Abbott's Comments on the Revelation of Jesus Christ

Preface

Jesus the Christ now uncovers the signs sent by John, and makes this prophecy plain. Here are shown the important events of 1897, an d the succeeding years. Turkey and Mohammedanism is destroyed. The “terrible day of the Lord” is almost upon us. A new kingdom of Israel is to be established in Palestine. The present age of Transformation is to be succeeded by the millennium. The Tree of Life, Babylon, the Beast, and many other important matters shown.

Revelation is naturally divided into three parts :

Part 1. Embraces the first three chapters, and relates to the church, to whom the prophecy is sent.

Part 2. Embraces chapters four to eleven inclusive, and shows, in historic order, God’s purposes determined upon the earth. The opening of the Seven Seals.

Part 3. Embraces the remainder of the book. Here are presented in graphic word pictures the great truths evolved in this age of Transformation, closing with those brighter scenes that shall take their place.

The Bible text is given herein, in heavy faced type.

Joshua H. Abbott, Author of the Philosophy of Existence.

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ABBOTT’S COMMENTS

ON

The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Chapter I

1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which hod gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it hy his angel unto his servant John:

2 . Who hare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein : for the time is at hand.

1. This crowning book of the Bible has generally been miscalled, “The Revelation of St. John;” and that too, in spite of the express declaration of the text itself. But it is Jesus Christ, and not John, who shews that which is herein revealed unto His (Jesus’) servants. John’s whole work, as one of Christ’s servants, was to record this word of God (v. 2), as it was sent to him in the signs given. Nor did Jesus Christ, in any considerable measure, shew the truths herein set forth to John or to His servants of John’s day and generation. But He is now, at this day, shewing them to us, through the medium of the Holy Spirit, and because they are being shown to us, we know that “ they must shortly come to pass.” To him who reads these words with his understanding, and not merely with his lips ; and hears with his mental comprehension what the prophecy proclaims, and keeps those things told, in belief ; to him is blessing, “ for the time is at hand” (v. 3).

4. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace he unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits w hich are before his throne.

2. This prophecy, soon to be fulfilled ; this exposition of God’s dealings with this world; this revelation of His purposes to us- ward, is from God, “which is, and which was, and which is to come ; and from the Seven Spirits which are before His throne ; and from Jesus Christ ” (v. 4, 5). From the Trinity we have this revelation, but Christ, the Savior, shews it unto us. In this Trinity is embraced all that is, and was, and is to come, the Almighty (v. 8). In God the Father, enthroned in that invisible realm, which is alike the source and end of all existence, the Alpha and Omega, we have the will enthroned at the center, which all worship, and which rules over all, and which the fourth chapter will more fully present to us. In Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we have God dwelling among us in the body ; God’s image in substance ; the form of God. Phil. 2 : 6. In the Seven Spirits of God we have the vital energy that gives life and force to all created things, and by their action brings to light God’s truth, and makes manifest his works.

THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD.

3. The Seven Spirits of God are mentioned four times in Revelations. Rev. 1 : 4; 3 : 1; 4 : 5; 5 : 6. As the seven lamps before God’s throne in heaven (Rev. 4: 5), they were symbolized in the seven lamped Golden Candlestick before the altar in the Jewish temple. Ex. 25: 31-40; 37: 17-24; Zech. 4: 2; Rev. 1: 12. They are called seven eyes in Zechariah. Zech. 3 : 9, 4 : 10. They are symbolized by the Seven Priests and other sevens at the overthrow of Jericho. Jos. 6 : 3-4. We have them expressed to us in the seven days of the week, which perpetually commemorate them : in the seven tones of music, do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si; in the seven colors of the rainbow, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet ; in the seven geometrical figures ; and in numerous other ways.

4. The work of the Seven Spirits of God is revealed to us, and their several characters expressed by their creative work, as shown in the first and second chapters of Genesis. From a study of this we can name them, — Motion, Division, Aggregation, Eimitation, Affinity, Touch and Rest. Each is expressed by a day of creation. Each day of creation brings to light, in the work which its governing spirit does, one of these Spirits of God. They are, also, the seven angels (Rev. 1: 20) of the seven churches in this chapter ; the power by which Christ opens the Seven Seals ; the motive force of the Seven Trumpets, Seven Thunders, Seven East Plagues. A knowledge of them is a key to unlock mystery, interpret the Bible, and explain all knowledge possible to the universe ; for they are the lamps of God. Nothing can be hid where their light shines. All things may be seen with these eyes. They lead into all truth. Jno. 16: 13.

5. The co-existence of these Seven Spirits, and the order of their sovereignty,. results in a certain method of operation which we find is the law for the whole universe ; for each star, each race of beings and each individual. This one method of operation is the one great law of God which governs in the material realm, the organic and the spiritual ; and “Verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law until all be fulfilled.’’ This is the law which Christ came, not to destroy but to fulfill (Matt. 5:17, 18); to make full and complete. This law, or method of operation, is a procession of the Seven Spirits, in sovereignty over or through the thing or individual considered ; each one in turn being king, while all the others are present to serve. In other words, each and every thing begins its existence under control of Motion ; then is dominated by the Spirit of Division ; next by the Spirit of Aggregation, by which it grows ; then it is limited, reaching the full measure ot its powers, when it reproduces or repeats itself ; after which it becomes subject to the Spirit of Affinity, by which it bends everything it can to the accomplishment of its chosen purpose ; then under the mastery of Tpuch it gathers experience and stores knowledge ; finally the end is reached in Rest, an established ‘ and final condition, or else death. This method, in the physical world, carries matter from the state of gas into that of liquid, and the liquid into the solid. In the organic realm it a ggregates the cell into an organic being, obtaining growth ; then its life flows into other beings until a sea of animal or vegetable life results, after which the race and individual alike, become fixed and immovable. The whole career of any thing, under the sway of this universal law of God, is a flowing forth, in the beginning from the center towards the periphery, or outward limit of its being; and then, after a period of revolution in its periphery or orbit, about the center, there follows a return from the periphery to the center. The first half of life is an outward expression, under the sway of a centrifugal force ; the last half an inward development under a centripetal force ; the ages of every existence being seven. All the revelations made in this book of Jesus Christ are strictly after this method. Each thing revealed has its seven ages; and each age is governed by that spirit of God which is the appointed sovereign thereof.

5. And from Jesus Christ, who Is the faithful witness, and the hrstbegotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

G. And hath made us kings ami priests unto God and his Father; to him he glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

7. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him : and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Uord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

6. Here we have presented the blessed Savior who has washed us clean from sin, in his own blood. Who that reads this seventh verse can doubt the second return of Christ to the earth, or that that return shall be any less a return in visible form than was his first life on earth. Acts i : ii. He is moreover called here, the “ Prince of the kings of the earth,” not of heaven, or of the spirit world. And not only hath he “ made us kings and priests unto God,” but “we shall reign on the earth.” Rev. 5 : 10. The temporal power of Christ on earth is here assured, and we shall further find it expressed in these Revelations.

9. I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patinos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.

7. John was in the isle of Patmos, located in the Grecian Archipelago, north of the Mediterranean sea, and off the coast from Ephesus, when these revelations were committed to his keeping. He “ was in the Spirit.” The external world of sense, all outside of his own body was shut out from John’s consciousness. His soul entered into that realm within, where thought is, and where the still small voice of God is heard, where all things have their origin, and to which all things minister. The material world was all shut out from his vision, and his physical eyes saw nothing of these revelations. It was a state of trance, similar to St. Peter’s. Acts 10 : 10-20. He heard a voice behind him. He heard a sound before he saw anything. Out of the darkness of the inner world came “ a great voice, as of a trumpet.” It was a sound too pronounced to be ascribed to fancy. It pealed forth like a proclamation issued by rightful authority.

11. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

8. The revelation given by God to Jesus through His Seven Spirits was sent by the messenger John to the seven typical churches of Asia, on the main land opposite Patmos, over which John was practically the bishop at this time. ‘'Unto Ephesus,” the nearest ; “and unto Symrna,” the next northward; “unto Pergamos” again north of Smyrna; then, turning about, on the fourth, “Thyatira” southeast of Pergamos ; and continuing southeast “ unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea,” completing the ellipse, or elongated circle, in Laodicea. In the geographical position of these places we have the great law T of the procession of the seven spirits graphically expressed. From “ do ” (Ephesus) to “ re” (Smyrna) we have one full tone, from “ re ” to “ mi ” (Pergamos) we have another full tone, but from “ mi ” to “ fa ” (Thyatira) we turned back on the return of the circle of existence, and so get but a half tone; from “fa ” to “ sol” (Sardis), again, we have a full tone, likewise from “ sol ” to “ la” (Philadelphia), and, also, from “ la ” to “ si ” (Laodicea) we have full tones ; when again turning back we have but half a note between “ si ” (Laodicea) and “ do ” (Ephesus). The life of the church, the body of Christians on earth is fully set forth in these seven early types. In them is written in symbolism, the whole history of the church on earth ; each individual church expressing one of the seven periods of church history, and setting forth the truth which it has brought forth, a product of the sovereignty of one of the Seven Spirits of God. The character ot each is colored by the age within which it was developed. Together they sing the whole song of Christianity, and in them is the history of the church finished.

12 . And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being- turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks ;

111 . And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a dame of lire;

15. And his feet like unto line brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

10. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun sliineth in his strength.

17. And when 1 saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon sue, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

18. I am he that iivetli, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

10. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

20. The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The* seven stars are the angels of the seven churches ; and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seveai churches.

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9. When John had turned himself, taken his eyes from looking out and looked backward into the inner self, he beheld seven golden candlesticks. These represent the sevenfold church, or periods of its duration in this present age on earth (v. 20). The “ seven stars ” are the Seven Spirits of God which rule the Seven Churches, for these are the possession of Christ (Rev. 5: 6), who stands in the midst of the church, which has been gathered about Him and His name.

10. Christ, “ the son of man,” is the 4 ‘ first.” Before anything else was He was. Jno. 17: 5 ; Col. 1:17. He is the beginning of creation (Rev. 3: 14); and in Him creation ends, for He is the “ last,” v. 5, 1 1, 17. Upon each follower and true disciple He lays His hand and says,

Fear not,” “ I am He that liveth, and was dead ; and, behold, I am alive for ever more.” You see He is surely coming back. And because He lives we shall live also. Jno. 14: 19; 1. Cor. 15: 20-22. About Him is the “flame of fire ” that purgeth from all earth, consuming the dross.

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His voice is “ as the sound of many waters,” refreshing and life-giving. And He is clothed in the sun of righteousness. “ Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.” This represents the two forces of God, the centrifugal and centripetal. Christ has power to cut both ways.

Chapter II

1. Unto the angel of the cliurcli of Ephesus write; These things saitli he that holdetli the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven goltlen candlesticks;

2 . I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not hear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

3 . And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

4. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

6. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which S also hate.

7 . He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometli will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of Hod.

i. Ephesus represents the earliest, or Apostolic Church. Reference is made to the apostles in v. 2. The apostles were recognized as the trustees of Christ’s work on earth, the repositories of the truths which had fallen from His lips while He trod the earth. They were personal witnesses of His divine claims, and successors of his authority. It was a church of works and labors abundant. The apostles and their co-laborers spread the gospel news throughout the Roman empire, and made Christ known to the civilized world of that time. The Spirit of Motion was in their church, and the world was turned upside down (Acts 17 : 6) by their teachings. They looked to Jerusalem, and later, probably, to Antioch as the capital of their faith. Acts 15:2.

This period was not without its blemishes (v. 4). Then, as now, some wished to receive the gifts of heaven and keep, also, the treasures of this world. Acts 4:31 to 5 : 11. There were those who left their first love.

The great problem of the Christian then, as for so many now, was how to get something to eat, in spite of Christ’s assurance of provision, and the fact of those who had all things common having enough. They

I had separated themselves from the world and had from it no help in getting food. To the faithful, then, came with force the promise, “ To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life.”

8. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saitli the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

9. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (hut thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, hut are the synagogue of Satan.

10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may he tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: he thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

11. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saitli unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not he hurt of the second death.

2. Smyrna represents the Church of the Martyrs. It began about 175 A. D. when Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, fell victim, with others, to a fearful persecution, in the reign of Marcus Aurelius. In Diocletian’s reign such violent persecution ensued that the period is known in history as the “ Era of Martyrs.” The things which this church suffered were many, but Jesus said, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer,” “ be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” And certainly many were thus faithful unto death. Great tribulation and worldly poverty characterized this time, but riches of spiritual value were acquired. These persecutions severed the unity of the church, shut each body out from holding intercourse with others, and each section came to recognize their local bishop as the head of the church, while a central authority became lost sight of. The Spirit of Division split up the church into many fragments. To them who must suffer violent physical death, came the consoling promise, “ He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” Of what this second death is it will be best to speak of under chapter 20.

12. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

13. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Natan’s seat is: and thou boldest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Natan dwelleth.

14. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

15. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing' 1 hate.

10. Repent; or else 1 will come unto thee quickly, and will tight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches: To him that overeometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it.

3. Pergamos, a Greek colony, represents the Greek Church, or Church of the Emperors. Pergamos was the n'earest of the seven to Constantinople, which became the seat of authority of the Greek Church.

The gorgeous Greek Church began with Constantine A. D. 323. As he marched against his rival Maxentius, it is said he saw a luminous cross in the heavens, bearing the inscription in Greek, “ Conquer by this.” Constantine practically made himself the head of the visible church in the Roman Empire. To-day the Czar of Russia holds this position, in respect to this same Greek Church, which still persists, although the conditions and spirit which called it into life, have passed the rule on to others. Constantine augmented the church tremendously. It grew, and swelled into a mighty body under his patronage. The Spirit of Aggregation dominated this period of the church. It was corrupt in many of its parts. Licentiousness abounded. In the “ sword of my mouth ” we see the power of Christ in opposition to the sword of Constantine, by which he may be said to have established this church. Constantine seeking, from motives of policy, to strengthen his hold upon idolaters and Christians alike, established Sunday, the •day which the idolaters held in honor of the sun, as the day for Christian worship. By this act the observance of Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, by the Christians, was done away with, and Sunday, as the Lord’s day,” was established. Such a mixture of the Christian and idol w r orsliip resulted in eating “ things sacrificed unto idols;” and the mingling of Christians and pagans overthrew the pure religion of Christ, just as effectually as the religion of Jehovah was corrupted by the mingling of Israel with the Moabites in the days of Balaam and Balak. Num. 22 : 1 to 25 : 18. This compromise between Christianity and Idolatry was the doctrine of Balak which Constantine introduced. Christ knew that Satan and the spirit of evil dwelt in the instigators of the corrupt practices and errors which crept into the church at this time.

In “ Antipas ” is probably prefigured the faithful Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, who was put to death in that city, “ where Satan dwelt” in the soul of Constantine.

To establish and give countenance to his doctrines, Constantine caused the great council of Nice to be held, A. D. 325. This council formulated the doctrines of the church, and is. the foundation upon which future churches built.

18. Ami irnto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saitli the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a ftauie of lire, and his feet are like fine brass ;

19. I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the iirst:

20. Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

21. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not.

22. Rehold, 1 will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

2*1. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that f am lie which searchetli the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

24. But unto you E say, ami unto the rest in Thyatira, As many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of 8atan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden:

25. But that which ye have already, hold fast till I come.

20. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my words unto the end, to him w ill I give power over the nations:

27 . (And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter they shall be broken to shivers:) even as I received of my Father.

28. And I will give him the morning-star.

29. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

4. Thyatira represents the Roman Catholic Church. The church pre-eminent for its works. No missionaries have been so zealous as the Catholic. They have planted the cross in the most distant lands and among the most dangerous people. Wherever the Protestants have sent their missionaries, there they have found the Catholics before them. It is a church of charities; Sisters of Mercy everywhere. And the “Son of God’’ knoweth “thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works ; and the last to be more than the first.” For this Christ commends the Catholics. But Christ, “ the Son of God,” condemns the worship of Mary, which appears here under the symbol of Jezebel and the idolatry connected therewith. And death is threatened to all who put their faith in this doctrine. The worship of Mary is accursed (v. 20-24). The Roman Catholic Church claims Peter as its first Pope, and a continued succession from his time. But history shows that the Bishop of Rome did not successfully assume superior authority over the other bishops before A. D. 330, and not until the seventh century did he come to be looked upon as the Prime Bishop, or Pope, and become generally recognized as the head of the Church.

It is the Roman Catholic Church that has had rule over the nations, v. : 26-27. The Bishop of Rome was given some voice in the temporal affairs of the Roman empire as early as A. D. 568. Gibbon deemed Gregory II., 7 15-731, the founder of the Papal monarchy. The first real territory was given to Stephen III., A. D. 754. From this time the temporal power of the Pope continued uninterrupted, except for two years, 1798-1800, until its overthrow, Sept. 20, 1870, when Victor Emmanuel entered Rome. Besides the rule over the Papal States the Pope dictated the rulership of all Christendom for centuries. The kings of Europe for eight centuries were crowned or excommunicated by the Pope, and could not successfully rule without his authority and approval. Even the great Napoleon obtained his crown at the hands of the Pope. The Church reached the limit of its power on earth in this period.

Chapter III

1. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars : I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

2 . Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.