Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whoever will… I. THE CRY FOR CHRIST'S ADVENT. It is this advent that is the great theme of the Apocalypse, and the central objects of its scenes. It opens with, "Behold, He cometh"; it goes on with, "Behold, I come as a thief"; and it ends with, "Behold, I come quickly." All the predictions throughout the book bear upon this event, and carry forward the Church's hopes to this great goal. But there are three parties here represented as uttering this prayer. 1. The Spirit. He cries, "Come." What so interests the Spirit in the advent? (1) Christ will then be fully glorified, and it is the Spirit's office to glorify Christ. (2) Then the whole earth will be converted, and the Spirit will get full scope to all His longings and yearnings over men. 2. The Bride — the Lamb's wife, the whole Church as a body, as a virgin betrothed, looking for the marriage day. 3. He that heareth. "Blessed is he that heareth." Not as if the hearer was not part of the Bride; but the word thus singles out each one on whose ears the message is falling. The moment you hear it, you should cry, "Come, Come, Lord Jesus!" For then our sins and sorrows are ended; then our victory is won; then this vile body is changed; then we meet and unite forever with the loved and lost; then shall the ransomed of the Lord return, and come to Zion with songs. II. THE INVITATION TO THE SINNER. 1. The inviter — Christ Himself; the same who said, "Come unto Me." He invited once on earth: He now invites from heaven with the same urgency and love. 2. The persons invited. Do you want to be happy? Joy is here for you, whoever and whatever you are. 3. The blessings invited to — the water of life. "Water," that which will thoroughly refresh you and quench your thirst; "water of life," living and life-giving; a quickening well; a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. Not a shower, nor a stream, but a well — a fountain (Revelation 21:6). 4. The price — Freely! Free to each one as He is; though the chief of sinners, the emptiest, wickedest, thirstiest of the sons of men. 5. The time — the invitation comes forth at the close of that book which sums up all revelation. It contains Christ's last words, meant specially for the last days of a weary, thirsty world; when men, having tried every pleasure, vanity, lust, folly, and found nothing, having exhausted every cup and broken every cistern, will be found more thoroughly weary and thirsty than before. (H. Bonar, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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