Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1916 — “JESUS CHRIST, THE FIRST AND LAST” [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

“JESUS CHRIST, THE FIRST AND LAST”

Revelation 1:1-8, 17-tO.—December S. The Message of the Risen Christ —In a Trance the Apostle John Saw a Series of Visions Foretelling the Leading Events of the Gospel Age, the Seven Stages of the Development of the Gospel Church and the Setting Up of the Messianic Kingdom. •'Fear not; l am the First and the Last, and the Living One; and 1 teas dead, and behold, l am alive for evermore.”—Verses 17, IS. R. T. CUE VISIONS granted St. John, recorded iu the Revelation, are in no sense to be understood as realities; and tins is the significance of his statement, "I was In the spirit on the Lord's day”—Sunday. There are many reasons for concluding that while the messages were given to the seven

churches specified, and were applicable to them, nevertheless these messages should have a wider application to the whole Church of Christ, the number seven representing completeness, and the order represen 11 n g different epochs In the

history of the Church. Thus the Church at Ephesus would represent the condition of the Church at the time of the writing of the message; while the Laodicean Church would represent the Church in the end of the Gospel Age—today. The other churches would correspondingly represent different epochs between then and now. The thought that the number seven signifies completeness is emphasized in the other symbolical representations—the seven spirits, the seven golden candlesticks, the seven stars, etc. Verse 5 teaches what Is in direct antagonism to the creeds of Christendom —that the risen Christ was “the first begotten from the dead.” That is, our Lord was the first to experience a resurrection in the full sense of the word. Although some before Him were temporarily awakened, they relapsed into death; for they were only partial illustrations of resurrection, to assure men of the Divine Power to accomplish it fully in the due time appointed of God. Verse 7 clearly teaches that at our Lord’s Second Advent the world will pe far from converted to God. Some Scriptures taken disconnectedly seem to teach that the world will be converted before His return; hut when God’s Word is viewed as a whole, these will he found to favor the opposite view—that Christ comes for the very purpose of converting the world, and that the glorified Church of the Gospel Age will share with their Lord in His Messianic Reign.

Christ and the glorified Church will be spirit beings, invisible to men. Our Lord’s presence will be manifested to the world by exhibitions of power and glory, not to their natural sight, but to their eyes of understanding. His presence and His authority will be recognized In the punishments and the blessings flowing to mankind from His Reign. Some will discern the new Ruler sooner than will others, put ultimately “every eye shall see [Greek. horao —discern] Him.”. “He cometh with clouds”; and while these clouds of trouble will hang heavy and dark, when the mountains—kingdoms—are trembling and falling, when the earth —organized society—is disintegrating, some will realize that Jehovah’s Anointed is beginning His Reign. What the Beloved Disciple Saw. St. John’s attention was first attracted by a trumpet-like voice behind him. Turning, he saw iu symbol what the Lord’s people may now see with the eye of faith and understanding—One clothed like a priest, amongst seven golden candlesticks. We are not to regard the word-picture of Verses 13-10 as our Lord’s portrait; for it is merely symbolic. The countenance of the glorified Lord was so splendid that St. John fell as dead. But our Lord touched him gently, raising him up and speaking words of comfort and love. This same message the Father has sent to us through the Son. We must recognize that our Lord Jesus was the Beginning and the End of the creation - of God, through

whom God made all th i n g s else, and who is next to Jehovah, representing the Father in everything. (Revelation 3:14; Colossians 1:15; John 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 8:0.) tVe must recognize our Lord as the One who really died for our sins, but who was

raised from death by the Divine Power, and who is alive for evermore. We must recognize that He has the key. the power over Hades—the tomb—to deliver all therein imprisoned; and that He has the key, the power over death, to liberate all mankind from the dominion of Sin and Death into the full liberty and life of sons of God. We are also to recognize that In His hand—His power—are the “seven stars,” Angels, messengers, of the seven Churches. Apparently the stars represent special servants through whom the Lord would send the appropriate message for each epoch in the Church’s experience; for the messages to the various Churches are addressed to these “stars.”

“In His Right Hand Seven Stars."

Among the Candlesticks.