The Book of Revelation E-Book

Clarence Larkin

• Herausgeber: Youcanprint
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

A book of the New Testament that occupies a central place in Christian eschatology: the epistolary, the apocalyptic, and the prophetic This is the Rev. Clarence Larkin's guide to the Book of Revelation. Larkin, who published several books about biblical studies in the 1910s and 20s, was a 'Dispensationalist,' one of the threads of modern Evangelical Christianity. The predecessor of Larkin is J.N. Darby, the founder of Dispensationalism, and among his many successors are Hal Lindsay, and the Left Behind books. Unlike more recent authors, however, Larkin does not make any claims to know when or exactly how the prophecies will unfold. Rather he takes us on a grand tour of the Apocalypse of St. John, and guides us through its images, symbols and poetry. Larkin sorts out what could be a reference to an actual event or person, (without attempting any particular association) and what is pure symbolism. Larkin uses bold type extensively for emphasis, as well as some superb 'visual aids' in the form of intricate charts and maps. Contrasted with other prophetic books such as Nostradamus and the Sibylline Oracles, Revelation has a consistent narrative with a beginning, middle and end. It is also one of the essential sacred texts and required reading for anyone interested in religion. This book will be a welcome reference for anyone studying or trying to explain Revelation, whether or not they are Dispensationalists.

Leseprobe

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

PLATES

THE TITLE

THE SALUTATION

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

I. THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN

THE VISION

THE "KEY" TO THE BOOK

II. THE THINGS WHICH ARE

THE MESSAGES TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES

I. THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS

II. THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA

III. THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS

IV. THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA

V. THE CHURCH AT SARDIS

VI. THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA

VII. THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA

III. THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER

1. THE HEAVENLY DOOR

2. THE HEAVENLY THRONE

3. THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS

4. THE FOUR BEASTS

5. THE SEVEN-SEALED BOOK

DANIEL'S SEVENTIETH WEEK

THE SEVEN SEALS

FIRST SEAL. (A WHITE HORSE.)

SECOND SEAL. (A RED HORSE.)

THIRD SEAL. (A BLACK HORSE.)

FOURTH SEAL. (A PALE HORSE.)

FIFTH SEAL. (THE SOULS OF MARTYRS.)

SIXTH SEAL. (PHYSICAL CHANGES.)

COMPARISON OF CHRIST'S "OLIVET DISCOURSE" AND REVELATION SIX"

THE THREE-FOLD QUESTION

MATT. 24:4-5       1-SEAL REV. 6:1-2

SECOND QUESTION

MATT. 24:29-30       6-SEAL

REV. 6:12-17

PHYSICAL MATT. 24:32-35       CHANGES

THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH SEALS

1. THE SEALING OF THE 144,000

2. THE BLOOD WASHED MULTITUDE

SEVENTH SEAL (SILENCE.)

THE GOLDEN CENSER

THE SEVEN TRUMPETS

FIRST TRUMPET. (HAIL--FIRE--BLOOD.)

SECOND TRUMPET. (THE BURNING MOUNTAIN.)

THIRD TRUMPET. (THE STAR WORMWOOD.)

FOURTH TRUMPET. (SUN, MOON AND STARS SMITTEN.)

THE ANGEL WARNING. ("THREE WOES" ANNOUNCED.)

FIFTH TRUMPET. FIRST WOE. (THE PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS.)

THE BOTTOMLESS PIT

THE SIXTH TRUMPET. SECOND WOE (THE PLAGUE OF HORSEMEN.)

THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH TRUMPETS

1. THE LITTLE BOOK

2. THE TWO WITNESSES

SEVENTH TRUMPET. THIRD WOE. (COVERS THE REST OF THE WEEK.)

THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. THE SEVEN PERSONAGES

1. THE SUN-CLOTHED WOMAN

2. THE DRAGON

3. THE MAN-CHILD

4. THE ARCHANGEL. (WAR IN HEAVEN.)

"THE PERSECUTION OF THE "SUN CLOTHED WOMAN."

5. THE JEWISH REMNANT

6. THE BEAST OUT OF THE SEA

I. ISAIAH'S FOREVIEW

II. DANIEL'S FOREVIEW

2. THE VISION OF THE "FOUR BEASTS."

3. THE VISION OF THE "RAM" AND THE "HE-GOAT."

4. THE VISION OF THE "KINGS OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH."

III. PAUL'S FOREVIEW

IV. JOHN'S FOREVIEW

7. THE BEAST OUT OF THE EARTH

THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE ''SEVEN PERSONAGES'' AND THE ''SEVEN VIALS.''

1. THE LAMB ON MOUNT ZION

2. THE THREE ANGEL MESSENGERS

3. THE BLESSED DEAD

4. THE HARVEST AND VINTAGE

THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES OR VIAL JUDGMENTS

PRELUDE. THE SEA OF GLASS

THE TABERNACLE OF TESTIMONY

FIRST VIAL. (BOILS.)

SECOND VIAL. (BLOOD ON THE SEA.)

THIRD VIAL. (BLOOD ON THE RIVERS.)

FOURTH VIAL. (GREAT HEAT.)

FIFTH VIAL. (DARKNESS.)

SIXTH VIAL. (THE EUPHRATES DRIED UP.)

THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE "SIXTH" AND "SEVENTH" VIALS. THREE UNCLEAN SPIRITS

SEVENTH VIAL. (GREAT HAIL.)

THE SEALS, TRUMPETS AND VIALS COMPARED

THE SEVEN DOOMS

FIRST DOOM

SECOND DOOM. COMMERCIAL BABYLON

THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD DOOMS. THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS

2. THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB

3. THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON

THIRD DOOM. "THE BEAST" AND "FALSE PROPHET."

FOURTH DOOM. THE ANTICHRISTIAN NATIONS

THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE FOURTH AND FIFTH DOOMS

1. SATAN BOUND FOR A THOUSAND YEARS

2. THE FIRST RESURRECTION

3. THE MILLENNIUM

4. SATAN LOOSED

FIFTH DOOM. GOG AND MAGOG

SIXTH DOOM. SATAN

SEVENTH DOOM. THE WICKED DEAD. "THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT."

THE SEVEN NEW THINGS

1. THE NEW HEAVEN

2. THE NEW EARTH

3. THE NEW CITY

4. THE NEW NATIONS

5. THE NEW RIVER

6. THE NEW TREE OF LIFE

7. THE NEW THRONE

THE GREAT ABDICATION

THE AGES OF THE AGES

THE EPILOGUE OR FINAL TESTIMONY AND WARNINGS

THE BOOK OF REVELATION

A STUDY OF THE LAST PROPHETIC BOOK OF HOLY SCRIPTURE

By

CLARENCE LARKIN

1919

© David De Angelis 2017 – all rights reserved

THIS BOOK IS

DEDICATED

TO THE AUTHOR OF THE

BOOK OF REVELATION THE

LORD JESUS CHRIST

TRUSTING THAT ITS EXPOSITION

MAY MEET WITH HIS DIVINE

APPROVAL AND BLESSING

FOREWORD

This work is the result of 25 years' study of the Book of Revelation. Twice within 6 years the writer gave a 4-months' course of Sunday morning sermons to his people on the Book. These lectures have also been given in Bible Institute Courses, illustrated with large, colored, wall charts.

The Book of Revelation is interpreted from the Futurist Standpoint. Chapters two and three cover the present Church Dispensation. From chapter four until the end of the Book all is future. The writer's purpose is to show that the Book of Revelation is to be taken literally, and that it is written in chronological order. The text of the Old Version is used and is printed at the top of each subject. The chapter and verse divisions are ignored. The text is emphasized by the use of capitals and black type. This helps to explain it and make it clear to the general reader. The descriptive matter of the book is emphasized in the same manner.

The book is also illustrated with over 30 charts, maps, and diagrams. Numerous cuts of symbols, beasts, etc., spoken of in the Book of Revelation are distributed through the book at the place where they are mentioned, and add greatly to its value by elucidating the text and saving much explanatory matter.

The make-up and printing of the book is unique. The writer has broken all rules of book-making in his desire to make the average reader see and grip the truth. This he has been able to do because of his skill as a draughtsman, and because the Printers of the book, who are lovers of the truth and like to see it "Rightly Divided," were in sympathy with the writer's purpose, and have done everything they could to make the "printer's art" express the writer's thought.

A book gotten up in this way is naturally more expensive to print than an ordinary book. The writer had to spend weeks and months in study and designing the charts, maps, diagrams, cuts, etc. These had to be inked in and lettered by hand. Then plates had to be made of the drawings, and electros of the plates. The emphasizing of the descriptive matter with black type costs extra, but all this trouble and expense makes the book doubly valuable. While there are but 210 pages in the book, the size of the type, and the enlarged page, 6 x 9 inches, make it equivalent to an ordinary book of 400 pages.

There is nothing fantastical in the book. It contains no speculative matter, nor opinions of the writer. The book is not a commentary made up of quotations from other writers. The writer is neither a copyist or compiler. The only Author the writer has sought to follow is the Author of the Book the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore the writer lays no claim to originality. All he has sought to do is to clearly present the "MIND OF CHRIST" as revealed in the Book, having in mind the "CURSE" to which every expositor of the Book subjects himself. "If any man shall ADD unto these things, God shall ADD UNTO HIM the 'PLAGUES' that are written in this Book, and if any man shall TAKE AWAY from the words of the 'Book of this

Prophecy,' God shall TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE 'BOOK OF LIFE,' AND OUT OF THE HOLY CITY, AND FROM THE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK." Rev. 22:18-19.

The writer's aim has been to prepare a standard work on the Book of Revelation, from the Futurist Standpoint, that can be used as a text-book in Theological Seminaries and Bible Schools, and be of invaluable service to the busy pastor in his exposition of the Word of God. The book is sent out with the prayer that God will bless its testimony in these days when the prophetic utterances of the Book of Revelation are rapidly approaching their fulfilment.

CLARENCE LARKIN.

"Sunnyside"

Fox Chase, Phila., Pa.

PLATES

John's Patmos Vision

The Book of Revelation

THE TITLE

"THE REVELATION OF Jesus Christ,

WHICH GOD GAVE UNTO HIM, TO SHOW UNTO HIS

SERVANTS THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY

COME TO PASS;

AND HE SENT AND SIGNIFIED IT BY HIS ANGEL UNTO HIS SERVANT John:

WHO BARE RECORD OF THE WORD OF GOD, AND OF THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, AND OF ALL THINGS THAT HE SAW.

THE BLESSING.

BLESSED IS HE THAT 'READETH,'

AND THEY THAT 'HEAR' THE WORDS OF THIS

PROPHECY, AND 'KEEP' THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN THEREIN:

FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND."

Rev. 1:1-3.

The "Title" of the Book describes its character. It is not "The Revelation of St. John the Divine," as the heading in our Bibles would have us believe, but it is "THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST."

The word "Revelation" in the Greek is "APOCALUPSIS." Hence the title "THE APOCALYPSE," by which it is often called. It is from the verb "APOCALUPTO," to unveil; from "APO," away from; and "KALUMMA," a veil. Hence "Apocalupsis" means a taking away of a veil, as when a statue is unveiled, that what is behind the veil may be seen. It is not so much a revelation or unveiling of the Person of Christ, though it discloses His High Priestly and Kingly glory, as it is the unveiling of those events that shall precede and accompany His return to the earth. This is seen from the fact that what is revealed in the Book, was given unto Jesus Christ, by God the Father, to show unto His Servants the "things which must shortly come to pass."

When Jesus was asked just before His death, when the things that He had prophesied against Jerusalem should come to pass (Mark 13:1-31), He replied in verse 32, "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither (NOT YET) the Son, but the FATHER." But after His Ascension He received from the Father the information that the Disciples asked for, and before the close of the first century, while at least one of those Disciples was still living, the beloved John, He sent an angel messenger to impart to him, and through him to the Churches, the information that is "unveiled" in this Book of Revelation. Thus we see that the canon of Scripture would be incomplete without this message from Jesus to His Church after His return to Heaven.

While the Apostle John is the writer of the Book he is not the author or composer. The Author was the Lord Jesus Himself. The Apostle was only a "scribe" or "amanuensis." Twice he declares that the contents of the Book were revealed to him by an angel. Rev. 1:1; 22:8. The fact that the style of the Book differs so strikingly from the other writings of John, as the Gospel and Epistles, is the strongest kind of evidence that John did not compose the Book, but that it was dictated or visualized to him. In its subject matter, and in the majesty and sublimity of its language, which is in harmony with its contents, the Book of Revelation differs from all other books, and is incomparably above them, thus revealing its Divine Authorship. In fact it is the only portion of the New Testament to which Jesus gives His endorsement, and affixes His signature, saying at its close--"I JESUS have sent Mine Angel to testify unto you these things in the Churches." Rev. 22:16.

The Book of Revelation then is not a compilation of Jewish "Apocalyptic Literature," intermixed with "Heathen Visions Christianized," thus being a "patchwork" of Jewish and Heathen Folklore, but it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass. This He sent by His ANGEL. Who this Angel was we are not told, but when John fell down to worship him, he said, "See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book." Rev. 22:8-9. He must therefore have been one of the old prophets raised for the purpose.

The Book is a PROPHETIC Book. It is not a history. It does not record the past, but reveals the future. It makes this claim in the Title--"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of THIS PROPHECY," Rev. 1:3; and four times in the concluding chapter. Rev. 22:7, 10, 18, 19. It is the summing up and consummation of all prophecy. In it all unfulfilled prophecy is fulfilled. It is the "finality" in prophecy until Jesus comes back. There has been no "new revelation" since it was written; and all those who claim to have received new and later "revelations" are impostors and false prophets. There is no place for "additions" or "subtractions" in the Book. It opens with a "blessing" promised the reader. and ends with a "curse" upon those who "ADD UNTO" or "TAKE FROM" it. Rev. 1:3; 22:18-19.

Nothing is said about understanding the Book, but blessed is he that "readeth," or if too illiterate to read, blessed are they that "hear," that is, listen to its reading. The reference here is doubtless to the "reader" and "hearers" of the Scripture as read in the Synagogue in the Apostle's day. That the Book should be shunned by many because of its mysterious character is no wonder. It is one of the "devices" of Satan to get people to neglect a Book that foretells his casting as "Prince of the Powers of the Air," and the "God of This Age," out of the Heavenlies; of his imprisonment in the "Bottomless Pit" for 1000 years; and his final casting into the Lake of Fire. While Satan hates all Scripture in general, he hates the books of Genesis and Revelation in particular. Therefore he attacks the authenticity of Genesis, and seeks to have Revelation neglected.

The Book is not only a "Prophetic" book, it is a "SYMBOLIC" book, that is, it is written largely in "symbolic" language, that is the meaning of the statement in the Title--"He sent and 'SIGNIFIED' it by His Angel unto His Servant John." The word "signified" means given in "signs" and "symbols" and should be pronounced "SIGN´-IFIED." There are more "signs" and "symbols" in the Book of Revelation than in any other book in the Bible, but they are either explained there or in some other part of the Scriptures. No one can understand the Book of Revelation who does not understand the Book of Daniel. The Prophet Daniel was told to "seal up" the words of his prophecy until the "Time of the End," not the "end of time," but the end of the "Times of the Gentiles." Dan. 12:4, 9. But the writer of the Book of Revelation was told to "seal NOT" the sayings of the Book, for the TIME IS AT HAND. Rev. 22:10.

The symbolism of the Book of Revelation shows that it was written for a "special class," for those who are acquainted with the "Word of God," and who have "spiritual discernment," and not for the carnally minded reader. "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which are REVEALED belong unto us and our children forever." Deu. 29:29. The Book of Revelation was written to reveal or disclose the purpose of God as to the earth and the nations, and we are not prying into God's secrets when we read and study it. It being the last prophecy, we naturally would expect it to sum up all previous prophecy, and as all previous prophecy had to do with the CHURCH, ISRAEL, and THE NATIONS, so we should expect this last prophecy to give us the final word as to them; and that is what it does. We find the CHURCH in the beginning, ISRAEL in the middle, and the saved NATIONS at the end.

These three are also seen in the construction of the Holy City, New Jerusalem; where we have the CHURCH in the Foundation, represented by the names of the Twelve Apostles, and ISRAEL in the Gates, with the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel written over them, and the saved NATIONS in the Streets, where they walk in the light of the City's Glory.

The Book is largely Jewish. This is seen in its "signs" and symbols, such as the Tabernacle, the Ark, the Altar, the Trumpets and Plagues, and the sealing of the 144,000 of Israel. It is Jewish because God in it, after the Church is taken out, deals again with Israel, and in chapters 6 to 19 inclusive He reveals what shall take place during the last or "Seventieth Week" of Daniel's "Seventy Weeks."

It is the Book of "CONSUMMATION" and its proper place in the sacred canon is where it is placed, at the end of the Bible. The Book is full of ACTION. Earth and heaven are brought near together. The clouds roll away, thrones, elders, and angelic forms are seen; harps, trumpets, cries from disembodied souls and choruses of song are heard. Earth touches heaven, and alas it touches hell also. Good and evil meet. There is no blending, but sharp contrasts, and a long protracted conflict that ends in victory for the good, and the "BEAST," the "FALSE PROPHET," SATAN and his hosts, and "DEATH" and HADES find their place in the "Lake of Fire." It describes the culmination of the evils foreseen and described in 1. Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 2 Pet. 2:1-2; Jude 14-19, and declares the CONSUMMATION of that which the Prophets foretold, the creation of a NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH in which righteousness shall dwell. Isa. 65:17. At last the patience of the patriarchs and saints is rewarded; the longings of faith, and the hope of Israel and the Church fulfilled, and the glory of God shines unhindered on a scene of righteousness and peace. The Bible begins with Paradise LOST, and closes with Paradise REGAINED.

THE SALUTATION

Chap. 1:4-6.

"JOHN to the Seven Churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which Is, and which Was, and which IS TO COME; and from the 'Seven Spirits' which are before HIS Throne; and from Jesus Christ who is the FAITHFUL WITNESS, and the FIRST BEGOTTEN OF THE DEAD, and the PRINCE OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH. Unto Him that LOVED US and WASHED (Loosed) US from our sins in His own blood. And hath made us KINGS and PRIESTS unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

The Salutation is addressed to the "Seven Churches Which Are In Asia." By Asia is not meant the great Continent of Asia, or even the whole of Asia Minor, but only the western end of Asia Minor bordering on the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, and about the size of the State of Pennsylvania. Neither do these Seven Churches mean that there were only seven churches in that district, for there were at least three other churches, that of Colosse, Col. 1:2; Hierapolis, Col. 4:13; and Troas, Acts 20:6-7. These seven Churches then must be representative or typical churches, chosen for certain characteristics typical of the character of the Church of Christ, not only in that day, but on down the centuries until the Church shall be removed from the earth, and represent seven church periods clearly defined in Church History. This we shall see, in our study of chapters two and three, to be the case.

Map: The Seven Churches

In the Benediction--"Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the Seven Spirits which are before His Throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness, etc.," we behold the Trinity. Here Jesus is distinguished from--"HIM (the Father) which Is, and which Was, and which Is To Come," but in verse 8, He claims the same Title, which only proves that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, and that He and the Father are one.

It is also worthy of note that the "Threefold Office" of Jesus, as PROPHET, PRIEST, and KING is brought out in the Salutation. He is called the "Faithful Witness," as such he is a PROPHET. As the "First Begotten From The Dead," He carried His own blood into the Heavenly Tabernacle, and thus performed the work of a PRIEST. As the "Prince Of The Kings Of The Earth," as He will be when He takes the Throne, He will be a KING. As Prophet Jesus is God's WORD, as Priest He is God's LAMB, and as King He is God's LION. John also emphasizes the fact that Jesus LOVED us before He WASHED (Loosed) us from our sins in His own blood, and that He has made us "Kings" and "Priests" unto God, and that we need no human Priest to stand between us and God.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

"Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall SEE HIM, and they also which PIERCED HIM: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen."

Rev. 1:7.

This refers to the Second Stage of Christ's Coming, the "Revelation" or "Appearing." The First Stage of His Coming, the "Rapture," is not mentioned in the Book. This will fulfil Zech. 12:10, "They (the Jews) shall look upon Me (Jesus) whom they have PIERCED." This is confirmatory of the view that the Book of Revelation deals mainly with the events that follow after the "Rapture" and precede and attend the "Revelation" or the coming to the earth of the Lord.

It is difficult to imagine the grief and remorse that will fill the hearts of those Jews who shall witness the return of the Lord to the Mount of Olives, when they shall see in His hands and feet the "PRINT OF THE NAILS," and He shall be revealed as the One they crucified. Like Thomas they will cry, "MY LORD AND MY GOD." John 20:24-29. The Prophet Zechariah (Zech. 12:9-14) describes it as a time of great "BITTERNESS" and a day of great mourning in Jerusalem, when families will separate themselves from their neighbors and mourn every family apart. And not only shall the Jews mourn because they rejected Him when He came the first time, but the nations of the earth will WAIL when they realize that He has come back, not as a Saviour, but a Judge to punish them for their iniquities.

I. THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN

THE VISION

"I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the Isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the SPIRIT on the LORD'S DAY, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a Trumpet, saying, I am ALPHA and OMEGA, the FIRST and the LAST: and, What thou SEEST, write in a book, and send it unto the Seven Churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS; and in the midst of the Seven Candlesticks one like unto the , clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps (breast) with a . His and his were , as ; and His were as a ; and His ; and His as the . And He had in His ""; and out of His went a ; and His was as the . And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He , saying unto me, "Fear not; I am the and the :