CHAPTER XXIV

THE APOCALYPSE

THE Story finishes with a book which is unique in character; it is almost wholly concerned with what was, at the time of writing, in the future. It is described as “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to show unto his servants the things which must shortly come to pass.” These things were not indicated by plain predictions but by a series of signs which represented something different from themselves. All that can be done is to summarise the sections, and show how the past finds its consummation in this book-The Apocalypse.

Seven churches

It was addressed to seven typical churches in Asia. This was not the Asia of geography, but the Roman province of that name, situated in the west of Asia Minor. The book contains, first of all, seven letters addressed to these churches. All have certain expressions in common, and these expressions apply equally to the churches of to-day. They are, “I know thy works,” “He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches,” and “To him that overcometh will I give” thus and so. These expressions may be regarded as the key-notes of the letters which describe the spiritual state of the various churches, and may be considered as typical of the condition of the churches of all times.

The chief actor in the book is shown in a vision that John, the writer of the book, saw. There was a seven-sealed scroll in which was inscribed in a series of hieroglyphs the future history of the church and the world. John greatly desired to see the contents of the scroll, but so long as the seals remained unbroken he could not do so. So intense was his desire to see what was written that he wept much until one appeared who was able to open the seals. That one is described as “the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” and his appearance was as “a Lamb standing as it had been slain.” Thus in the last book of the Story the Old and New Testaments merge in the symbols that are used. Shiloh, of the blessing of Judah, who was both the root and the offspring of David, is seen to be the slain, but risen, Lamb, and the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He is the operator throughout the whole of the book, in which, in symbol, he is seen controlling the affairs of the world and of the Church, to the great rejoicing of certain symbolic creatures who are described in the book.

As the Lamb proceeded to open the seals a series of incidents took place which show the history of the church and the world in the period that witnessed the conquests of the Cross and the fall of paganism. The sixth seal completes that process and shows the “wrath of the Lamb” on those who had persecuted the Church.

Seven seals

The vision that follows shows, by anticipation, the final result. John saw a great multitude “out of every nation, and of all tribes and peoples and tongues” standing before the throne of the Lamb, ascribing glory to God. They are spoken of as those who had come out of the great tribulation and who had washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. All these were to be led to fountains of waters of life and every tear was to be wiped away.

The opening of the seventh seal discloses seven angels, each with a trumpet in his hand. As these trumpets were successively blown various incidents took place which represent the events connected with the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, first in the West and then in the East. The fifth and sixth trumpets which are described as “woes,” were principally connected with the East, though the latter comprehends the great events in the West which ushered in what may be described as the Modern World. It resulted in the new condition of national affairs which arose out of the French Revolution, which brought about a new orientation of the peoples of the world. In direct association with these things there is a re-assertion of the great truth which is to be the outcome of the whole story. It is expressed in the words “the kingdoms of the world are become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever,” at a time of great crisis when the nations are angry and God’s wrath comes, and the time of the dead that they shall be judged, and the servants of God, the prophets and the saints, shall receive their reward. It will be seen therefore that the last book of all teaches the same things as all the rest of the Story.

The return of Jesus

A kind of appendix follows which illustrates the religious history of the times already covered, and this leads again to the anticipation of the great future to which the whole programme leads. The Lamb is seen standing on Mount Zion (the site of David’s throne) with a symbolic host who have been inscribed in their foreheads with the name of God, the name revealed to Moses at the bush, and who then go forth to finish the work of subduing the world for Christ. Then the thread of history in prophecy is taken up again. Seven angels appear having seven golden bowls, the contents of which are to finish the wrath of God. The contents are poured out on various parts of what was the Roman World. They culminate in the seventh, but during the process of pouring the sixth a warning goes from the Lamb, “Behold I come as a thief,” while the message connected with the seventh is “It is done.”

At this point another appendix fills in the religious aspect of affairs of the trumpets and bowls period. It culminates in the destruction of a system spoken of as “Mystery, Babylon the Great” enthroned on seven hills. This system, known as the Papacy, comes to an end in the judgments of the last bowl.

Then the Apocalypse ends with visions of the last scenes of all. There are Hallelujah rejoicings, for “the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigneth.” The time comes for “the marriage of the Lamb” to take place. His Bride, the immortal and glorified saints, are seen clad in fine linen, bright and pure, which is described as being the righteous acts of the saints. The Lamb, as the Word of God, goes forth to smite the nations and to rule them with an iron rod. All the forces of evil symbolised by the dragon, called the Devil and Satan, are restrained, whilst Christ and his saints reign on the earth for a thousand years. In this reign the old prophecies are fulfilled when David’s son rules the world from his throne on Mount Zion.

Finally, at the end of the thousand years, the forces of evil break forth again, only to be crushed and destroyed. Then there is to be a “new heaven and a new earth,” the “tabernacle of God will be with men,” and “He shall dwell with them . . . and be their God, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.”

So the Story comes to an end. It is indeed a gospel, or a God-Spell, worthy of the God who conceived it, and who has been over-ruling all things to bring it about. “And the Spirit and the Bride say Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come; he that will, let him take the water of life freely.” Thus though early in the Story we read of the beginning of death, here it finishes with life, and that a life which is eternal. “He which testifieth these things saith, Yea, I come quickly. Amen, come Lord Jesus.”

There is no substitute for reading the Scriptures themselves and it is hoped that this book will have stimulated a greater desire for understanding the word of God in the Bible.

One good way to start is with the help of a daily Bible reading plan which, complete with notebook, will take the reader through a year’s helpful study. This can be obtained free on application to the publishers.

Christadelphian A.L.S.
P.O. Box 316
Kings Norton Birmingham B30 3EA England