Part 332 (1/2)

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SELECTIONS FROM THE APOCALYPSE OF JOHN

(This book is also called the Revelation.)

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which G.o.d gave him to shew unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pa.s.s: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John; who bare witness of the word of G.o.d, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, even of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him which is and which was and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood; and he made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto his G.o.d and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they which pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

EPHESUS. VIEW OP THE RUINS OF THE AQUEDUCT.

CASTLE IN THE BACKGROUND.

From a photograph belonging to Miss Julia W. Snow and used by her kind permission.

[End ill.u.s.tration]

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”I am the Alpha and the Omega,” saith the Lord G.o.d, ”which is and which was and which is to come, the Almighty.”

I John, your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patience which are in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of G.o.d and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet saying, ”What thou seest, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”

And I turned to see the voice which spake with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the b.r.e.a.s.t.s with a golden girdle. And his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto burnished bra.s.s, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters.

And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun s.h.i.+neth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead.

And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, ”Fear not; I am the first and the last, and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Write {460} therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pa.s.s hereafter; the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks are seven churches.

”To the angel of the church in Ephesus write;

THE MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS

”These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:

”I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them which call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false; and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name's sake, and hast not grown weary. But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of G.o.d.

”And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write;

THE MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA

”These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and lived again: I know thy tribulation, and thy {461} poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days.

Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

”And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write;