The Revelation Explained Part 26

10. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and wh.o.r.emongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

The popular opinion is that this book of the Revelation is sealed; but John received the direct command, "_Seal not_ the sayings of the prophecy of this book." The majority of the teachers of Babylon to-day are fulfilling Isaiah 29:9-11, and that is the reason why it has become to them a sealed book. G.o.d makes known the blessed truths of the prophecies of this book to his own beloved children, who walk before him in sincerity and truth. A blessing is p.r.o.nounced upon us if we keep them. His coming is near at hand, and his reward is with him to render unto every man according as his work shall be. No offers of salvation will be extended when Christ appears to give us access to the tree of immortal life and an abundant entrance into the eternal city beyond; but it will then be said, "He that is unjust, _let him be_ unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still."

"Dogs" are left without. This term as applied to a person is one of great reproach. It is so among us, and much more so among the Jews, by whom that animal was regarded as unclean. It signifies evil workers.

Evil characters of every cla.s.s will have no part in the heavenly realm, but will be cast into the lake of fire. It will be the perfection of misery to be banished forever from the presence of G.o.d and the companionship of all that is good and holy. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."

16. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

17. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The statements of these verses have been considered heretofore, hence there is no necessity of further comment on them in this connection.

18. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, G.o.d shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, G.o.d shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Here is the most solemn warning against any one who should presume to corrupt the prophecies of the Revelation by adding to or taking away from them. Nor was such a warning needless. This book contains the long history of G.o.d's church, and also the history of all her persecutors, painted in colors of deepest infamy, and the final doom that awaits them. These enemies were to ride in triumph over the earth during a long career of centuries, when the children of G.o.d should be trodden down beneath their feet, as it were, while they boasted themselves as being the true church, the anointed of heaven. These Revelations were to be handed down to succeeding generations through these very persecutors.

The great wh.o.r.e of Babylon had her likeness taken and then committed to her for preservation. Would she not falsify them? Nearly all the early records of the church have been corrupted by the church of Rome. For ages it has been a doctrine of that inst.i.tution that pious fraud was consistent and even commendable when practised to further the influence of that church. Yea, she has proclaimed openly and unblushingly that if her cause could be promoted by deception and lies they were perfectly justifiable; and her practise has been consistent with her teachings. In view of the fact that G.o.d's Word was to pa.s.s through the depths of this "mystery of iniquity," it is not surprising that we find annexed to this concluding portion of Holy Writ the awful anathema: "If any man shall add unto these things, G.o.d shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, G.o.d shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

20. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

What importance is attached to the second coming of Christ! Over and over again it is stated distinctly. It is the grand climax unto which all the series of events in this book leads.

"Are you ready, waiting for the Lord?

See, the signs proclaim him near; In the awful thunders of his Word, Now his coming steps we hear.

"Now are many running to and fro, Spreading holiness around; And the evening light begins to glow, Soon we'll hear the trumpet's sound.

"Hark! the solemn warning unto all, Judgment's coming, oh, how soon!

Flee, O man, at Mercy's final call, Heaven trembles at your doom.

"Christ is coming, oh, the heavenly sight!

Our Beloved can't delay, For his bride is robed in snowy white, Ready for the marriage-day."

Amen. "Even so come, Lord Jesus." Then will appear the great "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending." In the beginning he "created the heaven and the earth." In the end, John said, "I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were pa.s.sed away; and there was no more sea." In the beginning Satan entered the domain of G.o.d's people to deceive and destroy. In the end he is cast out, and will deceive the nations no more. In the beginning sickness, pain, sorrow, and wretchedness found entrance to the world. In the end "G.o.d shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are pa.s.sed away." In the beginning the people of earth were placed under the iron hand of death, who has claimed his teeming millions. In the end, "I saw the dead, small and great, stand before G.o.d.... And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and h.e.l.l delivered up the dead which were in them ... and death and h.e.l.l were cast into the lake of fire." In the beginning was a blooming garden containing the tree of immortal life. In the end we find the tree of life again "in the midst of the Paradise of G.o.d." In the beginning a curse was placed upon this earth. In the world to come "there shall be no more curse: but the throne of G.o.d and of the Lamb shall be in it." In the beginning the first Adam lost his universal dominion over the earth. In the end we find Jesus Christ, the second Adam, crowned King of kings and Lord of lords, and reigning in triumph and glory forever. In the beginning man was barred from the tree of life and driven from the garden of Eden. In the end, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."