p. 14 | THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 12, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 24.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

INTERNATIONAL SERIES

LESSON. II—JUNE 16.—JESUS APPEARS TO JOHN.

Lesson Scripture, Rev. 1:9-20, R.V.

9 “I John, your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patience which are in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet saying, 11 What thou seest, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12 And I turned to see the voice which spake with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 and in the midst of the candlesticks One like unto a Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about 14 at the breasts with a golden girdle. And His head and His hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and His eyes 15 were as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and His voice as the 16 voice of many waters. And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword; and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as one dead. 17 And He laid His right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am 18 the first and the last, and the Living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of 19 death and of hades. Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall 20 come to pass hereafter; the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks are seven churches.”

Golden Text: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.” Heb. 13:8.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) What does John say of his relation to the church? Where was he when the Lord appeared to him? Why was he there? Verse 9. Note 1. (2) In what condition was the apostle? On what day? What did he hear? Verse 10. Note 2. (3) What did the voice say? Verse 11. Note 3. (4) What did John do when he heard the voice? What did he see when he turned? Verse 12. (5) Who was in the midst of the candlesticks? How was He clothed? Verse 13. Note 4. (6) Describe His head and eyes. Verse 14. (7) Describe His feet and His voice. Verse 15. (8) What did He have in His right hand? What proceeded from His mouth? What is said of His countenance? Verse 16. Note 5. (9) What was the effect of His appearance upon John? Then how was he revived and encouraged by the Lord? Verse 17. (10) What assurance was given to the apostle? Verse 18. Note 6. (11) What command did John receive? Verse 19. Note 7. (12) What were these things? Verse 20, first part. What do the seven stars and seven candlesticks represent? Same verse, last part.

NOTES.

1. The Place.—The Island of Patmos is twenty-four miles from the west coast of Asia Minor. Miletus (where Paul had his interview with the elders of Ephesus, Acts 20) is the nearest city on the mainland. The Cause.—John was on the island as a State prisoner, banished from the outside world as a criminal for preaching the religion of Jesus Christ, and to deter him from further effort in that direction.

2. “On the Lord’s Day.”—This expression has given rise to much unnecessary and unprofitable controversy. John had the vision concerning the messages to the seven churches on a certain day. That day was the “Lord’s day.” The Lord has designated but one day as peculiarly His. “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” Ex. 20:10. The Lord refers to this Sabbath in explicit terms as “My holy day” (Isa. 58:13), and He never has so designated any other day.

3. “To the Seven Churches.”—It will be noted that the Revised Version omits “which are in Asia.” It would hardly be proper to say “the seven churches which are in Asia” when there were a number of other churches in Asia. These churches are typical of the church as a whole in its entire history to the end. The character and experience of the church in seven successive periods are indicated by the meaning of these names. The number seven is often used in the Scriptures to indicate completeness or fulness, as the “seven trumpets,” “seven seals,” “seven angels,” “seven stars,” etc.

4. “A Son of Man.”—This Being from whom the voice came was Christ, and the description shows that He still retains His human form in which He ascended from earth. The additional features, mentioned in verses 14, 15, are characteristic of the glorified body. His walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks would indicate the presence of Christ with the church in all ages. This would be in fulfilment of His promise, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:20. The seven candlesticks, or churches, receive their light from the glory of Him that walketh in the midst. This light they are to reflect unto the world. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:16.

5. “Two-edged Sword.”—That which goes out of the mouth of Christ is His Word. “The Word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword,” etc. Heb. 4:12, R.V. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Eph. 6:17.

6. The Keys.—The keys of death and of hades (the grave) were borne away in triumph when Christ rose from the dead. He is able to release whosoever He will. See John 5:24–29. The hope of the church is the resurrection of the dead (Phil. 3:8–11), “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).

7. The Extent of the Revelation.—That the Revelation contains instruction for the church, not only in John’s day, but until the close of the judgment and the final triumph of the righteous, is shown in verse 19. But the fact is emphasized by the fulfilment of the prophecies of the Revelation, and the depicting of scenes in the new earth and in the New Jerusalem. See chapters 21 and 22.