kind whatever. Thus when we read in the Apocalypse of ‘the sea’ as an emblem of the troubled and sinful nations of the earth, we are bound, unless forbidden by the context, to carry that in- terpretation through, and to understand the sea of the troubled and sinful world.”
Hell (6 dds). Rev., Hades. See on Matt. xvi. 18. 14. This is the second death. Add even the lake of fire.
15. And whosoever (ei tus). Lit., sf any. So Rev.
1. New (xavov). See on Matt. xxvi. 29. Compare Isa. IxvaLi-
There was no more sea (7) 3ddacca ovx éotw Err). Lit., as Rev., the sea 7s no more. Here as in xx. 13. Some explain the sea as the ungodly world. I cannot help thinking this interpre- tation forced. According to this explanation, the passage is in the highest degree tautological. Zhe jirst earth was passed away, and the ungodly world was no more.
2. | John. Omit John.
New Jerusalem. Others join new with coming down, and render coming down new out of heaven.
A bride. Compare Isa. Ixi. 10; Ixii. 5.
3. With men. Men at large. No longer with an isolated people like Israel.
He shall dwell (cxnvocer). Lit., tabernacle. Only in the Apocalypse and John i. 14. The word “ denotes much more than the mere general notion of dwelling. There lies in it one of the particulars of that identification of Christ and His people
which is fundamental to the seer.” See on Johni. 14. Com- pare Ezek. xxxvii. 27, 28.
People (Aaol). Notice the plural, peoples (so Rev.), because many nations shall partake of the fulfilment of the promise. Compare ver. 24.
And God Himself shall be with them and be their God. And be is inserted. The Greek is shall be with them their God.
4. And God shall wipe away. Omit God. Read, as Rev., and He shall wipe away.
Alltears (wav Sdaxpvov). Lit., every tear. Compare Isa. Xxy.. 5.
There shall be no more death (0 ddvaros ove éorat Ere). Render, as Rev., death shall be no more.
Sorrow (7év9os). Better, as Rev., mourning, since the word signifies manifested grief. See on Matt.v.4; Jas. iv.9. Com- pare Isa. Ixv. 19. “ That soul I say,” observes Socrates, “ her- self invisible, departs to the invisible world—to the divine and immortal and rational: thither arriving, she is secure of bliss, and is released from the error and folly of men, their fears and wild passions, and all other human ills, and forever dwells, as they say of the initiated, in company with the gods” (Plato, “ Pheedo,” 81). So Sophocles:
‘¢ Sorrow touches not the dead.” ‘¢(idipus Coloneus,” 955.
“ How thrice happy those of mortals, who, having had these ends in view, depart to Hades; for to them alone is it given there to live; but to others, all things there are evil” (“ Frag- ment”). And Euripides:
‘¢‘The dead, tearless, forgets his pains.” ‘¢ Troades,” 606.