Evening star., 1920-03-14
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
JOHN ON THE ISLE OF PAT
MOS.-Revelations, 1.l-20.
Golden Text-"Jesus Christ is
the Same yesterday and today,
yea forever. 1873.
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

! BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.
Revelations gives US an unveiling OF
the great steps in the Lords world
plan from His ascension to His re-
turn. This unfolding of coming events
was given by the Master to His be-
loved apostle, John. when the aged
and last remaining member Of the
twelve was in prison because of his
loyalty to ChriSt'S commands. Pat
mos, which the Romans made a place
OF Punishment for state criminals, Is
a small barren island of volcanic
i origin that owes its fame to John
imprisonment 1t was the place where
through His angel, God made known
the revelation to John. On the south
side of .the island a monastery has
been built SO as to inclose cave
short distance within the cave there
is a spot in the roof that appears 70
have been torn away by an earth
1 quake. Tradition tells us that 1t was
! here. through the rent in the cave
which nils it with daylight. that John
| was given his revelation with It's
message to the churches.
| 1t was q trying hour. filled with
darkness. despair and depression that
must have tried the soul of the apostle
| whose heart evidently was filled with
the thoughts of the churches in Asia
the pro-consular Roman province OF
Asia Minor, of which Ephesus. where
he had labored for many years, was
the capital. 1t was probably during
the days of Domitian, when if a Chris
tian refused to worship the emperor
he was tried for treason. that this
wonderful revelation of Gods pres
ence, purpose and program was given
to John. 1t was an hour of trial. that
tested through trouble and temptation
| the churches. There was danger OF
compromise and departure from spir-
itual life and labor. Imprisoned upon
1 the lonely island amid the barren vol
canlc rocks and the ceaseless roar OF
tthe sea, that separated the apostle
| from the churches that he loved, John
had time to consider the peril that they
faced not only from the unjust gov
ernment that was sewing up Chris
| tlans In animal skins and then fore
ing them to fight with wild beasts in
their amphitheaters. or covering them
With pitch and setting them on fire to
illuminate the garden of Roman rul-
ers. He knew that they faced danger
IN his absence from false teachers who
Of God
Prison penned in his body, but it
| awakened the soul Of John by fore
ing him to think about the Masters
Gays of trial and triumph. The more
he considered Christ the wonder of
greater, and the character OF his Re
deemer increased SO that he was "in
the spirit on the Lords day" Paul.
from his Roman prison. sent forth
the most tender messages to encour
age his brethren. While in prison
in Wartburg castle Luther trans
lated the Scriptures into the language
of the people. Bunyan shut up in
Bedford Jail sent forth his immortal
"Pilgrim's Progress" which has
greatly enriched the worlds thought
and life. Patmos could not conquer
the soul Of John. It's Imprisonment
Of John has made the world a debtor
to the sea girt island.
Filled with the. spiritual ecstacy of
the hour, he sends message to the
churches. whose interest was dear
to him. as their pastor. While this
revelation and message was sent to
the seven churches Of Asia 1T con-
tains a message for modern times, for
the need of the churches Of Christ
today is the same as it was then.
One result Of the Masters revelation
to John is that 1t enables us to see
that Jesus knows the conditions of
the churches Of America. as much
as he did that of the churches of
Asia. 1t is only in the full spiritual
blessings from the Lord that we are
Him. The whole Christian message
stands or falls with the resurrection
Christ's compassion was expressed IN
His love. BY the Masters. everlasting
emancipating and enfranchising love
salvation was secured and the rls. PRIV
ilege Of service as kings and prlests
conferred upon his followers. =.
Some have found in the coming OF
Christ the key to the Book OF Reve-
lation. 1t has an important part IN
the scripture and In every hour OF
trial men have found in the hope OF
great encourage
ment and help to stand the strain OF
the bitter trials Of the moment. John
describes the Masters return as one
of majesty. grandeur and autnorny
When He comes the knowledge OF tne
Lords return will not b confined TO
a few. for all shall then see Him. put
those who in every age have cruclned
the Lord afresh. for 1t Is not merely
those who placed the Master upon
the cross who have cruc1ned the
Christ, will be confounded ana ,,e9a con
ment to those who have given trlbu-
lation to the Christians, as wen as
Jesus. that will NIL the world win
despair. .o Tho
Lifted by his meditation above the
confines Of his island prison, Jonn Mas ;t
"in the spirit on the LORDS DAY. ms
trials had been used to develop the
apostles spiritual life. Il We are IN
the spirit" every day will be a DAY OF
the Lord, but upon the day Whlcn
commemorates His resurrection all
of us ought to- be in the spirit. so
that we might hear Gods message
whan He speaks to US. 1t sometimes
renuires bitter trials to f1t US to hear
Gods message. 1t was while he was
in this attitude that John heard the
voice giving the most explicit descrip-
tion OF an absolute and positive
Deity. II one will study the unveii-
ing OF the personality Of Jehovah,
who is referred to three times IN this
hook as 1.-THE Alpha and Omega" they
will clearly see that the one speaking
lis none other than Jesus, who un-
wells himself as priest. potentate ana
prophet. g.,
When John looked around to hnd
out who it was that was SPeaklnS ne
was given a vision of the presence OF
Jesus with His Church that was des-
tined to give courage and cheer to the
followers of Christ in all coming ages
as well as to John. Stephen caught
vision of Christ in glory when he was
about to depart to be with his Lord
John received vision Of Jesus with
His churches. supplying them llght'
so that they could reveal Him to men.
His triumph over suffering. sorrow
and sin serves to encourage His peo-
pie Stephen saw Jesus on the right
hand of God. but John saw the man,
for the description of Christ as the
III FNM5IN:1H~