My Conversion: Jesus Grabbed Me!, IDRS, Kortenhoef, Netherlands., 1960, 8pp.

The Conversion of an Atheist, DRC Pubs., Cape Town, RSA, 1961, 5pp.

The Sabbath in the Bible, L.D.O.S., London, 1966, 20pp.

Culture: Its Origen, Development, and Goal, SCP, Cape May, N.J., 27pp.

Nationality and the Bible, SCP, Cape May, N.J., 21pp.

Communism Versus Christianity, LCICCC, Philadelphia, 1969, 20pp.

The Biblical Theory of Christian Education, SCP, Cape May, N.J., 20pp.

Communism Versus Creation, Craig Press, Nutley, N.J., 1969, 260pp.

Calvin on the Sciences, Sovereign Grace Union, England, 1969, 50pp

Race and Nation, Wever, Stellenbosch, RSA, 1969, 35pp.

Materialism, Idealism, and Calvinism, SAVBCW, Potchefstroom, RSA, 1970, 8pp.

Philosophy in 20th Century America, SAVBCW, Potchefstroom, RSA, 1970, 27pp.

The Lord's Day, DRC Commission on Public Morals, Pretoria, RSA, 1970. 20pp.

Christian Introduction: History of Philosophy, P&R, Philadelphia, 1970, 261pp.

The Basic Ideas of Communism, Anticom, Pretoria, RSA, 1971, 26pp.

The Salvation of Early-Dying Infants, DRCTJ, Stellenbosch, RSA, 1971, 15pp.

Missions the Heart of Church's Calling, DRCTJ, Stellenbosch, RSA, 1971, 15pp.

The Covenantal Sabbath, Lord's Day Observance Society, London, 1971, 343pp.

You Baptize Incorrectly!, DRC Pubs., Pretoria, RSA, 1971, 15pp.

How to Confess Christ, ICCC, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1971, 16pp.

The Westminster Confession and Modern Society, SRF, Edinburgh, 1972, 20pp.

Communist Eschatology, Craig Press, Nutley, N.J., 1973, 1201pp.

The Origin and Destiny of Man, Craig Press, Nutley, N.J., 1973, 125pp.

Sunday the Sabbath, DRC Pubs., Pretoria, RSA, 1975, 53pp.

Ten Commandments Today!, Lord's Day Observance Society, London, 1976, 15pp.

The Central Significance of Culture, P&R, Philadelphia, 1976, 164pp.

The Christian Manifesto 1984, Christian Liberty Press, Chicago, 1976, 18pp.

What About Baptism?, SRF, Edinburgh, 1976, 17pp.

About Sunday, Lord's Day Observance Society, London, 1978, 78pp.

The Office of Deacon, PCA Commissioners' Handbook, 1978, 27pp.

The Ministry of the Word, PCA Commissioners' Handbook, 1978, 55pp.

Christocracy: Divine Savior's Law, Jesus Lives, Tallahassee, 1979, 25pp.

Toward a Biblical Theology, Jesus Lives, Tallahassee, 1979, 12pp.

Effective Evangelism, Jesus Lives, Tallahassee, 1979, 12pp.

Are the Mosaic Laws for Today?, Jesus Lives, Tallahassee, 1979, 52pp.

Creation and Commission, Jesus Lives, Tallahassee, 1979, 40pp.

Mt. Sinai and the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Lives, Tallahassee, 1979, 23pp.

Communism, Korean Journal of Reformed Theology, Seoul, 1980, 25pp.

Abraham Kuyper: Rebirth of Knowledge, Jesus Lives, Bristol, Tn., 1980, 12pp.

John Calvin: True Presbyterian, Jesus Lives, Brisbane, Australia, 1981, 22pp.

Communism: Christian Evaluation, Jesus Lives, Brisbane Australia, 1981, 74pp.

Have You Neglected Your Baby?, Jesus Lives, Brisbane, Australia, 1981, 13pp.

Will Christ or Satan Win World?, Jesus Lives, Brisbane Australia, 1981, 32pp.

Pentecostalism: Outpouring or Heresy?, Commonwealth Pub., Dallas, 1986, 79pp.

Calvin on Creation, P.U.C.H.E., Potchefstroom, RSA, 1986, 53pp.

Revealed to Babies!, Commonwealth Publishers, Dallas, 1986, 20pp..

Biblical Private Property vs. Socialism, Ex Nihilo T.J., Brisbane, 1988, 7pp.

Sprinkling Is Scriptural!, The Presbyterian, England, 1990, 44pp.

Biblical Principles for Church Architecture, The Presbyterian, 1991, 44pp.

The Christian Afrikaners, 1652-1980., G.D.L., Cape Town, 1991, 215pp.

Revive Your Work! (ed.), Presbyterian Church of Qld., Australia 1991, 104pp.

Neglecting Your Baby? The Presbyterian, Bristol, England, 1991 rep., 16pp.

Culture, Korean Society for Reformed Faith and Action, Seoul, 1992, 208pp.

Antichrist in Scripture, Focus Christian Ministries, Sussex, 1992, 58pp.

Calvin on the Weekly Sabbath, British Reformed Journal, England 1993, 17pp.

Toward a Biblical Philosophy, Persuasive Press, Cambridge, Ma., 1993, 60pp.

The Fascinating History of Early Britain. BRJ, England, July 1994, 11pp.

The Anabaptists and Their Stepchildren, Blue Banner, Dallas, 1994, 62pp.

My Father's Slayer Saved! Wilston Presbyterian Church, Australia, 1994, 10pp.

Patrick and His Writings, Counsel of Chalcedon, Atlanta, July-Aug. 1996, 12pp.

Brothers Because of Bloodshed, Counsel of Chalcedon, Atlanta, July 1997, 20pp.

• "John's Revelation Unveiled" is the final section of a far larger work by Dr. F.N. Lee, entitled "Onward, Christian Soldiers! - Toward a Victorious Eschatology" (See Preface). It will be published at a later stage. Where references are made in "John's Revelation Unveiled" to the earlier parts of "Onward, Christian Soldiers!" these have been replaced with a "U ".

• Due to the size of the Bibliography, it was not included. Anyone interested should contact the publishers.

Francis Nigel Lee was born in 1934 in the Westmorland County of Cumbria (in Great Britain). He is the great-grandson of a fiery preacher whose family disintegrated when he backslid. Though Lee's father was an Atheist, he married a Roman Catholic who raised her son in that faith.

At the onset of the Second World War, Lee's father was appointed by the Royal Navy as Chief Radar Officer (South Atlantic). So the family then moved to South Africa. There, Lee became a Calvinist; had the great joy of leading both of his parents to Christ; and became a Minister of God's Word and Sacraments in the Dutch Reformed Church of Natal.

Emigrating to the U.S.A., Lee attended the very first General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America; transferred his ministerial credentials to that denomination; and pastored Congregations in Mississippi and Florida. He was also: Professor of Philosophy at Shelton College in New Jersey; Visiting Lecturer at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Ms.; Staley Distinguished Visiting Lecturer at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis; Research Scholar-in-Residence at the Christian Studies Center in Memphis; and Academic Dean of Graham Bible College in Bristol, Tennessee. He was then the only person in the World serving on the Executives of both the British Lord's Day Observance Society and the Lord's Day Alliance of the United States.

Preacher, Theologian, Lawyer, Educationist, Historian, Philosopher and Author, Lee has produced more than 330 publications (including many books) ¾ and also a multitude of long unpublished manuscripts. Apart from an honorary LL.D., he has twenty-one earned degrees ¾ including eleven earned doctorates for dissertations^* in Education, Law, Literature, Philosophy and Theology.

Lee rises early; reads God's Word in ten languages; then walks a couple of miles before breakfast. He has been round the World seven times; has visited one hundred and ten countries (several repeatedly); and also every Continent (except Antarctica). He is in demand as a Promoter of Doctoral Students in Australia, England, Germany, South Africa and the United States. He has lectured and/or preached in all of those countries, as well as in Brazil, Scotland, Korea, Japan, Namibia, New Zealand, and Zambia.

A diehard predestinarian, Lee now lives in Australia ¾ where he is the Professor of Systematic Theology and Caldwell-Morrow Lecturer in Church History at the Queensland Presbyterian Theological College. He retires in 2000.

His wife Nellie is in fulltime Christian Service as a godly Homemaker. Their elder daughter Johanna has completed her M.A.; and teaches English, German and Modern History in Brisbane at the Parkridge High School. Their younger daughter Annamarie (B.A. & Dip. Lib. Sc.), whom Dr. Lee baptized as a baby in 1970, was until 1998 Secretary/Librarian at the Queensland Presbyterian Theological College, Brisbane, Australia ¾ and has now completed her Dip. Ed. studies to become a Primary School Teacher.

"Dear Dr. Lee,

Some time ago, I received your treatise [Onward, Christian Soldiers!]. I have read this with much interest and approval, and have nothing to offer but commendation. It is splendid for the purpose intended ¾ Scripturally sound and interestingly written....

I like very much the optimistic view that Christianity is to triumph throughout the World. Yes indeed, righteousness is to conquer the Earth! That view is much needed today. And you bring out so clearly that this is the view presented in the Scriptures....

I want to commend you for a splendid devotional work. And I like this especially since it is written so clearly and strongly from the optimistic viewpoint which I think brings out the true meaning of that element in the Psalms. I had never realized how definitely and consistently optimistic the Psalms were. You have brought out many new thoughts that I have missed.... I hope that this work will be widely used.... I think that it will do much to help make known the predicted latter-day glory of the Church....

I think that you have given a good explanation of that very difficult passage, Rev. 20:7-10. That is a section of Scripture that has been puzzling to me, as on the surface it seems to indicate a future final apostasy of the Church; and yet that seemed so contrary to what I believed would actually take place ¾ no apostasy but rather a smooth transfer or merger into the heavenly Kingdom....

Dr. Warfield did not believe that there would be a final apostasy. You have given a good explanation ¾ that there is no actual apostasy, no real danger ever faces the saints, and that the Devil and his followers are merely exposed before the righteous shortly before their final expulsion into hell. Thank you for it.

Evidently the book will be a very thorough and comprehensive treatment of the subject.... I do welcome the fact that you are preparing such a book.

Sincerely,

Loraine Boettner, Rock Port, Missouri 66482, May 20th 1978."

My Onward Christian Soldiers! was all too slowly being written and mailed piece by piece to the great Prof. Dr. Loraine Boettner ¾ famous author of the World-renowned works Immortality, Roman Catholicism, Studies in Theology, The Millennium, and The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination. To spur me on, he wrote to me about my Onward Christian Soldiers! seven times. That he did on October 26th, 1973; November 13th, 1973; January 9th, 1974; April 24th, 1974; September 9th, 1975; February 26th, 1977; and May 20th, 1978.

On February 26th, 1977, he wrote: "If excerpts from any of my letters will serve as even a partial Introduction to your book, I much prefer that you use them rather than for me to try to write anything else. With Best Wishes, Sincerely, Loraine Boettner."

I moved from the U.S.A. to Australia at the end of 1980, in order to teach Systematic Theology at the Queensland Presbyterian Theological College in Brisbane. On September 7th 1984, Dr. Boettner wrote to me: "I remember with real appreciation your visit here at my home about nine years ago. And now I suppose you are still in Australia, about half-way around the World from here! I am writing primarily to say that in the recent [revised 1984] edition of The Millennium, I have added a chapter, 'The Millennium of Revelation Twenty.'

"This presents a new interpretation of chapter 19:11-21 which carries over into the 20th chapter ¾ and, I believe, gives a truly logical basis for the postmillennial position. I have never been fully satisfied with the view there is to be a fearful apostasy just before the end of the Church Age, in which the saints would be all but annihilated just before Christ returns.... I believe that this [my new] interpretation solves that problem; that it firmly establishes the postmillennial system. I am sending you a copy of this book....

"I shall be glad to have your reaction to this...interpretation. I highly respect your position as a Reformed Theologian and a Postmillennialist, and I shall await with interest your evaluation. Loraine Boettner."

Since writing that last letter to me, Dr. Boettner has gone on to Heaven to be with Jesus. All my subsequent teaching tasks have till now prevented my completion and revision of the manuscript to my satisfaction. But now this has been achieved, out of gratitude to Dr. Boettner I can think of no better way of honouring him than to follow his suggestion of using excerpts from some of his various letters to me ¾ in the above Commendation.

Rev. Prof. Dr. Francis Nigel Lee, Brisbane, Australia, 1999,for 2000ff.

The following pages are excerpted from the latter part of the thoroughly-revised and greatly-expanded edition of my forthcoming work Onward, Christian Soldiers! Is is subtitled: Toward a Victorious Eschatology.

That work goes through the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. This explains ¾ in my present excerpt therefrom ¾ the subsequent page numbers, footnote numbers, and format. For what follows are but the last 31 studies of passages from Holy Scripture for 366 "daily readings" and Bible meditations ¾ one for each day of the entire year (including provision for a leap year).

Currently, I lack the time painstakingly to re-format all of this in what now follows. Yet I am very desirous to get this excerpt into the hands of my students and certain friends, before 2000 with its 'Y2K' scenario. So, as an interim measure, I am now simply presenting it here 'as is.'

I much respect many elements in Preterism. Yet I believe the consistent eschatological teaching of the infallible Word of God ¾ is Classic Historicalism. Certainly that is the position of the mainline Christian Church reflected in: the Patristic Fathers; the Mediaeval Scholastics; all of the many Protestant Reformers; the 1561 Belgic Confession (arts. 28 & 29); the Preamble to the 1619 Canons of Dordt; the 1645 Westminster Directory for the Publick Worship of God (in the middle of its Publick Prayer before the Sermon); and the unadulterated Westminster Confession of Faith 23:4^o & 25:6^o ¾ to all of which documents I myself am a Strict Subscriptionist. See my essay The Non-Preteristic Historicalism of John Calvin and the Calvinistic Standards (1993).

Truly, A.D. 2000 is very far from the end of World History! May we then redouble our efforts and labour for the Master from the dawn till setting sun ¾ or rather, till the sunrise of Christ's postmillennial Millennium! See: the 1563 Heidelberg Catechism (cf. QQ. & AA. 80 & 123); the Westminster Larger Catechism Q. & A. 191^c-h; and my own A.D. 2000 essay Always Victorious! ¾ The Earliest Church Not Pre- but Postmillennial.

For, as Isaac Watts declares in his poem drawn from Psalm 72:

"Jesus shall reign where'er the sun,

doth its successive journeys run ¾

His Kingdom stretch from shore to shore,

till moons shall wax and wane no more."

Also Sir Arthur Sullivan exulted ¾ in his own rousing marching song for the Church Militant here on Earth:

"At the sign of triumph, Satan's legions flee.

On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!"

Let Hell's foundations then indeed quiver! Onward, Christian Soldiers, to victory!

Rev. Prof. Dr. Francis Nigel Lee, Regente Jesu, 2000 Anno Domini.

Probably very soon after writing his three Epistles, the Apostle John inscripturated also the last book of the Bible. While himself in exile on the island of Patmos, he wrote the Book of Revelation to encourage persecuted Christians. For tribulation was even then being experienced in the Christian Congregations of Western Asia Minor, on what is now the Western Coast of modern Turkey. It was soon to spread throughout the Roman Empire.

Caesar Nero ruled the Roman Empire from A.D. 54 to 68. It seems quite likely that at least some of the immediate tribulations of Christians referred to in the Book of Revelation, were those suffered as a result of the persecution which broke out after Nero falsely accused the Christians of instigating the burning of Rome in the July of 64 A.D.U #5639

In that case, Revelation would have been written probably just a year or so later ¾ during the year immediately before 66-67. That would have been just three-and-one-half years ¾ or "time [and] two times and half-a-time"(?) ¾ before the A.D. 70 Pagan-Roman destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Thus very many Theologians ¾ such as Lightfoot, Westcott, Hort, Leon Morris, Vanderwaal, Francis Nigel Lee, Chilton and Gentry.

On the other hand, others think (with Eusebius and Enoch Pond) that the immediate tribulations referred to in the last book of the Bible were those suffered during Caesar Domitian's later persecution of Christians. In that case, Revelation would have been written around A.D. 95f.

Either way, however, it is quite clear that the whole book was written by the Apostle John during the latter half of the first century A.D. It was written about things which even then would "shortly" start coming to pass ¾ things that were then "at hand."

John does not say or mean (preteristically) that all those things would soon finish coming to pass. Nor does he say or mean (futuristically) that almost none of those things would even start to occur until after an alleged and still-future 'rapture.' He says and means (historicalistically) that first some and then all those things would "shortly" start coming to pass.

John was then on the small island of Patmos ¾ during either a first or a second exile (viz. respectively in the sixties or in the nineties of the first century A.D.). It was then that he wrote about things which he had "seen" (viz. Jesus Christ and His Church or "Candlestick" Congregations) ¾ and about things which "are" (viz. the things which were occurring right then, which he rightly called: "now").

Nevertheless, John wrote also about things which would start occurring only after that. Such were Christ's explanations to the aged John of the many mysteries or then-still-hidden events which only others would later see "come to pass" ¾ viz. "the things which shall be hereafter"; the things that would start occurring only later (though as indeed then quite "shortly").

At that time, John was exiled on the isle of Patmos during the persecution of several Congregations of Christ's Church in Western Asia Minor. Possibly, that persecution had already or would also soon spread throughout the entire Pagan-Roman Empire. John wrote the Book of Revelation chiefly concerning "things which must shortly come to pass." And at least some of those "things" were already at least to start being fulfilled ¾ by the time John died before the end of the first century A.D.

First. The Apostle was apparently writing his book to a Presbytery. Just as John had apparently written to a regional Presbytery and to her many daughter Congregations in his Second Epistle ¾ so too here in the Book of Revelation. For here, he was writing to the regional Presbytery of Western Asia Minor ¾ and to her daughter Congregations (of Ephesus and Smyrna and Pergamos and Thyatira and Sardis and Philadelphia and Laodicea).

These Congregations had been or were just beginning to be persecuted (together with the Apostle John himself). The fact that John wrote to the Presbytery of Western Asia Minor has, we believe, many general implications as to which is the truly Biblical system of Church Government. And this also has many implications as to the ability of the Christian Church ¾ when thus properly organized ¾ to withstand persecution.

Second. The events revealed by Jesus Christ and recorded in writing by the Apostle John in the Book of Revelation during the latter part of the first century A.D., relate to "things which must shortly come to pass.... For the time is at hand."

This surely indicates that the predictions about the future as recorded in the Book of Revelation ¾ unlike the predictions recorded by Daniel in his own day ¾ would "shortly come to pass" (or soon start coming to pass). Such were the things which would occur "hereafter" ¾ the things that would start to happen (also in Heaven but especially here on Earth) soon after they were written. For even then ¾ already ¾ "the time" was "at hand."

Yet it must also be remarked that "the time" referred to in this text, is the entire time from John's own day right down to the day of the Final Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to judge the living and the dead and to consummate the New Heavens on the New Earth. For the Book of Revelation (21:1 to 22:20f) ends with the not-yet-fulfilled statement "Surely, I come quickly!" ¾ to which the Church prayerfully resonds: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"

So the entire Book of Revelation has a plasticity as regards its application. Though basically linear in its view of time, perhaps it also has a cyclical repeatability as regards the time(s) of the fulfilment of such of its prophecies as pertain to at least some of its future events. Yet the events mentioned in this Book of Revelation (just like those predicted in the Book of Daniel to which it constantly refers) have, by now (in our own twenty-first century), for the most part long since been fulfilled (or started to be fulfilled) ¾ at least in the primary sense.

For the Book of Revelation was, after all, primarily addressed to the first-century Congregations and servants of Christ well-known to John himself. At least some of the then-future events therein described, were by and large intelligible to those first-century Christians. In fact, the events predicted there were for the most part probably more intelligible to those first-century Christians then ¾ than they are to us today. So, as the Calvinistic Geneva Bible rightly comments, the Book of Revelation "expounds the Old[er] Prophets, and shows what shall come to pass in the New[er] Testament."

This does not in any way make the Book of Revelation useless to us today! For, as "servants" of Jesus Christ like John, we too are included among the ultimate and more remote addressees of that book. The therein-described and by-now already-fulfilled (or already partly-fulfilled) predictions, are always rich in relevant instruction ¾ and sometimes capable of even further and ever-deepening fulfilments.

Yet the Book of Revelation (like the Book of Daniel in which its predictions are grounded) is primarily to be interpreted 'as now already fulfilled' historicalistically. Interpreted 'as now already fulfilled' ¾ because some its predictions did indeed begin to be fulfilled shortly after it was written and in fact even during John's own lifetime. Yet interpreted historicalistically in particular ¾ because yet other of its predictions would begin to be fulfilled only after the death of John, and indeed only during the course of subsequent Church History.

There are certainly a few predictions in the Book of Revelation which have not yet even started to be fulfilled. However, it is only in a very secondary sense that this last book of the Bible should ever be interpreted as 'not-yet-fulfilled' and especially futuristically.

Non-futuristic interpretation, whether partly-preteristic or whether instead wholly-historicalistic, is (we submit) clearly implied in the words of Christ to John in the very first chapter of the Book of Revelation: "Write the things which you have seen ¾ both the things which are [now], and the things which shall be hereafter [or after this time of your writing it down]!"

Third. Christ's "Revelation" to the Apostle John came from the Triune God and to His triunely-baptized people. "Grace and peace be to you, from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who will keep on being; and from the seven Spirits before His throne; and from Jesus Christ Who...has made us kings and priests to God and His Father."

Here we see that God always was, is now, and always shall be. Too, we receive God's grace precisely from the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the one-and-only 'sevenfold' Spirit (Who has a 'perfect-seven' omnipotence).

May we too never forget that as baptized believers we too are in living contact with the Triune God Himself! For He will ever sustain us ¾ as His baptismally-branded sheep.

Fourth. The Book of Revelation came to John specifically from the One Who is the central Person within the Trinity. It came from God the Son ¾ from the triumphantly-risen Saviour. It came "from Jesus Christ Who is the faithful Witness and the First-begotten from the dead." For Christ it was Who told John: "I am He Who was dead, but Who keeps on living. And look, I am alive for evermore! Amen. And I have the keys of Hell and of Death."

So too even today. Christ still has the power over Death, and even over Hell itself. What, then, have we who are Christians to fear? Indeed ¾ absolutely nothing!

Fifth. Jesus Christ the Lord of the Book of Revelation is not merely the risen Saviour but ¾ much more importantly ¾ He is also the ascended and ever-reigning King. For the Son of man ascended into Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father in order to mount the throne of the Universe.

He did this as man ¾ in His capacity as human viceroy of the cosmos. And He will keep on ruling in this way, until the very end of His mediatorial reign. Indeed, also after that, He shall continue His reign ¾ in His other capacity as the divine Second Person of the Trinity.

Consequently, ever since His ascension and heavenly session, Christ has been "the Prince of the kings of the Earth." As such, He stands ready to execute repeated judgments over the nations ¾ during the course of human history, as well as ultimately in the Final Judgment at the very end of history.

For in the vision which He gave to John about Himself, "His head and His hair were white as wool ¾ as white as snow. And His eyes were like a flame of fire. And His feet were like fine brass ¾ as if they were burning in a furnace. And His voice was like the sound of many waters. And He had seven stars in His right hand. And a sharp two-edged sword went forth from His mouth. And His countenance was like the sun which keeps on shining in its strength."

Thus, Christ reigns! He reigns now! Hence the Devil is already ¾ in principle ¾ a defeated foe.

Sixth. Consequently, our now-reigning Saviour ¾ "the Prince of the kings of the Earth" ¾ rules not only in Heaven but also on Earth, right here and now. And He keeps on executing that rule over this World in an ever-expansive manner ¾ also through the agency of His Christian children.

For He "has made us kings and priests to God and His Father." Indeed, we too are already under-kings or viceroys in the King-dom of God here and now on this present Earth ¾ under the leadership of our principal Prince ¾ our Saviour Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords and King of kings. For He "has made us kings!"

Moreover, as heirs of that Kingdom, we are in principle already free from the evils of the "kingdoms" of this World ¾ as Christ Himself implied. Accordingly, all temporary persecutions suffered by Christians at the hands of both Jew and Gentile can serve only to make them "more than conquerors" through Jesus Christ the Lord. For He is the Prince of His Kingdom; and every Member of His Church is a Christ-ian "king" under Him.

Seventh. The inspired John strengthened the suffering saints in their temporal and temporary persecutions. He did this, by assuring them of the repeated invisible comings culminating in the visible Final Coming of the Lord Jesus ¾ in triumphal judgments against His enemies, and in covenantal defence of His suffering people.

Previously, Christ had come to His people at Calvary and at His resurrection. Furthermore, even as He had at the beginning of the Book of Revelation only just then come in triumphal defence of John himself on the island of Patmos ¾ so too would He soon come also to strengthen the first-century A.D. Congregations in Western Asia Minor.

He would particularly come and comfort them in the hour of those believers' deaths. Yet if they, the first-century A.D. Congregations, would not repent of their backslidings ¾ that same Jesus would come even to chasten and to correct them. Indeed, He certainly came invisibly yet powerfully ¾ to destroy the wicked Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

But Christ would come also to strengthen His Post-Apostolic Church. He would come again and again in judgment, progressively to destroy the Pagan Roman Empire. He would come to reign in the later post-Constantinian and semi-christianized Holy Roman Empire.

He would come in the power of His Word and His Spirit at the Protestant Reformation, progressively to destroy the Papacy. Indeed, He would come in judgment also against the Papacy even at the French Revolution etc.

Christ comes in the judgments of wars and famines and earthquakes against the wicked rebels of our own generation. He comes in Christian revivals, during our own and subsequent times. And He will ultimately come again ¾ visibly; with the clouds; in power and great glory; namely at a still-future and Final Judgment.

In all of these progressive comings of Christ, our Saviour would and shall progressively be glorified. For He ever goes forth conquering and to conquer all His enemies (either by converting them or by confounding them). "Look, He comes with clouds ¾ and every eye shall see Him, even also they who pierced Him! And all kindreds of the Earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen."

O Christian, let us too then congregate in our Presbyteries! Let us too be edified, prophetically ¾ from the past, in the present and for the future! Let us 'improve' our Triune Baptism (Westminster Larger Catechism (Q./A. 167)! Let us rise up again and again ¾ free from our sins and despite our tribulations ¾ in the power of our risen Saviour Jesus Christ our Lord!

Let us expand our reign here and now on this present Earth as Christ's under-kings! Let us subject ourselves to our everywhere-reigning Prince, Jesus the King of all the Earth ¾ in spite of all persecutions! And let us keep on doing this ¾ until Jesus has christianized this World of ours and all it contains, by His progressive series of conquests!

As He again and again comes in repeated judgments ¾ may every eye see Him! May the eyes also of the Jewish nation that pierced Him, ultimately recognize and worship Him! Indeed, may all the kindreds alias every family here on Earth progressively bewail Him in repentance ¾ as the very nations themselves are slowly but surely turned into His Disciples, even while He progressively converts them (or otherwise confounds them)!

So on, then, Christian soldiers! Onward, to victory!

Christ had just revealed Himself to the exiled John, on the tiny isle of Patmos. Next, the risen and reigning Saviour instructed John to write to the persecuted Congregrations in the Presbytery of Western Asia Minor directly to the east of Patmos. The Apostle was to do so, both to encourage and to correct them ¾ before Christ Himself would "come" and deal with them during that period of history.

In and through those messages to the Congregations of Western Asia Minor during the first century A.D., Jesus encourages and corrects His Church Universal down through all subsequent ages too. For these messages refer also to the similar problems and needs of the Lord's Church in all times.

Yet the (seven) messages to the (seven) Congregations ¾ unlike most of the rest of the Book of Revelation ¾ are not to be construed as a future chronology of successive ages of the Christian Church. For all seven messages were addressed to specific Congregations of Christ's Church during the same apostolic age. Nevertheless, all seven messages are applicable also to the Church of the twenty-first century today ¾ though some of the messages are more relevant to certain modern Congregations than they are to others.

First. Christ told John to write to the "Angel" of His Congregation in Ephesus. That Angel or Preacher was to remind his flock that its Members were safely being preserved in the omnipotent hand of the divine Lord of the Church.

Said the Lord Jesus to the Apostle John: "Unto the Angel of the Church in Ephesus, write: 'These things says He Who keeps on holding the seven stars in His right hand; Who keeps on walking in the middle of the seven-pronged golden Candlestick.'" That "Angel" or "Star" ¾ that Messenger in Ephesus ¾ was thereby assured that also he himself was secure in the right hand of the Lord.

Perhaps that "Angel" of the Congregation in Ephesus was a guardian spirit ¾ a bodyless angelic being appointed by God to take care of His flock in that place. More probably that "Angel" or Messenger represents instead ¾ the Guardian Pastor or Preaching Elder appointed by Christ to be a shining "Star" to that Congregation. Or possibly that "Angel" represents both an angelic 'guardian spirit' as well as Christ's Preacher in Ephesus ultimately collaborating with one another (even if that was unbeknown to the Preacher).

At any rate ¾ it is a great comfort for Christians and Preachers to know that the Congregations of Christ are under the protection of the reigning Lord Jesus, and safely in His loving hand. Indeed, nobody shall ever be able to wrest His children away from His tender loving care.

Second. Christ praised the Christian dedication of His Congregation in Ephesus. "I know your works, and your labours, and your patience ¾ and how you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are 'Apostles' but are not ¾ and have found them to be liars. And you have borne; and have had patience; and have laboured for My Name's sake; and have not fainted."

The Members of the Congregation had worked and laboured in terms of the Dominion Charter. They had endured opposition, patiently. They had rooted out false-apostles and all antinomian or law-breaking Nicolaitans. Indeed, they had started out by loving both the Lord pre-eminently as well as one another corporately. May we too follow their example!

Third. Christ rebuked and encouraged the Ephesian Christians to acknowledge the subsequent cooling off of their love. For He wanted them to overcome all hindrances in, and oppositions to, their Christian lives.

Said Jesus to His Church in Ephesus: "I have something against you ¾ because you have left your first love.... Repent, and do the first works ¾ or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your Candlestick.... He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit keeps on saying to the Churches: 'To him who overcomes, I will give to eat of the tree of life which is in the middle of the paradise of God.'"

May this be also our present resolution! Indeed, may we too receive the same ultimate reward!

Fourth. Christ encouraged the impoverished Congregation of Smyrna. He told her Members that they were actually rich ¾ and would soon receive crowns of life. They were, indeed, then being persecuted ¾ particularly by such Judaists as were then blaspheming them. Yet only some of the Christians in Smyrna were then being imprisoned by 'devilish' Pagan Rome (especially after Nero cohabited with the Judaist Poppaea). But even then, the Christians' souls were still free ¾ and their tribulation was but "ten days" short.

This tribulation of "ten days" might indeed last for ten years. Thus: Walter Brute; the Dordt Dutch Bible; Adam Clarke; and many others. But it would soon be over. Because it clearly implies ¾ as the Geneva Bible comments ¾ that "there shall be comfort and release."

Yes, even those who had been faithful unto death during that persecution, immediately entered the next life blissfully. For those who have received the second birth ¾ shall never be harmed by the Gehenna of the second death.

Fifth. Christ encouraged the Congregation of Pergamos. This Church included backslidden Members who had, like Balaam, compromised their testimony and fallen into Nicolaitan alias antinomian idolatry and fornication. If they did not soon repent, Christ would come quickly ¾ to punish those backsliders with severe temporal judgments.

But the rest of the Members of the Congregation in Pergamos had remained faithful ¾ even while surrounded by a sea of Satanic iniquity, and even when unflinchingly persecuted during the days of past tribulation. For those Members had overcome Satan. And "to him who overcomes," said Jesus, "I will give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone ¾ and on the stone a 'new name' written which no man knows except he who receives it."

May we too never flinch under persecution! And may we too receive the heavenly manna, even today! For, as the Geneva Bible comments, the 'white stone' was "given to them that had gotten any victory or prize in sign of honour." And "the new name also signifies renown and honour."

Sixth. Christ gave similar encouragement to His Church's Congregation in Thyatira. At first, He patiently gave the Congregation's immoral and wicked false-prophetess Jezebel a sufficient space of time to repent. But after the expiry of that time, He now announced that He would cast her and her few Satanic co-adulterers into "great tribulation." In fact, He would even kill her children ¾ if she would not be converted.

The rest of the Members in the Congregation at Thyatira, however ¾ the "many" who apparently constituted the vast majority of the Congregation's Members, would not be punished like the "few" (or "them") who had lapsed into immorality and idolatry. To the contrary. The rest of the Congregation ¾ whose last works were even better than their first, and whose love and service and faith and patience were highly commended by the Saviour ¾ would not be exposed to any further burdens or trials of patience.

For seventh. The good-living majority of the Congregation in Thyatira ¾ like their Lydia of old ¾ would overcome all opposition and keep on doing Christian works "unto the end." And they would ultimately ¾ that is, in later Church History ¾ be "given power over the nations" in Christ's progressively-christianizing World.

For "he [who overcomes] shall rule them [the nations] with an iron rod" ¾ by shepherding and feeding them with his shepherd's staff. "Like the vessels of a potter, they [those of the nations who do not repent] shall be broken into pieces ¾ as I received from My Father. And I will give to him [who overcomes] the morning star."

True as it is that this promise will fully be realized only after the Final Judgment on the New Earth yet to come ¾ it is also apparent that it will in large measure first be realized prior to that time. For it will first be realized in this present World here and now ¾ as Christianity extends its victorious advance across the globe, culminating in the christianization of all nations.

O Christian, let us too listen to what the Holy Spirit of God says to the Churches! Let us too work to subdue the Earth and to win all of its inhabitants to the glory of Christ!

Let us enrich our impoverished spirits! Let us also discipline our few backsliders!

Let us encourage, too, our industrious Christians! And let us advance on a broad front throughout the World ¾ until all nations bow down under the rod of the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ, and until the kingdoms of this World have in practice too become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall keep on reigning and keep on expanding that reign for ever and ever!

So on, then, Christian soldiers! Onward, to victory!

In his mind's eye, John had already shifted his prophetic gaze up along the coast of Western Asia Minor from the South to the North. After so doing, he next addressed the Congregations of Ephesus and Smyrna and Pergamos.

Then, after moving his mind's eye further "in the Spirit" due east to Thyatira, the Apostle (as Jesus' agent and spokesman) next extended his range more and more inland ¾ in a south-easterly direction. For he next went on ("in the Spirit") to address the inland Congregations of Sardis and Philadelphia and Laodicea.

First. His prophetic gaze fell upon the Congregation in Sardis. That part of His Church had apparently "escaped" the persecutions which some of the other Congregations had suffered. Yet this was a mixed blessing.

For persecutions tend to deepen the faithfulness of Christ's Church. And some in the apparently 'unpersecuted' Congregation of Sardis, had become "dead." They, in particular, needed to be revived ¾ and perhaps even through persecution.

Yet Christ did not hastily reject His Church. Rather did He enjoin her to be watchful, and to strengthen those that remained as a 'remnant' which was ready to die.

Said Christ, "I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard.... Keep on holding fast ¾ and repent!" For soon, Christ Himself would come and visit that Congregation ¾ in temporal judgment.

May we too not reject our 'frozen' (though perhaps still 'chosen') brethren! But may we instead lovingly warn them ¾ of their impending judgment!

As the Geneva Bible here comments: "Be awake!" That means, to some: "Stay awake!" ¾ and to others: "Wake up!"

Second. Not merely was the Congregation at Sardis 'strengthenable.' It also had a solid believing core ¾ on the basis of which, true revival could indeed be promoted.

Said Jesus to that Congregation: "You do have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. And they shall walk with Me, in white. For they are worthy. He who overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment. And I will not blot out his name from the book of life. But I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels."

He Who says these things, speaks efficacious words. For "He possesses the seven Spirits of God ¾ and the seven stars."

Yes, Jesus Who says these things possesses the fullness of the sevenfold Holy Spirit. Indeed, He also possesses each of the seven star-like and luminous because Spirit-filled Angels or Messengers who lead His work in the Congregations of His Presbytery. Consequently, as pointed out by Martin Luther in his great hymn A mighty fortress is our God, even today ¾ because we do indeed have 'the right Man on our side,' namely 'Christ Jesus' ¾ 'He must win the battle!'

Third. It is, however, especially Christ's message to the Congregation in Philadelphia that is remarkable in the encouragement it offers. The Philadelphian Christians had, like those in Smyrna, apparently been persecuted by the Pagan Romans at the instigation of influential local Judaists. The Philadelphian Christians were, moreover ¾ even as John was then writing to them ¾ on the verge of again being intimidated in a new wave of persecution that was then about to sweep through the whole World of the Roman Empire.

Judaists had persecuted the Christians from even before the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. But periodic Roman persecutions of Christians ¾ initially incited once again by Judaists ¾ broke loose only in the time of Emperor Claudius (A.D. 41-54). Yet such persecutions first became really severe only during the time of Emperor Nero (A.D. 54-64f) and his Judaistic wife Poppaea.

Such Roman persecutions of Christians once again recurred, intermittently, from the reign of Domitian (A.D. 81-96) right down to that of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 A.D.). Yet John, at Christ's own dictation, assured the Philadelphian Christians that they would (by the grace of God) stand fast in their new hour of persecution ¾ even as they had done before. "Because you have kept the Word of My patience," said Jesus, "I also will keep you during the hour of testing which shall come upon all the World ¾ to test those who dwell upon the Earth."

Fourth. Even their worst persecutors would be converted ¾ as a result of the Philadelphian Christians' stalwart testimony. For even since Calvary, part of the then-apostate and then-broken-off Jewish nation had been trickling back into the true Christian Church (and still continues to so do).

Indeed, as a result of the mighty missionary outreach of the Church even among Judaists ¾ the latter too were also then and are even now more and more being converted and enabled to see that not the Judaists but the Christians (both Hebrew Christians and Gentile Christians) are the true Zion. For Jesus Christ the Deliverer comes out also to the Judaists, from the Christian Church alias His True Zion, in her sustained missionary work-of-mercy. By means of this ¾ Christ Himself turns and shall keep on turning ungodliness away from Jacob (alias ethnic Israel).

So, then, even the Jews shall come into the Christian Church ¾ and ultimately, like a flood! And in that way, "all Israel shall be saved." Then shall those Newer Testament enemies of the Christians Gospel themselves be converted to the true religion of Biblical Christianity.

The Older Testament itself is full of predictions of such an influx into the Newer Testament Christian Church. Here are but two.

"The sons also of those that afflict you, shall come to you ¾ bending. And all those who despised you, shall bow themselves down ¾ at the soles of your feet. And they shall call you 'The City of the Lord' ¾ 'The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.'" That is why Augustine rightly called the Christian Church: 'The City of God.'

Once again: "Kings shall be your nursing-fathers, and their queens [shall become] your nursing-mothers. They [too, with you,] shall bow down...with their face toward the ground and lick up the dust at your feet."

As Jesus Himself put it, in His Book of Revelation: "Look, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews yet are not but do lie ¾ look, I will make them to come and worship [God] in front of your feet." Indeed, I will get them there to "acknowledge that I have loved you!"

This means, as the Geneva Bible comments, that the Triune God will humble the Judaists before the Christians. It suggests God here says to His Church anent the Judaists: "I will cause them, in your sight, to humble themselves ¾ and to give due honour to God and to His Son Christ."

Meantime, fifth, the expansion of Christ's Kingdom here on Earth would continue ¾ despite all resistance, be it from Barbarian or from Jew or from Greek or from Roman. For Christ lives, and always will live, in His Church Militant ¾ and He has the key of David. Indeed, He, the risen Saviour ¾ wielding the keys even of Hell and Death ¾ Himself expands His Church and promotes her mission. For "He opens so that no man [can] shut; and He shuts, so that no man [can] open." He sets His Church before "an open door ¾ and no man can shut it."

Christ's Church herself indeed has little strength. But Christ's Own strength is revealed in His Church's weakness. She shall not deny His Name ¾ for she knows that the Name of Jehovah-Jesus is strong indeed. Thus His Church can do all things, through Christ Who strengthens her.

Sixth. The 'key of David' ¾ comments the Geneva Bible ¾ "signifies that Christ has all the power over the House of David, which is the Church." Consequently, "He may receive...whom He will." And the 'open door' set before the Church, adds the Geneva Bible, "is to advance the Kingdom of God."

Whenever she stands firm and immovable for Him ¾ Christ comes quickly to revive and to expand His Church. Promises Jesus: "Look, I come quickly! Keep on holding fast to that which you have, so that nobody take your crown! Him who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the Temple of My God, and he shall not go away from it any more."

Christians shall overcome the World. For they are not imminently removed from it; but established as pillars of His Church Militant, in it. Consequently, the Members of the Temple of God alias the Church Militant are here and now already crowned as kings (in principle). And all who overcome the forces of the spirit of antichrist are made into strong pillars of that Church Militant ¾ inflexible and immovable.

Last. Christ will ultimately come visibly, at His Final Judgment ¾ to crown us in practice too. Then will He incorporate us into the Heavenly City on the New Earth ¾ for ever. Then His Name shall be most prominent ¾ 'indelibly' written upon our baptized foreheads.

"Look," says Jesus, "I come quickly! Keep on holding fast to that which you have, so that nobody take your crown! Him who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the Temple of My God, and he shall not go away from it any more. And I will write upon him the Name of My God, and the name of the City of My God which is 'New Jerusalem' (which comes down out of Heaven from My God). And I will write upon him My new Name."

As the Geneva Bible here comments, it is as if God the Spirit here says to God the Son as regards God the Father: "Let no man pluck them away whom You have won to God! For they are Your crown."

Indeed, as Hengstenberg comments: "To be a conqueror and to be a Christian, is the same thing." So therefore, "he who has an ear ¾ let him hear what the Spirit keeps on saying to the Churches!"

O Christian, let us too listen to what the Spirit keep on saying to the Churches! Let us not fearfully seek to 'escape' persecution! But let us rather 'strengthen' one another!

Let us stand firm, through all tribulation ¾ and attempt to convert even our persecutors! Let us march out, through uncloseable missionary doors ¾ uncloseable, because Christ has opened them! And let us experience His comings in revivals and expansions of His Church ¾ till His Kingdom is complete, when we ourselves will keep on standing within His Church or Temple: immovable for ever!

So on, then, Christian soldiers! Onward, to victory!

Christ delivered His messages (via the Apostle John) to the first six of His Congregations in the Presbytery of Western Asia Minor. Then our reigning King next addressed Himself to the last Congregation in that Presbytery. This was the lukewarm congregation of Laodicea ¾ the sister Church of the Congregation in Colosse.

First. We need to see that Laodicea had previously heard all the counsel of God ¾ from the Apostle Paul. For she had been told, just like her Sister Church in Colosse, that Christ was the Creator and the Maintainer and the Reconciler of all things in Heaven and Earth.

She had also been informed that in Christ all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge had been stored up. She had heard that 'Christ in you, the Hope of glory' ¾ is the riches of the glory of the mystery (alias the manifestation of what had not been known) among the Gentiles who believe in Him.

And now, Laodicea was again being reminded (by John) that Christ was the "Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of God's creation," the One Who was and is the Abolute Originator. For Laodicea was prompted to remember that Christ is the One Who began creation ¾ the One Who is The Beginning alias The Beginner of creation. As the Geneva Bible comments, it is Christ "from Whom all creatures have their beginning."

Second. Sadly, the Church in Laodicea had cooled off toward Christ! So He, through John, reminded her how she had lost a very great deal of her true riches. And Christ, through John, exhorted her to recover them. For it is spiritual riches ¾ and not the material riches they were then indeed continuing to acquire ¾ that represent true wealth.

Said Jesus to Laodicea: "Because you say, 'I am rich and have increased with goods and don't need anything' ¾ but do not acknowledge that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked ¾ I counsel you to buy from Me gold tested in the fire, so that you may become rich; and white raiment, so that you may become clothed and so that the shame of your nakedness might not become apparent; and anoint yourself with eye salve, so that you may see!"

May we today learn from the Laodiceans' mistakes! May we not forget our True Riches ¾ the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

Third. Christ promised to "rebuke and chasten" His Church ¾ simply because He loved her. Said He: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot! So then, because you are luke-warm, and neither cold nor hot ¾ I will spit you out of My mouth.... I rebuke and chasten as many as I love. Therefore, be zealous ¾ and repent!"

May we too understand that even today, lukewarm Churches can still be revived from their Laodicean indifference! And may we also ever regard Christ's chastenings as tokens of His love ¾ designed to restore us from our wayward backslidings; designed to restore us once again to enjoy His tender care!

"For the Lord chastens those whom He loves ¾ and He scourges every son whom He receives." As the Geneva Bible comments: "Nothing more displeases God, than indifference and coldness in religion.... Therefore He will spit out such as are not zealous and fervent."

Fourth. The quantitative magnitude of Christ's love, is hardly less than the qualitative. For it is not just a few that He chastises, but a great number. Indeed, He says: "I rebuke and chasten as many as I love."

Moreover, He adds: "If any man hears My voice, and opens the door ¾ I will come in unto him, and will feast with him." The invitation comes to men indiscriminately. All who get open the door, will be received by Jesus.

Fifth. It should not be imagined, however, that those who do so open ¾ do so of their 'own free will,' as it were. For the people here under discussion ¾ are not at all unregenerate Heathen. Rather are they somewhat-backslidden (and therefore previously-regenerated) Members of the Christian Church in Laodicea. They are people whose wills had previously been "free-d" ¾ freed by the Sovereign Lord Himself.

Moreover, even here in their later restoration from lapses into sin, Christ is again sovereign. He says: "Look, I am standing at the door and [I am] knocking! If any man hears My voice and opens the door ¾ I will come in unto him, and I will feast with him; and [only then] he with Me." Just as right after man's fall in the garden of Eden, so too here again it is not man that comes to God ¾ but God Who comes to man.

It is Christ Who stands at the door ¾ not the sinner. It is Christ Who knocks ¾ not the sinner. It is the voice of Christ and not that of the sinner which is heard.

It is not the sinner himself but it is Jesus Christ Who from the outside thrusts His hand through the small hole toward the edge of the middle of this old-fashioned door. Indeed, it is He Who then moves the hand of the sinner to lift up the latch on the inside of the door ¾ and thus to participate in Christ's own opening of the door. And it is Christ Who then first feasts with the sinner ¾ not vice-versa.

Sixth. Christ promises that those who overcome in His Name ¾ will indeed reign with Him for evermore. He says: "To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne ¾ even as I too overcame, and have sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit keeps on saying to the Churches!"

Now that 'co-rule' of the Christians enthroned together with Christ on His royal seat, starts in this life ¾ here and now. And it continues, unloseably, right down also to the next life ¾ yes, for everlasting! For, as the Geneva Bible observes, to sit with Christ on His throne is to be installed" in what He Himself calls "My royal seat ¾ and to be partaker of My heavenly joys."

O Christian, let us too listen to what the Spirit keeps on saying to the Churches ¾ even today! May we too recognize Jesus as the Creator; as the Maintainer; as the Reconciler of all things in Heaven and Earth; and as the Beginner of the whole creation!

May we enrich ourselves in Him in Whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are stored up! May we ever turn closer to Him Who loves us ¾ and Who proves that love by constantly chastening us! May we realize that He loves many, and will feast with all who hearken to His persuasive voice! And may we thus rule and reign with Him, in all that we do ¾ both in this life and the next!

So on, then, Christian soldiers! Onward, to victory!

John recorded Christ's messages to the seven Congregations in the Presbytery of Western Asia Minor here on Earth. But next, the Apostle was given a vision of Heaven itself ¾ of Heaven above.

"After this" (or after those things), wrote John, "I looked. And see, a door in Heaven was opened! Then the first voice which I heard was as it were that of a trumpet which kept on talking to me. It said: 'Come up here ¾ and I will show you the things which must occur hereafter!'" This latter phrase ¾ "the things which must occur hereafter" ¾ means those things which were still to happen after the occurrence of the previous things Christ had just shown to John. For many new temporal rewards and even chastisements were still to come, from Heaven ¾ to men here on Earth, down through all the subsequent centuries, and before the Final Judgment.

The Lord had just shown His Apostle the condition of His Church in the Presbytery of Western Asia Minor here on Earth during the Apostle's own day. And now, the trumpet-voiced Son of man went on to show His same servant John a heavenly vision of the major events which would next start occurring ¾ by and large consecutively ¾ here on this present Earth, after His administration of temporal rewards or chastisements to the Congregations of His first-century Presbytery of Western Asia Minor.

Before describing that new series of rewards and chastisements which were as then yet to come right here on Earth ¾ Jesus first showed John His present throne in Heaven. For it was in Heaven that the book with the seven seals of then-future Church History would be opened up ¾ from which book its contents would then be brought to pass on Earth.

Here, the Geneva Bible makes a very valuable comment. It explains that first, "before" the Apostle would "make mention of the great afflictions of the Church, he sets forth the majesty of God." For by His "will, wisdom and providence all things are created and governed ¾ to teach us patience."

Now in this vision of Heaven, He Whom John saw sitting on the heavenly throne was and is the Triune God Himself. He was like a jasper and a rainbow and a sardius-stone to look upon. For He Who sat upon the throne, is the luminous Thrice-Holy Lord God Almighty ¾ alias the Father-Son-Spirit Who always was and Who is and Who shall keep on being.

From the midst of the throne, declared John, there proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices ¾ from the sevenfold-exalted and sevenfold-blessed God the Father. In the middle of the throne stood God the Son, alias the seven-horned Lamb or the sevenfold-anointed Lord Jesus Christ. And in front of the throne was God the Spirit, Who shone forth like seven lamps of fire ¾ as the sevenfold Spirit of God.

That Spirit Himself acts like the sevenfold eyes of Christ the Lamb. Those searching eyes are like flames of fire. Indeed, John had already written how they searched out the reins and the hearts of the Members of the seven Congregations in the seven-pronged Candlestick ¾ the Western Asia Minor Presbytery in the Church of the living God.

Now this glorious and sevenfold or perfect Triune Being, said John, is completely independent of all the many created existences within the Universe which He Himself created. Thus, His heavenly creatures sing to Him without ceasing ('seven days a week' as it were): "Holy, holy holy; Lord God Almighty; Who was, and Who is, and Who shall keep on being!"

Second, out of the throne proceeds a triune creative activity ¾ lightnings and thunderings and voices. Here we catch a glimpse of the re-splendent external work of the Triune Jehovah ¾ His work in creation, in providence, in communication, in salvation, in judgment, and in consummation. May we too then never forget the glory of the Lord with Whom we have to do!

As the Geneva Bible comments: "From the throne of the Father and the Son proceeds the Holy Ghost Who, all having but one throne, declare the unity of the Godhead. The Holy Ghost is like lightning to us who believe, and like a fearful thunder to the disobedient."

Third. "Before the throne, there was a sea of glass like crystal. And in the midst of the throne and round about the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. The first living creature was like a lion; and the second living creature like a calf; and the third living creature had a face like that of a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle....

"The four living creatures, each of them, had six wings around it. And they were full of eyes within. And they do not rest day and night. They keep on saying: 'Holy, holy, holy; Lord God Almighty; Who was, and Who is, and Who keeps on being!'"

Now as to their basic description and activities, these four "living creatures" or zooa ¾ each said to have six wings ¾ on the one hand seem to correspond to the sub-sevenfold (and hence sub-divine) six-winged seraphs in a vision previously shown to Isaiah. As such, the four living creatures in the Book of Revelation might well be Angels sent out by Jehovah to serve Him for the sake of the entire Universe.

If Angels ¾ these four living creatures in the Book of Revelation would perhaps minister also to the wild animals as well as to the tame animals of the land and of the air etc. Yet they minister too especially for the sake of man ¾ who alone is the crown of the cosmos.

On the other hand, however, these four "living creatures" are clearly distinguished from the Angels ¾ in the next chapter. That fact would rather seem to indicate that the four zooa are perhaps the sum total of all earthly living beings or creatures redeemed right here by the blood of the Lamb.

Be that as it may. Would that we too might serve the Lord with the same alacrity as do both the good Angels and the sub-human creatures! And would that we too might sing the "thrice-holy' Trishagion with the same dedication as do the four zooa!

As Hengstenberg points out, "the object" of the description of the four zooa round the throne of Jehovah "was to impart consolation in the presence of a seemingly omnipotent World" alias mundane order. Indeed, the object is also to "pledge the certainty of victory being gained over it" by Christ ¾ and His Church.

Fourth. The saved Church of Jesus Christ is, in fact, required to serve Jehovah and to sing to His praise with the same dedication as do both all unfallen angelic beings and all non-angelic sub-human creatures. For "round about the throne, were twenty-four seats. And upon the seats, I saw twenty-four Elders sitting, clothed in white raiment. And they had on their heads crowns of gold."

These Elders, just like the good Angels, surround the throne of Jehovah. But unlike those Angels, they are crowned and seated on thrones. This means that they rule and reign with Jehovah Himself ¾ albeit only subserviently as viceroys-under-God.

Now these twenty-four Elders in Heaven, like all other Elders here and now on Earth, represent the whole people of God. Thus they reflect twice the product of the divine number three multiplied by the creation number four. They also suggest the six-fold number of the wings of the zooa, multiplied by the four-fold number of those living creatures themselves.

But the twenty-four Elders symbolize especially the sum total of the Older Testament Church built upon the foundation of the twelve Patriarchs of Israel and the Newer Testament Church built upon the foundation of the twelve Apostles ¾ with Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone of His entire Older-and-Newer-Testament Church-of-all-ages.

Fifth. The Elders, and all the Members of the Church-of-all-ages they represent ¾ because they themselves are both creatures and sinners ¾ do not have the intrinsic right to rule in their own right, themselves. They only have that God-given privilege graciously donated to them ¾ by virtue of their creation and redemption through the mercies of the sovereign Lord. For it is Christ alone Who has clothed them in white raiment. And it is He alone Who has invested them with their crowns of gold.

May we too never forget that we ourselves are but sinners saved by the grace of God! For everything we possess, has been given to us merely through the mercies of the Triune God in Whom we live and move and have our very existence.

Sixth. The heavenly Elders never forget this. They know that their whole lives ¾ both now in Heaven and for ever thereafter on the New Earth yet to come ¾ are to be dedicated to the Triune God alone: from Whom they have received all things; through Whom they are right now enjoying all things; and unto Whom they shall bring all of the joyous praise of their lives. For each and every time (seven "days" a week without ceasing) "when those living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to Him Who sat on the throne Who keeps on living for ever and ever ¾ the twenty-four Elders fall down before Him Who sat on the throne."

There they "worship Him Who keeps on living for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 'You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power. For You have created all things. And it is through Your will [for Your pleasure] that they are and were created.'"

Thus the whole Church, represented by those twenty-four Elders, is to take pleasure in God's creation of all things ¾ and also in their own createdness. Indeed, as the Geneva Bible rightly comments: "We are hereby taught to give glory to God in all His works."

O Christian, may we here on Earth ¾ just like the inhabitants of Heaven above ¾ understand something of the indescribable splendour of God Himself! May we realize that He is totally sovereign over the entire Universe ¾ in creation, providence, communication, redemption, judgment, and consummation!

May we serve our Triune God with the same alacrity as do the unfallen angels. But unlike those Angels, may we rule with Him here and now on Earth; even more so in Heaven hereafter; and still more so after the Final Judgment on the New Earth yet to come!

Above all, may we realize with the heavenly Elders that our Lord is indeed worthy to receive all the glory and honour and power of our lives ¾ even now! For He has created all things for His Own pleasure. Indeed, our own greatest pleasure should be found in recognizing this ¾ and in casting down our own crowns and kingship over all the Universe, before His regal throne.

May we do this, and continue to do this ¾ until God, through the obedient agency of His earthly Church ¾ has reduced all His enemies as a footstool under His feet!

So on, then, Christian soldiers! Onward, to victory!

Christ was showing John the expectant Church Triumphant, in Heaven above. Then the Lord Jesus next went on to show the Apostle the central role which He Himself had played and keeps on playing in the salvation of the entire elect Universe after His ascension and heavenly session. For He Himself even now promotes the further development of the whole cosmos not just there and now in Heaven, but also here and now on Earth.

First. John, in his heavenly vision, saw a scroll in the right hand of Jehovah. "Then I saw in the right hand of Him Who sat on the throne, a book written on the inside and on the outside ¾ sealed with seven seals."

As will later appear, that very bookroll or scroll is not only Christ's blood-bought title deed to His two-sided redeemed creation (both the heavenly "inside" and the earthly "outside"). But it is also the record of the major religious events of all future history of that "inside" and that "outside" of the Universe. For as the scroll is later unrolled, it also deals with the unfolding of the future development of the plan of redemption.

As such, it is Christ's 'title deed' to all cosmic development. For, as the Geneva Bible observes, this bookroll or scroll "signifies all the counsels and judgments of God which are known only to Christ."

Now the scroll was secured with seven seals. These seven seals not only authenticate the veracity but they especially symbolize the humanly-unknown contents of the scroll.

Nobody was able to pry open the seals of the scroll, or even to comprehend its sealed contents. Nobody ¾ except the seven-horned Lamb with the sevenfold sharp-sighted eyes (and those privileged ones to whom He might be pleased to disclose such matters).

For the contents of the sealed bookroll can be understood only by Christ ¾ and by those with whom He would share it. As the Geneva Bible rightly comments, the 'seven eyes' of the Lamb signify "the fullness of the Spirit Which Christ poured [out] upon all" ¾ upon all His elect.

Now John himself declared: "I saw a strong Angel proclaiming with a loud voice: 'Who is worthy to open the book and to loosen its seals?' And no man in Heaven, nor on Earth, neither under the Earth, was able to open the book neither to look into it. Then I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look into it."

Yet when the worthy Jesus opened the seals of the bookroll ¾ "thousands of thousands" praised God. Why? Because they saw that Jesus had redeemed them "from every kindred [or family] and tongue and people and nation."

Second. One of the heavenly Elders, however, pointed out to John that the Lord Jesus Christ had triumphed victoriously, to open the scroll. Wrote the Apostle: "Then one of the Elders says to me: 'Do not weep! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book and to loosen its seven seals!'"

Now Christ's opening of the scroll depended upon His first being slaughtered for the sins of the World. Yet Christ's slaughter was fore-ordained even before the foundation of the Universe.

So the tense used in the phrase "He has prevailed" ¾ is 'past continuous.' Thus it refers not only to Calvary, which was already past history at the time John was writing the Book of Revelation. It refers also to the continuous-present certainty that Christ will keep on prevailing.

For all of this was fore-ordained ever since the beginning of the World ¾ and, in time, ever since the Protevangelium or 'First Gospel Promise' was given to fallen mankind in the garden of Eden. Thus Jehovah's guarantee stretches from all eternity past and unto all eternity future.

Third. One of the Elders in the heavenly vision accordingly gave John a 'playback.' And this reminded the Apostle of that already-past and already-completed redemption which the Lamb had effected when He "prevailed" (past tense) to open the book with the seven seals.

Wrote John: "Then I beheld. And look! In the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the Elders, stood a Lamb as if He had been slain ¾ having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits [alias the seven-fold Holy Spirit] of God, sent forth into all the Earth. And He [the Lamb] came and took the book out of the right hand of Him Who sat upon the throne.

"Now when He had taken the book, the four living creatures [or zooa] and the twenty-four Elders fell down before the Lamb.... Then they sang a new song, saying: 'You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals! For You were slain, and have redeemed us ['the saints'] unto God, by Your blood, from every kindred [or family] and tongue and people and nation!'"

This is why John himself, when he started to inscripturate the Book of Revelation, dedicated it "to Him Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and has made us kings and priests to God!" For it was precisely when Christ actually "took the book" or acquired title of the scroll, by shedding His precious blood ¾ that the legal price for the redemption of His Church was officially paid.

So, even at that time of His death and resurrection and ascension and heavenly session, the entire Universe then and there acknowledged the Son of man Jesus Christ's acquisition of the title deed of the cosmos. For this acknowledgment was then made by representations of both the Church Militant here on Earth as well as of the Church Expectant in Heaven.

The Calvinistic Geneva Bible of John Knox and Dr. Whittingham here makes an appropriate comment. It says: "Our Saviour Jesus has redeemed His Church by His bloodshedding, and gathered it from all nations."

Fourth. John next describes the acknowledgment of those saving events specifically by the Church Triumphant (alias the Church in Heaven). He describes how in his vision he saw and heard the heavenly saints acknowledging the death of the Lamb on Calvary, and His subsequent resurrection from the dead and His arrival in Heaven on the clouds at His subsequent ascension and heavenly session ¾ in fulfilment of Daniel's prediction.

John was now looking at the 'playback' of these saving events ¾ in his own God-given vision several decades after their occurrence. Thus John was then enabled to see how the Older Testament saints in Heaven had reacted, when our Saviour died and rose again and arrived in Heaven and sat down on the throne of the Universe as the Son of man.

John was enabled also to see how the Newer Testament saints in Heaven react to these matters ¾ together with the Older Testament saints with them there. For the Older and the Newer Testament saints in glory both constitute the one and only Church-in-Heaven of our Lord Jesus Christ, represented by the "twenty-four Elders" (or the twelve Patriarchs and the twelve Apostles).

Indeed, John saw how Christ the Lamb "came and took the book out of the right hand of Him Who sat upon the thone. And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four Elders fell down before the Lamb.... And they sang a new song, saying: 'You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals! For You were slain, and have redeemed us [or 'them'] unto God ¾ by Your blood!"

Evidently, the echo of the death and resurrection of Christ here on Earth ¾ then resounded throughout the cosmos and even into Heaven itself. And that echo was re-echoed back to Earth again ¾ at Christ's arrival in Heaven after His ascension. For the heavenly-enthroned Christ then poured out His Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday ¾ when the seven-fold Holy Ghost alias "the seven Spirits of God [were] sent forth into all the Earth" to inspire His earthly Church to start to go and gather Christ's elect from every nation.

Fifth. Calvary has given benefits ¾ and is still able to benefit ¾ both man and zooa (alias other 'living creatures'). It profits them both then (at Calvary) ¾ and now (after Calvary). It benefitted them both in Heaven and on Earth. For after Christ's ascension and arrival in Heaven, "He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him Who sat upon the throne."

Then, "the four living creatures and the twenty-four Elders fell down before the Lamb.... And they sang a new song, saying: 'You...have redeemed us'" ¾ namely the dead saints in Heaven. This can also equally appropriately be translated: 'You...have redeemed them'" ¾ namely the living saints still on Earth.

For "You...have redeemed us [or 'them'] unto God by Your blood from every kindred [or family] and tongue and people and nation" ¾ a worldwide redemption. "And You...have made us" in Heaven and "them" still on Earth to be "kings and priests to our God. Indeed, we" in Heaven as well as the believers who are still on Earth ¾ "shall reign on the Earth!"

Here it must be noted that the Lamb of God not only "redeemed" both the Older Testament and the Newer Testament saints. He not only bought them ¾ and thus also brought them back to God ¾ from the realm of Satan. In addition, the Lamb also "made" or appointed the Older Testament and Newer Testament saints ¾ as "kings and priests to our God."

Indeed, the Lamb appointed them to be kings and priests not only here and now on the Earth ¾ before they die(d). Too, He appointed them to be kings and priests also here and now in Heaven ¾ also after they die(d).

Indeed, He appointed them to be kings and priests even thereafter ¾ in the future, and on the New Earth subsequent to the still-future resurrection of the dead. Thus the Geneva Bible suggests John then perceived the souls of dead saints in Heaven to be declaring: "We shall reign on the Earth!"

Sixth. The earthly exercise of that "kingly" office of both the Older Testament as well as the Newer Testament saints ¾ started at their regeneration. That is to say, it commenced before their deaths ¾ while they were still right here on Earth.

For they first became kings prior to their deaths and translations into Heaven. They remain(ed) kings after their deaths when they went to Heaven ¾ where they ruled and still rule and shall continue to rule (as disembodied souls). And they shall continue to be kings ¾ in even greater intensity, with Heaven and upon the New Earth. For one day they shall rule perfectly (in both soul and body) ¾ in Heaven-on-Earth, after the Final Judgment.

Seventh. Both those of the redeemed who were then still on Earth, as well as those of the redeemed who were then already in Heaven ¾ would one day once again reign right here on Earth. Those then reigning in Heaven, would one day return and reign again ¾ on the (renewed alias) the New Earth. And those then reigning on Earth, would soon die and then reign in Heaven ¾ and one day return and reign again on the (new) Earth.

Meantime, however, those then on Earth ¾ would soon reign here on Earth (before they died) even more powerfully than they had already reigned here on Earth. And their earthly descendants would reign even more powerfully here on Earth than had their faithful ancestors. For the reign of Christians here on Earth always needs to expand ¾ and, by the grace of God, indeed does so.

As those reigning here with Christ themselves learn to be meek or to obey the Law of God ¾ they more and more effect the whole cosmos for good. Indeed, "the meek...shall inherit the Earth." And the redeemed "shall reign upon the Earth." Likewise ¾ may also we and our descendants reign on Earth ¾ here and now!

Eighth. John saw how the new song of the expectant Church Triumphant in Heaven was reinforced by the voice of many unfallen and therefore unredeemed Angels. For there, the latter too sing together with the redeemed "living creatures" and the Elders. Yet, although the Angels cannot sing the other song of these redeemed ¾ the redeemed certainly sing the song of the Angels.

Exclaimed the Apostle: "Then I beheld and heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the Elders. And the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands [alias hundreds of millions], saying with a loud voice: 'Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing!'"

May that be our song, too! May also we sing it ¾ even while we are yet here on this present Earth and before we die!

Finally. John wrote in conclusion: "Every creature which is in Heaven and on the Earth and under the Earth and such as are in the sea and all which are in them ¾ I heard saying: 'Blessing and honour and glory and power be to Him Who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb ¾ for ever and ever!' Then the four living creatures said: 'Amen!' And the twenty-four Elders fell down and worshipped Him Who keeps on living for ever and ever."

Remarks Calvin in his Institutes of the Christian Religion: "It is absolutely certain that both irrational and inanimate objects are comprehended" here. For "every part of the Universe, from the highest pinnacle of Heaven to the very centre of the Earth, each in its own way, proclaims the glory of the Creator."

Accordingly, because "every creature" in the Universe each in its own way praises the Lord ¾ every human being too should do so. And because all of the twenty-four Elders representing the people of God say 'Amen' ¾ all of God's people right now, also here on Earth, should say 'Amen' too.

O Christian, the Lamb is still unrolling His scroll! May we too see that the whole stability and development of the Universe and of the World's future history depends upon His title to it, and His right to unfold it!

May we see how Christ's Calvary work and heavenly session is the basis of our ruling with Him here and now on this present Earth! And may we see that it guarantees too that also our faithful descendants shall rule with Him on this present Earth ¾ even more than we do, here and now!

May we understand that Christ's title to and unrolling of World History secures also our ruling with Him even after our decease and our entry into Heaven ¾ and further, of our ruling with Him still more, on the New Earth yet to come! May we even now therefore praise Him with all our strength! Indeed, while Christ's sevenfold Spirit still goes forth throughout all the Earth ¾ may we call upon all people to yield to Him, and to serve Him!

Amen, even so, come Lord Jesus!

And, until then ¾ onward, Christian soldiers!

On, to victory!

The Son of man had shown John a vision of Heaven. In that vision, John saw how Christ Himself had prevailed and taken possession of the seven-sealed scroll and title-deed of World History. Christ did this after His resurrection, upon completion of His ascension at His heavenly session.

Next. John was shown how the now-enthroned Lamb subsequently opened the seven seals, one by one. This gives insight into the cumulative and progressive unrolling of the scroll of subsequent World History, here on Earth. As it unfolds ¾ such subsequent World History increasingly becomes expanding Church History.

This is the view of the Geneva Bible (of John Knox and Mrs. John Calvin's brother-in-law William Whittingham). That rightly comments: "The opening of the seal[s] is the declaration of God's will, and the executing of His judgments (that is, of His righteous actions in the course of human History). Thus too: Augustine, Andreas of Caesarea, Bede, Haymo, Anselm, Richard of St. Victor, Joachim of Floris, Arnold of Villanova, Pierre Jean d'Olivi, Wimbledon, Purvey, Savonarola, Pareus, Petri, Galloway, Hengstenberg, Hoeksema, Greijvenstein, the Afrikaans Bible with Explanatory Notes, and many others.

First. John foresaw significant events in World History ever since our Christ's resurrection and ascension and heavenly session. What he saw, bears the character of a progressive Christian conquest of this great planet Earth.

Wrote John: "I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard as it were the noise of thunder ¾ one of the four living creatures saying: 'Come and see!'" Here, one of the four living creatures was apparently summoning the white horse ¾ rather than summoning John. For the Apostle had already been summoned to Heaven in a vision, to see what Christ would show him there. Thus John wrote: "Then I saw. And look, a white horse!"

What then is this white horse? 'The Gospel!' ¾ answer Irenaeus, the Geneva Bible, the Dordt Dutch Bible, Matthew Henry, Hengstenberg, J.H. Lange, Lenski, Carroll, Greijvenstein, Hoeksema, and Rushdoony. The Calvinistic Geneva Bible comments: "The white horse signifies innocence, victory, and felicity ¾ which should come by the preaching of the Gospel."

Second. Who, however, is the rider of that horse? Here, John next wrote: "He Who sat on him, had a bow. And a crown was given to Him. And He went forth conquering, and to conquer!" This Rider is a warlike King and Conqueror, shooting forth 'His terrible swift Word' like arrows from His bow.

Says the Calvinist Dordt Dutch Bible: "The white horse with its conquering Rider, would portray Christ. Just as He had already begun through His Apostles, He would also subsequently subjugate pagan idolatry and other idle religions through other faithful Preachers.... Here the pure preaching of the Gospel is to be understood ¾ which Christ the King of kings, riding on the horse, spreads throughout the whole World by His powerful Spirit."

It is rather obvious that the Horseman on the white horse is our Lord Jesus Christ ¾ after His heavenly session, as He now sallies forth to conquer the World. This conquest began with His Spiritual descent into His Church here on Earth on Pentecost Sunday, and continues with His progressive subjugation of the World through His Spirit-filled Church ever since.

After all, this white horse and especially the Horseman Who rides it are clearly identified by John in a subsequent chapter of this same Book of Revelation. For there we read that the white horse is ridden by its Divine Horseman called "Faithful and True" and "the Word of God" and "King of kings and Lord of lords."

This is obviously none other than our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ¾ alias the perfect Son of man. For the crown worn by the Horseman on the white horse, is the crown lost by the first Adam when he sinned in the garden of Eden. It was regained, and even further enhanced, by the Second Adam ¾ when He triumphed, from the garden of Gethsemane and the tree of life on Calvary, in His postmortal resurrection and His heavenly session.

Third. It is since His heavenly session as the reigning Son of man ¾ that the now-crowned Jesus goes forth conquering. And He does this in the power of His Spirit ¾ Whom He from Heaven sent forth upon His Church shortly after His heavenly session. For now, in the power of His sevenfold Spirit in all the Earth, Christ constantly activates His Spirit-filled earthly Church to go forth in His Name ¾ to conquer the World for Him.

As Christ's Spirit-filled Church conquers ¾ so does Christ Himself conquer. This is how He discharges His victorious arrows from His mighty bow. This is how He wields His sharp two-edged sword. For it is He Who thus empowers His Bible-wielding earthly Church to swing that sword and to shoot off those arrows.

It is the whole Bible, the Word of God, which is His sword. It is Bible-texts which are His darted arrows. That sword and those arrows are to be employed by Christ's Church Militant against His and her enemies. For thus Christ Himself goes forth into all the World ¾ conquering, and to conquer! It is He Who causes His Church to go forth with confidence in His own power ¾ conquering, and to conquer!

The great commentator Hengstenberg remarks on this verse: "The crown is given to the Rider, materially, so that He may bear it in His warlike and victorious march.... We must not interpret it as 'conquering, so that He conquered' [without even using the appointed agency of His Church]; but only as 'conquering, so that He might conquer'" ¾ namely conquer through the further warlike efforts precisely of His Spirit-filled Church.

This means: "Victory ¾ and nothing but victory! The expression 'so that He might conquer' is a substitute for the annexed infinite absolute in Hebrew ¾ which 'describes vividly unceasing progress' (Ewald).... It might also have stood as: 'conquering and conquering' ¾ or as: 'so that He conquered and conquered'" or 'so that He thus keeps on conquering. Compare the Hebrew infinitive absolute: 'certainly or thoroughly conquering.'

This means nothing less than that the Gospel is to attain victory over the World. Explains Hengstenberg: "The object of the victory can only be the World, as hostile to Christ.... Behind the punishment ¾ there is salvation, also for the World.... The Book [of Revelation] is primarily a book of consolation for the Church. This, in all its feebleness and tribulation, shall be revived ¾ by having the image of its heavenly King placed before its eyes, as He goes forth with invincible might to win a sure and glorious victory."

Fourth. Christ, however, conquers the World not only by opening the first seal and releasing the healing power of His Bible-wielding Church