Book Description

IT is certainly cause for deep regret that to so many Christians the Book of Revelation seems to be what God never intended it should be-a sealed book. The book of Daniel was to be sealed till the time of the end (Dan. 12:9), but of Revelation it is written: "Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand" (Chap. 22:10). It is clearly evident that this portion of Holy Scripture was given for our instruction and edification, but thousands of the Lord's people permit themselves to be robbed of blessing by ignoring it. Significantly enough, it is the one book of the Bible which begins and ends with a blessing pronounced on those who read and keep what is written therein (Chap. 1:3; 22:7). Surely God did not mean to mock us by promising a blessing on all who keep what they cannot hope to understand! It is only unbelief that would so reason. Faith delights to appropriate every part of the sacred record, and finds that "they are all clear to him that understandeth." The true title is given us in the opening verse. It is, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ;" not "The Revelation of St. John the Divine." There is no MS. authority for this latter designation, and it shows all too plainly how far some early editor had slipped away from first principles. John was a saint as all believers are saints. He was not a divine! Such a title would have amazed him beyond measure. Nor is the book the revelation of John or of any other servant of God. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ Himself. The word rendered "revelation," and sometimes "apocalypse," means literally an unveiling, or manifestation. So this book is the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is its one great theme. It presents Him as the Son of Man in the midst of the churches during the present dispensation; and as the Judge and the King in the dispensations to come. If you would learn to appreciate Christ more, read this book, frequently and prayerfully. It reveals Him as the Lamb rejected, soon to reign in glory-the Lamb on the throne!