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- Verse 22
Revelation 22:11
Verse
Context
Sermons
Vance Havner
Dennis Kinlaw
E.A. Johnston
David Ravenhill
Robert B. ThompsonDavid RavenhillSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still - The time of fulfillment will come so suddenly that there will be but little space for repentance and amendment. What is done must be done instantly; and let him that is holy persevere, and hold fast what he has received.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
unjust--"unrighteous"; in relation to one's fellow men; opposed to "righteous," or "just" (as the Greek may be translated) below. More literally, "he that doeth unjustly, let him do unjustly still." filthy--in relation to one's own soul as unclean before God; opposed to holy," consecrated to God as pure. A omits the clause, "He which is filthy let him be filthy still." But B supports it. In the letter of the Vienne and Lyons Martyrs (in EUSEBIUS) in the second century, the reading is, "He that is lawless (Greek, 'anomos') let him be lawless; and he that is righteous let him be righteous (literally, 'be justified') still." No manuscript is so old. A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, ANDREAS, and CYPRIAN read, "let him do righteousness" (Jo1 2:29; Jo1 3:7). The punishment of sin is sin, the reward of holiness is holiness. Eternal punishment is not so much an arbitrary law, as a result necessarily following in the very nature of things, as the fruit results from the bud. No worse punishment can God lay on ungodly men than to give them up to themselves. The solemn lesson derivable from this verse is, Be converted now in the short time left (Rev 22:10, end) before "I come" (Rev 22:7, Rev 22:12), or else you must remain unconverted for ever; sin in the eternal world will be left to its own natural consequences; holiness in germ will there develop itself into perfect holiness, which is happiness.
John Gill Bible Commentary
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still,.... These words are not to be considered as ironical expressions, such as in Ecc 11:9 much less as an allowance to do injustice and commit filthy actions; nor even as deterring persons from these things, by tacitly suggesting, that should they continue unjust and filthy, they would be severely punished; nor as an anticipation of an objection that might be made against the publication of this book, and the sayings of it, taken from the ill use that some men might make of it, who might be provoked to injure and persecute the saints more and more, or indulge a filthy conversation; but as a prophecy of what would be at the close of time, at the second coming of Christ. The imperative is put for the future, as is usual in the Hebrew language, in which it is said, let such and such things be, when the sense is, that they shall be; see Eze 3:27 Zac 11:9 and so the meaning of this expression is, he that is now found without a righteousness, and full of all unrighteousness, and acts unrighteously, will continue so; there will be no change made in him, no regeneration, renovation, repentance, or reformation; he will remain the same wicked man he ever was; or he that hurts, or does injury to his fellow creatures, will still do mischief; at least he will have the same inclination, though not the opportunity and power, but will attempt it, of which there will be an instance in the wicked dead, when raised; see Rev 20:8. And he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: or he shall be filthy still: all mankind are originally, naturally, and universally filthy, or defiled with sin. Some are cleansed from it by the blood of Christ, others are not; and these will continue polluted, nor will the fire of hell fetch out the filthiness of their hearts and nature: or the words may be rendered, "he that defileth, let him defile still"; though he will not be able to defile the temple of God, or corrupt the good communications of the saints, yet he will continue to defile himself; the same evil thoughts, &c. will proceed out of him as ever, which defile the man. And he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; a truly righteous man is one that is righteous, not by his own righteousness, but by the righteousness of Christ imputed to him; he is one, who by faith looks to Christ for righteousness, and receives it from him, and, in consequence of it, lives soberly, righteously, and godly, and such will continue righteous; not that they will be made more righteous, though they may have a clearer view of their justification, for the sentence of it will be afresh pronounced upon them; but the meaning is, they will ever remain in a justified state, and never enter into condemnation, their righteousness being an everlasting one. The Alexandrian copy, the Complutensian edition, Syriac and Arabic versions, read, "and the righteous man, let him do righteousness still"; as he will do, for such will ever be before the throne of God, and serve him in his temple day and night, Rev 7:15. And he that is holy, let him be holy still. They are holy who are sanctified by the Spirit of God, and none but such will be admitted into the pure state of things upon Christ's second coming; and such will then be perfectly holy, and without sin, and shall continue so: hence we may learn, that justification and sanctification are two distinct things, and that both are durable. With these sayings may be compared some expressions of the Jewish doctors (h), as the sense of Lev 11:43 "if a man defiles himself a little, they defile him much; the gloss on it is, they let, or suffer him to be more defiled; if below, they defile him above; if in this world, they defile him in the world to come; if a man sanctifies himself a little, they sanctify him much; if below, they sanctify him above; if in this world, they sanctify him in the world to come.'' (h) T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 39. 1.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
22:11 Vile people who refuse to accept God’s forgiveness will continue to be vile (see 16:9), yet John reminds the righteous to maintain their integrity. This verse is a warning to evildoers, and it calls the righteous to recognize the crucial significance of Christ’s return relative to their commitments and their actions.
Revelation 22:11
Jesus Is Coming
10Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near.11Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
The Country and the Church
By Vance Havner2.1K32:54MAT 5:23LUK 19:10JHN 6:53GAL 6:141PE 2:13REV 22:11In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for both the Constitution and the Bible to come alive in our lives. He compares the external appearance of freedom in government to an embalmed body, lacking vitality. The preacher also highlights the importance of living by the Bible and not just possessing it as a book that gathers dust. He shares a story about a soldier's willingness to die for his country, drawing a parallel to our commitment to Jesus Christ. The sermon concludes with a reminder to submit to authority and use our freedom responsibly as servants of God.
How Far Will God Go
By Dennis Kinlaw1.4K55:40Plan Of GodPSA 118:26MAT 6:33JHN 1:41JHN 3:16JHN 12:121CO 15:3REV 22:11In this sermon, the speaker discusses how Jesus came in a way that was unexpected and different from what people were anticipating. He gives four examples from the Gospel of John and four counterparts from the book of Revelation to illustrate this point. The speaker emphasizes the vulnerability and self-exposure of Jesus, highlighting moments such as when Jesus washed his disciples' feet and when he allowed himself to be crucified. The sermon emphasizes the importance of surrendering control and allowing God to work in our lives.
Where a Tree Falls It Shall Lay
By E.A. Johnston1.1K36:46RegenerationECC 12:1MAT 11:28JHN 3:14JHN 7:37ACT 2:38ROM 1:16REV 22:11In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of remembering God in our youth before the challenges of old age come. He describes the physical and mental decline that comes with aging, using vivid imagery to illustrate the frailty of life. The preacher also shares a personal experience of a near-death incident to highlight the fact that God has the power to take our lives at any moment. He then discusses the brevity of life and the inevitability of death and judgment. The sermon concludes with a story of a pastor who changed his message to focus on the cross and the blood of Jesus, leading to a powerful revival in his church.
New Covenant- God's Final Goal - Church -Part 3
By Zac Poonen1.1K09:47MAT 6:24MAT 16:18ACT 20:35EPH 6:12COL 3:21TI 6:10REV 22:11
This sermon delves into the concept of spiritual warfare as outlined in Ephesians 6:12, emphasizing the unseen battle against spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly realms. It challenges believers to shift their focus from fighting with human beings to engaging in spiritual warfare against the enemy. The importance of setting our minds on heavenly things, ceasing earthly conflicts, and having authority over Satan through complete surrender to God's will is highlighted.
Capital City Church - Part 3
By David Ravenhill1.0K41:38Christian LifeMAT 5:16JHN 13:8ACT 1:8ROM 13:13EPH 5:8JAS 1:22REV 22:11In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being aware of the time we are living in and being spiritually awake. He highlights the choice we have to either continue in sin or avail ourselves of the grace and power of Jesus Christ to transform our lives. The speaker also discusses the need to dress up spiritually, to be prepared and ready for the coming of the bridegroom. He uses the example of Peter falling asleep when he should have been praying, and how this led to Peter denying Jesus. The overall message is to be conscious of the time, clean up our lives, and be spiritually awake and prepared for the return of Christ.
The Fiery Quarantine
By Robert B. Thompson56157:20MAT 6:33MAT 25:41HEB 2:3REV 21:5REV 22:11In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for people to take their faith seriously and overcome unwholesome things that can bring destruction. He mentions that America has lost the fear of God due to false preaching. The preacher then reads from Revelation 21:5-8, where God declares that He is making everything new and those who overcome will inherit all things. He also highlights the misconception that accepting Christ allows people to live however they want, emphasizing the need for education in both Christians and Muslims.
Time
By David Ravenhill54245:12PRO 7:22ROM 13:111TH 5:62PE 3:14REV 22:11
This sermon emphasizes the importance of spiritual readiness and living a life pleasing to God. It highlights the need to be time-conscious, wake up from spiritual slumber, clean up from sin, dress up in the armor of light, grow up in behavior, lock up against fleshly desires, and act up by responding to God's Word.
The Country and the Church - Vance Havner
By From the Pulpit & Classic Sermons31133:24RadioPSA 84:10MAT 19:16LUK 19:10JHN 6:631PE 2:13REV 22:11In this sermon by Vance Havner, he discusses the parallels between the country and the church. He emphasizes the importance of Christians submitting to the governing authorities and living as servants of God. Havner also highlights the need for the Constitution and the Bible to come alive in the lives of Americans and church members. He warns against the dangers of cheap Christianity and the loss of regard for the flag in America. Overall, Havner calls for a revival in both the country and the church.
Difficult Times in Last Days
By Erlo Stegen0Light in DarknessPerseverance in FaithDAN 12:10MAT 25:41LUK 16:242TI 3:1REV 22:11Erlo Stegen emphasizes the challenges faced in the last days as described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, warning that perilous times will come marked by self-love, greed, and a lack of moral integrity. He reflects on historical persecutions of Christians, illustrating how faith can shine even in darkness, and warns of the increasing evil in the world, urging believers to remain steadfast and distinct from the wickedness around them. Stegen highlights the importance of recognizing the signs of the times and the necessity of living a life that reflects Christ's light amidst the growing darkness.
The Shepherd Seeking the Sheep
By H.J. Vine0ISA 53:6MRK 8:36LUK 15:7JHN 3:16JHN 10:28ACT 17:30ROM 3:23REV 22:11H.J. Vine preaches on the parable in Luke 15:1-7, emphasizing that all individuals, regardless of their perceived goodness, need to repent as all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. He highlights the immense joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, showcasing God's relentless pursuit of those who are lost. The sermon delves into the Trinity's involvement in seeking and rejoicing over the repentant, illustrating the great value God places on each soul. Vine passionately urges listeners to recognize their lost state and accept Jesus as their Savior, who seeks, saves, and carries them home with unwavering love and joy.
Righteousness Unto Sanctification
By Daniel Steele0ACT 15:8ROM 6:191CO 1:301TH 4:32TH 2:13HEB 10:14HEB 12:41PE 1:2REV 22:11Daniel Steele preaches on the divine order of Gospel Salvation, emphasizing the precedence of righteousness leading to perfect holiness, with justification always preceding entire sanctification. He highlights the importance of seeking entire sanctification and the role of the Holy Spirit in purifying believers. Steele clarifies the distinction between justification and sanctification, refuting the idea that they are simultaneous events. He encourages believers to earnestly seek the crowning blessing of entire sanctification through unwavering faith in Christ.
Atonement
By Thomas Munnell0MRK 16:16JHN 3:16ROM 5:8HEB 9:221PE 2:24REV 22:11Thomas Munnell preaches about the profound principles of moral government and the necessity of the Cross in reconciling humanity to God. He delves into the concept of sin, emphasizing its eternal consequences and the need for Jesus Christ as the atoning sacrifice. Munnell illustrates the dilemma between justice and mercy in the salvation of sinners, using analogies from human governments to explain the role of Jesus as the ultimate substitute. He highlights the importance of recognizing the exceeding sinfulness of sin to fully appreciate the atonement and the need for repentance and acceptance of God's mercy.
The Seeds We Are Scattering
By J.R. Miller0Consequences of ActionsInfluencePRO 11:18ECC 11:6MAT 7:2LUK 6:381CO 3:82CO 9:6GAL 6:7HEB 9:27JAS 3:18REV 22:11J.R. Miller emphasizes the profound impact of the seeds we scatter in the lives of others, particularly through the nurturing influence of a mother and the collective contributions of family and society. He illustrates how every action, word, and thought serves as a seed that can grow into either good or evil, shaping character and destiny. The sermon warns that both positive and negative influences leave lasting impressions, and we must be mindful of the seeds we sow, as they will ultimately return to us in some form. Miller encourages listeners to focus on scattering seeds of love, truth, and goodness, while recognizing the inevitable consequences of our actions. He concludes with the reminder that our lives are interconnected, and we will reap what we sow, both in this life and the next.
They Repented Not
By Harry Ironside0RepentanceThe Hardness of HeartPSA 19:1PSA 116:3AMO 4:6LUK 5:31JHN 8:24JAS 1:17REV 9:20REV 14:13REV 16:10REV 22:11Harry Ironside emphasizes that while God's creation and goodness should lead humanity to repentance, many remain unresponsive, drifting further into sin despite experiencing His blessings. He illustrates that calamities and suffering often fail to produce true repentance, as seen in biblical accounts and contemporary society, where fear and hardship can harden hearts instead. Ironside warns against the false hope of post-mortem repentance, asserting that character is solidified in life, and those who die unrepentant remain so eternally. He calls for a return to preaching that emphasizes the seriousness of sin and the necessity of repentance, urging believers to help others recognize their need for salvation before it is too late.
Preach Constantly
By Arthur Vess0LEV 20:72CO 7:1EPH 1:41TH 4:71TI 4:12TIT 2:11HEB 12:141PE 1:151JN 3:3REV 22:11Arthur Vess emphasizes the importance of preaching holiness constantly, not as a hobby, but as the great foundation and fountain of all truth. He echoes John Wesley's words to preach holiness in every sermon, stating that preaching holiness is essential to preaching the truth. Vess highlights that everything is either holy or unholy, and by exploring holiness in all its aspects, one can never exhaust its depth. He encourages preachers to repeat key points not for emptiness but for emphasis, drawing a comparison to how lawyers present evidence. Vess underscores the significance of holiness in the Holy Bible and the urgent need for it in the unholy world, urging the use of various tools like illustrations, persuasion, arguments, and inspiration to preach holiness in regeneration, sanctification, and glorification.
Third Theory -- Entire Sanctification Is Obtained at Death
By B.A. Cundiff0EZK 18:20MAT 25:412CO 7:1GAL 3:10HEB 7:25JAS 2:261PE 1:15REV 22:11B.A. Cundiff delves into the concept of physical death, explaining it as the separation of the spirit from the body, emphasizing that sin separates the soul from God just as death separates the soul from the body. Those who die in sin without pardon will face eternal separation from God. The sermon explores the timing of sanctification, questioning whether it occurs before, during, or after death, ultimately highlighting the importance of seeking holiness and righteousness in this life, as the Bible does not promise sanctification after death.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still - The time of fulfillment will come so suddenly that there will be but little space for repentance and amendment. What is done must be done instantly; and let him that is holy persevere, and hold fast what he has received.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
unjust--"unrighteous"; in relation to one's fellow men; opposed to "righteous," or "just" (as the Greek may be translated) below. More literally, "he that doeth unjustly, let him do unjustly still." filthy--in relation to one's own soul as unclean before God; opposed to holy," consecrated to God as pure. A omits the clause, "He which is filthy let him be filthy still." But B supports it. In the letter of the Vienne and Lyons Martyrs (in EUSEBIUS) in the second century, the reading is, "He that is lawless (Greek, 'anomos') let him be lawless; and he that is righteous let him be righteous (literally, 'be justified') still." No manuscript is so old. A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, ANDREAS, and CYPRIAN read, "let him do righteousness" (Jo1 2:29; Jo1 3:7). The punishment of sin is sin, the reward of holiness is holiness. Eternal punishment is not so much an arbitrary law, as a result necessarily following in the very nature of things, as the fruit results from the bud. No worse punishment can God lay on ungodly men than to give them up to themselves. The solemn lesson derivable from this verse is, Be converted now in the short time left (Rev 22:10, end) before "I come" (Rev 22:7, Rev 22:12), or else you must remain unconverted for ever; sin in the eternal world will be left to its own natural consequences; holiness in germ will there develop itself into perfect holiness, which is happiness.
John Gill Bible Commentary
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still,.... These words are not to be considered as ironical expressions, such as in Ecc 11:9 much less as an allowance to do injustice and commit filthy actions; nor even as deterring persons from these things, by tacitly suggesting, that should they continue unjust and filthy, they would be severely punished; nor as an anticipation of an objection that might be made against the publication of this book, and the sayings of it, taken from the ill use that some men might make of it, who might be provoked to injure and persecute the saints more and more, or indulge a filthy conversation; but as a prophecy of what would be at the close of time, at the second coming of Christ. The imperative is put for the future, as is usual in the Hebrew language, in which it is said, let such and such things be, when the sense is, that they shall be; see Eze 3:27 Zac 11:9 and so the meaning of this expression is, he that is now found without a righteousness, and full of all unrighteousness, and acts unrighteously, will continue so; there will be no change made in him, no regeneration, renovation, repentance, or reformation; he will remain the same wicked man he ever was; or he that hurts, or does injury to his fellow creatures, will still do mischief; at least he will have the same inclination, though not the opportunity and power, but will attempt it, of which there will be an instance in the wicked dead, when raised; see Rev 20:8. And he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: or he shall be filthy still: all mankind are originally, naturally, and universally filthy, or defiled with sin. Some are cleansed from it by the blood of Christ, others are not; and these will continue polluted, nor will the fire of hell fetch out the filthiness of their hearts and nature: or the words may be rendered, "he that defileth, let him defile still"; though he will not be able to defile the temple of God, or corrupt the good communications of the saints, yet he will continue to defile himself; the same evil thoughts, &c. will proceed out of him as ever, which defile the man. And he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; a truly righteous man is one that is righteous, not by his own righteousness, but by the righteousness of Christ imputed to him; he is one, who by faith looks to Christ for righteousness, and receives it from him, and, in consequence of it, lives soberly, righteously, and godly, and such will continue righteous; not that they will be made more righteous, though they may have a clearer view of their justification, for the sentence of it will be afresh pronounced upon them; but the meaning is, they will ever remain in a justified state, and never enter into condemnation, their righteousness being an everlasting one. The Alexandrian copy, the Complutensian edition, Syriac and Arabic versions, read, "and the righteous man, let him do righteousness still"; as he will do, for such will ever be before the throne of God, and serve him in his temple day and night, Rev 7:15. And he that is holy, let him be holy still. They are holy who are sanctified by the Spirit of God, and none but such will be admitted into the pure state of things upon Christ's second coming; and such will then be perfectly holy, and without sin, and shall continue so: hence we may learn, that justification and sanctification are two distinct things, and that both are durable. With these sayings may be compared some expressions of the Jewish doctors (h), as the sense of Lev 11:43 "if a man defiles himself a little, they defile him much; the gloss on it is, they let, or suffer him to be more defiled; if below, they defile him above; if in this world, they defile him in the world to come; if a man sanctifies himself a little, they sanctify him much; if below, they sanctify him above; if in this world, they sanctify him in the world to come.'' (h) T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 39. 1.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
22:11 Vile people who refuse to accept God’s forgiveness will continue to be vile (see 16:9), yet John reminds the righteous to maintain their integrity. This verse is a warning to evildoers, and it calls the righteous to recognize the crucial significance of Christ’s return relative to their commitments and their actions.