EXPOSITION OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION, IN A SERIES OF LECTURES. BY THE REV. EDWARD IRVING, A.M. MINISTER OP THE NATIONAL SCOTCH CHURCH, REGENT SQUARE, LONDON. Vol. 1 LONDON: Printed by Ellerton and Henderson, Gough Square ; FOR BALDWIN AND CRADOCK, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCXXXI. CONTAINING LECT. I. ARGUMENT OF THE WHOLE. II. THE SEER'S COMMENDATION OF THE BOOK III. THE FIRST VISION OF CHRIST THE UNIVERSAL BISHOP. 6-24-33 huis IV. THE EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS. V. THE EPISTLE TO THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA. A 2 Tappan Presb, Assor. 3-22-1933 PREFACE. verses. I HAD intended in this Preface to take a view of the progress of Revelation, from its beginning in the Garden of Eden to its completion in the island of Patmos; and to exhibit the gradual and progressive evolution of those ideas which are in the Apocalypse wrought together into one comprehensive and complete system of truth: but I have not leisure at present for such an undertaking, and must postpone it until the completion of the whole work. These four volumes contain a minute exposition of the first six chapters, except of a few The sixth and seventh seals, whereof the materials are scattered up and down the Revelation, in chapters vi. vii. xv. xvi. xix. and xx., I purpose to make the subject of the next volume, which I will publish, when it is completed, uniform with these four; and so continue from time to time, as God gives me opportunity. I feel that it would be breaking faith with the readers of these Numbers, were I to proceed further on the present plan of monthly publication, which also I found inconvenient on many accounts; and therefore it is that I propose bringing out the work volume by volume, as health and strength are afforded me. When I undertook these Lectures, my calculation was that within the compass of twelve lectures, the number which I delivered in Edinburgh, May 1829, I should have been able to embrace a popular exposition of the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. And |