The most indispensable notions to read this book appears to me to be these:
The first Adam was king and heir of creation. His fall, fruit of the spirit of independence, made him lose both the kingdom and the inheritance, which fell for a time into the hands of the adversary.
The second Adam, by His obedience, vanquished the usurper, and conquered back the kingdom and the inheritance. God gives Him a Spouse who is His co-heir, and will put Him soon in possession of the inheritance.
The Lord Jesus has received an order and a promise: “Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool." The time draws near when this promise shall be executed in a single day; then shall take place the return of the Son of man.
The formation on the earth of the Church, the fullness of Christ, constitutes an intermediate dispensation, during which is exercised the endurance and long-suffering of God towards the world. But this formation may be terminated from one moment to another; and the first chapters of the Revelation speak of it as of a thing which closes, and which, without interrupting earthly events, perhaps slackens their course.
The great object of the Revelation is to describe the progress of the apostasy in the world—its maturity, which will put an end to the long-suffering of God—and the different judgments of God which are to precede the return of Christ as Son of David and seed of Abraham, to restore the kingdom to Israel. (Acts 1:66When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6).)
The Revelation reveals "the mystery of God" to His servants and to the churches; it speaks of the end of the dominion and times of the Gentiles, of the reign of antichrist, and of the introduction of Christ into the habitable earth.
Certain Data As to Numbers, Considered in Their Symbolic Meaning.
ONE is the sign of divinity, so far as God is one. (Rom. 3:2929Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: (Romans 3:29); Gal. 3:2020Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. (Galatians 3:20); Ephes. 4:3-83Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Ephesians 4:3‑8); Heb. 2:1111For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, (Hebrews 2:11).)
Two is, according to some, the natural sign of opposition and combat. “Consider the works of the Most High. Two, two. One against one. All things are by couples, one against one." (Ecclesiastes33:16; 42:25.) In magic, the number two was that of the beings fallen from unity—of the rash and of the wicked. But in Scripture it is not so. Marriage is a true fellowship and a perfect reunion, which completes each of the wedded ones by the other. Jesus sent the twelve two and two. If two of you agree on earth. Two tables of the law. Two witnesses. Two prophets. Two olive trees. Two candlesticks. Two wings. Two hours. "Two are better than one." (Eccles. 4:9-129Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. 10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9‑12).)
Foust is the number of the entire world, as created. It is more particularly a number of the things which concern the earth; but, above all, that of humanity reconciled on earth. Four monarchies. Four winds of the earth. Four corners of the earth. Four angels. (Zech. 1:66But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us. (Zechariah 1:6); Dan. 7, 8.; Rev. 7.)
This number and the number three offer two divisions of the number seven, ordinarily distinct enough in the Revelation.
SEVEN refers in the Old Testament to moral relations-sanctification, salvation, peace, joy. The seventh month had three feasts. The Sabbath was the seventh day. The seventh year was the year of release. The jubilee returned at the end of seven times seven years. The sprinklings were seven times. This number is composed of three and four by addition, by superposition, and forms thus an indivisible whole, composed of the two figures of which one is that of divinity, the other that of creation. The expression of God's alliance with His people. The number of perfection, of interior fullness. God and humanity met in one.
There is a great difference between seven and twelve. Seven is composed of three plus four; it is an addition, an intimate fusion. Twelve is composed of four multiplied by three. It is a multiplication—a blessing of the inferior by the superior.
If we examine the number seven, traced by lines which form a triangle laid down upon a square, it will be seen that the whole forms only six lines, describing a solid edifice, in which the numbers three and four are confounded.
12
3 33
44
56
7
Seven indicates in the New Testament fullness, perfection, harmony.
There are in the Revelation seven epistles to seven churches, seven candlesticks, seven stars, seven angels, seven spirits, seven eyes, seven horns, seven lamps, seven years, seven attributes in praise, seven thunders, seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials.
Every number seven, when broken in pieces, is divided into three and four, or into four and three; the point of division being always indicated in one manner or another, without altering the whole.
Every number seven of the seals and trumpets offers this remarkable circumstance, that it contains in itself a new development of seven other things. And it is by the seven vials that the wrath of God is fulfilled. That gives twenty-one species of judgments, or seven multiplied by three. It is blessing, the result of the intervention of God.
Satan employs this number in his counterfeits. (12:3.)
EIGHT is four plus four. The reunion of the exterior and interior world, of the intellectual and corporeal world; but in action and reaction. Circumcision took place on the eighth day. (Luke 2:2121And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21).) The prolonged feasts were generally of eight days. The eighth day, the next day after the Sabbath, is always that of resurrection. The leper was reinstated the eighth day. (Lev. 14:2323And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the Lord. (Leviticus 14:23).) It is the first day of the new week, the millennium.
TEN is the number of fullness manifested in the exterior world, just as seven is the number of interior fullness. (1 Chron. 28:15; 215Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick. (1 Chronicles 28:15) Chron. 4:7, 20, 21; 1 Kings 7:4949And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, (1 Kings 7:49); compare 43.) The number of exterior universal fellowship. Inasmuch as it is the number of exterior fulfillment, Satan employs it also in his counterfeits. (Rev. 12:3; 13:13And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (Revelation 12:3)
1And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (Revelation 13:1); compare 2:10.)
ELEVEN has no employment in prophecy. As formed of seven and four, this last figure, added to that of perfection, gives an incomplete result, for it is not the blessing of the number twelve, nor the exterior fullness of the number ten. In the moral point of view, Matt. 20:66And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? (Matthew 20:6) gives a precise and very solemn meaning to this number, which was that of the apostles after the end of Judas. (Acts 1:2626And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:26).)
TWELVE is four multiplied by three. The number announcing earthly fullness. The blessing of humanity and the material world There are twelve hours in the day (John 11:99Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. (John 11:9)), twelve tribes, twelve apostles. Multiplication is a blessing of the superior on the inferior, which lets these differences subsist, but which presents not the intimate fusion of addition which I have remarked in number seven. The numbers four, twelve, and its multiples twenty-four, and an hundred and forty-four thousand, express, for the things grouped under these figures, a character of blessing in connection with the redemption of the world.
Division of the Book.
This division is given by the Lord Himself, in verse 19 of the lint chapter.
PART I.
"The thins which thou hast seen." (1:1-18.) Introduction—preface-praise miseenscène—Jesus, the God-man, the Mediator.
PART II.
"The things which are." (1:20 to 3:22.) The seven churches -Jesus, Sovereign, Judge and Prophet, in their midst.
PART III.
"And the things which must happen after these." (4:1 to22:6.)
The third part is subdivided into four circles of visions.
A.
Chapters 4, 5, 6—Chapters 4. and 5. make but one. They show us the heavenly temple, and things which will transpire in heaven from the moment when prophecy will commence to run its course of fulfillment. Songs sung by different choirs precede the seven seals.
Chapter 6. is a heavenly mirror. The six first seals broken bring us to the dawn of the great day of the wrath of the Lamb.
B.
Chapters 7 and 8—Introduction to the seventh seal. Chapter 7. describes a halt, which introduces this second subdivision. The seventh seal will only be opened after the finishing of the providential preparatives which are going to take place. There are Jewish and earthly first-fruits which must be set apart for the return and reign of Christ. (1-8) The remainder (9-17) is an anticipative vision of the sufferers of the great tribulation, which were foreseen at the opening of the sixth seal. Heavenly scene in the hall.
Chapter 8 is the hall in heaven: silence like that which precedes the storm. The six preceding seals have shown the final consequences of the oblivion in which man has put his dependence on God. Satan has triumphed because of this oblivion. God having caused to be proclaimed intelligibly His desire to resume His rights as Creator and Sovereign, will no more abandon men to the course of their own thoughts.
The four monarchies are smitten with warning judgments, more direct than the general calamities of the six preceding seals. (6-13.)
Announcement of the three last woes, or three last trumpets. The wrath of the Lamb, foreseen under the sixth seal, is about to intervene. (13)
C.
Chapters 9, 10, 11—End of the history of the purification of the kingdom. The end of this purification is only predicted.
First woe. (9:1-11.) Second woe. (9:12-21.)
Scene in Judea. (10:1; 11:14.)
The Revelation always supposes the mass of Israel unconverted until the return of Christ. There will be a sort of resurrection of the nations that issued out of the confusion of Babel, and a gathering of these nations round Jerusalem, at the end of the age. (10:11; 11:21; 19:19.)
The last prophetic appeal. Joy and preparations altar the investiture of the Son in heaven. (11:15-18) This is linked with the nineteenth chapter, where, all being ready, the train is put in march for victory and the resumption of the kingdom.
D.
Chapters 11, 19-21-Chapter 11:19 announces the manifested renewing of the eternal covenant. Chapter 12 is the heavenly center of the third part, or prophetic part, properly so called. Chapter 13. is its diabolic center. Chapters 17,18. are details and commentaries on this mystery of iniquity, and these last chapters interrupt the general narration to come back again on a certain point of view of the whole.
Chapters 12. 13. 17. 18. may be read by themselves. Chapter 14:1-5, the Jewish earthly election, kept to itself.
Verses 6-13, the last warning. Verses 14-20, the heavenly prologue.
Chapter 15., the title is very clear. The seventh trumpet has sounded in vain. The outpouring of the seven bowls is going to take place.
Chapter 16., God is alone against all. End of the wrath of God and the Lamb.
Chapters 17. 18., the mystery of iniquity.
Chapters 19. 20., the end of this age. The entrance of the world to come, or palingenesis, of which the millennium is only the first day.
Chapter 19. describes the combat of the great God Almighty, which is, as it were, the end of the day of His wrath. Chapter 20. speaks of the first resurrection, the reign of a thousand years and eternal judgment, and the final submission of all things to the Christ of God.
E.
Chapters 21.-22:6 is the world to come reconciled. The consummation.
Chapters 22:6 to the end is the conclusion of the book. Those who read should profit by it.