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LECTURE FIRST.

REVELATIONS, CHAPTERS I., II., III.

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel 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. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven spirits which are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten 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, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 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. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. 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 Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 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. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 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. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 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: 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. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 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 seven churches.Rev. i: 1-20.

Vs. 1. The book takes its title from the first word in this verse. It is sometimes called the Apocalypse, a word of Greek origin, but of the same import with revelation. All scripture is a "revelation" of the divine will, but this is peculiarly so, because it discloses things future, and of rare importance. The title of the prophecy was obviously prefixed after the visions were written, while the visions themselves were written successively, as they were beheld. It is necessary to distinguish between the knowledge of Christ as a divine person, and that which he possesses as the Prophet of his church. In the one sense he knows all things in the other, he receives his messages from his Father, and delivers them to his people.. In this latter sense he knew not the day of the downfall of Jerusalem-it was no part of the revelation that God gave him to make known to man. Hence the first verse says God gave this revelation to Jesus Christ, and he by his angel signified it to John.

The writer now introduces himself (vs. 2) as a witness of the word of God-i. e., what he was about to communicate was not of his own invention, but was from heaven;-it was the testimony of Jesus-the things of which John was an eyewitness. (3.) To induce us to give attention to these things he now pronounces a blessing on all who "read, hear and keep" the words of this prophecy. Such a benediction is pronounced in respect to no other portion of scripture. Surely we should be anxious to understand what it is a blessing to read, hear and keep, and we should be cautious how we discourage attempts to explain this prophecy. Here, too, is another motive. The time of the fulfilment of most of these predictions is at hand. And if this was true nearly eighteen hundred years ago, at present many of them have been accomplished, and the residue are hastening to their consummation. "The time is at hand" signifies, not that the events were soon to reach their accomplishment, but only that the series would speedily commence. That representation accords with usage. We speak of successions of eventshowever interminable as being nigh, when their beginning is at hand.

Vs. 4-6. Ancient letters always commence with the name of the writer and the names of the persons addressed. Having labored among the seven churches of Asia Minor, he addresses himself to them in the three first chapters. May favor and peace be unto you from the Father, Spirit and Son. The phrase, "which is, and which was, and which is to come," alluding to the Father, implies his eternity, and is singularly appropriate as an introduction to a prophecy concerning the mutability of creatures. The phrase "seven spirits" alludes to the abundant gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, denominated seven because symbolized by seven lamps. See chap. 4:5. As the number seven is the symbol of perfection, and as there were seven churches, so the phrase "seven spirits" describes the rich and copious influences of the Holy Spirit. To the blessing of the Father and Spirit he adds that of Jesus Christ as a "faithful witness" to the truth of this prophecy-as the first who had risen from the dead, and as the possessor of authority over all earthly rulers. How consoling to the persecuted saints! He cannot leave the name of Jesus without a sweet doxology. "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God, even his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.

Amen."

He directs his suffering people to his second coming for their consolation. (7.) The Jews that pierced him, and the idolatrous Gentiles, shall see him and bewail, while his redeemed shall respond amen to the tidings of his advent, and to the judgments of his throne. (Vs. 8.) This language must refer to Christ as speaking of himself. Alpha is the first letter, and Omega the last of the Greek alphabet, and the phrase is explained in the following words. The eternity and omnipotence of Jesus afford comfort to his afflicted churches, and terror to his enemies! The asseveration Yea, amen, (vs. 7,) and the proclamation of his attributes, (vs. 8,) denote the certainty of his coming, and that it is to carry to all his creatures a resistless proof that he is the Self-existent-the Eternal-the Almighty. (Vs. 9-20.) Banished to the Isle of Patmos by Domitian for preaching the gospel, A. D. 95, the spirit of prophecy came upon John on the Lord's day, the first day of the week; that is, he was thrown into the state of prophetic ecstacy, in which visions were beheld and revelations received and he heard the sound of a trumpet behind him, 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."-vs. 11. Being turned, he perceived that the voice proceeded from the Son of Man, in the midst of seven golden candlesticks, and having

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