The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-13
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
DECEMBER II.
Lesson Text: ssThe Glorifled Savl-
our" Rev. l., 9-2O-Golden
Text: Phil. H., 9-Com-
mentary.

9. "I, John, who also am your brother and
companion in tribulation and In the kingdom
and patience Of Jesus Christ, was in the isle
that is called Pstmos, for the word OF God
and for the testimony OF Jesus Christ" De-
SONS In this most wonderful book of all the
&C. fail not to notice ity name In verse 1,
''The Revelation OF Jesus Christ" and re-
member that revelation is no longer
mystery, but q mystery unfolded. Consider
also In verse the special blessing upon all
who read or hear the words OF this book.
Observe that John was In banishment for
Jesus's sake because Of the word Of God and
II you believe all that word to-day and are
faithful in testimony you will find yourself
exiled by many. You will, however, have
blessed company; only be patient and wait
for the kingdom.
10. "I was In the Spirit Of the Lords day
and heard behind me great voice as of q
trumpet In the Spirit, led by the Spirit,
taught by the Spirit. filed with the Spirit,
are some OF the privileges OF every child Of
God, and only by the Spirit can we know
God or His word. Compare Acts viii, 20 |;
Kill. 2, 4; xvi, 6, z; Ez. xi., 1, a. The
Lords day may refer to the first day OF the
week, or 1t may mean that John was by the
Spirit carried forward and caused to behold
the events OF the day Of the Lord so often
mentioned in the Old Testament.
II. siSsying- am Alpha and Omega, the
first and the last, and what Thou seest write
in book and send 1t unto the seven churches
which are In Asia" The voice, then, was
the voice Of the Lord Himself, who thus came
to His dear servant exiled for His sake. He
is A and q and all between there Is nothing
that letters can spell which He will not be 70
His people. As to 'sfirst and last" compare
verse II and sse lisa. XII, 4; xltv., 6; Xviii,
-; Rev. ~, IL, and let Him be first and last
with you In all things. Learn also from the
verse that what we see and hear OF God Is to
be passed on to others (Ezek. ILL, 10, II Rev.
<. 10, 11).
10. stAnd turned to see the voice that
spoke with me. And being turned saw
seven golden candlesticks." IJohn had not
needed the voice and turned toSsee, he had
the Lord saw that Moses turned aside to see
that God called unto him out of the midst Of
the bush (E1. ILL.,, A. doubt not that we
would see and hear more Of God II we were
more ready to heed His slightest call and see
His hand In every event. The seven candle
sticks are explained In verse 20.
IS. "And In the midst OF the seven candle
sticks one like unto the Son Of Man, clothed
with garment down to the foot and girt
about the paps with q golden girdle." The
phrase SIN the midst" Is very suggestive Of
Him who Is always In the midst when we
meet in name (Math- xviii, 20) and who was
High Priest, as indicated by the garment, and
is still the girded one on our behalf, for He
ever careth for US and maketh intercession
for US. .-a
IA. "His head and his hairs were white
Ike wool, as white as snow, and his eyes
were as fameof fire." His head Is sug-
gestive Of the internal purify OF all -His
thoughts, or perhaps that He Is the Ancient
OF Days dan. vM., 81, whose goings forth
have been from Of old from everlasting (Mic.
v.,2). As to His eyes, see also chapters H..
1s; XIX, Il, and remember that all things
are naked and open to the eyes Of Him with
Is. "And his feet like unto fine brass. as
II they burned In furnace, and His voice as
the sound OF many waters" Compare as to
His feet Dan. Z, 6 Rev l.. z they may sug-
gest His judging ri9hteously, aud also Hls
righteous goings. As to His voice like many
waters, compare Ezsk, l., "a; kill, 2, and
Rev. xvii, Is the idea seems to be set forth
in these verses az the voice of host OF peo-
pie.
stars, and out OF His mouth went sharp
as the sun shineth In His strength. The
stars are explained in Ysrse 20, but whether
rastor or teacher3or humble believer we are
In His hand from which no power can pluck
US John K, ~. 28). He also holds us as
lights in His hand to shine for HIM Phil. H.,
Is, 16). Not only Is His word sharp sword,
but He will make cur mouths sharp sword
Heb. w., 12 lisa Xix, His countenance
reminds US o. the TRANSPORTATION, and sug-
gests the coming glory (Msth. xyit., 2; Kill,
IL. "And when saw Him I fell at His
feet as dead, and He laid HIS right hand up
on me, saying unto me: Fear not am the
first and the last" Over sixty years before
John had leaned upon His bosom and had
also seen Him transagured, but this is too
much for him. It reminds US OF Isa. w., B;
Dan. <, 8; Job Kill, 6. But although He
has been over sixty years glorified He is the
very same Jesus, and 80 graciously laying
His loving hands upon hts servant He utters
the old familiar "Fear not" See Gen. 1y.,
/ Isa., xli., 10, 10 Joel H., % Dan. <, II,
10; Luke ", 10 Mark ", SO, ,ete. s,.
,-lS. 'Itam He'that hveth and was dad, and
behold am alive foreysrmore, amen, and
have the keys of hell and OF death" With
more light than Job had we can say, "My
Redeemer lvesh" Dob XIX, 26). He Is my
life iGaL IL 30 Col. Ill, 4 Phil. l., 21). A
life that no power-can touch and not even
the destroyer destroy. Not even death and
hades can claim body or spirit without
His permission, and the time is coming when
death must surrender every body and hades
every spirit OF His command (chapter xx,
13).
l9. "Write the things which thou hast
seen, and the things which are, and the
thinrs which shall be hereafter" Here tS the
threefold division OF the book, II under
stand 1t: Chapter l., the things which thou
hast seen chapters H., ill.,, the things which
are chapters iv,, to xii, the things which
shall be hereafter Notice chapter w., l, the
last clause. Nothing Is received merely Tor
ourselves. All Is to be written or spoken for
the benefit Of others.
20. .'The seven stars ara the angels OF the
seven churches, and the seven candlesttcSs
which thou sawsst are seven churches" This
confirms His words In Math. ", IA, 'Ye are
the light OF the world" and takes US back to
the candlesticks Of the tabernacle and tenn
pie, but especially to the peculiar sell sup.
plying or constantly supplied candlestick OF
Zech. w., with Its two olive trees, suggestive
OF Christ, our Priest and King, and ITS Won
derful central thought, "Not by might nor
by power, but by My Spirit. saith the Lord o:
Hosts" Both Individually and collectively
we shall shine for Christ only as we rejoice
in Him as our Priest and acknowledge Him
as our King, believing that He is ever In our
snidst.-Lesson Helper.
Ingenious Potato Smuggling.
Two carloads OF potatoes, COO bushels in
each, were recently seized by customs off,
GERS at Boston. They. came over the
Boston and Maine, and, It Is alleged, we're