We announced in our last number our purpose of entering upon a study of this wonderful book. We decided to do so not because we felt ablest, but because no one else was giving this portion of God's word the attention due it through the press. Since then Brother R. H. Boll has begun a series of articles on Revelation in the Gospel Advocate. We praise the Lord for the good things he is giving God's people there and which will help us much in these studies.

      Revelation is the book of the hour. and we trust every reader will become interested and make a systematic study of it. It is for this we feel led of the Lord to present these lessons in Word and Work. We have been with seven different congregations in a study of this great prophecy and felt each time that splendid spiritual results followed, and we pray the Lord that such may be the case in this effort. Let us keep our Bibles open and our hearts praying that God will give us to understand just what He has put in this book for us and that we may realize the blessed promise made to him who hears, reads, and keeps the things written therein (ch. 1:3). Will not the reader turn just now to that verse and get a wonderful stimulus to read and study Revelation? And it your mind has ever been prejudiced against such study may the reading of that verse once for all dispel such prejudice. And if you have been led to conclude that Revelation is a sealed book which God did not intend we should understand, please read chapter 22:10 and change your mind. Let Paul help us on this also: "Every scripture inspired by God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (II Tim. 3:16-17). The man then who has not studied Revelation is not able to rightly divide this word of truth and is therefore not thoroughly equipped. Paul teaches that this prophecy is profitable for four things. Let us believe him.

      Again, this book is an apocalypse, an uncovering, a [12] disclosure, a manifestation, a revelation. But mark this: it is only to the servants of God (1:1). It is true of this book as of the parables, "By hearing (many) shall hear and shall not understand." Let us not, then, be curiosity seekers, but truth seekers and, with assurance, approach this study believing that God is going to give us a fruitful understanding and a rich joy.

      1. The book as a whole is a prophecy as shown in such passages as 1:3 and 22:19. In it are made references to past events and then-existing conditions, but in all, our eyes are directed future-ward, to things to come to pass of which the past and then present contained shadows.

      2. It is a book of fiery judgments. It has clearly this aspect from the opening vision to the consuming of the debris and clearing away of the battle-smoke, at the close. It embraces that great "hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to try them that dwell upon the earth." (3:10), "the great day of wrath" (6:17), "the great tribulation" (7:14). It is the "great and terrible day of the Lord." The judgments are poured out upon the ungodly world in three series--of seven seals, of seven trumpets, and of seven vials of the wrath of God, The events of a series increase in severity and each series is more terrible than the preceding. The Lord rises up, with the rod of His strength and "shakes terribly the earth" (Isa. 2:19-21). As a result the great arch-enemy is completely defeated, his hosts utterly destroyed and himself securely bound. Then follows a glorious reign of peace, at the end of which, in a final judgment the devil and the wicked dead meet their final doom in the lake of fire.

      The book divides itself into three parts. Part one embraces the things John had just seen (1:19) when he was told to write and we have it in chapter one. Part two, "The things which are," embraces chapters two and three, relating to the churches, the conditions within and surrounding them. Part three, "the things which shall come to pass hereafter" embraces the rest of the book and deals with the judgments by which earth is [13] purged and everlasting righteousness is brought in, reaching in its scope to the time when every enemy shall have been destroyed, even death, the last, when the kingdom shall be delivered up unto God, even the Father (I Cor. 15:24). Then eternity! The watchword set in the first, middle and last portion of Revelation is, "Behold, I come quickly." The book primarily is a revealing of Jesus Christ in His coming. Study to see Jesus in all His holinesss, wisdom, power, glory and majesty. Fall down and worship Him in the good words of this book. Bless His holy name!

      1. What difference do you notice between the name of this book and the title given it in 1:1? 2. It is a revelation of whom? given by whom? to whom? to show to whom? signified by whom? concerning what? addressed to whom? 3. What picture is given of Jesus in the introduction? 4. Where was John at the time of the vision and why? Find it on a map. 5. Name the seven churches of Asia and find them on map. Locate Patmos with reference to them. 6. When was Revelation written? Before or after the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple?

      1. Read chapter one again. Commit verse three. 2. Do you appreciate the humbleness of this great apostle as shown in verse 9? What had become of the other apostles? 3. What is it to be in the Spirit? Was that essential to John's seeing the vision? 4. Can one understand and appreciate much of this heavenly vision if he is not in the Spirit? Are you praying as you study God's word? 5. Describe what John saw in his first vision. Study the picture, Dwell upon it 7. What effect did it have upon John? Why had he no need to fear?

      1. How many facts concerning Jesus are given in chapter one? 2. Is His aspect that of grace or judgment in the vision of this chapter? 3. What part of the vision would be mysterious were it not explained? What is the explanation? 4. How many [14] times and with reference to what does the number seven occur in chapter one? 5. Why is Jesus in the midst of the candlesticks? Why does He hold the stars? Is anything on earth of more interest to Him than the church? 6. Whose is the church? How obtained? What the ultimate purpose concerning it? (See Eph. 5:25-27 and 2:7). 7. What then shall we say of wicked men who scorn God's church or of unfaithful Christians who bring it into reproach?

      1. Read carefully each of the seven epistles to the seven churches. Name from memory the churches in the order given. 2. Remember in these two chapters (2 and 3) Jesus is dealing with "the things which are." 3. Study the letter to Ephesus by the following outline:
      (1) Name of the church
      (2) Terms describing Him who dictates the letter.
      (3) Conditions known and stated.
      (4) Instructions given accordingly.
      (5) Result if obedient or disobedient.
      (6) A call for attention.
      (7) Promise to the overcomer.

      Study the letters to Smyrna and Pergamum and Thyatira by the same outline.

      Study the letters to Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea by the same outline.

      Note--Close, prayerful study and rereading will bring rich returns.

      Scholium--"The number seven denotes fulness and the seven churches cover the whole church age. We are living in the Laodicean age."--John T. Poe.

["Studies in Revelation." Word and Work 8 (January 1915): 12-15.]

      The electronic version of Stanford Chambers' "Studies in Revelation" (Chapters 1-3. Lessons I-VI.) has been produced from microfilm of Word and Work for 1915.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 10 February 2002.
Updated 28 June 2003.