Chapter I: Front Matter (1)

Studies in the Scriptures

Volume VII

The Finished Mystery

“The Winepress of God’s Wrath” and the Fall of Babylon.

By

Charles Taze Russell

(Published Posthumously)

Edited by

C. J. Woodworth and George H. Fisher

850,000 Edition

“And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up
his hand to Heaven, and swore by Him that liveth forever and ever, who
created Heaven and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the
things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein,
that the time should be no longer delayed; but in the days of the voice of
the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the Mystery of God should
be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the Prophets.”—Rev.
10:5‐7. “At the end it shall speak and not lie.”—Hab. 2:3.

Copyright 1917

Peoples Pulpit Association

Brooklyn, N. Y., U. S. A.

International Bible Students Association

Brooklyn, London, Melbourne, Barmen

1918

CONTENTS

Publisher’s Preface
Explanatory Note
The Revelation Of [St.] John [The Divine]
Revelation 1—The Message For This Day
Revelation 2—St. Paul, St. John, Arius And Waldo
Revelation 3—Wycliffe, Luther And Russell
Revelation 4—The Author Of The Plan
Revelation 5—The Executor Of The Plan
Revelation 6—Six Seals And The Papacy
Revelation 7—Seventh Seal And Great Company
Revelation 8—Four Preliminary Reformations
Revelation 9—Two Ineffective Reformation Woes
Revelation 10—The True Reformation Woe
Revelation 11—The Time Of The End
Revelation 12—The Birth Of Antichrist
Revelation 13—The Papal And Protestant Beasts
Revelation 14—The Five Harvest Messages
Revelation 15—The Song Of The Saints
Revelation 16—Ecclesiasticism’s Seven Plagues
Revelation 17—The Papacy’s Last Stand
Revelation 18—The Fall Of Ecclesiasticism
Revelation 19—The Overthrow Of Satan’s Empire
Revelation 20—The Thousand Years’ Reign
Revelation 21—The Descending Kingdom
Revelation 22—The River Of Grace And Truth
The Song Of Solomon
The Bridal Anthem
The Heavenly Bridegroom
The Book Of The Prophet Ezekiel
Ezekiel 1—God’s Character And Plan
Ezekiel 2—The Rebellious House And The Book
Ezekiel 3—Pastor Russell’s Divine Ordination
Ezekiel 4—The Papal And Protestant Sieges
Ezekiel 5—The Severed Hair Calamities
Ezekiel 6—Sword—Famine—Pestilence
Ezekiel 7—Dawn Of The Evil Day
Ezekiel 8—Molech, The Torment Deity
Ezekiel 9—The Man With The Inkhorn
Ezekiel 10—Scattering Coals Of Fire
Ezekiel 11—The Wicked Counsel
Ezekiel 12—Christendom’s Blind Flight
Ezekiel 13—The Gaps In The Wall
Ezekiel 14—Insincere Inquirers
Ezekiel 15—Fit For Fuel Only
Ezekiel 16—Unfaithfulness Of God’s People
Ezekiel 17—Parable Of The Eagles
Ezekiel 18—“The Soul That Sinneth”
Ezekiel 19—The Lion’s Whelps
Ezekiel 20—The Hypocritical Ecclesiastics
Ezekiel 21—The Thrice‐Doubled Sword
Ezekiel 22—The Melting Pot Of War
Ezekiel 23—Two Apostate Church Systems
Ezekiel 24—The Boiling Caldron
Ezekiel 25—Recompense Upon The Tares
Ezekiel 26—Downfall Of Philosophy
Ezekiel 27—Philosophy’s Utter Ruin
Ezekiel 28—Destruction Of The Devil
Ezekiel 29—The Egyptians A Type
Ezekiel 30—Pharaoh’s Two Arms Broken
Ezekiel 31—Christendom Not To Endure
Ezekiel 32—Christendom’s Utter Downfall
Ezekiel 33—Why Ecclesiasticism Must Perish
Ezekiel 34—The Unfaithful Shepherds
Ezekiel 35—Edom A Type
Ezekiel 36—Christendom’s Early Restoration
Ezekiel 37—The Valley Of Dry Bones
Ezekiel 38—Final Overthrow Of Pride
Ezekiel 39—Death Of Pride’s Multitude
Ezekiel 40‐48—God’s Temple And River Of Truth
Advertisements
“Go Ye Also Into The Vineyard”
“Both the Houses of Israel”
The Watch Tower And Herald Of Christ’s Presence
What Say The Scriptures About Hell?
What Say The Scriptures About Spiritism?
Miscellaneous Advertisements
Footnotes

[Cover Art]

[Transcriber’s Note: The above cover image was produced by the submitter at Distributed Proofreaders, and is being placed into the public domain.]

TO THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS THIS WORK IS DEDICATED

In the Interest of HIS CONSECRATED SAINTS Waiting for the Adoption And of “ALL THAT IN EVERY PLACE CALL UPON THE LORD” “THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH” And Of The Groaning Creation; Travailing And Waiting for the Manifestation of THE SONS OF GOD

POSTHUMOUS WORK OF PASTOR RUSSELL

His Last Legacy to the Dear Israel of God (Matt 20:9)

“To make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God.” “Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself; that in the dispensation of the fulness of the times He might gather together in one all things, under Christ.”

Eph. 3:4, 5, 9; 1:8‐10

PUBLISHER’S PREFACE

Since the days of the Apostles, Christian people have been looking for the coming of our Lord Jesus in great power and glory; for He said that He would come again and receive His Church unto Himself. He further pointed out that for some time prior to the completion of the Church He would be present, gathering out from Babylon and from the world the truly consecrated, and that during His presence “the Mystery of God” would be finished.

Through St. John the Lord Jesus revealed the fact that the Church would be developed during seven distinct periods, or epochs; and that for each of these epochs He would have a special angel, or messenger, to serve the other members of the Body. It follows, then, that the messenger to the last, or Laodicean, epoch would declare the Presence of the Lord and the time of the Harvest of the Gospel Age. The great Master laid special emphasis on the importance of the messenger to the seventh, or Laodicean, period of the Church, saying that such an one would be “a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord would make ruler over all His Household, to give them meat in due season.”

Those consecrated Christians who have read and fully appreciated the Truth as contained in the preceding six volumes of STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES readily see and agree that Charles Taze Russell was the messenger of the Church of Laodicea. In the mind of every one who believes the Bible the evidence set forth in this volume will establish that fact beyond the question of a doubt.

In the light of Divine Prophecy, now being daily fulfilled and made clear to “the watchers,” the following from the pen of Pastor Russell is further proof that he was sent of God to this generation. Long years before the beginning of the trouble now upon the nations he wrote:

“The four exhibitions of the Lord, given to Elijah, represent, we
believe, four manifestations in which the Lord is about to reveal
Himself to mankind, the first three of which will prepare men for
the final one, in which will come the desired blessing to all the
families of the earth. These are:

“(1) _The mighty winds_ rending the very rocks. Blowing winds seem
to be used in Scripture for wars. The wars, whose dark clouds have
threatened the civilized world so ominously for the past thirty
years, have been miraculously hindered to give opportunity for
‘sealing’ the Lord’s consecrated people in their foreheads
(intellectually) with the Present Truth. We are therefore to
expect that when these winds of war shall be let loose, it will
mean a cataclysm of warfare which shall divide kingdoms
(mountains)—prefigured by the mighty wind shown to Elijah (1 Kings
19:11), which rent the rocks. But God’s Kingdom will not follow
the epoch of war; the world will not thus be made ready for the
Reign of Immanuel. No; a further lesson will be needed and will be
given. It is represented in

“(2) An _earthquake_. Throughout the Scriptures an earthquake
seems always to represent revolution; and it is not unreasonable
to expect that an era of general warfare would so arouse the lower
classes of Europe and so discontent them with their lot (and
especially with the conditions which would follow such a war) that
revolution would be the next thing in order. (Rev. 16:18.) But,
severe though those revolutionary experiences will be to the
world, they are not sufficient to prepare men to hear the voice of
God. It will require

“(3) The _fire from heaven_—an epoch of Divine judgments and
chastisements upon a maddened but unconverted world, wild in
anarchy, as other Scriptures show us. The results of their wars,
revolutions and anarchy, in the failure of their schemes, will
have a humbling effect, and will prepare mankind for God’s
revelation of Himself in

“(4) The _still small voice_. Yes; He who spoke to the winds and
the waves of the Sea of Galilee will, in due time, ‘speak peace to
the peoples.’ He will speak with authority, commanding the
observance of His long neglected Law of Love. ‘And whosoever will
not hear that Prophet shall be cut off from among His people.’
(Acts 3:23.)”—THE WATCH TOWER, July 1, 1898, p. 308.

“Looking back to the prophetic testimony respecting the _Times of
the Gentiles_, we perceive that our Lord’s words, ‘Jerusalem shall
be trodden down of the Gentiles until the Times of the Gentiles be
filled full,’ give the intimation that the determined times, or
years, in which the empire of earth would be in the hands of
Gentile governments was a fixed one from the Divine standpoint.
And if, as we believe the Scriptures to teach, Gentile domination
was provided for up to October, 1914, it would seem but a
reasonable interpretation that Divine power would not be exercised
to their dethronement until _after_ the time allotted for their
reign had ended—October, 1914.”—THE WATCH TOWER, July 1, 1904. p.
198.

In 1879 Charles Taze Russell began the publication of THE WATCH TOWER, of which he was the sole editor as long as he remained on earth. THE WATCH TOWER was, and is, the first and only journal declaring the _presence_ of the Lord Jesus. Pastor Russell being the messenger to the Laodicean Church, and occupying the position of the Lord’s special servant to give the Household of Faith meat in due season, it was to be expected that he would bring forth from the Lord’s great “Storehouse” the needed spiritual food for the Church, in harmony with God’s will. By the Lord’s grace he wrote the six volumes of STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES, which writings, aside from the Bible, have gladdened more hearts and thrilled Christians with greater hope and joyful expectation than have any other writings extant. These books have been properly designated “Keys to the Divine Plan of the Ages.” These “keys” have been placed in the hands of thousands of Christian people throughout the world, and have enabled them to unlock the Lord’s Treasure‐house, the Bible, and there to see some of the “treasures of wisdom” and knowledge of God! Some have been able to use these “keys” more effectually than have others. “God hath set the members in the Body as it hath pleased Him.”

Time and again Pastor Russell said that the Seventh Volume of STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES would be written; and it was expected that he would write it. The Scriptures show that the Seventh Volume must be published. Pastor Russell passed from the earth, and the Seventh Volume remained unpublished. In his last moments he said, “Some one else can write the Seventh Volume.” For any one to arrogate to himself the authority to write and publish the Seventh Volume would, we believe, seem presumptuous before the Lord. Whom, then, would the Lord have to write it?

Pastor Russell was a man of unusual modesty. Great men usually are modest. The examination of the contents of this book will disclose the fact that it deals with Revelation and Ezekiel; that the Lord long ago caused to be recorded therein, in symbolic language, a history of the Church, particularly the closing earthly experiences thereof; that therein He set forth that He would uncover the frauds, deceptions and blasphemous teachings and practices of the church nominal—both Catholic and Protestant; that in the last days He would then make bare the unholy alliance between the unrighteous ecclesiastical systems and the corrupt political elements of the earth, which religious systems have prospered and grown fat in the name of Christ; that the Lord pronounces His indignation and wrath against all such Babylonish systems and marks their utter destruction in a Time of Trouble such as the world has never known and will never again know; and that the earthly creature made prominent therein above all others is the messenger of the Laodicean Church—“that wise and faithful servant” of the Lord—CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL. In view of the facts stated, is it at all surprising that the Lord spared him the publication of the Seventh Volume?

But the fact is, _he did write it_. This book may properly be said to be a posthumous publication of Pastor Russell. Why? Because to him the Lord gave the “key”; to him was given the privilege of making clear to the Church in its last years the “Mystery of God”; to him was granted the privilege of hearing from the hands of the Lord to the Household of Faith “meat in due season” for the special development and sustenance of God’s dear little ones. This service he has faithfully performed. This book is chiefly a compilation of things which he wrote and which have been brought together in harmonious style by properly applying the symbols which he explained to the Church.

By his last Will and Testament Pastor Russell designated George H. Fisher, of Scranton, Pa., as one whom he would approve as a member of the Editorial Staff of THE WATCH TOWER—the most important journal published on earth. For many years Brother Fisher has been consecrated to the Lord, a careful student of the Bible in the light of the Message brought from the Lord by the messenger to the Laodicean Church; and for some time he has made a careful and prayerful study of the Book of Ezekiel.

When Pastor Russell was with us he gave direction that the BIBLE STUDENTS MANUAL should be prepared by Clayton J. Woodworth, also of Scranton, Pa. This Manual was published by this Society, and has proven a great blessing to the Household of Faith. The preparation of that Manual required a critical examination of everything Pastor Russell had written; and thus Brother Woodworth was enabled to become more familiar, probably, than any one else with the explanation of the Scriptures which had been given by Brother Russell. In this manner the Lord seemed to have qualified him for some special work. With the “key” which Brother Russell, as the Lord’s servant, had placed in his hands, Brother Woodworth, by the Lord’s grace, has been enabled to bring together everything that Brother Russell wrote on Revelation, and to explain and harmonize the other parts of that book with the Divine Plan; also, to treat similarly, the Song of Solomon.

It seemed pleasing to the Lord that Brothers C. J. Woodworth and George H. Fisher should prepare the Seventh Volume, under the direction of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY. While both residing in the same city, they have worked separate and apart from each other, not even comparing notes. The reader will be able to judge how fully the work of each harmonizes with that of the other and with the Divine Plan, thus giving further evidence of the Lord’s direction in this matter.

Pastor Russell long ago said, in substance, that the Seventh Volume would not be for the development of the Church; that the preceding _six_ volumes of STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES contain the necessary spiritual food for that purpose. Asked why, then, it would be written, he replied, “_It will probably be given to the Church in a time of direst need, for her comfort and encouragement_.”

Who amongst the consecrated this side the veil does not realize that the Church is now in that time of “dire need of comfort and encouragement”? The hour of fiery trial and great testings is upon God’s people, and there is need for their comfort and encouragement. The Lord has promised “grace sufficient” and help for every time of need for those who love Him and come confidently unto Him. We believe that as the Lord’s dear children throughout the earth read the contents of this book and see how wonderfully He has shielded them from the storms of human passion and from the snares of the great Adversary; and that when they see that the unrighteous, wicked systems of Babylon are now crumbling under the mighty hand of God—which bespeaks the early deliverance of the last members of the Body from this vale of tears into the glorious light and liberty of the saints—that then they will be greatly comforted; that then they will take new courage and “gird up the loins of their mind, be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to come unto them quickly;” that with exceeding joy they will lift up their heads, because the hour of deliverance is at hand! To all the truly consecrated who read and appreciate this book we believe that the words of the Master, “THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND!” will sound in their ears like clarion notes upon the clear morning air, giving courage and strength to those who are growing weak in faith, and more courage to the stronger ones. We believe that every one who appreciates this volume will have a burning desire to grasp his weapon and go forth to the smiting of the Jordan, giving praise to the Lord for the privilege.

Some will murmur and find fault with this book; some will grow angry, and some will join the persecutors. But, we believe, every saint whose heart is filled with love for God and for His people will rejoice and give praise to the Lord for this further evidence of His blessed favor.

The publisher takes pleasure in presenting this, the Seventh Volume, to the remaining members of the Church, and to all who may read with profit to themselves and to the glory of the Lord Jesus and our Father. As the Lord has sent forth the other six volumes, His blessing has accompanied each. That His blessing may be upon this volume, to the comfort and encouragement of the dear saints in the hour of direst need, is our prayer!

WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This posthumous work of Pastor Russell (arranged for use as a textbook) is much condensed, including the extracts from the Pastor’s pen, all of which are referred back to his works. The abbreviations used are:

A, B, C, D, E, F. The six preceding volumes of “STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES” (Citations to E in italic figures refer to old editions, figures in ordinary type to later editions.) B. S. M. ... “THE BIBLE STUDENTS MONTHLY.” H. ... “What Say the Scriptures ABOUT HELL?” P‐D. ... “PHOTO‐DRAMA OF CREATION” Scenario. T. ... “TABERNACLE SHADOWS.” S. ... “SPIRITISM” Pamphlet. Z. ... “ZION’S WATCH TOWER,” followed by year and page.

The citations to REVELATION and EZEKIEL refer to the comments herein, as well as to the Bible text.

Other abbreviations used are:

Barnes ... Barnes’ “Revelation.” Brit. ... “Encyclopedia Britannica.” Buck ... Buck’s “Theological Dictionary.” Coffin ... Coffin’s “Story of Liberty.” Cook ... Cook’s “Revelation;” a compendium of the presentations of seventy‐two leading commentators on Revelation, in all languages and all ages of the church. Edgar ... Edgar’s “Pyramid Passages.” Vol. II. McC. ... McClintock and Strong’s Encyclopedia. Mosheim ... Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History. S. B. D. ... Smith’s Bible Dictionary. Smith ... Smith’s “Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation.” Weym ... Weymouth’s New Testament In Modern Speech.

THE REVELATION OF [ST.] JOHN [THE DIVINE](1)

Revelation 1—The Message For This Day

The Revelation of Jesus Christ.—John the Revelator and the Prophet Habakkuk have foretold that the understanding of this revelation, given in 96 A. D., is set for an appointed time, the end of the age; and that, at this time, now, when the predicted “Faithful and wise servant” would be present with God’s people, the vision would be made plain.—Rev. 1:10; Matt. 24:45; Hab. 2:1‐3; 1 Pet 1:13.

Which God gave unto Him.—“The declaration that ‘the Son can do nothing of Himself,’ if it were not backed up as it is by a score of other testimonies from the same interested and inspired Teacher, is a contradiction to the common thought of Trinitarians, that the Son is the Father.”—Z. ’99‐45; John 5:20; 12:49; 17:7,8.

To shew unto His [servants] SAINTS.(2)—“Our Lord Jesus has promised us that, as the Elder Brother (of the Gospel House of Sons), whatsoever the Father shall make known to Him He in turn will make known to us.”—Z. ’99‐45.

The things.—The shifting scenes of Church and State, the history of the Gospel and Millennial Ages.

Which must shortly come to pass.—Which began at once, in St. John’s day, and will continue until the completion of all that he foresaw.

And He sent.—He did not come Himself, but acted with the dignity becoming Him who is now the express Image of the Father’s person. “Dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen, nor can see.”—Heb. 1:3; 1 Tim. 6:16.

And signified It—“Our Lord’s revelation, which God gave Him after He had passed into glory, He sent and signified [_sign_ified, told in signs, symbols, etc.] to His Church.”—B. 203.

By His angel.—The “angel” of Rev. 3:14 represented this messenger who appeared to St. John. Our Lord’s promise in Luke 12:44 is not limited to activities on this side the veil.

Unto His servant John.—“This simplicity, common to all the Apostles, commends them to us as men of humble mind—the very kind we should expect our Lord to use as special messengers to His people.”—Z. ’16‐343; Rev. 19:10.

1:2. Who bare record.—Previously, In the Fourth Gospel, and in the three epistles bearing his name.

Of the Word of God.—The Logos. St. John has had more to say of the Logos than had any other Apostle. “In olden times certain kings made addresses to their subjects by proxy, the king sitting behind a screen, while his word, or spokesman, stood before the screen, and addressed the people aloud on subjects whispered to him by the king, who was not seen, and such a speaker was termed the King’s _logos_.”—E. 94‐85.

And of the testimony.—The daily words and deeds, during the three and a half years of His ministry.

Of Jesus Christ.—“The Faithful and True Witness.”—Rev. 3:14.

[And of all] WHAT things [that] SOEVER he saw.—St. John’s powers of observation were acute. His Gospel contains records of twenty‐two events or teachings not mentioned by the other Evangelists.

1:3. Blessed is he.—Singular.

That readeth.—Correctly interprets the symbolisms.

And they.—Plural.

That hear the [words] WORD of this prophecy.—“All who have read and understood even a part of the teachings of the book were blessed as promised. It was an important aid to Luther in deciding that the Papacy, of which he was a conscientious minister, was ‘Antichrist’ ”—A. 27.

And keep.—Keep the eyes upon, observe (so the Greek Indicates).—Rev. 22:7.

Those things which are written therein.—“There is a blessing upon those who read this revelation, even though they do not understand, and a special blessing upon those who hear and understand the words of this prophecy, and who conform their lives to the things therein written.”—Z. ’16‐343.

For the time is at hand.—The fulfilments began at once, in St. John’s own day.

1:4. John to the seven churches.—Not merely the seven literal congregations mentioned in Verse 11 and elsewhere, but to the epochs of the Church as a whole, from Apostolic days until now.

Which are in Asia.—In the Orient, the East, the early path of the sun. Before the Sun of Righteousness can illuminate the world of mankind, its rays must first have passed through the Church, the first to greet and welcome the New Day.

Grace be unto you.—May favor, unmerited, be your happy portion.

And peace.—The Lord’s special legacy to His Church.—John 14:27.

From Him.—Our glorified Lord and Head.—Rev. 1:8.

Which is.—Now self‐existent, like the Father.—John 5:26.

And which was.—The Logos, the Father’s Agent in the creation of all things (John 1:3), and subsequently, as man’s Redeemer, “made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death.”—Heb. 2:9.

And which is to come.—In glory and great power at His Second Advent, “until He shall have set judgment in the earth.”—Isa. 42:4.

And from the seven spirits.—Lamps of fire, or eyes. (Rev. 4:5; 5:6.) “In this symbolical picture the eye of the Lord is represented as seven or complete, all‐seeing, everywhere, all‐knowing. This is our confidence, this is our rejoicing.”—Z. ’05‐318; Zech. 3:9, 4:10.

Which are before His Throne.—Which are “sent forth into all the earth.”—Rev. 4:5.

1:5. And.—_Kai_, even. For a similar use of the word see the expression, “God Himself and our Father” (1 Thes. 3:11), which, in the Diaglott, is rendered, “God Himself, even our Father.”

From Jesus Christ the faithful Witness.—“Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession.” (1 Tim. 6:13.) Our Lord’s admission to Pilate, “I am a King; to this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world” (John 18:37), was the direct cause of His death. The accusation set up over His head was, “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” (John 19:19; Matt. 27:37.) Similarly faithful admissions may end the earthly careers of the feet‐members of His Body.

The First Begotten of the dead.—“The First‐Born of the dead ones.” (Diaglott.) (1 Cor. 15:20; Col. 1:18; Acts 26:23.) “This verse clearly teaches what the creeds of Christendom ignore; namely, that our Lord was the first to experience a resurrection to perfection and eternal life in the full sense of the word.”—Z. ’16‐343; Acts 13:33, 34.

And.—Even.

The Prince.—The King‐Elect, now ruling in their hearts.

Of the kings of the earth.—His associate kings, “The kings of the East.” (Rev. 16:12.) “All are to be awakened from the Adamic death, as though from a sleep. They will then be under the care of the Royal Priesthood, whose experience with sin, and whose victory over sin, well fitted them to be helpful toward those over whom they will reign, as Kings as well as Priests. (Rev. 5:10.)”—E. 487, 478.

Unto Him that [loved] LOVETH us.—Our Lord’s love for us is ever‐present.

And [washed] FREED us from our sins [in] BY His own blood.—“That it was the death of the Man Christ Jesus, His ‘blood,’ that secured our release from sin and death is most unequivocally stated in many Scriptures. See 1 Pet 1:2; Acts 4:12; 20:28; Rev. 5:9; Rom. 5:9; Heb. 13:12.”—E. 458, 446; Matt. 20:28; 1 Tim. 2:6; Rev. 14:4.

1:6. And hath made us.—And will make us during the Millennial Age.

[Kings and] A KINGDOM, priests.—The work of a priest is that of intervention and of instruction in righteousness. It logically implies subjects and a future work of salvation.—1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 5:10; 20:6; 22:5.

Unto God and His Father.—“Unto the God and Father of Himself.”—Diaglott. Rom. 15:6; 2 Cor. 1:3; Eph. 1:3.

To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.—“He shall have dominion also from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the earth;... and let the whole earth be filled with His glory; Amen, and Amen.” (Psa. 72:8, 19.) “For ever and ever” is literally “for the ages of _the_ ages.” The Millennium and subsequent ages are the ages of the ages.

1:7. Behold, He cometh with clouds.—“While the clouds of trouble hang heavy and dark, when the mountains—kingdoms of this world—are trembling and falling, when the earth—organized society—is being shaken and disintegrated, some will begin to realize that Jehovah’s Anointed is taking to Himself His great power and is beginning His work of laying justice to the line and righteousness to the plummet.”—Z. ’16‐344; Matt 24:30.

And every eye shall see Him.—“He will not be visible to natural sight, but to the eyes of understanding, as these shall open to an appreciation of the punishments and blessings which will flow to mankind from His Reign. Our King will reveal Himself gradually. Some will discern the new Ruler sooner than will others. But ultimately ‘every eye shall see [Greek, _horao_, discern] Him.’ ”—Z. ’16‐344.

And they also which pierced Him.—“And I will pour upon the House of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem [the Jewish people], the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son.”—Zech. 12:10.

And all kindreds of the earth shall [wail because of] BEWAIL Him.—“At the time of our Lord’s Second Advent the world will be far from converted to God; for ‘all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.’ Christ comes before the conversion of the world and for the very purpose of converting all mankind.”—Z. ’16‐344.

Even so, Amen.—We cannot stop the clouds of the Time of Trouble, or the tears of disappointment, and later, of repentance; and we would not if we could. The trouble and the tears are a necessary preparation for the blessings which follow.

1:8. I am THE Alpha and I AM ALSO THE Omega.—Alpha is the first letter, and Omega the last letter, of the Greek alphabet.

The Beginning and the Ending.—“Our Lord’s great honor is shown in that He was not only the _first_ of God’s creation, but the _last_. From this we are to understand that the great Jehovah did not directly employ His own power in creating either men or angels; but that He delegated His power to His _Only_‐begotten Son.”—Z. ’93‐115.

Saith the Lord GOD.—But not the clergy; they will have none of this doctrine.

Which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.—“It is since His resurrection that the message has gone forth—‘All power in Heaven and in earth _is given_ unto Me.’ (Matt 28:18.) Consequently it is only since then that He could be called the Almighty.”—Z. ’93‐115; Rev. 1:4; 16:5‐7.

1:9. I John, who [also] am your brother.—“Instead of adding titles to his name, as Reverend, Bishop, Overseer of all the Churches in Asia Minor, we find John introducing himself as ‘your brother.’ ”—Z. ’01‐187.

And companion in tribulation.—“He was sharer with Christ, as a member of His Body, in His afflictions, in His endurance; and the brother of all fellow‐disciples, sharers of the same sufferings, and prospectively of the same glory.”—Z. ’01‐187: Matt. 20:23.

And [In] the kingdom.—Now, while “the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence;” and later, when “the Kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.”—Matt 11:12; Dan. 7:27.

And patience [of] IN Jesus [Christ].—When Saul persecuted the saints, he persecuted Jesus. When St. Paul suffered as a Christian, it was as part of the “dying of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 9:5; 2 Cor. 4:10.) What St. John cheerfully endured was endured by Jesus.

Was in the isle that is called Patmos.—“At the time of this vision St. John was a prisoner, exiled to the Isle of Patmos, a penal colony of those days [a convict quarry]—a rocky, barren island in the Ægean Sea. The crime for which he suffered this banishment was his faithfulness as the Lord’s mouthpiece. St. John, the beloved disciple, in some measure, or degree, represented the last living members of the Body of Christ (John 21:20‐23)—a class that see with the eyes of their understanding the visions and revelations which the beloved disciple saw in symbol in a trance. If, then, St. John’s exile in any degree represents ostracism which the Lord’s followers may expect in the close of this Age—a complete isolation from others and a treatment implying that they are prisoners—they may take comfort from the thought that our Lord’s favor and revelation to St. John more than offset his persecutions.”—Z. ’16‐343.

For the Word of God.—“St. John, with remarkable modesty, passes over his previous service for the Truth (Rev. 1:2), which had brought him his persecution, and lightly passes over the persecution itself, merely noting that he was in the island because of his fidelity to the Word of God.”—Z. ’01‐187.

And for the testimony of Jesus.—As recorded in the Gospel according to St. John and the three Johannean epistles.

1:10. I was in the spirit.—“Visions are not realities, although symbolically representing them. (Dan. 7:1; Matt. 17:9.) The visions granted to St. John, recorded in the Revelation, are in no sense to be understood as realities.”—Z. ’16‐343; Acts 10:10.

On the Lord’s Day.—“According to our understanding of Bible chronology we today are living in the early dawn of this Day of Christ; and it is here, properly enough, that we begin to see the wonderful things of the Divine Character and Plan. But to see and to understand we must be ‘in the spirit.’ Only those who have become New Creatures in Christ can be expected to appreciate spiritual things; and this is the class which the Apostle John represented.”—Z. ’16‐343.

And heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.—“The fact that its location is mentioned implies that it has a _symbolic_ meaning. It signifies that the beginning of this Message was not in St. John’s day, nor in the future, but that the things revealed had already commenced and were already to some extent in the past. As some features of the Revelation show, the voice from behind went back to the time of our Lord’s earthly ministry.” (Z. ’16‐344.) “As John heard a voice behind him and looked in that direction, so we who now are having the realities find that the Message is behind us, and turn and look toward the past to see the fulfilment of the various features of the Divine Plan and to hear and understand the Message given to His people by the risen Lord.”—Z. ’05‐168.

1:11. Saying, [I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last: and] What thou seest, write in a book and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia.—“There are many reasons for concluding that while the messages were given to the seven churches specified and were applicable to them, they should properly have a still wider application to the whole Church of Christ, the number seven representing completeness, and the order representing different epochs in the history of the Church. To think otherwise would be to attach more importance to those comparatively small churches of Asia Minor than they would seem to have deserved, and would have implied an ignoring of other churches more numerous and more influential; as, for instance, the churches at Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth, Colosse, Philippi, Thessalonica, etc. Furthermore, the details of the messages given to these seven churches apply to and fit historically the one Church of the living God, over every member and branch of which the Lord has a care. This thought, that the seven represented completeness, we find emphasized in the other symbolical representations—in the seven golden candlesticks, the seven stars, etc.” (Z. ’05‐168.) Colosse (Col. 1:2), Miletus (Acts 20:17) and Hierapolis (Col. 4:13) were churches in Asia, not here mentioned. The Asia mentioned is the westernmost province of Asia Minor.

Unto Ephesus.—The Apostolic Age of the Church.

And unto Smyrna.—The Church during the period of persecution by Pagan Rome.

And unto Pergamos.—The Church during the period of the rise of Antichrist.

And unto Thyatira.—The Church during the Dark Ages, the period of Antichrist’s glory, and persecution by Papal Rome.

And unto Sardis.—The Church in the dawn of the Reformation.

And unto Philadelphia.—The Church in the period of reformation by sects.

And unto Laodicea.—The Church in the time of the Lord’s Second Presence.

1:12. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me.—“The Apostles saw in symbol what the Lord’s people may now see with the eye of faith and understanding. He saw One like a son of man—like a man, like a priest, as implied by the clothes described—walking amongst seven golden candlesticks, caring for them, trimming the wicks, seeing to the supply of oil, etc. Thus our Lord Jesus, our glorified Master, has directed respecting His people’s affairs, inspecting and caring for the Church as a light‐bearer, a candlestick. Alas, how poor the wicks have sometimes been! How feeble the light that has sometimes shone out! How much trimming has been necessary!”—Z. ’16‐344.

And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks.—“The Golden Candlestick, or Lamp‐stand, which stood opposite the Golden Table, and gave light to all in the ‘Holy,’ was of gold—all of one piece hammered out. (Exod. 25:31‐37.) It had seven branches, each of which held a lamp, making seven lamps in all—a perfect or complete number. This represented the complete Church, from the Head, Jesus, to and including the last member of the ‘little flock’ that He is taking out from among men, to be partakers of the Divine (gold) nature.”—T. 115; Rev. 1:20; Zech. 4:2; Matt. 5:14‐16.

1:13. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks.—“The union, the relationship between them, being supplied by our Redeemer, the antitypical High Priest.”—Z. ’16‐344.

One like unto the son of man.—“This symbolical picture has precious lessons for us, more valuable than an attempt to describe to our minds the appearance of our Lord as a Spirit Being, ‘dwelling in light which no man can approach unto,’ and which we cannot appreciate until we shall be changed to ‘be like Him and see Him as He is.’—1 John 3:2; 1 Cor. 15:50‐53.”—Z. ’16‐344; Dan. 7:13.

Clothed with a garment down to the foot.—“The glory of Christ was manifested in His own person, in His own ministry, and in that of His Twelve Apostles, His representatives—St. Paul taking the place of Judas; with their death the body of Truth was almost veiled throughout the eighteen centuries intervening, until now.”—Z. ’16‐344.

And girt about the breast.—The support of the garment at the breast, instead of the neck, left the arms and shoulders uncovered, representing that the early Church was favored with the light of the true Gospel for a considerable time after our Lord and Head had completed His earthly ministry.

With a golden girdle.—Gold is a symbol of the Divine nature; the girdle a symbol of service. (Rev. 15:6.) Throughout the Age the Lord has been serving His Church. “Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching; verily I say unto you that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.” “I am among you as he that serveth.”—Luke 12:37; 22:27.

1:14. His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow.—“The head, with its white hair, is not to teach us that our Lord in glory has the form of a man, with white hairs, but merely suggestive and symbolic of knowledge, experience, wisdom.”—Z. ’01‐188; Matt. 17:2.

And His eyes were as a flame of fire.—“His eyes like a flame of fire tell us in symbol that our Master is all‐seeing, omniscient; that He is not deceived by outward forms and ceremonies; but that He can, and does, read every thought and intent of the heart.”—Z. ’16‐344; Rev. 19:12.

1:15. And His feet like unto fine brass.—“The feet, described as like furnace‐refined copper, seem to say that those who belong to the Body of Christ, and whom the Lord would use in His service, ‘the feet’ members of the Body, must, in their contact and dealings with the world, be refined, purified, clean—‘Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord’s house.’ ”—Z. ’01‐188; Ezek. 1:7.

As if they burned in a furnace.—“In the end of the Age, the feet members of the Body of Christ will be illuminated by the Truth and will shine forth—not like the Head, but as polished brass. We have shining upon us with almost burning brightness the focused rays of Divine inspiration and revelation from the past 6,000 years. How it should consume in us all the dross of selfishness! How it should purify us! How humble it should make us!”—Z. ’16‐344.

And His voice as the sound of many waters.—“The many waters signify peoples, nations and languages, as elsewhere explained in this book. Thus our Lord, present with His Church, speaks to her and through her by many tongues, in many languages.”—Z. ’01‐188; Rev. 19:6.

1:16. And He had in His right hand.—“This One whom we thus know, thus recognize, as the Instructor and Caretaker of the candlesticks, we are also to recognize as having in His right hand—in His favor as well as His power—seven stars, the angels, the messengers, of the seven Churches. That they are in His right hand seems to teach us that these should be considered as in some special sense under the Master’s guidance, protection and care in the interest of the Churches which they represented.”—Z. ’16‐345; Jer. 22:24.

Seven stars.—“Apparently the stars represent special ministers, or servants of the Church. In Revelation 12:1 the Church is pictured as a Woman crowned with twelve stars. These stars evidently represent the Twelve Apostles as the special lights of the Church. Similarly, in the picture before us, the seven stars which the Lord holds in His right hand seem to represent special light‐bearers in the Church—in each of its seven phases, or stages, of development. It will be noticed that the messages to the various Churches are sent by these stars, messengers, angels, as though our Lord would have us understand that the appropriate message for each appropriate epoch in the Church’s experience would be sent by the Lord through a particular star, or messenger, whom He would especially commission as His representative. Our Lord Himself is represented by the great light of the sun; and His special messengers in the Church throughout the entire period of the Gospel Age are consistently enough represented as stars.”—Z. ’16‐345; Rev. 1:20.

And out of His mouth went a sharp two‐edged sword.—“No part of the description could more thoroughly convince us that the description of our Lord given here is symbolic. As a symbolic picture, it speaks to us of the Word of the Lord, the Sword of the Spirit, ‘sharper than any two‐edged sword.’ (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12.) It reminds us that our Lord’s words are not one‐sided, not directed merely against sin in one class, but that His Word is sharp, cutting in every direction; that sin is reproved by Him as much when found in His most earnest followers as when found elsewhere. It assures us that none need attempt to pluck out the mote from his brother’s eye without first getting rid of the beam in his own eye; and that if we do not show mercy to those who are our debtors we must not expect mercy from Him who has purposed to extend His mercy toward us. How heart‐ searching is God’s Word when we understand it—not merely as a compendium of rules and regulations, but when we catch the spirit of it! Then we come to see that its requirement is love out of a pure heart; first, to the Heavenly Father; secondly, to our Lord and Head; thirdly, to all His brethren; fourthly, to the world in general, groaning and travailing in pain, waiting for the blessings of the coming Day of Christ; and fifthly, toward our enemies also, sympathetically realizing that they are warped, twisted and blinded through the deceitfulness of sin and through the machinations of the great Adversary.—2 Cor. 4:4.”—Z. ’16‐345; Rev. 2:12, 16; 19:15, 21; Isa. 11:4.

And His countenance [was as the sun] shineth AS THE SUN in his strength.—“And his face was as it were the sun.”—Rev. 10:1; Acts 26:13.

1:17. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.—“So great was the splendor that St. John fell as dead, just as Daniel did in the presence of the mighty One whom he saw, and just as Saul of Tarsus did before the majesty presented to him. (Dan. 10:4‐11; Acts 9:3‐9.) So it is symbolically with the Christian, when once he gets a glimpse of the glories of the Divine Character. When once we get a true view of Him with whom we have to do, as the great Heart‐searcher and Caretaker of His Church, we fall before Him, humbled to the dust, realizing that we are imperfect, that we cannot stand before our Master, that we are unworthy of His blessing.”—Z. ’16‐344; Ezek. 1:28.

And He laid His right hand upon me.—“As our Lord touched St. John gently, raising him up, so He has spoken to us comfort, peace and love, assuring us that we have a High Priest that can be touched with a feeling of our infirmities, One who is able to sympathize and mercifully to assist.”—Z. ’16‐345.

Saying [unto me, Fear not]; I am the First and the Last.—“We must recognize that our Lord is the One who was the beginning of the creation of God and the end of it, the One by whom are all things, next to the Father in everything pertaining to the affairs of the Universe.—Col. 1:15; Rev. 3:14; John 1:1‐3; 1 Cor. 8:6.”—Z. ’16‐345; Rev. 1:11; 2:8.

1:18. I am He that liveth, and was dead.—“The Lord now liveth, and in order to appreciate this we understand that He was dead for parts of three days—not merely apparently dead, but actually _dead_—His soul poured out unto death, made an offering for sin.—Isa. 53:10‐12.” (Z. ’01‐189.) “It was because Christ’s soul (being) was dead that the Apostles could declare that unless His soul, being, were made alive again by a resurrection there could be no hope in Him as a Savior and a Life‐giver.”—Z. ’01‐122.

And behold, I am alive for evermore, [Amen].—“Death has no more dominion over Him. (Rom. 6:9.) Neither sacrifices of the Mass nor death in any sense or form ever will be needed. His work is perfect. ‘It is finished!’ ”—Z. ’16‐345; John 19:30.

And have the keys of [hell] DEATH.—“He has the key, the power over death, in order that those who have not yet gone into the tomb, but who are under the death sentence, may all be ultimately delivered into the full liberty of the sons of God—righteousness and life everlasting.—Rom. 8:21.”—Z. ’16‐345.

And of [death] HELL.—“These words imply that the Lord’s people go to _Hades_, and that the hope when going down to _Hades_, to oblivion, is that in due time our great Redeemer shall unlock this figurative prisonhouse of death and bring forth the captives. This is the significance of the statement that He has the keys—He can open; all power is given into His hand. In preaching at His First Advent, He declared this to be the Gospel. (Isa. 61:1; Luke 4:18.) How full of meaning are these Scriptures when viewed from the proper standpoint; how confusing and absurd when viewed from any other!”—E. 397, 378.

1:19. Write THEREFORE the things which thou hast seen.—John was personally familiar with the first epoch, then already in the past. What he wrote of that epoch (Rev. 2:1‐7) serves as a guide to what follows.

And the things which are.—John was writing in the second epoch, already in its persecution era.—Rev. 2:8‐11.

And the things which [shall be] MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS hereafter.—The five remaining epochs of the Church, and the Kingdom to follow.

1:20. The mystery of the seven stars.—Every true reformer must go contrary to the current of his times; and, in proportion as he has the Master’s spirit, he cannot fail to be, like Him, a man of mystery to his own generation—“a Stone of Stumbling and a Rock of Offense”—to those who have not “ears to hear.”

Which thou sawest in My right hand.—Small wonder that these great reformers seemed almost to have charmed lives!

And the seven golden candlesticks.—“The Candlestick, or Lampstand, represents the nominal, rather than the true Church. This is shown by the fact that in addressing each of these churches the Lord finds fault with the many and approves the faithful few.”—Z. ’16‐344.

The seven stars.—“The star‐light is the Heavenly light, the spiritual enlightenment or instruction. The lamp‐light is the earthly light, representing good works, obedience, etc., of those who are exhorted to let their light so shine that it will glorify their Father in Heaven.”—Z. ’16‐345.

Are the angels of the seven churches.—“The title is borrowed from the Jewish Synagogue, in which the angel, or messenger of the assembly, was the person who presided over and arranged the meetings for worship.” (Cook.)—Mal. 2:7; Hag. 1:13.

And the seven candlesticks [which thou sawest] are the seven churches.—“Alas! The Master evidently found but few good works, little glorifying light shining out from His earthly representatives in many of the seven epochs of the history of the Church.”—Z. ’16‐344; Rev. 1:12; Zech. 4:2.

Revelation 2—St. Paul, St. John, Arius And Waldo

2:1. [Unto] BY the angel.—The special messenger in the Harvest of the Jewish Age was St. Paul. A Hebrew of the Hebrews (Phil. 3:5), he was a free‐born Roman citizen (Acts 22:25‐29), highly educated (Acts 22:3), spoke Greek (Acts 21:37) and Hebrew (Acts 22:2), and was presumably a member of the Sanhedrin at the time of St. Stephen’s death. (Acts 7:58; 8:1; 26:10.) Chosen before his birth (Gal. 1:15), he was supernaturally inducted into the Body of Christ (Acts 9:1‐22) to take the place of Judas (Psa. 109:8; Acts 1:20), was privately instructed in the fullness of the Gospel (Gal. 1:11, 12, 17), was specially commissioned to explain this Gospel to the brethren at Jerusalem (Gal. 2:1, 2), did not hesitate to correct the erring Peter (Gal. 2:11), was acknowledged by St. Peter as filled with Heavenly wisdom (2 Pet. 3:15, 16), wrote over half of the books of the New Testament, carried the Gospel into Europe (Acts 16:9), supported himself with his own hands while he preached (Acts 20:32‐35), and suffered almost unbelievable hardships of every description—besides having “the care of all the churches.” (2 Cor. 11:24‐28.) What a service and honor, here and hereafter, Judas missed by his love of money! St. Paul was beheaded by Nero, A. D. 66.

Of the church [of] IN Ephesus.—The first age of the Church began at Pentecost in the spring of A. D. 33, and ended in the spring of A. D. 73. “It may be proper to mention also what things occurred that show the benignity of that all‐gracious Providence, that had deferred their destruction for forty years after their crimes against Christ.” (Eusebius’ _Ecclesiastical History_.) “On the 15th of Nisan, i. e., of April, in the year 73 A. D., the first day of the Easter festival, the same day on which, according to tradition, the God of Israel had led His people out of Egyptian bondage into freedom, the last bulwark of Israel’s liberty had fallen, and Israel was delivered into bondage.” (Cornil’s _History of the People of Israel_.) “Masada attained great importance in the war with the Romans.... With the fall of Masada the war came to an end, on the 15th of Nisan, 73.” (_The Jewish Encyclopedia_.) “The capture of Masada, a Jewish fortress on the southwestern shores of the Dead Sea, put a termination to one of the fiercest struggles recorded in history (73 A. D.)”—Morrison’s _Jews Under Roman Rule_.

“Judea was not entirely subjugated; for three strong fortresses were still in arms: Herodium, Machaerus, and Masada.... The heroes agreed to this proposal (of their leader Eleasar) even with enthusiasm, and on the first day of the great Feast of the Passover (A. D. 73), after slaying their own wives and children, they all perished on their own swords.” (Graetz’s _History of the Jews_, Vol. 2.) “Eleasar accordingly persuaded all his people during that night to kill their wives and children and then themselves, but to burn all their treasures first. The next day the Romans found only 960 dead bodies, whilst but two women and five children hid themselves in caverns and were discovered. The Easter of the year 73, just seven years from the beginning of the great movement and 40 years after Christ’s crucifixion, saw this end of the whole tragedy.” (Ewald’s _History of Israel_, Vol. 7, which is entitled “The Apostolic Age,” and which Prof. Ewald makes to end with the year A. D. 73.) Josephus also relates that Masada fell on the 15th of Nisan, April, A. D. 73; but the quotation is too lengthy to be inserted here.

The meaning of the word _Ephesus_ is “permission,” which, understood as “approval,” harmonizes well with the tradition that the meaning is “desirable.” Anything that has approval is desirable.

Write.—St. Paul wrote a third of the New Testament.

These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand.—“In the first chapter we have a description of ‘One like unto a son of man.’ Some one or more of the features of this description are mentioned in connection with each of the successive stages of the Church.”—Z. ’16‐346; Rev. 1:16, 20.

Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.—“We could not doubt the love and care of our glorified Head even if He had given us no explicit declaration on the subject.” (F. 401; Rev. 1:13; Lev. 24:2‐4.)

2:2. I know thy works.—The early Christians “took joyfully the spoiling of their goods” (Heb. 10:34); in “great trial of affliction” they abounded in joy, and in “deep poverty” were liberal “beyond their power.” (2 Cor. 8:2, 3.) They were living epistles, “known and read of all men.”—2 Cor. 8:2, 3.