Revelation 22:7

22:7 Blessed: The sixth blessing of Revelation (see 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:14) is for those who obey. Obedience is key to God’s blessing.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

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

blessed-- (Rev 1:3).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(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 Rev_1:4.) The blessing given in Rev_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 (Joh_14:15), even as Christ loved His Father, and kept His commandments (Joh_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 (Mat_7:24-25). The blessing of Christ to such was victory over death. “If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death” (Joh_8:51).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

7. Behold] Read, And behold.

I come quickly] Spoken no doubt in the name of Christ, though hardly by Him. Cf. Rev_3:11, and Rev_22:12; Rev_22:20.

blessed is he that keepeth &c.] Rev_1:3. “Sayings” should again be words, as in the parallel passage.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Behold, I come quickly,.... These are the words not of the angel, but of Christ, as is manifest from Rev 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 Rev 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 Rev 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.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

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

Ver. 7. Blessed is he that keepeth] In memory and manners, Rev 1:3. Those were pronounced happy that read and hear, but so as they retain in mind and practise the contents of this book.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Behold, I come quickly - See the notes on Rev 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 Rev 22:12, Rev 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 Rev 1:3.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Behold I come quickly. Man’s life is short, and at his death he must give an account to God. All time is short, if compared with eternity. St. John (ver. 8) was again for casting himself at the feet of the Angel, though here it is not expressed whether it were to adore God, or whether it were by an inferior veneration to the Angel, often expressed by adoration. (Witham)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

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.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

7. Behold—A part of God’s sent prophetic message.

Blessed—See note on Rev_1:3.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Behold, I come quickly. (cf. vers. 12, 20 Rev_3:11) The narration passes into the words of Christ himself, just as in ver. 12 and Rev_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 Rev_1:11, 19 is now supposed to have been carried out. (cf. the same words in Rev_1:3)

Vers. 7, 12-15. The final word of blessing.

The holy book opens with a vision of paradisaical blessedness. Alas! soon the feet of men tread the sands of the wilderness. But the purposes of the Ever Blessed are to lead men back to a regained Paradise. This is the mission of the Redeemer. In his great sermon on the mount he opens his mouth and pronounces as a first word, "Blessed." It was his programme to restore men to blessedness. His last word corresponds with his first, and is in harmony with the spirit of his whole life work. For the comfort of his Church in all ages of her struggle with the powers of evil that from the first have brought only cursing upon men, he has pictured to the eye of faith and hope the visions of his own conquest over evil, and has appended the promise of the highest estate of blessedness. With these words cometh the end. In the keeping of the words of this book that blessedness is gained (ver. 7). And so the righteous one is urged to continue in his righteousness, and the holy to seek a perennial holiness, even though the filthy and the unrighteous remain in their filth and uncleanness (ver. 11). "The Alpha and the Omega" who spake the alpha of blessing now utters the omega. It is a final word the last till "he cometh." This blessedness is to the pure they who "wash their robes." He has opened the fountain where all sinful stains may be cleansed away. The blessedness consists

I IN THE ATTAINMENT OF TRUE LIFE. The tree of life is no longer unapproachable. Now they may "eat and live forever." The tree is "in the midst of the Paradise of God." It is the sacramental pledge of a life of eternal blessedness. "Neither can they die any more" is fulfilled in them. The pure only truly live. For the true life of man is only to be had in fellowship with God the Pure. The unholy cannot see God; they cannot walk with God; they cannot share the blessedness of the holy communion. Separate from him, they die as a branch broken from a tree. Now the pure live, "I in them, and thou in me.

II IN THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY COMMUNITY, AMIDST THE SANCTITIES AND SECURITY OF THE HOLY CITY. They are separated from the impure and the vile. These are "without." The love of God has issued in the eternal life with God; the love of man in the everlasting communion of the holy. Personal and individual life in its utmost blessedness, and the communal life restored peace, truth, and love reigning. Blessed, blessed lot of them who are wise enough to hear and to keep the sayings of this book! Wherefore let us bend our heads lowlily over its sacred page, and read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest, that by patience and comfort of the Scriptures we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which we have in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Now unto him who hath begotten us to this hope be paid the praise of eternity. Amen. R.G.

Glimpses through the barrier: the moral advent and mission of Christ.

"Behold, I come quickly," etc.

I THE MORAL ADVENT OF CHRIST. "I come quickly," or, "I am coming quickly." There are four advents of Christ.

1. His incarnation. God was manifest in the flesh.

2. His dispensation in human history. The destruction of Jerusalem, as well as the death of individual man, are spoken of as the coming of Christ. In fact, every event in human life is a Divine advent.

3. To his spiritual influence on the human mind. He says, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you," etc. He comes to convince the world of "sin, righteousness, and judgment;" comes to establish his reign over human souls.

4. The final day of retribution. There is every reason to believe there is to be a grand crisis in human history a crisis that shall usher in the ultimate, the permanent reign of universal retribution. All these advents are going on in every department of human life, and going on quickly. There is no suspense, no delay.

II HIS MORAL MISSION. "Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book." "Prophecy" does not, of course, mean prognostications or idle fables, the inventions of imposture, but didactic truth, veritable facts and principles. The testimony of Christ is to eternal facts and absolute principles. Hence he himself is the Truth. He himself is the Word of God.

CONCLUSION. Brothers, let us profoundly ponder the constant comings of Christ to us. Indeed, his constant visitation preserves our existence every moment. Let us mark well that in all, in each event, he has a moral mission, some mighty testimony to the immutable realities of human life, duty, and destiny. D.T.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Behold, I come quickly - Saith our Lord himself, to accomplish these things. Happy is he that keepeth - Without adding or diminishing, verses 18, 19, ver. 18, 19 the words of this book.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

7. Behold, I come quickly. These words are repeated in verses 12 and 20. It is the coming of Christ that is meant. It may be that the reference is to his coming to work out “the things which must shortly be done,” or he may refer to his final coming, which was not far away according to the divine measure. Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings. Such an one will be found faithful when the Lord comes.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

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 Eze 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. Zec 3:1-4 ). As the “showing” of the ἅ δ . γ . ἐν τ . is (Rev 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.).

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

7. καὶ ἰδού, 1 and Primas[875] omit καί.

[875] Primasius, edited by Haussleiter.

ἔρχομαι. אc has ἔρχονται, 12 ἔρχεται.

7. ἔρχομαι ταχύ. Spoken no doubt in the name of Christ, though hardly by Him: cf. Rev 3:11 and Rev 22:12; Rev 22:20.

μακάριος ὁ τηρῶν. Rev 1:3.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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

Book [βιβλιου] . Diminutive, properly a little book or scroll. See on writing, Mt 19:7; bill, Mr 10:2; book, Luk 4:17.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.