SEV Biblia, Chapter 7:17
porque el Cordero que est en medio del trono los regir, y los guiar a fuentes vivas de aguas; y Dios limpiar toda lgrima de los ojos de ellos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 7:17
Verse 17. The Lamb] The Lord Jesus, enthroned with his Father in ineffable glory. Shall feed them] Shall communicate to them every thing calculated to secure, continue, and increase their happiness.
Living fountains of water] A spring in the Hebrew phraseology is termed living water, because constantly boiling up and running on. By these perpetual fountains we are to understand endless sources of comfort and happiness, which Jesus Christ will open out of his own infinite plenitude to all glorified souls. These eternal living fountains will make an infinite variety in the enjoyments of the blessed. There will be no sameness, and consequently no cloying with the perpetual enjoyment of the same things; every moment will open a new source of pleasure, instruction, and improvement; they shall make an eternal progression into the fullness of God. And as God is infinite, so his attributes are infinite; and throughout infinity more and more of those attributes will be discovered; and the discovery of each will be a new fountain or source of pleasure and enjoyment. These sources must be opening through all eternity, and yet, through all eternity, there will still remain, in the absolute perfections of the Godhead, an infinity of them to be opened! This is one of the finest images in the Bible.
God shall wipe away] In the most affectionate and fatherly manner, all tears from their eyes - all causes of distress and grief. They shall have pure, unmixed happiness. Reader, this is the happiness of those who are washed from their sins. Art thou washed? O, rest not till thou art prepared to appear before God and the Lamb.
IF these saints had not met with troubles and distresses, in all likelihood they had not excelled so much in righteousness and true holiness. When all avenues of worldly comfort are shut up, we are obliged to seek our all in God; and there is nothing sought from him that is not found in him.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne , etc.] (see Revelation 5:6); not before the throne, as the great multitude are said to be, ( Revelation 7:9); nor round about it, as the angels in ( Revelation 7:11); but in the midst of it, being equal to him that sits upon it; sitting on the same throne with him, and having the same power and authority, he shall feed them as a shepherd his flock; for this Lamb is a Shepherd, and this great multitude are his flock; whom he will feed in this state, not by his ministers, word, and ordinances, as now; but in person, and with the rich discoveries of himself, and of his love, signified by a feast, by new wine in his Father's kingdom, and his own, and by eating and drinking at his table, in the kingdom appointed by him to his followers; and hence it is they shall never hunger more: or shall rule them, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; for the same word signifies to feed, and to rule, as a king rules his subjects; Christ will now be visibly King of saints, and King over all the earth, and will reign before his ancients gloriously; and, in these days of his, Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely under his power and protection: and shall lead them unto living fountains of water ; by water is meant the grace, love, and free favour of God in Christ, that pure river of water of life, which proceeds from the throne of God, and of the Lamb, from divine sovereignty; and with which the saints in this state shall be sweetly and fully solaced and refreshed; and hence they shall never thirst more: and this is said to be living, because not only refreshing and reviving, but because it will last for ever; the love of God is from everlasting to everlasting; and it is signified by fountains, to denote the abundance of it, even as it will be perceived and enjoyed by the saints now; for these waters will not be only up to the ankles, and knees, but a broad river to swim in, which cannot be passed over; and hither will Christ lead his people, which is, one branch of his office as a Shepherd; and which shows his care of them, and affection for them. And God shall wipe away all tear, from their eyes ; or out of their eyes, as the Alexandrian copy reads; (see Isaiah 25:8). The sense is, that that which is now the occasion of tears will cease, as the sin and corruptions of God's people, which now are the cause of many tears; as also Satan's temptations, the hidings of God's face, and the various afflictions of this life, and the persecutions of the men of the world; there will be no more of either of these; all will be made to cease; (see Revelation 21:4); and in the room of them full and everlasting joy will take place, ( Isaiah 35:10).
Mr. Daubuz thinks, that the whole of this chapter belongs to the sixth seal, and that the promises in it are such as were to be accomplished at the opening of the seventh, and do not belong to the millennium state; but had their fulfilment in the times of Constantine, who he supposes is the angel that came from the east, who restrained the persecutors of the church, and introduced a general peace in church and state; and as he came with the seal of the living God, which he understands of the cross of Christ, he put upon his standard, and on the shields of his soldiers, so he sealed the servants of God on their foreheads with it, by allowing them to make a public profession of a crucified Christ, and by protecting them in that profession, even men of all nations, Jews and Gentiles; and particularly he thinks the innumerable palm bearing company may design the council of Nice, gathered by him, which consisted of the representatives of the whole Christian church in the several nations of the world, who had great honour, freedom, and immunities conferred upon them; and that the angels are the Christian magistrates, submitting to the Christian religion, and defending the church, which was now come out of the great tribulation of Heathen persecution, and had temples and places of public worship opened for them; in which they had full liberty to serve the Lord continually, without interruption; and were secure from all affliction and persecution, and were filled with joy and gladness; and the Lamb, by the means of Constantine, as Christ's vicar and servant, he declared himself to be, fed and protected the church in peace and quietness; all which are accomplished during the rest, or silence, under the next seal; and which I should very readily agree to, since this interpretation carries on the thread of the prophetic history without any interruption, were it not for the description of the palm bearing company, both as to quantity and quality, and the declaration of the happy state of those come out of great tribulation, which I think cannot be made to suit with any imperfect state of the church on earth, without greatly lowering the sense of the expressions used; however, if anyone prefers this exposition to what is given, I am not much averse unto it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 13-17 - Faithful Christians deserve our notice and respect; we should mark the upright. Those who would gain knowledge, must not be ashamed to see instruction from any who can give it. The way to heaven is through man tribulations; but tribulation, how great soever, shall not separate u from the love of God. Tribulation makes heaven more welcome and mor glorious. It is not the blood of the martyrs, but the blood of the Lamb, that can wash away sin, and make the soul pure and clean in the sight of God; other blood stains, this is the only blood that makes the robes of the saints white and clean. They are happy in their employment; heaven is a state of service, though not of suffering; it is a state of rest, but not of sloth; it isa praising, delightful rest They have had sorrows, and shed many tears on account of sin an affliction; but God himself, with his own gracious hand, will wip those tears away. He deals with them as a tender father. This shoul support the Christian under all his troubles. As all the redeemed ow their happiness wholly to sovereign mercy; so the work and worship of God their Saviour is their element; his presence and favour complet their happiness, nor can they conceive of any other joy. To Him may all his people come; from him they receive every needed grace; and to his let them offer all praise and glory __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
οτι 3754 το 3588 αρνιον 721 το 3588 ανα 303 μεσον 3319 του 3588 θρονου 2362 ποιμανει 4165 5692 αυτους 846 και 2532 οδηγησει 3594 5692 αυτους 846 επι 1909 ζωσας 2198 5723 πηγας 4077 υδατων 5204 και 2532 εξαλειψει 1813 5692 ο 3588 θεος 2316 παν 3956 δακρυον 1144 απο 575 των 3588 οφθαλμων 3788 αυτων 846
Vincent's NT Word Studies
17. In the midst (ana meson). See on chapter v. 6.Shall feed (poimanei). See on shall be shepherd of, Matt. ii. 6; Acts xx. 28; 1 Pet. v. 2. Compare Ps. xxiii. 1.
Shall lead (odhghsei). See on Luke vi. 39.
Living fountains of waters (zwsav phgav udatwn). For the participle living, read zwhv of life, and render as Rev., fountains of waters of life. Compare Ps. xxiii. 2. In the Greek order, of life stands first as emphatic. All tears (pan dakruon). Rev., correctly, every tear. (Compare Isaiah xxv. 8.
