Richly favored was this beloved disciple.He had seen his Master in Gethsemane, His face marked with the blood drops of agony, His "visage...
marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men." Isaiah 52:14.He had seen Him in the hands of the Roman soldiers, clothed with an old purple robe and crowned with thorns.He had seen Him hanging on the cross of Calvary, the object of cruel mockery and abuse.Now John is once more permitted to behold his Lord.But how changed is His appearance! He is no longer a Man of Sorrows, despised and humiliated by men.He is clothed in a garment of heavenly brightness."His head and His hairs" are "white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes...as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace." Revelation 1:14, 15, 17.His voice is like the music of many waters.His countenance shines as the sun.In His hand are seven stars, and out of His mouth issues a sharp two-edged sword, an emblem of the power of His word.Patmos is made resplendent with the glory of the risen Lord.
"And when I saw Him," John writes, "I fell at His feet as dead.And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not." Verse 17.
John was strengthened to live in the presence of his glorified Lord.Then before his wondering vision were opened the glories of heaven.He was permitted to see the throne of God and, looking beyond the conflicts of earth, to behold the white-robed throng of the redeemed.He heard the music of the heavenly angels and the triumphant songs of those who had overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.In the revelation given to him there was unfolded scene after scene of thrilling interest in the experience of the people of God, and the history of the church foretold to the very close of time.In figures and symbols, subjects of vast importance were presented to John, which he was to record, that the people of God living in his age and in future ages might have an intelligent understanding of the perils and conflicts before them.
This revelation was given for the guidance and comfort of the church throughout the Christian dispensation.Yet religious teachers have declared that it is a sealed book and its secrets cannot be explained.Therefore many have turned from the prophetic record, refusing to devote time and study to its mysteries.But God does not wish His people to regard the book thus.It is "the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass." "Blessed is he that readeth," the Lord declares, "and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."Verses 1, 3."I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, 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.He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly." Revelation 22:18-20.
In the Revelation are portrayed the deep things of God.The very name given to its inspired pages, "the Revelation," contradicts the statement that this is a sealed book.A revelation is something revealed.The Lord Himself revealed to His servant the mysteries contained in this book, and He designs that they shall be open to the study of all.Its truths are addressed to those living in the last days of this earth's history, as well as to those living in the days of John.Some of the scenes depicted in this prophecy are in the past, some are now taking place; some bring to view the close of the great conflict between the powers of darkness and the Prince of heaven, and some reveal the triumphs and joys of the redeemed in the earth made new.
Let none think, because they cannot explain the meaning of every symbol in the Revelation, that it is useless for them to search this book in an effort to know the meaning of the truth it contains.The One who revealed these mysteries to John will give to the diligent searcher for truth a foretaste of heavenly things.Those whose hearts are open to the reception of truth will be enabled to understand its teachings, and will be granted the blessing promised to those who "hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein."In the Revelation all the books of the Bible meet and end.Here is the complement of the book of Daniel.One is a prophecy; the other a revelation.
The book that was sealed is not the Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel relating to the last days.The angel commanded, "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end." Daniel 12:4.
It was Christ who bade the apostle record that which was to be opened before him."What thou seest, write in a book," He commanded, "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." "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore....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." Revelation 1:11, 18-20.
The names of the seven churches are symbolic of the church in different periods of the Christian Era.The number 7 indicates completeness, and is symbolic of the fact that the messages extend to the end of time, while the symbols used reveal the condition of the church at different periods in the history of the word.
