CONCLUSION.
JESUS has now conquered death, and ascended, where "He ever liveth to make intercession for us." We no more mark his footsteps, or hear his voice amid the hills and valleys of the Promised Land; but in the groves of immortal bliss, he is worshipped by adoring angels, and by the "spirits of just men made perfect."
There, Moses and Elias, Peter, James and John, "walk with him in white," and in a more exalted sense than, when on the Mount of Transfiguration, exclaim, "Master, it is good for us to be here." And with these,
"The saints of all ages in harmony meet,
Their Saviour and brethren transported to greet;
While the anthems of rapture unceasingly roll,
And the smile of our Jesus is the feast of the soul."
But while we linger on these mortal shores, other words, from the lips of Jesus, still fall upon our ears.
When Paul was on his way to the feast of the Passover at Jerusalem, he tarried for a brief space at Ephesus. Here he called together the elders of the church, and gave them an account of his labors, and exhorted them to diligence in the cause of their Master. And in that memorable farewell address, while urging upon the strong the duty of supporting the weak, he enforces his doctrine, by
reminding them of the "words of the Lord Jesus," where he says,
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
John was banished to the Isle of Patmos, for the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus. In a vision, he saw one like unto the Son of man, walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. His hair was like wool, white as snow; his eyes as a flame of fire; his feet like fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice like the sound of many waters.
In his right hand were seven stars: and out of his mouth went a two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shining in his strength. And when John saw him, he fell at his feet as one dead. But Jesus laid his right hand upon him saying:
Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forever more, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and
[385]the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
And these are the words which he commanded John to write to the angels, or ministers, of the seven churches.
To the church in Ephesus, write:
I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember, therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out
[386]of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
To the church of Smyrna, write:
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich; and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
To the church in Pergamos, write:
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was
[387]my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
To the church at Thyatira, write:
I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman, Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and
[388]to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death: and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already, hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall
[389]they be broken to shivers, even as I received of my Father; and I will give him the morning star.
To the church in Sardis, write:
I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
To the church in Philadelphia, write:
I know thy works. Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little
[390]strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: 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 cometh down out of heaven from my God; and I will write upon him my new name.
To the church of the Laodiceans, write:
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and
[392]will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
John in his vision saw also a new heaven and a new earth; and there was no more sea. For the former things were passed away. And Jesus who sat upon the throne, said:
Behold, I make all things new.
And he said to John:
Write: for these words are true and faithful. It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have
[393]their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
And John saw the holy city, with its jasper walls, its golden streets, and gates of pearl; its crystal river, and tree of life, with its perpetual fruits and healing leaves; and the light of the city was the glory of the Lamb. And he spake to John and said,
I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things, in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
And the Spirit and the bride say, come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
For I testify unto every one that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, 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
[394]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.
He which testifieth these things saith,
Surely I come quickly: Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.