Study the Book of Revelation.
By E. P. Marvin
It is related of a Gospel minister, that as he came to the book of Revelation in his family reading, he said hastily to his children: "This book is full of wild beasts, serpents, demons, plagues and mysteries; let us turn back to something which we can understand." After he retired from the morning worship to his study the thought followed him that he had treated a part of God's revelation of truth to men with neglect and irreverence. He bowed humbly before God and confessed his sin, and from that time he began to study and profit by the Book of Revelation. Because this book has sometimes been a source of visionary speculation, it is commonly treated with more or less neglect or prejudice, so that to the great mass of God's dear people it remains almost as a sealed book. Is this right? Every part of divine revelation is profitable (2 Tim. 3 : 16). At the opening of this book God singularly pronounces a blessing on those that read and hear the words of the book.—Rev. 1 : 3. John was expressly commanded to "Seal not the words of the prophecy of this book," because its fulfillment was at hand (Rev. 22 : 10). No mysteries in it should induce any one to close and neglect it. At its close the book is sacredly guarded against the additions of human speculations or the detractions of human prejudice (Rev. 22 : 18, 19). It is the last, most graphic, picturesque and glorious of all the books of revelation. It presents a living and moving panorama of prophecy, and as it is of the utmost importance for us to know "the things that must shortly come to pass," we ought to study the book diligently, prayerfully, and reverently. If it is more difficult than other parts of revelation, we should devote the more study to it. Is it possible for us to understand, at least the main scope of the book, and to derive profit from it? If not, why was it given to us by Infinite Wisdom? God calls it a Revelation (chap. 1 : 1), an unveiling or unfolding of the future, and not a concealment or an enigma. It is closely allied to Daniel and the 24th chapter of Matthew. All these parts of divine writ were given to reveal the future to God's people, that like the sons of Issacher they might "have understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do." As Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, because they could discern fair or foul weather by the face of the sky but could not discern the signs of the times, so he may justly reprove many of us in these latter times for neglecting to study and mark the prophetic signs that are hung out by Divine wisdom and love, on our moral sky.—Rev. E. P. Marvin.