Exposition of the book of Revelation

Dedication

To the divine cause of our Redeemer this book is humbly dedicated and all that may be made from the sale of the same is sacredly consecrated to the direct extension of His kingdom.

Preface

The Book of Revelation is the prophetic book of the New Testament. It is the crown and completion of the Holy Scripture, giving special light on the prophecies, the atonement, the consummation of evil, the reward of righteousness, the redeemed humanity and the restoration of the earth to its original paradisiacal state; showing that the triumphs of redemption shall equal and surpass the blight and curse of sin. Like all prophecy it introduces us to the events of the future, and is the book of the great harvesttime. Other portions of the Holy Scriptures are largely an account of the preparation of the soil, sowing the seed and the cultivation of the spiritual field.

The statements of this book are to be taken literally except where its allegorical nature is directly stated. The language of numbers holds a large place in this book which is divided into seven parts and each part into sub-sections of sevens, more or less clearly defined.

The reasons for collecting these scattered fragments and giving them to the public, is the conviction wrought by more than thirty years in the pastorate, that the Book of Revelation is an essential but very much neglected portion of the Holy Scriptures; also that much of an unsound nature has been written on this portion of the Holy Word, calling the more for a presentation of its blessed truths from a strictly orthodox standpoint.

A large part of the works written on this book belong to the order of the cyclopaedia, and are adapted for scholars and theologians. This work is designed for those who have not the time to peruse the more elaborate works.

This is not a controversial work, neither is it proposed to give the steps leading to the positions taken, but is rather a summary of conclusions.

These humble pages are sent forth to the world with the sincere desire and prayer that they may do good. Syracuse, N. Y., Jan. i, 1908.

Introduction

Perhaps the general neglect of the study of this book of the Holy Scriptures may call for the briefest possible outline of its chief features, as presented in this exposition.

First: It is pre-eminently a revelation of Jesus Christ in His great work of redemption.

Second: The seven churches of Asia were literal churches, but are in their order a complete history of the cause of Christ from Pentecost to His coming at the conclusion of this present church age or dispensation.

Third: That at His coming the righteous dead, and living saints, the first by bodily resurrection, and the latter by translation, will be caught up to meet the Lord, and are the Bride; the Lamb's wife.

Fourth: At this time Christ takes the book of redemption, breaking its seals, and by the successive steps as outlined under seals, trumpets and vials, etc., takes possession of the lost inheritance, evicting Satan and his cause.

Fifth: The thousand years of millennium, during which time Satan is bound, and Christ and the Bride are the rulers of the earth.

Sixth: At the conclusion of the millennium there is an apostasy led by Gog and Magog, in which they gather all the hosts of rebellion about the holy city of Jerusalem where Christ in person reigns on the throne of David.

Seventh: God by direct power destroys the great army of apostasy, leaving in the world the righteous who have been governed by Christ and the saints during the millennium.

Eighth: A mighty regeneration of all the realms of nature, in which the material creation shall be restored to its paradisiacal state, and the then living righteous be transformed into the Adamic perfection possessed before the fall, to go forward to fulfill the original design of the

Almighty in creation — which design has been delayed by the world wide tragedy of sin — but shall not be permanently defeated by evil.

Ninth: The resurrection of all the wicked — the general judgment in which shall be meted out the rewards of the righteous, and penalties of the lost; marking the conclusion of redemption and the end of all probation.

THL BOOK OF REVELATION.

Chapter 1: 1-4. THE SEVEN DIVISIONS OF THE SUPERSCRIPTION

I. The Key to the Book of Revelation.

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to show unto his servants." — 1:1.

The first statement of the first verse "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" is the key to the entire book. That is, the revealment of Christ. If this is kept in mind the difficultydisappears. Its marvelous and startling scenes are but the setting of the gem, the background of the picture, Christ is the sum and substance; everything else is incidental, and becomes important only because of its relation to Him. The earnest inquirer coming as certain Greeks in the days of Christ's humiliation, saying, "Sir, we would see Jesus," will bear the testimony of the Queen of Sheba when she beheld the splendors of Solomon, "The one-half of the greatness of thy wisdom w^as not told me; for thou exceedest the fame that I had heard." We need a revealment of Christ other than that found in the Holy Scriptures outside of the Book of Revelation. The general trend of the Scriptures dwell on the humiliation and incarnation of Christ. The prophets and apostles occasionally caught foregleams of His final glory; but the prevailing tone is heavily draped and sombre, the cross stands in the foreground like the Altar before the Tabernacle.

Ancient Israel overlooked the Valley of His Humiliation and Suffering, and dwelt only on the prophetic visions of His final glory, and as a consequence rejected Him and cruelly robbed themselves. We face a like danger in looking only into the dark valley of His Incarnation, Humiliation and Suffering. Not seeing His matchless splendor and final victory as presented in this book of Divine triumph.

There are seven primary revealments of Christ marking the great epochs of time. First, in creation, "All things were made by Him and for Him." Second, in the promises and covenants of the patriarchal age, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not to seeds, as of many; but as of one, and to thy seed which is Christ." Third, in Tabernacle service, sacrifice and priesthood, "which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Fourth, in prophecy, "and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." Fifth, in the Incarnation, "God was manifest in the flesh." Sixth, in the church as instituted on the day of Pentecost and shown in the Epistles, "Now ye are the body of Christ." Seventh, in the Book of Revelation, "the revelation of Jesus Christ." The Book of Revelation has in itself seven revealments of Christ.

What understanding can we have of Creation, Patriarchial Covenants, Tabernacle Symbolism, Prophetic Visions, Gospel History, Pentecostal Church, Revelation's startling scenes, if we cannot see in each "The King; eternal, immortal, invisible," "The only wise God our Savior."

2. This Divinely Given Message is Prophetic.

"Things which must shortly come to pass." — i:i. The character of this book is prophetic. The great future is spread before us like a magnificent landscape, from seed time to harvest.

3. An Angel Messenger is Sent.

''And he sent and signified it by his angel." — 1:1.

This angel gives an account of himself. "I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book." The Scriptures abound with angelic message bearers. Stephen states that the law was given "by the disposition of angels." The angelic world is one of great diversity in position and power.

4. John is the Direct Receiver of this Heavenly Communication.

**Unto his servant John, who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw." — 1:1-2.

The prophet is carefully identified. His name was John, it was that John who had formerly written, ''Bare record." The subject of that former record was "The Word of God." This was his Gospel and Epistles. He tells us that it was for "the testimony of Jesus Christ" that he was banished to this isle of Patmos. John had been a faithful apostle, now God gives him the added office of prophet and he becomes the pre-eminent prophet of the Holy Scriptures. For the Book of Revelation is the greatest prophecy of the Sacred Volume. He adopts the very language of the ancient prophets, "the seer," when he says, "All things that he saw."

5. Special Blessing Promised to Those who Receive this Prophecy.

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein." — 1:3.

How strange that this book, the last words of Jesus, with a special blessing pronounced upon reader, hearer and keeper of the things of ''this prophecy," should be the most neglected portions of the Holy Scriptures. What fatal delusion blinds the eyes of the children of God when before their vision is spread as clear as day the completion of the works of Divine grace and Infinite justice?

So essential are the things of this prophecy that this special blessing is repeated at the close of the book, *'Blessed is he that keepeth the prophecies of this book."

6. The Time Element of This Prophecy.

"For the time is at hand." — 1:3.

This is an important statement, as it shows the time covered by this prophecy. Its fulfilment was from the day it was given to John on Patmos until the final consummation of all things.

7. To Whom the Prophecy is Given.

"John, to the seven churches which are in Asia." — i :4..

Seven is the number of completion, these seven churches of Asia stand for all churches in all time from Pentecost to the time when the church dispensation shall close. God gave it to the angel, the angel gave it to John, John gave it to the seven churches and they gave it to the world. This completes the golden chain of this prophecy from. God to us. Like great and important documents of earth, each stage of its transmission is carefully recorded. Incidentally, many things are presented of the most startling nature, but the one essential fact is, that this is "The revelation of Jesus Christ" in His exaltation, and glory. It has been difficult to behold Christ in His humiliation and exaltation, this was met by the ancient Israelites and resulted in the tradition of two Messiahs. One "bane Ephraim," the son of Ephraim, a Messiah of suffering and humility. The other **bane David" the son of David, the Messiah of triumph and glory; they could not conceive of the same person meeting such opposite conditions.

SEVEN DIVISIONS OF THE INVOCATION.

Chapter 1:4-6.

1. The Salutation.

"Grace be unto you, and peace." — 1:4.

These words are of frequent occurrence in the Scriptures in varied forms, and are expressive of the desire to convey to another the assurance of divine favor and love. It was especially appropriate at this time, for the humble disciple of Jesus was about to be ushered into the most startling scenes of the material and spiritual world.

2. The Father.

"From him which is and which was and which is to come." — I '.4.

The source of this divine favor and peace is found in the blessed Trinity. This statement shows the Father, the infinite God and in a special manner emphasizes His eternity and self-existence.

3. The Holy Ghost.

"And from the seven spirits which are before his throne." — 1:4.

Seven being the number of completion, the Holy Spirit is presented in the perfections of His personality and Work. How vast and varied are His multiplied operations in conviction, regeneration, illumination and sanctification. Before the "throne" suggests His ministrations as the chief and only executive in the church of God. The one living and infallible Leader of the people; first, by the Holy