Seiss On Importance Of Apocalypse Study

In the preface to his famous work "The Apocalypse," J. A. Seiss wrote (See here - emphasis mine):

"THERE is a widespread prejudice against the study of the Apocalypse. Though it is the great prophetic Book of the New Testament, the last of all the writings of Inspiration, a special message from the ascended Saviour to His Churches on earth, and pressed upon every one’s attention with uncommon urgency, there are religious guides, sworn to teach “the whole counsel of God,” who make a merit of not understanding it, and of not wishing to occupy themselves with it. If such treatment of an acknowledged part of the Sacred Canon is compatible with ministerial fidelity and Christian duty, the author of these Lectures is very much mistaken in his understanding of Christ’s commands, as well as in his estimate of the purposes for which a Divine Revelation has been given."

"Make a merit of not understanding it"! I have met Christians who have taken this attitude. It is so sad especially when a special blessing is promised to those who read and heed the prophecy. Said Seiss:

"A tremendous Revelation is therefore brought before men in this Book. And if any one would fully profit by it, let him bear with him this one vital and all-conditioning thought, that he is here dealing with Christ’s own infallible foreshowings of the style, manner, and succession of events in which the Apocalypse awarded to Him by the Father is to take place. He who fails in this, misses the kernel of the Book, and must fail of the blessing of those who read, hear, and observe the things which are written in it." (Introduction)

So many miss the nature and subject matter of the prophecy of the Book of Revelation and they are at a loss for it. When Peter said that we believers who have the new testament writings "have a more sure word of prophecy" (II Peter 1: 19) we surely must include the book of Revelation for it is certainly a sure word of prophecy. We are told to "despise not prophesyings" (I Thess. 5: 20) and this would include the prophesying of the apostle John in the Apocalypse. 

From his first lecture on the opening words of the Apocalypse he says:

"There is also a peculiar efficacy and power in the doctrine of Christ’s speedy return. Like a magnet, it lifts the heart of the believer out of the world, and out of his low self, and enables him to stand with Moses on the mount, and transfigures him with the rays of blessed hope and promise which stream upon him in those sublime heights. It is the most animating and most sanctifying subject in the Bible. It is the soul’s serenest light amid the darkness and trials of earth." 

Believers who do not have interest in the prophetic scriptures are depriving themselves and not preparing themselves for the Lord's return. Many of the prophecies of the bible, including of the Apocalypse, are given as warnings. 

The most excited and enthusiastic believers are they who are watching for the Lord's return, who are watching "the signs of the times." They are not, as others, missing out on "the power of the doctrine of Christ's return," the power to transform them and to make them persevere in hope. It is also intended to be a means in their deliverance to have these prophecies. Seiss continued:

"And the great end and aim of this book is to set forth this doctrine. The things of which it treats, are things touching the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ, and which it describes as “things which must shortly come to pass.” The impending Advent is the theme which pervades it from its commencement to its close. And just in proportion as he who is awake to the great truth of the Saviour’s speedy coming, and is engaged in waiting and preparing himself accordingly, is a better man, and in a safer condition, and really than the half-christian and the lukewarm; — in that same proportion is he who reads, hears and keeps the words of this prophecy blessed beyond all other people. This book, at least its subject matter, thus becomes to him an instrument of security and attainment to save him from surprise when his Lord cometh, and from the tribulations which shall try the indifferent; as well as a passport to admit him to the marriage supper of the Lamb, and to the highest awards of eternity. Precious book! and happy they who study it! Nor can I close without remarking how all this plucks up, and crushes to atoms, those erroneous and mischievous notions entertained by many, that there is nothing useful in prophetic studies. To say nothing of the duty of giving heed to what God has thought it important to record, or of the folly of seeing only peril in trying to understand what the Spirit of God has inspired for our learning and consolation, what man is he, who, in the face of this text, and its outspoken benediction, will venture to denounce investigation into sacred prophecy? What if it is often dark and mysterious? The darker and more difficult, the greater the reason for earnest examination. Be the obscurity and mystery what it may, God says, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words, and keep those things which are written.” What if this book of Revelation is the fullest of all of dark things and perplexing mysteries? It is then a book which above all needs our most solemn and studious attention. Nay, it is concerning this book especially that God pronounces this blessedness upon the devout and obedient inquirer. Some tell us that what is yet future ought not to be examined into till after it has come to pass. I can hardly realize that this is seriously meant."

What excellent words are these from Seiss! He continued:

"Jesus knew what he was about when he sent this book to be shown unto his servants. He understood his own words when he said and repeated: Blessed is he that reads and he that keeps what is in this book. And I will insist that it is to be studied. As Christ said to the writer of it, so he says to all his ministers, and all his people, in all time: “SEAL NOT THE SAYINGS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK.” It is an open book, and meant to be ever kept open to the view of the Church from that time forward to the end. Woe, then, to the man who undertakes to draw away God’s people from it, or to warn them against looking into it! He takes from the Church, which has now been these 2000 years among the dashing waves, the chart by which above all Christ meant she should be guided, and wherein she may best see whither she is bearing, what are her perils, and where her course of safety lies! He undertakes to seal what God has said should not be sealed! He not only “takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy,” (which who does, “God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book,”) but seeks to take away the book itself!"

It is so sad that many preachers and teachers seek to "draw away" believers from studying prophecy, from studying the Apocalypse. Seiss continued:

"And the more dangerous and reprehensible is such a course, now that “the time is near.” Nearly two thousand years ago, it was said of the things herein written, that they must speedily come to pass. These records were from the first pressed upon the study of the Church by the solemn consideration that the period of their fulfilment was rapidly approaching. But if this argument was of force then, how much more now? Standing, then, as we do, upon the very margin of the great Apocalypse, by all the solemnities with which it is to be accompanied, I not only invite and recommend, but conjure Christians, as they hope to be present at the marriage supper of the Lamb, not to put this precious book from them, or to forgo the faithful study of its contents. The Lord open our hearts to its teachings, and make us partakers of the blessings it foretells!"

Today we have more need than any other generation of believers to heed the prophetic word of the Apocalypse. 

What think ye?