Revelation 21:5-8 And he that sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.… I. THE DESCRIPTION, which contains the speaker's character. 1. It regards His personal nature, and shows the duration and immutability of His being. 2. It regards agency, and is intended to express not only its continuance, but its peculiarity and exclusiveness; that He is the commencer, and that He is the completer; that in all influences He is all and in all. First, let us look at creation. Here, it is true, He is the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end." "Without Him was not anything made that was made." Secondly, let us look at salvation; and here it is equally true that He is "the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end." Thirdly, in providence. Fourthly, in the Church He is Alpha and Omega. II. Let us proceed to consider THE PROMISE, in which we shall find the sinner's hope, and therefore cur hope. "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." 1. The excellence of the blessing itself. Observe the representation; it is water — it is water from the fountain. He is a fountain; always full, always flowing, always fresh. 2. The manner in which it is to be imparted — "freely." Worthiness has no recommendation here, and unworthiness has no barrier. 3. The distinction by which the recipients are, characterised. "I will give to him that is athirst of the water of life freely. Enjoyment does not arise only from the excellency of the object, but from its adaptation to our state, to our wants, to our wishes, and to our hopes. Then the gratification it affords is satisfaction; and this is the case here. Without this thirst, what is even the water of life itself? (W. Jay.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. |
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