A REVIEW by S. N. H.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 21, 1901

A REVIEW

By S. N. H.

Some of the Wonderful Truths of the Book of Revelation

S. N. H.

The book of Revelation is the complement to the book of Daniel. It covers the period from the time Rome was in its glory, to the end of earth’s history, and reaches over into the new heavens and the new earth. It presents the history of the people of God, their trials and prosperity and final triumph. Many of them, like John, were regarded the offscouring of the world, cast out from citizenship, banished to lonely and desolate places of the earth; yet the eye of God was upon them, and like a great magnet that draws from the dust all particles of steel, so the Lord’s eye runs through the earth and separates the precious from the vile.

The book of Revelation is the fulfillment of the Saviour’s words to Peter, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” In his Gospel, and especially in the book of Revelation, John still lives, and in twenty-two chapters he is especially speaking to the remnant Church. He is a latter-day prophet. Five times does the angel Gabriel make direct reference to this book, as to no other one book in the Bible. Its title and object are specifically stated in the first verse of the first chapter. A blessing is pronounced on those who hear, read, and do the things written in it. Verse 3; 22:7. John was not to seal the prophecy of this book. Chap. 22:10. If any man adds to the words in Revelation, God will add to him the plagues written in the book. Verse 18. If any man takes from them, God will take away his part out of the book of life. Verse 19. We are told how, or in what particular manner, God speaks through His prophets; namely, God gave the Revelation to Christ, and Christ sent His angel to deliver it to the prophet.

It is the book of Revelations. It reveals Christ in His relation to His ministers and churches. Chap. 1:13, 20; 2:1. It reveals Him as the leading power in the vegetable and animal kingdom. Chap. 5:5. It reveals Him as God sees Him in the midst of His throne, when a prayer from a broken and contrite heart comes to the heart of God. Chap. 5:6. It reveals His personal appearance in the courts above. Chap. 1:13, 14. It reveals Him as He will come in the clouds of heaven. Chap. 1:7. It contains the only reliable ecclesiastical history from the days of Christ to the end. Chapters 2 and 3. The sixth chapter again goes over the history of the Church, giving its relation to the powers of earth. The signs in the heavens are given with a distinctness that is found in no other part of the Bible. Chap. 6:12-14. This book reveals Him as the beginning of creation, and the ending of revelation. Chap. 3:14; 1:5, 8, 11, 17; 2:8; 21:6; 22:13. It shows how God regards every martyr. Chap. 6:9, 10. It records the birth of Christ, and the experience of the Church with that government which, of all earthly nations, most fully represents Satan in its different phases. Chap. 12; 13:1-10.

It describes those who receive the seal of God under the sixth seal, their experience in this life, and their position in glory. Chap. 7; 14:1-5. It gives the breaking up of Rome, showing the results of every government that rejects great light. Chapter 8. In a few words it gives the fall of modern Persia, the rise and work of Mohammedanism, with the most exact dates of any prophecy in the Bible. Chapter 9. The history of the great Advent movement, and the nature of the message proclaimed, are clearly given. The book of Daniel is seen in the hand of the angel, representing the message going by land and sea, proclaiming that prophetic time is no more. Chapter 10; Dan. 8:14-19; 12:4, 8-10; Rev. 14:6. The United States is brought to view as a power with lamblike pretentions, but in the end, a persecuting power in union with the Beast. Chap. 13:11-17. The last solemn warning to every nation under heaven—a warning against worshiping the Beast and his Image—is represented as being given just before Christ takes His seat upon the great white cloud. Chap. 14:6-14.

The unmixed wrath falling upon those who do not give heed to that warning is distinctly described, also the end of the judgment of God on the earth. Chapter 16. The angel explains why such terrible judgments of God fall upon the powers of earth. Chap. 17:1-7. The Beast is explained to be the great city that reigneth over the nations of the earth. Chap. 17:18. The final conflict is described in verses 11-16. The manner in which the loud cry of the loud cry is given to the world is found in Chap. 18:1-6. Rev. 18:7-24 gives a description of the judgment of the great whore. The second coming of Christ and the attitude of the world at that time are dwelt upon in Chap. 19:11-19. God’s regard for His people is spoken of in Chap. 19:1-10. The two leading governments of earth are seen going into the lake of fire, in Chap. 19:20, 21.

In Rev. 20:1-5 there is a vivid description of the binding of Satan and the judgment of the wicked during the thousand years. A record of the second resurrection and the gathering of the wicked around the city, and their final end, is found in verses 6-15. The prophet was then given a view of the heavens and the earth after the curse was removed. Chap. 21:1. He saw the city promised to Abraham (Heb. 11:10, 14-16), promised by Christ (John 14:1-3), prepared for them that love Him.” God has those in heaven. Chap. 21:2; Zech. 14:4, 5. He heard the announcement, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Chap. 21:3; Eze. 37:26-28. Tears, sorrow, and crying are then forgotten; for all things are made new. Chap. 21:4-8.

Then one of the seven angels who had the vials of God’s wrath gave the prophet a clear, distinct view of the heavenly city as the bride. It was the outworking of the plan of salvation that had been in progress for six thousand years. The end of sin and sinners was outside the city of God. Chap. 21:8-27. The twenty-second chapter gives a view of the river of life, which proceeds from the throne of God at the head of the broad place,—the original garden of Eden,—the tree of life on either side of the river. Chap. 22:1, 2. The leaves are for the healing of the nations, which will enable those who eat of them to grow to the stature they would have attained had sin not entered the world. Mal. 4:2. If we would enter that city, and have a part in the glories of the future, this book cannot be ignored; for it was given for the purpose of enlightening, encouraging, warning, in the midst of trials and temptations, through which we must pass if we would enter the reward of the righteous at the end of the race.

The last book in the Bible is truly a Revelation. It clears up the subjects that have been mentioned but not clearly defined in other books. It gathers up all the threads that seemed by the casual reader to be loose in many of the other books, and weaves them into a beautiful web, which sparkles with precious promises and divine consolation, and the whole is made glorious by the beauties of the new earth and the city of God. So overcome was the beloved disciple as he viewed the reward of the righteous, that he fell down to worship the angel. Chap. 19:10; 22:8.

Oh, the glory of the future! who can tell it? Language fails; for it has never “entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” God has those things all in mind, and holds them out before a fallen race. Christ came close to this beloved disciple, and the closing words are not spoken through an angel, but by Jesus Christ. As He closes with a promise of a speedy return, John responds, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” A heavenly benediction is then pronounced upon the reader of this book. Thus closes this wonderful prophecy.