The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
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. Rev.1:1-3
"The Title.--The translators of our common version of the Bible have given this book the title of "The Revelation of St. John the Divine." In this they contradict the very first words of the book
itself, which declare it to be "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." Jesus Christ is the Revelator, not John. John is but the penman employed by Christ to write out this Revelation for the benefit of his church.
Character of the Book.--This is expressed in one word, "Revelation."
A revelation is something revealed, something clearly made known, not something hidden and concealed. Moses, in Deuteronomy 29:29, tells us that "the secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever."
The very title of the book, then, is a sufficient refutation of the popular opinion of to-day, that this book is among the hidden mysteries of God, and cannot be understood.
Its Object.--"To show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass." His servants - who are they? Is there any
limit? For whose benefit was the Revelation given? Was it given for any specified persons? for any particular churches? for any special period of time?-- No; it is for all the church in all time, so long as any of the events therein predicted remain to be accomplished.
The Benediction.--"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that
hear the words of this prophecy." Is there so direct and formal a blessing pronounced upon the reading and observance of any other portion of the word of God?
What encouragement, then, have we for its study!"
Uriah Smith
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. Rev.1:1-3
"The Title.--The translators of our common version of the Bible have given this book the title of "The Revelation of St. John the Divine." In this they contradict the very first words of the book
Character of the Book.--This is expressed in one word, "Revelation."
The very title of the book, then, is a sufficient refutation of the popular opinion of to-day, that this book is among the hidden mysteries of God, and cannot be understood.
Its Object.--"To show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass." His servants - who are they? Is there any
The Benediction.--"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that
What encouragement, then, have we for its study!"
Uriah Smith
