Lessons From First Chapter of Revelation

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.»

There should be a closer and more diligent study of the Revelation, and a more earnest presentation of the truths it contains,—truths that concern all who are living in these last days. Into the very designs and principles of the church of God these truths are to enter. If we take up the study of this book in a receptive frame of mind, with hearts susceptible of divine impressions, the truths revealed will have a sanctifying influence upon us.

To encourage a study of this book, God declares: «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.»

The Revelation is regarded by many as a closed book. Not a few ministers declare that it can not be understood. But it is our privilege to know something in regard to it. By no means should we become weary of looking into it because of its apparently mystical symbols. Christ can give us understanding. The benediction pronounced upon those who read, and hear, and keep the words of this prophecy, may be ours.

The Revelation was written to the seven churches in Asia, which represented the people of God throughout the world. «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.»

Banished to the solitudes of the Isle of Patmos, John was favored with the presence of Jesus Christ. How comforting are the words of the aged apostle as he wrote to the churches of his Saviour! «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 forever and ever.»

«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.» Whether we be saved or lost, we shall sometime see the Saviour as he is, in all His glory, and shall understand His character. At His second coming, conviction will be brought to every heart. Those who have turned from Him to the trivial things of this earth, seeking selfish interests and worldly honor, will in the day of His coming acknowledge their mistake. These are the ones spoken of by the Revelator as «all kindreds of the earth,» who «shall wail because of Him.» Let us not be content to be numbered among the «kindreds of the earth.» Remembering that our citizenship is in heaven, let us lay hold on the hope set before us in the Gospel.

«And they also which pierced Him.» These words apply not only to the men who pierced Christ when He hung on the cross of Calvary, but to those who by evil-speaking and wrong-doing are piercing Him to-day. Daily He suffers the agonies of the crucifixion. Daily men and women are piercing Him by dishonoring Him, by refusing to do His will.

The Lord desires us to be men and women in Christ Jesus. Our natural dispositions are to be softened and subdued by His grace. Then we shall not be continually crucifying Him afresh. Our Saviour lived on this earth a perfect life. He is our Example. If we now follow Him, doing His will in all things, we shall in the world to come live with Him forever. Let us keep Him constantly in view. It should be our life-purpose to glorify Christ. This is the great purpose that has inspired Christians in every age. It is by cherishing this purpose that we make sure of eternal salvation. Let us learn to know Him whom to know aright is peace and joy and life everlasting.

«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.»

In his old age the apostle talked continually of Christ, and the people tired of his words, which rebuked their stubborn refusal of Christ as their Saviour. To rid themselves of John’s testimony, they banished him to Patmos. But in sending him to that lonely isle, they did not place him beyond the reach of Jesus. It was there that he was given a wonderful revelation of his Saviour and of the things that were to come to pass on the earth; and it was on Patmos, too, that he wrote out the record of his visions that we have in the book of Revelation,—a record that will be present truth until all the events foretold shall have taken place.

Verses 10-20.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,» writes the prophet of Patmos, «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 forevermore, 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.»

It may seem wonderful to us that Christ should reveal Himself to John as He is, strange that He should thus address Himself to the churches. But we should remember that the church, enfeebled and defective tho it is, is the object of Christ’s supreme regard. Constantly He watches over it with tender solicitude, and strengthens it by His Holy Spirit. Will we, as members of His church, allow Him to impress our minds and to work through us to His glory? Will we heed the messages He addresses to the church? Let us determine to be among the number who shall meet Him with joy at His coming, and not among those who «shall wail because of Him.» Let us make certain our redemption by obeying the messages that He gives to His church.

Christ bears to the church the words of consolation: «Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God, and I will write upon Him My new name.»

To the overcomer is promised a crown of unfading glory, and a life that measures with the life of God. «To Him that overcometh,» Christ declares, «will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.» «Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.» Let us strive to obtain an abundant entrance into the kingdom of our Lord. Let us diligently study the Gospel that Christ came in person to present to John on the Isle of Patmos,—the Gospel that is termed, «The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass.» Let us remember always that «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.» —