Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-29

Rev. 22:6-14, 16s2l.
Golden text: ..rns Spirit and the bride
say. Oome. Ana ne mat nearethI teS
lin say, come. Ana he that II aSnirsts
let him come; ne that Will. let MIN take
the water Of LIE freely" keS. 2zi1f-
one oI Ihe characteristics OF johns
wr1ungs Is the use OF a prologue ana
Al epuOgue. The Revelation - no eN-
eeptlOn 20 this general RUE from the
slxrh % the last verse d TIE last CHAP
ter We have the epIIOgus OF this boOA-
In IL Joan describes MS own AesllhsS
after having seen me revelation. OF
IeSus Christ rlmseIT. OF Jesus Christ
and His cnurcn, OF Jesus Christ ana
ans kingdom; and in il also We have
the conversation which occurred De-
tween him anu Jesus IS the result OF
the vision which he mad had heallzlns
this characteristics and the nature OF the
contents Of the epiiOgue, let US study II
for a moment
II begins with the assertion OF Christ
that the vision which he had seen was
faithful and true IL was no mere
dream OF Johns Everything that he
had seen was actually coming TO pass
IL was lust as faithful and true as God
Is faithful and true, and Jesus seals the
statement a few moments later by say
ing, L am the Alpha and the Omega.
the beginning and the end, the first and
the last"
Johns first impression was 10 tall
down before the angel messenger VINO
had been showing him certain things
and worship him. until the angel for
babe him, saying that God was the only
one TO be worshipped. for he was one or
His fellow-seryants OF the prophets II
IL rather diHcuIt TO distinguish the
speakers in this portion. There are AT
least ive-Jesus, John. and the angel
VINO had been speaking with mi. the
spirit and the bride a little caretul
study, however. will separate them SO
that we may realize VINO II Is Inat Is
saving the different things One OF the
things that impresses US is the thrice
repeated statement Of Jesus HIMSELF
after having stated that these things
were faithful and true, stating that he
was coming quickly "Behild, L come
ouickly!" Verse - Behold. l come
qufcklygr Verse I2) YEA l come
quickly" Verse 20.) 1t seems ttat
Jesus wanted to impress upon his ser
want this great truth in such a way
that il, could not escape him and that
AZ would influence his life Each OF the
first two OF these statements is Hollow
"A nv a uromise- The first one promises
haDnfness TO him that keeps the words
OF the prophecy Of this book The sec
ond one is followed by this promise.
that when He comes His reward is with
Him TO render 10 each man according
a. his work shall be- And why should
not one be blessed who keeps the words
of the prophecy of this book! II refers
10 the events which shall occur when
Jesus comes again, and the one who
keeps the words of the prophecy OF the
hook is the one who is living in eX-
pectztion OF His return; and there Is no
greater blessing that can come 10 any
Christian than 10 appreciate the fact
that the Lords coming is imminent. II
then becomes the inspiration OF his HE
There can be no greater spur 10 holiness
Of life or activity than the expectation
of His return And the fact that when
Hacomes He is going TO reward each
man according as his wOk shall be
should also be a source Of inspiration,
for III He comes quickly and We have
done nothing there shall be small re-
ward should we not be up and doing,
that our lives may be full Of service en-
ergized by Hiss Spirit that when lie
comes we may receive the greater re-
ward7
when He speaks the third time it is
the last promise in the Bible, and the
answer TO il is the last prayer in the
bible. We shall consider this in few
minutes
YET MORE AND MORE
But one Of the most impressive Things
in this epIIogue is the statement which
fIesu1s makes with reference to the ulti-
mate condition OF two different classes
OF men when the words Of the prophecy
Of this book have been fulfilled He
that is unrighteOus let hi mdO unriSht-
aou~ness vet more and more" He said,
ana ne that is flthy let him be made
rHhfer yet more and more" and he
that is righteous let him do righteous
ness vet more and more, and he that
is holy let him be made hOlier yet
more and more" Il is one OF the most
solemn things that we can consider.
that a time IS coming when il cannot
be possible to change ones course Dur
ing these days Of grace we can The
vfIest sinner may return now IL he viii
but turn: now. unfortunately. the hottest
saint may fall unless he keeps his eyes
fixed on Christ But the day IS coming