Equipped For Every Good Work

Lesson 70

REVELATION

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him." Those opening words of the last book of the Bible correctly identify the true Revelators, in contrast with the title given this book in most Bible versions. It is not a revelation of John, neither is John the revelator. Jehovah God revealed certain things to Christ Jesus, and Christ Jesus passed on the revelation to his servants on earth by signifying these things to John and commanding him to write them in a book. Jehovah God and Christ Jesus are the Revelators. "Revelation" is the equivalent of the Greek word Apokálupsis, the anglicized form of which is "Apocalypse".

The name of the writer is unquestionably "John" (1:1, 4, 9-11,19; 21:2; 22:8) But what John? that is the question. The apostle John himself, and not another John, a Christian of a later date, as modern critics contend. They say that the vigorous style of the writer of the book of Revelation, with his imagery and his spirit of vengeance and of merciless execution of the enemies of God, does not comport with the loving, gentle spirit of the writer of the Gospel and general letters of the apostle John. They forget that the apostle John was called by Jesus one of the "Boanerges", that is, one of "The sons of thunder". He must have been a vigorous sort of disciple, who would call down fire from heaven upon the heads of enemies of God if that should be the will of God. (Mark 3:17 ; Luke 9: 54) Everything in Revelation can be harmonized with the spirit of the apostle John, who wrote in such loving terms in his Gospel. The subject matter of Revelation is far different from that of the Gospel and epistles of John; also the circumstances under which he wrote Revelation were different. These things very easily account for any change in language and style.

Early history of the Christian era confirms the apostle John as the writer. History corroborates the Bible statement that the apostle John was banished to Patmos for his faithfulness to God. Justin Martyr, about A.D. 150, says: "A man among us whose name was John, one of the apostles of Christ, in a revelation which was made to him, prophesied that the believers in our Christ shall live a thousand years in [new] Jerusalem." Many other writers of the century immediately following the apostle John's death testify that he was the recorder of Revelation. Both internal and external evidence establish the apostle John as the writer of Revelation, beyond doubt.

John was banished or exiled to the isle of Patmos, off the western coast of Asia Minor, because of his faithfulness in witnessing for Jehovah God and Christ Jesus. While there he received a series of visions, which he was com-

manded to put in writing. It is unreasonable to believe that zealous John delayed any in obeying the command to write coming from Christ. (Rev. 10:4) Hence John must have recorded the visions of Revelation right there on the little island of Patmos.

But when? At a time when persecution was intense, when such severe measures as exile were practiced. Two persecutions stand out during apostolic times: the one under Roman Emperor Nero (64-68), and the one that flared forth toward the end of the reign of Emperor Domitian, A.D.96. Though some critics contend John was exiled during the Neronian persecution and claim Revelation was written at that early date, they are moved to do so by private interpretations of their own which they place upon the prophecies of the book. The weight of reliable evidence indicates the Domitian persecution as the one under which John suffered banishment to Patmos. In the second century Irenaeus said: "It [the Revelation] was seen no very long time ago, but almost in our own generation, at the close of Domitian's reign." Eusebius records a common report that in the persecution under Domitian the apostle John was exiled to Patmos for faithfulness to God. Domitian's reign ended late in 96. His successor, Nerva, recalled many exiled by Domitian, among whom was believed to be John. But by that time the apostle had recorded Revelation, about A.D. 96. Trajan succeeded Nerva in 98, and in Trajan's third year the apostle John is believed to have died (A.D. 100).

Revelation is addressed to "the seven churches which are in Asia". But there were more than seven churches in that Roman province. Seven were probably selected because that number was considered sacred and signified completeness, and thus the address would indicate the entire Christian church and those claiming to be such. This understanding is borne out by the opening verse: "The Revelation . . . to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass." The book is a revelation to all of "his servants",

particularly those living in the "last days", when "the time is at hand". — Rev. 1:1-4.

After a general introduction and salutation and after John's presence at Patmos is established (1:1-9), vision after vision is recorded, reaching almost to the end of the Book (1:10-22:7). The first vision reveals the glorified Christ Jesus sending separate messages to the seven churches. Of the seven, Smyrna and Philadelphia are the only ones not specifically rebuked. Smyrna is particularly commended, and receives the promise: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Those who have ears to hear should hear and heed these messages from the King. — 1:10-3: 22.

The next vision is of God's throne. The One seated thereon is flanked by twenty-four elders and four unusual-appearing beasts. The enthroned One has a book sealed with seven seals, which none but the Lamb of God can break open. As he breaks seal after seal, the vision enlarges. A conquering warrior on a white horse precedes the entrance of four other horsemen which denote woe for Satan's earth. Christ's followers who have suffered martyrdom are next seen; Satan's mighty men are terrorized by a great earthquake, darkened sun and moon, and falling stars. Thereafter John in vision sees the 144,000 sealed ones of spiritual Israel, and in addition thereto a great multitude from all nations serving before the throne of God. With the breaking of the seventh seal, seven angelic trumpeters appear in the vision. — 4:1-8:6.

As each angel sounds his trumpet, woes descend upon Satan's organization. Striking imagery is called into play in describing these woes released by trumpet blasts, as they rain down upon the earth, the sea, and the rivers and fountains. The fourth trumpet results in the blacking out of a third of the sun and moon and stars. A star streaks earthward at the fifth trumpeting and releases a plaguing army of locusts. But even with the sixth angel blowing into his trumpet and the loosing of more woes and great

slaughter, the plagues do not cause the remainder of men to repent of evil-doing. An angel appears with a little book. John eats it, to find it sweet as honey in his mouth but bitter in his belly. He is told that the holy city shall be trodden under Gentile feet for forty-two months, that for 1,260 days God's two witnesses will testify in sackcloth, that then they will be killed by Satan's beast, but that the rejoicing of the gloating nations will give way to shock and terror when the witnesses are revived by the spirit of Jehovah God. Then the seventh angel puts trumpet to lips and blows. Out rings a mighty heavenly chorus!  —  "The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever!" God Almighty has taken unto himself his power and his anointed King reigns! Time for the dead to be judged, for reward to be given to the saints and the prophets and all those who fear God, and for the destruction of those who destroy the earth! But the nations of earth are angry. — 8: 7-11:19; Am. Stan. Ver.

In symbol a woman in heaven gives birth to a man-child ; Michael and his angels battle with the Devil and his demons; down to the earth are plunged the wicked deceiver and his hordes, where they are responsible for woes in concentrated doses; they also mark the remnant of Christ's followers for special persecution. (12:1-17) Next comes up out of the sea the beast with seven heads and ten horns. It dazzles the world, and mankind worships the Dragon that gives it its power. A two-horned, lamb-like beast appears to work wonders and deceive. An image is made of the first beast; all not worshiping it must die, is the blasphemous decree. Without the mark of the beast none may buy or sell. Its number is 666. — 13:1-18.

On heavenly Mount Zion stands the Lamb of God, and with him are the 144,000 joint-heirs redeemed from among men. They are singing a new song before the throne. Angels appear, one with the everlasting gospel to be preached, another cries out that Babylon has fallen, a third condemns

the beast-worshipers to the drinking of God's wrath, and those dying thenceforth in the Lord are declared to be blessed, whereas God's angel cuts down the harvest of this earth and another casts the vine of the earth into the winepress of the wrath of God, where it is trodden. (14:1-20) Another vision reveals seven angels with seven vials containing the seven last plagues. (15:1-8) No part of Satan's world escapes the plaguey outpourings of these vials. Out they pour, on the earth, the sea, the rivers and fountains, the sun, the seat of the beast, the great river Euphrates, and into the air! It is the sixth-vial outpouring that gives notice of Satan's demons gathering his organization to Armageddon. — 16:1-21.

A gaudily bedecked harlot is next seen perched atop the scarlet seven-headed, ten-horned beast. It is Babylon, the Mother of Harlots! This beast had once appeared, then dropped from sight, but is now back with its harlot-rider. This mistress steers it into a suicidal war with the Lamb of God, but before it suffers permanent destruction it bucks off the lecherous harlot and turns upon her in burning and desolating fury. (17:1-18) The vision fades, but the new one that comes into focus confirms the fall of Babylon. God's people are commanded to come out of her. Her sins have mounted heaven high, and the double that is rendered unto her drops her in destruction as heavily as a millstone plunged into the sea. At her fall Satan's worldly leaders wail and lament. But God's heavens rejoice. Avenging has come. — 18:1-24.

The next two chapters carry the vision of battle on to the final finish of Satan and his viperous brood. After feasting his eyes upon a vision of the marriage of the Lamb, John sees Christ the "King of kings, and Lord of lords" leading his heavenly armies against all remaining opposers. Even Satan himself is bound in death for a thousand years, during which time Christ and His blessed saints reign and judge mankind and at the end of which time Satan is released for a short time to bring a final test upon the in-

habitants of Jehovah's new world. Soon thereafter that wicked one is destroyed everlastingly, together with those he deceives. — 19:1-20:15.

In a blaze of surpassing glory John's series of visions is concluded with a view of Jehovah's new heavens and new earth. The heavenly Jerusalem is revealed in majestic splendor. Jehovah God and Christ Jesus lighten it to a brilliance that dims the noonday sun, and unto that celestial city shall nations render glory and honor. From the throne of God and the Lamb gushes forth a pure river of water of life, and on its banks grows the tree of life for the benefit of God's servants. — 21:1-22: 7.

The closing verses (8-21) include an invitation to drink of the water of life. It is sounded by the Spirit and his bride. Those who hear take up the invitation and sing it out to others, that whosoever will may come and drink freely of the life-waters. These verses that form a conclusion for Revelation also warn against adding to or taking from God's Word. Thanks be unto God that His Word endures forever, and has come down to our day. By it we are "EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK".