The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-15
Sunday School
Lesson
for
June Is.

PRELIMINARY. .--rhc beloved apostle, as he
usually spoke of himself, cJohn Xiii2;D survived
all the others, having Iccn granted peculiar
favor by the Master, cJohn XN:22) that hc
might write the last portion OF the sacred
volume. ti,cv. NNi:ls). II is generally admit.
ted that he lived until near the end of the first
century of our era. passing away about A. ID. 10
nearly thirty years after the destruction OF
Jclusicm., Five OF the sacred books nrc as
signed to him, one gospel, three cpistlcs. ana
the Revclation-biopraphica doctrinal and po
phctc. Johns writings are distinguished from
all other parts OF the New Testament by Their
deeper spiritual insight, so that the student
moves in puror atmosphere on more clcgatcd
plane 1t is impossible to sa, when he wrote
Revelation. Some arc disposed TO make it his
last work, and hence the closing document in the
canon. Later critics, Dr. Farrur being prominent
among them place it a little before the over
throw of the sacred city by Titus Much may
he said in favor OF either position. The inter
probation of the book has always been regarded
as difficult.
PRISONER Wcrsc OH the Aegean Sea. be-
tween the island ot Icaria and the promontorv
Of Milctus lies an island about thirty miles in
circumference. now called Pactino, but in the
first Gentry, Patmos. lhi,hcr John was hanishcd
by one of the Roman cmpcrors for preaching
Christianity and converting the heather TO the
Lord Jesus IT is believed that at the time of
his arrest he residing in Ephesus, where
he had acquired much influence, and. as some
think. was bishop over the churches OF the
surrounding district II was during this Danish
mcnt that he had the remarkable visions con
taincd in this book. lie speaks of himself as
companion in trihuatiOn.' intinating that SIM
liar persecution had bctallcn the followers OF
jcs,ishu. lie refers to the church as ''thc king.
dom and patience of Jesus Christ most
beautiful conception, an acknowledgement OF the
rigl,ful authority Of Jesus over all believers. and
an expression of that mcckncss which was nccea-
sary in bearing the indgntics, priva,ons and
s,,tfcrincs to which they were subject for the
sake OF their Master.
MESSAGE oversees 10 and n.--rhough thus cx.
lied from homc john was not deprived OF tie
comforts ct religion. On one occasion he cN-
pcricnccd great spiritual tNaltation. which he
describes as in ,bc Spirit" that is the spirit
of God upon him. perhaps as at Pcnccost
(Ncts. i:+). 1t was On the Lords day, the first
day of the week, then observed as the Christian
sabbath in commcmoration OF the resurrection
,John, XX:D Probably hc had engaged in his
usual devoions. While in that trance state ne
heard a voice which seemed to he behind MIN,
announcing 81 am Alpha and Omega These
words. tcnoting the first and last letters Of the
Greek alphabet. were never before used in Scrip.
hahitcd the cXtrcmitles of time U'-alm Xc:2j.
Then came the message directing the apostle to
write in a book whatever he saw and heard.
and to deliver tho book unto the seven churches
OF Asia. This was therefore equivalent to the
instructions given by the Holy Spirit to the
prophets Of Israel (Isa., i:D.
VISION (,cises y and 1:). This first appeal
to the Of hearing was followed by another
to the sense of sight. The voice had arrested the
attention. The vision in two parts. both
designed to make powerful impression upon
the mind. There were seven golden candlc>ti,ks.
representing the chandelier with its branches in
the temple at Jerusalem (Ex., XXxvi:l1.23), seen
also by one of the prophets (Icch, iv:2). This
figure was sufficient to suggest to ono of Jewish
origin religious and ecclesiastical purpose
which was aftcrward explained. And in the
midst of the golden candicstck was one ''likc
unto the son of man This was Jesus who
uniformly spoke of Himself under that title
(John, iii:l3), and so mentioned by the
prophet in Babylon dan, vii:l3). This sudden
appearance in such form identified the person
as the who had previously spoken. John
was therefore aware that the message which he
had been summoned 10 write was to he one
from the Master he loved, a special message to
particular churches
APPEARANCE Oversees 13, II. ljD.-ln the