that will be at Pergamos, as Rev. 2: 13 shows. The development of things in the near

East (written March 1916) makes this spot of earth to be more and more important, and

here the scene of the Revelation is laid; round about this part much will happen, and

members of the assemblies in these places will come prominently into view during the

time of tribulation and persecution.

In our last paper we found that the Apostle John was taken "in spirit" to the day of the

Lord, a period concerning which Old Testament prophecy is specially clear. From that

standpoint the Apostle sees the visions of the Apocalypse, and is here instructed to write

them in a book, and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia. We can well believe

that as Paul was commissioned to write to seven churches, which should be

representative of the Gentile section of believers particularly, so these seven churches in

Asia may have been selected in order to show the character of the church in the last days.

The trumpet voice that John heard when translated to the day of the Lord caused him

to turn to see the One Who thus spoke. The vision of the Son of man in the midst of the

seven golden lampstands is presented to him. This is the opening vision of the book. To

miss its character is to be turned into by-paths of error.

The structure of the passage shows how the mind is concentrated upon the person and

dignity of the Son of man.

The member B | 13-16, being the most important, demands expansion, viz.:--