2012 - Doomsday - Prophecy - Apocalypse - End of Days - Revelations - Judgement Day - Rapture

Notes on the Apocalypse (CH5)

4.12.09 – 12:45 pm

Comments Off

Notes on the Apocalypse – Chapter 5

by Pastor David Steele Sr. in 1870

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.

Verse 1.—The dividing of the books of Scripture into chapters and verses is not by inspiration. Fallible men have used their discretion in this respect, as they still do, by parceling chapters into sections, paragraphs, &c. And so, although we have passed to another chapter, the vision is the same. The inspired penman had looked upon the great King surrounded by part of his retinue. In earnest expectation of farther discoveries, he beheld “in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back side,” (or outside, as in some copies.) The book was “sealed with seven seals.” This volume was in the form of a roll, as the word volume signifies. The form of a book is determined by the kind of material on which one writes. This has consisted of great variety in the successive ages of the world. The first of which we have any notice in history is stone. When Job, in his affliction, was sustained by faith in the promised Redeemer; and when he would emphasize and transmit an expression of that faith to future generations; he thought of the nearest expedient familiar to his mind:—”Oh that my words were now written…. that they were graven with an iron pen…. in the rock forever,” (Job xix. 23, 24.) On the same material the law was written at Horeb, (Exod. xxiv. 12.) No doubt this was the usual method of recording events in Egypt in the time of Joseph, as the word “hieroglyphics” or sacred sculpture, appears to imply. Next, it appears that the inside bark of trees was used for this purpose, as of birch, which has a natural tendency to curl or roll together when dry. Hence the word library, and volume, or rolled bark. The royal archives, or “house of the rolls,” is thus explained, (Ezra. vi. 1.) “Vellum,” or dressed skins of beasts, appears to have been next used; then linen and cotton; and as now put through a chemical process, these are the material in most common use at the present day. Thus contemplating the symbol in the text, we may trace in our thoughts the gradual advancement of this department of science and the mechanic arts. The second stage of progress had been reached in John’s time, from stone to the bark of timber. The “book” appears to have been of cylindrical form, but whether in one piece or in seven separate pieces, revolving on a common axis, it is not easy nor perhaps important to determine. It is of much greater importance to know that the “book” is emblematical of the decrees of God. This will appear by comparing Psalm xl. 7, where we find the same symbol employed to represent the record of covenant agreement or stipulation between the Father and the Son, and to which our Saviour appeals as evidence in his case. (Heb. x. 7.) While the symbol may be safely considered as involving all the purposes of God; it signifies here more especially the following part of the Apocalypse, containing, as it were, a transcript from the great original.—”Seals” are for security and secrecy. Both may be included in the case. And indeed their being “seven” in number—a number of perfection, would seem to confirm this two-fold meaning. The sealed book, symbolical of the decrees of God, comprehending all events of all time, teaches us the doctrine expressed in plain words thus:—”Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world,” (Acts xv. 18.) The complex symbol also teaches more forcibly than in words,—”My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure,” (Is, xlvi. 10.) Some have suggested a little change in the punctuation. Instead of placing the comma, after the word “side,” place it after the word “within,” the meaning would then be, that the “book was written only on one side, namely on the side within.” We do not accept the suggestion. The reason is sufficient for its rejection, that the material in the time of the apostle, was too costly to leave one-half of it blank; and here our divine Lord “speaks to us of heavenly things” through the medium of earthly things with which we are familiar.

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.

Vs. 2-3.—Proclamation is made by a “strong angel,” the

Apocalypse, Apocalyptic Symbols, Bible Prophecy, Notes on the Apocalypse 1870, Pastor David Steele Sr

Notes on the Apocalypse (CH4)

4.12.09 – 12:28 pm

Comments Off

Notes on the Apocalypse – Chapter 4

by Pastor David Steele Sr. in 1870

With this chapter the prophetical part of the Apocalypse begins. This is the place where the third division of the book commences, of which intimation had been given to John.—”Write … the things which shall be hereafter.” (Ch. i. 19.) The third is therefore much the largest part of the whole book, comprising all from the 4th to the 22d ch. It is also to be noticed that the fourth and fifth chapters are properly of the nature of an introduction to what follows, presenting to view, as it were, a grand theatre on which are to be exhibited the dramatic characters and events which constitute the outline of history in the church and the world from the apostle’s time till the consummation of all things.

Expositors commonly frame and lay down some rules by which they suppose symbolic language in general, and the symbols of this book in particular, may be interpreted. On examination, however, it will be discovered that the learned are not agreed either in the nature or number of such rules, and sometimes an expositor who has exerted his ingenuity most in devising canons of interpretation, forgets to apply them.

All languages, whether spoken or written, are more or less metaphorical, interspersed with what are called figures of speech. It is customary to represent nations and tribes, whose language abounds in symbols, as but little advanced in civilization; and to view oriental nations as more disposed to indulge in tropes and figures than those of the west; but perhaps this relative estimate of the modes of speech in the eastern and western hemispheres will admit of some modification, when we consider the gesticulations and similes by which the aborigines of America attempt to give expression to their ideas. The word hieroglyphics, signifying sacred sculpture, derived from the ancient mode of writing by the priests of Egypt, has received conventional currency among the learned, as descriptive of any writing which is obscure, “hard to be understood.” And all who read this book will find some of it “dark” indeed. The divine Author intended that it should be so, (ch. xiii. 18;) yet he calls it emphatically, a “Revelation.”

We have already noticed, that the symbols in this book are taken from the ceremonial law in part, and part are taken from the works of creation. The heavens and the earth present to our senses a variety of material objects; some more, some less calculated to arrest our attention. Among these, the sun, moon and stars,—earth and sea, mountains and rivers, occupy prominent places. To facilitate our knowledge of these, and prompt reference to any part of them, we generalize or throw them into groups. Thus we speak familiarly of the “solar system,” the “animal, vegetable or mineral kingdom.” Now, just transfer these systematized objects from the material and physical, to the moral and spiritual world. Then consider what relation any one object bears to the system, and what influence it has upon the other objects of which it is a part, and its import may be generally, satisfactorily and certainly ascertained. Thus the same canons or rules which we apply in the interpretation of other writings, will be equally available in “searching the Scriptures,”—never, never forgetting that it is the Spirit of Christ that “guides into all truth,” or his own all-comprehensive rule of interpretation, “comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Cor. ii. 13.)

In order to the right observance of the divinely prescribed rule, “comparing spiritual things with spiritual,” we must often refer to the prophecies of the Old Testament,—to the second and seventh chapters of Daniel in particular, because that prophet, while the church was captive under the power of literal Babylon, was favoured with a discovery of the purpose of God, that a succession of imperial powers should afterwards arise to “try the patience and the faith of the saints.” As in the case of Pharaoh, so in the whole history of the rise, reign and overthrow of succeeding persecuting powers, Jehovah’s design was precisely the same,—”to make his power known, and that his name might be declared throughout all the earth.” (Ex. ix. 16; Rom. ix. 17.) In connexion with this, he would “glorify the riches of his grace on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,” by sustaining them in the furnace of trial.

1. After this I looked, and, behold, a

Apocalypse, Apocalyptic Symbols, Bible Prophecy, Notes on the Apocalypse 1870, Pastor David Steele Sr

Notes on the Apocalypse (CH3)

4.12.09 – 10:21 am

Comments Off

Notes on the Apocalypse – Chapter 3

by Pastor David Steele Sr. in 1870

1. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

2. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

5. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

6. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Vs. 1-6.—As hitherto in these epistles we do not discover a “presiding minister” above an elder, so neither do we in this one find any hint of a “bishop and pastors.” All Christ’s bishops are elders, and “all are brethren.” (Acts xx. 17, 28.) Prelacy,—that is, preferring one pastor before another in office, is expressly prohibited by the church’s only Lawgiver. (Matt. xx. 25, 26.) The attempts to annul this law of Christ has caused more sin and suffering to his disciples than any one external agency of the devil. The whole history of the church furnishes the evidence of this.

The church in Sardis is addressed by him who “hath the seven spirits of God and the seven stars,” who has authority by office to give the quickening influences of the Spirit to the dead, and his reviving influences to the dormant; for revival presupposes life. Their “works were not perfect before God,” however they might appear to men. The majority were in a languishing condition, had “given themselves over to a detestable neutrality” in the Lord’s cause. And as the whole body is justly characterized by the major part; this church is described as “dead.” “Be watchful,—remember,—repent.” These duties point out the prevailing sins, namely, slothfulness, forgetfulness and security. Where these predominate, “things that remain are ready to die.” And there is no other remedy but that of applying to the “Seven Spirits of God,” which Christ is ready to shed abundantly on all who make believing application.

Christ threatens to “come as a thief” upon those who do not “watch.” In similitudes, we are not to indulge a licentious fancy in our attempts to interpret them. The objects of the thief’s visit and that of Christ are not the point of resemblance; for “the thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” The point, and the only point of resemblance, is the suddenness of the visit. Ignorance or neglect of this rule of interpretation has been a fruitful source of error, especially in expounding Revelation.

In this epistle, the order hitherto observed by the Saviour is reversed. What was praiseworthy in other churches was first noticed. Here the commendation follows the reproof. “Thou hast a few names,” etc. A virtuous minority are “undefiled in the way.” They have nobly withstood the prevailing contamination, and therefore Christ will admit them to fellowship and honor. The victor shall be “clothed in white raiment,”—grace shall be perfected in glory; and their names, which were inscribed in the book of life,—the register of the church of the first-born, shall be confessed by Christ “before his Father and before his angels,” as having “followed the Lamb,” when others went back like Orpah. (Ruth i. 15.) Let those who, having “put their hand to the plough,” are tempted to “look back,” consider “what the Spirit saith” to the church in Sardis.

7. And to the angel of the

Apocalypse, Apocalyptic Symbols, Bible Prophecy, Notes on the Apocalypse 1870, Pastor David Steele Sr