. He which
testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord
Jesus. 21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Amen.
The word of God is
given to instruct us in reference to the plan of salvation. The second coming
of Christ is to be the climax and completion of that great scheme. It is most
appropriate, therefore, that the book should close with the solemn announcement,
"Surely I come quickly." Be it ours to join with fervent hearts in
the response of the apostle, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
Thus closes the
volume of inspiration, - closes with that which constitutes the best of all
promises, and the substance of the Christian's hope - the return of Christ.
Then shall the elect be gathered, and bid a long farewell to all the ills of
this mortal life. How rich in all that is precious to the Christian
p 775 -- is this
promise! Wandering an exile in this evil world, separated from the few of like
precious faith, he longs for the companionship of the righteous, the communion
of saints. Here he shall obtain it; for all the good shall be gathered, not from
one land only, but from all lands; not from one age only, but from all ages, -
the great harvest of all the good, coming up in long and glorious procession,
while angels shout the harvest home, and the timbrels of heaven sound forth in
joyous concert; and a song before unheard, unknown, in the universe, the song
of the redeemed, shall add its marvelous notes of rapture and melody to the
universal jubilee. So shall the saints be gathered, to be joyful in each
other's presence forever and ever, -
"While the
glory of God, like a molten sea,
Bathes the immortal
company."
This gathering has
nothing in it but that which is desirable. The saints can but sigh and pray for
it. Like Job, they cry out for the presence of God. Like David, they cannot be
satisfied till they awake in his likeness. In this mortal condition we groan,
being burdened, not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon. We can
but be "upon tiptoe" for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the
body. Our eyes are open for its visions, our ears are waiting to catch the
sounds of the heavenly music, and our hearts are beating in anticipation of its
infinite joy. Our appetites are growing sharp for the marriage supper. We cry
out for the living God, and long to come into his presence. Come, Lord Jesus,
come quickly. No news more welcome than the announcement that the command has
gone forth from the Lord to his angels, Gather together unto me my elect from
the four winds of heaven.
The place, of
gathering has nothing but attraction. Jesus, the fairest among ten thousand, is
there. The throne of God and the Lamb, in the glory of which the sun disappears
as the stars vanish in the light of day, is there. The city of jasper and gold,
whose builder and maker is God, is there. The river of life, sparkling with the
glory of God and flowing from his throne in infinite purity and peace, is
there. The tree of
p 776 -- life, with
its healing leaves and life-giving fruit, is there. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
Noah, Job, and Daniel, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, the perfection of
heavenly society, will be there. Visions of beauty are there; fields of living
green, flowers that never fade, streams that never dry, products in variety
that never ends, fruits that never decay, crowns that never dim, harps that
know no discord, and all else of which a taste purified from sin and raised to
the plane of immortality, can form any conception or think desirable, will be
there.
We must be there. We
must bask in the forgiving smiles of God, to whom we have become reconciled,
and sin no more; we must have access to that exhaustless fount of vitality, the
fruit of the tree of life, and never die; we must repose under the shadow of
its leaves, which are for the service of the nations, and never again grow
weary; we must drink from the life-giving fountain, and thirst nevermore; we
must bathe in its silvery spray, and be refreshed; we must walk on its golden
sands, and feel that we are no longer exiles; we must exchange the cross for
the crown, and feel that the days of our humiliation are ended; we must lay
down the staff and take the palm branch, and feel that the journey is done; we
must put off the rent garments of our warfare for the white robes of triumph,
and feel that the conflict is ended and the victory gained; we must exchange
the toil-worn, dusty girdle of our pilgrimage for the glorious vesture of
immortality, and feel that sin and the curse can never more pollute us. O day
of rest and triumph, and every good, delay not thy dawning! Let the angels at
once be sent to gather the elect. Let the promise be fulfilled which bears in
its train these matchless glories. EVEN S0, C0ME LORD JESUS.
*******
Come Lord Jesus
please! PLEASE!
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