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times in the N.T., nine of the occurrences being in the Revelation. It is a title therefore
that has some peculiar connection with the subject of the book. The passages are as
follows:--Rev. 1: 8; 4: 8; 11: 17; 15: 3; 16: 7, 14; 19: 6, 15; 21: 22, and they deal
with the reign and rule of the coming King, judgment, wrath, and blessing as pertain to
the purpose of God in Israel and the nations. The one reference outside the book of
Revelation is II Cor. 6: 18, where the insistent note is separation from uncleanness,
"perfecting holiness in the fear of God." The first passage where the LXX uses the title is
II Sam. 5: 10, where it is rendered in the A.V. by "The Lord God of hosts." The other
occurrences in II Samuel are 7: 8, 26, 27. Each reference has relation to David, the
greatness of his kingdom and the future of his house. This title which occupies so great a
place in the Prophets, "the Lord God of hosts" and "the Lord of hosts," seems to be
used most in those Prophets that approximate most to the theme of the Revelation. The
title comes before us again in James 5: 4, "The Lord of Sabaoth," the context urging
patience unto the coming of the Lord. John, in Rev. 1:, continues in much the same
strain:--
"I John, your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation and kingdom and
patience in Jesus, came to be in the island which is called Patmos, because of the Word of
God and the testimony of Jesus."
John calls himself a "brother and a partaker." The use of the word "brother" in the
Revelation is by no means indiscriminate, in fact it appears to be confined to one distinct
class, namely, those who are the overcomers by faith, and who spoke forth the Word of
God. Rev. 1: 9 is the only occurrence of the word in the singular, the remaining four
occurrences being in the plural. These four references should be noted here, in order that
their light may be used in learning the true significance of John's title.
Martyrdom attaches to the first reference, overcoming to the second, the possession of
the testimony to the third, and keeping the sayings of the book to the fourth.
A | 6: 11. Fellowservants and brethren killed--for the Word of God and
the testimony (verse 9).
B | 12: 10. Accuser of brethren cast down.
Overcame by the word of their testimony (verse 11).
A | 19: 10. Fellowservant and brethren that have the testimony
of Jesus . . . . . the spirit of prophecy.
B | 22: 9. Fellowservant and brethren which keep the sayings of this book.
No one reading these passages can doubt but that they are closely connected. What is
the common theme? The testimony of Jesus--the spirit of prophecy; in other words,
"the sayings of this book" of the Revelation.
Our study of the Scriptures can never be too careful. Nothing is written therein
without due regard to all truth. The indiscriminate use of the title "brethren' is a case in
point. The fact that the title is used in a restricted sense in Revelation is manifest. It also
agrees with one or two other prominent passages. For example, when we read in
Matt. 25: concerning the nations and the treatment of the "least of these My brethren,"
we must not think that the whole of the nation of Israel is necessarily intended. Rather is