Revelation: A Message to Persecuted Churches

1941

Highlights on the Sunday School lesson

By NEWMAN CAMPBELL

(The International Uniform Lesson on the above topic for Sept. 7 is Revelation 1-3, the Golden Text being Rev. 2:10, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.")

At the time of the writing of the book of Revelation by John, the beloved disciple, the Christians were being ruthlessly persecuted. They had had a period of comparative calm, but when the Roman emperor, Domitian, proclaimed emperor worship, the persecutions which had been confined to such prominent leaders as Paul and Peter were extended to everyone who would not buy his liberty by conforming to the Roman religion.

It was a dark time for the Christians, and John, the only disciple who had known Christ personally now left at the close of the first century, had been condemned to work in the "mines of Patmos," which are thought to have been marble quarries, as no mines were known on this island in the Aegean sea.

It was the Lord's Day, and John was, as he says, "in the Spirit," when he heard a great voice, like a trumpet, behind him. He turned to see who was speaking, and saw "seven golden candlesticks;

"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Hair White Like Snow

"His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;

"And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.

"And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."

The golden girdle symbolized righteousness; the white hair and head like snow or wool, were symbols of purity; brass is a symbol of judgment, and His feet being of that metal would indicate authority and victory over all His enemies.

John tells us that he "fell at His feet as dead," but that the apparition "laid His right hand on me, saying unto me Fear not; I am the first and the last;

"I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

Then John was told to write to the seven churches in Asia, for the seven golden candlesticks and the seven golden stars were the angels of these seven churches. We are not sure what is meant by the "angels" of the churches, but presume they were the elders or leaders.

Each church in turn was praised for the good it held and the work of its members, and each was told of their faults. The church at Ephesus was commended for its work, labor and patience, as well as other things, but told that they had "left their first love," the love of simplicity and purity.

Church at Smyrna Poor

The church at Smyrna was very poor — probably the members had been fined so that all their money and property had been taken away — reminding us of the present position of the Jews in the countries controlled by Germany. They were to fear none of the terrible things that were to befall them, but were to "be faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life."

The church in Pergamos was praised for holding fast the name of Christ even "where Satan's seat is," but among them were men of pagan tendencies. They were told to repent.

Unto the angel of the church of Thyatira John was to write that the Lord "knew its works, charity, service and faith, and thy patience and thy works." But they harbored among them a bad woman named Jezebel, who should be cast out, or punishment would surely follow.

The church at Sardis was told to "be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God."

"I know thy works," was written to the church of Philadelphia, "because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world."

The church of the Laodiceans was "neither hot nor cold," which is probably true of many today. They were lukewarm, so were not doing the work for which they were founded. This church thought it was rich, He said, but was, in reality, "wretched, and miserable, and poor, blind and naked." "Buy of Me gold tried in fire," they were told. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne."

(Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.)

—The Lethbridge Herald, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, Sept. 6, 1941, p. 9.