The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-06-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
jane 16, 100l-Jesus Appears
to John.
THE LESSON TEXT.
fRsvelation l.AMl

IN the Isle tnAt - Calloo fotmOS, tOr Ib4
word Of God. and for the Testimony Of
Jesus Christ.
10 was In the Spirit on tn Lords day.
and heard behind me great voice. a. Of
. trumpet.
II. Saying. am Alpha and Omega, the
first and the last; and. What thou sesst.
write In . book. and send II unto the seven
churches which are In Asia: unto Ephesus.
and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos. and
unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis. and unto
Philadelphia, and unto Laodicsa-
u. And turned to see the voice that
spake with me. And being turned, l saw
seven golden candlesticks;
10. 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 golden girdle.
II. His head and His hairs were white
like wool. as white as snow; and His eyes
were AZ a flame of fire;
15. And His feet like unto fine brass, as
If they burned In furnace: and His voice
as the sound OF many waters.
l6. And He had In His right hand seven
stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp
ewo edged sword: and His countenance
was as the sun shineth in his strength.
II. And when l saw Him. l fell at His
feet as dead. And lie laid His right hand
upon me. saying unto me, Fear not; am
the first and the last.
is. l am He that liveth. and was dead;
and. behold, l am alive for evermore.
Amen; and have the keys of hell and of
death.
10. Write the things which thou hast
seen. and the things which are, and the
things which shall be hereafter:
20. The mystery of the seven stars which
thou sawest in My right hand. and the
seven golden candlcstiCks. The seven stars
are the angels Of the seven churches: and
the seven candlesticks whiSh thou sawest I
are the seven churches.
GOLDEN TENT,-Jesus Christ the
same yesterday, to-day, and forever.
Heb. 13,S.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The lesson can best be studied in
three parts, as follows:
John Tells the Circumstances Of the
John Describes the Man of His Vi
The Man of tho Vision Reassures
John ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. T-2O
.. john" Called the Beloved.
Author of the fourth Gospel. Broth
er of James and son of Zcbedee. He
sons of thunder. For years he lived
at Ephesus, a stalwart defender of
the Christian faith against errors
manifold. In the fourth Gospel he
does not mention his own name. 1t
is different in the book of Revela-
tion, as shown by this verse. Com
paniop:" He had his share in that
which belonged to Jesus Christ and
to his disciples, whether thai be good
or ill, glory or suffering, hope de-
ferred or patient endurance. He was
the brother of other disciples, and,
by the grace of the Lord, of Jesus
Christ Himself. WAS" Perhaps
during the Neronian persecution,
but we have not certain knowledge
on this point. "Patmos:". In being
sent to rocky Patmos, perhaps to
labor in the marble quarries, he was
treated more leniently than many
Christians of that age, who sealed
their faith with their blood. "For
the word of God:" God is in all his
thoughts and not Jesus only. He
realizes that he has been Gods
prophet, speaking forth the Divine
word. "For the testimony of Jesus"
He was true to the Saviour's COM
mission. "Jesus Christi" He thinks
of the Lord naturally as Jesus Christ,
the Messiah. 10. 'In the Spirit"
He was in state Of spiritual exalta-
ton. Lords day." Elsewhere in
the New Testament called the first
day of the week. "a great voice."
A voice loud, clear, trumpet-like, was
heard. II. "Alpha and Omega:"
Omitted from the revised version.
"Write in book" No doubt John
was grieved because his preaching
had been silenced. "Seven churches:"
These churches were especially upon
his heart. "Ephesus:" (Read Acts
19) "Thyatira:" Is of special inter
est as the home of Lydia, the purple
seller, whom Paul found at Philippi
(Acts 16:1D. L.. Turned" This de-
scription shows that the voice was
an objective reality, and not imagin
ary. "Candlestick:" The meaning of
the Greek word is lampstand. Comp.
Matt. 5:15)
10. "In the midst" Interest in
them. Like unto the Son of Man"
r. ", Like unto n son of man"
Garment girt:" The gar
ment and girdle are described be-
cause they impressed John. They
impressed him because they suggest
ed the dignity and eminence of this
Being. IA, IS: Purity, splcndor,
majesty are suggested by the meta
phors employed by John (Ezek. 1879.
l6. "In His right hand seven stars"
He was sending message to seven
churches. He was standing in the
midst of seven candlesticks. "Out of
His mouth sword:" He who
stood there was the Word, of whom
John writes in the first verse of his
Gospel. "Countenance:" No marks
Of weariness there now.
II. "Fen as dead" Manifestation
of divinity terrified him. Fear not:"
Jesus calmed his fears as He had