The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Revelation — Context and Discussion

THE CHURCH ON THE FIELD OF HISTORY 21

ANTICIPATIONS OF THE CHURCH'S VICTORY 65

THE SEALED ROLL OPENED 86

CONSOLATORY VISIONS. THE SEALING AND THE PALM-BEARING MULTITUDE 111

THE FIRST SIX TRUMPETS 132

RENEWED CONSOLATORY VISION. THE LITTLE BOOK 157

A SECOND CONSOLATORY VISION. THE MEASURING OF THE TEMPLE AND THE TWO WITNESSES. THE SEVENTH TRUMPET 168

THE FIRST GREAT ENEMY OF THE CHURCH 196

THE SECOND AND THIRD GREAT ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH 217

RENEWED CONSOLATORY VISIONS. THE LAMB ON THE MOUNT ZION AND THE HARVEST AND VINTAGE OF THE WORLD 238

THE BEAST AND BABYLON 277

THE FALL OF BABYLON 303

THE PAUSE OF VICTORY AND JUDGMENT OF THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET 316

JUDGMENT OF SATAN AND OF THE WICKED 335

THE NEW JERUSALEM 360

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show unto His servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and He sent and signified it through His angel unto His servant John; who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, even of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things which are written therein: for the season is at hand (i. 1-3).

The first chapter of Revelation introduces us to the whole book, and supplies in great measure the key by which we are to interpret it. The book is not intended to be a mystery in the sense in which we commonly understand that word. It deals indeed with the future, the details of which must always be dark to us; and it does this by means of figures and symbols and modes of speech far removed from the ordinary simplicity of language which marks the New Testament writers. But it is not on that account designed to be unintelligible. The figures and symbols employed in it are used with perfect regularity; its peculiar modes of speech are supposed to be at least not unfamiliar to the reader; and it is taken for granted that he understands them. The writer obviously expects that his meaning, so far from being obscured by his style, will be thereby illustrated, enforced, and brought home to the mind, with greater than ordinary power. The word _Revelation_ by which he describes to us the general character of his work is of itself sufficient to show this. "Revelation" means the uncovering of that which has hitherto been covered, the drawing back of a veil which has hung over a person or thing, the laying bare what has been hitherto concealed; and the book before us is a revelation instead of a mystery.

Again, the book is a _revelation of Jesus Christ_; not so much a revelation of what Jesus Christ Himself is, as one of which He is the Author and Source. He is the Head of His Church, reigning supreme in His heavenly abode. He is the Eternal Son, the Word without whom was not anything made that was made, and who executes all the purposes of the Father, "the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever."[1] He is at the same time "Head over all things to the Church."[2] He regulates her fortunes. He controls in her behalf the events of history. He fills the cup which He puts into her hand with prosperity or adversity, with joy or sorrow, with victory or defeat. Who else can impart a revelation so true, so weighty, and so precious?

Yet again, the revelation to be now given by Jesus Christ is one _which God gave Him_, the revelation of the eternal and unchangeable plan of One who turneth the hearts of kings as the rivers of water, who saith and it is done, who commandeth and it stands fast.

Finally, the revelation relates to things that _must shortly come to pass_, and thus has all the interest of the present, and not merely of a far-distant future.

Such is the general character of that revelation which Jesus Christ _sent and signified through His angel unto His servant John_. And that Apostle faithfully recorded it for the instruction and comfort of the Church. Like his Divine Master, with whom throughout all this book believers are so closely identified, and who is Himself _the Amen, the faithful and true witness_,[3] the disciple whom He loved stands forth to bear witness of _the word of God_ thus given him, of _the testimony of Jesus_ thus signified to him, _even of all things that he saw_. He places himself in thought at the end of the visions he had witnessed, and re-traces for others the elevating pictures which had filled, as he beheld them, his own soul with rapture.