Revelation 22:7

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) Behold, I come quickly.—The words of Christ Himself follow (perhaps quoted by the angel), to confirm the declaration of the last verse. These confirming words are an embodiment of the spirit of the whole Apocalypse. And behold I am coming quickly! The Apocalypse is the revelation of the coming One; it reveals the dealings of Him who came, who comes, and is to come. (Comp. Note on Revelation 1:4.) The blessing given in Revelation 1:3 is in part repeated here, but it is a benediction emphatically on those who keep the words of the book. Blessed is he who keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book. It is not in reading, or wondering, or talking, but in keeping, that the blessing comes. He that loves Christ will keep His commandments (John 14:15), even as Christ loved His Father, and kept His commandments (John 15:10). Those who so keep the sayings or words of Christ in this book will stand firm as those who have built upon the rock (Matthew 7:24-25). The blessing of Christ to such was victory over death. “If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death” (John 8:51).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

22:6-19 The Lord Jesus spake by the angel, solemnly confirming the contents of this book, particularly of this last vision. He is the Lord God faithful and true. Also by his messengers; the holy angels showed them to holy men of God. They are things that must shortly be done; Christ will come quickly, and put all things out of doubt. And by the integrity of that angel who had been the apostle's interpreter. He refused to accept religious worship from John, and reproved him for offering it. This presents another testimony against idolatrous worship of saints and angels. God calls every one to witness to the declarations here made. This book, thus kept open, will have effect upon men; the filthy and unjust will be more so, but it will confirm, strengthen, and further sanctify those who are upright with God. Never let us think that a dead or disobedient faith will save us, for the First and the Last has declared that those alone are blessed who do his commandments. It is a book that shuts out form heaven all wicked and unrighteous persons, particularly those who love and make lies, therefore cannot itself be a lie. There is no middle place or condition. Jesus, who is the Spirit of prophecy, has given his churches this morning-light of prophecy, to assure them of the light of the perfect day approaching. All is confirmed by an open and general invitation to mankind, to come and partake freely of the promises and of the privileges of the gospel. The Spirit, by the sacred word, and by convictions and influence in the sinner's conscience, says, Come to Christ for salvation; and the bride, or the whole church, on earth and in heaven, says, Come and share our happiness. Lest any should hesitate, it is added, Let whosoever will, or, is willing, come and take of the water of life freely. May every one who hears or reads these words, desire at once to accept the gracious invitation. All are condemned who should dare to corrupt or change the word of God, either by adding to it, or taking from it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Behold, I come quickly - See the notes on Revelation 1:3. The words used here are undoubtedly the words of the Redeemer, although they are apparently repeated by the angel. The meaning is, that they were used by the angel as the words of the Redeemer. See Revelation 22:12, Revelation 22:20.

Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book - That receives them as a divine communication; that makes use of them to comfort himself in the days of darkness, persecution, and trial; and that is obedient to the precepts here enjoined. See the notes on Revelation 1:3.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7. "And" is omitted in Coptic and Andreas with English Version, but is inserted by A, B, Vulgate and Syriac.

blessed—(Re 1:3).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

I come quickly to the last judgment. He is a happy man that observeth and keepeth in memory, that understandeth, believeth, and liveth up to

the prophecy of this book.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Behold, I come quickly,.... These are the words not of the angel, but of Christ, as is manifest from Revelation 22:12 and which are to be understood not of Christ's coming in his power to destroy Jerusalem, for this was past when John had these visions, and wrote this book; but of the second and personal coming of Christ to judgment, as is clear from Revelation 22:12 which though it will not be sooner than the time appointed, yet will be as soon as that time is come, and sooner than is generally expected by men. The Ethiopic version adds, "as a thief", as in Revelation 16:15 and because the second coming of Christ is an affair of the utmost moment, and will be attended with events of the greatest consequence and importance, in which the visions of this book issue, a "behold" is prefixed to it, as a note of attention and admiration:

blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book; this book is a prophecy of things to come, and therefore cannot refer to the times of Jerusalem's destruction, which some interpreters make it chiefly to concern, for then it would be a narrative of things past; the sayings of it are the things contained in it; to keep these sayings is to read them with observation, to take notice of the accomplishment of them, so far as it has taken place, to keep them in mind and memory, to meditate upon them, and through the grace of God to steer the life and conversation according to the instructions, directions, and cautions here given; and such are blessed in life, and will be in death; they will die in the Lord, share in the first resurrection, and enter through the gates into the city.

Geneva Study Bible

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Here as elsewhere it is irrelevant to ask, who is the speaker? Angels are the envoys and mouthpieces of God here as in the O.T., and therefore entitled to speak in his name or in that of Christ. “The Oriental mind hardly distinguishes between an ancient personage and one who appears in his power and spirit” (A. B. Davidson on Ezekiel 34:23). In 4 Esd. 5:31–40 the angel is also addressed as if he were the Lord—the angelic personality evidently fading into the divine, as here, and the writer being equally unconscious of any incongruity in the representation (cf. Zechariah 3:1-4). As the “showing” of the ἅ δ. γ. ἐν τ. is (Revelation 1:1) an ἀποκ. of Jesus, he (or a word of his) naturally breaks in (7 a).—τηρῶν κ.τ.λ., an apocalyptic form of emphasis. Cf. e.g., Slav. En. xlvii. 1–3 and xxxvi. (“tell thou thy sons and all thy household before Me, that they may listen to what is spoken to them by thee … and let them always keep my commandments, and begin to read and understand the books written out by thee”). All apocalypses were meant to be transmitted to mankind, but the usual method of delivery is complicated (cf. En. lxxxii. 1, 2; Slav. En. xxxiii. 9, xlvii. 2, 3, etc.).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. Behold] Read, And behold.

I come quickly] Spoken no doubt in the name of Christ, though hardly by Him. Cf. Revelation 3:11, and Revelation 22:12; Revelation 22:20.

blessed is he that keepeth &c.] Revelation 1:3. “Sayings” should again be words, as in the parallel passage.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 7. - Behold, I come quickly (cf. vers. 12, 20; Revelation 3:11). The narration passes into the words of Christ himself, just as in ver. 12 and Revelation 11:3. Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. Because they are "faithful and true" (ver. 6). The command given in Revelation 1:11, 19 is now supposed to have been carried out (cf. the same words in Revelation 1:3). Revelation 22:7

Vincent's Word Studies

Keepeth (τηρῶν)

A favorite word with John, occurring in his writings more frequently than in all the rest of the New Testament together. See on reserved 1 Peter 1:4.

Book (βιβλίου)

Diminutive, properly a little book or scroll. See on writing, Matthew 19:7; see on bill, Mark 10:2; see on book, Luke 4:17.