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“All ye inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth, see ye; when he lifteth up an ensign on the
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mountain, and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.””—Isaiah 18:3.
Volume 4
BRITTON, OKLAHOMA, JANUARY 1920
Number 49
INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION
AS ADESESSED TO THE CHURCHES.
As the book of Revelation opens up to me in the
study of it, it seems to me the real design of the book
has not been comprehended. Especially would I speak
of the vision or scenes shown to the prophet John.
Such as Christ walking among the churches and the
golden candlesticks with seven stars in his hand and
so on as an introduction to the churches.
Next the scene again shows John as an introduec-
tion to the seven seals, such as Christ on the throne,
the four and twenty elders about him, the four beasts,
and so on. Then again as an introduction to the seven
trumpets, the golden altar and the golden censer and
the smoke from the censer and the prayers of all
saints ascending to God and so on. Then again we
see a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under
her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve stars
in chapter 12. Then once more in the opening of the
seven last plagues we see brought out a sea of glass
round about the throne. Those who had gotten the
victory over the beast and his image ; they are singing
the song of Moses and the Lamb, and last, in contrast
a woman seated on a beast. Rev. 17.
Thus the real key to the book is to understand
well the position that Christ holds and the meaning
of these scenes shicwn the prophet. In -vriting the
book in each line of prophecy the scenes shown the
prophet will have their full lesson considered which
will aid us in understanding the object there was in
giving the book to the church.
The first consideration will be to show how Christ
is related to his church and the position the word of
God holds in the church. The word of God is the
testimony to the church. For the teaching of that
word or testimony of Jesus, John had been banished
to the Isle of Patmos.
As the book of Revelation is the last testimony
of Christ he now wishes men like John, who will teach
Christ’s testimony not only as written by all the
prophets since the world began, but the book of
Revelation in its purity that the people may know what
message Christ has borne to them in his last testimony
to them.
One of the prominent points brought out in the
introduction shown John to the churches is the king-
dom question. Verse five states that Christ is prince
of the kings of the earth. Verse six says that he hath
made us kings and priests unto God. Neither in the
law written by Moses nor any of the writings of the
prophets has there been any utterance that taught
there was not at any time a kingdom of God among
his people. John said, “Repent for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand.” Melchisedec was both king and
priest. Christ has never lost the position as both
king and priest of his people. The kingdom of God in
the days of Abraham was not visible. The theocracy
from Moses to the Babylonish captivity was a visible
kingdom, but it was not a spiritual kingdom. It only
designed to prepare men for the spiritual which existed
at the same time. The throne of grace has been in
existence since the days of Adam. So one of the
principal things to be learned in the study of the.book
of Revelation is the question of the true organization
and its relation to the organization devised by man.
It will be shown that the design in preceeding each
subject by giving a symbolical view was to teach the
true organization of both the church and the civil
organizations as ruled by Christ in every age. See the
next chapter on the seals.
It will be clearly seen in the study of the book
of Revelation that Christ is still the Prince of the
kings of earth, though his ruling throne and kingdom
is not visible. The same is true of the church. His
church is not visible though he is king of his people
and head of the one true church. All others are but
imitations and counterfeits of the true. Hence true
organization is the key to Revelation.
“The revelation of Jesus Christ. which God gave unto him,
to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass;
and he sent and signified it by his angel nnto his servant John:
“Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony
of Jess Christ, and of all things that he saw.
“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.
“John to the geven churches which are in Asia: Gra cebe unto
vou, 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 berotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth,
onto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own
ood.
“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;
to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
“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. Even so, Amen.
“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 companio nin tribula-
tion, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the