Revelation 22:3-4 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:… I. THE ABSENCE OF ALL CURSE AND MALEDICTION: "And there shall be no more curse." How much is contained in this description of that state, negatively, in the absence of all evil! 1. The curse pronounced after the first transgression. But in the state and time here foreshown, all this will be happily reversed. 2. The curse upon individual persons. Thus it fell upon Cain: Genesis 4:11. But there shall be no more of this curse, for there shall be no murderer then or there. 3. The curse has fallen upon cities for their wickedness and impiety. Thus was Jericho devoted to destruction. But this curse shall be no more; for there shall be no iniquity, and so no devastation, neither shall there be any Achan, any one to trouble God's Israel, and bring a curse upon himself and it, by coveting any forbidden thing. 4. Nations also have been accursed, as Israel Malachi 3:9; Isaiah 43:27, 28; Daniel 9:11). And how long and grievous has that curse been! how bitter that cup which they have drained! But the time is coming when the blessing shall come upon them as it is promised them Malachi 3:12; Zephaniah 3:18.; Jeremiah 31:40). 5. One of the three great portions of the family of man — the descendants of Ham, the third son of Noah, these were accursed: Genesis 9:25. And how awfully has this curse been fulfilled! What hundreds of thousands of our fellow-creatures are held in the grievous bonds of slavery! But then there shall be no more hard bondage, no cruel taskmasters, no more severing of the nearest and dearest ties. 6. There was the curse of the sinful confederacy of Babel. But in the world to come there shall be one heart and one tongue. 7. All flesh has incurred the curse of the transgression of God's law (Galatians 3:10). This, in the unbelieving and impenitent, who do not receive and obey the gospel, ends in that most woful, final, and irreversible curse (Matthew 25:41). But in the happy state predicted in the text, there shall be no more transgression. The law will be written in indelible characters upon the heart. 8. The Son of God was made a curse (Galatians 3:13). But in heaven He suffers no more curse. How great the change! 9. Some, under the pressure of affliction, have cursed the day of their birth. Thus Job's (Job 3:1), and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:14). But in the world to come there shall be no affliction to cause such bitter and passionate feeling. Now Job and Jeremiah bless God that ever they were born. 10. Satan, through Balak and Balaam, sought to curse the people of God (Numbers 23. 7). But in the world to come Satan will not be there, nor Balaam with diabolical counsel to seduce the righteous into sin. 11. A solemn curse is uttered against all corrupters of the gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:9). But in the world to come the gospel can be darkened and perverted no more. Then it will be seen in all its effulgence and blessedness. 12. Equally solemn is the curse upon all who love not the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 16:22). But will there be any in that world who do not love Christ — any who do not worship Him? Not one (chap. Revelation 5:13). II. THE PRESENCE OF THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB. 1. The abiding presence of God. 2. The glorious presence of God. 3. The glorious presence of God in His redeeming love. For it is "the throne of God and of the Lamb." III. THE EXALTED PRIVILEGES OF GOD'S SERVANTS. 1. "And His servants shall serve Him." (1) Perfectly, without sin. (2) Powerfully, without weariness. (3) Continually, without intermission or end. 2. "And they shall see His face."(1) All present instrumentalities for the knowledge of God and communion with Him, will be done away. (2) All present views of God will be infinitely transcended. 3. "And His name shall be in their foreheads." It denotes visibility of relation to God, that we are His servants and children, and that God is not ashamed of us, but will own, acknowledge, and glory in us. The mark of our belonging to Him shall be no secret mark, but open and conspicuous, as the graving of "Holiness to the Lord" on Aaron's mitre. (J. T. Parker, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: |
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