The Book of Revelation E-Book

Clarence Larkin

• Herausgeber: E-BOOKARAMA
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

This is the Rev. Clarence Larkin's guide to "The Book of Revelation". Larkin, who published several books about biblical studies in the 1910s and 20s, was a 'Dispensationalist,' one of the threads of modern Evangelical Christianity. The predecessor of Larkin is J.N. Darby, the founder of Dispensationalism, and among his many successors are Hal Lindsay, and "The Left Behind books".

Unlike more recent authors, however, in "The Book of Revelation" (1919) Larkin does not make any claims to know when or exactly how the prophecies will unfold. Rather he takes us on a grand tour of the Apocalypse of St. John, and guides us through its images, symbols and poetry. Larkin sorts out what could be a reference to an actual event or person, (without attempting any particular association) and what is pure symbolism. Larkin uses bold type extensively for emphasis, as well as some superb 'visual aids' in the form of intricate charts and maps.

Contrasted with other prophetic books such as Nostradamus and the Sibylline Oracles, "The Book of Revelation" has a consistent narrative with a beginning, middle and end. It is also one of the essential sacred texts and required reading for anyone interested in religion. This book will be a welcome reference for anyone studying or trying to explain Revelation, whether or not they are 'Dispensationalists'.

Leseprobe

Clarence Larkin

The Book of Revelation

Table of contents

THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Foreword

Plates

The Title

The Salutation

The Announcement

1. THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN

The Vision

The "Key" To The Book

2. THE THINGS WHICH ARE

The Messages To The Seven Churches

1. The Church At Ephesus

2. The Church At Smyrna

3. The Church At Pergamos

4. The Church At Thyatira

5. The Church At Sardis

6. The Church At Philadelphia

7. The Church At Laodicea

3. The Things Which Shall Be Hereafter

1. The Heavenly Door

2. The Heavenly Throne

3. The Four And Twenty Elders

4. The Four Beasts

5. The Seven-Sealed Book

Daniel's Seventieth Week

First Seal. (A White Horse.)

Second Seal. (A Red Horse.)

Third Seal. (A Black Horse.)

Fourth Seal. (A Pale Horse.)

Fifth Seal. (The Souls Of Martyrs.)

Sixth Seal. (Physical Changes.)

Comparison Of Christ's "Olivet Discourse" And Revelation Six"

THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH SEALS

1. The Sealing Of The 144,000

2. The Blood Washed Multitude

Seventh Seal (Silence.)

The Golden Censer

THE SEVEN TRUMPETS

First Trumpet. (Hail--Fire--Blood.)

Second Trumpet. (The Burning Mountain.)

Third Trumpet. (The Star Wormwood.)

Fourth Trumpet. (Sun, Moon And Stars Smitten.)

The Angel Warning. ("Three Woes" Announced.)

Fifth Trumpet. First Woe. (The Plague Of Locusts.)

The Bottomless Pit

The Sixth Trumpet. Second Woe (The Plague Of Horsemen.)

THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH TRUMPETS

1. The Little Book

2. The Two Witnesses

Seventh Trumpet. Third Woe. (Covers The Rest Of The Week.)

THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. THE SEVEN PERSONAGES

1. The Sun-Clothed Woman

2. The Dragon

3. The Man-Child

4. The Archangel. (War In Heaven.)

"The Persecution Of The "Sun Clothed Woman."

5. The Jewish Remnant

6. The Beast Out Of The Sea

1. Isaiah's Foreview

2. Daniel's Foreview

2. The Vision Of The "Four Beasts."

3. The Vision Of The "Ram" And The "He-Goat."

4. The Vision Of The "Kings Of The North And South."

3. Paul's Foreview

4. John's Foreview

7. The Beast Out Of The Earth

THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE ''SEVEN PERSONAGES'' AND THE ''SEVEN VIALS''

1. The Lamb On Mount Zion

2. The Three Angel Messengers

3. The Blessed Dead

4. The Harvest And Vintage

The Seven Last Plagues Or Vial Judgments

Prelude. The Sea Of Glass

The Tabernacle Of Testimony

First Vial. (Boils.)

Second Vial. (Blood On The Sea.)

Third Vial. (Blood On The Rivers.)

Fourth Vial. (Great Heat.)

Fifth Vial. (Darkness.)

Sixth Vial. (The Euphrates Dried Up.)

The Interval Between The "Sixth" And "Seventh" Vials. Three Unclean Spirits

Seventh Vial. (Great Hail.)

The Seals, Trumpets And Vials Compared

THE SEVEN DOOMS

First Doom

Second Doom. Commercial Babylon

The Interval Between The Second And Third Dooms. The Hallelujah Chorus

2. The Marriage Of The Lamb

3. The Battle Of Armageddon

Third Doom. "The Beast" And "False Prophet."

Fourth Doom. The Antichristian Nations

THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE FOURTH AND FIFTH DOOMS

1. Satan Bound For A Thousand Years

2. The First Resurrection

3. The Millennium

4. Satan Loosed

Fifth Doom. Gog And Magog

Sixth Doom. Satan

Seventh Doom. The Wicked Dead. "The Great White Throne Judgment."

THE SEVEN NEW THINGS

1. The New Heaven

2. The New Earth

3. The New City

4. The New Nations

5. The New River

6. The New Tree Of Life

7. The New Throne

The Great Abdication

The Ages Of The Ages

The Epilogue Or Final Testimony And Warnings

THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Clarence Larkin

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TRUSTING THAT ITS EXPOSITION MAY MEET WITH HIS DIVINE APPROVAL AND BLESSING

Foreword

This work is the result of 25 years' study of the Book of Revelation. Twice within 6 years the writer gave a 4-months' course of Sunday morning sermons to his people on the Book. These lectures have also been given in Bible Institute Courses, illustrated with large, colored, wall charts.

The Book of Revelation is interpreted from the Futurist Standpoint. Chapters two and three cover the present Church Dispensation. From chapter four until the end of the Book all is future. The writer's purpose is to show that the Book of Revelation is to be taken literally, and that it is written in chronological order. The text of the Old Version is used and is printed at the top of each subject. The chapter and verse divisions are ignored. The text is emphasized by the use of capitals and black type. This helps to explain it and make it clear to the general reader. The descriptive matter of the book is emphasized in the same manner.

The book is also illustrated with over 30 charts, maps, and diagrams. Numerous cuts of symbols, beasts, etc., spoken of in the Book of Revelation are distributed through the book at the place where they are mentioned, and add greatly to its value by elucidating the text and saving much explanatory matter.

The make-up and printing of the book is unique. The writer has broken all rules of book-making in his desire to make the average reader see and grip the truth. This he has been able to do because of his skill as a draughtsman, and because the Printers of the book, who are lovers of the truth and like to see it "Rightly Divided," were in sympathy with the writer's purpose, and have done everything they could to make the "printer's art" express the writer's thought.

A book gotten up in this way is naturally more expensive to print than an ordinary book. The writer had to spend weeks and months in study and designing the charts, maps, diagrams, cuts, etc. These had to be inked in and lettered by hand. Then plates had to be made of the drawings, and electros of the plates. The emphasizing of the descriptive matter with black type costs extra, but all this trouble and expense makes the book doubly valuable. While there are but 210 pages in the book, the size of the type, and the enlarged page, 6 x 9 inches, make it equivalent to an ordinary book of 400 pages.

There is nothing fantastical in the book. It contains no speculative matter, nor opinions of the writer. The book is not a commentary made up of quotations from other writers. The writer is neither a copyist or compiler. The only Author the writer has sought to follow is the Author of the Book the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore the writer lays no claim to originality. All he has sought to do is to clearly present the " MIND OF CHRIST" as revealed in the Book, having in mind the " CURSE" to which every expositor of the Book subjects himself. "If any man shall ADD unto these things, God shall ADD UNTO HIM the ' PLAGUES' that are written in this Book, and if any man shall TAKE AWAY from the words of the 'Book of this Prophecy,' God shall TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE 'BOOK OF LIFE,' AND OUT OF THE HOLY CITY, AND FROM THE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK." Rev. 22:18-19.

The writer's aim has been to prepare a standard work on the Book of Revelation, from the Futurist Standpoint, that can be used as a text-book in Theological Seminaries and Bible Schools, and be of invaluable service to the busy pastor in his exposition of the Word of God. The book is sent out with the prayer that God will bless its testimony in these days when the prophetic utterances of the Book of Revelation are rapidly approaching their fulfilment.

CLARENCE LARKIN.

"Sunnyside" Fox Chase, Phila., Pa.

Plates

John's Patmos Vision

The Book of Revelation

The Title

"THE REVELATION OF

Jesus Christ,

WHICH GOD GAVE UNTO HIM, TO SHOW 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.

THE BLESSING.

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."

Rev. 1:1-3.

The "Title" of the Book describes its character. It is not "The Revelation of St. John the Divine," as the heading in our Bibles would have us believe, but it is

" THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST."

The word "Revelation" in the Greek is " APOCALUPSIS." Hence the title " THE APOCALYPSE," by which it is often called. It is from the verb " APOCALUPTO," to unveil; from " APO," away from; and " KALUMMA," a veil. Hence "Apocalupsis" means a taking away of a veil, as when a statue is unveiled, that what is behind the veil may be seen. It is not so much a revelation or unveiling of the Person of Christ, though it discloses His High Priestly and Kingly glory, as it is the unveiling of those events that shall precede and accompany His return to the earth. This is seen from the fact that what is revealed in the Book, was given unto Jesus Christ, by God the Father, to show unto His Servants the " things which must shortly come to pass."

When Jesus was asked just before His death, when the things that He had prophesied against Jerusalem should come to pass (Mark 13:1-31), He replied in verse 32, "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither (NOT YET) the Son, but the FATHER." But after His Ascension He received from the Father the information that the Disciples asked for, and before the close of the first century, while at least one of those Disciples was still living, the beloved John, He sent an angel messenger to impart to him, and through him to the Churches, the information that is "unveiled" in this Book of Revelation. Thus we see that the canon of Scripture would be incomplete without this message from Jesus to His Church after His return to Heaven.

While the Apostle John is the writer of the Book he is not the author or composer. The Author was the Lord Jesus Himself. The Apostle was only a "scribe" or "amanuensis." Twice he declares that the contents of the Book were revealed to him by an angel. Rev. 1:1; 22:8. The fact that the style of the Book differs so strikingly from the other writings of John, as the Gospel and Epistles, is the strongest kind of evidence that John did not compose the Book, but that it was dictated or visualized to him. In its subject matter, and in the majesty and sublimity of its language, which is in harmony with its contents, the Book of Revelation differs from all other books, and is incomparably above them, thus revealing its Divine Authorship. In fact it is the only portion of the New Testament to which Jesus gives His endorsement, and affixes His signature, saying at its close--" I JESUS have sent Mine Angel to testify unto you these things in the Churches." Rev. 22:16.

The Book of Revelation then is not a compilation of Jewish "Apocalyptic Literature," intermixed with "Heathen Visions Christianized," thus being a " patchwork" of Jewish and Heathen Folklore, but it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass. This He sent by His ANGEL. Who this Angel was we are not told, but when John fell down to worship him, he said, "See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book." Rev. 22:8-9. He must therefore have been one of the old prophets raised for the purpose.

The Book is a PROPHETIC Book. It is not a history. It does not record the past, but reveals the future. It makes this claim in the Title--"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of THIS PROPHECY," Rev. 1:3; and four times in the concluding chapter. Rev. 22:7, 10, 18, 19. It is the summing up and consummation of all prophecy. In it all unfulfilled prophecy is fulfilled. It is the " finality" in prophecy until Jesus comes back. There has been no "new revelation" since it was written; and all those who claim to have received new and later " revelations" are impostors and false prophets. There is no place for " additions" or "subtractions" in the Book. It opens with a " blessing" promised the reader. and ends with a " curse" upon those who " ADD UNTO" or " TAKE FROM" it. Rev. 1:3; 22:18-19.

Nothing is said about understanding the Book, but blessed is he that " readeth," or if too illiterate to read, blessed are they that " hear," that is, listen to its reading. The reference here is doubtless to the "reader" and "hearers" of the Scripture as read in the Synagogue in the Apostle's day. That the Book should be shunned by many because of its mysterious character is no wonder. It is one of the "devices" of Satan to get people to neglect a Book that foretells his casting as "Prince of the Powers of the Air," and the "God of This Age," out of the Heavenlies; of his imprisonment in the "Bottomless Pit" for 1000 years; and his final casting into the Lake of Fire. While Satan hates all Scripture in general, he hates the books of Genesis and Revelation in particular. Therefore he attacks the authenticity of Genesis, and seeks to have Revelation neglected.

The Book is not only a " Prophetic" book, it is a " SYMBOLIC" book, that is, it is written largely in " symbolic" language, that is the meaning of the statement in the Title--"He sent and ' SIGNIFIED' it by His Angel unto His Servant John." The word " signified" means given in " signs" and " symbols" and should be pronounced " SIGN´-IFIED." There are more "signs" and "symbols" in the Book of Revelation than in any other book in the Bible, but they are either explained there or in some other part of the Scriptures. No one can understand the Book of Revelation who does not understand the Book of Daniel. The Prophet Daniel was told to "seal up" the words of his prophecy until the "Time of the End," not the "end of time," but the end of the "Times of the Gentiles." Dan. 12:4, 9. But the writer of the Book of Revelation was told to " seal NOT" the sayings of the Book, for the TIME IS AT HAND. Rev. 22:10.

The symbolism of the Book of Revelation shows that it was written for a " special class," for those who are acquainted with the "Word of God," and who have " spiritual discernment," and not for the carnally minded reader. "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which are REVEALED belong unto us and our children forever." Deu. 29:29. The Book of Revelation was written to reveal or disclose the purpose of God as to the earth and the nations, and we are not prying into God's secrets when we read and study it. It being the last prophecy, we naturally would expect it to sum up all previous prophecy, and as all previous prophecy had to do with the CHURCH, ISRAEL, and THE NATIONS, so we should expect this last prophecy to give us the final word as to them; and that is what it does. We find the CHURCH in the beginning, ISRAEL in the middle, and the saved NATIONS at the end. These three are also seen in the construction of the Holy City, New Jerusalem; where we have the CHURCH in the Foundation, represented by the names of the Twelve Apostles, and ISRAEL in the Gates, with the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel written over them, and the saved NATIONS in the Streets, where they walk in the light of the City's Glory.

The Book is largely Jewish. This is seen in its "signs" and symbols, such as the Tabernacle, the Ark, the Altar, the Trumpets and Plagues, and the sealing of the 144,000 of Israel. It is Jewish because God in it, after the Church is taken out, deals again with Israel, and in chapters 6 to 19 inclusive He reveals what shall take place during the last or "Seventieth Week" of Daniel's "Seventy Weeks."

It is the Book of " CONSUMMATION" and its proper place in the sacred canon is where it is placed, at the end of the Bible. The Book is full of ACTION. Earth and heaven are brought near together. The clouds roll away, thrones, elders, and angelic forms are seen; harps, trumpets, cries from disembodied souls and choruses of song are heard. Earth touches heaven, and alas it touches hell also. Good and evil meet. There is no blending, but sharp contrasts, and a long protracted conflict that ends in victory for the good, and the " BEAST," the " FALSE PROPHET," SATAN and his hosts, and " DEATH" and HADES find their place in the " Lake of Fire." It describes the culmination of the evils foreseen and described in 1. Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 2 Pet. 2:1-2; Jude 14-19, and declares the CONSUMMATION of that which the Prophets foretold, the creation of a

NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH

in which righteousness shall dwell. Isa. 65:17. At last the patience of the patriarchs and saints is rewarded; the longings of faith, and the hope of Israel and the Church fulfilled, and the glory of God shines unhindered on a scene of righteousness and peace. The Bible begins with Paradise LOST, and closes with Paradise REGAINED.

The Salutation

Chap. 1:4-6.

" 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 (Loosed) 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."

The Salutation is addressed to the " Seven Churches Which Are In Asia." By Asia is not meant the great Continent of Asia, or even the whole of Asia Minor, but only the western end of Asia Minor bordering on the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, and about the size of the State of Pennsylvania. Neither do these Seven Churches mean that there were only seven churches in that district, for there were at least three other churches, that of Colosse, Col. 1:2; Hierapolis, Col. 4:13; and Troas, Acts 20:6-7. These seven Churches then must be representative or typical churches, chosen for certain characteristics typical of the character of the Church of Christ, not only in that day, but on down the centuries until the Church shall be removed from the earth, and represent seven church periods clearly defined in Church History. This we shall see, in our study of chapters two and three, to be the case.

In the Benediction--"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, etc.," we behold the Trinity. Here Jesus is distinguished from--" HIM (the Father) which Is, and which Was, and which Is To Come," but in verse 8, He claims the same Title, which only proves that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, and that He and the Father are one.

Map: The Seven Churches

It is also worthy of note that the "Threefold Office" of Jesus, as PROPHET, PRIEST, and KING is brought out in the Salutation. He is called the " Faithful Witness," as such he is a PROPHET. As the " First Begotten From The Dead," He carried His own blood into the Heavenly Tabernacle, and thus performed the work of a PRIEST. As the " Prince Of The Kings Of The Earth," as He will be when He takes the Throne, He will be a KING. As Prophet Jesus is God's WORD, as Priest He is God's LAMB, and as King He is God's LION.

John also emphasizes the fact that Jesus LOVED us before He WASHED (Loosed) us from our sins in His own blood, and that He has made us "Kings" and "Priests" unto God, and that we need no human Priest to stand between us and God.

The Announcement

"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." Rev. 1:7.

This refers to the Second Stage of Christ's Coming, the "Revelation" or "Appearing." The First Stage of His Coming, the "Rapture," is not mentioned in the Book. This will fulfil Zech. 12:10, "They (the Jews) shall look upon Me (Jesus) whom they have PIERCED." This is confirmatory of the view that the Book of Revelation deals mainly with the events that follow after the "Rapture" and precede and attend the "Revelation" or the coming to the earth of the Lord.

It is difficult to imagine the grief and remorse that will fill the hearts of those Jews who shall witness the return of the Lord to the Mount of Olives, when they shall see in His hands and feet the " PRINT OF THE NAILS," and He shall be revealed as the One they crucified. Like Thomas they will cry, " MY LORD AND MY GOD." John 20:24-29. The Prophet Zechariah (Zech. 12:9-14) describes it as a time of great " BITTERNESS" and a day of great mourning in Jerusalem, when families will separate themselves from their neighbors and mourn every family apart. And not only shall the Jews mourn because they rejected Him when He came the first time, but the nations of the earth will WAIL when they realize that He has come back, not as a Saviour, but a Judge to punish them for their iniquities.

1. THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN

The Vision

"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 (breast) 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 (Hades, the Underworld), and of DEATH (the Grave). Write the things which thou hast SEEN, and the things which ARE, and the things which shall be HEREAFTER (after these); the Mystery of the ' Seven Stars' which thou sawest in my right hand, and the ' Seven Golden Candlesticks.' The ' Seven Stars' are the ANGELS (Messengers) of the 'Seven Churches': and the ' Seven Candlesticks' which thou sawest are the SEVEN CHURCHES."

Rev. 1:9-20.

The Apostle John addresses the Churches as their brother and companion in TRIBULATION. This does not mean " The Great Tribulation," for that is not for the Church but for Israel, and is still future. When John wrote the Book of Revelation in A. D. 95-96 the Christians were undergoing a persecution under the Roman Emperor Domitian, and as a result of this persecution John had been banished to the Isle of Patmos, a small, rocky island in the Aegean Sea 30 miles off the west coast of Asia Minor, and opposite the city of Ephesus. John was pastor of the Church at Ephesus at the time of his banishment, and it was to that Church that the first Message to the Seven Churches was addressed. John was banished for "the Word of God, and his testimony to Jesus Christ."

He tells us that he was "in the Spirit on the LORD'S DAY." There has been much confusion as to what is meant here by the " Lord's Day." Some hold that the "First Day of the Week" or the Christian Sabbath is meant, others that John meant the " Day of the Lord."

Both the Old and the New Testament speak of the " Day of the Lord." Isa. 2:12, Joel 1:15, 2:1, 3:14, Ezek. 13:5, Malachi 4:5, Acts 2:20, 2. Cor. 1:14, 1. Thess. 5:2, 2. Pet. 3:10. The term applies to the "Day of the Lord's Return" and includes both the Tribulation and the Millennium. See the Chart on the Prophetic Days of Scripture. The Christian Sabbath was never called the " LORD'S DAY" until after the Book of Revelation was written and got its name from that source. It is always called in the Gospels and Epistles the " First Day of the Week."

It is hardly likely that John could have been caught up as Paul was into the Third Heaven and seen and heard all that he describes in the Book of Revelation on one Sabbath Day, and as the Book from chapter 5 is a description of the things that are to come to pass in the " DAY OF THE LORD," what better understanding of the " LORD'S DAY" can we have than that John was projected by the Holy Spirit across the centuries into the " DAY OF THE LORD" and had visualized to him the things that shall come to pass in that day. This is the rational solution of the question. See the Chart, John's Patmos Vision.

When John thus found himself in the "Day of the Lord" he heard behind him a great voice, as of a trumpet, which said--"I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last," and the repetition of the statement in verses 17 and 18, with the added words--"I am He that Liveth, and WAS DEAD; and behold, I am ALIVE FOR EVERMORE, AMEN; and have the keys of Hell (Hades, the Underworld), and of Death (the Grave)," identifies the speaker as the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. John had his back turned to the speaker, and when he turned around he saw one like unto the

SON OF MAN

standing in the midst of " Seven Candlesticks." " LAMPSTANDS" is a better translation and is so given in the margin of our Bibles. A candlestick requires a light such as a candle, which is self-consuming, while a " Lampstand" is for the support of a lamp whose wick instead of burning away is fed from the oil within. In the Scriptures oil is emblematic of the Holy Spirit, and as Jesus Himself interprets the " Lampstands" as meaning the Seven Churches to whom He was about to send messages, we see that Jesus looks upon the churches as not the LIGHT, but simply the " LIGHT HOLDER." From the fact that Jesus speaks of " Stars" and " Lampstands" it is clear that we are living in the NIGHT of this Dispensation, for "stars" and "lampstands" belong to the night.

THE VISION OF THE GLORIFIED SON OF MAN.

The Vision that John saw was that of the GLORIFIED "SON OF MAN." When Jesus ascended He took up with Him His HUMANITY, and we now have in the Glory the MAN Christ Jesus. 1. Tim. 2:5. When Jesus was on the earth He was, as the " Son of Man," a PROPHET, now as the " Son of Man" in Glory He is a Priest, and when He comes again it will be as the " Son of Man" to reign as KING.

While Jesus is now a High Priest in heaven, John did not see Him engaged in any High Priestly work. While He was clothed in a High Priestly robe, there was no mitre upon His head, nor Kingly Crown.

The Prophetic Days of Scripture

The description of Him is more that of a JUDGE. This is confirmatory evidence that John was transported into the "Day of the Lord," and that his vision of Christ is as Christ shall appear after His High Priestly work is finished and before He assumes His Kingly Office. This is seen in that He was girded about the breasts, and not around the waist. The High Priest was girded around the waist, signifying service, but a girdle or sash over the shoulder and around the breasts is an insignia of the Magisterial Office. This is still further revealed when we study the

SEVENFOLD GLORY OF HIS PERSON.

1. HIS "HEAD AND HIS HAIR."

His " Head" and " Hair" were " WHITE LIKE WOOL," as " WHITE AS SNOW." Here there is a correspondence to the "Snow White Wig" worn by English judges. This description of Christ reminds us of Daniel's vision of the " ANCIENT OF DAYS," "whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the PURE WOOL." Dan. 7:9. Daniel refers three times to the "Ancient Of Days." In Chap. 7:13, he distinguishes between the "Son of Man" and the "Ancient of Days," but in verses 9 and 22 he associates the "Ancient of Days" with a "Throne of Judgment," and as God the Father has committed all judgment to the Son (John 5:22), and the Father and the Son are one, the title "Ancient Of Days" is used interchangeably. And as the title "Ancient of Days" is applied to the "Son of Man" (Christ) at the time He assumes the Judgeship (Dan. 7:9-10), which is not until after the Rapture of the Church, we have here additional corroborative proof that John's Vision belongs to the "Day of the Lord." The "White Hair" of the Son of Man refers to His ANTIQUITY, to His patriarchal dignity, not that His hair was made white by age, for the Eternal never grows old, but it bespeaks wisdom and experience, and the venerableness of His character.

2. HIS EYES.

'"His Eyes were a FLAME OF FIRE." Those eyes that had often been dimmed with human tears, and that wept at the grave of Lazarus, are here pictured as burning with an " OMNISCIENT FLAME." How often when on the earth those eyes read the inner-most thoughts of men, and even soldiers quailed before His soul penetrating gaze, so when He sits as the Judge of men all things will be NAKED and OPEN before Him.

3. HIS FEET.

"His Feet like unto fine BRASS, as if they BURNED IN A FURNACE." In that day those feet that trod the Via Dolorosa of suffering will be like unto INCANDESCENT BRASS, that shall tread and crush Antichrist and Satan when He comes to "Tread the WINE-PRESS of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." Rev. 19:15.

4. HIS VOICE.

"His Voice as the SOUND OF MANY WATERS." There is nothing more melodious or musical than the babbling brook, or more thunderous than the rush of the cataract over the falls, and there is nothing more fearful to the criminal than the words of the Judge as he passes sentence; but how terrifying will be the sentence when with a strong voice the Son of Man shall say in the Judgment Day, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels." Matt. 25:41.

5. HIS HAND.

"In His Right Hand SEVEN STARS."

We are told in verse 20, that the " Seven Stars" stand for the " ANGELS" of the "Seven Churches." These "Angels" are not angelic beings but the Messengers or Ministers of the churches. What a beautiful and solemn lesson is taught here. It is that the ministers of Christ derive their power and office from Him, and that He holds them in His hand. If they are false to Him, no one can deliver them from His power, and if they are true and loyal, no one can touch or molest, or do them harm.

6. HIS MOUTH.

"Out of His Mouth went a SHARP TWO-EDGED SWORD." While the "Sword of the Spirit" is the "Word of God" (Eph. 6:17), and the "Word of God" is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any TWO-EDGED SWORD, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow (the body), (Heb. 4:12), that is not the sword meant here.

The "Sword of the Spirit" is the Holy Spirit's SWORD, and He alone wields it. The sword meant here is the Sword of the Son of Man (Christ), and it is the " SWORD OF JUSTICE," for the Son of Man, out of whose mouth this sword comes, is the "White Horse Rider" of Rev. 19:11-15, "out of whose mouth goeth a SHARP SWORD, that with it He should smite the nations." And that sword, like the "Sword of the Spirit" will be TWO-EDGED also, for the protection of His people, and the destruction of His enemies. This is still further proof that John's vision of Christ was as He shall appear in the " DAY OF THE LORD."

7. HIS COUNTENANCE.

"His Countenance was as the SUN SHINETH IN HIS STRENGTH." This recalls to our memory His appearance on the Mount of Transfiguration when "His Face did shine AS THE SUN," Matt. 17:2. And we read of the New Jerusalem that the inhabitants thereof have no need of the SUN, for the LAMB is the Light thereof. Rev. 21:23. And when we recall that the Prophet Malachi tells us that when Jesus comes back He will be the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (Malachi 4:2), we see that John's vision of the Son of Man was as He shall appear at the Second Stage of His Return, the "Revelation." Thus we have in John's "Seven-Fold" description of the person of the "Glorified Son of Man" circumstantial or indirect evidence that John saw his vision of the Son of Man, not on a Sabbath Day (or the "Lord's Day" as we now call it), but was projected by the Holy Spirit forward into the " Day of the Lord" and saw Him as He will appear then as the Judge, and the coming " SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS."

The "Key" To The Book

The " Key" to the Book is its

" THREE-FOLD DIVISION." Rev. 1:19

1. The Things Which Thou Hast "SEEN."2. The Things Which "ARE."3. The Things Which "SHALL BE HEREAFTER."

This is the only book in the Bible where the Divisions are given, and they are here given by Christ Himself.

1. The Things Which Thou Hast "SEEN."

The Vision of the Son of Man in the midst of the "Seven Lamp-stands." Rev. 1:10-20.

2. The Things Which "ARE."

The Messages to the Seven Churches, Rev. 2:1-3; 22. As these Messages were to seven churches that were in existence in John's day, and to whom he personally wrote, the advocates of the theory that John was in the Spirit on a certain Sabbath or "Lord's Day," naturally claim that John at that time could not have been trans-ported into the "Day of the Lord." But that does not necessarily follow. As we now know (see exposition of chapters 2 and 3) those Churches were REPRESENTATIVE CHURCHES, and were typical of seven well defined periods in Church History, that could not be so understood until the history of the Christian Church would be complete, and that will not be until the "Day of the Lord," so John could have been projected in vision by the Spirit into the "Day of the Lord," and after his Vision of the Glorified Son of Man, the "Messages to the Seven Churches" were dictated to him by the Son of Man Himself, that John when he recovered from his vision and found himself back on the Isle of Patmos could send them to the churches.

3. The Things Which "SHALL BE HEREAFTER."

Literally--" after these." In other words the " Things" which shall come to pass after the "Church Period" ends. The Book naturally divides into

Seven Sevens.

I. THE SEVEN CHURCHES. Rev. 2:14:22.

II. THE SEVEN SEALS. Rev. 6:1-8:5.

III. THE SEVEN TRUMPETS. Rev. 8:7-11:19.

IV. THE SEVEN PERSONAGES. Rev. 12:1-13:18.

V. THE SEVEN VIALS. Rev. 15:1-16:21.

VI. THE SEVEN DOOMS. Rev. 17:1-20:15.

VII. THE SEVEN NEW THINGS. Rev. 21:1-22:5.

Between these series of "Sevens," and between some of the parts of a series there are Parenthetical Statements and Episodes or Intervals, as seen in the following Table of Contents.

Table of Contents

The Title--Rev. 1:1-3.

The Salutation--Rev. 1:4-6.

The Announcement--Rev. 1:7.

The Testimony Of The Almighty--Rev. 1:8.

I.

" THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN."

The Vision Of The Son of Man--Rev. 1:9-20.

II.

" THE THINGS WHICH ARE."

The Messages To The Seven Churches--Rev. 2:1-3:22.

III.

"THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER."

1. The Heavenly Door. Rev. 4:1.

2. The Heavenly Throne. Rev. 4:2-3, 5-6.

3. The Four And Twenty Elders. Rev. 4:4.

4. The Four Beasts. Rev. 4:6-11.

5. The Seven Sealed Book. Rev. 5:1-14.

Daniel's Seventieth Week

1. THE SEVEN SEALS.

FIRST SEAL--A White Horse. Rev. 6:1-2.

SECOND SEAL--A Red Horse. Rev. 6:3-4.

THIRD SEAL--A Black Horse. Rev. 6:5-6.

FOURTH SEAL--A Pale Horse. Rev. 6:7-8.

FIFTH SEAL--Souls of Martyrs. Rev. 6:9-11.

SIXTH SEAL--Physical Changes. Rev. 6:12-17.

___________________________________

INTERVAL

Between The Sixth And Seventh Seals

(1) Sealing of 144,000. Rev. 7:1-8.

(2) Blood Washed Multitude. Rev. 7:9-17.

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SEVENTH SEAL-- Silence. Rev. 8:1.

Golden Censer. Rev. 8:3-5.

2. THE SEVEN TRUMPETS.

FIRST TRUMPET. Hail--Fire--Blood. Rev. 8:7.

SECOND TRUMPET. Burning Mountain. Rev. 8:8-9.

THIRD TRUMPET. Star Wormwood. Rev. 8:10-11.

FOURTH TRUMPET. Sun--Moon--Stars Smitten. Rev. 8:12.

The Angel Warning

"Three Woes" Announced. Rev. 8:13.

FIFTH TRUMPET. FIRST WOE-- Plague of Locusts. Rev. 9:1-12.

SIXTH TRUMPET. SECOND WOE-- Plague of Horseman. Rev. 9:13-21.

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INTERVAL

Between The Sixth And Seventh Trumpets

(1) Little Book. Rev. 10:1-11.

(2) Two Witnesses. Rev. 11:1-14.

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SEVENTH TRUMPET.

THIRD WOE-- Cover Remainder of the Week. And Includes the "Seven Personages" The "Seven Vials" and "Four Dooms." Rev. 11:15-20:10.

THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.

3. THE SEVEN PERSONAGES.

FIRST PER. The Sun-Clothed Women. Rev. 12:1-2.

SECOND PER. The Dragon. Rev. 12:3-4.

THIRD PER. The Man-Child. Rev. 12:5-6.

FOURTH PER. The Archangel. Rev. 12:7-12.

FIFTH PER. The Jewish Remnant. Rev. 12:13-17.

SIXTH PER. The Beast Out of the Sea. Rev. 13:1-10.

SEVEN PER. The Beast Out of the Earth. Rev. 13:11-18.

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INTERVAL

Between The "Seven Personages"

And The "Seven Vials."

(1) The Lamb On Mt. Zion. Rev. 14:1-5.

(2). The Three Angel Messengers. Rev. 14:6-7.

(3). The Blessed Dead. Rev. 14:12-13.

(4). The Harvest And Vintage. Rev. 14:14-20.

4. THE SEVEN VIALS.

Prelude. Rev. 15:1.

(1). The Sea Of Glass. Rev. 15:2-4.

(2). The Tabernacle Of Testimony. Rev. 15:5-8.

FIRST VIAL. Boils. Rev. 16:1-2.

SECOND VIAL. Blood On The Sea. Rev. 16:3.

THIRD VIAL. Blood On The Rivers. Rev. 16:4-7.

FOURTH VIAL. Great Heat. Rev. 16:8-9.

FIFTH VIAL. Darkness. Rev. 16:10-11.

SIXTH VIAL. Euphrates Dried Up. Rev. 16:12.

___________________________________

INTERVAL

Between The Sixth And Seventh Vials

Three Unclean Spirits. Rev. 16:13-16.

___________________________________

SEVENTH VIAL. Great Hail. Rev. 16:17-21.

5. THE SEVEN DOOMS.

FIRST DOOM--Ecclesiastical Babylon. Rev. 17:1-18.

SECOND DOOM--Commercial Babylon. Rev. 18:1-24.

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INTERVAL

Between The Second And Third Dooms.

(1). The Hallelujah Chorus. Rev. 19:1-7.

(2). The Marriage Of The Lamb. Rev. 19:8-10.

(3). The Battle Of Armageddon. Rev. 19:11-21.

___________________________________

THIRD DOOM--The Antichrist And The False Prophet. Rev. 19:20.

FOURTH DOOM--The Antichristian Nations. Rev. 19:21.

___________________________________

INTERVAL

Between The Fourth And Fifth Dooms

(1). Satan Bound. Rev. 20:1-3.

(2). First Resurrection. Rev. 20:4-5.

(3). The Millennium. Rev. 20:6.

(4). Satan Loosed. Rev. 20:7.

___________________________________

FIFTH DOOM--Gog and Magog. Rev. 20:8-9.

SIXTH DOOM--Satan. Rev. 20:10.

SEVENTH DOOM--The Wicked Dead. Rev. 20:11-15.

6. THE SEVEN NEW THINGS.

First New Thing--The New Heaven. Rev. 21:1.

Second New Thing--The New Earth. Rev. 21:2-8.

Third New Thing--The New City. Rev. 21:9-23.

Fourth New Thing--The New Nations. Rev. 21:24-27.

Fifth New Thing--The New River. Rev. 22:1.

Sixth New Thing--The New Tree. Rev. 22:2.

Seventh New Thing--The New Throne. Rev. 22:3-5.

The Final Testimony And Warnings. Rev. 22:6-21.

2. THE THINGS WHICH ARE