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come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel

unto his servant John:

and ascension to glory. To deny his doctrine is the same as to deny his divinity. The apostle assures us that "without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins," and unless the divinity and humanity were united in one person, no atonement could be made for sin. Hence he is the true God, and eternal life, God over all, and blessed for ever; the creator and upholder of all things, God manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, scen of angels, preached among the gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 1 Tim. 3: 16. 2. He is not only able, but willing to save. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and besides me there is no Savior." Isaiah, 45: 21, 22. "He has no pleasure in the death of him that dieth." Ezekiel, 18: 32. "It is not his will that any should perish, but that all should repent and live." John, 3:16. Matt. 18: 14. Finally. “He, by the grace of God, hath tasted death for every man." Heb. 2: 9. "He died, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God." 1 Peter, 3:18. "He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things." Romans, 8: 32.

Christ. This is also a peculiar title, and signifies the anointed, consecrated one, from the Greek Xp Chrio, to anoint; but his consecration was spiritual, because about to commence a new dispensation. He was anointed Prophet, Priest, and King. "The

Spirit of the Lord God," says he, "is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor," &c. Isaiah, 61: 1. These three offices were never combined in any one individual but him. Christ and Messiah are of the same import; he answered to the character of Masheach in every respect, (as we shall prove in the sequel of this work.)

Which God gave to him. As our Prophet, Priest, and King, he was to teach and instruct the people, to atone for their sins, and to rule over them as their Lord and Master.

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To show unto his servants. His ministers. They were not masters, or lords over God's heritage, but simply servants, who were willing to wash the disciples feet, if requisite. Have you, reader, this disposition? I fear not. The Savior was determined to have no aristocracy in his church. "Whosoever is greatest among you," says he, let him be the servant of all." Matt. 23:11. And he that is the least (most humble) is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Luke, 7: 28. "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted, and he that exalteth himself shall be abased." The Savior sent poor, humble fishermen to be his ambassadors to the heathen, and the consequence was, that through the preaching of these ignorant and illiterate men, so called, the majority of the heathen world was brought under subjection to christianity.

Things which must shortly come to pass. That is, within a few years;

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

they are fast approaching, are at the very door. The battle of Harmageddon is at hand; therefore prepare to meet thy God, O Israel!

Signified it by his angel to his servant John. This angel was one of the prophets, probably Isaiah, see chapter 22:9. He was formerly a ministering spirit on earth, he is now a ministering spirit in heaven, and sent back again to protect those who were heirs of salvation. What a blessed encouragement to faithful ministers to know that after they depart this life they shall become angelic beings !* See chap. 16: 2.

2 Who bare record of the word of God. That is, devar Yehovah, the word of Jehovah, who is equal with God in wisdom, power, glory, and endless duration. He bare record of

him in his gospel, the very first verse of which proves his divinity beyond doubt. In the beginning (viz. of the creation) was the Word, (the eternal logos, Philo,) and the word was with God, (that is, when the world was created,) (" and the world was made by him," verse 3,) and God was the word, the very identical logos himself. This clause "bare record," is in the past tense, and proves that John wrote his gospel before his banishment to the Isle of Patmos.†

And of all things which he saw. When in the Mount with our Savior, and also during the whole of his public ministry on earth. He was an eye witness himself of all that he has published to the world in his gospel. See Matt. 17: 2.

The high priest entered into the holiest of holies once in the year, to make atonement for the people and himself. Levit. 14, &c. And the apostle Paul observes, "He entered not in without blood, which he offered for himself and the errors of the people." See Heb. 97. Here the high priest was to consult with God in secret, to know his will, and to intercede in behalf of the people. And so it is with Jesus, our great high priest; he has entered into the holiest of all, namely, heaven itself; but not by the blood of bulls or of goats, or the ashes of an heifer, but by his own most precious blood, not once in the year, but once for all, in the end of the world. And as he is our mediator, between God and man, he is here represented as communicating the will of God to his beloved John.

+ St. John, in his gospel, bore testimony to the birth, life, miracles, and sufferings of Christ; also his death, resurrection, and ascension to glory. See John, 21: 24. This is a title or a name applicable to Christ alone, viz. the Word of God.

3 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.

4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia : Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

3 Blessed (happy) is he that readeth. That is, so as to understand it, and live according to its divine precepts. Many have read it, and cursed the author as a fool or a madman, simply because they could not understand or comprehend his meaning, nor make merchandise of his book. How true is the apostle's assertion, "the natural (unconverted) man receiveth not the things that are spiritual," because spiritually discerned, and "they are foolishness to him;" but "the spiritual man judgeth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

The time is at hand. When all the old testament prophecies shall be literally fulfilled.*

4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia, Ephesus, Pergamos, Smyrna, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, see verse 11. These churches were not stately edifices, as some imagine, but simply congregations of christian believers. See chap. 2:1. Epiphanius asserts that there was no public edifice in Thyatira until long after the revelations were written.

Ephesus lays now in ruins, and cannot be identified.

Laodicea is the abode of foxes and jackalls, &c.

Smyrna is still a large, flourishing and commercial city.

Philadelphia, called by the Turks Alla Shehr, is still a populous and flourishing city; and so it is with Thyatira; but Pergamos and Sardis both lay in ruins.

Peace be unto you. This is purely Hebrew, and the usual mode of salutation among the Jews to this day,

Sha-lom la-chem. The first time it occurs in the Bible is when Joseph revealed himself to his brethren at the second meeting. Gen. 43 23. And when our spiritual Joseph (Jesus) revealed himself to his disciples the second time after his resurrection, he said Peace be unto you. Luke, 24: 36. When the apostles were sent out to preach, they were commanded to salute the house into which they went with Shalom lachem, and if the son of Peace, or a person who loved God, was in the house, he would return their peace with Shalom

This is the sense in which we must understand at hand, in different parts of the scriptures. Matt. 26: 46. Mark, 1: 15.

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful Witness, and the First-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

sholem. This was a welcome to the pilgrim or stranger to make that house his home as long as he thought proper to stay; but if the owner did not return the salutation, then the traveller departed, and went off to some other house of peace or piety. The Mahomedan mode of salutation is like that of the Jews, Salem alikem; the Hindoos bo bo salem, and the Persians the same as the Turks; but John has added a new item, that is grace, because under a new and gracious dispensation. See Matt. 10: 12, 13.

From him wh.ch is, which was, and which is to come. This embraces the past, present, and future existence, and proves beyond doubt that Christ is Jehovah himself; for this is the identical meaning of the Hebrew word composed of "Ye he, he shall be, and ha yah, he is, he was, the great I Am, self existent, unoriginated, and eternal Jehovah. Exodus, 3:14. In Psalm 23: 1, he is styled

Ye-ho-wah ro-e, Jehovah, my Shepherd. Christ applies this title to himself-I am the good Shepherd, pastor, minister, the door of the sheep, the life, the truth, and the way. Hence "the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of Jehovah." (Jesus.) Here then is a full demonstration of his divinity. Hence the holy and blessed God said to Moses, I am he that is, he that was, and he that is to come (in the flesh.) Shermoth Rab. sec. 3, fol. 73-2.

The seven spirits. The ministering spirits of the seven churches of Asia.

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5 The faithful witness. A title of the Messiah; hence oo-me-he-min for a true and faithful witness. gum on Jer. 42: 5. He is a faithful witness "against sorcerers, adulterers, false swearers, and those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, and them that turn the stranger aside from his right. Mal. 2: 5.

The first-begotten of the dead. The first fruits of them that slept for since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead; for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive, that is, be raised again from the grave in the general resurrection at the last day, when" some shall rise to the resurrection of life and others to the re

surrection of damnation.”

The Prince of the kings of the earth, or more properly, the King of the princes of the earth. Hos. 8-10. Thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, are all subject to him: he is the King of kings, and Lord of lords, the creator and upholder of all things: for "he has all power in heaven and in earth." "He can create and he destroy." He healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, raised the dead, cast out devils, burst the bands of death, ascended on high, led captivity captive, and received gifts for the rebellious, even the sons of men.

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and

Unto him that loved us. This he demonstrated by dying for us rebels, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God.

"O for this love, let rocks and hills
"Their lasting silence break,
"And all harmonious human tongues
"The Savior's praises speak.
"Angels, assist our mighty joys,
"Strike all your harps of gold,
"But when you raise your highest notes,
"His love can ne'er be told."

To love is to yield up the heart or life to the object of our affections, but Christ gave his life for his enemies, his very murderers. Is there then another instance of such disinterested benevolence on record? We presume not.

And washed us from our sins. That is from the guilt and pollution of sin, all the filthiness of flesh and spirit. This was typified under the law by the washing and cleansing of sacrifices on the altar before they were offered by the priest.

*

In his own blood. Not in water, nor by the washing of water: this cannot take away sin, but "the blood of Je

sus Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth from all sin." 1 John, 1: 7. And without the shedding of blood, and the application of it, there can be no remission of sins. Baptism is the outward and visible sign of the inward and spiritual grace, that is, regeneration. A sign cannot be the thing signified, nor can the shadow be the substance. If baptism, therefore, is regeneration, we are justified by the deeds of the law, which is impossible if the Bible be true. The rabbins assert that no priest can officiate in the sanctuary until he washes himself in water ten times from head to foot. He then wipes himself, and puts on the white garments. Mishna Yoma, chapter 3, sec. 3, 4. This evidently shows that no man is fit to minister in holy things but he whose sins are all washed away in the blood of the Redeemer.

6 And hath made us kings. They were spiritual kings, to rule with meekness and mildness the church of the living God. Christ has never as yet placed a proud, haughty min

* Moses washed Aaron with water, and dipped his finger in the blood of atonement, and then put the blood on his right ear, and on the tip of the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot, and this was done before he officiated in public. Lev. 8: &c. This was to show Aaron and all his posterity that no person is fit for the ministry but he whose sins are washed away in the blood of the atonement; and it also indicated that it was necessary to be washed from head to foot. Our Lord himself fulfilled this a short time before his death. See John, 13: 9. He told his disciples if he washed them not, they had no part in him; he first washed them with water outwardly, and after this washed them inwardly in his own precious blood. This was the substance of what was shadowed under the law; and from this we may learn that no man who is not washed in the blood of the Lamb of God, and called to the office of the ministry by the Spirit of God, is fit for it.

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