the acts of the apostles-第88部分
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Heaven's purpose； and the very effort to extinguish the light placed the
truth in bold relief。
It was on the Sabbath that the Lord of glory appeared to the exiled apostle。
The Sabbath was as sacredly observed by John on Patmos as when he was
preaching to the people in the towns and cities of Judea。 He claimed as his
own the precious promises that had been given regarding that day。 〃I was in
the Spirit on the Lord's day；〃 John writes； 〃and heard behind me a great
voice； as of a trumpet； saying；
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I am Alpha and Omega； the first and the last。 。 。 。 And I turned to see the
voice that spake with me。 And being turned； I saw seven golden candlesticks；
and in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like unto the Son of man。〃
Revelation 1：10…13。
Richly favored was this beloved disciple。 He had seen his Master in
Gethsemane； His face marked with the blood drops of agony； His 〃visage 。 。 。
marred more than any man； and His form more than the sons of men。〃 Isaiah
52：14。 He had seen Him in the hands of the Roman soldiers； clothed with an
old purple robe and crowned with thorns。 He had seen Him hanging on the
cross of Calvary； the object of cruel mockery and abuse。 Now John is once
more permitted to behold his Lord。 But how changed is His appearance！ He is
no longer a Man of Sorrows； despised and humiliated by men。 He is clothed in
a garment of heavenly brightness。 〃His head and His hairs〃 are 〃white like
wool； as white as snow； and His eyes 。 。 。 as a flame of fire； and His feet
like unto fine brass； as if they burned in a furnace。〃 Revelation 1：14； 15；
17。 His voice is like the music of many waters。 His countenance shines as
the sun。 In His hand are seven stars； and out of His mouth issues a sharp
two…edged sword； an emblem of the power of His word。 Patmos is made
resplendent with the glory of the risen Lord。
〃And when I saw Him；〃 John writes； 〃I fell at His feet as dead。 And He laid
His right hand upon me； saying unto me； Fear not。〃 Verse 17。
John was strengthened to live in the presence of his glorified Lord。 Then
before his wondering vision were
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opened the glories of heaven。 He was permitted to see the throne of God and；
looking beyond the conflicts of earth； to behold the white…robed throng of
the redeemed。 He heard the music of the heavenly angels and the triumphant
songs of those who had overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of
their testimony。 In the revelation given to him there was unfolded scene
after scene of thrilling interest in the experience of the people of God；
and the history of the church foretold to the very close of time。 In figures
and symbols； subjects of vast importance were presented to John； which he
was to record； that the people of God living in his age and in future ages
might have an intelligent understanding of the perils and conflicts before
them。
This revelation was given for the guidance and comfort of the church
throughout the Christian dispensation。 Yet religious teachers have declared
that it is a sealed book and its secrets cannot be explained。 Therefore many
have turned from the prophetic record； refusing to devote time and study to
its mysteries。 But God does not wish His people to regard the book thus。 It
is 〃the revelation of Jesus Christ； which God gave unto Him； to show unto
His servants things which must shortly come to pass。〃 〃Blessed is he that
readeth；〃 the Lord declares； 〃and they that hear the words of this prophecy；
and keep those things which are written therein： for the time is at hand。〃
Verses 1； 3。 〃I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the
prophecy of this book； If any man shall add unto these
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things； God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book：
and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy；
God shall take away his part out of the book of life； and out of the Holy
City； and from the things which are written in this book。 He which
testifieth these things saith； Surely I come quickly。〃 Revelation 22：18…20。
In the Revelation are portrayed the deep things of God。 The very name given
to its inspired pages； 〃the Revelation；〃 contradicts the statement that this
is a sealed book。 A revelation is something revealed。 The Lord Himself
revealed to His servant the mysteries contained in this book； and He designs
that they shall be open to the study of all。 Its truths are addressed to
those living in the last days of this earth's history； as well as to those
living in the days of John。 Some of the scenes depicted in this prophecy are
in the past； some are now taking place； some bring to view the close of the
great conflict between the powers of darkness and the Prince of heaven； and
some reveal the triumphs and joys of the redeemed in the earth made new。
Let none think； because they cannot explain the meaning of every symbol in
the Revelation； that it is useless for them to search this book in an effort
to know the meaning of the truth it contains。 The One who revealed these
mysteries to John will give to the diligent searcher for truth a foretaste
of heavenly things。 Those whose hearts are open to the reception of truth
will be enabled to understand its teachings； and will be granted the
blessing promised to those
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who 〃hear the words of this prophecy； and keep those things which are
written therein。〃
In the Revelation all the books of the Bible meet and end。 Here is the
complement of the book of Daniel。 One is a prophecy； the other a revelation。
The book that was sealed is not the Revelation； but that portion of the
prophecy of Daniel relating to the last days。 The angel commanded； 〃But
thou； O Daniel； shut up the words； and seal the book； even to the time of
the end。〃 Daniel 12：4。
It was Christ who bade the apostle record that which was to be opened before
him。 〃What thou seest； write in a book；〃 He commanded； 〃and send it unto the
seven churches which are in Asia； unto Ephesus； and unto Smyrna； and unto
Pergamos； and unto Thyatira； and unto Sardis； and unto Philadelphia； and
unto Laodicea。〃 〃I am He that liveth； and was dead； and； behold； I am alive
for evermore。 。 。 。 Write the things which thou hast seen； and the things
which are； and the things which shall be hereafter； 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。〃 Revelation 1：11；
18…20。
The names of the seven churches are symbolic of the church in different
periods of the Christian Era。 The number 7 indicates completeness； and is
symbolic of the fact that the messages extend to the end of time； while the
symbols used reveal the condition of the church at different periods in the
history of the word。
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Christ is spoken of as walking in the midst of the golden candlesticks。 Thus
is symbolized His relation to the churches。 He is in constant communication
with His people。 He knows their true state。 He observes their order； their
piety； their devotion。 Although He is high priest and mediator in the
sanctuary above； yet He is represented as walking up and down in the midst
of His churches on the earth。 With untiring wakefulness and unremitting
vigilance； He watches to see whether the light of any of His sentinels is
burning dim or going out。 If the candlesticks were left to mere human care；
the flickering flame would languish and die； but He is the true watchman in
the Lord's house； the true warden of the temple courts。 His continued care
and sustaining grace are the source of life and light。
Christ is represented as holding the seven stars in His right hand。 This
assures us that no church faithful to its trust need fear coming to nought；
for not a star that has the protection of Omnipotence can be plucked out of
the hand of Christ。
〃These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand。〃
Revelation 2：1。 These words are spoken to the teachers in the churchthose
entrusted by God with weighty responsibilities。 The sweet influences that
are to be abundant in the church are bound up with God's ministers； who are
to reveal the love of Christ。 The stars of heaven are under His control。 He
fills them with light。 He guides and directs their movements。 If He did not
do this； they would become fallen stars。 So with His ministers。 They are but
instruments in His hands； and all the good they accomplish is done through
His power。 Through them
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His light is to shine forth。 The Saviour is to be their efficiency。 If they
will look to Him as He looked to the Father they will be enabled to do His
work。 As they make God their dependence； He will give them His brightness to
reflect to the world。
Early in the history of the church the mystery of iniquity foretold by the
apostle Paul began its baleful work； and as the false teachers concerning
whom Peter had warned the believers； urged their heresies； many were
ensnared by false doctrines。 Some faltered under trial and were tempted to
give up the faith。 At the time when John was given this revelation； many had
lost their first love of gospel truth。 But in His mercy God did not leave
the church to continue in a backslidden state。 In a message of infinite
tenderness He revealed His love for them and His desire that they should
make sure work for eternity。 〃Remember；〃 He pleaded； 〃from whence thou art
fallen； and repent； and do the first works。〃 Verse 5。
The church was defective and in need of stern reproof and chastisement； and
John was inspired to record messages of warning and reproof and entreaty to
those who； losing sight of the fundamental principles of the gospel； should
imperil their hope of salvation。 But always the words of rebuke that God
finds it necessary to send are spoken in tender love and with the promise of
peace to every penitent believer。 〃Behold； I stand at the door； and knock；〃
the Lord declares； 〃if any man hear My voice； and
