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not found among the living , have been cast into the lake of fire , of which it is said , this is the second death . The first death we know to be a cessation of consciousness ; the second death must be like it . The wicked , therefore , who undergo this punishment , caimot be in a state of suffering , but in a state of unconsciousness .
Chap . xxi . We are now come to that age which closes all divine revelation , the hope of the millenial saint , the grand sera of the consummation of man . The prophet , at its commencement , beholds a new heaven , or
ecclesiastical polity , and a neiv earth , or civil government , and no more sea , or nations , governments and peoples , as it had before been . Vers . 2—5 , describe , by way of introduction , the scenes that are about to take place under this period . The saints , or first-born of God , in the
character of a holy city descending with Jesus to dwell upon the earth , whilst a loud voice from the throne of power proclaims , that the tent of God is fixed among men , and that they
shall be his people , and God himself shall be their God , and that he will wipe all tears from their eyes 5 that sorrow , crying , pain , and death , shall be no more , but the whole should be
made new . Vers . 6—8 , appear to be an address , by Cod , to such as are in search of wisdom : to them who thirst for knowledge he will freely give the waters of life , i . e . divine instruction ,
that he who , in any age , overcometh , shall inherit all the promises God halh made ; but that all who are the characters he here describes , shall undergo the punishment of the second death .
Ver . 9 . The prophet is invited to see the church of God under the character of the bride , the Lamb ' s wife , and he is then shewn the descent of the new Jerusalem , descending from vjod , out of heaven .
Vers . 10—^ 7 . The holy city is , therefore , not to be taken as literal , but as figurative ; a description of the church of God , built upon the foundation of the apostles and teachers , Jesus himself being the chief corner st 0 » e . In this city of God there will « ot be occasion for a temple ; for every one will then acknowledge Je-«<*«* , and worship him in spirit and
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in truth * There will be no occasion , in this glorified church , fora sun or ruling power , nor for a moon , or ma * gibterial authority , reflecting back the light received from the supreme authority j for laws are not made for righteous persons , but for the lawless and disobedient : but where all are
righteous , and every one obedient , government becomes unnecessary . — Like the planets , every one unerringly performs his course ; and the nations of the earth , raised from the second death , amongst whom , vers- 2—5 , God hath fixed his tent , over whom
he hath placed rulers , ver . 24 , who bring * their glory and magnificence into the city . These nations walk in the light of the city or church , but whatsoever remaineth impure , remaineth without the . church till purified , and fitted to enter into it .
Chap , xxii ., goes on to describe what is meant by this walking in the light of the city , and its consequences , the healing of the nations-. Ver . 1 . The prophet is shewn a pure river of living water , proceeding from the Lamb on the divine throne .
A river—the Psalmist explains this , of ever-flowing * instruction—proceeds from the Lamb on the throne of God . 2 . The tree of life is surrounded by this river , having twelve fruit seasons , and yielding ever ?/ month its fruit , and
the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations . Solomon observes , that * ' the fruit of the tips is the tree of life / 7 The twelve fruit seasons are , probably , the apostles , keeping up the temple symbol , in their priestly courses , giving that instruction to the
nations which cometh directly from God , through Jesus , to his apostles ; and whilst they eat of the fruit of this tree of knowledge , they walk under the shade of apostolical protection till restored to purity . The end shall be ; 3 , the curse shall cease ; the Lamb shall be enthroned universal
monarch ; 4 , his servants , in their gradations of virtue , shall , in their appointed places of dignity , see him and serve him ; 5 , there shall not again be a night of error , or need for the
lamp of instruction , or a necessity for temporal sovereignty , or of a human magistracy , for God himself , through Jesus , shall enlighten mankind , and rule them to the consummation of the ages . Then the divine work being-
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On the Contents of the Book of Revelation . No . V . 479
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1819, page 679, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1778/page/27/
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