hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, and they will have blessing

in it.

We here see the character of the scene and circumstances in which we are working; the results of labour for Christ, and also the results of the toil of the men of this world, with its certain evil character throughout the age.

The servants of Jesus Christ are here shown the length to which Satan's power would be allowed to go; also the mischievous ways in which he would exercise it, but the entire setting aside of it in the end, and the establishment of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and of his servants.

For the Time is at Hand.

The evil is so fast ripening that we must be ready to stand against its increasing power; and the purposes of God in blessing will so soon be accomplished, that the time of patient endurance will speedily close. The ser vants of Jesus Christ should keep this much before them.

John, to the Seven Churches which are in Asia.

Such is the form in which the servants of Jesus Christ are addressed-the seven churches.i There should be corporate character in our service, in each part of the field of labour. A perfect fulness of united testimonies for Christ. The saints in each place striving together for the faith of the Gospel.

There is another aspect also, of the servants of Jesus Christ, in which any individual may serve, whether there be a church or not; all that is addressed corporately to the church, is also addressed individually to him that hath an ear; and all the fulness of the promises are made to such in the character of him that overcometh.

the blessing of those who hear? No! but he omits the chapters of the Book of the Revelation, and again goes back to chapter i. of Rom. This he does three times every year.

There are holy days on which portions are read, but in those proper lessons as they are called, the Book of the Revelation is the only part of the Bible in which there are portions never read

at all.

i There were seven churches or places addressed by epistles from the Apostle Paul-Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Collosse, Thessalonica.

Grace be unto you and Peace from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come.

In the epistles of St. Paul, "Grace and peace are from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ," for there the portion of the church in the Grace of God is specially looked at. Ministry of Grace to the church is the great object of the epistles; and God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ are presented in their special relationship to the saints.

But in the Revelation, when the servants of Jesus Christ are looked at as serving Him, in the midst of opposing powers, then we are ministered unto by Him which is, and which was, and which is to come. In verses 4-6 we have the aspect of the servants of Jesus Christ in this prophecy-the prophecy presents them in the connections here introduced.

In verse 7 we have the aspect of the world in this book. Things and people around us are seen to rise and fall. Some are seen in their beginning, some in their progress, and some in their end; but in all confusion and disorder, grace and peace are ministered unto us from Him which is, and which was and which is to come. The servants of this world are dependent on short-lived transient sustainers; the servants of Jesus Christ have to do with Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; they shall abide and their fruit shall abide.

And from the seven spirits which are before His throne.

The seven spirits which are before his throne are also the source of grace and peace to the servants of Jesus

Christ.

But

In the churches addressed by the epistles of Paul, grace and peace are from God the Father, and from Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost the comforter is dwelling in them, and so he abideth for ever. another ministration is presented to us here-not in us, but before the throne-the place of Almighty power. As Comforter, He proceeds from the Father; He dwells in us, and shows us the things of Christ. Because we are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The seven spirits are before the throne, the place of power and dominion; and thence, in Divine power, there is a ministry of grace and peace to the servants of Jesus Christ in the world.

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.

Grace and peace are also ministered to the servants of Jesus Christ from Him as their Master, as first giving them an example that they should walk in His steps; then as their forerunner; and then as supreme over all the powers, surrounded by which they are serving Him. When here in the flesh, He specially took the place of the faithful witness.

In resurrection, He is the first-begotten of the dead, our first-fruits.

He will soon be manifested in glory as the Prince of the kings of the earth.

While in these characters, He is the faithful man exalted in glory; yet as Gód over all, He ministers grace and peace to us.

We are the servants of Jesus Christ, as knowing Him in all this great and blessed range; and grace and peace are ministered to us from Him, according to what He thus is, that we may be sustained in His testimony, in His life, and in His dominion.

We are then led into communion with Jesus Christ in His work for us, in His goodness, and the ascription of glory and dominion to Him as blessing us thus.

Unto Him that loved us.

Christ begun with us in love. All that He did, flowed from His love. His love, from the beginning, marked His course toward us, while it never ends; for having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end. He never departs from His first love toward us; and He is jealous that we should not do so toward Him.

* ἀγαπήσαντι ; or, according to Griesbach, αγαπώντι,

And washed us from our sins in His own blood.

In His death, Christ showed His great love to us: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

It is through His work for us in dying, that we have our standing before God as cleansed in Him. In this is our present blessing.

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His

Father.

The perfection of this blessing will be enjoyed in the day when He shall take His kingdom, and the saints reign with Him, as His priestly ministers of blessing.

Great is the sphere of His actings for us; and in this we should have communion with Him; in that which is past, present, and future: all is blessing in Him.

So far we have the servants of Christ in enjoyment in Him-His goodness toward "us"; but now others are brought in "every eye" and "all the kindreds of the earth"; and this will be in sorrow" they shall wail."

Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him; and all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him: even so,

Amen.

When the coming of Christ is spoken of in reference to the world, then His coming with clouds is mentioned; or at least, when His coming with clouds is mentioned, then His coming is spoken of in reference to the world.

"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed" (Dan. vii. 13, 14).

The coming of Christ with the clouds of heaven is here connected with His dominion and kingdom, and all people, nations, and languages serving Him.

"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in

heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matt. xxiv. 30).

This prophecy is one specially Jewish; and His coming to the world will be immediately in connection with His appearance to Israel; and it is the gathering of Israel from their dispersion that He is here promising, when “He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, to gather his elect from the four winds."

"Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" (Matt. xxvi. 64).

This was spoken to the high priest, and in reference to those around Him then.

They also which pierced Him.

The Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the people and Gentiles of the latter day, will be found in the beast and false prophet, with the kings of the earth and their

armies.

All the kindreds of the earth.

The terms pun and yn, which are so often used in Jewish connection, are both used in this book with a very wide range through the nations.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

As Christ's servant, mind not other powers: He was before them, and He will be after them. What He begins, He will also finish, and none will stay His hand; for He is the Almighty.

I John who also am your brother and companion in tribulation, in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.' With this verse the first division of the book opens, as alluded to in ver. 19-" Write the things which thou hast seen." And it is important to see that it is not only as servants of Jesus Christ, but as suffering servants that we are contemplated here.

1 Εν τη θλίψει και Βασιλεια και ὑπομενῃ Ιησου Χριστοῦ. In the tribulation, and kingdom, and patience of Jesus Christ.