International S. S. Lessons.
"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."
—Neh. 8:8 LESSON XII.—SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1893.
# THE GLORIFIED SAVIOUR.
[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.] 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 at the breasts with a golden girdle.
14. And his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15. And his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters.
16. 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.
17. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last, and the Living One;
18. And I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of hades.
19. Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pass hereafter;
20. 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: "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name." Phil. 2:9. 1. What relation did John sustain to all to whom his epistle was addressed? Verse 9.
2. Where was he when he wrote the Revelation?
3. What reason does he give for being on this lonely isle?
4. When was he in the Spirit? Verse 10.
5. What day is the Lord's day?
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Ex. 20:8-11.
"If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord; honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words." Isa. 58:13.
"Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath." Mark 2:28.
6. What did John hear?
7. What was this voice saying? Verse 11.
8. What command was given to the apostle?
9. To whom was he to send his writing? Note.
10. As John turned to see the speaker, what did he behold? Verse 12.
11. What are the seven stars and the seven candlesticks explained to be? Verse 20.
12. Whom did he see in the midst of the candlesticks? Verse 13.
13. How is the Son of Man described? Verses 13-16.
14. What effect did the glorious appearance of Christ have upon John? Verse 17.
15. How was the apostle comforted?
16. Who did Christ say he was? Verse 18.
17. What did he say of himself now?
18. What command was then repeated? Verse 19. The seven churches.—Not the particular seven named, but prophetic of the whole Christian church. It is not reasonable that John should send to those seven alone, for (1) the message implies the whole book, and the book is for all time; (2) the names of these seven churches are symbolic of the seven different stages of the Christian church; (3) the number seven denotes completeness, fullness, the seven symbolizing the entire church in the Christian dispensation. See Newton, Vitringa, and others, or "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation."