THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. — The book is a revelation of the things which are and the things which shall be. “John is the writer, but Jesus Christ is the author,” says Grotius; and consistently with this the action of Christ is seen throughout. It is Christ who bids John write to the seven chur... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO BARE RECORD. — Elsewhere as well as here. And he tells us of what he bore record — of the Word of God. The writer declares that the substance of his testimony and witness had been this Word of God. We have here an indication of what the general character of his teaching had been. It evidently ha... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED IS HE THAT READETH.... PROPHECY. — Any declaration of the principles of the divine government, with indications of their exemplification in coming history, is a prophecy. Sometimes the history which exemplifies these principles is immediate, sometimes more remote; in other cases (as, I ventu... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES (or, _congregations_) WHICH ARE IN ASIA. — It is needless to observe that the Asia here is not to be regarded as co-extensive with what we know as Asia Minor. It is the province of Asia (comp. Acts 2:9; Acts 16:6), which was under a Roman proconsul, and embraced the wester... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS THE FAITHFUL WITNESS, AND THE FIRST BEGOTTEN (or, _firstborn_) OF THE DEAD, AND THE PRINCE (or, _ruler_) OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH. — The triple title applied to Christ corresponds to the three ideas of this book. Christ the Revealing Prophet, the Life-giving High Priest, a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HATH MADE US KINGS AND PRIESTS UNTO GOD AND HIS FATHER; TO HIM BE GLORY AND DOMINION FOR EVER (or, _unto the ages_). — The symbol of washing in the last verse naturally leads on to the thought of consecration, accompanied by blood-sprinkling, to the work of the priest (Exodus 19:6; Exodus 19:10;... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, HE COMETH WITH CLOUDS. — Better, _with the clouds._ The reference to Christ’s words (Mark 14:62) is undoubted. In the “clouds” St. Augustine sees the emblem of the saints of the Church, which is His body, who spread as a vast fertilising cloud over the whole world. EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BEGINNING AND THE ENDING. — These words are of doubtful authority; they are in all probability taken from Revelation 22:13, and interpolated here. The description of the verse applies, with little doubt, to our Lord, and the words are a strong declaration of His divinity. THE ALMIGHTY. — The wo... [ Continue Reading ]
I JOHN, WHO ALSO AM YOUR BROTHER... — More literally, _I, John, your brother and fellow partner in the tribulation and kingdom and patience in Jesus,_.... _because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus._ He was a fellow-sharer of tribulation with them, and he shares that patience which bring... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS (or, _I became_) IN THE SPIRIT. — The mind, drawn onward by the contemplation of things spiritual, is abstracted from the immediate consciousness of outward earthly forms of life. In great natures this power is usually strong. Socrates is related to have stood rapt in thought for hours, and ev... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA. — In this verse we pass from St. John to Him who was the Word, of whom St. John gave testimony. He who is the faithful witness now speaks. “What thou seest, write,” &c. The previous words, “I am Alpha,” &c., are not found in the best MSS. The words “which are in Asia,” are also... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS. — Comp. the vision in Zechariah 4:2. It has been observed that there is a difference in the two visions. In Zech., as in Exodus 25:31, the seven branches are united, so as to form one candlestick; here there are said to be seven candlesticks; and from this supposed differe... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE MIDST OF THE SEVEN CANDLESTICKS (the word “seven” is omitted in some of the best MSS.) one like unto the Son of man. — “He who kindled the light to be a witness of Himself and of His own presence with men was indeed present.” He was present the same as He had been known on earth, yet differen... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS HEAD AND HIS HAIRS WERE WHITE LIKE WOOL, AS WHITE AS SNOW. — The whiteness here is thought by some to be the token of the transfiguration in light of the glorified person of the Redeemer. “It is the glorious white which is the colour and livery of heaven.” This doubtless is true; but it appears... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS FEET LIKE UNTO FINE BRASS. — The feet, like the feet of the ministering priests of Israel, were bare, and appeared like _chalcolibanus_ (fine brass). The exact meaning of this word (used only here) is not certain. The most trustworthy authors incline to take it as a hybrid word, half Greek, half... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HAD (or, _having_) IN HIS RIGHT HAND SEVEN STARS. — The stars are explained later on (Revelation 1:20) to be the emblems of the angels of the seven churches; they are described as stars in His right hand; they, perhaps, appeared as a wreath, or as a royal and star-adorned diadem in His hand.... [ Continue Reading ]
I FELL AT HIS FEET AS DEAD. — At the sight of Him, the Evangelist fell as one dead. “Was this He whom upon earth St. John had known so familiarly? Was this He in whose bosom He had lain at that Last Supper, and said, ‘Lord, which is he that betrayeth Thee?’ When I saw Him thus transformed, thus glor... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM HE THAT LIVETH, AND WAS DEAD. — Better, _and the living One_ (omit the words “I am”); _and I became dead; and, behold, I am alive_ (or, _I am living_)_ unto the ages of ages_ (or, _for evermore_)_, “_Amen” is omitted in the best MSS. This verse must be carefully kept in connection with the prec... [ Continue Reading ]
WRITE THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN (better, _sawest_). — It is well to notice the small connecting word “then,” which has been omitted in the English. It gives the practical thought to the whole of the previous vision. This vision is to be described for the benefit of the Church of Christ, that s... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MYSTERY OF THE SEVEN STARS WHICH THOU SAWEST IN MY RIGHT HAND. — Having bidden him write the meaning of this mystery, or _secret,_ He gives to St. John an explanatory key: “The seven stars are angels of seven churches (or _congregations_)_:_ and the seven candlesticks” (omit the words “which tho... [ Continue Reading ]