Page images
PDF
EPUB

TRANSLATION.

READING.

21 Neither repented they of 21 Neither repented they of their their murders, nor of their sorceries, murders, nor of their sorceries, nor nor of their fornication, nor of their of their fornication, nor of their thefts. thefts.

CHAP. X.

another mighty

ND I saw another mightyAmessenger come down from A angel come down from

ven, clothed with a cloud: and a heaven, clothed with a cloud: and rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire :

2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth.

3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and, when he had cried, seven thunders ut tered their voices.

4 And, when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was a bout to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven

a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

2 And he had in his hand the Gospel open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and, when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

4 And, when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the

"The fourteenth verse of the eleventh chapter is the close of the Sixth Trumpet; but the preceding verses of the same, as well as the whole of this chapter, are parenthetical. From the parenthesis being thus disposed, it appears that the occurrences which it details were communicated to John at that part of time in the vision at which he saw the destruction of Jerusalem, and not later; which would be doubtful had the fourteenth verse of the eleventh been placed at the end of the ninth chapter. Therefore it is evident that John was translated in the Spirit 584 years prior to the birth of Christ, as the POINT OF SIGHT which was the period of the ordination from heaven of the gospel dispensation, this being the principal object of the vision. Hence arises the tone of futurity in that part of the subject which it is known that John had personally witnessed.

God had rolled up or withdrawn the privileges of the covenant [" Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant,"--Psalm lxxxix. 39] from the temporal kings and people of Jerusalem, when he destroyed it; but, mindful of sacred promises to David, predestinated that the new mode of worship described in the Gospel should be established by the Lamb, whose angel, at this point of time in the vision, gave it to John.-It is remarkable that his Gospel takes a retrospective view in like manner as this his Book of Revelation.

TRANSLATION.

READING.

thunders uttered, and write them seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

not.

5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6 And sware by him that liveth in ages of ages, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

ནགས

5 And the angel whom I saw restraining sin and flesh lifted up his hand to heaven,

6 And sware by him that liveth in ages of ages, who fashioned heaven and things in it, and flesh and things in it, and sin and things in it,* that there should be time no longer:

7 But in the days of the voice of 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel," when he shall the seventh messenger," when he begin to sound, the mystery of God shall begin to sound, the mystery should be finished, as he hath de- of God should be finished, as he clared to his servants the prophets. hath declared to his servants the prophets.

8 And the voice which I heard 8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke unto me again, from heaven spoke unto me again, and said, Go and take the little and said, Go and take the Gosbook which is open in the hand of pel which is open in the hand the angel who standeth upon the of the messenger restraining sin sea and upon the earth. and flesh.

[ocr errors]

9 And I went unto the angel, 9 And I went unto the messenand said unto him, Give me the ger, and said unto him, Give me little book. And he said unto me, the Gospel. And he said unto Take it, and eat it up; and it shall me, Take it, and eat it up; and it

66

"For

For by the law is the knowledge of sin."-Rom. iii. 20. where no law is there is no transgression."-ch. iv. 15. Nay, I had not known sin but by the law, for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."-ch. vii. 7.

с

The family of David had so frequently broken the condition of the covenant, that the idolatry of the people could not, at this period, be endured by God; therefore he thus declares by this angel of Jesus:- "There shall be time" of this temporal reign "no longer but in the days of the SEVENTH ANGEL, when he shall BEGIN to sound." Accordingly, when this angel sounded, the Eternal King, Jesus of God, with the imperishable sceptre, appeared amidst the people.

But, when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law." The seventh trumpet announces the advent.

"Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints."-Col. i. 26. “And, without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."-1 Tim. iii. 16.

TRANSLATION.

make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey; and, as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many people, and nations, and tongues, and kings."

A

READING.

shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

10 And I took the Gospel out of the messenger's hand, and ate it up: and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and, as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

CHAP. XI.

AN

ND a reed like unto a rod ND a reed was given to me was given to me, saying: Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

:

3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.'

like unto a rod, saying: Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and me1sure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth."

The Gospel which John was ordered to digest was sweet in his mouth, because it tasted of eternal life; but, when he had swallowed it, his belly was embittered by the feeling that it contained the sufferings of Christ.

The angel commands John to prophesy AGAIN, when he had eaten the book, and thus filled himself with the subject matter of prophesy; by the which he felt as Job (ch. xxxii. 19, 20.) "Behold, my belly is as wine that hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. I will speak that may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer."

I

a

"By these verses John is informed that the ceremonial worship of the Jews, as well as those who worshipped at the altar, should be limited; but that that part of the temple to which the Gentiles had access should be unlimited.

The witnesses existed in

I will give power unto my two witnesses. Jesus and John the Baptist. The power to be given them is uttered in the future tense, because the point of sight of the vision was 584 years before the advent. "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all

TRANSLATION.

C

READING.

4 These are the two olive trees, 4 These are the two olive trees,

[ocr errors]

men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. John bore WITNESS of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me."—John i. 6, 7, 8, 15. "Grace be unto you and peace from Jesus Christ, WHO IS THE FAITHFUL WITNESS"-Rev. i. 4, 5; and who says of himself, " Verily, verily, I say unto thee, WE speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and you receive not our witness."John ix. 11. "And John also was baptizing in Enon, near to Salim, because there was much water there; and they came, and were baptized: for John was not yet cast into prison. Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the FRIEND of the BRIDEGROOM, who standeth and heareth him, REJOICETH greatly because of the BRIDEGROOM's voice. This MY JOY therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that E TESTIFIETH; and no man receiveth HIS TESTIMONY. He that hath received HIS TESTIMONY hath set to his seal that God is true. For HE WHOM GOD HATH SENT speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given ALL THINGS into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."-John iii. 23—36. "If I bear witness of

myself, my witness is not true. There is ANOTHER THAT BEARETH [this should be translated, bearing] WITNESS OF ME; and I know that the

witness which he witnesseth of me is true. You sent unto JOHN, and HE BORE WITNESS unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that you might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light and you were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have GREATER WITNESS than that of John; for the wORKS which THE FATHER HATH GIVEN ME TO FINISH, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself, who hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And you have not his word abiding in you for whom he hath sent, him you believe not. Search the Scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And you will not come to me, that you might have life. I RECEIVE NOT HONOUR FROM MEN. But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you. I am COME IN MY FATHER'S NAME, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only ?"-John v. 31–44. LORD, teach us to pray, as JOHN also taught his disciples."--Luke xxi. 1.

66

"What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick,

TRANSLATION.

READING.

and the two candlesticks standing and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." before the God of the flesh."

5 And, if any man will hurt 5 And, if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and, devoureth their ene- mouth, and, devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt mies: and, if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be them, he must in this manner be killed. killed.

6 These have authority to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy and have authority over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with

6 These have authority to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have authority over people, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues, to turn them

and upon the left side thereof? Then said he, These be the TwO ANOINTED ONES, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth."-Zech. iv. 11, 14.

The God of the flesh, is referred to by Paul-(2 Cor. iv. 4) “The God of this world hath blinded the eyes of them that believe not."

Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him (and, behold, he sat on the top of a hill); and he spoke unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then LET FIRE come down from heaven, and CONSUME thee and thy fifty. And THERE CAME DOWN FIRE from heaven, AND CONSUMED HIM AND HIS FIFTY. Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly. And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, LET FIRE COME down from heaven, and cONSUME thee and thy fifty. And THE FIRE OF GOD CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, AND CONSUMED HIM AND HIS FIFTY. And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight."-2 Kings i. 9-14.

"And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, THERE

SHALL NOT BE DEW NOR RAIN THESE YEARS, BUT ACCORDING TO MY WORD.

And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went, and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening: and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass, after a while, that the brook dried up, BECAUSE THere had BEEN NO RAIN IN THE LAND."-2 Kings xvii. 1–7.

F

« PreviousContinue »