heavenly, i.e. the time during which the Lamb (and His followers) were not manifested upon earth. It closes with “these are the true sayings of God.” The angel was his fellow servant[1] and the fellow-servant of his brethren that had the testimony of Jesus; for the spirit of prophecy still testified of Jesus. God was to be worshipped: this was the great end of the book to keep the Church in the holy simplicity of true worship in the midst of ruin and apostasy. Now the heaven is opened: it is not John caught up there. It is not a sign there: it is not the temple opened to him there; but heaven is opened and one comes forth.[2] Heaven opened for the Holy Ghost to descend on Jesus here. It opened for the angels of God to ascend and descend on the Son of man: it opened for the Church (to wit, in Stephen closing that period and scene), to be received into heaven, and for the unity of the body and its heavenly place to be revealed to and preached by Paul. It now was opened, that the King of kings and Lord of lords Himself should
- ↑ Note, sonship is not the point of this book, but dealings on earth : therefore the angel says, “fellow-servant” to those who, in their higher character, are really sons and joint heirs.
- ↑ I have long felt, and it is clear from this passage, that the Church is actually with Christ in heavenly places before this; for they come forth with Him.
