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Early Writings
I was carried back to the days of the disciples and was shown
that God had a special work for the beloved John to accomplish.
Satan was determined to hinder this work, and he led on his servants
to destroy John. But God sent His angel and wonderfully preserved
him. All who witnessed the great power of God manifested in the
deliverance of John were astonished, and many were convinced that
God was with him, and that the testimony which he bore concerning
Jesus was correct. Those who sought to destroy him were afraid
to attempt again to take his life, and he was permitted to suffer on
for Jesus. He was falsely accused by his enemies and was shortly
banished to a lonely island, where the Lord sent His angel to reveal
to him events which were to take place upon the earth and the state of
the church down to the end—her backslidings and the position which
she should occupy if she would please God and finally overcome.
The angel from heaven came to John in majesty, his countenance
beaming with the excellent glory of God. He revealed to John
scenes of deep and thrilling interest in the history of the church of
God and brought before him the perilous conflicts which Christ’s
followers were to endure. John saw them passing through fiery trials,
made white and tried, and, finally, victorious overcomers, gloriously
saved in the kingdom of God. The countenance of the angel grew
radiant with joy and was exceeding glorious, as he showed John
the final triumph of the church of God. As the apostle beheld the
final deliverance of the church, he was carried away with the glory
of the scene and with deep reverence and awe fell at the feet of
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the angel to worship him. The heavenly messenger instantly raised
him up and gently reproved him, saying, “See thou do it not: I
am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony
of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of
prophecy.” The angel then showed John the heavenly city with all its
splendor and dazzling glory, and he, enraptured and overwhelmed,
and forgetful of the former reproof of the angel, again fell to worship
at his feet. Again the gentle reproof was given, “See thou do it not
for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of
them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.”
Preachers and people have looked upon the book of Revelation as
mysterious and of less importance than other portions of the Sacred
Scriptures. But I saw that this book is indeed a revelation given