were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass, like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living 7 creatures, full of eyes, before and behind. And the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature like a calf, and the third living creature had a face as a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which 9 was, and is, and is to come. And when those

living creatures give glory, and honour, and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth 10 for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall

down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and 11 cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

The mystery of the unsearchable riches of Christ made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.

:

God holds in his hand the mystery which hath been hid from ages and generations, the mystery which was kept secret since the world began, the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, which things the angels desire to look into. Then said I, Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me; I delight to do thy will O my God, yea, thy law is within my heart. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! When he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him, that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father. Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy foot stool. When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, his Son by human production, made under the law, a bodily representation of himself, the image of the invisible God, God manifest in flesh, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons: the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto the holy apostles and prophets; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel-that in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations

for the obedience of faith-so that now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ-who hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

V. 1. And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the 2 back side,* sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose 3 the seals thereof? And no one in heaven, nor on earth, neither under the earth, was able to open 4 the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much because no one was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to

*It is "written within and on the back side" as containing the unsearchable riches of Christ, though it need not have been more than a little book at the same time, as it was but a little Lamb (agvior) who took it. It was the pearl of precious price, a little

treasure.

6 loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb, as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God 7 sent forth into all the earth. And he came and

took the book out of the right hand of him that 8 sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the

book, the four living creatures and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of 9 incense, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, 10 and people and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign 11 on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten 12 thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is, the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and

power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, 14 and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four

living creatures said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

SECTION II.

First Stage of the Manifestation of the Mystery.

Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.-Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.-And he said unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth,-Go ye therefore-Go ye into all the world, and teach all nations and preach the gospel to every creature-baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you ;-he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover,—and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. -How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things! Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.