class="c2">THE CHURCH ON THE FIELD OF HISTORY

21   CHAPTER III.   ANTICIPATIONS OF THE CHURCH'S VICTORY 65   CHAPTER IV.   THE SEALED ROLL OPENED 86   CHAPTER VI.   THE FIRST SIX TRUMPETS 132   CHAPTER VII.   RENEWED CONSOLATORY VISION. THE LITTLE BOOK 157   CHAPTER VIII.   A SECOND CONSOLATORY VISION. THE MEASURING OF THE TEMPLE AND THE TWO WITNESSES. THE SEVENTH TRUMPET 168   CHAPTER IX.   THE FIRST GREAT ENEMY OF THE CHURCH 196   CHAPTER X.   THE SECOND AND THIRD GREAT ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH 217   CHAPTER XI.   RENEWED CONSOLATORY VISIONS. THE LAMB ON THE MOUNT ZION AND THE HARVEST AND VINTAGE OF THE WORLD 238   CHAPTER XII.   THE SEVEN BOWLS 259   CHAPTER XIII.   THE BEAST AND BABYLON 277   CHAPTER XIV.   THE FALL OF BABYLON 303   CHAPTER XV.   THE PAUSE OF VICTORY AND JUDGMENT OF THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET 316   CHAPTER XVI.   JUDGMENT OF SATAN AND OF THE WICKED 335   CHAPTER XVII.   THE NEW JERUSALEM 360   CHAPTER XVIII.   THE EPILOGUE 375

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CHAPTER I.

THE PROLOGUE.

Rev. i.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show unto His servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and He sent and signified it through His angel unto His servant John; who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, even of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things which are written therein: for the season is at hand (i. 1-3).

The first chapter of Revelation introduces us to the whole book, and supplies in great measure the key by which we are to interpret it. The book is not intended to be a mystery in the sense in which we commonly understand that word. It deals indeed with the future, the details of which must always be dark to us; and it does this by means of figures and symbols and modes of speech far removed from the ordinary simplicity of language which marks the New Testament writers. But it is not on that account designed to be unintelligible. The figures and symbols employed in it are used with perfect regularity; its peculiar modes of speech are supposed to be at least not unfamiliar to the reader; and it is taken for granted that he understands them. The writer obviously expects that his meaning, so far from being obscured by his style, will be thereby illustrated, enforced, and brought home to the mind, with greater than ordinary power. The word Revelation by which he describes to us the general character of his work is of itself sufficient to show this. "Revelation" means the uncovering of that which has hitherto been covered, the drawing back of a veil which has hung over a person or thing, the laying bare what has been hitherto concealed; and the book before us is a revelation instead of a mystery.

Again, the book is a revelation of Jesus Christ; not so much a revelation of what Jesus Christ Himself is, as one of which He is the Author and Source. He is the Head of His Church, reigning supreme in His heavenly abode. He is the Eternal Son, the Word without whom was not anything made that was made, and who executes all the purposes of the Father, "the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever."