This [pure rive of water of life] alludeth to these mystical waters of the sanctuary, (Ezek. 47:1–8, Joel 3:18) called living waters, (Zech. 14:8–9) [clear as crystal] pure, without any mixture; whereby we may understand all spiritual blessings flowing from Jesus Christ, the fountain of the water of life freely and abundantly. See Revelation 21:6 and verse 17 of this chapter.

Verse 2 by [the tree of life] we are to understand the Lord Jesus Christ, from whom all our spiritual fruit is found, (Hos. 14:5–8) [which bare twelve manner of fruits] that is, all the fruits of the spirit, (Gal. 5:22–23) [and yieldeth her fruit every month] continually. [And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations] (as Mal. 4:2–3 and Ezek. 47:12 and Hos. 14:4–5).

[Verse 3 And there shall be no more curse] that is, no kind of misery, sorrow, sickness, affliction, or calamity in the holy city, the new Jerusalem. [But the throne of God, and of the Lamb shall be in it] that is, in the holy city. [And his servants] that is, his saints, [shall serve him] that is, shall worship him in spirit and truth, (John 4:22–24).

[Verse 4. And they shall see his face] By seeing his face, we are to understand such manifestations and open visions of God in Christ, as the saints have in Heaven. Read 1 Corinthians 13:12 and 1 John 3:1–3. [And his name shall be in their foreheads] (See Rev. 14:1)

[Verse 5. And there shall be no night there] there will be no darkness in the new Jerusalem, nor will the inhabitants of that holy city need the [light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light.] See (Rev. 21:23 and Isa. 60:19–20) [And they shall reign forever and ever] (Rev. 5:9–10 and Dan. 7:27 and Rev. 11:15).

[Verse 6 These sayings are faithful and true] And so are all the words of God in the holy scripture, (2 Tim. 3:16 and Rev. 21:5) [And the Lord God of the holy prophets, (Isa. 44:26) who confirmeth the word of his servants, and performeth the counsel of his messengers.

This coming of Jesus Christ, (Rev. 7:12–20) is his second coming, called his appearing the second time, which will be personal (Heb. 9:27–28), visible (Acts 1:11), and all his saints with him (Matthew 24:30 and Rev. 1:7), To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God even our father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints (1 Thess. 3:13). [Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this Book (Rev. 1:3 See the exposition)].

[Verse 8, I John saw these things and heard them] This is the disciple which testifieth these things: and we know, that his testimony is true, (John 21:24) [I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel, etc.] It is neither lawful to worship any creature instead of God, nor to fall down before any creature to worship God, (Rev. 19:10).

[Verse 9, See thou do it not] (Ex. 20:4–5, Lev. 26:1 and Deut. 5:8–9) Worship God, For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God; and him only shalt thou serve (Matthew 4:10).

God would not have the words of the prophecy of this book to be kept secret, and therefore Christ commanded his servant John to write them in a book, (Rev. 1:11–19) and forbids him to seal them, [for the time (of fulfilling these sayings) is at hand] that is, near, and shall shortly come to pass.

Verse 11 here are two sorts of persons, of whom Christ testifies will be found in the same state and condition of soul at the second coming of Christ, as they were under the dispensation of the gospel of the grace of God; one sort of persons are unjust and filthy; the other sort are righteous and holy. Of both sorts Christ doth positively determine, that they shall so remain, abide, and be, until he come to judgment, and unto eternity. He that is unjust or filthy, let him be so still; and he that is righteous and holy, let him be so still; and so forever and ever.

This is the second appearance and coming of Jesus Christ. See verse 7 of this chapter. [And my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be] Read Isaiah 40:10 and 62:11 and Revelation 11:15–18 compared with Matthew 16:27–28, Luke 22:29–30 and Matthew 19:20. The Lord Jesus Christ will give a reward to the wicked and ungodly, according to the merit and desert of their works; and he will also give to the righteous and godly a reward of grace according to their good works, (Rom. 2:6–12). Who will render to every man according to his deeds. To them who by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality; eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness; indignation and wrath; tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the gentile. But glory, honour, and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the gentile. For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law, shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the Law, shall be judged by the law. See the exposition of Revelation 1:11 and 3:14.

By the commandments of God, we are to understand the moral law which Christ came not to destroy, but to fulfill. Therefore the apostle told the primitive saints, that they were not without the law to God, but under the law to Christ, (1 Cor. 9:21). This doing of the commandments of God is not in the oldness of the letter, but in the newness of the spirit, (Rom. 7:6). This blessedness is two fold; first, [They have right to the tree of life] not by merit, but of mercy and free grace. Secondly, an entrance through the gates into the holy city, the new Jerusalem, and the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2 Pet. 1:10–11, 15) [For without are dogs, etc.] That is, all sorts of ungodly and wicked men and women.

[I Jesus] See chapter 1 verse 1 [the root] that is, David’s Lord, [and the offspring] that is, David’s son, (Isa. 11:1–10 and Matthew 22:45 and Ps. 110:1). God blessed forever, (Rom. 9:5) the day after, (2 Pet. 1:19; Luke 1:78).

By the [bride] here, we are to understand the new Jerusalem, who shall come down from heaven as a bride adorned for her husband, (Rev. 19:7–8 and 21:2–10) the church of God, and the holy spirit of God, and all converted persons do invite all sorts of sinners, especially, thirsty sinners, without exception against any persons, that are willing, and without any price, to take Christ freely, (Isa. 55:1–3).

These two verses contain a full confirmation of this Book of the Revelation, and the prophecies thereof, and of all things therein revealed, unto which no man may add, nor may any man [take away from the words of the book of this prophecy] under the penalty of suffering [the plagues that are written in this book] and also, under the loss of [his part in the book of life, etc.]

Our blessed Lord Jesus Christ hath given his testimony unto the truth of the things written in this Book; and a third time asserts his second coming, [Surely I come quickly.] Unto which, the church, and all the saints of the earth, that look and wait for his coming from heaven, echo, saying, [Even so, come Lord Jesus] (v. 21). This was the usual salutation of the apostles in their Epistles unto the churches of saints, (2 Cor. 1:2 and 13:14). All saving grace and spiritual peace, do flow from God through Jesus Christ, unto the churches and saints of God. Amen.