Revelation 13
PNTRevelation 13:1
For the truth’s sake. Those who love in truth, love for the truth’s sake.
Revelation 13:2
Grace be with you, mercy. [and] peace. The usual benediction of the saints. The Lord Jesus Christ. The Revised Version omits “Lord”, a word which occurs nowhere else in John’s Epistles.
Revelation 13:3
I rejoiced greatly. Because he had found her children walking in the truth, by keeping the commandment of the Father. A commandment from the Father. The commandment referred to, the one which sums up all, is love.
Revelation 13:4
And now I beseech thee, lady. “Kyria” in Greek. If “lady” at all, it would mean “your ladyship”. See PNT 2 John 1:1. Not as though I wrote a new commandment. Love embraces all. Compare and see PNT 1 John 2:7.
Revelation 13:5
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. Keeping the commandments is the demonstration of love. Compare 1 John 5:3 and John 14:15,23.
Revelation 13:6
For many deceivers are entered into the world. See notes on 1 John 2:18 2:22-24 4:1. An antichrist. Opposed to Christ.
Revelation 13:7
Look to yourselves. Let not these deceivers lead you astray. A full reward. Belonging to all saints who continue to abide in Christ.
Revelation 13:8
Whoever transgresseth. He that lives a life of transgression cannot abide in Christ. Abideth in the doctrine. The teaching, the Gospel.
Revelation 13:9
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine. That of Christ. If he be a deceiver, an opposer of Christ, one who denies that “Jesus Christ came in the flesh”. Receive him not into [your] house. Do not recognize him as a brother and extend to him a brotherly welcome. He is to be fellowshipped. Neither bid him God speed. Give him no encouragement in his work of destruction. To give him greetings is to wish for his success.
Revelation 13:10
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. He that gives him these prayerful greetings and encouragement becomes a partaker, to that extent, in his evil deeds.
Revelation 13:11
Having many things to write unto you. Though many more things occurred that he wished to write about, he hopes soon to see her and speak face to face.
Revelation 13:12
The children of thy elect sister. It is usually supposed that this refers to a sister in the flesh, also one of the elect, whose children, probably grown up and Christians, were at that time with John.
Revelation 13:14
Keep yourselves from idols. Flee from idolatry, the besetting sin of that age. So too we need to flee from the idols of our age. Whatever takes our worship from God is an idol. NOTE.–SIN IN THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN. A comparison of passages will show that an extreme and false doctrine might be reached by pressing one class to the exclusion of another class.
I give a list: I. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves (1 John 1:8). If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins (1 John 1:9).If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar (1 John 1:10). These things I write to you, that ye sin not (1 John 2:1). If any man sinneth (“man” is not in the Greek), we have an Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1). If any man shall see his brother sin a sin [which is] not to death (1 John 5:16).
There is a sin not to death (1 John 5:17). These passages all refer to Christians; they teach their liability to sin; show how they may obtain pardon, and show how also they should labor to save an erring brother. One the other hand, there is another class which teaches that the Christian is freed from sin. II. The blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth from all sin (1 John 1:7). Whoever abideth in him sinneth not (1 John 3:6).
He cannot sin because he is born of God (1 John 3:9). Whoever is born of God sinneth not (1 John 5:18). If this second class of passages was alone considered, they would teach apparently the absolute holiness of the saint. The two classes are to be interpreted in the light of each other. They teach that the germ of sin, dormant, perhaps, remains in us as long as we are in the flesh. “The flesh lusteth against the Spirit” (Galatians 5:17). We “may be overtaken in a fault”, the dormant germ waken, and we be betrayed into sin for the moment (Galatians 6:1).
The sin is due to the temporary revival of the old nature. The new nature, the spiritual being born of the new birth, is not disposed to sin, and will be destroyed if the sin is willful and continued. One born of God cannot engage in willful sin. Nor can he who abides in Christ. He who becomes a willful sinner does not abide in Christ, nor remains a child of God.
Revelation 13:15
SUMMARY OF III JOHN: Gaius Commended. His Hospitality. His Treatment of Visiting Brethren. The Wicked Conduct of Diotrephes. The Good Report of Demetrius. Benediction. The elder. See PNT 2 John 1:1. Unto the well-beloved Gaius. This name is mentioned in Acts 19:29 20:4 Romans 16:23 1 Corinthians 1:14 The hospitality of the Corinthian Gaius named in Romans agrees well with what John says of him whom he addresses.
Revelation 13:16
Even as thy soul prospereth. He wishes Gaius all good things, but most of all prosperity of soul.
Revelation 13:17
For I rejoiced greatly. Certain brethren had been where Gaius lived, had enjoyed his hospitality and had spoken well of him to John on their return.
Revelation 13:18
I have no greater joy. That which gave him the greatest joy was to know that the saints walked in the truth. My children. The aged John was wont to call the saints his children. See 1 John 2:1,12,18,28 4:4 5:21.