Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-12-16

Revelations xii, S-21.
In formal address it is common to put a
number of explanatory or Introductory state
ments at the commencement, and often there
is a reference to them at the close recalling
attention to the point from which the speaker
set out. The lesson we are now to study Is
the closing part of the Revelation, and corre-
spends in some degree TO the opening in Rev.
i, 1-9. In both there is rapid and informal
passing from one point to another. V. Is in
our lesson is a repetition of Rev. i, g. Other
correspondence will be pointed out as We
proceed The teacher does not need so much
to linger over connections that are obscure as
to set out clearly the great and abiding
truths, about the meaning of which there is
no room for discussion.
VS.. SO. In Rev. xxi, 9, zone of the seven
angels" said: "Come hither, 1 will show thee
the bride, the Lambs wife" At the end of
this vision the apostle was so overpowered
that he was ready to give worship to the
angel. This is not the only time when men
made the same mistake. See the case of
Cornelius in Acts x, 1926. and the people of
Lystra, Acts xiv, Ills. In the corrupt days
of Christendom the worship of angels became
a well established usage, contrary to the
word spoken here to John. Yet it might
have been thought that he was in no danger
of giving Gods glory to another. Fellow
servants are never to get the honor due only
to God
V. 10. The apostle is directed to keep the
messages now given him in such way that
men may know them The divine will was
sealed book" in Gods hand till Jesus came
and opened it, as in Rev. V, 81 But this is
to be an unsealed, open book The reason
given is that ''the time is at hand" The
things in the book were not remote, specula-
tive, but affecting the thoughts and life of
protesting Christians then and ever after.
Whatever prophecies might need time to ex-
plain them by their fulfllment, there are
very many statements of plain, practical
truth for everyday life, and which all are to
read. The epistles to the seven churches, for
example, were appropriate for Christian
study from the beginning.
V. II. There are two 'advents' of the Son
Of Man in the Bible, the first in humiliation
to suffer, the second in glory to judge. But
in addition to these and without interfering
with them, God is often said to "comen when
He infiicts judgments. And the day of death
is practically to every man the day of judg-
ment, for that day will not reverse any de-
cisions made at death. See in illustration
Matt XIV, ID, 46. See in Prov. i, 24-2S, the
severity Of Gods sentence This passage
teaches that in life we are setting the seal Of
character, that death will not alter it, that if
we be un5ust then we shall be SO forever. See
Ps Xii, II. No greater snare has ever been
laid before men than the hope of another
'chance," which the heart deludes itself into
thinking 1t will then accept. ''Now," says
God. "At q convenient season." says the
human soul (Acts xiv, 25.
V. II. The quickly" refers probably not
so much to nearness in time as to unexpected
ness. Men are so approached one by one; so
the world will be "at the last day." For the
Judgment is then iversal-"every man"-
and also just-"according as his work shall
be-" See Rom ii, 8, and xiv, II
V. Is. How important it is to remember
the divine nature and the infinite authority
of the Judge appears from the repetition here
of the words in the beginning REV. i, s.. So
it is in John i, l. Jesus is one with the
Father, and He is "the author and finisher of
our faith" Heb. XII, q.
V. II. The language of the 11th, 18th and
18th verses naturally leads to this, in which
the way of getting right to the tree of life
is set forth. 1t is doing His command
ments" Man was in the Garden of Eden and
in innocence. He ate the forbidden fruit
So he was expelled. He disobeyed Gods COM
mands. (See Gen. iii, "a It is by revers-
ing all this and obeying that he can get the
right to the tree of life. (See Rev. ii, ~
The figure of a city is here added in reference
to Rev. xxi, TO- The obeying is more than
mere saying or protesting. See in illustra-
ton Matt vii, 21. If one asks, "What COM
mands are we to obeyn the answer is in such
passages as John iii, %; Acts xvi, 81 This
is the obedience of faith. (See the revised
version of v. 14.)
V. Is. Outside the Oriental city dogs live
on the filth of the place. Hence we can un-
derstand the opening words, which have their
meaning continued in the black list that fol-
lows. The climax Is slowing and making
lie" See for other statements Of this awful
truth Phil iii, 10; Gal v, 1921
V. 16 Again the authority of this book is
set forth, as in Rev i, 1, and with the figure
of Rev. v, 1, which in turn comes from Isa
Ii, 1, 10. The "star" is from Num- xiv, II.
Then follows the glorious recital of the invi-
tation
V. ~, in explaining which the teacher
may begin with "the water of life." What is
it? The figure comes probably from the other
familiar language, as of Ps xiii, 1-2: my
soul thirsteth for God;" i. O., desires Him, as
the thirsty man desires water, and this is
water of life The soul that has this desire
satisfied has life. See John iv, 13-14) But
how can we get it? Simply, come to the
fountain and take Of it. Believe in, come to,
receive, Christ. What encouragement have
we to do thisl The Spirit bids US come John
xvi, 13-14). All gospel invitations come under
this head The 1bride" (see Rev. xxi, 81, is the
church of Christ Her testimony in preach
ing, writing and living is to Christ as the
Saviour The individual member-"let him
that hearethr-is exhorted TO repeat it. as
converted, faithful Sabbath school teachers
do. And, finally, it is renewed again in this
divine word: "Whosoever will" etc. One
might say: "I do not know the Bible nor the
church, nor have Christian friend to teach
me, but my soul thirsts for God" Then let
such a one come. Jesus will not cast him
out, but will receive him and put him in the
way of learning. CSee Matt. xi, ;2S-SO)
VS.. 1913 contain solemn statement of
the completeness and perfectness of the revela-
ton made, whether in this book itself for its
own PURPOSES, OE Ii culAIe Ol
which this was meant to be the close, is not
certain. No man can add to it without being
plagued Of God as this book threatens (See
Prov Xxx, g.; Deut. xii, 81; Cor. iii, 12-13)
To add to it would imply its incompleteness.
To take from it would destroy its perfect
ness So jeremiah was instructed as Gods
prophet (Jer. XVI, q; so Paul wrote (Gal. i,
so. And as the plaques" Of the book are
brought up in the one instance, so the sym
bols of the book are recalled in the other
shook of life REV. Xxx, 15l, "the holy city,
Rev. xxi, 2.
" 90. II any one raises the question, "How
does Jesus come quicklyl" the answer is in
the recorded experience Of Paul Phil iii, 2U,
which is the same in substance with that in
Isa, XIV, 8, and of all true believers, for "the
glorious appearing" of the Saviour is ~ths
blessed hope And so much is the coming
OF tha Saviour to take soul to Himself the
same in substance to that soul with the final
coming, that millions of them have said,
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus" with their last
breath
V. 81 The benediction of John follows, the
same in substance as Paul's in Eph. vi, "a It
Is not to be said or heard as a mere touching
and beautiful word Think of its meaning
Grace is that which God gives and makes suf-