THE last Book in the Bible is called Revelation. It was written by the Apostle John. One of the wicked emperors of Rome, being angry with him, because he preached the gospel, sent John to a lonely island named Patmos. There, we are told, he was treated cruelly and made to work in the mines, though he was a very old man at that time.
But while he was at Patmos, the Saviour appeared to him, in a vision, and showed him those things that are written in the Book of Revelation. John says, I heard behind me a great voice like a trumpet, and I turned to see who it was that spoke to me, and saw Jesus clothed in a garment that reached down to his feet, and around his breast was a golden girdle. When John saw him he was afraid, and fell down like one dead; but Jesus laid his right hand upon him, saying, Fear not, I am he that was crucified; but, behold, I am alive again, and will live forevermore. And Jesus talked with John, and gave him messages to seven different churches in the land of Asia, and told him to write down the messages in a book, and send them to the seven churches for which they were intended.
Afterward John saw a door opened in heaven and a voice called to him, saying, Come up here, and I will show thee what will happen hereafter. And he heard the voices of a great multitude of angels praising the Saviour, and calling him, The Lamb that was slain. Then, in the vision, John was shown many wonderful things, which were meant to teach him what would happen to Christians on the earth, from that time until the end of the world. He was shown how wicked nations and kings would persecute them, and kill them, hoping that none of them might be left. But he was shown also how the Lord would destroy those nations and kings, and save his people, so that at last no enemy could hurt them.
After this John saw a great white throne in heaven, and Jesus sat upon it. And he saw the dead risen up from their graves; and they came and stood before the throne to be judged. Then the books were opened in which was written down everything they had done while they were living on the earth. And they were judged out of the books according to what was written there. And another book was opened, called the book of life, in which were written the names of those who had believed in Jesus. And whoever had not his name written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire.
And after the judgment was past, John saw new skies, and a new earth, for the earth and the skies that had been before, were burned up. And he saw a beautiful city, called the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven, and heard a voice, saying, God is coming to live with men. Around the city was a great and high wall with twelve gates. At each gate was an angel to guard it. The city was built of pure gold; in its walls were all kinds of precious stones, and its gates were made of pearls. There was no need of sun or moon to lighten it, for God was there, and Jesus, and the glory that shone around them made it light. The people whom Jesus had saved out of all nations were to come and live in it. The gates should never be shut, for there will be no night there. And none of the wicked shall go into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
And John saw also a pure river of water, called the water of life. By its side, as it flowed through the streets of the city, grew the tree of life, that bore twelve different kinds of fruit which ripened every month. And those who shall live in the city and drink of the waters of the river, and eat of the fruits of the tree of life, shall see the Lord's face and be with him and serve him. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain, for all these things will have passed away forever. And Jesus spoke to John, saying, Blessed are those who obey God's commandments, that they may enter in through the gates into the city.