November 1931
T h e
K i n g ' s
B u s i n e s s
512
Each lampstand is set upon its own base, unlike those in the tabernacle. They are viewed, not as in dependent union with the Lord, but historically,' as to their re sponsibility. That is, the Lord is not re presented here as the bond of union, but as the Judge. The Lord appears as “one like unto the Son of man” (vs. 13-16). His deity is never forgotten. Why should the word “like” be used if the Lord is not more than man ? He is dressed as a royal priest, but not in service; hence, He is not girt about the loins. His hair bespeaks the Ancient of Days, the perfection of wisdom. The de scription of His eyes indicates absolute holiness, viewing all before Him. Nothing is hidden from Him; nothing of hypoc risy can stand in His presence. His feet indicate firmness—no escape from His im partial judgment; He judges all, both the evil and the good. The sound of His voice reduces man to his proper littleness and impotency. The stars are His mes- setlgers whom He holds in His hand while He walks among the candlesticks. His mouth speaks eternal justice with per fect exactness. Finally, the brightness of His face indicates the full revelation of what He is, as on the Mount of Trans figuration. The Lord Jesus Christ is the possessor, guardian, and examiner of the church. The church is to be the light upon the earth; not to make, but to let light shine forth. All the exhortations and warnings of, this book relate to the revelation of Jesus Christ and not to the rapture of the church. The latter is wholly of grace (cf. 1 Cor. IS). 3. The result of the vision (17, 18). John is overcome, and he falls as one dead. But immediately he is raised to his feet and given the assurance once more to “fear not.” Following this, he is given final instructions to write the book in the threefold manner indicated. The “things which thou hast seen,” refer to the vision just granted; the “things which are” relate to the course of the church in this age; and the “things which shall be” imply those things which shall occur on earth after the church is taken away. Lesson Q uestions Vs. 4-6. To whom was the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” given? Where was John at this time? To whom is the salutation addressed? Explain the connection be tween grace and peace as these words are used in verse 4. In how many different capacities is the Lord Jesus Christ por trayed in these verses ? Explain the signifi- • cance of the use of the present tense in the word “loveth.” What is implied by the use of the past tense, “washed,” in the same sentence ? V. 7. Does this verse refer to the Lord’s coming for His people (cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-18), or does it relate to a still future day of judgment? V. 8. What is meant by the expression, “I am Alpha and Omega” ? Do the words, “the beginning and the ending,” bring out the thought that Jesus Christ is the cause and the consummation of all material cre ation? What thoughts gather around the use of the word “Almighty,” as applied to Christ ? Vs. 9-11. What marks of the true ser vant of Jesus Christ are found in verse 9?
Furthermore, He now takes Deity’s titles and declares Himself to be the Lord, “which is, and which was, and which is to come, The Almighty.” This speaks of Jehovah’s eternal being, the unchangeable One, controller of all history, upholder of all the universe, and the center of all movements in heaven above or on the earth beneath—the Almighty, the eternal Father, with power to fulfill all His COUn- ^ S IV. J ohn ’ s V ision (9-18). 1. The occasion of the vision (9-11). To those to whom he writes, John ad dresses himself as their brother and com panion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. These words speak of the present rejection prior to the manifestation of the Lord from heaven. Here are four marks of the true servants of Jesus Christ t They have a common brotherhood, they undergo common suf ferings, they partake of common royalty, and they are sustained by a common hope. They are in the kingdom and patience now, waiting for the kingdom and glory to come. John also states that he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, while an exile on the Isle of Patmos because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. There are some who believe that John meant he was projected forward in his tory to that day of the Lord wherein the judgments are to take place, which he afterward revealed. There are _others, however, who think that John received the revelation on a Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, and that he was looking for ward to the Lord’s coming to reign, but was recalled to look upon what would transpire upon the earth before that com ing would take place. At that time, he re ceived the command to write to the seven churches. 2. The nature of the vision (12-16). It was a description of the Lord, as the Son of man, acting as the Judge. Each part of thè description should be con sidered, as each part recurs in the account of Christ’s coming to judge (chapters 2 and 3). The candlesticks, or lampstands, show the church in the completeness of her tes timony upon the earth during the time of the Lord’s absence (v. 20). They are made of gold, signifying the royal character of the church. The lampstands speak of the need for light in a dark place. Until the Lord comes, the world is in the dark.
IL J ohn ' s D oxology (5, 6).
The Revised Version reads, “Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood” ; unto this One “be the glory and the dominion unto the ages of the ages.” He “loveth” us. The statement is in the present tense. While it is blessedly true that He loved us in the past, and will love us in the future, yet there is a peculiar aptness in the use of the present tense. Believers are ever under the attack of Satan, who strives to make them think that, while the Lord loved them in the past and possibly may love them in the future, yet because of their failures, He does' not love them in the present. But all His servants are loved by the Lord— continually and fully. The One who thus loveth us, is the One who “washed us from our sins in his own blood.” In this latter phrase, the past tense is used. It reveals the fact that the work of taking away sins is forever complete. The be liever’s sins, whatever their nature and whatever their depth, are forever blotted out by the precious blood of the Lamb of God. Further, He has not only washed us from our sins, but He has made us to be “kings and priests unto God and his Fa ther.” John ends his doxology with the words, “unto him’Cfthe One who loveth us and washed us from our sins and made us kings and priests—“unto him . . . be glory and dominion for ever and ever.” III. J ohn ' s A nnouncement (7, 8) It is an announcement of the coming revelation of our Lord in glory, when “every eye shall see him, . . . and all kindreds of the earth shall wail be cause of him.” This is a reference to “the day of the Lord” which is still future, and which is a day of judgment, as the Scrip tures plainly declare. It is not the hope of the church, but the church, acting as the servant of Jesus Christ, testifies to its sure approach. In the same way, Enoch, before he was translated, testified to the fact of impending judgment. From Enoch, we learn what should be our tes timony to this age, while Abraham shows us what should be our intercession for it. But as it was in the days of Enoch and of Abraham, the testimony is met with unbelief, and the intercession is viewed with scorn. But this announcement is at once con firmed by the risen and ascended Lord who speaks in verse 8, giving a procla mation of Himself and what He is. The “even so, Amen,” of verse 7 should be a part of verse 8. It is a portion of the say ing of Christ in reply to John’s announce ment of the coming of the day of the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ is Alpha and Omega. These are the first and last let ters of the Greek alphabet. Their use here indicates that the Lord covers all lit erature; that it, all that can be said is found in Him. He is the subject, there fore, of all the Scriptures. He is also the beginning and the end ing ; that is, the beginning as well as thè ending of' all the material creation or the historical ages. The Creator of all the worlds and all the creatures in those worlds; whether archangels or angels, principalities or powers, mights or names —whatever there is, He is the cause and the end.
National Thanksgiving well the anthem, raise the song; Praises to our God belong; Saints and angels join to sing Praises to the heavenly King, Blessings from His liberal hand Flow around this happy land: Kept by Him, no foes annoy; Peace and freedom we enjoy. Hark! the voice of nature sings Praises to the King of kings; Let us join the choral song, And the grateful notes prolong. —S elected .
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