(Meth. Quar. L878, p. 739), See John (Gospel and Epistles),
IV. Contents. —A full analysis of the book would in- volve much that is disputed as to its interpretation. We therefore lure content ourselves with a general
outline, in which the main visions are specified,
REVELATION
10G5
REVELATION
The first three verses contain the title of the book, the description of the writer, and the blessing pro- nounced on the readers, which possibly, like the last two verses of the fourth gospel, may be an addition by the hand of inspired survivors of the writer. John be- gins (i. 4) with a salutation of the seven churches of Asia. This, coming before the announcement that he was in the spirit, looks like a dedication not merely of the first vision, but of all the book, to those churches. In the next five verses (i, 5-9) he touches the key-note of the whole following book, the great fundamental ideas on which all our notions of the government of the world and the Church are built — the person of Christ; the redemption wrought by him; his second coming to judge mankind; the painful, hopeful disci- pline of Christians in the midst of this present world; thoughts which may well be supposed to have been uppermost in the mind of the persecuted and exiled apostle even before the divine inspiration came on him.
a. The first vision (i, 7-iii, 22) shows the Son of Man with his injunction, or epistles to the seven churches. While the apostle is pondering those great truths and the critical condition of his Church which he had left, a Divine Person resembling those seen by Ezekiel and Daniel, and identified by name and by description as Jesus, appears to John, and, with the discriminating au- thority of a lord and judge, reviews the state of those churches, pronounces his decision upon their several characters, and takes occasion from them to speak to all Christians who may deserve similar encouragement or similar condemnation. Each of these sentences, spoken by the Son of Man, is described as said by the Spirit. Hitherto the apostle has been speaking pri- marily, though not exclusively, to some of his own con- temporaries concerning the present events and circum- stances. Henceforth he ceases to address them par- ticularly. His words are for the ear of the universal Church in all ages, and show the significance of things which are present in hope or fear, in sorrow or in joy, to Christians everywhere.
b. In the next vision (iv, 1-viii, 1), Patmos and the Divine Person whom he saw are gone. Only the trump- et voice is heard again calling him to a change of place. He is in the highest court of heaven, and sees God sitting on his throne. The seven-sealed book or roll is produced, and the slain lamb, the Redeemer, re- ceives it amid the sound of universal adoration. As the seals are opened in order, the apostle sees (1) a con- queror on a white horse ; (2) a red horse, betokening war ; (3) the black horse of famine; (4) the pale horse of death; (5) the eager souls of martyrs under the altar ; (6) an earthquake, with universal commotion and terror. After this there is a pause, the course of avenging angels is checked while 144,000, the children of Israel, servants of God, are sealed, and an innumerable multitude of the redeemed of all nations are seen worshipping God. Next (7) the seventh seal is opened, and half an hour's silence in heaven ensues.
c. Then (viii, 2-xi, 10) seven angels appear with trumpets, the prayers of saints are offered up, the earth is struck with fire from the altar, and the seven trump- ets are sounded. (1) The earth, and (2) the sea, and (3) the springs of water, and (4) the heavenly bodies are successively smitten ; (5) a plague of locusts afflicts the men who are not sealed (the first woe) ; (6) the third part of men are slain (the second woe), but the rest are impenitent. Then there is a pause: a mighty angel with a book appears and cries out ; seven thunders sound, but their words are not recorded; the approaching com- pletion of the mystery of God is announced ; the angel bids the apostle eat the book, and measure the temple with its worshippers, and the outer court given up to the Gentiles; the two witnesses of God, their martyr- dom, resurrection, ascension, are foretold. The approach of the third woe is announced, and (7) the seventh trump- et is sounded, the reign of Christ is proclaimed, God has taken his great power, the time has come for judg-
ment and for the destruction of the destroyers of the earth.
The three preceding visions are distinct from one an- other. Each of the last two, like the longer one which follows, has the appearance of a distinct prophecy, reach- ing from the prophet's time to the end of the world. The second half of the Revelation (ch. xii-xxii) comprises a series of visions which are connected by various links. It may be described generally as a prophecy of the as- saults of the devil and his agents (i. e. the dragon, the ten-horned beast, the two-horned beast or false prophet, and the harlot) upon the Church, and their final de- struction. It appears to begin with a reference to events anterior, not only to those which are predicted in the preceding chapter, but also to the time in which it was written. It seems hard to interpret the birth of the child as a prediction, and not as a retrospective allu- sion.