Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
simply John, without prefix or addition. is also described as a servant of Christ, one who had borne
testimony as an eye-witness of the word of God and of the testimony of Christ. He is in Patmos
for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. He is also a fellow sufferer with those
whom he addresses, and the authorized channel of the most direct and important communication
that was ever made to the Seven Churches of Asia, of which churches John the apostle was at that
time the spiritual governor and teacher. Lastly, the writer was a fellow servant of angels and a
brother of prophets. All these marks are found united in the apostle John, and in him alone of all
historical persons. (2) A long series of writers testify to St. John’s authorship: Justin Martyr (cir.
150 A.D.), Eusebius, Irenaeus (A.D. 195), Clement of Alexandria (about 200), Tertullian (207),
Origen (233). All the foregoing writers, testifying that the book came from an apostle, believed
that it was a part of Holy Scripture. The book was admitted into the list of the Third Council of
Carthage, A.D. 397.
•Time and place of writing.—The date of the Revelation is given by the great majority of critics
as A.D. 95-97. Irenaeus says: “It (i.e. the Revelation) was seen no very long time ago, but almost
in our own generation, at the close of Domitian’s reign. Eusebius also records that, in the persecution
under Domitian, John the apostle and evangelist was banished to the Island Patmos for his testimony
of the divine word. There is no mention in any writer of the first three centuries of any other time
or place, and the style in which the messages to the Seven Churches are delivered rather suggests
the notion that the book was written in Patmos.
•Interpretation .—Modern interpreters are generally placed in three great divisions: (a) The Historical
or Continuous exposition, in whose opinion the Revelation is a progressive history of the fortunes
of the Church from the first century to the end of time. (b) The Praeterist expositors, who are of
opinion that the Revelation has been almost or altogether fulfilled in the time which has passed
since it was written; that it refers principally to the triumph of Christianity over Judaism and
Paganism, signalized in the downfall of Jerusalem and of Rome. (c) The Futurist expositors, whose
views show a strong reaction against some extravagances of the two preceding schools. They
believe that the whole book, excepting perhaps the first three chapters, refers principally, if not
exclusively, to events which are yet-to come. Dr.Arnold in his sermons “On the Interpretation of
Prophecy” suggests that we should bear in mind that predictions have a lower historical sense as
well as a higher spiritual sense; that there may be one or more than one typical, imperfect, historical
fulfillment of the prophecy, in each of which the higher spiritual fulfillment is shadowed forth
more or less distinctly.
Rezeph
(a hot stone), one of the places which Sennacherib mentions, in his taunting message to Hezekiah,
as having been destroyed by his predecessor. (2 Kings 19:12; Isaiah 37:12)
Rezia
(delight), an Asherite, of the sons of Ulla. (1 Chronicles 7:39) (B.C. 1444.)
Rezin
(firm).
•King of Damascus. He attacked Jotham during the latter part of his reign, (2 Kings 15:37) but his
chief war was with Ahaz, whose territories he invaded, in conjunction with Pekah about B.C. 741.
Though unsuccessful is his siege of Jerusalem, (2 Kings 16:5; Isaiah 7:1) he “recovered Elath to
Syria.” (2 Kings 16:6) Soon after this he was attacked defeated and slain by Tiglath-pileser II,
king of Assyria. (2 Kings 16:9)
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William Smith