The subject of this book is judgment; the style, symbolism.
God is revealed as the Almighty, the Eternal, the Judge of all the earth. Christ appears exercising His judicial functions, first in the house of God, and afterward among the nations. The Holy Ghost is seen, not as the “one Spirit." but in His perfect diversity of action in connection with the government of God.
Here, as in all Scripture, the person of Christ is the central figure, the glory of Christ the central object. But next to the person and glory of Christ, the kingdom and the Church occupy the most prominent place.
The earth, is however, regarded throughout as a scene of judgment. Hence it is the judgments, and not the blessings, of the earthly kingdom that are here recorded. So, too, the Church on earth is looked upon, not in its privileges, but in its responsibilities as the house of God, at which judgment must begin. On the other hand, the heavenly glories of the Church and the heavenly side of the kingdom, about which the Old Testament is silent, arc here blessedly unfolded.
The style of the book is largely symbolic, and in this it resembles the prophecies of Daniel. But while in Daniel the symbols are generally explained, in the book their interpretation is usually left to be gathered from other portions of Scripture.
The book naturally divides itself into three parts. At the close of the first chapter, John is told to "write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are. and the things which shall be after these." "The things which thou hast seen" are not so much a separate division as an introduction to "the things which are." But "the things which shall be after these" comprise two distinct classes: those which precede, and those which accompany or follow, the coming and kingdom of Christ. The three divisions of the book are therefore:
FIRST. "The things which are," described in the addresses to the seven churches, and preceded by the introductory vision;
SECOND. The judgments falling on the earth before the Lord's advent from heaven, and,
THIRD. The coming and reign of Christ, ending with the judgment of the dead before the great white throne, and leading on to the eternal state in which God is all in all. "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John, who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." Chapter 1:1-3. Such is the preface to this book, which is entitled, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." These words, however, do not mean His predicted revelation or manifestation to the world, but a revelation or prophetic communication which He receives from God and transmits to His servants. This shows the character in which the different persons, Divine, and human, are here presented. God is not looked at primarily as the Father of believers, or even of Jesus Christ but as sovereign Creator and Judge, communicating to Christ His own counsels. Jesus Christ, again, is not seen as "the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father," and acquainted with all that is there hidden, but as the servant who knows and does nothing of himself, the dependent man to whom God's purposes concerning the judgment of the earth and the coming kingdom are entrusted. He is thus seen in Mark's gospel, where He says, "Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." Mark 13:3232But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. (Mark 13:32).
To His disciples also He does not here show Himself as Head of the body, nor even as the Friend opening to them His heart, but as the Lord giving directions to His servants concerning "the things which must shortly come to pass." This "He sent and signified by His angel unto His servant, John." Now angels were God's medium of communication with Israel. Stephen says they "received the law by the disposition of angels" (Acts 7:5353Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. (Acts 7:53)), and in Hebrews, "the word spoken by angels" is contrasted with God speaking by the Son. (Chaps. 1:2; 2:2.) There is, then, a return to Jewish modes of communication perfectly suitable to the character of a book which unfolds God's dealings with the world when He restores to favor His earthly people, a book which regards the Church, not in its privileges, but in its responsibilities as a witness for Christ, a branch grafted into the good olive tree, which must either bear fruit or be broken off.
It is said the things "must shortly come to pass," for the Church period is always left indefinite, and though the Lord. "Not willing that any should perish," has hitherto mercifully postponed His coming, still His word is. "Behold, I come quickly." and His disciples are to have their "loins girded about, and [their] lamps burning." and to be "like unto men that wait for their Lord." Luke 12:35, 3635Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. (Luke 12:35‑36).
The angel gives the message to John, "who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ... all things that he saw." There is no "and" before the last clause in the original. He does not bear witness to something that he saw in addition to the Word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ, but to all that he saw of them. Here again, Christ is not the Son revealing the Father, but the faithful witness testifying God's Word. And this Word is earnestly commended to our study. "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." Of such value is the book in God's eyes. There is a blessing both upon reading and hearing, for the truth is practical, and must be held fast because its accomplishment is near.
T. B. Baines