1. What title is given the last book of the Bible ?
The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Rev. 1:1.
2. For whom is all revelation given?
The secret things belong unto the Lord our God ; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever. Deut. 29 :29.
3. For what purpose was the Revelation given?
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. Rev. 1:1.
4. What great event, revealed therein, is to “shortly come to pass” ?
Behold, he cometh with clouds ; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him ; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Rev. 1:7, Matt. 24:30.
NOTE: As the most important events revealed in this book, are those connected with the second coming of Christ, the greater part of this prophecy must have its application in the very last days.
5. What encouragement is given to induce all to study the book of Revelation?
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. Verse 3.
6. To whom was the book dedicated?
John to the seven churches which are in Asia.” Verse 4.
7. What were the names of these seven churches ?
What thou seest, write in a book, 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. Verse 11.
NOTE. The seven churches, and the messages addressed to them, apply to seven distinct periods of the Christian church, reaching from the beginning of Christ’s public Ministry to His second advent. For the following reasons the application of these messages cannot be made to the seven literal churches which bore the above names :
(a.) The entire book of Revelation was dedicated to the seven churches (Rev. 1: 4, 11, 19 ; 22:18, 19) ; but,
(b.) the book was no more applicable to them than to other Christian churches in Asia Minor, some of which were located right among the seven named.
(c.) Only a small portion of the book of Revelation could have an application to the seven churches named, or to any class of Christians in John’s day, as most of the events predicted therein were many hundreds of years in the future when these churches existed.
(d.) The position of the Son of man in the midst of the seven churches, denotes His care and tender regard for His followers; but His promise of such guidance and protection was not to any one class of His followers, but to all of them, ” Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matt 28:20”
An opinion has been held by some commentators that is worthy to note, which may be given in the words of Vitringa : ” That under this emblematical representation of the seven churches of Asia, the Holy Spirit has delineated seven different states of the Christian church, which would appear in succession, extending to the coming of our Lord, and the consummation of all things. That this is given in descriptions taken from the names, states, and conditions of these churches, so that they might behold themselves, and learn both their good qualities and their defects, and what admonitions and exhortations were suitable for them.” Comprehensive Commentary, under Rev. 2.
” They are prophecies of the churches of Christ, in the several periods of time, until He appears again.” — Dr. Gill.
8. By what title is the first state of the church distinguished?
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write.” Rev. 2:1. The meaning of ” Ephesus ” is desirable ; and fitly describes the character and condition of the church in its first state, when its members received the doctrine of Christ in all its purity, and also when they enjoyed the benefits and blessings of the gifts of the Holy Spirit See dates in the accompanying diagram, showing the beginning and close of the seven periods.
9. After commending this church for their good works, what charge did the Lord bring against them? and with what admonition did He accompany it ?
” Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works.” Verses 4, 5.
10. By what name was the second state of the church designated ?
” And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write.” Verse 8. The meaning of ” Smyrna ” is myrrh, Or sweet smelling savor, and applies to the period of time in which history shows that several millions of the saints of God suffered martyrdom under pagan Rome. The most severe of ” the ten bloody persecutions” took place under Diocletian, between the years A.D. 302 and 312 . A period of ten prophetic days, which are so many literal years, “And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year”. Ezekiel 4:6
11. How is that period of tribulation referred to?
” Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer ; behold, the Devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried ; and ye shall have tribulation ten days ; be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Verse 10.
12. Under what name does the Saviour address the third state of the church ?
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write.” Verse 12. The meaning of “Pergamos” is height, or elevation, and fitly represents that period of the Christian church, beginning with the pretended conversion of Constantine, the heathen emperor, in A.D. 323. From that point of time, the same power which had put the Christians to death, was turned in their favor. Rewards and inducements in the way of promotion to office in the government and otherwise, were held out to influence the people to become Christians, thus bringing a flood of worldliness and corruption into the church. Many of the heathen rites and ceremonies were at that time adopted into the Christian religion, including the heathen festival, Sunday (sun’s day), which was then wrongly forced upon the Christian church, resulting, some centuries later, in its taking the place of the Sabbath of the Bible. See any of the leading encyclopedias, art. Sunday.
13. In what words was this church commended for its faithfulness ?
“I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is : and thou holdest fast My name, and hast not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.” Verse 13. Antipas comes from two Latin words, anti, opposed to, and papas, father, or pope, and denotes a class of people who were opposed to papal supremacy, for which cause they suffered martyrdom during the fifth century.
14. What significant title was given to the fourth state of the church?
“And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write.” Verse 18. ” Thyatira ” means song of labor, or sacrifice of contrition, and points out the condition of God’s people during that long, dark, bloody period of 1260 years, beginning with the establishment of the papacy in A. D. 538, and closing with the downfall of that power in 1798. During that time, more than fifty millions of the saints of God were put to death in the most cruel manner that wicked men and demons could invent. (See ” Fox’s Book of Martyrs,” or any work on religious persecution.) Our Saviour referred to this time in his wonderful prophecy recorded in Matt. 24, in these words : “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved ; but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” The tribulation of the 1260 years was cut short by the rise and progress of the Reformation from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries.
15. What promise did God leave for these persecuted ones, with reference to their persecutors?
” But that which ye have, hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations : and he shall rule them with a rod of iron ; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers : even as I received of My Father.” Verses 25-27.
16. By what name is the fifth state of the church addressed ?
” And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write.” Rev. 3 : 1. ” Sardis ” means song of joy, or that which remains. A cause for joy at that time was the fact that the great tribulation of the people of God was at an end. It was only the result of the Reformation that there were any of God’s people remaining. (Matt. 24: 21, 22, previously quoted.) The Sardis church (those churches which broke away from the papal church and turned back to the Bible as the authority of God) began with the close of the papal power, A. D. 1798, until they fulfill the prophecy of the second beast of Revelation 13 and set up an image to the beast and force the whole world to worship the papacy and its false religious laws.
17. What endearing title is given to the sixth state of the church ?
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write.” Verse 7. “Philadelphia” means brotherly love, and applies to that state of the church under the preaching of the first angel’s message of Revelation 14, from 1833 to 1844, which is to be repeated in the last days as that message has the gospel going to the world: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” Revelation 14:6 and Matthew 24:14 says “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
18. What part of the message to this church shows that this church continues all the way to the end to witness the Lord’s coming?
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Revelation 3:10-11
NOTE: It may be readily seen, after looking at the Laodicean church, that Philidelphia is the last faithful church and therefore “the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the earth” is the same as the “mark of the beast” of Revelation 13 and therefore this church of “Brotherly Love” is to continue from 1833 until the time when Jesus comes in the clouds of Heaven. Because there is no way that the following church has any part with the saints.
19. In what solemn words does the Lord address those who live in the ‘seventh and last state of the church?
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodicea write : These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning (meaning Ruler for Jesus is not created and nether is He a creature) of the creation of God. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot : I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing ; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked : I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich ; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear ; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten : be zealous, therefore, and repent.” Verses 14-19. ” Laodicea ” signifies the judging- of the people.
This church exists in the time of the judgment and consequently under the last message of mercy to the world, which is given to the world by the church of Philadelphia.
And also how can a church that has Jesus standing outside knocking be the church of God?
As we see in the very last church that this church, so far from being the church of God will be spewed (violently vomited) out of His mouth.
20. When this message is delivered, how near is the Lord’s coming?
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Verse 20. Compare this text with “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it (Matt 24:1-3 end of the world) is near, even at the doors. Matthew 24:32-33
21. Will the Lord find a “just people ” when he returns to earth ?
“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.” ” And in their mouth was found no guile ; for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Rev. 14 : 1, 5.
22. Which church then is the true church of God, if it is not that remnant who cling to the sound doctrines of the church that was established during the mid 1800’s?
These are they which were not defiled with women ; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. Revelation 14:4-5
23. What is a woman in prophecy?
I have likened (or compared) the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman. Jeremiah 6:2
24. How then may we read Revelation 14:4?
These are they which were not defiled with churches. That is not their doctrine only, but their character.
The Church has waited long Her absent Lord to see ; And still in loneliness she waits, A friendless stranger she. How long, 0 Lord our God, Holy and true and good, Wilt thou not judge thy suffering Church, Her sighs and tears and blood ? Saint after saint on earth Has lived and loved and died; And as they left us, one by one, We laid them side by side. We laid them down to sleep, But not in hope forlorn ; We left them but to slumber there Till the last glorious morn. We long to hear thy voice, To see thee face to face, To share thy crown and glory then, As now we share thy grace. Come, Lord, and wipe away The curse, the sin, the stain, And make this blighted world of ours Thine own fair world again. Horatius Bonar
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