The Red Cloud chief., 1916-11-30
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 8
JESUS CHRIST THE FIRST AND
THE LAST.

The lesson committee have depart
ed, seemingly, II long way from any
thing like chronological order. Paul
had nothing to do with the writing OF
the Revelation, yet this lesson Illus
tratcs the prc-elnincnco which Jesus
Christ had In the mind and labors Of
the great apostle (Col. 1:lS).
1. introduction. wv. 1-3.) We would
suggest that all Bible students and
teachers, IL possible, read the introduce
ton to the Book of Revelation In SEQ
fields Reference Bible. The bool
proper Is "The Revelation of Jesus
Christ" John, the beloved disciple,
who wrote the Gospel and Eplstles,
was the one who saw the visions re-
corded therein. Many of the things
are historical, others are prophetically
set forth. The latter are shortly to
come to pass" (Sce also Ill Peter 3:S.)
John tells not only what God said but
what he himself saw. The late Doctor
Brooks of st. Louis omitted this book
from his study for many years until
he saw the comments recorded In verse
8. The time of the writing OF this
book has variously been stated rs from
A. ID. GO to A. ID. 06; the writer was
| certainly John the Beloved. The place
Of writing was the island of Patmos
in the Aegean sea, not far from Ephe-
sus. The real author, however, Is
=. Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
a.. S~alutation wv. 49,. "The serv-
80, 80 V.g,,y xrhn pnnnrlg hiS fnnSSnua
was John, and the message was to be
to "the seven churches which are
In Asia :" that Is, the western portion
Of Asia Minor, of which Ephesus on
the Aegean sea was the principal city.
These churches are definitely named In
verse II. There Is good reason to
think that these churches represented
the seven successive epOchs of church
history. If so, no age Is exclusively
Ephesian, or Phlladelphian, or Laodi-
cean. The grace, favor, loving kind.
ness, Is a free gift from Christ, who
Is here giving a threefold title, name
~: First begotten from the dead. wit.
ness and prince.
~. Vision wv. 9-1S). What John
saw on the Isle Of Patmos he was to
write upon q parchment roll and send
Il to the seven churches, each OF
which needed a message. Under the
figure Of seven candlesticks are emu.
merated seven churches. Into he midst
Of these churches, actually present In
them, is one like unto the Son Of Man.
(See also Matthew IS :20.) Like a hui
man being, Jesus was. but now clothed
with the garment of his eternal glory,
girded about with the girdle worn by
priests and kings, a symbol OF hts
power and strength (Isaiah 11:5; Eph.
B:14). His head and his hands, his
feet and his eyes are all referred to,
each having its symbolical significance
In his right hand are the seven stars
". 10y, the angels Of the churches
pastors or leaders, possibly guardian
angels ". 20). They are held In his
right hand, sign;fylng that they are
protected, upheld and controlled by hi.
wisdom and power. (See jeremiah %
24). From his mouth goes q sharp
twO-edged sword; the spirit Of thu
Word Of God sharper than any two
edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). And hi
countenance was as the u shining II
Its strength, the glory such as wa
manifested In the TRANSPORTATION, sucl
as Paul saw near Damascus, is here re
ferred to.
w. The Command. John had en-
joyed q tender intimacy with the LOr'
during his earthly life and yet he wa
stricken down with the Overpowerin
majesty and glory which had been re
yealed. Now he realized, as perhap
never before, the significance Of tn
everything Christ, and he Is hereb
specifically commanded to record thi
vision as he had seen 1t and the mes
sages which the Lord had for tn
churches. The word mystery ". 20
has reference to something which ha
hitherto been hidden to men and whic
Is now about to be revealed. Th
revelation was to these churches, an
1t Is to us also.
Jesus Is not a mere vision but h
Is a living reality, unveiled for tn
time from the unseen.
Jesus Is a living fact which we al
! to communicate to men. The seve
J, stars ". 20) are messages In his Ow
/ right hand.
] The churches are the lamp stand
!, Christ himself is the light, the 81
} ". 18).
! The messages John is commanded
; deliver have a four-fold application &
to the churches actually addressed, bl
which have long since passed ava!
j (2) to all churches In all times, n
: monishing them to discover their tr'
Q spiritual state; (3) to individuals, u
y that hath an ear" that they shall clai
the promises made ito him that owe
cometh" and az they are prophetic
the different phases Of spiritual hi
q tory, following the days Of John, Il
II writer. (a) Beginning; (b) persecution
!. (c) w%Orldliness; (d) priestly fOrI
Il alism; (e) reformation; (f) ties