Revelation 1

He is not only 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of the same nature and essence with the Father. So Athanasius, Basil, Chrysostom: 1. Is God the Father called Almighty, so is Christ (Revelation 1:8), 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Almighty. 2. Is God the…

All power is given to him. Christ has three keys in his hand, the key of the grave, to open the graves of men at the resurrection; the key of heaven, to open the kingdom of heaven to whom he will; the key of hell (Revelation 1:18), to lock up the damned in that fiery prison. To…

And he is, the text says, 〈in non-Latin alphabet〉, King of Kings. He has a preeminence of all other Kings, he is called the Prince of the Kings of the Earth (Revelation 1:5), 〈in non-Latin alphabet〉 — He must needs be so, for by him Kings reign (Proverbs 8:15). They hold their c…

Christ is fit to be Judge, as he partakes both of the manhood and Godhead. 1. Of the manhood: being clothed with the human nature, he may be visibly seen of all: it is requisite the Judge should be seen (Revelation 1:7). Behold he comes with clouds, and every eye shall see him.

2. Jehovah, a word that properly sets out God's eternity; a word so dreadful, that the Jews trembled to name or read it, therefore used another word Adonai, Lord. Jehovah contains in it time past, present, and to come (Revelation 1:4): which is, and which was, and which is to co…

All that are of God, as they have Christ for their captain (Hebrews 2:10), so holiness is the white color they wear. 5. Holiness is our honor, holiness and honor put together (1 Thessalonians 4:4), dignity goes along with sanctity (Revelation 1:6). He has washed us from our sins…

7. God is the best Father because he never dies, (1 Timothy 6:16) Who only has immortality. Earthly fathers die, and their children are exposed to many injuries, but God lives forever; (Revelation 1:8) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the last. God's crown has no successo…

He made this day (Psalm 118:24): "This is the day which the Lord has made." Arnobius and the current of expositors understand it of our Christian Sabbath, and it is called the Lord's Day (Revelation 1:10). As it is called the Lord's Supper, because of the Lord's instituting the…

Here is a meditation fit for our first entrance into a Sabbath, God's holiness: the contemplation of this would work in us such a frame of heart as is suitable to a holy God: it would make us then reverence his name, hallow his day: while we are musing of the holiness of God's n…

6. Shut up the Sabbath evening with repetition, singing of psalms and prayer: beg that God would bless the Word you have heard; but I hope your practice herein will prevent my further speaking. Could we but thus spend a Sabbath, we might be in the Spirit on the Lord's Day (Revel…

1. Is God the Father omnipotent, so is Jesus Christ. He is [illegible], the Almighty (Revelation 1:8). He creates (Colossians 1:16).

(1.) The Kingdom of Heaven is a place of honor; there are the glorious triumphs and sparkling crowns. In other kingdoms there is but one king, but in Heaven all are kings (Revelation 1:6). Every saint glorified is a partaker of the same glory as Christ does (John 17:22): The glo…

If the fetters of sin be broken off, and we walk at liberty in the ways of God (Psalm 119:45): I will walk at liberty — this is a blessed sign we are pardoned. Such as are washed in Christ's blood from that guilt, are made kings to God (Revelation 1:6); as kings they rule over t…

(2.) In choosing sinners to a participation of the fruits of his love (Ephesians 1:3, 4, 5, 6). The love of the Son, is fixed signally on his actual giving himself to die for us (Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:25; Revelation 1:5). What balances these persons have got, to weigh thes…

Chap. 5:20. And we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ, this is the true God and eternal life. Rev. 1:8. I am Alpha, and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Ver. 11. I am Alpha and Ome…

And (3) By their celebration is he glorified in the world: And therefore, (4) As he has made blessed promises to his people, to grant them his presence and to bless them in their use: So (5) Being the tokens of the marriage relation that is between him and them, with respect to…

Quest. 19. What is an instituted Church of the Gospel? A society of persons, called out of the world, or their natural worldly state, by the administration of the Word and Spirit, to the obedience of the faith, or the knowledge and worship of God in Christ, joined together in an…

By this 'power of death' is meant not so much bodily death as that eternal death to which, as the proper punishment of sin, its guilt binds us over. This power of his is not that of the Judge in sentencing to death or casting men to hell, which is Christ's own royal prerogative…

First, the priests, whether they be male or female, they are all one in Christ (Galatians 3:28). Yes, every member of this spiritual house are made kings and priests to God the Father (Revelation 1:6). Yes, and the whole Church united into a body, is a chosen generation, a royal…

To all such as walk in this Gospel faith and order, the Lord Jesus has promised a greater manifestation of his presence, and Spirit (John 14:26). And John in the Island of Patmos found it (Revelation 1:9, 10). Yes, and to all them that love him and keep his commandments, the Fat…

1. The unspeakable love of Christ in offering himself and his own blood for us. See (Galatians 2:20; Revelation 1:5; 1 John 3:16; Ephesians 5:26, 27). There being no other way whereby our sins might be purged and expiated (chap. 10:5, 6, 7), out of his infinite love and grace he…

The Church, or the souls and consciences of men, were really cleansed, purified and sanctified with an internal spiritual purification (Ephesians 5:25, 26; Titus 2:14). It was washed in the blood of Christ (Revelation 1:5), and is thereby cleansed from sin (1 John 1:7). And Heav…

To them that look for him. But the Scripture is plain and express in other places, that he shall appear to all; shall be seen of all, even of his enemies (Revelation 1:7). And the work that he has to do at his appearance, requires that so it should be.

This state of things is now changed under the Gospel. It is one of the principal priviledges of Believers, that, being made Kings and Priests to God by Jesus Christ, this distinction as to especial gracious access to God is taken away (Revelation 1:5; Ephesians 2:18; Romans 5:2)…

Without it we shall fall into one of the extremes mentioned, both of which are attended with dangers ruinous to profession: See Habakkuk 2:1, 2, 3, 4. With respect to these things the days of the Gospel are the time of the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:9). H…

And the Holy Spirit rested on him in all variety of his gifts and operations, especially those of spiritual light, wisdom and understanding (Isaiah 11:2, 3). And in allusion to this candlestick with its seven lamps, is called the seven Spirits that are before the throne of God (…

He willingly, and voluntarily, out of his own abundant goodness and love took upon him to make atonement for us, wherein he was our surety. And accordingly this undertaking is ascribed to that love which he exercised herein (Galatians 2:12; 1 John 3:16; Revelation 1:5). And ther…

For in God we live, move, and have our being. He is hereby Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and end of all (Revelation 1:11), because he is [illegible], the living one, ver. 18. And this life of Christ is the foundation of the efficacy of all his mediatory…

What the Prophet spake of the vision he saw, the Apostle applies to the Person of Christ, for the reasons before mentioned: [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], He that shall come, is a periphrasis of Christ, frequently used and applied to him. Once it is used to express his eternity (R…

The whole management of Christ's kingly office in relation to the Church, is prescribed to Christ by God. God reveals to him what shall be done in the world, what acts he shall perform for the Church, and gives him a history of all that was to be done upon the stage, together wi…

Christ has but one wife or spouse (Canticles 6:9). The Catholic Church indeed is but one; namely the whole company of God's elect in heaven, in earth, dead, now living, and not yet born: But as there is the Church Catholic, which is but one; so there are particular and visible c…

[illegible]. 1. In pursuit of this matter of Metropolitanes, he proceeds next to take notice of one observation of mine in these words. 2. To this end he informs sect. 2. that in the New Testament there is in sundry places mention made of Church [illegible] number, as Galatians…

But Corinth was such a City, and this Epistle was so addrest to it — that Corinth was such a Metropolis was apparent, and is not denyed, as to the politicall acceptation of it; and if it were so also in the Ecclesiastick, there is no farther difficulty; and if my supposing and n…

The God-man, Jesus Christ, and mere man express the whole human race. The things to be said concerning the theology of Jesus Christ — "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3) — and concerning that knowledge which He had and has through the…

The same economy continues even after His glorious exaltation to the right hand of the Father. From where He testifies that He received from the Father that solemn Apocalypse which He published not by the breath of the Spirit alone, but with a living voice from heaven (Revelatio…

Your Lord. This word Jehovah notes out his being eternal, infinite, beginning and ending of all things (Exodus 3:14; Revelation 1:8). By this it appeareth, this law appertaineth to all, because he is the Lord of all.

Either we must not know, and not be born again to this piece of excellency, or else we must have this peculiar commandement to humble us, and in this point to drive us to Christ, afterward also, be a rule and square to us of the same. Fourthly, the Apostles in taking this day, a…

2. This error thwarts the glory of the grace of God; for it is an error that strikes at the richest and most radiant diamond of the crown of the glory of Christ, it hangs election and the effectualness of God's decree as to effectual calling, faith, justification, and perseveran…

Now we shortly add this third, of kin to the former, that believers, and such as are fled to Christ for refuge, would look on his sufferings as come under for them; and these same Scriptures which we cited to confirm these, will confirm this. The reason why we would have you con…

And (1 Timothy 1:15) this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Jesus Christ came to the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief. And John heartily, (Revelation 1:7) to him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, etc. But they that e…

And yet this were a most natural, proper, and kindly exercise for believers; even like the work of those, who say, Salvation to our God, that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb (Revelation 7:10). To Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, etc. (Revelat…

But when He is executor of His own testament, and by His Spirit makes the application, what is, or can be wanting? We shall say no more, but that here it is clear, that we have a living Mediator as Himself says (Revelation 1:18): I was dead, and am alive, and live for evermore.…

It is Christ that died, indeed, rather that is risen again, etc. This way of justification makes Christ's death wondrous lovely, and it is on this that the song of the redeemed is founded (Revelation 1:5). To him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and ha…

There is nothing among men readily less cared for, than a ministry; some would have none at all; others would have them of such a stamp, as would please and humor them; But our Lord has received gifts to give to men; And he that poured out such gifts on the apostles and others,…

I leave it to the experience of the godly, if Jeremiah his singing of praise in one verse, (Jeremiah 20:13) and his cursing of the day that he was born on, in the next verse, verse 14, the order of Scripture being of divine inspiration, does not speak God's dispensation in this…

Verse 15. His countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. Revelation 1:16. His countenance as when the Sun shines in his strength. All the beauty of God is put forth in Christ.

4. The Scripture nowhere speaks of any love of God in Christ to man, but such as is efficacious in saving; any other love is lip-love, not real; and so to allege this one place, without authority of the Word, is petitio principii, a begging of the question; for the love (Ezekiel…

He is at God's right hand, and we are in his hands (John 10:28), and all his enemies are under his feet, who then can pull us out? (Revelation 1:18) says Christ, I have the keys of hell and death. The key is still in the Scripture phrase the ensign of power and authority.

Now not only Christ's soul (as theirs) lives to cry, but his whole person; for he is risen again, and lives to intercede for ever. In (Revelation 1:18), Christ appearing to John, when he would speak but one speech that should move all in him, he says but this, I am he that lives…

Therefore verse 33 of that Acts 2, Peter giving an account how it came to pass that they were so filled with the Holy Ghost, says, that Christ having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, had shed him forth on them; which receiving is not to be only understood…