The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-06-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE H..

l. John receives a message Tvs. III,
III. 10. In the Spirit" Under the
influence of the Spirit, and filed and
%quickened by the Spirit. "The Lords
day." The day made sacred to ali
Christians for all time by the resurrec-
ton of Jesus from the dead. It was
the day of light and salvation. John
arrived in Patmos late Saturday even
ing, spent the night in prayer, and with
the opening Sunday morning the glori-
fed Saviour opened heaven to his Wis.,
ion. Why is our Sabbath the first day
of the week? We see here the apos-
ties kept the first day and, because Of
its sanctity, called it the Lords day.
Behind me-" etc. This was his first
intimation of the presence of Christ,
who spoke with a voice like a trumpet.
II. alpha and Omega" Omitted
in R. Y. These are the first and last
letters of the Greek alphabet. This is
a fgurative expression, used to show
that Christ was the source and the
consummation'' of all things. He is
from eternity to eternity. What thou
seest." The prophetic vision that was
revealed to him on that Lords day.
Write" What if John had not writ
ten? The command to write is given
twelve times in the Apocalypse. "A
book" A parchment roll. Ancient
books were made of papyrus, or from
the prepared skins of animals, and
rolled upon a roller. Seven churches"
Seven" denotes perfection. Doubtless
there were hundreds Of churches in
Asia Minor at that time. The reason
Thu cnran nr1r orn r1ontiAral - hn-
cause the church is the bride of Christ,
and seven is the sanctifed number al
ways representing Christ. I'm ASIA
A small province in Asia. Minor called
Asia, Of which Ephesus was the capt.
tai. "Ephesus." Mentioned first be-
cause the church here was the largest.
II. A vision Of the glorified Redeem
er Tvs. 12-16). IL. The voice." He
. turned to see who it vas that spoke,
the word "voice" being used to signify
the person speaking. Golden candle
sticks" Compare Zech. 4:2-11. Lamp
stands would be a better term. Not
one candlestick with seven branches,
lbut seven candlesticks. The independ-
]ence Of the churches of Christ is %
isistent with the unity Of the church Of
Christ.
, 10. I'm the midst" Showing Christ's
presence among His people. 1.-The Son
sf Man." Compare Daniel 7:13., This
term is used here because His glory
might hide from view His cneness of
sympathy with His people. "a gar
ment." This is a description Of the
long robe worn by the high priest.
Jesus is our high priest in heaven.
I~"Girt-golden girdle." He vas grit
around the breast (R. w. as "a sign of
,kingly repose." 1t represented 1.-THE
ibreastplate of the high priest, on which
1.-THE names Of His people are engraven."
! IA. white like WOOL" Wool is sup
posed to be an emblem of eternity. The
whiteness signifed antiquity, purity
and glory. With Christ His hoary head
was nc sign Of decay. Compare Dan.
TO; 1915. The whiteness, three times
mentioned (white, white wool, snow,
is greatly intensified, and denotes IN
limited age, ven eternity. His eyes,"
etc. This certifes His omniscience.
The eye is the receptacle Of knowledge
and symbolizes, all the senses.
Is. FURNISHED brass" (R. W This
denotes His stability and strength.
His feet are like brass when in the
furnace and subjected to a very great
heat. His feet were strong and stead
fast, supporting His own interest, sub.
DUNG His enemies and treading them
to powder" His voice" Described
the same in Eek. 1872. BE will make
Himself heard; it is q commanding
voice that must be obeyed; it is terri
Nj ~ ;@o lnp,,nnto finn ne Gin
16. I'm His right hand" The right
hand" is an emblem of power. Seven
stars" These stars are the faithful
preachers of the gospel. "A sharp
two-edged sword" His word which
both wounds and heals and strikes at
sin on the right hand and on the left.
This wonderful sword has two edges,
sharp as Gods lightning the edge
that saves and the edge that destroys.
Compare Heb. 4:12; Eph. GIT. The
sharpness of the sword represents the
searching power of the word. "As the
sun" We know of nothing brighter
than the sun shining in his strength.
III. Words of comfort and explana-
ton Tvs. 1920. II. las dead" His
countenance was too bright and daz-
Zling for mortal eyes to behold, and
John was completely overpowered with
the glory in which Christ appeared.
Compare Eek. 1:2S: Dan. SIT. Right
hand upon me-" His hand Of power
and protection, IN which the churches
were held. Fear not" There is no
occasion to fear when in the presence
of Christ. IS. 1.-THE Living One" Or.
W The source Of all life-tlr One
who possesses absolute life in Himself.
WAS dead" l became a man and
died as a man; I am the same q you
saw expire on the cross u am alive"
Having broken the bands of death, l
am alive "for evermore." The keys"
An emblem of power and authority.
"Of death and of hades' (R. w.
Hades is q compound Greek word.
meaning the unseen world, and includ-
ing both heaven and hell. Gehenna is
the Greek word which always means
hell. and nothing else. Christ has
power over life, death and the grave.
He is able to destroy the living and to
raise the dead. 10. "Hast SEEN" The
visions He has just seen. Which are"
The actual conditions of the seven
churches. See chapters 2 and 3.
(which shall be-" In the future of
the church.
20. The mystery" Write the mys-
terious-the secret and sacred" mean
ing of what you have seen. THE al
gels" The ministers and pastors.