In view of these positions, we may account for the fact, too often overlooked by the reader of the Bible, that the Holy Spirit directed the first of all historians to begin his narrative so abruptly.  Assuming that the reader is already assured of God’s being, Moses proceeds at once to account for the origination of the material universe.  In simple narrative he writes,—­“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”  Thus God’s being, and the eternity of his being are assumed as known by the first inspired penman; a fact or principle not to be disputed.  True, the being of God has been questioned, but only by “fools”—­“brutish people;” who, by their atheistical suggestions have proclaimed to their fellows their “brutish folly.” (Ps. xiv. 6, xciv. 8, 9.)

As the Bible takes for granted that mankind have had a previous revelation in their own physical and moral constitution,—­in the visible heavens and earth; the same is true of the last book of the Bible, the Apocalypse.  It assumes that the reader has some competent knowledge of the preceding books of the sacred Scriptures.  The reader is supposed to be acquainted with the patriarchal and Mosaic dispensations of the Covenant of Grace.  Moreover, the moral law, as inculcated in the Old Testament; the Levitical priesthood and ministry, as being “shadows of good things to come;” the “doctrine according to godliness,” taught in the gospels and epistles of the New Testament,—­are all taken for granted and supposed to be received with a divine faith by all who would profit by this last book of the sacred canon.

It is further assumed in the Apocalypse, that the humble inquirer into the mind of the Holy Spirit has a knowledge of ancient history, of the character and destiny of Egypt, Babylon, etc.  And finally, it is requisite that the successful inquirer into the mind of God be acquainted with the language of symbols; and, above all, that he be resolved, with the inspired writer John, to take a position with the mystic woman in the wilderness.

With these few preliminaries, we proceed: 

CHAPTER I.

1.  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 

2.  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3.  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand.

Verses 1-3.—­Here, our divine Mediator appears in the continued exercise of his prophetical office “in his estate of exaltation.”  While present with his disciples on earth, he told them he had many things to say to them, but they could not hear them then. (John xvi. 12) Upon his ascension he fulfilled his own and his Father’s promise in sending the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth—­bring all things to their remembrance, and show them things to come. (v. 13.) The fulfilment of this promise we have in the whole of the New Testament,—­doctrines, facts and predictions.