A compendious introduction to the study of the Bible, an analysis of 'An introduction to the critical study and knowledge of the holy Scriptures'.

tained in this book were made to Saint John during his exile in the isle of Patmos, towards the end of Domitian's reign, though the book containing them could not have been published until after his release on the emperor's death in the year 96, and after his return to Ephesus. The year 96 or 97 may, therefore, be considered as its true date. The scope of this book is two-fold: first, generally to make known to the apostle "the things which are" (i. 19.), that is, the then present state of the Christian churches in Asia; and, secondly and principally, to reveal to him "the things which shall be hereafter," or the constitution and fates of the Christian church, through its several periods of propagation, corruption, and amendment, from its beginning to its consummation in glory. The Apocalypse, therefore, consists of two principal divisions or parts; viz.

After the title of the book (ch. i. 1-3.),

PART I. contains the "things which are-" that is, the then present state of the church: it includes the Epistles to the seven Asiatic Churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. (i. 9-20. ii, iii.) These churches, in the Lydian or Proconsular Asia, are supposed to have been planted by the apostle Paul and his assistants during their ministry. They lie nearly in an amphitheatre, and are addressed according to their geographical positions, as may be seen on reference to our Map of the Travels of the Apostles. These seven Epistles contain excellent precepts and exhortations, commendations, and reproofs, promises and threatenings, which are calculated to afford instruction to the Universal Church of Christ at all times.

PART II. contains a Prophecy of "the things which shall be hereafter," or the future state of the church

through succeeding ages, from the time when the apostle beheld the apocalyptic visions to the grand consummation of all things. (ch. iv-xxii.)

Although many parts of the Apocalypse are necessarily obscure to us, because they contain predictions of events still future, yet enough is sufficiently clear to convey to us the most important religious instruction. The Revelation of St. John is to us precisely what the prophecies of the Old Testament were to the Jews, nor is it in any degree more inexplicable. "No prophecies in the Revelation can be more clouded with obscurity, than that a child should be born of a pure virgin that a mortal should not see corruption—that a person despised and numbered among malefactors should be established for ever on the throne of David. Yet still the pious Jew preserved his faith entire amidst all these wonderful, and, in appearance, contradictory intimations. He looked into the holy books in which they were contained with reverence, and with an eye of patient expectation waited for the consolation of Israel.' We, in the same manner, look up to these prophecies of the Apocalypse, for the full consummation of the great scheme of the Gospel; when Christianity shall finally prevail over all the corruptions of the world, and be universally established in its utmost purity."