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. SHOW WHAT SEEMS TO BE HINTED IN THIS SCRIPTURE, CONCERNING THE HAPPINESS OF THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN, AS IT IS A LIKENESS TO GOD AND THE LAMB. 1. The saints in heaven have the name of God upon them; that is, they shall have upon them a likeness unto, and resemblance of these glorious perfections, whereby God hath manifested and made Himself known unto us, called His Name in Scripture. (1) It is a likeness to God in His moral and communicable perfections and excellences. (2) In heaven we shall be like God in happiness and glory. 2. The saints in heaven have the Lamb's name upon them. (1) Their souls shall be like unto the soul of Jesus Christ, in all the faculties thereof. "When He shall appear, we shall appear with Him in glory," that is, not only as pure and holy creatures, but as glorious and happy creatures. For Christ shall give unto them the same glory which the Father hath given Him, and this not only unto their souls, but also, (2) Unto their bodies; for they shall be like unto Christ in heaven in their bodies. 3. The name of God and the Lamb is in their foreheads; that is, (1) Their relation to God and the Lamb, and their conformity and likeness will then be open, evident and apparent, as that is which is upon the forehead. (2) His name in their foreheads intimateth this unto us, that our likeness to God and the Lamb in heaven will be glory. Here it is grace, it is excellent, though it is most in the hidden man of the heart; but in heaven it not only is excellent, as it is here, but excellency shining and appearing openly upon them, in their foreheads. (3) His name shall be in their foreheads doth intimate this to us, that, how great soever the glory of the saints in heaven shall be, it shall not be the same with the glory of God and the Lamb; it is only a likeness of it. 4. His name shall be in their foreheads intimateth to us that the glory, given unto the saints, manifesteth the glorious perfections of God and the Lamb; it manifests the name of God, that is, the glory of God and the Lamb. II. SOME CONSIDERATIONS FROM WHENCE IT WILL APPEAR WHAT A CONSIDERABLE PART OF THE HAPPINESS OF THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN THIS LIKENESS TO GOD AND THE LAMB IS. 1. If no more should be said but this, that it is a likeness to the blessed God and the glorious Mediator, to the utmost of our capacity it expresseth a happiness great above our present comprehension. 2. It must be an inconceivable happiness, seeing it is the final result and issue of the eternal wisdom and counsel, project and purpose of God, to give unto His people a happiness worthy of Himself to bestow, and such as should never make Him ashamed to be called their God. 3. The greatness of this happiness appeareth from the consideration of the stupendous means made use of to accomplish it. It is an end brought about, by no less a mean than the incarnation and whole mediation of the Son of God. 4. This is the end of all the wishes, endeavours and expectations of the people of God.Conclusion: 1. If, upon reflection, you find or suspect yourselves to be wholly unsuitable to this blessedness, apply yourselves to speedy, diligent and incessant endeavours to get the temper and disposition of your spirits changed and fitted thereto, by a begun likeness to God and the Lamb in holiness and purity. Strive to get His image and likeness deeply engraven upon your souls, by a work of regeneration and sanctification. 2. Labour not only after a likeness to God and the Lamb; but to let the world see it in your lives, and to scatter the beams of it in your conversations, for the enlightening a dark world; or, in the terms of our text, labour to have as much of the name of God and of the Lamb on your foreheads now, as can be. (1) By word, confessing His name, His truths, and His ways, in this evil and adulterous generation. (2) By deeds, in your endeavouring to be like Him in yourselves, especially in those graces and virtues, whereby you may commend Him and religion most unto strangers and enemies. (James Robe, M. D.) 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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