aa 52 03 5:a. .i:^ 5:a.'^2- PRINCETON, N. J. SAMUKL AaNE^V, OK P H I I. A I) E L P H I A , PA. q4^o ^ s<^3>3 0^^5.0 ^.r^^),^- <^=5>? r --^^^ ?- -«s^^o •^ {^ Vase, Division \ Shelf, Sectio,, Book, {^ ^ A NEW AND ORIGINAL OF THE BOOK OF EEVELATION, AS WELL AS THE PROPHECIES OF DANIEL, EZEKIEL, JOEL, &c. WITH USEFUL AND PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS; TOGETHEPv WITH NUMEROUS CITATIONS FROIVI THE JEWISH TALMUDS AND TARGUMSi AND ALSO FROM ANCIENT HISTORY AND AUTHORS, ILLUSTRATING MORE FULLY THE SYMBOLICAL LAXGUAGE OF THIS MYSTERIOUS BOOK. BY WIllIAM l.'^mY, Author of the Hebrew and English Dictionary. " Blessed is he that readeth, and they that understand the words of this prophpcy, and kepp those things that are xVritten therein, for the time is at hand." — liei: 1 : 3. EMBELLISHED WITH STBABO S MAP OF THE WOULD, AS IT WAS AT THE TIME OK OUR SAVIOR. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY D. FANSHAW, 575 BROADWAY ; Printing Officp, comer of Ann and Nassau-'treets, 1848. Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, by William L. Rot, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New-York. INTRODUCTION. Saint John, the author of this Book and the Gospel according to St. John, ■was the son of Zebedec, a poor fisherman of Galilee ; he had two sons, James and John ; both were brought up to the same occupation with their father. They were poor and illiterate, and of little or no repute among men, con- sidered "the filth and oflTscouring of the world." "The^iad nothing, an(^ yet they possessed all things ; were poor, yet made many rich." They were men of strong minds, great zeal, patience, and resignation to the will of God ; " they counted all things but loss and dross for the excellency of the know- ledge of Jesus ;" were willing not only to suffer but to die for the name of Jesus. The world at this time was in a state of general expectation that a prince should appear in Judea who would conquer the whole world. The Jews be- lieved this person to be Prince Messiah, who, as they expected, was to come in pomp and splendor, and redeem them from the dominion of Ike Romans ; but little did they imagine that Jesus of Nazareth was this identical person. And because he assumed the character of the Messiah and of God, and they "saw no form nor coineUness in him, nor beauty, that they should desire him," they at last crucified and put him to death. He was directly the opposite of every thing they expected of the Messiah. " Meek and lowly in heart and in life ;" plain, simjiJe, and unassuming in his manners, "he made himself of no reputation, (though the Lord of the whole universe,) stooped so low as to take upon him the form of a servant," and actually washed his disciples (the fishermen's) feA He was the friend of the poor, the benefactor of mankind ; was holy, harmless, undefiled, and sepa- rate from sinners, " and made higher than the heavens." His miracles, mission, preaching, piety, humility, zeal, patience, long- sutFering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance, and pure benevolence, commended him to all who looked /or redemption in Israel. He was evidently " God manifest in the flesh, justified hi the Spirit, seen of angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." 4 INTRODUCTION. To the astonishment of men and angels the King of kings and Lord of lords passed by all the fashionable circles of the rich and great, (the wise, learned, noble,) and stooped to the humble walks of life, and there made choice of poor but pious fishermen to be his ambassadors to a perishing and sinful world. •" You see your calling, brethren," observes St. Paul, " that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble men are called (to the ministry) but God hath chosen the foolish things of this world, and things that are despised hath he chosen ; yea, and things that are not, to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh might glory in his presence, 1 Cor. 1 : 7. Among these were Peter and John, ignorant and illiterate in the estimation of men, but wise and learned (in spiritual things) in the estimation of God. They were the real priests, with Urim and Thumraim divinely taught, and inspired by the Spirit of God. These were the men " who turned the Avorld upside down by their preaching," astonished it with their wisdom, zeal, power and eloquMce ; no wonder, then, that three thousand were converted ¥a. one day under one sermon of Peter's. And John's Bool: of JRevelation has been the wonder of the church in all ages. It is so profound, learned, lofty, majestic, sublime in spiritual things, that it has remained a mystery for ages, and yet It is a revealed booJcJ How true is that saying, "the natural man discerneth not the things that are spiritual, because spiritually discerned they are foolishness to him." And some divines who could not comprehend the author, have, like the Pharisees of old, poured down a flood of contempt on him and his book. Some have said that it is so wrapped and involved in figures and allegories, is so wild^'and visionary, is so dark and obscure, that nothing clear or certain can be proved from it. And another divine, so called, hath not scrupled to assert that the book of Revelation either finds a man mad or makes him so. And a third highly commends commentators for not giving their opinion on it at all. But to avoid old wives' fables and needless conjec- tures and opinions respecting the author of this book and the time when it was written, I shall endeavor, by the help of God, to prove that it was not written in the reign of DOTiitian, but in that of Nero. That St. John's Gos- pel was written before this book, is sufficiently clear from the first and second chapters. It is not easy to determine the time when he was released from the island, but it is not irnprobable that it was when Nero was going to make a canal from Avemura to Ostia, for the purpose of which, he ordered all per- sons, every where, to be released and brought to Italy ; and that such as were convicted of the most heinous crimes should be only condemned to work therein. See Suetonius in Nero. And if St. John was brought to Italy at this time, in all probability he had an opportunity of seeing Nero, Vespasian, and Titus, personally. That he did not survive the destruction of Jerusalem, 18 very evident from chap. 10 : 10, 13, and 11 : 1, 13. See chap. 20 : 4. INTRODUCTIOX. 5 When, where, and by whom was it wriiteu, are grave questions, and diffi- cult to answer. Evidence, therefore, external, internal, circumstantial, and collateral, are the only sources by which we can solve these difficulties. External evidence may be deduced from either sacred or profane history, and also from other sources. The Gospel according to St. John, his Epistles and Book of Revelation, are the only works of his which have been handed down to us through the church ; their authenticity and insiiiration have never as yet been discredited. Strabo's Geography, (his map of the world is attached to this work,) written before Christ — Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews, written a few 5'ears after the destruction of Jerusalem — Tacitus and Suetonius' His- tory of Rome — Homer's Illiad — Plato and Socrates' systems of Philosophy — have never been doubted ; and yet there is far greater evidence of the authen- ticity and genuineness of John's Gospel and Apocalypse than that of any of the works alluded to. How clearly, forcibly, energetically, does John point out the corruptions and backslidings of the Seven Churches of Asia. They certainly must have been revealed to him in Patmos, or he should never previously and when ab- sent have discovered them. The white horse and his rider, the red horse, the pale horse, the black horse and their riders ; the symbolic beasts ; the beast coming up out of the bottomless pit and declaring war against Christ and his church ; the murder of the two witnesses ; the beast's wound in battle and recovery ; his false miracles; the 1260 days of the war; the battle of Harmageddon ; the fall of spiritual Babylon; the remarkable events which preceded its ruin; the city divided into three different factions, who fought desperately with each other ; the great effusion of human blood ; the large stones thrown into it by engines, &c. ; the great red dragon ; his persecution of the church ; her flight into the wilderness; his edict, under the emblem of water ; his loss of the empire because of this persecution; the first resurrection; the bindin" and loosing of Satan; the final destruction of Gog and Magog by fire from heaven ; are all predictions which either have been or shall be very soon fulfilled. Justin the Martyr, in the year of our Lord 140, quotes largely from John's; Book of Revelation. Mileto, bishop of Sardis, wrote explanatory notes on it. Ireneus, about A. D. 170, commended it highly. Theophilus, of Antioch, makes several (luotations from it in his controversy with Hermogenes. Clement, of Alexandria, refers to it frequently. Epiphanius, still earlier, Tertullian, Origen, Andreas, and Arethas, all assert that it was written before the destruction of Jerusalem, and in the reign 6 IXTRODUCTIOX. of Nero. Bislioj/ Ncwluii and many ulher eminent men are of the same opinion. When we come to treat on the internal cviilcnce of it, we shall more fully establish this point. It is couched in dark, mysterious, or symbolic language ; but this was abso- lutely necessary, because of the hatred of both Jews and Gentiles to Chris- tianity, and especially the rulers of both nations, who viewed it with a jealous and malignant eye. The fact is, it was sapping the very foundation of both systems, and becoming so popular that all nations were submitting to the mild and easy yoke of Jesus. Judaism was now tottering and ready to fall, and Paganism gi\ing way to Christianity in every quarter, and the kingdoms of this world becoming the kino^doms of our Lord and his Christ. Nero became exceedingly jealous of Christ and his kingdom, because making such vast inroads on the empire. This was the very cause of his persecution of the christians; he was afraid Christ should become his rival in the government, and he was determined to cxierminate his followers. See Exod. 1 : 9, 10. This book, therefore, if it fell into the hands of either Jews or Gentiles might be interpreted as treason- able, and John not only lose his head, but another general persecution be raised against the church. This accounts for the metaphorical and ambigu- ous style of it. Internal evidence. This is founded on reason and inspiration. 1. Then, if the remarkable events set forth in this Book me prophecies, of which there can be iio doubt, (chap. 1:3; 22: 19,) and if they were Uterally fulfilled, then John must have been a prophet as well as an apostle, and his Book be written by inspiration of God. See 1 Pet. 1 : 21. John is classed among the prophets by the angel ; chap. 22 : 9. 2. Were these remarkable predictions and events fulfilled in the reign of Domitian or that of Nero ? are questions of the utmost importance. We think we shall make this matter so plain and simple that there can be no doubt as to when John wrote this book, and by whom he was banished into the isle of Patmos. 3. It certainly could not have been in the reign of Domitian, for not a single event set forth in the book took place during his reign, but they all took place in the time of Nero. 4. Our Lord indicated to both Peter and John that they should li\e until he came to judge the Jews, and then die martyrs for him there. John, 21 : 18, 22. His coming, here, could not surely refer to the day of judgment, but to his coming to destroy Jerusalem ; an event predicted by the prophets, and called the "-day of the Lord " in the Scriptures. When that city was destroyed, then all the predictions of the prophets were literally fulfilled. Luke, 21 : 22. 5. Peter and John were then cither seventy or seventy-live years of age ; TNTRODTTCTIOK. 7 but if John lived to the reign of Domitian he must have been over one hun- dred, a things; improbable. Besides, the book itself shows clearly that it was the production of a man considerably younger in years ; the language, the ideas, the force and energy of it, all establish this fact. 6. Chapter 1 : 17 ; 11 : 8 ; 12 : 3, prove, beyond doubt, that Jerusalem was not destroyed when this book was written. Hence, " Every eye shall see him," Jews and Gentiles ; " and they also that pierced him," the priests and the Jewish peojile, beyond doubt. Luke, 23 : 13, 14, 18 ; Acts, 2 : 23, 3G ; also, 3 : 15 ; 4 : 27 ; 5 : 29. " And all the tribes of the earth shall mourn." In the siege of Jerusalem, the tribes were all confounded and destroyed, or else carried captives into Egypt, and have never, as yet, been discovered. 7. Judah was to remain a distinct tribe until Shiloh came, and then all distinction was to cease forever. The literal was to be blended with the spiri- tual. Chap. 7:5. 8. It was in the time of general persecution and general commotion that St. John was banished into Patmos, and must have been the very time ^??-e- dicted by our Lord. Matt. 24 : 6-14. We assert that no such events as are described in this chapter took place in the time of Domitian, but were all literally fulfilled in the reign of Nero. 9. There was no general persecution of f\\e Christians, as such, in the reigns of Vespasian, Titus, or Domitian. They detested the Jews, and some of them, because of their wealth, and through the avariciousness of Domitian, were falsely accused of treason, and banished into foreign countries and their property seized by him. Some christian Jews improfessi (not in profession, but outwardly such,) were treated in the same way, as the emperor did not perceive the distinction, and therefore treated both alike. To commence at this late period a general j)ersecution of the Christians, would be at the risk of losing his head and his crown. See Suetonius. Neither Tacitus nor Suetonius intimates such a thing as a persecution of the Christians in his time, but both mention that of Nero's, and animadverts severely on Nero for his barbarous and cruel conduct in this respect. 10. A mighty and powerful nation was to be subdued and utterly destroyed in the reign of either one or other ; but such an event did not occur in the time of Domitian, but in the reign of Nero. Vespasian then destroyed the jnighty and holy people, and caused them to be extinct, as a nation, for ever. 11. These great national calamities were then at hand, within reach or sight of the people. Chap. 1 : 3. They took jilace immediately after the release of John from the Isle of Patmos. 12. This national destruction was to be accompanied by the seven plagues of Egypt, as was predicted two thousand years before by Moses. Deut. 28 : 00. These plagues came on the Jews alone, and on no other nation. Chap- ter G : 8, 9. S INTRODUCTION. 13. The battle of Harmageddon was fought in a province exactly 200 miles in length. Chap. 14 : 20. But no such battle was fought in Italy in the reign of Domitian, but it took place in the time of Nero. 14. Wars and rumors of wars, general and national calamities, accompanied the downfal of Jerusalem in Nero's time ; but no such calamities came upon the world in that of Domitian. 15. A vial, or heavy judgment, was to be poured out on the seat of the Pagan beast ; and three kings at this time were to be subdued in contending for the crown. These were Galba, Otho, and Vitellius. Chapter 16 : 10. There were no kings contending for the crown in Domitian's time. 16. Daniel's beast was then to succeed to the empire ; and this is the very beast that was to destroy the mighty and holy people, and cause the daily sacrifice to cease for ever from Jerusalem. 17. Peace was restored in the East among the Parthians, in Nero's time, and not in that of Domitian. Chap. 16 : 12. This is represented by the waters of the Euphrates being dried up; or, may allude to the bridge which Nero had thrown across this river for his armies to pass over. 18. The symbolic locusts were let loose in the time of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns, and not in the reign of Domitian. Chap. 9 : 3. 19. Gabriel came on a special mission, to announce that time should be no longer (than the 1260 days) with the Jews; but he did not in the reign of Domitian declare that time should be no longer with us Gentiles. Chapter 10 : 6, 19. For, after this, 20. The tioo witnesses had to prophesy ; the wo)uan to flee into the wilder- ness of Judea, because of persecution, and Babylon to fall, and then the king- doms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ ; which proves beyond doubt that his mission was special, and not general. 21. A great earthquake caused the tenth part of Babylon to fall; but we have no account of any such event in Rome in the time of Domitian. Chap- ter 13 : 11. 22. Domitian did not declare war against both Jews and Christians, for Jerusalem was destroyed thirty years previous, and another general persecu- tion of the Christians would be a hazardous game with him, as Nero lost the throne by it; and it was still more dangerous in his time, as nearly the whole empire had now embraced Christianity. The palace, the senate, the forum, and a great part of the public offices were filled with Christians, because of their strict integrity and piety. See chap. 12 : 7. 23. His ministers or magistrates did not destroy the third part of the stars of heaven, (or Christ's ministers,) but Nero did. Chaj). 12:4. And lie lost the empire because of it; verses 9, 10. 24. Our Lord was crucified in Jervsahm and not in Koine ; and in the INTRODUCTION. 9 streets of Jerusalem the two witnesses were killed and their bodies exposed to public view; and this by the beast that besieged the city. Chap. 11:7, 19. 25. It was entirely destroyed, and Zion ploughed up like afield thirty years before the reign of Domitian ; therefore the two witnesses could not be killed in his reigu, but in that of Nero. Suetonius declares that Domitian was far more mild and virtuous than either his father or brother ; and he could not bear the idea of even taking the life of an ox, much less that of a man. 26. Finally, all these events were to take place in the reign of the seventh emperor of Rome ; that is, in Nero's, and not Domitian's reign, who was the twelfth emperor. Chap. 18: 10. Therefore, John was not banished into the Isle of Patmos by the latter, but by the former. Circumstantial evidence may be collected from various sources ;/ro?n testimo- ny for and against. 1. The various commentaries ivritten on it, show evidently that such a book existed, and was in repute. 2. The spurious works written by Cerenthus and others in imitation of it, proves that it was genuine, as well as popular. 3. The various disputes about when it was written, and where it was written, and by whom it was written, shows that it was a book worthy the attention of great scholars, as well as great divines. 4. In all ages, and bj' all denominations, it has been considered as an extraordinary book. Junius' Letters are genuine and very popular, though not authentic. The author's name is concealed, because the government teas implicated. John appended his name to this book, but wisely concealed his predictions, because Jews and Gentiles were implicated in them. The Apocalypse (revelation) is supported therefoi'e, from evidence indisputable, external, internal, circumstantial, and collateral. Collateral evidences may be deduced from coins, pillars, monu- ments, tombs, Sf'c. The pyramids of Egypt, Pompey's Pillar, the ruins of Troy, Titus' Triumphal Arch, are all relics of antiquity, designed to perpetu- ate remarkable events. The tombs of Joseph, Abraham, David, Solomon, Jehosaphat, and the Holy Sepulchre, are designed to perpetuate the memory of the dead or distinguished personages. John, the poor fisherman of Galilee, had no tomb, no coins, no monu- ment, no pillar, to transmit his worth to posterity; but he had Jesus with him. His gospel and Booh of Revelation, however, have handed down his name from one generation to another, and though dead, j'et he lives in the hearts of all genuine Christians. But Nero, unintentionally, erected a splen- did monument to perpetuate the memory of the beloved John. His cave is to be seen by all travellers to this day in the Isle of Patmos, and no doubt, if search in future shall be made, his name will be found engraven on the walls in large Hebrew characters. John, however, was not forgotten b^' some of his beloved brethren at Rome ; 1* 10 INTRODUCTION. for the following remarkable Grech Inscriiytion was found on a statue of Hi]'' polilus, discovered at Rome in 1551. n«g/ Tou KstT* I»*vv«v njciyyihuv k-jli a.7riKU.Ku-^tit;. Concerning the Gospel and Revelation of St. John. The Syrian" version has this inscription : "The revelation made to St. John the Evangelist by God, in the Island of Patmos, into which he was banished by Nero Csesar." As this is the oldest and best version of the work in the world, this testi- mony is of vast importance in determining the time when the book was written, and the person by whom John was banished to Patmos. The laiiguage in icldch it was written. This, no doubt, was Hebrew. The Kodesh Lashon, holy tongue, the inspired language of God, venerated among all nations, Jews and Gentiles. St. John had a copy of the law and the prophets with him ; all the Apostles carried a copy of both with them wherever they went ; the GreeJc version was scarce and very unpopular among the Jews, because not given hy inspiration, as was the Hebrew Scrip- tures. And, indeed, the Pi,abbins forbid the reading of it in the synagogues, as it was written in a barbarous tongue. John could speak in the Greek tongue, but it is doubtful whether he could write it as fluently and correctly as Hebrew. His Book of Revelation is so full of Hebraisms and Rabbinical expression, that it is evident to me that his work was originally written in the TIoIt/ tongue, especially as it would be considered more sacred ; and this is my reason for adhering so closely to the Hebrew text, and not the Greek text of this work. Hence, Alpha and Omega. One like the son of man. The two-edged sword. One of the elders answered, (inquired.) The seven stars are (represent.) The seven golden candlesticks are (represent.) Chap. 1 : 20. I will give to eat, (cause to partake of.) John G : 53. A new name written, (engraven.) He that hath an ear to hear (to understand and obey.) Shall be clothed in white raiment (be made holy, or constituted a priest.) I will not blot out (ex- communicate.) Chap. 3 : 5. Sir, ''^.'^l^ thou knowest. Chap. 7 : 14. John 5:7. A door was opened (a prophecy explained.) Come up hither (look, examine this.) And there was set (prepared, fixed.) Four beasts, (great men, chief hien.) Chap. 4 : G. He loosed (opened, revealed.) Chap. 5 : 2. The white horse and his rider (salvation and its author.) Chap. G : 2. The four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds thereof. Chap 7:1. The Tree of Life. The fire proceeding out of his mouth. The key of David, and key of the bottomless pit. The angel Jlying through the midst of heaven, having, &c. The number of the horse- men, two hundred thousand thousand, for an innumerable number. Seal up Mic roll— eat it up; shall be sweet in thy mouth, but bitter in thy bowels. INTRODUCTION. 11 Chap. 10: 9, 10. The great red dragon with seven heads 'and ten horns; the old serpent, called the Devil and Satan. His tail (magistrates.) War in heaven (persecution in the church.) Michael and bis angels (Christ and his ministers) fought (contended) by faith and prayer. Chap. 12: 3 ; 4 ; 7. The sea of- glass, harps of salvation, are all .Rabbinical as well as symbolic lan- guage, whicli proves that the work was originally written in Hebrew, and af- terwards translated into Greek or Syriac, and then Arabic. Some of our best scholars have been greatly perplexed with the Greek of the Apocalypse. See Middleton on " Son of Man.'' Also x«« TiXio- On. Pp. 660 ; 664. The beast with the seven heads. This is variously understood. Some think the Pope to be the beast; others the- Protestant, or Henry the Eighth; and some the Roman empire ; and others Mahomed. And a late author has, as he thought, identified Napoleon Buonaparte as the beast. And the last author, and perhaps the least of all, makes out Daniel's beast to be a heathen cmjyeror. The various modes of interpretation adopted hy different authors. Some have taken a literal view of it; others a spiritual, and some an allegorical view of it. Some have viewed it propheticall}', and interpreted it as such, and all their spurious predictions of different remarkable events, which they asserted should take place at a certain time, have utterly failed, and the only service they have rendered the world is to make madmen or fools of the people. We hope in future the people will learn wisdom from the things which they have lately suffered by Millerism and Mormonism. The reason tvhy the Book is not understood. 1. Because, not acquainted with the language in which it was written, and the Rabbinical and symbolic style of it. The seven churches of Asia understood it well ; and if we had the same faith, wisdom, arid grace, we should understand it also. It was revealed in a dungeon, written with tears, and sealed with blood ; and a bless- ing is promised to them who read, understand, and live according to it. 2. Sectarian views have led Catholics and Protestants into the most gross errors m their application of John's Book of Revelation. 3. A delicate regard for the opinions of wise and learned men have caused many to defer giving an opinion on it at all in opposition to such great and talented men. 4. Some are altogether literal, and others altogether spiritual in their views of it. One author, to outdo the whole of his predecessors, icent to heaven to see John himself, and came back with a revelation of a book already revealed. 5. Some, to gain notoriety, and others to make merchandise of it, have written volumes as large as the Bible upon it, without one original idea in their whole work ; they arc simply reprints of other men's works. 6. Some authors who have had learn- ing but no piety, and others piety but no learning, have both failed in their attempts to discover its meaning. See Dan. 10 : 12. 7. Others, who have had both combined, have failed to study the Scriptures for themselves in the 1*2 IXTRODUCTIOX. original, and haAe, \vith a slight variety, followed the steps of their predeces- sors. 8. There is a literal, spiritual, metaphorical, allegorical, and prophetic meaning to be attached to different parts of this book, and to know when and where to apply them is a matter of great moment. MisairpUcation or niisconsiniction of any part of this Bool- is adding tf) or taking from it, and of course we must come under the wo denounced in this Book. We hope no person will be so uncharitable as to suppose the author has combined all the qualifications requisite to a proper understanding of this book. He certainly feels himself inadequate to the great task, but a sense of duty, and at the solicitation of many friends and eminent ministers, he has published his opinion on this mysterious Book ; and if it shall prove to be a help to a better understanding of it, he shall feel amply paid. If not, and it should prove a failure, like all the rest, then we must wait patiently till the Most High shall make a new revelation of it. It Avas written in the end of the Jewish dispensation ; it may now, in the providence of God, be interpreted in the end of the Gentile dispensation, and this for a wise purpose. What still confirms the views I have taken of the Revelation is this : Matthew, Mark, and Luke have all given an accurate account of our Lord's predictions respecting the utter destruclion of Jerusalem ; but St. John has en- tirely omitted this in his Gospel: his revelation serves, therefore, as a supple- iTient to it, and a? a commentary on all our Lord's predictions, as well as the Old Testament prophecies which refer to that event. Finally, I have but one end in view in the publication of this work : the glory of God and the good of mankind ; and my object is not to jjlease, but to profit. I have not studied style, but simplicity : I have endeavored through- out the work, as far as practicable, to use scriptural language. I have added a second class of notes, which were written in my juvenile days, when about twenty-two years of age. They may be useful to the pious and devot^k* Christian, though probably not such to the critical reader, who looks more W style than to good sense and reason. WILT. I AM L. IMJV. Brooklyn, December 1, lSt7. NOTES THE REVELATION CHAPTER I. X HE Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly 1 The Revelation. The exposition or illustration of the old testament pro- phecies which remained at that time to be fulfilled, and of the corruptions and backslidings of the seven churches of Asia ; and also a revelation of re- markable events which were to take place from the year of our Lord sixty- five unto the end of the world. We see therefore that this is a revealed and not an unrevealed book, the meaning of which is not known either to the church or the ivorld. It was probably plain and simple to John and the churches to which he was then writ* ing ; the mystery is in ourselves, and not in the book. " The spiritual man (the Apostle observes) judgeth (dis- cemeth) all things ; yea, the deep things of God." Jesus. This is a special, peculiar ti- tle given to him at his birth. The an- gel said, " his name shall be called Jesus : because he shall save his peo- ple from their sins." Matt. 1 : 21. His name therefore means a Savior. In order to accomplish our salvation, three things were requisite : — 1. That he should be able to save. 2. That he should be willing to do it. 3. That he should die to save us. As the scrip- tures every where declare him to be God, he is able to save to the very ut- termost all them that come unto God by him. Heb. 7 : 25. There is no other name given among men where- by we can be saved but the name of Jesus. Acts, 4 : 12. He commanded repentance and remission of sins to be preached in his name among all na- tions, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke, 24 : 47. He is the Savior of all men, especially of them that believe. 1 Tim. 4 : 10. That is, he died, that all, through him, might be saved, yet he saves none but those who believe, viz. in his divinity, doctrines, mira- cles, death, sufferings, resurrection, 10 NOTES OX THE come to pass ; and he sent and signified it by unto his servant John : his angel and ascension to glory. To deny his doclrine is the same as to deny his divinity. The apostle assures us that " without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins," and unless the divinity and humanity were united in one person, no atonement could be inade for sin. Hence he is the true God, and eternal life, God over all, and blessed for ever ; the creator and up- holder of all things, God manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen nf angels, preached among the gen- tiles, believed on in the world, receiv- ed up into glory. 1 Tim. 3 : 16. 2. He is not only able, hut xvilling to save. *' Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth ; for I am God, and besides me- there is no Savior." Isaiah, 45 : 21, 22. " He has no plea- sure in the death of him that dieth." Ezekiel, 18 : 32. " It is not his will that any should perish, but that all should repent and live." John, 3 : 16. Matt. 18 : 14. Finally. " He, by the grace of God, hath tasted death for every man." Heb. 2 : 9. " He died, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God." 1 Peter, 3 : 18. "He that spar- ed not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things." Komans, 8 : 32. Christ. This is also a peculiar title, and signifies the anointed, consecrated one, from the Greek Xpict Chrio, to anoint ; but his consecration icas spi- ritual, because about to commence a new dispensation. He was anointed . i'rophct, Priest, and King. " The Spirit of the Lord God," says he, " is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor," &c. Isaiah, 61 : 1. These three offices were never combined in any one indi- vidual but him. Christ and IMessiah are of the same import ; he answered to the character of Masheach in every respect, (as we shall prove in the se- (jucl of this work.) Which God gave to him. As our Projihet, Priest, and King, he was to teach and instruct the people, to atone for their sins, and to rule over them as their Lord and Master. To show unto his servants. His min- isters. They were not masters, or lords over God's heritage, but simply ser- vants, who were willing to wash the disciples feet, if requisite. Have you, reader, this disposition ? 1 fear not. The Savior was determined to have no aristocracy in his church. " Whoso- ever is greatest among you," says he, " let him be the servant of all.'^ Matt. 23: 11. And "he that is the least (most humble) is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Luke, 7 : 28. " He that humbleth himself shall be exalted, and he that exalteth himself shall be abased." The Savior sent poor, humble fishermen to bo his am- bassadors to the heathen, and the con- sequence was, tlipt through the preach- ing of these ignorant and illiterate men, so called, the majority of the heathen world was brought under subjection to Christianity. Things which must shortly come to pass. That is, within a few years ; REVELATION. 11 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. tliey are fast approaching, are at the very door. The battle ofHarmaged- don is at hand ; therefore prepare to meet thy God, O Israel ! Signified it hy his angel to Jiis ser- vant John. This angel was one of the prophets, probably Isaiah, see chapter '22 : 9. He was formerly a minister- ing spirit on earth, he is now a minis- tering spirit in heaven, and sent back again to protect those who were heirs of salvation. What a blessed encouragement to faithful ministers to know that after they depart this life they shall become angelic beings !* See chap. 16 : 2. 2 Who bare record of the word of God. That is, devar Yehovah, the word of Jehovah, who is equal with God in wisdom, power, glory, and endless duration. He bare record of him in Jiis gospel, the very first verse of which proves his divinity beyond doubt. In the beginning (viz. of the creation) was the Word, (the eternal logos, Philo,) and the word was with God, (that is, when the world was created,) (" and the world was made by him," verse 3,) and God was the word, the very identical logos himself. This clause " bare record,'''' is in the past tense, and proves that John wrote his gospel before his banishment to the Isle of Patmos.f And of all things which he saw. When in the Mount with our Savior, and also during the whole of his public ministry on earth. He was an eye witness himself of all that he has published to the world in his gospel. See Matt. 17 : 2. * The high priest entered into the holiest of holies once in the year, to make atonement for the people and himself. Levit. 14, &c. And the apostle Paul observes, " He entered not in without blood, which he offered for himself and the errors of the people." See Heb. 9:7. Here the high priest was to consult with God in secret, to know his will, and to intercede in behalf of the people. And so it is with Jesus, our great high priest ; he has entered into the holiest of all, namely, heaven itself; but not by the blood of bulls or of goats, or the ashes of an heifer, but by his own most precious blood, not once in the year, b\it once for all, in the end of the world. And as he is our mediator, between God and man, he is here represented as communicating the will of God to his beloved John. t St. John, in his gospel, bore testimony to the birth, life, miracles, and sufferings of Christ; also his death, resurrection, and ascension to gloi-y. See John, 21 : 24. This is a title or a name applicable to Christ alone, viz. the Word of God. 12 NOTES ON THE 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein : for the time is at hand. 4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia : Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come ; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne : 3 Blessed (happy) is he that read- et]i. That is, so as to understand it, and live according to its divine precepts. Many have read it, and cursed the au- thor as a fool or a madman, simply because they could not understand or comprehend his meaning, nor make merchandise of his book. How true is the apostle's assertion, " the natural (unconverted) man receiveth not the things that are spiritual," because spi- ritually discerned, and "they are fool- ishness to him;" but "the spiritual man judgeth all things, yea, the deep things of God." The time is at hand. When all the old testament prophecies shall be hte- rally fulfilled.* 4 John, to the seven churches whvch are in Asia, Ephesus, Pergamos, Smyrna, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadel- phia, Laodicea, see verse 11. These churches were not stately edifices, as some imagine, but simply congrega- tions of christian believers. See chap. 2:1. Epiphanius asserts that there was no public edifice in Thyatira un- til long after the revelations were written. Ephesus lays now in ruins, and can- not be identified. Laodicea is the abode of foxes and jackalls, &c. Smyrna is still a large, flourishing and commercial city. Philadelphia, called by the Turks Alia Shehr, is still a populous and flourishing city ; and so it is with Thy- atira ; but Pergamos and Sardis both lay in ruins. Peace be unto you. This is purely Hebrew, and the usual mode of salu- tation among the Jews to this day, B^l Bibffl Sha-lom la-chem. The first time it occurs in the Bible is when Joseph revealed himself to his brethren at the second meeting. Gen. 43 : 23. And when our spiritual Jo- seph (Jesus) revealed himself to his disciples the second time after his re- surrection, he said Peace he unto you. Luke, 24 : 36. When the apostles were sent out to preach, they were commanded to salute the house into which they went with Shalom lachem, and if the son of Peace, or a person who loved God, was in the house, he would return their peace with Shalom * Tbi§ is the lense in which we must understand at hand, tures. M»tt. 26 : 46. Mark, 1 : 15. different parts of the scrip- REVELATIOxV. 13 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful Witness, and the First-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, sholem. This was a welcome to the pilgrim or stranger to make that house his home as long as he thought proper to stay ; but if the owner did not re- turn the salutation, then the traveller departed, and went off to some other house of peace or piety. The Ma- homedan mode of salutation is like that of the Jews, Salem alikem ; the Hindoos bo bo salem, and the Per- sians the same as the Turks ; but John has added a new item, that is grace, because under a new and gracious dis- pensation. See Matt. 10 : 12, 13. From him wh ch i&, which loas, and which is to come. This embraces the past, present, and future ex- istence, and proves beyond doubt that Christ is Jehovah himself ; for this is the identical meaning of the Hebrew word composed of "^rr; Ye he, he shall be, and rT^n ha yah, he is, he was, the great I Am, self existent, unorigi- nated, and eternal Jehovah. Exodus, 3 : 14. In Psalm 23 : 1, he is styled ^V-\ nin^ Ye-ho-uah ro-e, Jeh nah, my Shepherd. Christ applies this ti- tle to himself — / am the good Shep- herd, pastor, minister, the door of the sheep, the life, the truth, and the way. Hence " the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of Jehovah." (Jesus.) Here then is &full demonstration of his divinity. Hence the holy and blessed God said to Mo- ses, I am he that is, he that was, and he that is to come (in the flesh.) Sher- moth Rab. sec. 3, fol. 73-2. The seven spirits. The ministering spirits of the seven churches of Asia. 5 The faithful witness. A title of the Messiah ; hence oo-me-hc-min for a true and faithful witness. Tar- gum on Jer. 42 : 5. He is a faith- ful witness " against sorcerers, adul- terers, false swearers, and those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, and them that turn the stranger aside from his right. Mai. 2 : 5. The first-he gotten of the dead. The first fruits of them that slept : for since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead ; for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive, that is, be raised again from the grave in the general resurrection at the last day, when " some shall rise to the re- surrection of life and others to the re- surrection of damnation." The Prince of the kings of the earth, or more properly, C^^ib "1^;^ the King of the princes of the earth. Hos. 8-10. Thrones and dominion?, principalities and powers, are all sub- ject to him : he is the King of kings, and Lord of lords, the creator and up- holder of all things : for " he has all power in heaven and in earth." " He can create and he destroy." He heal- ed the sick, cleansed the lepers, rais- ed the dead, cast out devils, burst the bands of death, ascended on high, led captivity captive, and received gifts for the rebellious, even the sons of men. 14 NOTES OX THE G And hath made us kings and priests unto God and Unto him that loved us. This he demonstrated by dying for us rebels, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God. •' O for this love, let rocks and hills " Their lasting silence break, " And all hai-monious human tongues "The Savior's praises speak. " Angels, assist our mighty joys, " Strike all your harps of gold, " But when you raise your highest notes, " His love can ne'er be told." To love is to yield up the heart or hfe to the object of our affections, but Christ gave his Hfe for his enemies, liis very rourderers. Is there then ano- ther instance of such (hsinterested be- nevolence on record ? We presume not. And washed us from our sins. That is from the guilt and pollution of sin, all the filthiness of flesh and spirit. This was typified under the law by the washing and cleansing of sacrifices on the altar before they were offered by the priest.* In his own blood. Not in water, nor by the washing of water : this cannot take away sin, but " the blood of Je- sus Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth from all sin." 1 John, 1 : 7. And with- out the shedding of blood, and the ap- plication of it, there can he no remis- sion of sins. Baptism is the outward and visible sign of the inward and spi- ritual grace, that is, regeneration. A sign cannot be the thing signified, nor can the shadow be the substance. If baptism, therefore, is regeneration, we are justified hy the deeds of the law, which is impossible if the Bible be true. The rabbins assert that no priest can officiate in the sanctuary until he washes himself in water ten times from head to foot. He then wipes himself, and puts on the Avhite garments. Mishna Yoma, chapter 3, sec. 3, 4. This evidently shows that no man is fit to minister in holy tilings but he whose sins are all washed away in the blood of the Redeemer. 6 And hath made us kings. They were spiritual kings, to rule with meekness and mildness the church of the living God. Christ has never as yet placed a proud, haughty min- * Moses washed Aaron with water, and dipped his finger in the blood of atonement, and then put the blood on his right ear, and on the tip of the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot, and this was done before he oflficiated in public. Lev. 8 : &c. This was to show Aaron and all his posterity that no person is fit for the ministry but he whose sins are washed away in the blood of the atonement ; and it also indicated that it was necessary to be washed from head to foot. Our Lord himself fulfilled this a short time before his death. See John, 13 : 9. He told his disciples if he washed them not, they had no part in him ; he first washed them with water outwardly, and after this washed them inwardly in liis own precious blood. This was the substance of what was shadowed under the law ; and from this we may learn that no man who is not washed in the blood of the Lamb of God, and called to the office of the ministiy by the Spirit of God, is fit for it. REVELATION. 15 his Father ; to him he glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. ister over his little flock to rule them. He has chosen the poor of this world, " rich in faith, and heirs of the king- dom." Youseeyourcalling, brethren ; how that not many wise men, (after the flesh,) not many mighty, (in learn- ing,) not many noble, (of high birth) are called. But God hath chosen the foolish things of this world, (plain, simple, illiterate men,) to confound the wise, (philosophers,) and the weak things of this world, (poor, unlettered men') to confound the things that are mighty, (in learning and eloquence,) and base things of this world, (fish- ermen,) and things that are despised (by scribes and pharisees,) yea, and things that are not, (of wealth and influence,) to bring to nothing things that are, (men of great note and great repute ;) that no flesh might glory in the presence of God." 1 Cor. 1 : 26-29. The Jewish doctors are called Mai chai to rah, kings, priests of the law, hence the word of Jehovah shall constitute you kings, Targ. Jonath on Deut. 28 : 13, servants of the true ta- bernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. As priests under the law had to trace out their pedigree to Aaron the high priest, all ministers of the gospel must trace out their spi- ritual origin to Jesus, our great high priest. And as they are kings as well as ministers of the sanctuary, they must be born oithe royal blood, " born again, born from above, of water and the Holy Ghost," begotten again to a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. " No man taketh this honor to himself but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." Heb. 5 : 4.* The Sanhedrin, in examining can- didates for the priesthood in reference to their genealogy and defects of both body and mind, rejected every person who could not trace out his pedigree to Aaron, the high priest. If found deficient in any respect, he was dis- carded, and a black vail put over his face, and ever after denominated ihc degenerate priest ; but he who was approved by the council was clothed with white linen, and freely admit- ted into the office of the ministry. Tal. Bab. Yoma, fol. 19 : 1. White is the banner of the prince of peace, black that of the prince of the power of the air ; one is the emblem of purity, the * They were spiritual kings to rule over the church, and priests to intercede with God in behalf of it, and to pray to him to atone for their offences ; also they were to present the prayers of the church before God in the golden censor. See chap. 3 : 3. The sons of Aaron were obliged first to officiate as junior, and then senior jjriests, and after this thev obtained the high priesthood in regular succession. They were then both kings and prieslg for the service of God ; but the ministers of Christ are kings by birth, for Christ, the King of Glory, has begotten them by his own bloodi 16 NOTES ON* THE 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds ; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him : and all kin- dreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. other of impiety. Both colors were first blended in the inquisition of Rome., ■white, alba, when saying mass, to show the purity and piety of the church ; black when passing sentence of condemnation on heritics, to show »he power of it. Black is not, as ma- ny suppose, academical ; it has a different origin. White is still worn in the celebration of mass, black in the pulpit where heretics are condemned, as a judicial act. This practice crept into the English courts from the court of Rome ; when the judge is trying a case of life and death he wears a scar- let gown ; when passing sentence of death, he takes this off and puts on the black gown and black cap. Unfor- tunately, the black gown is still con- tinued to be worn by ministers of the protestant churches when they enter the pulpit. Surely they do not do this to curse heretics, and therefore it should be discontinued, especially considering how and where it origi- nated. God and his Father. They were constituted, appointed, set apart, by Christ himself, for the service of the sanctuary, and to him they must look for their final and eternal reward. He has never appointed any man to the priest's office to eat a morsel of bread or fill his pocket with money ; he has placed him there to save souls, and not to fleece them. Wo to the idle shepherd who feeds himself and not the flock of Christ ! It would be good for that man if he had never been born. But the pious, holy, zealous minister of Jesus, who is laboring night and day to save sinners, will have an eter- nal weight of glory. Go on, my dear brother, in the good old way of sav- ing souls, and God Avill reward you abundantly ! To Jam be glory. As our prophet, priest, and king. Glory signifies fear, honor, reverence, adoration. He was a prophet, to teach us the way of life and salvation ; " a light, to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel ;" a priest, to atone for and take away the^ sins of the world, to bear them in his own body on the tree ; a king, to rule in and reign over us, and bring us off more than conquerors over the world, the flesh, and the devil ; to him therefore be glory, might, ma- jesty, dominion, and power, for ever and ever, amen, and amen ! 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds. That is, of angels as well as armies, to utterly destroy his enemies, who would not have him to reign over them. He does not come now as the prince of peace, but as the lion of the tribe of Juda, to tear in pieces and utterly destroy his enemies, and fight the bloody battle of Harmageddon. Ez. 38 : 9. Every eye shall see him. Jew and Gentile, young and old, bond and free, rich and poor, soldier and sailor, min- REVELATION. 17 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end- ing, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. 9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in ister and member : they shall gaze on him with wonder and astonishment. " Every eye shall now behold him, " Rob'd in dreadful mfyesty, " Those who set at naught and sold him, "Pierc'd and nail'd him to the tree, "Deeply wailing, " Shall the true Messiah see."' And they also which pierced him. The priests and the people, Jews and Gentiles, who put him to death, and who still crucify him afresh, and put him to open shame. Matt. 26 : 3. And all the kindreds of the earth shall wail (loeep bitterly) because of him. When they shall see him come in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory, to take vengeance on the wicked, and all them who obey not his holy gospel. " For they shall be punished with everlasting destruc- tion from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power." They will say to the mountains "fall onus, and to the hills, hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and the wrath of the Lamb ; for the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand ?" Kindreds mean Jews and proselytes. See Ez. 1] : 15. 8 lam Alpha and Omega. That is, the beginning and end, viz. of crea- tion, the first and the last, he that stands at the head of all creation, and must reign until all things are subdued 3 unto' himself, who is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col. 1 : 17. But if a created being, God was before him, and St. Paul must have been mistaken; but Paul was well acquainted with his character hy inspiration, and it is presumption to set up our ipse dixit in opposition to that of the apostle. Alpha and Omega are expres- sions derived from the Rabbinical writings. E-abbi Samuel studied all the law, from Aleph to Tav. Abraham and Sarah studied all the law, from Aleph to Tav, that is, from beginning to end. These establish the whole law, from Aleph to Tav. Rab. Joseph on Ez. 9 : 16. The Almighty. The real ^T4? Shad-dy, Omnipotent Jehovah, who has all power in heaven and on earth, personal and not delegated, for God cannot delegate his power to a crea- ture, and at the same time be the Crea- tor himself ; he cannot divest himself of any of his attributes, and impart them to an inferior person ; a creature could not sustain the omnipotence and omniscience of the Deity. They be- long to him exclusively, and form part of his divinity. They are his, and like Saul's armor, cannot be worn by an inferior person. So that Christ, therefore, is the true God and eternal Hfe. 9 Your brother. In Christ, and in the ministry, we are children of the 18 NOTES ON THE tribulation, and m the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. same parents. God is our Father, the church our mother, heaven our home, aiiJ our hadge of discipleship this, that " we love one another with a pure heart fervently." May we all love each other more, and serve God bet- ter than we have done. And companion in tirbulation. In affliction, persecution, and poverty. God has chosen his people in the fur- nace of affliction. It is here he puri- fies, refines, and prepares them for glo- ry, immortality, and eternal life. " It is through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom of heaven." Moses "chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season," esteem- ing the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt ; knowing that in heaven he had more durable substance." In the kingdom u)id patience of Je- .sus Chrial. That is, in the christian religion. This kingdom is directly the opposite of all other kingdoms ; it is the stone cut out oi'the mountain with- out hands, and will utterly destroy, subdue and break down all the king- doms of the earth. The king himself Avas an extraordinary person, without houses, lands, tenements, heredita- ments, money, men, soldiers, sailors, armies, ships, boats, guns, cannons, jiistols, swords, crown, sceptre, or any weapon of defence, and yet he conquered the whole world ; but it was hy love. Ciesar, Alexander, and Bonaparte subdued kingdoms by force, fraud, war, and bloodshed, but Christ established his kingdom by " peace on earth, and good will to men." He is the king immortal, in- visible, the only wise God, our Sa- vior : to him be all honor and glory, both now and for ever ! 1 . Then his kingdom is not temporal, but spiritual, it is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 2. It is universal, it extends from the rivers to the ends of the earth. 3. It is permanent, it is an everlasting kingdom, which shall not pass away. The kingdoms of the Medes, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and that of Israel, have all tottered, fallen, and crumbled into dust ; but his kingdom is the same yesterday, to-day and for ever. 4. TJie subjects oi t\i\s kingdom are the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind. 5. Its ambassa- dors fishermen, without mone}', learn- inn^, influence, or even a good coat on their back. G. Its weapons are spi- ritual, and mighty, through God, to the pulling down of the strong holds of Satan. 7. Its enemies are the world, the flesh, and the devil. 8. The gospel is his law, by which he rules the world and will judge it at the last day. 9. He is the most just, humble, and impartial king that ever sat on a throne. He chose all his officers from among his soldiers ; his captains, colonels, generals, and princes, were made such from the house of com- mons, and Hot from the house of lords. REVELATION, 19 10 1 was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. They were raised from the bench, loom, fishing-boaf;, tannery, plough, and from keeping sheep; "raised from the dunghill to be princes among his people." 10. Final- ly, Christ must reign until he hath put down all authority and power un- der his feet, and the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. " Then Cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom (as Mediator) to God, even the Father." 1 Cor. 15 : 24-2G.* Isle of Patmos. A baiTen island in the iEgean sea, not far from Melita, (Acts, 28 : 1,) celebrated in history as the place where St. John was ban- ished by the emperor Nero, about the year of our Lord 65, viz. in the time of a general persecution of the chris- tians by that wicked monarch. See chap. 12 : 7. Patmos is about ten miles in length, five in breadth, and twenty-eight in circumference. The place now contains about four thou- sand inhabitants. Tlie cave in which the holy apostle resided is still to be seen by travellers. The Word of God. The gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A7id the testimony of Jesus Christ. That he is the true Messiah, and the true (supreme) God and eternal life, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. f 10 Iims in the Spirit on the Lord's day. His mind was intensely fixed on • Our Lord told Pilate his kingdom was not of this world ; if my kingdom, said he, " was of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to tho Jews." John, 18 : 36. But though he was the King of kings, and Lord of lords, yet he had not where to lay his head ; he depended on the liberality of others for food and clothes ; the salvation of poor sinners was of more importance to him than his meat and drink : our Savior was very thankful for a piece of a barley loaf and a broiled fish, and so it was with his apostles, it was more than their meat and drink to do the will of him that sent them to preach the gospel ; and when they went out, it was without money, or even the second coat to their back, or shoes on their feet, or provisions for the second meal ; the " laborer (he said) was worthy of his hire," that is, he was worthy to be fed and clothed by those with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." See Heb. 9 : 25. Blessed is the minister or member who treads in their steps, his reward will be great in the life to come. t This was considered as high treason by Nero, who was king of the Jews, and always afraid of a rival in the government; and it being affirmed by many witnesses that Christ was still alive after his crucifixion, it made him the more afraid of being dethroned than ever; no doubt it was for affirming that Jesus was the Christ that John was banished to the island of Patmos. See Acts, 17 : 7. 20 NOTES OIV THE 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last : and, What thou seest write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia ; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyati- ra, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks ; spiritual and heavenly things on this blessed day, that is, the christian Sab- bath, which has been kept holy by the church from the very day on which our Savior rose from the dead, and is a memorial of his resurrection. It was then he ended the ivorh of redemp- tion. Therefore all christians are under obligations to keep this day holy ; " not to think their own thoughts, nor speak their own words." The Jewish Sabbath and the Jewish Passover have been hoth abolished by Christ himself, and the christian Sabbath and the eucharist instituted in their place. They were only shadows of good things to come, and the substance is of Christ. The church universally, from the very commencement, assem- bled on the Lord's day for public wor- ship. See Acts, 1 : 14. Justin Mar- tyr and Tertullian both assert that this day was kept holy by the church and by the apostles from the begin- ning. He who keeps every day a sab- bath, keeps no day as such ; he is worldly minded, loving the mammon of unrighteousness ; and wealth gained by Sabbath-breaking melts away like snow before the sun.* 11 Alpha and Omega. See v. 8. 12 Seven golden candlesticks. The seven churches of Asia They are compared to gold, because brilliant, glorious, precious, valuable. They are called candlesticks, because lumi- naries of the heathen world. f See chap. 21 : 24. Zach. 4 : 2. * If you call yourself a christian, and violate the Sabbath, you have not the love of God in your heart. But you ask, are there not works of necessity ? Certainly, but these come but very seldom, not every Sabbath. It is not a work of necessity to bake bread, butcher and sell meat, to sell fruit or milk, on this day, for these all can be bought on the day be- fore the Sabbath. See Exod. 20 : 10. Isa. 58 : 13. t There were three things in the Jewish temple wonderful indeed — the candlestick, the table of shew bread, and the altar of incense. The candlestick had seven golden branches, with lamps upon the top of them, and these all rested in one large golden socket, into which the oil wa« poured, and from which all the rest received a supply ; and when these REVELATION. 21 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one hke unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 13 Ira the midst of the seven can- dlesticks. The spiritual paradise of God, in which the Savior is con- tinually walking. " Where two or three are met together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." God was supposed to dwell perpetual- ly in the Jewish temple. Christ, our God, has promised to be in and with his church until time shall be no more. Matt. 28 : 20. One like the Son of man. He was so brilliant, glorious, sublime, majes- tic, that John scarcely knew him ; and if faithful, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is, and eve- ry man " that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." John goes on now to describe our great high priest in his holy garments. Clothed with a garment. Of salva- tion. " His own arm brought salva- tion, and his right hand sustained him in this." His garment is like his coat, all of a piece, without seam from top to bottom. Gabriel himself could not sustain the salvation of a ruined world, it required omnipotence to accoraphsh this. If Christ be our Redeemer, he must be perfect God and perfect man, viz. to sustain his relation to God and man, and satisfy the demands of infi- nite justice. Hence he is 'T^3a~3!|* ail-giv-bor, the God-man. Is. 9 : 6. " Great is the mystery of godliness : God was manifest in the flesh," &c. "Will God indeed dwell on the earth?" was the inquiry of Solomon. 1 Kings, 8 : 27. "I know (says Job) that my redeemer (goale) liveth, and that in the latter day (end of the Jewish dis- pensation) he shall stand on the earth, and after my body is consumed God shall be manifest in my flesh, and I shall see him, and look to him for my- self, and not to a false redeemer, though my reins within me be consumed." Here, then, is a plain revelation of facts, that Christ should assume hu- man nature, die on the cross for our sins, and rise again from the dead for our justification. "I am Jehovah, (says he,) and besides me there is no Savior." Isaiah, 43 : 11. Without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin. The Deity were lit up, the branches and the socket being made of pure gold, without any mixture, they made a wonderful light in the temple. See Zech. 4 : 2, and Josephus, War, book 5, 5, 3. And so it was with these seven golden candlesticks, they were grafted into Christ, the golden socket, and the oil of divine grace dwelling richly in him, and being united to him by faith, they all received a fresh and a full supply daily ; and when blazing with zeal and love for the salvation of sinners, what a glorious light they must have made in the church when they came together to worship God. 22 NOTES ON THE 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow ; and his eyes loere as a flame of fire ; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace ; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars : and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword : and his countenance ims as the sun shineth in his strenoth. could not he a Savior witliout as- suming the very nature that had sinned; hence the blood of Christ is called the blood of God. Acts, 20 : 28. The Old Testament predicted that Christ should suffer in the flesh, and the New Testament has confirmed the fact that he has suffered in the flesh ; and if his enemies believe not Moses and the Prophets, (the law and the gospel,) neither would they believe though one rose from the dead. Girt about the paps ivith a gol- den girdle. That is, of righteous- ness ; it encompassed him as a girdle. Isaiah, 11:5, " He was made sin (a sin offering) for us, who knew no sin, and never was guile found in his mouth." " He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens." 14 His head and his hairs were white likeu'ool. An emblem of his pu- rity and holiness. The high priest, un der the law, wore a mitre of fine white linen bound round his head, with a gold plate, on which was inscribed " Holiness to the Lord ;" but our glo- rious High Priest is not only outward- ly but also inwardly holy in heart and in life, and in all manner of conversa- tion. He offered his soul, body, and spirit as a living sacrifice, holy, ac- ceptable, and well pleasing to God. See Exodus, 28 : 36. Dan. 8 : 9. His eyes as a flame of fire. To pierce and penetrate the very thoughts and intents of the heart. His eyes mean his ministers, who are as a flame of fire, through whom the Sa- vior looks into the hearts of all men. A minister who is cold, careless, indif- ferent, and uninteresting in the pulpit, has never been called of God to enter ir. See Ps. 104 : 4. Heb. 1 : 7, 15. See chap. 5 : G. 15 And his feet like unto fine brass. Bright, burnished, luminous, precious. His feet seem to mean his disciples, who carried the Savior with them wherever they went. At this time they were in the fiery furnace of af- fliction or persecution, the very place, where God purifies his children. O may Ave say continually, " thy will be done." 16 In ]tis right hand seven stars. The ministers of the churches of Asia. V. 20. They were protected by the right hand of his power. They are- compared to stars, because of their brilliancy. They shine with peculiar lustre on a dark and benighted world, and this through the sun of righteous- ness. REVELATION. §3 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not ; I am the first and the last : 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead ; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen ; and have the keys of hell and of death. A sharp two-edged stvord. The word of God, " which is more sharp and powerful than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."* Hebrews, 4 : 12. Hence ^!}n fTj-jt^ the sword of the law. Tar- gum. His countenance was as the sun. Clear, bright, glorious, luminous, ma- jestic, a sight too great and glorious for poor sinful man to behold ; f but when the earthly tabernacle is taken down, then we shall be with him for ever. 17 Fell at his feet as dead. Hu- man nature could not sustain the glo- rious sight : he fainted, swooned away; but the Savior soon revived and set him on his feet again. 18 I am he that liveth. Though cru- cified and put to death on the cross, yet death has had no dominion over me. I have conquered the last enemy, and all my people shall conquer through me. Exclaim, "O death where is thy sting ? O grave, Avhere is thy victory ? Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." And have the keys of hell and of death. I have all power in heaven and on earth, and will finally cause death and hell to surrender up their dead, and all shall appear before my judgment seat to answer for the deeds done in the body ; and then the wicked shall be returned' into hell, with all the nations that forget God. Ps. 9 : 17. Rev. 20 : 19. The Rabbins say the keys of death are in the hands of the holy and ever blessed God ; therc- " This is the only weapon of defence our Savior carried with him ; and with this he hati pierced many a man to the heart, and made him cry out, God be merciful to me, a sin- ner. The Roman soldiers carried a short well tempered Spanish blade that had a double edge, which was sharp and powerful. Very probable this is the reason why the word of God is compared to this sword, because it did iuch great execution. Three thousand were slain by it in one day. See Acts, 2 : 41. t His countenance may mean his divinity. When he saw the rays of this through his humanity, it appeared to him like the sun in its full splendor. This he had a view of once before, when in the mount with our Lord. See Matt. 17 : 2. 24 NOTES ON THE 19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be 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 which thou sawest are the seven churches. fore Christ must be God. See Berai- shith Rab, sec. 73, fol. 64 : 3, 19 Write the things rvhich thou hast seen. That is, of the Old Testament prophecies -which remained at that lime to be fulfilled. And the things which arc. The backslidings and corruptions which had crept into the seven churches of Asia. And the things which shall be. At the expiration of the thousand years, when the devil shall be let loose from his prison to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and JMagog. 20 The seven stars. See verses 4 and 16. CHAPTER II. U NTO the angel of the church of Ephesus write : These 1 The angel of the church of Ephe- sus. myyiKuii the minister, messenger. Hence niirr^ '?|s|:o Ma lach Ye ho loah. The messenger, ambassador of Jehovah, the minister or servant of the sanctuary ; the servant of all, the master of none. He who sits at the master's feet to receive his commands and to obey them. Probably the minister of this church was Timothy. See 2 Tim. 4 : 22. The high priest under the law was called H'^^d Sha- le ach, the messenger of God, render- ed by the LXX A7r(6?,Kor compos- ed of ATTo from, and ctxx* to send, viz. as a missionary or an ambassador of peace, or reconciliation, from ni^D we have n5''0 Shiloh, the heavenly REVELATIOX. 25 things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right messenger, the apostle and high priest of our profession, he who was sent of God to redeem a lost and ruined world. John, 3:16. That is, Jesus, the Messiah, who was crucified in the flesh 1800 years since, but now lives in the spirit at God's right hand, to intercede for us. As to the church, it means the congregation of the just, upright ; that is, a congregation of christian believers, who have been born again of the water and the Holy Ghost. See John, 3:5. Ps. 1 : 5. It certainly does not mean a congrega- tion of catholics, protestants, pres- byterians, methodists, baptists, lu- therans, calvinists, moravians, or quakers ; but the general assembly and church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven, who ac- knowledge Christ to be head of the church, God over all, and blessed for ever; in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head bodily. Holiness may be written on your altars and windows, but unless written on your hearts it will profit you nothing. God looks on the heart and not on the outward appearance. He is a Spirit, and will have none to worship him but those who worship him in spirit and in truth. But what motive have you in view in going to church ? Is it pure or im- pure, to serve God or to serve your- self ? 1. Some go to church to hear a learned or eloquent minister. 2. Others go there to hear good music or excellent singing. 3. Many go there to associate icith the rich and to shun the society of the poor. 4. Some go to church because money collections are not taken up on the Sabbath. They like the church very well, but do not wish to support it. 5. Others go there to redeem a lost character, per- haps to wipe off the stain of the bank- rupt act ; character to them is of more importance than the conversion of their poor souls. 6. Many go there because of gain ; they support the church because the church supports them. 7. Parents go to improve the morals and manners of their chil- dren, but they do not go to consecrate themselves and their children wholly to the service of God. 8. Members go to please the minister, and the minister goes to please the members ; and God is displeased with both of them. 9. Many go because brought up to the church ; they are birth members, who neither believe in nor dream of being born again before they can enter the kingdom of heaven. 10. Some go to hear the scriptures elegantly read, but never read them themselves nor even teach them to their dear children ; they are very particu- lar to qualify them Jor life, but not for death ; for time, but not for eternity ; they will put a novel, a newspaper, or any other nonsensical book into their children's hands, but they never put the Bible into their hands. What a dreadful account must such parents give to God in the day of eternity. The Rabbins say, he that does not study the law has no faith and is a heathen. Zohar on Lev. fol. 33 : 2. And what must we think of those who do not study the gospel ? Surely 26 NOTES ON THE hand, who" walketli in the midst of the seven golden can- dlesticks ; they are worse yet. 11. Others at- tend church because popular ; public opinion with them is every thing, is the standard of their piety. They carry out popular measures, but neg- lect every duty which God has en- joined on them. V2. Others join the church to become deacons, ciders, leaders, stewards, trustees, &c. and if ihey cannot be head, they certainly will not be the tail. 13. Many go there to see and be seen. 14th. The husband goes there to please his wife, and the wife to please her husband, but neither go there to please God. 15. The doctor and the lawyer go there to get practice, and the politi- cian to get votes. 16. The merchant and the mechanic go there to increase their business. 17. The chorister, organist, and unconverted minis- ter go there to get their salary. 1 8. Finally, the genuine christian goes there to worship God in spirit and in truth, to save his soul and get to heaven at last. May the great head of the church lay around and beneath him the arms of his mercy. I wish to observe that my object is not to reflect on pious and useful men in the ministry, God forbid ; but simp- ly on those who have never been called of God to the office, whose only object is money, and not the conversion of souls. As to a genuine minister of .Tesus, why, he is the most lovely, disinterested and devoted character on earth ; he would rather spend a thou- sand fortunes in the promotion of the cause of his Redeemer than to under- take preaching for worldly aggrandise- ment The ministry in the primitive church was plain, simple, sincere, unembellished with any popish ap- pendages, such as Rev. — Right Rev. — Rev. Father in Christ — His Holi- )iess the Pope — Bishop — Arch-Bish- op— Cardinal— D. D.— L. L. D.— A. M.— B. M.— The King's Chaplain. These honary distinction)? were un- known to the poor fishermen of Galilee. Pope Peter, Prince of Italy, Austria, &c. ; the Right Rev. Arch- Bishop Paul, the tent maker-^would sound rather harsh to the church. These originated in the apostate church of Rome. The only titles known in the church of Christ were servants of the church, ministers of Jesus. The call lo the ministrTj ; this is of Christ, the great head of the church. Hence, I have chosen you, and ordained (ap- pointed) you myself to the office of the ministry, and / shall be with you in this respect till time shall be no more. No man, no, not either Peter or Paul, shall ever take this power out of his hands; therefore it is impious for any man to say to another, have thou authority to preach the gospel. This is downright popery. See John, 15:16; Acts, 1:24; Heb. 5: 4. The qualification is of God and not of man. St. Paul, with all his learning, received not his gospel from men, neither was he taught it by man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Gal. 1 : 12. „ TheHoly Spirit shall teach you all thin