APOCALYPSE 1
GLEANINGS FROM EUREKA
1. A REVELATION of Jesus Anointed which the Deity committed to him to exhibit to his servants things which must be speedily accomplished; and he indicated them by sign having sent by his messenger to his servant John,.
'St. John the Divine' is apostacy. Ecclesiastical titles belong to those who walk in the pride of life (unruly, vain talkers, and deceivers). There is no room in the ecclesias for ostentatious displays of self-importance. The saints are weak earthern vessels, frail and feeble - but empowered by the word.
Assumptions of lordship are strictly forbidden -
'But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren'...''But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant' (Matt 23:8,11) 'Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven' (Matt 18:3) 'Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us' (Rom 12:6), 'Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the ecclesias' (2 Cor; 21-28).
'Saint' applies to all who have been made holy/ separated by the blood of the covenant -
'Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice' (Psa 50;5) 'And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling' (Heb 12:24) 'Unto the ecclesia of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord' (1 Cor 1:2) 'To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ' (Col 1:2).
The meaning of 'apocalypse'
APOCALYPSE (noun) APOCALYPTO (verb)
Uncover that which is hidden
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation <602>(apocalypse) of the righteous judgment of God; (Rom 2;5)
'For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed <601> (apocalypto) in us'. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation <602> (apocalypse) of the sons of God. (Rom 8:18,19)
Sons of God is a title conferred upon certain descendants of Adam, which places them in the same class of intelligences as the Angels. These are also styled "Sons of God" and "Stars of the Dawn," or "Morning Stars"
''Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?...When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?'' (Job 38:4,7).
We do not mean to say that the Sons of God, called in Scripture angels, or messengers, and Gods, are now mortal and corruptible, and weak of mind and body as we are; they have passed through this state, and now occupy a state beyond it, in which they are incorruptible, immortal, glorious, powerful, wise, and of spirit-corporeality.
In their former state they were Sons of God subject to evil as we; in their present, they are sons subject only to good. Men are invited to the same destiny.
The sons of Yahweh are not yet apocalypsed - the world does not know who they are.
(1 Jhn3:1-3)'Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure'.
They sons of Yahweh are flesh and blood, but they do not walk after, or according to, its impulses; living a life of self-denial, being led by the spirit, in being led by the truth understood, believed, and affectionately obeyed, as it is written: "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God' (Rom 8:14).
God gave it to him, that is, the things called "times and seasons," which he had hitherto withheld from the Son, he now made known to him: so that being revealed, it could no longer be said,
"Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels that are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father."
The day and hour of the judgment upon Judah had become a matter of history 24 years before; and any one that understands the plan upon which the Apocalypse is constructed, will know that the "times and seasons" are therein exhibited, or presented to the sight; and that consequently what is styled "the day and hour" of the coming of the Son of Man in power, is revealed.
Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, June 1855
At first sight, it might seem a matter of regret that symbol should be employed at all. It might seem so much better that all matters should be set forth plainly. This thought will give way before experience. Purely literal talk lacks the colour and zest of communication spiced with figure and concealed meaning. This is apparent in even ordinary conversation.
The man who signifies more than he actually says, and who by a slight obscurity of style imposes upon the mind an effort to penetrate his meaning, is a more interesting talker than the man who lets all out in a plain way. The effect of symbols after understanding is attained, is to make the matter set forth much more vivid and striking than it would be in a merely literal presentation.
Thirteen lectures on The Apocalypse
2. Who testified the word of the Deity, and the testimony of Jesus Anointed,
'Apocalypse' is preferred over Revelation - all scripture is revelation.
Matt 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
THE APOCALYPSE OF YAHOSHUA ANOINTED -
'I Yahweh have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles' (Isa 42:6) 'I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages' (Isa 49:8)
Yahweh gave it to him. Until he gave it - it was with the father alone. Only the unblemished lamb was worthy to unseal the mystery of Yahweh contained in the seven seals.
'It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power'(ACTS 1:7).
'of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father' (MK 13:32).
'And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? ....'behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof' (APOC 5:2,5).
He was worthy because...
Though a Son, he learned obedience by the things which he suffered. He was made perfect through sufferings, having been obedient unto death. He kept his body under, triumphing over its lusts; and, though sorely tried, he yielded not, but evolved a character that was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners'.
'For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings...Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil...For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham'.
(Heb 2:10,14,16)
'For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin' (Heb 4:15).
'Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man' (Heb 2:7-9)
'For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens' (Heb 7:26).
The Mystery of Godliness
My El, my El, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? (Psa 22:1) - The holy spirit had evacuated the son of David's daughter, leaving him without strength or power.
'O Yahweh, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds' (Psa 116:16).
A living weak man - 'For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God' (2 Cor 13:4).
By his own volition he committed his last breath to the father as foreshadowed in Gen 15:12 -
'And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him'.
The Lord Yahoshua Anointed abolished the power of death.
'Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them' (Psa 68:18).
'Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men' (Eph 4:8).
'..now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel' (2 Tim 1:10)
Yahweh accepted him as 'the most excellent of all the intelligence of his universe'.
He became Yahoshua Anointed by begettal of spirit.
'That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit' (Jhn 3:
6).
The Father-Spirit had been manifesting himself for three years and a half, terminating at the crucifixion, in word and deed; teaching great truths, and working mighty wonders and signs which Omnipotence alone could operate; this was Spirit-revelation through Mary's Son --- "Power manifested in flesh." But a Spirit-revelation was to be given to the BODY REPAIRED (Heb. 10:5). A breach had been made in it. Its "loins were filled with a loathsome disease; and there was no soundness in its flesh" (Psal. 38:7).
This was its condition while prostrate and hidden in the noisome pit (Psal. 40:2) beneath the turf. But though sealed up in Joseph's cave, it was not concealed from the Father-Spirit, who had so recently forsaken it. Walls, and seals, and soldiers, could not bar out the Spirit from the Body he was about to repair for future manifestations.
Hence the Spirit in David represents the Son as saying, "My body was not concealed from thee when I was made in the secret place; I was embroidered in the under parts of the earth. Thine eyes saw my imperfect substance; and in thy book all of them were written as to the days they were fashioned, when there was not one among them (Psal. 139:15).
The Body was repaired, and in its being freed from the loathsomeness of death, it was created a Spiritual Body with all the embroidery of spirit. "It was sown in corruption," though "not permitted to see corruption"; it was raised in incorruptibility: it was sown in dishonour, it was raised in glory; it was sown in weakness, it was raised in power; it was sown a soul-body, it was raised a spirit-body, incorruptible, glorious, and powerful: the last Adam was made into spirit; he was freed from all those qualities of body which make our human nature inferior to the nature of angels; and acquired new ones, by which the nature he now rejoices in is so intimately combined with the Father-Spirit, that what is affirmed of the one is true also of the other, according to what is written in John 10:30, 38, "I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE; the Father is in me, and I in him," This is the true Theos, and the Aion-Life," (1 John 5:20), and therefore he is styled by Paul, "the Lord, the Spirit," imparting life (1 Cor. 15:42-45).
As the head of the body (ecclesia) Messiah imparted the Apocalypse 'And he is the head of the body, the ecclesia: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence' Col 1:18).
WHO ARE THE SERVANTS OF YAHWEH?
2 Cor. 6:.17, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters, saith Yahweh AIL-Shaddai Lord Almighty."
Firstly we consider those who THINK they are - but ARE NOT!
The wicked are a large class. This includes priests and clergy, pretenders, religious and pious people and enlightened rejectors.
'But unto the wicked Elohim saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.' (Psa 50:16,17).
'They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.' (1 Jhn 4:5).
'For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ' (Gal 1:10).
'Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be' (Rom8:7).
'He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day' (Jhn 12:48).
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand' (Dan 12:10).
-5-
The word of Yahweh is pre-eminent ..... among the servants of Yahweh. To believe and do is the only evidence a man can give that he does not cast Yahweh's word behind him.
'Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil (Matt 5:17).
'
'...thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name' (Psa 138:2).
'Yahweh is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable' (Isa 42:21)
'He continually impressed upon his hearers the necessity of believing the words of God, and of doing his commands: and never ceased to make the "obedience of faith" the test of man's devotion and affection for him. "If ye love me," saith he, "keep my commandments"; and "ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you for "love is the fulfilling of the law."
The servants separate from unscriptural teaching.
'If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness...from such withdraw thyself.' (1 Tim 6:3 -5)
So obedience 'from the heart' unto righteousness is the ruling principle of Yahweh's people. It is a conscious decision whether or not to obey the natural tendencies of our nature, the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.
'Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness' (Rom 6:16)
"Let every man," says he, "abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called, being a slave? Care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather." As if he had said, 'Social or political liberty is a small matter in view of what men are called, or invited to, by the gospel of the kingdom. My mission is to "open men's eyes, to turn them from darkness [of mind] to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among the sanctified by faith [which leads] into Jesus"' (Acts 26:18).
He invited Sin's servants to become Yahweh's servants upon the principle of purchase; so that, in addressing those who had abandoned the synagogue and temple for the house of Christ, he says to them, "Ye are bought with a price." They were "not their own," being bought bodily and spiritually; "therefore," said he, "glorify God with your body and with your spirit, which are God's" (1 Cor. 7:23; 6:19,20). When a man's body and spirit become another's property, all property in himself is surrendered to the purchaser. All that he used to call his before he was sold, is transferred to his owner; and, if allowed to retain it, he must use it as the steward of his lord.
The Apocalypse is ONLY to be understood by the servants of Yahweh. It is an impenetrable mystery to Gentile Christianity- 'to exhibit to his servants things which must be speedily accomplished' (Apoc 1:1). [How important is Eureka!].
Redemption is release for a ransom. All who become God's servants are therefore released from a former lord by purchase. The purchaser is Yahweh; and the price, or ransom, paid, the precious blood of the flesh through which the Anointing Spirit was manifested. It is therefore styled, "the precious blood of Christ": as it is written in the words of Peter to his brethren, saying, "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conduct paternally delivered; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without spot and without blemish" (1 Pet. 1:18)... he lovingly laid down his life for the sake of those who had died under the law of Moses, walking in the steps of Abraham's faith; and for them also, who should afterwards become Abraham's children by adoption through himself.
If this Christ-Lamb had not been slain, the "New Song" of Apoc. 5:9,10, could never have been sung; the 144,000 could never have been sealed, the robes of the saints, the palm-bearers of vii. 9-14, could never have been washed white in blood; there would have been no Altar, no worshippers thereat, nor souls underneath it in death (ch. 11:1; 6:9); and there would have been no "fine linen, clean and white," to clothe the bodyguards of "the King of kings" (19:8,14). All these parts of the Apocalypse are based on the slaying of the Christ-Lamb as the redemption price of the servants of God.
The servants are of all generations and nations (Mark 16:15).
'MY sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me' (Jhn 10:27).
We are all sheep, - with one shepherd.
'The just shall live by faith' (Gal 3;11) awaiting their Lord's (apocalypse 1v7) after which they will be transformed into incorruptible nature and inherit dominion on earth.
'For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality' (1 Cor 15:53).
'And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth' (Apoc 5:10).
What Yahweh requires as a faith which justifies:
Believe the promises.
Believe the atonement (condemnation of Messiah's sin's flesh as a sin offering).
Believe in justification by Messiah's resurrection.
Then follow the apostolic teaching -
'Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord' (Acts 3:19)
'Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins' (Acts 2:38).
All believed the SAME teaching and then were baptised into THE NAME OF YAHWEH.
Who are the Servants of Yahweh? (continued)
In becoming thus enlightened and obedient they became "the servants of God," purchased from Satan at the price of blood sold to him for thirty pieces of silver.
'He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true' (Jhn 3:33).
'Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity' (2 Tim 2; 19)
..'that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer' (2 Thess 1;5)
'Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?' (Jms 2:5)
He endorses understandingly all that God hath done. He rejoices in the purchase of redemption, refuses any longer to serve sin, and sings, "Unto him that loved us, and redeemed us to God by his blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, and washed us therein from our sins, and hath made us kings and priests for God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for the Aions of the Aions" (Apoc. 1:5, 6; 5:9).
Delusion and delirium have a near and intimate relationship; and the stronger the delusion the more intense the delirium. In the Apocalypse, therefore, when the "strong delusion," in its effect upon the nations of "Christendom," comes to be "signified" or represented, they are described as having been "made drunk," and as being drunk. "The inhabitants of the earth," said the Angel to John, "have been made drunk with the wine of the Great Harlot's fornication" (Apoc. 17:2; 18:3). The last text declares that "all nations" are intoxicated.
The drunkenness is, therefore, not restricted to the Greek and Latin communions; but comprehends all Protestant nations as well. They are all deceived by Satan, by whose energy, and deceivableness of unrighteousness, the soul-merchants of the earth have been able to establish themselves as the spiritual guides of the people. Blind, intensely blind and intoxicated, they are leading the blind and reeling multitudes into an unfathomable abyss; and they themselves are rapidly approaching that universal bankruptcy, when their commerce in souls will be extinguished, "and no man will buy their merchandise any more."
The days of the schools, colleges, seminaries, and ecclesiastical establishments of the nations are numbered; and the end of their theological craft decreed. They are weighed in the balances and found wanting -- wanting in the knowledge of "the truth as it is in Jesus." Though they boast of the light and glory of our century; and are upon such admirable terms with themselves as the people of the Lord, basking in the sunshine of His favour and delight; the Scriptures denounce their pretensions, and resolve them into the grossest darkness, sensuality, and wickedness. And this is unquestionably true.
No other conclusion can be come to in view of what the Spirit saith. Speaking by Isaiah He declares that if any one do not speak according to Moses and the Prophets he is a dark body (8:20). "There is no light in him." Now it is notorious, that the professors of the theological institutions of all sects, and the clerical, or ministerial, orders of all denominations, are grossly ignorant of the Old Testament writings. In presuming, therefore, to preach from, or to explain the New, it is utterly impossible for them to speak according to Moses and the Prophets. A man cannot speak in accordance with what he knows little or nothing about. The testimony, therefore, convicts them of utter incompetency. It declares them to be utterly without light: which is equivalent to saying that they are in gross darkness. And, this being the condition of the ecclesiastics, how awfully dark must the people they call the "laity" be! "Like priest, like people," -- darkness added to darkness until it becomes Egyptian, or darkness to be felt.
If the nations were enlightened the Apocalypse of the Anointed Jesus would be unnecessary. He comes because of the darkness of the world. He comes as a light, as the Day Star, to illuminate the nations. He does not come because they are enlightened. If his coming be postponed to this, he never will come; for instead of a knowledge of the truth increasing among them, the darkness is intensifying day by day.
Now that the Lord comes while darkness reigns, is manifest from the following testimony. Isaiah informs us, that "the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob"; and that then she shall "arise and shine; because her Light is come, and the glory of Jehovah [Yahweh] is risen upon her." He then tells us the reason why Jehovah [Yahweh], or the Anointed One, comes to shine upon her; and the following is the reason: "Because darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people." This is the mental, or intellectual and moral, condition of clergy and people, Gentiles and Jews, at the epoch when Christ comes as "A Light for their apocalypse."
Such is, and such will continue to be, the spiritual condition of the world until then. But when they have been apocalypsed, or illuminated, the change will be glorious. "The earth" will then "be full of the knowledge of Yahweh as the waters cover the sea," even as God had sworn to Moses (Num. 14:21; Isai. 11:9; Hab. 2:14). Then "Many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain (or kingdom) Yahweh, and to the house of the God of Jacob: and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem. And he shall rule among the nations, and he shall punish many peoples; and", in consequence of that rebuke, "they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
Having spoken peace to the nations, and being established in his glory, the day of Yahweh's exaltation will have been apocalypsed, or revealed - that day in which, it is testified, "Yahweh alone shall be exalted" (Isai. 2:10,11,16,17). "At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Yahweh; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to THE NAME OF YAHWEH, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart" (Jer. 3:I7). This is a very plain testimony. Jerusalem is to become the throne of a government.....
No man is led by the Spirit of God who is not led by an intelligent belief of the truth. This truth the world and its soul-merchants do not know. They are therefore not led by it; and are consequently according to Paul, not the Sons of God. "They are of the world; therefore speak they of the world; and the world heareth them." By this rule it is easy to perceive that the world's judgment is wrong. They whom the world hears are not of God. He never sent them, nor were they ever adopted into His Abrahamic Family.
They profess to admit that the apostles were of God; but they pay no regard to what they teach. Their whole ministry is spent in falsifying and destroying their doctrine. They only care for him and his words in so far as they can turn them into cash, or make them available for the preservation of vested interests. ..Mammon reigns in Church...Sin Incarnate..what they now cherish is only lies, vanity, and unprofitable.
The whole [ecclesiastical] system now existing is a monster iniquity, which only awaits the "apocalypse of the Sons of God" for its disruption, and utter annihilation.
'"a rest with us (Paul, Sylvanus, and Timothy) in the apocalypse of the Lord Jesus from heaven, with angels of his power, in fire and flame, inflicting vengeance on those who know not God, and who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Anointed; who shall suffer punishment, Aion-destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his might, when he shall come to be glorified with his Saints, and to be admired with all the believers in that day." (1 Thess 1:7-9)
It must be evident, then, to all who have examined the testimonies adduced, that apocalypse, in the New Testament use of the word, is not used indefinitely or vaguely, importing merely a disclosure or uncovering of ideas previously concealed: but that it has a special and appropriated signification-a doctrinal meaning peculiar to itself; teaching,
1. The introduction of A DAY, styled the Day of Apocalypse;
2. The manifestation in that day of A LIGHT for the Apocalypse of Nations;
3. The inflicting of vengeance and punishment on the lawless and disobedient in that day;
4. The personal appearance of Jesus Christ, as the Light of the Day of Wrath and Apocalypse;
5. The manifestations of the Sons of God by resurrection from among the dead, and glorification with Jesus Christ - - the Apocalypse of Salvation in the last time.
Here we have no continuing city:
"O Lord, how long? How long, O Elohim, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy despise thy name for ever"? "How long O Yahweh; wilt thou hide thyself for ever"? "Return, O Yahweh, how long? How long are thy servants to wait for thy return"? "How long, O Yahweh, how long shall the wicked exult"? (Psal. 74:10; 89:46; 90:13; 94:3).
Daniel was told a power desolating the holy land would prosper 1290 years.
The rejoinder which Daniel received to the question, "How long to the end of these?" is remarkable. He was not informed how long. He was told instead to "go": and the reason given for telling him to depart in ignorance of the end of the times, was that "the words were sealed up and closed till the time of the end."
The words of a book sealed up and closed could not be read. Daniel declares that he did not understand. He did not understand the times of the winding up of the visions he had seen. He did not understand when the Stone would smite Nebuchadnezzar's Image; nor when the Saints would break the power of the Little Horn, and take the dominion under the whole heaven; he did not understand when, or in what year of the world's age, Michael should deliver Israel, and raise the dead. "I heard," says he, "but I understood not:" the answer to the question, "how long?" was still deferred.
Daniel, however, did not depart in despair. He was told that the Daily Sacrifice should be taken away to make room for a desolating abomination, or power, which should prosper for 1290 years; and that 45 years after that period should close, "many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth should awake to the life of the Olahm or Aion;" and that then he should arise to his inheritance.
4 John to the seven ecclesias 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;
The seven golden candlesticks in the midst of which the figure of the Son of Man was seen, represent the entire community of the saints as a light-bearing community. They did this in representing the seven ecclesias in Asia which stood for all the ecclesias everywhere, as shown by the intimation appended to each message, that what was said was intended for everyone having ears.
Seven were chosen whose states differed, and who therefore called for seven different messages, applicable to all the states in which professedly [Christadelphian] communities could be found.
Thirteen lectures on the apocalypse
ASIA
The ancient Hebrews were strangers to the division of the earth into parts or quarters, and hence we never find the word Asia in any book written, or at least handed down to us, in the Hebrew tongue. It occurs only in the Maccabees, and in the New Testament.
Asia is separated from Europe by the Tanais or Don, the Euxine, Ægean, and Mediterranean Seas; the Red Sea and Isthmus of Suez divide it from Africa. This part of the globe is regarded as having been the most favoured. Here the first man was created; here the patriarchs lived; here the Mosaic law was given; here the greatest and most celebrated monarchies were formed; and from hence the first founders of cities and nations, in other parts of the world, conducted their colonies.
In Asia, "the Alpha and the Omega," the Father and the Holy Spirit, in flesh, appeared, laid a wonderful foundation for the future salvation of the world; and, from hence, the light of the gospel of the kingdom has been proclaimed among the nations; and, from hence, also, commenced the work of traditionising it, and of making it, consequently, ineffectual to the evangelization of men.
Laws, arts, sciences, and religions, almost all have had their origin in Asia. The soil is fruitful, and abounds with all the luxuries as well as the necessaries of life.
Asia was generally divided into Major and Minor. Asia Minor is a large country, lying between the Black Sea, northward, and the Mediterranean, southward. It is now styled Anatolia, or Natolia [Turkey and Armenian highlands]. Asia Major denotes all the rest of the Asiatic continent.
The Christadelphian, July 1872
The seven lamps in the Apocalypse are said to be the " seven spirits of [the Deity]." The flashing fire noted by Ezekiel is said to be " The Spirit" Chap. i. 12. Now from Apostolic testimony we know that there is but one spirit (Eph. iv. 4), therefore the seven lamps in the
Apocalypse must represent this same Spirit in the seven phases under which the work of the Spirit is marshalled in the Apocalypse.
Thus we have seven ecclesias in Asia, yet one ecclesia or body of Christ (ibid, iv.), one
Spirit working in the many members of the body of Christ (1 Cor. xii. 2-30). One Spirit giving light and knowledge in the Apocalypse, but the light is exhibited in a sevenfold series of symbols—seven seals, seven trumpets, seven vials, and seven thunders.
Further, we have already seen in the prophecy of Daniel that the " saints " in their prospective relationship to " the kingdom and dominion under the whole heaven "
are subjected to war by a presumptuous power called a " beast " speaking " great words against the Most High," Chap. vii. 23, 25.
So also in the Apocalypse a " blaspheming beast " is said to make war upon the saints, who
are represented by four living creatures possessing remarkable similarities to those mentioned in Ezekiel.
From this analysis it will be seen that Ezekiel, Daniel and John were shown symbols which depict a multitude of human intelligences related to :
1. A divine kingdom which is to be established upon the earth, comprising :
2. A community of saints in whom are manifested the glory of their Creator in that kingdom in the day of their redemption.
The Temple of Ezekiel's prophecy 5.6.5.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
The accepted in the day of judgment say, "When did we those things for which we are being commended?" The rejected say, "When did we have an opportunity to do more than we did?"
The only safe and acceptable frame of mind is that which strains every effort to render the best possible account of time and talents, but with a clear recognition of the deceptiveness of the flesh and the ever-present danger of failure if the efforts are relaxed. Any other course is gambling with eternity. Any other counsel is the mind of the serpent. If we could be doing more, and we are not doing it, how can we hope to be among the few chosen when myriads are swept away like a drop in the bucket?
What distinguishes us from those myriads, that we should live forever, and they should die? Is God a respecter of persons or have we that one thing they lack - an entire, consuming devotion for the things of God? It won't come overnight. It won't just happen to us while we sleep. It can only come as the result of purposeful and sustained application and effort.
Do we, in moments of leisure or relaxation, turn to natural pleasures or to the Word of God? Here is the test of what is the deep undercurrent of our natures, and whether it will carry us to life or death. Do we do God's service as burdensome, necessary work, longing for a vacation from it; or is it a constant pleasure because of our great love for the One we are serving and our desire to be near Him and approved of Him?
There is the message to Ephesus. Let us look at it-Revelation 2. If we just read verses 2 and 3, what verdict would we give of Ephesus? Works, labour, patience, canst not bear evil, hast tried and exposed false professors of the truth; hast borne and hast not fainted. What more could be asked? What more could be done? They had fought the fight and kept the faith. Surely they could say with assurance, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown."
But what do we find? Thou hast left thy first love - thou art fallen. Repent or I will come quickly and remove thy candlestick.
The outer shell of works and labour and patience continued, but the original inner love was gone. They worked and endured and had patience faithfully, but just as a matter of duty, and were doubtless glad to get away from it all occasionally when they felt they had legitimate excuse to do so. They were conscious of their own patience and self-sacrifice. They performed the service of God as a necessary burden, faithfully done, but without the spontaneous pleasure and enthusiasm of love.
This does not please God. If, after all God has done and revealed and promised for the future, men are not sufficiently enlightened and spiritually motivated to discern that the only real pleasure and satisfaction and relaxation is in Him and in His service, then He does not want their labours as a matter of burdensome duty, no matter how faithfully or patiently they are performed. We cannot give God anything. Even the service He requires is but the provision that His love has made for us to discover and enjoy the highest form of pleasure He has conceived and made possible.
Bro Growcott - Self Examination.
7 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. Even so, Amen.
The logical order of a prophecy in statement or fulfilment is first state, then illustrate, and afterwards prove.
"Behold, he comes, and every eye shall see him."
This is a proposition, or purpose, stated; but after eighteen hundred years, not yet proved by its coming to pass. By what course of events will that coming be developed? By the events coursed out in the seals, trumpets, and vials, which are the illustration of how the end proposed is to be made identical with the proof.
Hence, the end, though first in purpose, and therefore first verbally stated in the prophecy, is the last in development; and consequently not to be looked for as the first event of a prophetic series.
Eureka 12.1.
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The Lord makes even the wrath of man to praise Him. Let us take, for example, the case of Domitian, the Roman Emperor, the degenerate son of Vespasian. He succeeded to the purple at the death of his brother Titus, and surpassed, if possible, Nero himself in blood and cruelty.
By his orders, a war of extermination was waged against the Christians, and the beloved apostle John, after a series of other sufferings, was banished into the Isle which was then called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. This island is one of the most barren spots that can be well imagined even at the present day, notwithstanding the industry of the monks, who attempted its cultivation, and have consecrated its rocks to superstition.
It was then a desert. Here the persecutor hoped the exile would die of starvation. He was, however, sadly disappointed. The same God of Israel who supported Moses and Elijah for many weeks together without food, revealed himself to the beloved disciple, and by his power supported his body, while by the revelation made to him, his solitude was sweetened and his seclusion from the society of his fellowmen (caused instrumentally by Domitian) made a distinguished blessing for all ages, for the believers in the
"things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus the Christ-God will make the wrath of men to praise him again."
Bro. Mackay, Invercargill.
The Christadelphian, Apr 1886
PATMOS
To the solitude of this place he was banished on account of the faith of Christ, by the Roman Emperor Domitian, who it is said first tried unsuccessfully to destroy him by immersing him in boiling oil.
...When was the comfort of this illumination more needed than in the solitude of Patmos, when John was compelled to pine away for the truth's sake?
What more suited to the needs of the spiritual man than that he should receive this comfort in the shape of a preternaturally-engendered contemplation of the day of the Lord, when all tribulation should cease? and what more natural than that such a moment should be chosen for the communication of a further and larger revelation for the benefit of the whole household of God?
Thirteen lectures on the apocalypse
The Roman Emperors
Titus, A. D. 79 to 81, called the Delight of Mankind, from his amiable and generous disposition, enjoyed a reign of only two years, which was marked by calamities. A great part of Rome was consumed by fire; this was followed by a raging pestilence, and an eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried the towns of Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Stabiœ beneath showers of ashes, Aug. 24, A. D. 70. His beloved memory served to protect, above 15 years, the vices of his brother Domitian, who succeeded him.
Domitian, from A. D. 81 to 96 oppressed the world, and manifested the disposition of Nero. He engaged in useless and unsuccessful wars; South Britain was however subdued in his reign by Agricola, A. D. 85, whose death he is said to have occasioned.
He [Domitian] banished literary men from Rome, degraded the Senate, and persecuted all who were noble and good. He arrogated divine honours to himself, put to death many men of rank for the most trifling causes, and at last fell by an assassin's dagger, A. D. 96. Thus perished the last of the Twelve Cæsars, of whom only four conducted themselves so as not to deserve the unqualified execration of the Roman people.
Under this reign the Apostle John was exiled to Patmos, an isle off the western coast of Asia Minor, where he committed to writing the extraordinary and accurate outline of future events in the Roman empire, called The Apocalypse. Tertullian, who lived in the third century, relates that John was miraculously delivered unhurt from a vessel of flaming oil, into which he had been cast by order of this tyrant.
For nearly 30 years after the death of Nero, the Christians had been allowed to live undisturbed, and their numbers had multiplied considerably. Domitian is supposed to have began to persecute them through fear of a certain other King of whom they spoke continually. He is said to have issued an edict for the extermination of the whole family of David. Some descendants of the Lord's brethren still survived, and were brought before the tribunal of the Procurator of Judea. These were the grandsons of the Apostle Jude.
"Their natural pretensions to the throne of David," says Gibbon, "might perhaps attract the respect of the people, and excite the jealousy of the governor; but the meanness of their garb, and the simplicity of their answers, soon convinced him that they were neither desirous nor capable of disturbing the peace of the Roman empire.
They frankly confessed their royal origin, and their near relation to the Messiah; but they disclaimed any temporal views, and professed that his kingdom, which they devoutly expected, was purely of a spiritual and angelic nature.
When they were examined concerning their fortune and occupation, they showed their hands hardened with daily labour, and declared that they derived their whole subsistence from the cultivation of a farm near the village of Cocaba, of the extent of about 24 English acres, and of the value of 9,000 drachms, or £300 sterling. The grandsons of St. Jude were dismissed. &c."
Gibbon thus characterizes the unworthy successors of Augustus:—
"Their unparalleled vices, and the splendid theatre on which they were acted, have saved them from oblivion. The dark, unrelenting Tiberius, the furious Caligula, the feeble Claudius, the profligate and cruel Nero, the beastly Vitellius, and the timid, in-human Domitian, are condemned to everlasting infamy.
During fourscore years (excepting only the short and doubtful respite of Vespasian's reign), Rome groaned beneath an unremitting tyranny, which exterminated the ancient families of the republic, and was fatal to almost every virtue and every talent that arose in that unhappy period."
Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, Feb 1861
10 I was in the Spirit [he could see the things of the Deity] on the Lord's [kuriake] day [when "the Only Potentate" in the Saints shall lord it over mankind], and heard behind me a great voice [of judgement], as of a trumpet [A blast that will alarm the nations and call them to account]
He was in the kuriake day. And what day, it may be asked, was that? Any one acquainted with the apostle's faith and hope, will be able to answer the question readily. He was in that day, which "Abraham rejoiced to see" (John. 8:56); the day that Paul said should not come until an apostasy had been thoroughly matured, and had become ripe for destruction (2 Thess. 2:3-8); "the day in which," Paul proclaimed at Athens,
"the Deity will judge the inhabited earth in righteousness in a man whom he hath appointed, having offered assurance to all, having raised him from among the dead" (Acts. 17:31).
This was the great day, styled in Joel, "the great and terrible day of Yahweh" (Joel. 2:31), and in Malachi, "the day that shall come, burning like a furnace," in which
"all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh, shall burn them up, saith Yahweh of armies, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. And ye that fear my name shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall work, saith Yahweh of armies" (Mal. 4:1-3).
This was the day that Peter referred to on the day of Pentecost, when he quoted the words of Joel, and told his hearers, that
"it shall be, every one who shall surname by the name of Yahweh, shall be delivered."
John stood up with him in the same proclamation; and all the saints, enlightened by their teaching, regarded it with great interest and expectation; and it was into this day that John, being in spirit, was conveyed in vision.
What then, should such a day be called? -- "this day Yahweh hath made" (Psal. 118:24)? John calls it the lord's; but why? Because it is the day when "the Only Potentate" in the Saints shall lord it over mankind -- when those, represented by the symbolical Son of man in the midst of the Seven Lightstands, shall be the Sovereign Power of the earth to its utmost bounds.
This power will be the Lord of all; and the word for lord in the Greek is kurios, from which comes kuriake, pertaining to a lord. This word is only used in one other place in the New Testament, as in 1 Cor. 11:20, "this is not to eat kuriakon supper"; which is properly rendered "the Lord's supper." We may, therefore, with the same propriety, style the day, "the Lord's day," only being careful not to confound it with Sunday, which is never so styled in the scriptures; but rather "the first day of the week," and "the eighth day".
Eureka 5.3.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
He fell at the feet of the sunblazing personage standing in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. The power and glory stunned him. Had we been with him we should have been similarly affected and shared in his fear. But presently words of comfort fell upon his ear:
"He laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the First and the Last. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold I am alive for evermore".
How often this cheering adjuration occurs in God's communication with men: "Fear not". There is something to fear in the awful greatness of the unmeasured power of God: but the comforting words in question remind us that this great power is allied with a kindness as tender as that of a father for his children.
God is love, as well as a consuming fire. We must pick up the crumbs of comfort as we go. We shall find this comfort grow upon us as we follow and consider the messages addressed to the seven representative ecclesias.
Thirteen Lectures on the apocalpyse
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
I am he that liveth, and was dead
"Forget me not" has been the request of many a man in his dying moments; but there has been only one man who, after expressing it, has been raised from the dead to be the invisible eye-witness of the faithfulness of friends to his wish.
He who said "Do this in remembrance of me" can now say, "I know thy works." With this thought in mind, we assemble to break bread in remembrance of Christ. But we feel that it is not only for Christ's pleasure that we meet, but also for our own comfort and edification-this was Christ's intention.
To remember Christ is to remember the Scriptures which speak of him, and to remember these Scriptures is to lay hold of the divinely-promised cure for all our ills. This thought is true and precious.
The remembrance of no other man, however great or good, can accomplish such a result as this. In Christ there is not only something to cheer the sad heart, to comfort the afflicted soul, to brighten and ennoble all the ways of our lives, but something to build up character-a character which God has promised to accept as a passport to the kingdom and eternal life.
A. T. Jannaway.
The Christadelphian, Nov 1899
Sorrow for the righteous dead is natural
To refrain from it entirely would require the insensibility of a stone. If Jesus wept on the occasion of Lazarus' death, no marvel if we are similarly moved under like circumstances. But we should learn to weep not overmuch for the dead; we should also learn to dread not death ourselves.
The comfort which God has given us should regulate our feelings, and buoy us up whilst experiencing the bitterness of the temporary removal of loved ones, or whilst having to face approaching dissolution ourselves. We should not sorrow as those who have no hope.
What is death from the saint's standpoint? A perfect rest-to be followed by a glorious awaking. Although death has been inflicted as a curse, it is nevertheless a curse tempered with great mercy, and this should be remembered in our grief. Christ is doubtless joyed as his faithful brethren are laid aside in the calm repose of the grave to await his certain and blessed advent.
Life, surely, is not so satisfactory under existing circumstances that we should desire an unlimited prolongation of it. The probation of Christ was a period of sorrow, and is it not the same with his brethren? Fidelity means suffering-"much tribulation." The more we apprehend Christ-the more we realise his power, his purpose, and his affection toward us-the less anxious shall we be about death.
"Fear not-I have the keys of the grave and of death."
Bro AT Jannaway
The Christadelphian, Mar 1888
20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven ecclesias: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven ecclesias.
THE ANGELS OF THE ECCLESIAS.
... "the angel" is the Apocalyptic figure for the eldership in each ecclesia, appointed and endowed for their office by the Spirit, ministered by the laying on of the hands of the apostles. This is proved by the recognition of the angel as a plurality, in the messages themselves. Thus, the seven messages, though addressed to the angel of each particular ecclesia, are said to be "what the Spirit saith to the ecclesias" (chap. 2:7, 11, 17, and so on).
...If it be asked how the eldership should be figured as an angel, we have the answer in the fact that, as men miraculously endowed with the powers and gifts of the Spirit of God for the perfecting of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11,12), they were collectively an angelism from Christ in the midst of each ecclesia--a messengership --men sent for a particular purpose, and officially representing the body in each case.
Thirteen lectures on the apocalypse