Revelation 21:9 - Exposition

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues. Omit "unto me." "Full of" must be connected with "angels." Just as these angels had carried out God's judgments upon the ungodly, and one of them had exhibited the judgment of the harlot ( Revelation 17:1 ), so now one of them shows the picture of the bliss of the faithful—the bride of the Lamb. And talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife; hither (omitting "come"). The wording of this verse (except the last phrase) is almost identical with Revelation 17:1 . The last phrase is the great contrast to the former chapter. In Revelation 17:1-18 . I was seen a picture of a harlot, the unfaithful part of Christ's Church; here we have a description of those who have been "faithful unto death" ( Revelation 2:10 ), and whose purity and faithfulness are symbolized under the figure of the "wife of the Lamb" (see on Revelation 17:1 ).