The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-15
@ 4 4 4 Y < < v < JESUS APPEARS TO JOHN. 4
 (Rev. i: o-20.) Y

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 Preliminary-The beloved apostle, as he usually spoke of himself, John xiii, 23) survived nil the others, having been granted peculiar favor by the Master, (John xxi. 1S) that he might write the last portion of the sacred volume. lRcv. xxi, 1s) It Is generally admitted that he lived until near the end of the first century of our era, passing away about A. D. 96. nearly thirty years after the destruction of Jerusalem. Five of the sacred books are assigned to him ,one gospel, three epistles. and the Revelation-biograph doctrinal and prophetic. Johns writings are dis tiDguished from all other parts of the NewTestament by their deeper spiritual insight. so that the student moves in purer atmosphere on more elevated plane. It is impossible to say when he wrote Revelation. Some are disposed to make 1t his last work and hence the closing document in the canon. Later -Ncritics. Dr. Farrar being prominent among them, place lit little before the overthrow of the sacred city by Titus. Much may be said in favor of either position. The interpretation of the book has always been regarded as dif- fcuit.
 Pris0ner-lverse 9 In the Aegean Sea between the island of Icaria and the promontory of Miletus lies an is- land about thirty miles in eircufnfer enee, now called Pactino, but in the first century, Patmos. Thither John was banished by one of the Roman emperors for preaching Christianity and converting the heather to the Lord TA s- hot RIarN of his arrest he was residing in Ephesus where he had acquired much influence, and, as some think, was bishop over the churches of the sur rounding district. It was during this haniahment that he had the remarka- ble visions contained in this book. He speaks of himself as a companion in tribulation," intimating that similar persecution had befallen the followers Of Jesus. He refers to the church as .the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ a most beautiful conception, and acknowledgment of the rightful authority of Jesus over all believers, and an expression of that meekness which was necessary in bearing the indignities. privations and sufferings to which they were subject for the sake of their Master.
 Message-(Versefs 10 and ID Though thus exiled from home John was not deprived of the comforts of religion. On one occasion he experienced great spiritual exaltatiOn. which he described a. sin the Spirit" that is the spirit of God came upon him, perhaps as at Pentecost (Acts ii, 4). It was on the Lord's day, the first day of the week. then observed as the Christian Sab bath, in Ncommemoration of the resur- reetion. (John XIX, D Probably he had engaged in his usual devotions. While in that trance state he heard a voice which seemed to be behind him, announcing T am Alpha and Omega. '' These words. denoting the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. were never before used in Scripture They plainly referred to a being who in- habited the extremities of time. (Psalm xc, 9 Then came the message direct ing the apostle to write'in a book what ever he saw and heard and to deliver the book to the seven churches of Asia This was therefore equivalent to the instructions given by the Holy Spirit