Much of the failure to understand the Scriptures arises from the fact that we approach

its pages thinking that we have to explain the Bible, instead of realizing that the Bible has

been written to explain things to us. Further, we approach the various books of the Bible,

as though they had no connection with the rest of Scripture, and thereby fail to perceive

the beautiful design running through the entire Word.  In approaching the book of

Revelation it is of the utmost importance to notice its place in the canon of Scripture, and

the relation which it holds to the remainder of the inspired Word. The simplest and at the

same time the most obvious relation is the connection of this last book with the first, viz.,

Genesis tells us of the creation, the Serpent's deception, the loss of Paradise, the

forfeiture of the right to the tree of life, the entrance of sin, death, and the curse.

Revelation tells us of the new creation, the end of the Serpent's deception, the restoration

of Paradise, the right to the tree of life, and the blessed fact that there shall be "no more

death," and "no more curse." Gen. 3: contains in a brief statement the great prophecy

concerning the Seed of the woman, and the seed of the Serpent. Revelation shows us in

fuller detail the final and complete fulfilment of this basic prophecy.

Coming to the New Testament we find in the opening book, the Gospel of Matthew, a

striking and obvious connection between this Gospel of the Kingdom, and the Revelation.

Matthew presents us with the coming of the "Son of man" in lowliness, finally showing

us His rejection by Israel as their King, His head crowned with thorns, and the Gentiles

successor of Nebuchadnezzar's dominion preferred to the King of God's appointment.

The Revelation has an answer to this, just as it had an answer to all that was said in

Genesis. In the Revelation the Lord is seen coming again, still as the Son of man, this

time in great glory, this time crowned with many crowns, this time to enter into His place

as heaven's appointed King to rule with a rod of iron, to overthrow the final blasphemous

development of Gentile dominion, and to usher in that perfect kingdom concerning which

all the prophets had spoken.

In studying the teaching of the New Testament books, a great deal can be gathered

from the way in which they use the Old Testament Scriptures. When we find that

Matthew refers to the Old Testament Scriptures about 92 times, and that the epistle to the

Hebrews contains in its short compass 102 O.T. references, we are at once impressed

with the fact that these books contain some line of teaching which has a real connection

with the purpose and people of Old Testament times. When we consider the Prison

Epistles, and note how very few references they contain to the Old Testament, we are at