The REVELATION of ST. JOHN the Divine. THE testimony of the early fathers, Justin Martyr, Irenæus, and Tertullian, is very explicit in favour of the authenticity of this book, and confirmatory of what is declared in it (ch. i., 9), that John saw these visions in the isle of Patmos, whither he had been banished by order of Domitian about the year 96. And Sir Isaac Newton says, "I do not find. . . . any other book of the New Testament so strongly attested as this." We may conjecture that St. John was favoured with these visions towards the close of his exile, and that they were published by him at Ephesus soon after his return. The object of the book was to exhibit a history of the church of Christ in the world from the commencement of the conflict to the final victory, and to serve, like the predictions of the Old Testament prophets, to animate and encourage the drooping spirits of the first Christians. This we infer from what is said (ch. i., 1), “To shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass ;" but it does not follow that all the predictions were to take place in the first ages of the church, but rather that they were shortly to begin to come to pass, and were to go on fulfilling to the end of time. But it was also written for the church universal; and living, as we do, amidst the fulfilling of some of the events predicted, the consoling view of Christ, as the Head of his church, finally overcoming all his and our enemies, is equally presented to us as it was to the suffering Christians of any time. We have endeavoured to divide the contents of the book according to the different visions, and have given such explanations of their meaning as have obtained the consent of the best interpreters. The text of this book is in an unsatisfactory state: the critical student will do well to possess himself of Tregelles's Greek and English edition of it. a 1 Jno. 1, 1. b Ch. 22, 7. 4, 7. Ch. 10. d God said unto Moses, I AM thus shalt thou THAT I AM :...... the say unto children of Is HE Revelation of Jesus Christ, Alpha and Omega, the beginning 1TW Revelation of Jesushim, to and the ending, saith the Lord, c. 5, 22, shew unto his servants things which rael, I AM hath you. Ex. 3, 14. e Ch. 3, 14. Is. sent me unto 55, 4. ...A chosen ge ple...1 Pe. 2, 9. g Ve. 6. h I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with heaven....Da. 7, the clouds of 13. i Ze. 12, 10. Jno. 19, 34, 37. peculiar (or, a 4 John to the seven churches which Son k...... Then shall appear the sign man in heaven: the tribes of the & then shall all earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the with power and clouds of heaven great glory. Mat. 24, 30. 9I 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 Patmos, 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, 11 saying, "I" am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last;"m 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, ed with fine gold and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea." 12 And I turned to see" the voice that spake and his face as with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 18 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 of days did sit, was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool...Da. 7, 9. were white like wool, as white as p...The Ancient snow; and his eyes were as a flame whose garment of fire; 15 and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his 2 Ch. 19, 15. Is. mouth went a sharp two-edged sword:? 11, 4. Ep. 6, 17. 2 Th. 2, 8. and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, "Fear not; I am the first and the last 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 20 the mysterys 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 seven churches.' Thus saith the Lord the King Redeemer the am the first, and of Israel, and his Lord of hosts; I I am the last... Is. 44, 6. The mystical 32. Ch. 17, 5,7. meaning. Ep. 5, t The universal church of Christ, in whatever situ ation or period The epistles to seven churches in Proconsular Asia. of the world. & 9, 11; & 16, 5. * Ve. 9, 13, 19. (These churches lie nearly in an amphitheatre, and are addressed according to their geographical positions.) u In the symbolism 2 NTO the angel" of the church 2 "UNT of the Apocalypse of Ephesus write; These an angel' appears as the Su- things saith he that holdeth the seven perintendent of certain depart stars in his right hand, who walketh ments. Ch.7,1; in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works," and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3and hast borne," and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4Nevertheless 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, v... My yoke...my yoke is easy, & my burden is light. Mat. 11, 29, 30. Gnostics, who claimed Nicolas the deacon as their founder; doctrines, and impure in their lives. receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Ro. 5, 17. that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. He branch of the that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give impious in their to eat of the tree of life," which is in the midst of the paradise of God. 8"And unto the angel of the church. They which in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich,a) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the syna-a... As poor, yet gogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of making many rich as having those things which thou shalt suffer: nothing, and yet possessing behold, the devil shall cast some of things. 2 Co. 6, you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days be 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 saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.d z Probably Polycarp. 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 Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who 1, 2. was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 5 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight 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 overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden up before the 7... Aaron laid it manna, and will give him a white | Testimony, to stone, and in the stone a new name be kept. Ex. 16, written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. 34. h The allusion is to the white stone of victory which the victors in the games got, and them to food, &c., at the public expense. which entitled i....That ye ab stain from meats and from blood, strangled, from fornication ...Ac. 15, 29. ded to but seduced by false teachers. Spirits of God, and the seven stars; Awake to right eousness....1 Co.. 15, 34. Brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught......2 Th. 2, 15. 8......Arrayed in fine linen, clean and white (or, bright): for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. Ch. 19. Ve. 18. 8. 18 "And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, 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 first. 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 offered to idols, to repent of her fornication; and she and from things repented not, 22 Behold, I will cast and her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulak Christians wed- tion, except they repent of their deeds. 7" And to the angel of the church Christ, 23 And I will kill her children with in Philadelphia write; These things death; and all the churches shall saith he that is holy, he that is true, know that I am he which searcheth he that hath the key of David, he the reins and hearts: and I will give that openeth, and no man shutteth; unto every one of you according to and shutteth, and no man openeth; the house of Da your works. 24 But unto you I say, I know thy works behold, I have and unto the rest in Thyatira, as set before thee an open door," and no many as have not this doctrine,' and man can shut it: for thou hast a little which have not known the depths" strength, and hast kept my word, of Satan, as they speak; I will put and hast not denied my name. upon you none other burden. But hold, I will make them of the syna-u our Sa- that which ye have already hold fast gogue of Satan, which say they are till I come. 26 And he that overcom- Jews," and are not, but do lie; beeth, and keepeth" my works unto the hold, I will make them to come and n... Striving...for end, to him will I give power over worship before thy feet, and to know Ch. 2, 9. gospel, and in the nations: 27 and he shall rule them that I have loved thee. nothing terrified by...adversaries with a rod of iron; as the vessels of thou hast kept the word of my patiPh. 1, 27. a potter shall they be broken to shiv-ence, I also will keep thee from the ers: even as I received of my Fa- hour of temptation, which shall come with everlasting ther. 28 And I will give him the upon all the world, to try them that the presence of morning? star. 29 He that hath an dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I glory of his pow-ear, let him hear what the Spirit come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy 12 Him that overcometh will is, he shall est m ...To eat things sacrificed to The Gnostics called their doctrines deep mysteries; viour calls them the deep mysteries of Satan. 3" AND unto the angel of the I make a pillar in the temple of my church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven God, and he shall go no more out: t......The key of vid will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shal! open, and non shall shut; and he shall shut, & none shall open. Is. 22, 22. An opportunity of preaching the Gospel. 1 Co. 16, 9; and 2 Co. 2, 12. (Like) the pillars in the porch of the temple... the right pillar ....Jachin (that blish)....the left y.... 2 ...the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem....He. 12, 22. Without (who was not that was made. Jno. 1, 3. 2 Co. any thing made 1, 20. 1466 ness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and ness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man......As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the ap pearance of the about. This was brightness round the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord......Ez. 1, 26, 28. i... The Ancient of days came, & judgment given was to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints of my God, and the name of the city | behold, a throne was set in heaven, of my God, which is New Jerusalem, and one sat on the throne.* 3 And...The likewhich cometh down out of heaven he that sat was to look upon like a Mount Sion from my God: and I will write upon jasper and a sardine stone: and there him my new name. 13 He that hath was a rainbow round about the throne, upon the likean ear, let him hear what the Spirit in sight like unto an emerald. And saith unto the churches. round about the throne were four and twenty seats and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices; and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven' Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the possessed second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. Representatives 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: And they rest not day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." 9And when those beasts" give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to 8 Gr., they have receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and The prophet's First vision,-History of the church of for thy pleasure they are and were a The precious truth of God of the Psalmist. Ps. 19, 10. "And unto the angel of the church a Or, in Laodicea. "of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: Í would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raib The righteous-ment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness The promised en- do not appear; and anoint thine eyes lightening influof with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. God's 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten :d be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." ness of Christ. See ve. 4. ence Spirit. d For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, even as a father the delighteth. Pr. son in whom he 3, 12. e Jno. 14, 23. by the river of 4 hold, a door was opened in 5 AND I saw in the right hand of gency of God's q There was no one of dignity sufficient. r Judah is a li on's whelp....he stooped ever. A טין thereof?" And no man in heaven, | for ever and ever.' 14 And the four If we consider here united with that the Lamb is God the Father in receiving worship from every creature, it is hardly possible to conceive that the Son is a mere created being. venly down, he couched as a lion......The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from beuntil Shiloh come; and unto him shall the tween his feet, people be. y Or, incense. Ge. viz., of redeeming love, new at the time John was writing. places 6 3 might be known y The progress of I am And when he had opened the se- The contentions | among Christians come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? ..Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on I tell you, Nay, but rather division. Lu. 12, 49, 51 a A state of spiritual privation. The dark ages (?) 5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, "Come and see." And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, "A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the The word choewine." 116 The days come......that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. Am. 8, 11. gathering of the 49, 9, 10. Is. 11, 1, 10. Ro. 15, 12.7 And he came and took the book out 8 Ze. 4, 10. of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of yodours, which are the prayers of saints. And The new song, they sung a new song, saying, "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten Thousand thousand, and thousands of thouthousands minis-sands;" saying with a loud voice, & ten thousand 12" Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, fore him......Da. and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, 9 And when he had opened the fifth and such as are in the sea, and all seal, I saw under the altar the souls that are in them, heard I saying, of them that were slain for the word "Blessing, and honour, and glory, of God, and for the testimony which and power, be unto him that sitteth they held: 10 And they cried with a upon the throne, and unto the Lamb | loud voice, saying, "How long, Oprehends the mar U...... tered unto him, times ten thousand stood be 7, 10. one nix signifieth a 7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, "Come and see." And I looked, and behold a pale horse and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto Is. 55, 1. them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.d c The dire work the e This vision comtyrs of every age. |