ness in John, see on Johni. 7. The words and the idea are characteristic of the Apocalypse as of the Gospel and Epistles.
And (re). Omit. The clause ald things that he saw is in apposition with the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, marking these as seen by him. Rev. adds even.
Ail things that he saw (éca eiéev). Lit., as many things as he saw. In the Gospel John uses the word eidev saw, only twice of his own eye-witness (i. 40; xx. 8). In the Apocalypse it is constantly used of the seeing of visions. Compare i. 19. For the verb as denoting the immediate intuition of the seer, see on John ii. 24.
3. Blessed (uaxdpuos). See on Matt. v. 3.
He that readeth (6 dvaywacxev). See on Luke iv. 16. The Reader in the Church. See 2 Cor. iii.14. They that hear, the congregation. The words imply a public, official reading, in full religious assembly for worship. The passage is of some weight in determining the date of this book. The stated read- ing of the Apostolical writings did not exist as a received form before the destruction of Jerusalem, a.p. 70.
And keep (kal tnpotvtes). The absence of the article from tnpowvtes keeping (compare of dxovovres they that hear), shows that the hearers and the keepers form one class. T'ypetv to keep, is a peculiarly Johannine word, and is characteristic of the Apocalypse as of the other writings in its own peculiar sense of “keeping” in the exercise of active and strenuous care, rather than of watching over to preserve. See on reserved, 1 Pet. i. 4.
Prophecy. See on prophet, Luke vii. 26.
Which are written (rd yeypaupéva). Perfect participle, have been written, and therefore stand written.
The time (6 xaspos). See on Matt. xii. 1.
At hand (éyyvs). Lit., near. See on shortly, ver. 1.