Passaic City record., 1901-06-15

IGet as uGdt tAIu ne 4si4NI il4' ts7i4' hA''44N
upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; am
the first and the last;
1S. | am He that liveth, and was dead;
ana, behold, | am alive for evermore,
A1nen; and have the keys of hell and of
death.
10. Write the things which thou hast
seen ard 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 eandlestcks. The seven stars
are the angels of the seven churches; and
the seven candlesticks which thou sawest
are the seven churches.
GOLDEN TEXT:-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 circumstance of the
johns iS'I3 Describes the Man of His VI
The Man of the Vision Reassures
John ............................ VS.. lev
9. 'John:'' Called the Beloved.
Author of the fourth Gospel. Broth
er of James and son of Zebedee. He
and James were called Boanerges-
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-
ton. as shown by this verse. Com
panion:" He had his share in that
which belonged to Jesus Christ and
!, 1,+l hot No fhNI
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 TO- ''In the Spirit"
He was in state of spiritual eNalta-
ton. ''Lord's 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 a 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 16:14). 12. "Turned:" This de-
scription shows that the voice was
ary. "Candlestick:" The meaning of
the Greek word is lampstand. Comp.
Matt. 5:15.)
13. ''In the midst:" Interest in
them. Like unto the Son of Man: "
r. ", Like unto a son of man"
"Garment GRIT" 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. II, Is: Purity, splcndor,
majesty are suggested by the meta
phors employed by John (Ezek 1879.
IS. SIN His right hand seven stars: "
He was sending message to seven
churches. He was standing in the
midst of seven candlesticks. "Out of
His wOuth sword" He who
stood there was the Word, of whom
John writes in the first verse of his
Gospel. "Countenance: No marks
of WEAKNESS there now.
II. 'Fell as dead" Manifestation
OF divinity terrified him. Gear not:"
Jesus calmed his fears as He had
done on the stormy Gallean sea
many years before. IS. "Alive for
evermore:' He has the eternal life
of which in His preaching He spoke.