Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-12-15


Stearns.
Q. 81, 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 Patmos, for the
word of God and for the testimony of Jesus
Christ" Devoutly grateful for the privi-
lege of two lessons in this most wonderful
book of all the GG, fail not to notice it's
name in verse /. "fhe Revelation of Jesus
Christ and remember that "A revelation is
no longer "a mystery, but "A mystery I'M
folded. Consider also in verse the special
blessing upon all who read or hear the
words of this book. Observe that John
was in Punishment for Jesus sake because
of the word OF God, and if you believe ell
that word today and are faithful ia tes-
timony you will ind yourself exiled by
many. You will, however, have blessed
company; only be patient and wait for the
kingdom.
10. 81 was in the Spirit on the l ord's
day and heard behind me great vu ce as
OF a trumpet" In the Spirit, led by the
Spirit, taught 10y the Spirit filled with the
Spirit, are some of the privileges of every
child of God and only by the Spirit Gun we
know God or HIS word. Compare Acts
viii, %; Kill ., 4: xvi, &, {; FL. ri, |, 2i The
Lord day may refer to the first day of the
week, or it 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.
H. Saying. am Alpha and Omega, the
first and the last, and what thou seest
write in book and send it unto the seven
ArI,.,
then. was the voice of the Lord Himself,
who thus came to His dear servant exiled
for His sake He is A and and all be-
tween there is nothing that letters can
spell which He will not be to His people.
AS to first and Last compare verse "a and
see lisa. xii, 1; Xiv 6: Xviii, 10; Rev %, ID,
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. iii, 10, IL. Rev. X, 10, ~.
~. And ! turned to see the voice that
spake with me. And being turned saw
seven golden candlesticks." If John had
not needed the voice and turned to see, he
had missed this great sight 1t was only
when the Lord saw that Moses turned
aside to see that God called unto him out
of the midst of the bush (IX. iii, ~. |
doubt not that we would see and hear
more of God if we were more ready to heed
His slightest call and see His hand in ev
cry event. The se9en candlesticks are ex-
planned in verse 20
10. And in the midst of the seven can
dlesticks one like unto the Son of Man.
clothed with garment down to the foot
and girt about the paps with II golden CIR
die" The phrase lin the midst" is very
suggestive of Him who is always in the
midst when we meet in name ;Akath. xviii,
20) and who was in the midst on Calvary
for us. He is our 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 MS
IA. His head and his hairs were white
like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes
were rs a flame of fire" His head is sug-
gestive of the internal purity of all His
thoughts or perhaps that BE is the Ancient
of Days Uan viii -, whose goings forth
have been from of old from everlasting
(Alic. V, p. As to His eyes, see also chap
ters ii, IS; xix, II, and remember that all
things are naked and opened to the eyes of
Him with whom we have to do NIeb iv, l3).
u. And His feet like unto fine brass, as
if they burned in a furnace and His voice
as the sound of many waters" Compare
AS to His feet Dan. y. &; Rev. i. I; they may
suggest his Judging righteousy, and also
His righteous goings. As to His voice like
many waters, compare Eek. l. "a; xiii, 2,
and Rev. xvii, -; the idea seems to be set
forth in these verses as the voice of host
of people.
IL. And He had in His right hand seven
stars, and out of His mouth went sharp
two edged sword, and His countenance was
aC hp CI1n Sbi m - ba
stars are explained in verse 20, but whether
pastor or teacher or humble believer we
are in His hand, from which no power can
pluck us John Y, %, 2S) He also holds us
as lights in His hand to shine tor Him
(Phil ii, Is, 49, Not only is His word a
sharp sword, but He will make our mouths
a sharp sword Heb. iv, L.; Isa XIX, p His
countenance reminds us of the transfgura-
ton and suggests the coming glory (Math.
xvii, 2; xiii, 49,.
H. And when saw Him | fell at His
feet as dead, and He laid His right hand
upon me, saying unto me: Fear not; | am
the first and the last" Over 90 years be-
fore John had leaned upon his bosom and
had also seen Him transfgured, but this is
too much for him. 1t reminds us of lisa.
vi, 3; Dan y, ); job Xiii, &. But although
He has been over GO years glorihed He is
the very same Jesus, and so graciously lay
ing His loving hand upon His servant He
utters the old familiar Fear not" See Gen.
XIV, |; lisa xii, TO- l3 Joel ii, 26; Dan X, IL,
10; Luke Y, 10: Mark v, SO, etc
Is. Il am He At liveth and was dead,
and behold am %Iive forevermore, amen,
and have the keys of hell and of death "
With more light than Job had we can say,
MY Redeemcr liveth' (Job xix, 2jJ lie
is my life Gal ii. 20; Col iii, 4; Phil. !, 2l).
a life that no power can touch and not
even the destroyer destroy. Not even death
and hades can claim body or spirit with
out His permission, and the time is coming
when death must surrender every body
and hades every spirit at His command
(chapter Xxx, 49,,
/ 10. Write the things which thou hast
seen, and the things which are, and the
things which shall be hereafter" Here is
the threefold division of the book, if | un-
derstand it: Chapter i, the things which
4 thou hast seen; chapters ii, iii, the things
which are; chapters iv to xxi, the things
which shall lie hereafter Notice chapter