Introduction to the Book of Revelation
Revelation
The book of Revelation was written at a time when severe persecution was upon the infant Church --near the close of the first century, probably AD 93-96, in the reign of the Emperor Domitian, though some date it nearly thirty years earlier, in the reign of Nero. No matter--in either case it was written at a time of special peril. It was written some sixty years after Pentecost, and twenty-six years after Jerusalem's destruction.
The book of Revelation is a prophecy, and not a literal epistle. It abounds in symbols or signs, and these are the rule, and the literal--when unavoidable--is the exception. The signs and symbols, are evidently designed to barricade its mysteries from all except a certain class, the saints, and from them also until the time was due for the secrets to be revealed. Note the words, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear (understand) the words of this prophecy." The very reading of it will bring a blessing, and, as its mysteries gradually dissolve, the understanding thereof will bring still additional blessing.
Its name, Revelation, signifies the uncovering, and implies something hidden. God seems to have given the book of Revelation with the intent of covering up great and important truths, not only because these were not due to be understood, but because he designs to keep certain features of His Plan from the world. Nor has that book ever been, until now, all that its name implies--an unfolding, a Revelation. So far as the early Church was concerned, probably none understood any part of the book. Even John, who saw the visions, was probably ignorant of the significance of what he saw. During the Christian age, some of the saints sought to understand the Church's future by examining this symbolic book, and doubtless all who read and understand even a part of its teachings were blessed as promised. The book kept opening up to such, and in the days of the Reformation was an important aid to Luther. Thus gradually God opens up His truth and reveals the exceeding riches of His grace; and consequently much more light is due now than at any previous time in the Church's history.
The first three chapters refer to seven different epochs in the church's history, and suggest nothing to the effect that the church is now reigning, but, quite to the contrary, that it will be a suffering church down to the very last. All the intervening chapters between the third and the twentieth deal with conflicts between good and evil, and evidently cover the entire period of this Gospel age; yet in all of these presentations the evil is shown to be triumphant, and the people of the saints of the Most High God are worn out and cry from under the altar, etc. It is the conclusion of this book of symbols, from the eighteenth to the twenty-second chapters, that the close of this Gospel age and the inauguration of the Millennial age is pictured, and the triumph of the Lord and of his saints is shown. One would think that, even with no knowledge of the symbols of Revelation, no thinking Christian should have any difficulty in realizing that the book portrays trouble for the church throughout this Gospel age and the triumphant Millennial reign at its close.
As we proceed to set forth our understanding of the symbols of the Revelation, we wish to state most emphatically that we are saying nothing whatever against godly Christians anywhere, at any time, whether in any church or out of any church. We have nothing to say respecting people. We discuss principles, doctrines, always; individuals, never. God has not commissioned us to discuss people; it is ours to discuss His Word.
The book of Revelation was written at a time when severe persecution was upon the infant Church --near the close of the first century, probably AD 93-96, in the reign of the Emperor Domitian, though some date it nearly thirty years earlier, in the reign of Nero. No matter--in either case it was written at a time of special peril. It was written some sixty years after Pentecost, and twenty-six years after Jerusalem's destruction.
The book of Revelation is a prophecy, and not a literal epistle. It abounds in symbols or signs, and these are the rule, and the literal--when unavoidable--is the exception. The signs and symbols, are evidently designed to barricade its mysteries from all except a certain class, the saints, and from them also until the time was due for the secrets to be revealed. Note the words, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear (understand) the words of this prophecy." The very reading of it will bring a blessing, and, as its mysteries gradually dissolve, the understanding thereof will bring still additional blessing.
Its name, Revelation, signifies the uncovering, and implies something hidden. God seems to have given the book of Revelation with the intent of covering up great and important truths, not only because these were not due to be understood, but because he designs to keep certain features of His Plan from the world. Nor has that book ever been, until now, all that its name implies--an unfolding, a Revelation. So far as the early Church was concerned, probably none understood any part of the book. Even John, who saw the visions, was probably ignorant of the significance of what he saw. During the Christian age, some of the saints sought to understand the Church's future by examining this symbolic book, and doubtless all who read and understand even a part of its teachings were blessed as promised. The book kept opening up to such, and in the days of the Reformation was an important aid to Luther. Thus gradually God opens up His truth and reveals the exceeding riches of His grace; and consequently much more light is due now than at any previous time in the Church's history.
The first three chapters refer to seven different epochs in the church's history, and suggest nothing to the effect that the church is now reigning, but, quite to the contrary, that it will be a suffering church down to the very last. All the intervening chapters between the third and the twentieth deal with conflicts between good and evil, and evidently cover the entire period of this Gospel age; yet in all of these presentations the evil is shown to be triumphant, and the people of the saints of the Most High God are worn out and cry from under the altar, etc. It is the conclusion of this book of symbols, from the eighteenth to the twenty-second chapters, that the close of this Gospel age and the inauguration of the Millennial age is pictured, and the triumph of the Lord and of his saints is shown. One would think that, even with no knowledge of the symbols of Revelation, no thinking Christian should have any difficulty in realizing that the book portrays trouble for the church throughout this Gospel age and the triumphant Millennial reign at its close.
As we proceed to set forth our understanding of the symbols of the Revelation, we wish to state most emphatically that we are saying nothing whatever against godly Christians anywhere, at any time, whether in any church or out of any church. We have nothing to say respecting people. We discuss principles, doctrines, always; individuals, never. God has not commissioned us to discuss people; it is ours to discuss His Word.
