The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

prayerfully read these works will, we are sure, be very thankful to our Lord and Savior for
having made use of this devoted man of God to perform this much needed work of
assisting His people in these times and the more trying ones to come. Though this servant
of the Lord did not live to write an exposition of the Apocalypse as he had expected, brief
comments are found here and there in his writings, which relate more especially to some
of the closing visions--those that have reference to the closing scenes of the Age. These
brief comments are sufficient to show that he was a believer in the Historical school of
interpretation--the school that applies the visions of the Apocalypse to the Christian
Church from the beginning of its history to its end.
It seems apparent that had these earlier writers on the Apocalypse lived to enjoy this
increased light now shining on the various features of the Divine Plan of salvation, they
would have revised and supplemented their remarkable expositions in harmony with this
added knowledge now enjoyed by many believers in this generation. The principle that is
held and adhered to by the Publishers of the exposition now placed in your hands is that
the writers of one generation advanced in their knowledge of the meaning and application
of the Apocalyptic visions over the preceding one. This advance in knowledge was made,
not by rejecting altogether previous interpretations, but rather by following the principle
of prophetic interpretation given by Christ Himself, contained in the words, "And now I
have told you before it come to pass, that when it is come to pass, ye might believe." This
principle is, as will be seen in these words, that of history unveiling prophecy, or as
expressed in another statement of Scripture, that "The path of the just [ones] is as the
shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
In our intercourse with the Lord's people, we have observed with regret the impression of
some that the study of the Revelation is not practical, indeed, not necessary. We are sorry
that such sentiment exists, and can only regard it as a grave reflection on the wisdom of
our Heavenly Father in providing the Apocalypse for His Church. The very fact that a
special blessing is pronounced by Him upon those who read and hear the words of this
prophecy ought, it would seem, to be sufficient of itself to emphasize that it is of more
than ordinary importance. The book of Revelation completes the Divine canon of
inspiration, and to as great an extent as any other book of the Bible, if not greater,
constitutes a portion of the "all Scripture," necessary for the man of God to be thoroughly
furnished unto all good works. Those who have given heed to the persuasive exhortation
in the Divine preface of the book--"Blessed is he that readeth," etc., can testify with full
assurance and with grateful hearts, that a perusal and study of its much diversified
contents cannot do otherwise than produce Christ-likeness, which is true holiness.
It has seemed with becoming propriety that considerable space should be devoted to the
introduction of this work; this has been done in order that a substantial foundation might
be laid for the expositions that follow. A general review of the Revelation is made, the
nature and purpose of the Apocalypse is considered, together with the various schools of
interpretation that have been in existence throughout the Age. The importance and
necessity for giving the most careful study first of all to the introduction to this work, can