Here is what I believe, as plainly put as I can put it from Scripture.
"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
This is Revelation 22.17 as you know.
What is said here?
"...the Spirit and the bride say, Come."
The Spirit is the Holy Spirit of course. Since this forum is dealing with Calvinism/Arminianism I will forgo what I believe concerning the bride.
Next, we read, "And let him that heareth say, Come.
here we see 'him that heareth' (Greek akouo Strong's # 191)--used in various senses: give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), ([shall]) hear (er, ken,), be noised, be reported, understood.
In this we see a differentiation (though the same word) the distinction is that the 'heareth' (or akouo) can be used to refer to someone who hears and understands; or someone who hears, but does not understand (what is heard is (noised) it is (reported), but not understood.
How do we determine what is being spoken here?
Scripture says 'let him that heareth say, Come.' this means the 'let him' understands what he has heard and thus is able to say along with the Spirit and bride, "Come." Someone hearing the same report, but understanding it not, cannot proclaim what they have heard, they cannot 'say Come.'
Then scripture says: "And let him who is athirst come." These are they who have heard, and having their interest aroused by the Spirit do come, they are thirsty for the True Word of God; they are thirsty for the cup of Salvation, because they have been made to thirst after it by way of understanding the message.
Finally, this scripture ends with: "And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." These again are those who have heard the message, they have understood the message and they have been made thirsty, then they become the 'whosoever will, who are able to take the water of life freely.
All of this begins with the Spirit and before there can be any who take of the water of life freely, their hearing [understanding] must first be opened by the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel is to be proclaimed freely to all peoples as the Spirit will lead men into those opportunities; but only the Spirit can make any thirsty for the cup of salvation, whereby they may freely drink of the water of life.
God Bless.
Bro. Dallas
"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
This is Revelation 22.17 as you know.
What is said here?
"...the Spirit and the bride say, Come."
The Spirit is the Holy Spirit of course. Since this forum is dealing with Calvinism/Arminianism I will forgo what I believe concerning the bride.
Next, we read, "And let him that heareth say, Come.
here we see 'him that heareth' (Greek akouo Strong's # 191)--used in various senses: give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), ([shall]) hear (er, ken,), be noised, be reported, understood.
In this we see a differentiation (though the same word) the distinction is that the 'heareth' (or akouo) can be used to refer to someone who hears and understands; or someone who hears, but does not understand (what is heard is (noised) it is (reported), but not understood.
How do we determine what is being spoken here?
Scripture says 'let him that heareth say, Come.' this means the 'let him' understands what he has heard and thus is able to say along with the Spirit and bride, "Come." Someone hearing the same report, but understanding it not, cannot proclaim what they have heard, they cannot 'say Come.'
Then scripture says: "And let him who is athirst come." These are they who have heard, and having their interest aroused by the Spirit do come, they are thirsty for the True Word of God; they are thirsty for the cup of Salvation, because they have been made to thirst after it by way of understanding the message.
Finally, this scripture ends with: "And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." These again are those who have heard the message, they have understood the message and they have been made thirsty, then they become the 'whosoever will, who are able to take the water of life freely.
All of this begins with the Spirit and before there can be any who take of the water of life freely, their hearing [understanding] must first be opened by the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel is to be proclaimed freely to all peoples as the Spirit will lead men into those opportunities; but only the Spirit can make any thirsty for the cup of salvation, whereby they may freely drink of the water of life.
God Bless.
Bro. Dallas