These remarkable words are true and prophetic. There can be no doubt that this man of God clearly saw the

kingdom purpose in the Scriptures relating to earth and heaven, that we have endeavoured to set forth in this

volume. His comments are all the more remarkable considering they were written more than 100 years ago. In his

day he found but few believers who were keen enough to search the holy Scriptures and see whether these things are

so or not, like the Berean Christians of old (Acts 17:10-12).

Times have changed but little as regards spiritual hunger among the people of God. Concerning the world,

conditions are infinitely worse, with the prevailing ignorance of God's Word and the denial of its truth. All who

value it, should cling to it tenaciously and take every opportunity for making it known by voice and pen.

CHAPTER EIGHT

When we come to the last book in the Bible, we are dealing with a part of Scripture concerning which there has

been much controversy and division. Yet its main theme is perfectly clear. It is the book of the coming (Second

Advent) of Christ which at last brings in the beginning of God's kingdom on earth. The word `kingdom' is found

seven times (1:9; 11:15; 12:10; 16:10; 17:12,17). Three references are to the kingdom of God and four to the

opposing kingdom of Satan the deceiver. At the beginning we read `Behold He cometh with clouds, and every eye

shall see Him' (1:7) and at the end is the Lord's promise, `Surely I come quickly', to which is added the last prayer of

Scripture, that of John, `Even so, come, Lord Jesus' (22:20).

G.N.H. Peters in The Theocratic Kingdom writes:

`It is only through this doctrine of the kingdom that the Apocalypse can or will be understood and consistently

interpreted. The reason for this lies in the simple fact that it announces the Coming and the events connected

with the Advent of the Theocratic King. Now to enter fully into its spirit and appreciate its force, to form an

adequate conception of the testimony of Jesus either as a whole or in its several aspects, there must of necessity

be a previous acquaintance with the covenants and a correct apprehension of the burden of prophecy based on

those covenants resolving itself into the promised kingdom' (Vol. 3, p. 366).

The key words of the Revelation are all to do with the earthly kingdom. One word of special significance is the

word `throne' (thronos) which occurs no less than 41 times, 38 of which refer to God's kingdom and 3 to the

kingdom of Satan (translated `seat'). The great question as to who will finally be on the throne and control the earth

is settled in this Book. The Satanic struggle that has characterised everything since his fall, which has been going on

internally and externally, at long last comes out into the open and is completely resolved, because we read in 11:15:

`And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are

become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever'.

Other characteristic words are: `crown' (diadema) used and applied 3 times: to Christ 19:12; Satan 12:3 and to the

wild Beast 13:1. Also `crown' (stephanos) is used and applied 8 times: to believers 2:10; 3:11; 4:4; 4:10; to the rider

on the white horse 6:2; to forces of demons 9:7; to Israel 12:1 and to the Lord as the Son of man 14:14.

Another feature of great importance to the interpretations of the Revelation is its vital link with the Old

Testament. Old Testament language and references to this part of the Word abound, there being more than 500 of

these which clearly indicate that the Revelation will never be understood if there is ignorance of the Old Testament,

especially the prophecy of Daniel. This is supported by the Lord Jesus in His final discourse concerning His Second

Coming and the events leading up to this, recorded in Matthew 24. In it He predicts a time of unparalleled trouble

all over the world (Matt. 24:21,22) such as is mentioned in Daniel 12:1 and He refers to the `abomination of

desolation' spoken of by Daniel (Dan. 9:26,27) in Matthew 24:15 and the whole conception is supported by the

testimony of the Old Testament prophets, who reveal the pouring out of God's wrath and His judgments on the

nations under Satan's domination at the end of the age.

The word `wrath' (translating thumos and orge) occurs no less than 15 times, 14 of which refer to God and one to

Satan (12:12), showing that the age of grace has finished and the anger of God has become a terrible reality. There

are strong links between the Revelation and the book of Genesis: