John weeping no more

Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith

Revelation 5-

Verse 5 And one of the elders saith unto me,

Weep not:

behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,

hath prevailed to open the book,

and to loose the seven seals thereof.

6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst

of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb

as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.

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John is not permitted to weep for long.

God is not willing that any knowledge which can benefit His people shall be withheld from them.

Provision is made for the opening of the book.

Hence one of the elders counsels John, "Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof."

Why one of the elder in preference to some other being, should impart this information to John, does not appear, unless it is that having been redeemed, they had an acquaintance with Christ, and would be especially interested in all that pertained to the welfare of the church on earth.

Christ is here called the "Lion of the tribe of Judah." Why called a lion? And why of the tribe of Judah?--As to the first question, it is probably to denote His strength. As the lion is the king of beasts, the monarch of the forest, he thus becomes a fit emblem of kingly authority and power. As to being "of the tribe of Judah," He doubtless receives this appellation from the prophecy in Genesis 49: 9, 10.

"The Root of David."--Christ was the source and sustainer of David in his position and power. That David's position was specially ordained of Christ, and that he was specially sustained by Him, there can be no doubt. David was the type, Christ was the antitype. David's throne and reign over Israel was a type of Christ's reign over His people. He shall reign

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upon "The throne of His father David." Luke 1: 32, 33.

As Christ appeared in the line of David's descendants when He took upon Himself our nature, He is also called "the offspring of David," and "a rod out of the stem of Jesse." Isaiah 11: 1, 10; Revelation 22: 16. His connection with the throne of David being thus set forth, and His right thus shown to rule over the people of God, there was a propriety in entrusting to Him the opening of the seals.

"Hath Prevailed."--These words indicate that the right to open the book was acquired by a victory gained in some previous conflict.

We find the account of this triumph set forth later in this chapter. The next scene introduces us to the great work of Christ as the Redeemer of the world, and the shedding of His blood for the remission of sin and the salvation of man. In this work He was subjected to the fiercest assaults of Satan. But He endured temptation, bore the agonies of the cross, rose a victor over death and the grave, made the way of redemption sure--triumphed! Hence the four living beings and the four and twenty elders sign, "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood."

John looks for the Lion of the tribe of Judah and beholds a Lamb in the midst of the throne and of the four living beings and the elders, as it had been slain.

"In the Midst of the Throne."--

Phillip Doddridge translates thus: "I beheld . . . in the middle space between the throne and the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, . . . there stood . . . a Lamb."  In the center of the scene was the throne of the Father, and standing in the open space which surrounded it was the Son, set forth under the symbol of a slain lamb. Around these there stood those saints who had been redeemed: first, those represented by the four living creatures, then the elders forming the second circle, and the angels (verse 11) forming a third circle. The worthiness of Christ as

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He thus stands forth under the figure of a slain lamb, is the admiration of all the holy throng.

"As It Had Been Slain."--John C. Wood house, as quoted in the Comprehensive Commentary, says: "The Greek implies that the Lamb appeared with a wounded neck and throat, as if smitten at the altar as a victim." On this phrase, Adam Clarke says: "As if now in the act of being offered. This is very remarkable; so important is the sacrificial offering of Christ in the sight of God, that He is still represented as being in the very act of pouring out His blood for the offenses of man."

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Revelation 5 verse 5 And one of the elders saith unto me,

Weep not:

behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,

hath prevailed to open the book,

and to loose the seven seals thereof.

6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst

of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb

as it had been slain…

Yesterday we talked about John weeping, the depths of his despair was very real and we don't know exactly how long he wept, it could have been only a minute of intense grief, or several minutes.  We do know that the next thing revealed to us is one of the 24 elders speaking to John.  The elder told him not to weep.  The elder KNEW there was HOPE. Where John did not know, this elder did know. This elder told John to stop crying and the only way John would even want to stop crying would be if there were hope after all that there was one worthy to open this perfect book of prophecy.  The elder told him just that- the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.  And the elder stopped speaking and John SAW- right there near the throne, the four beasts, and the elders- STOOD A LAMB AS IT HAD BEEN SLAIN.

Joh_1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Joh_1:36  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

The Lamb of God.

Jesus was SLAIN,  the Lamb of God was slain, and this alone brought forgiveness to ALL who would choose to have faith in the Son of God, the Lamb slain.

John saw the LAMB slain standing.  Can you even imagine comprehending the hope, the reality of the hope he knew was found in our Savior?

More on ALL of this tomorrow by the grace of our LORD, our SAVIOR!

God's will be done!

Amen.

The importance of the book sealed with seven seals.

The Importance of the Book With Seven Seals.

Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith

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Revelation Chapter V

The Challenge of the Sealed Book

Verse 1 And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

As a new chapter opens, the same view is still before the mind of the apostle. By the words, "Him that sat on the throne," is evidently meant the Father, as the Son is later introduced as "a Lamb as it had been slain."

The book which John here saw, contained a revelation of scenes that were to be enacted in the history of the church to the end of time.

That the volume is held in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne may signify that a knowledge of the future rests with God alone, except so far as He sees fit to reveal it to others.

The Sealed Book.--

The books in use at the time the Revelation was given were not in the form of books as now made. They did not consist of a series of leaves bound together, but were composed of strips of parchment or other material, rolled up. On this point, John Wesley remarks:

"The usual books of the ancients were not like ours, but were volumes, or long pieces of parchment, rolled upon a long stick, as we frequently roll silks. Such was this represented, which was sealed with seven seals. Not as if the apostle saw all the seals at once: for there were seven volumes wrapped up on within another, each of which was sealed: so that upon opening and and unrolling the first, the second appeared to be sealed up till that was opened, and so on to the seventh."

This book was not written within and on the backside, as the punctuation of our common version makes it read.

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"Grotius, Lowman, Fuller, etc.," says the Cottage Bible, "remove the comma thus: 'Written within, and on the back (or outside) sealed.' " How these seals were placed, is sufficiently explained.

Verse 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

The Challenge.--

In the vision God, as it were, held forth this book to the view of the universe, and a strong angel, one doubtless of great eminence and power, came forth as a crier, and with a mighty voice challenged all creatures in the universe to try the strength of their wisdom in opening the counsels of God. Who could be found worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? A pause ensued. In silence the universe owned its inability and unworthiness to enter into the counsels of the Creator. "No man in heaven, "  oudeis, no one, signifies not merely no man, but no one, no being, in heaven.

 Is not this proof that the faculties of angels are limited, like those of man, in respect to penetrating the future and disclosing what is to come? When the apostle saw that no one came forward to open the book, he greatly feared that the counsels of God which it contained in reference to his people would never be disclosed. In the natural tenderness of his feelings, and his concern for the church, he wept much. "How far are they," says John Wesley, "from the temper of St. John, who inquire after anything rather than the contents of this books!"

Upon the words, "I wept much," Joseph Benson offers the following beautiful remarks: "Being greatly affected with the thought that no being whatever was to be found able to understand, reveal, and accomplish the divine counsels, fearing they would still remain concealed from the church. This weeping

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of the apostle sprang from greatness of mind. The tenderness of heart which he always had, appeared more clearly now he was out of his own power. The Revelation was not written without tears: neither without tears will it be understood."

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"I wept much- BECAUSE- no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

(ISV)  I began to cry bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.

There it was, placed before the apostle John's sight, this wondrous book, this PERFECT book. A book with the perfect number of seven seals sealing it so that it could not be read unless those seals of perfection were broken so the book could be opened and read.  Did John know what was in that book? No. But He knew merely by the One holding the book that it was of the utmost importance. God held that book in His right hand.

What sorts of things could be in that book?

We know books contain knowledge and John was being given these visions and being told to write down these visions and all who would read what John was told to write down would be blessed if they kept the things they read. John wanted to be used of God to bring others to God. Every single apostle desperately wanted to do the work given to them to do through the power of the Holy Spirit sent to them. They wanted to spread the news of God's love, of His plan of redemption through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. They wanted to share the news of the resurrected Savior who was preparing a place for all who would be His. They wanted to bring HOPE to those who comprehended that this WORLD in its fallen, sinful state is NOT the only home they could live in. They wanted people to realize their lives as pilgrims upon this earth in its fallen state. They wanted people to know that they are but strangers here and it's no wonder they realize that the awfulness of this world exists. We realize that this awful world, with the awful sinful acts committed over and over by people is NOT what was intended for us! We have HOPE, but the hope is not found in us or anything we do, but outside of us in what our SAVIOR did and does for us.  This is the hope that John wanted to share.  He knew already that every single person who would read and keep the words of the Revelation of Jesus Christ he was being shown, would have that hope.  So when he was shown this amazing book he knew that such a precious, perfect book desperately needed to be opened, to be shared.  When no one was found worthy to open the perfect book it broke John's heart. 

We've all wept bitterly before, we know the agony of bitter tears, of a heart aching in those tears. John's  weeping much because…

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

… not a single entity existed - not in HEAVEN, not in EARTH, not UNDER the earth… none, dead or alive, not a single angelic being, not one principality or power existed that could open the book and read the words in that book. 

We can imagine this on a much lesser scale. You have the precious formula for curing cancer, or any disease that can kill a person and that cure is in a book set before you and yet NO ONE can open that book! The cure is there but it is out of reach! Just imagine how you'd feel especially if you have a loved one dying right then of one of these diseases. How bitterly would you weep over such a circumstance? 

In our sin-sick and dying world, where eternal death, the second death is a very huge reality to John, he knows the truth within the book of perfection right there in God the Father's right hand, a book that could unveil truths necessary for the blessing of people to the end that they might know the truth and be saved by that truth, Jesus Christ, he knows it's unattainable and weeping is his reaction. Deep, bitter, much weeping is all that's left to him in that moment.

We need to pause here and think about the importance of that book, the contents of that book with seven seals, that book in the hand of God in the vision John was given.  The GREAT importance placed upon that book is something worth contemplation.  It's too easy for us to just pass over this offhandedly. We need to feel the depths of John's disappointment along with him.  Just because we might know what comes next because we've read ahead another couple sentences, doesn't mean John knew what would happen, HE DIDN'T KNOW.  In that moment He cried heartbrokenly, believing the book before him would NEVER be opened!

We don't know the exact time frame that took place between the realization no one was worthy to open the book and John's crying. We have no clue as to how long he cried. I know for a fact I've cried bitter, agonizing tears that lasted only minutes, but the depths of those tears was so great they affected me for days afterwards.  I've also cried agonizing tears that last days, those tears were interspersed with exhaustion emotional, mental, physical exhaustion.  We can't know the length of John's crying, it could have only been a few moments of intense tears. What we do know is those tears were real and heartfelt on John's part.  The tears of hopelessness, who among us hasn't felt them?

Hopelessness.

No one worthy.

No hope.

Is it any wonder John was weeping much?

More tomorrow as we contemplate the reality of this situation John found himself in and just how immensely important the book in the hand of God sealed with seven seals must be.

All by the GRACE and MERCY, the LOVE of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, NOW and FOREVER!

Amen!

I Choose to Believe

I choose to believe.

Excerpts from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith

Revelation 4 -

Verse 2 And immediately I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and

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upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

In the Spirit.--

Once before in this book we have had the expression, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day" (Revelation 1: 10), where it was taken to express the fact that John had a vision upon the Sabbath, or true Lord's day. If it there expressed the state of being in vision, it would denote the same thing here. Consequently the first vision ended with Revelation 3, and a new one is here introduced. Nor is it any objection to this view that previous to this, as is learned from the first verse of this chapter, John was in such a spiritual state as to be able to look up and see a door open in heaven, and to hear a voice like the mighty sound of a trumpet calling him up to a nearer prospect of heavenly things.

Stephen, also, full of the Holy Ghost, looked up and saw the heavens open, and the Son of man on the right hand of God. To be in the Spirit denotes a high state of spiritual elevation. On what day this vision was given, we are not informed.

Being again in heavenly vision, John first beheld a throne set in heaven, and the Divine Being seated upon it. The description of the appearance of this personage, clothed in garments of mingled colors, is such as at once to suggest to the mind a monarch vested with his royal robes. About the throne there was a rainbow, which added grandeur to the scene, and reminds us that though He who sits upon the throne is an almighty and absolute ruler, He is nevertheless the covenant-keeping God.

The Four and Twenty Elders.--

Who are these beings who surround the throne of glory? It will be observed that they are clothed in white raiment and have on their heads crowns of gold, which are tokens of both a conflict completed and a victory gained. From this we conclude that they were once participants in the Christian warfare, they once trod the earthly way with all saints; but they have been overcomers, and in

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advance of the great multitude of the redeemed, are wearing their victor crowns in the heavenly world.

Indeed, they plainly tell us this in the song of praise which they ascribe to the Lamb:

"They sung a new song, saying, Thou are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Revelation 5: 9.

This song is sung before any of the events in the prophecy of the seven seals take place; for it is sung to set forth the worthiness of the Lamb to take the book and to open the seals, on the ground of what He had already accomplished--their redemption. It is not therefore thrown in here by anticipation, having its application in the future, but it expresses an absolute and finished fact in the history of those who sang it. These, then, were a class of redeemed persons--redeemed from this earth, redeemed as all others must be redeemed, by the precious blood of Christ.

Do we in any other place read of such a class of redeemed ones? We think Paul refers to the same company when he writes to the Ephesians thus: "Wherefore He saith, When He [Christ] ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." The marginal reading is He led a "multitude of captives." Ephesians 4: 8. Going back to the events that occurred in connection with the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ, we read: "The graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." Matthew 27: 52, 53.

Thus the answer to our question comes unmistakably from the sacred page. These are some of those who came out of their graves at the resurrection of Christ, and who were numbered with the illustrious multitude which Jesus led up from the captivity of Death's dark domain when He ascended in triumph on high. Matthew records their resurrection, Paul their ascension, and John beholds them in heaven, performing the sacred duties which they were raised up to accomplish.

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In this view we are not alone. John Wesley spoke as follows concerning the four and twenty elders: " 'Clothed in white raiment'--This and their golden crowns show that they had already finished their course, and taken their places among the citizens of heaven. They are never termed souls, and hence it is probable that they had glorified bodies already. Compare Matthew 27: 52." [1]

Particular attention must be given to the fact that the four and twenty elders are said to be seated on thrones.

Our translation reads "seats;" but the Greek is thronoi, thrones, the same word as is used three times in verses 2 and 3 and once in verse 4 immediately preceding. Thus the Revised Version reads "Round about the throne were four and twenty thrones, and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting." Consequently this passage throws light on the expressions found in Daniel 7: 9, "I beheld till the thrones were cast down." These are the same thrones, and as has been shown in comments upon that passage, the meaning is not that the thrones were overturned, or cast down, in the ordinary sense of that expression, but placed, or set. The figure is taken from the Eastern custom of placing mats or divans for distinguished guests to sit upon. These four and twenty elders (see comments on Revelation 5) are evidently assistants of Christ in His mediatorial work in the sanctuary on high. When the judgment scene described in Daniel 7: 9 began in the most holy place, their thrones were placed there, according to the testimony of that passage.

The Seven Lamps of Fire.--

In these lamps of fire we have the antitype of the golden candlestick of the typical sanctuary, with its seven ever-burning lamps. This candlestick was placed by divine direction in the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary. (Exodus 25: 31, 32, 37; 26: 35; 27: 20.) Now when John tells us that a door was open in heaven, and in the apartment thus disclosed to view he sees the antitype of the candlestick

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the earthly sanctuary, it is good proof that he is looking into the first apartment of the sanctuary above.

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Verse 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to      come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 the four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.

The Sea of Glass.--

Not composed of glass, but a broad expanse resembling glass--"glassy, i.e., transparent," as James Strong says in his Greek Dictionary. This idea is further carried out by the likening of the sea to crystal, which is defined to mean "anything concrete and pellucid, like ice or glass." The position of this sea is such as to show that it bears no analogy to the laver of the ancient typical service. It may extend under, and be the foundation of, the throne and even of the city itself. It is again brought to view in Revelation 15: 2, as the place where the overcomers, in the ecstatic joy of final victory, will soon stand. There we shall praise Him who has given us the victory.

The Four Living Creatures.--

It is an unhappy translation which has given us the word "beasts" in this verse. The Greek word , zoon, denotes properly "a living creature." Bloomfield says in his comment, " ' Four living creatures' (not beasts). So Heinr. renders it. . . . The propriety of this correction, is now, I believe, generally agreed upon by commentators. The word is very different from [therion, wild beast], used to designate the prophetic beasts in the 13th and following chapters. (Scholefield.) It may be added, that Bulkeley adduces several examples of ?, to denote, not only creature, but

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even a human being, especially one from Origen, who uses it of our Lord Jesus." [2]

Similar imagery is used in the first chapter of Ezekiel. The qualities which would seem to be signified by the emblems are strength, perseverance, reason, and swiftness--strength of affection, perseverance, in carrying out the requirements of duty, reason in comprehending the divine will, and swiftness in obeying. These living beings are even more intimately connected with the throne than are the four and twenty elders, being represented as in the midst of it, and round about it. Like the elders, these in their song to the Lamb ascribe to Him praise for having redeemed them from the earth. They therefore belong to the same company, and represent a part of the great multitude, who, as already described (see remarks on verse 4), have been led up on high from the captivity of death. Concerning the object of their redemption, see remarks on Revelation 5: 8.

They Rest Not.--

"O happy unrest!" beautifully exclaims John Wesley. The theme of their constant worship is, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." No sublimer strain ever issued from created lips. They repeat it "day and night," or continually, these terms only denoting the manner in which time is reckoned here, for there can be no night where the throne of god is. (Revelation 21: 23, 25.)

We mortals are likely to tire of the repetition of the simple testimony we bear here to the goodness and mercy of God. We are sometimes tempted to say nothing, because we cannot continually say something new. But may we not learn a profitable lesson from the course of these holy beings above, who never grow weary of the ceaseless repetition of these words, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty;" and to whom these words never grow old, because their hearts ever glow with a sense of His holiness, goodness, and love? Praise does not be-

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come to them monotonous, for with every utterance they gain a new view of the attributes of the Almighty. They reach a greater height of comprehension in their vision of His perfections; the horizon expands before them; their hearts enlarge; and the new emotions of adoration draw from them a fresh utterance of their holy salutation, new even to themselves, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!"

So, even with us here, though words are often repeated concerning the goodness, the mercy, and the love of God, the value of His truth, and the attractions of the world to come, these should not grow stale upon the ear. We should all our lives be rising to new conceptions of the blessings embraced in these glorious themes.

"Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power." How worthy, we never shall be able to realize until, like the holy beings who utter this language, changed to immortality, we are presented "faultless before the presence of His glory." Jude 24.

"Thou Hast Created All Things."--

The works of creation furnish the foundation for the honor, glory, and power ascribed to God. "For Thy pleasure [or through Thy will they are, and were created." God willed, and all things came into existence; and by the same power they are preserved and sustained.

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The beginning and the end.

Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

The CREATOR of ALL THINGS.

ALL THINGS WERE CREATED for the CREATOR'S PLEASURE.

We have this grand misconception that our existence is one of instant entitlement. We exist therefore we are all important, all deserving, we are the all in all. What a LIE.

We ONLY exist because we were CREATED.

We were CREATED for a purpose.

The PURPOSE of our CREATION was for the PLEASURE of our CREATOR.

It is by our CREATOR'S discretion that we exist at all.

Our outlook upon our world, upon our lives often determines our view of our CREATOR.

Some will say we have no CREATOR.

Others will say we have a sadistic CREATOR.

Still others will say we have a loving CREATOR.

And there are those who will say we have an indifferent CREATOR.

And all shades of gray in between those four beliefs.

We have a CREATOR of this I am positive beyond ANY doubt whatsoever.

I was created for my CREATOR'S pleasure.

My CREATOR has revealed true love in the plan of redemption.

My CREATOR created out of LOVE.

My CREATOR is LOVE.

My CREATOR is WORTHY to receive ALL glory, ALL honor, ALL power!

I choose to believe I have a loving CREATOR who loves perfectly, who loves purposefully, who loves and is desirous for us to know love, to love and be loved.

In heaven my CREATOR reigns, my CREATOR works towards my end- redemption by HIM.  I cannot FORGET, I cannot choose to IGNORE this truth, my CREATOR, my SAVIOR is active on my behalf.

I choose to believe in love, perfect love, in my Savior.

All honor, all glory, all power unto HIM always!

AMEN.

Another View

Excerpt from - Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith

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Revelation Chapter 4

Before the Throne of God

Verse 1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.

In the first three chapters, John presented the vision he had of the Son of man. He described His majestic person, and recorded the words which He uttered with a voice as the sound of many waters. A NEW scene and a NEW vision now open before us.

The expression "after this" does not denote that what is recorded in Revelation 4 and onward was to take place after the fulfillment of everything recorded in the three preceding chapters. It means ONLY that after the prophet had seen and heard what is there recorded, he had the new view which he now introduces.

"A Door Was Opened in Heaven."--

Let it be noticed that John says, "A door was opened in heaven," NOT into heaven.

This expression reads literally in the Greek, "Behold, a door open in heaven." It was not an opening of heaven itself before the mind of John, as in the case of Stephen (Acts 7: 56), but some place in heaven was open before him, and he was permitted to behold what was taking place WITHIN. That what John saw open was the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY, will plainly appear from other parts of the book.

"Things Which Must Be Hereafter."--Compare this with Revelation 1: 1. The great object of the Revelation seems to be the presentation of future events which will inform, edify, and comfort the church.

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John

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When we are stressing something important about to take place, do we often stress it by talking about it more than once and sometimes when we talk about it more than once we talk about it in different ways, all towards the same end. This is truth! We don't lie when we tell our tale in a different way, we encourage a deeper understanding by relaying it in a new way. Our Savior throughout the book of Revelation will do this. We are being shown TRUTH, and our Savior really wants us to know the truth. Our Savior wishes to give us EVERY opportunity possible to know Him, to know Love, real love.

By His grace may we learn! Bless us LORD, bless us!

We would know all that You would have us know!

All in Your love!

Now and forever, amen!

We will overcome - by the Grace of God!

Dear Heavenly Father, please open our sightless eyes so we may see Your truth. Please increase our faith so we may believe. Please clothe us with Jesus Christ's righteousness, because we have none of our own. Bless us as we read and study, as we seek to keep the sayings of Your prophecies. 

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Excerpt from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith

"If Any Man Hear My Voice."--

The Lord entreats, then, as well as knocks. The word "if" implies that some will not hear.

Though He stands and knocks, yet some will close their ears to His tender entreaties. But it is not enough simply to hear. We must open the door.

Many who at first hear the voice, and for a time feel inclined to heed, will, alas! fail in the end to do that which is necessary to secure to themselves the communion of the heavenly Guest.

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Reader, are you ears open to the entreaties which the Saviour directs to you? Is His voice a welcome sound to you? Will you heed it? Will you open the door and let Him in? Or is the door of your heart held fast by heaps of this world's rubbish, which you are unwilling to remove?

Remember that the Lord of life never forces an entrance. He condescends to come and knock, and seek admittance; but He takes up His abode in those hearts only where He is then a welcome and invited guest. Heavenly Guest.

Then the promise! "I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."

How forcible and touching is the figure! Friend with friend, partaking of the cheerful and social meal! Mind with mind, holding free and intimate converse! What a festal scene must that be where the King of glory is a guest!

No common degree of union, no ordinary blessing, no usual privilege, is denoted by this language. Who can remain indifferent under such tender entreaty and so gracious a promise?

Nor are we required to furnish the table for this exalted Guest. This He does Himself, not with the gross nutriment of earth, but with viands from His own heavenly storehouse. Here He sets before us foretastes of the glory soon to be revealed. Here He gives us an earnest of our future inheritance, which is "incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away." Verily, when we comply with the conditions and receive this promise, we shall experience the rising of the daystar in our hearts, and behold the dawn of a glorious morning for the church of God.

The Promise to the Overcomer.--

The promise of supping with His disciples is made by the Lord before the final promise to the overcomer is given. This shows that the blessing included in that promise are to be enjoyed in this probationary state.

Now, added to all these, is the promise to the overcomer:

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne."

Here the promises of the Lord culminate. From being at first rebellious, and then fallen,

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degraded, and polluted, man is brought back into reconciliation with God through the work of the Redeemer. He is cleansed from his pollutions, redeemed from the fall, made immortal, and finally raised to a seat upon the throne of his Saviour. Honor and exaltation can go no farther. Human minds cannot conceive that state, human language cannot describe it. We can only labor on until, if overcomers, we shall know what it is.

In this verse there is not only a glorious promise, but there is also an important doctrine.

We learn by this that Christ reigns consecutively upon two thrones.

One is the throne of His Father, the other is His own throne.

He declares in this verse that He has overcome, and is now set down with His Father in His throne. He is now associated with the Father in the throne of universal dominion, placed at His right hand, far above all principality, power, might, and dominion. (Ephesians 1: 20-22.) While in this position, He is a priest-king. He is a priest, "a minister of the sanctuary;" but at the same time He is "on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens." Hebrews 8: 1, 2. This position and work of our Lord was thus predicted by the prophet Zechariah: "Speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts [God], saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch [Christ]; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the Lord: . . . and He [Christ] shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His [God's] throne; and He [Christ] shall be a priest upon His [God's] throne: and the counsel of peace [in the sacrifice and priestly work of Christ in behalf of repenting man] shall be between them both." Zechariah 6: 12, 13.

But the time is coming when He is to change His position, and leaving the throne of His Father, take His own throne. This must be when the time comes for the reward of the overcomers, for when they enter upon their reward, they are to sit with Christ on His throne, as He was overcome, and is now seated with the Father upon His throne. This change in the position of Christ is set forth by Paul:

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"Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all." 1 Corinthians 15: 24-28.

The truths taught in this scripture may perhaps be most briefly expressed by a paraphrase, and by giving, in every instance, instead of the pronouns, the nouns to which they respectively refer. Thus:

"Then cometh the end (of the present age), when Christ shall have delivered up the kingdom (which He now holds conjointly with the Father) to God, even the Father; when God shall have put down all rule and all authority and power (that is opposed to the work of the Son). For Christ must reign (on the throne of His Father) till the Father hath put all enemies under Christ's feet. [Psalm 110: 1.] The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For God (then) hath put all things under Christ's feet. But when God saith, all things are put under Christ (and He begins His reign upon His own throne), it is manifest that God is excepted, who did put all things under Christ. And when all things shall be subdued unto Christ, then shall Christ also Himself be subject unto God that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all."

From this it will be seen that the kingdom which Christ delivers up to the Father is that which He holds at the present time upon His Father's throne, where He tells us He is now seated. He delivers up this kingdom at the end of His priestly meditation, when the time comes for Him to take His own throne. After this He reigns on the throne of His father David, and is subject only to God, who still retains His posi-

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tion upon the throne of universal dominion. In this reign of Christ the saints participate. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne." "They lived," says John, dating from the first resurrection, "and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Revelation 20: 4.

This we understand to be a special reign, or for a special purpose, as will be noticed in that chapter, for the actual reign of the saints is to be "forever and ever." Daniel 7: 18, 27. How can any earthly attraction divert our gaze from this enduring and heavenly prospect?

Thus close the messages to the seven churches. How pointed and searching is their testimony! What lessons they contain for all Christian in all ages! It is as true with the last church as with the first, that all their works are known to Him who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. From His scrutinizing gaze nothing can be hidden. While His threatenings to the hypocrites and evil workers are awful, as in justice they may be, how ample, how comforting, how gracious, how glorious are His promises to those who love and follow Him with singleness of heart!

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AMEN.

He knocks...will you answer?

Continuing with our Prophecy study- the book of Revelation. May our God bless us with understanding, may the Holy Spirit open our HEARTS and MINDS to all TRUTH! Guide us, please, Father, guide us. May the grace and mercy of our Savior be ours as we study to know His will in ALL things!

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Excerpt from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith

Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Rev 3:20  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.

Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The Token of Love.--

As strange as it may seem, the token of love is chastisement.

"As many as I love, I rebuke, and chas-

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ten."

 If we are without chastisement, we are not sons. (Hebrews 12: 8.)

"A general law of His gracious economy," says Augustus C. Thompson, "is here set forth. . . . As all need chastisement in some measure, they in some measure receive it, and thus have proof of the Saviour's attachment.

This is a hard lesson to learn, and believers are dull scholars; yet here and throughout God's word and providence it stands, that trials are His benedictions, and that no child escapes the rod.

The incorrigibly misshapen and coarse-grained blocks are rejected, whilst those chosen for the glorious structure are subjected to the chisel and the hammer.

There is no cluster on the true vine but must pass through the winepress. 'For myself,' said an old divine under affliction-- 'for myself, I bless God I have observed and felt so much mercy in this angry dispensation of God that I am almost transported. I am sure highly pleased with thinking how infinitely sweet His mercies are, when His judgments are so gracious.' In view, then, of the origin and design of the chastisements you receive. 'Be zealous and repent.' Lose no time; lose not a blow of the rod, but repent at once. Be fervent in spirit. Such is the first appliance of encouragement."

Be Zealous and Repent.--

Although, as we have seen, the condition represented by coldness is preferable to one of lukewarmness, yet that is not a state in which our Lord ever desires to find us. We are never exhorted to seek that state. There is a far better one which we are counseled to attain; and that is to be zealous, to be fervent, and to have our hearts all aglow in the service of our Master.

Christ Knocking at the Door.--

"Here is the heart of hearts," says Augustus C. Thompson. "Notwithstanding their offensive attitude, their unlovely character, such is His love to their souls that He humbles Himself to solicit the privilege of making them blessed. 'Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.' Why does He? Not because He is without home elsewhere.

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. . . Among the mansions in His Father's house there is not one entrance closed to Him. He is the life of every heart, the light in every eye, the song on every tongue, in glory. But He goes round from door to door in Laodicea. He stands at each, and knocks, because He came to seek and to save that which is lost, because He cannot give up the purpose of communicating eternal life to as many as the Father hath given Him, and because He cannot become known to the inmate unless the door be opened and a welcome given Him.

Have you bought a piece of ground, have you bought five yoke of oxen, is your hat in your hand, and do you pray do be excused? He knocks and knocks. But you cannot receive company at present; you are worn out with labor; you have wheeled round the sofa; you are making yourself comfortable, and you send word you are engaged. He knocks and knocks. . . . It is the hour for church prayer meeting or for monthly concert; there is opportunity to pay a Christian visit to an individual or a family; but you move not. . . . Oh, nauseous lukewarmness! Oh, fatal worldliness! The Lord of glory comes all the way from His celestial palace--comes in poverty, in sweat, in blood--comes to the door of a professed friend, who owes all to Him, and cannot get in!--comes to rescue a man whose house is on fire, and he will not admit Him! Oh, the height, the depth, or Jesus Christ's forbearance! Even the heathen Publius received Paul and lodged him three days courteously. Shall nominal Christians tell the Lord of apostles they have no room for Him?"

Are you spiritually blind?

Eyesalve

What do we need eyesalve for?

Most of us have had eye infections before, right? Possibly from a virus, or from a foreign object getting in our eyes. An infection that needed more than time or water to heal it, an infection that needed medication of sorts. Also, we may have just needed eye drops to soothe aching eyes, but there again we needed something for our eyes.  While aching, tired eyes may not need medication, there are some pretty serious eye conditions that warrant that medication or you risk losing the vision in those eyes.

The eye salve we need to BUY of CHRIST is eye salve that is necessary for us keeping our spiritual eye sight. We become spiritually blind when do not have this eye salve and EVERYONE of us NEEDS this eye salve!

There isn't a single one of us that can escape losing our spiritual sight unless we BUY OF CHRIST the Spiritual EYESALVE. 

Again, let's read from this book-- KNOWING just how vital to our spiritual sight this eyesalve is.

Excerpt from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith

'The Eyesalve.--

On the eyesalve there is as little room for a diversity of opinion as upon the white raiment.

The anointing of the eyes is certainly not to be taken in a literal sense, for reference is being made to spiritual things. The eyesalve must denote that by which our spiritual discernment is quickened. There is but one agent revealed to us in the word of God by which this is accomplished, and that is the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 10: 38 we read that "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost."

The same writer through whom came this Revelation from Jesus Christ which we are studying, wrote to the church in his first epistle, as follows: "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. . . . But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him." 1 John 2: 20, 27.

By referring to his Gospel, it is found that the work which John here sets forth as accomplished by the anointing is exactly the same that he there attributes to the Holy Spirit.

"The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14: 26 (See also John 16: 13.)

Thus in a formal and solemn manner are we counseled by the faithful and true Witness, under the figures of gold, white raiment, and eyesalve, to seek from Him an increase of the heavenly graces of faith, hope, charity, that righteousness which He alone can furnish, and an unction from the Holy Spirit.

But how is it possible that a people lacking these things should think themselves rich and increased with goods?

A plausible inference may here be drawn, which is perhaps also a necessary one, as there is room for no other. It will be observed that no fault is found with the Laodiceans on account of the doctrines they hold. They are not accused of harboring a Jezebel in their midst, or countenancing the doctrines of Balaam, or the Nicolaitanes. So far as we can learn, their belief is correct, and their doctrine sound. The inference therefore is that having a correct doctrine, they are content.

They are satisfied with a correct form of religion without its power.

Having received light concerning the closing events of the gospel era, and having a correct theoretical knowledge of the truths that pertain to the last generation of men, they are inclined to rest in this to the neglect of spiritual power which changes the life and builds strong character.

 It is by their actions, doubtless, not by their words, that they say they are rich and increased with good.

Having so much light and so much truth, what can they want besides? If they defend the theory, and as far as their outward life is concerned, conform to the increasing light upon the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, is not their righteousness complete? Are they not rich, and increased with goods, and in need of nothing? Here is their FAILURE. Their whole being should cry out for the spirit, the zeal, the fervency, the life, the power of a living Christianity.

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Eye salve-   The Holy Spirit alone opens our eyes, our spiritual eyes, our spiritual hearts to the truth! The Holy Spirit, the Comforter sent to us, given to us, allowed to us as we HOPE in our SAVIOR.

We have been given TRUTH. We KNOW the TRUTH. Yet the truth no longer seems as important as it once did. We are SLEEPING, we are LUKEWARM! We are worth being spewed out of our Savior's mouth! We are worth being denied entry into the wedding! We MUST be prepared! We MUST have EXTRA OIL for our LAMPS! We MUST have EYESALVE for our EYES! We have to LISTEN, we have to HEED, we have to HEAR, we have to DO all that our Savior asks of us!  PLEASE LORD, WAKE  US UP! PLEASE GIVE US THE EXTRA OIL WE NEED! PLEASE LORD PUT THE EYESALVE UPON OUR EYES!

Help us!

All in the name of our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, help us! SAVE US!