Kt,)V( (continued)
John Writeth his Revelation REVELATION I. to the Seven Churchea of Asm.
are Included, the time Is de clared to be at hand. Luke 18.
sular, governed by a Roman proconsul: consisting of Phrygia, Mysia, Caria, and Lydia: the kingdom which Attains III. had bequeathed to Rome. Grace . . . peacn —Paul's apostolical greeting. In his Pastoral Epistles he inserts " mercy" in addition : so 2 John 3. him which is . . . wag ... Is to come—A periphrasis for the incommunicable name Jehovah, the self-existing One, unchangeable. In Ctreek the Indeclinability of the designation here implies His unchangeableness. Perhaps the reason why " He which is to come" is used, instead of " He that shall be," Is because the grand theme of Revelation is the Lord's coming {v. 7). Still it is the Father as distinguished from "Jesus Christ" {v. 5) who is here meant. But so one are the Father and Son, that the designation "which is to come," more immediately applicable to Christ, is used here of the Father, tlie seven Spirits wliicli are before his throne—The oldest MSS. omit " are." before— " in the presence of." The Holy Spirit in His sevenfold (i. e., perfect, complete, and universal) energy. Corresponding to "the seven churches." One in His own essence, manifold in His gracious influences. The seven eyes resting on the stone laid by Jehovah (ch. 5. 6). Four is the number of the creature world
8, "speedily." The Israelite Church hastened eagerly to the predicted end, whicli premature eagerness prophecy restrains (cf. Daniel 9). Tlie Gentile Church needs to be reminded of the transitoriness of the world, which it is apt to make its home, and the nearness of Christ's advent. On the one hand Revelation saith, " the time is at hand ;" on the other, the succession of seals, &c., sliow that many intermediate events must first elapse. Ue sent —Jesus Christ sent, by l»ts angel—joined with "sent." The angel does not come forward to "signify" things to John until ch. 17. 1; 19. 9, 10. Previously to that St. John receives information from others. Jesus Christ opens the Revelation, r. 10, 11; ch. 4. 1 ; in ch. 6. 1 one of the four living creatures acts as his informant; in ch.
7. 13, one of the elders; in ch. 10. 8, 9, the Lord and His angel who stood on the sea and earth. Only at the end
(ch. 17. 1) does the one angel stand by Him (cf. Daniel
8. 16; 9. 21; Zecliariah 1. 19). a. bare record of—" testified the word of God" in this book. Where we should say
"testifies," the ancients in epistolary communications use the past tense. The word of God constitutes his testimony; v. 3, "the words of this prophecy." tlie testimony of Jesus—" the Spirit of prophecy" (ch. 19. 10). and of all things that—Tlie oldest MSS. omit "and." Translnle, "Whatsoever things lie saw," in apposition with "the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ." 3. lie that readeth, and they that hear—wiz., the public reader in Church assemblies, and liis hearers. In the first instance, he by whom John sent the book from Patnios to the seven churches, read it publicly: a usage most .scriptural and profitable. A special blessing attends him who 7-eads or hears the apocalyptic "prophecy" with a view to keeping the things therein (as there is but one article to " tliey that hear and keep those things," not two classes, but only one is meant: " they who not only hear, but also keep those things," Romans 2. 13); even though he find not the key to its interpretation, he finds a stimulus to faith, hope, and patient waiting for Christ. K'ote, the term "prophecy" has relation to the human medium or prophet inspired, here John : " Revelation" to the Divine Being who reveals His will, here Jesus Christ. God gave the revelation to Jesus: He by His angel revealed it to John, who was to make it known to the Church. 4. John-the apostle. For none but he (supposing the writer an honest man) would thus sign Himself nakedly without addition. As sole survivor and representative of the apostles and eye-witnesses of the Lord, he needed no designation save his name, to be recognized by his readers, seven churches— not that there were not more churches in that region, but the number leven is fixed on as representing totality. These seven represent the universal Church of all times and places. See Tkench's (Epistles to Seven Chvrches) interesting Note, ch.
(cf. the fourfold cherubim); seven the number of God's revelation in the world. 5. tlie faitlifnl witness—of the truth concerning Himself and His mission as Prophet, Priest, and King Saviour. "He was the faithful witness, because all things that He heard of the Father he faithfully made known to His disciples. Also, because He taught the way of God in truth, and cared not for man, nor regarded the persons of men. Also, because the truth which He taught in words He confirmed by miracles. Also, because the testimony to Himself on the part of the Father He denied not even in death. Lastly, because He will give true testimony of the works of good and bad at the day of judgment." [Richard of St. Victor in Trench.] The nominative in Greek standing in apposition to the genitive, "Jesus Christ," gives majestic prominence to "the faithful witness." the tlrst-begotten of the dead—(Colossians I. 18.) Lazarus rose to die again. Christ rose to die no more. The image is not as if the grave was the womb of His resurrection-birth [Alford]; but as Acts 13. 33; Romans 1. 4, treat Christ's resurrection as the epoch and event which fulfilled the Scripture, Psalm 2. 7, "This day (at the resurrection) have I begotten Thee." It was then that His Divine Sonship as the Godman was manifested and openly attested by the Fattier. So our resurrection and our manifested sonship, or generation, are connected. Hence " regeneration" is used of the resurrection-state at the restitution of all things (Matthew 19. 28). tlie Prince—or Ruler. The kingship of the world which the Tempter offered to Jesus on condition of doing homage to him, and so shunning the cross, He has obtained by the cross. "The kings of the earth" conspired against the Lord's Anointed (Psalm 2.2): these He shall break in pieces (Psalm 2. 9). Those who are wise in time and kiss the Son shall bring their glory unto Him at His manifestation as King of kings, after He has destroyed His foes. Unto Him that loved ns—The oldest MSS. read the present, "... loveth us." It is His evercontinuing character, He loveth us, and ever shall love us.
1. 20, on the number seven. It is the covenant number, the sign of God's covenant relation to mankind, and especially to the Church. Thus, the «ei>e«<7i day, sabbath. Genesis 2.3; Ezeklel 20.12. Circumcision, the sign of the covenant, after seven days (Genesis 17. 12). Sacrifices, Numbers 23. 1, 11, 29 ; 2 Chronicles 29. 21. Cf. also God's acts typical of His covenant, Joshua 6. 4, 15, 16; 2 Kings 5.
His love rests evermore on His people, washed us—The two oldest MSS. read, " freed (iooed as from a bond) us:"' so Andreas and Prlmasius. One very old MS., Vulgate, and Coptic read as English Veision, perhaps drawn from ch. 7.14. "Loosed us in (virtue of) His blood," beint; the harder reading to understand, is less likely to havo come from the transcribers. The reference is thus to Greek lulron, the ransom paid for our release (Matthew 20.28). In favour of English Version reading is the usage whereby the priests, before putting on the holy garments and ministering, washed themselves: so spiritually believers, as priests unto God, must first be washed in Christ's blood from every slain before they can serve God aright now, or hertafter minister as dispensers of blessing to the subject nations in the millennial kingdom, or minister before God In heaven, 6. And liatli—rather iia Greek, "And (He) hath." mad* 551
10. Tlie feasts ordered by sevens of time, Deuteronomy 1.5.
1; 16.9,13,15. It is a combination of three, the Divine number (thus the Trinity: the thrice Holy, Isaiah 6.3; the blessing. Numbers 6. 21-20), and four the number of the organized world In its extension (thus the four elements, the four seasons, the four winds, the four corners or quarters of the earth, the four living creatures, emblems of redeemed creaturely life, ch. 4. 6; Ezekiel 1. 5, 6, with /ojtr faces and /our wings each ; the /oi/r beasts, and four metals, representing the four world-empires, Daniel
2. 32, 33; 7. 3; the /our-slded Gospel designed for all quarters of the world; the sheet tied at four corners. Acts 10.
11; the /our horns, the sum of the world's forces against the Church, Zechariah 1. 18). In the Apocalypse, where Ood's covenant with His Church comes to its consummation, appropriately the number seven recurs still more ftequently than elsewhere in Scripture. Aala—Procon-
Tltc Cuiimiij of Clirisl with Cluuds. REVELATION I. John in the Spirit on the LorcPs J)ctj.
us Kings—The oldest MSS. read, "a kingdom." One oldt'st M.S. rc-ads tlie dative, "lor us." Another reads "us," aecusiiti ve : so Vulyate, Syriac, Coptic, and Anbook presenting to us man and God reconciled in Paradise, as the first book presented man at the lieginnlng innocent and in God's favour in Paiadise. Accomplisliinu finally what I begin. Always the same; before the dragon, the beast, false prophet, and all foes. An anticipatory consolation to the saints under tlie coming trials of the Church. tUe Lord—The oldest MSS. read " tli« Lord God." Almighty—Hebrew, Shaddtti, and Jehovah Sabaoth, i. e., of hosts; commanding all the hosts or powers in heaven and earth, so able to overcome all His Church's foes. It occiirs often in Revelation, but nowhere else in NewTeslament save2 Corinthians 0. 18,aquotation from Isaiah. 9. I Jolin—So"I Daijiel" (Daniel 7.2S; 9. 2; 10.21. One of the many features of resemblance between the Old Testament and the New Testament apocalyptic seers. No other Scripture writer uses the phrase, also—as well as being an apostle. The oldest MSS. omit "also." In his Gospel and Epistles he makes no mention of his name, though describing himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." Here, with similar liumilily, though naming himself, he does not mention his apost Uship. companion Greek, " fellow-partaker in the tribulation." Tribulation is the necessary precursor of "the kingdom," tlierefore the is prefixed. Tliis must be borne with " patient endurance." Tlie oldest MSS. omit "in the" before "kingdom." All three are inseparable: the trihulnlion, kingdom and endurance, patience translate, "endurance." "Persevering, enduring continuance" (Acts U. 22); "(he queen of the graces (virtues)." [Chrysostom.] of—The oldest MSS. read " in Jesus," or "Jesus Christ." It is IN Him that believers have the right to the kingdom, and the spiritual strength to enable them to endure patiently for dre<is. Tliis seems preferable, "He made us (to be) a kiiigdoiu." So Exoilus 19. 6, "a kingdom of priests:"
1 Peter 2. 9, "a royal priesthood." The saints shall constuuie peculiarly a kingdom God, and shall themselves be kiiujs (ch. 5. lOj. They shall share His KingPriest throne in the millennial kingdom. The emphasis thus fall.-; mcire on the kingdom than on priests: whereas in Engtish Version reading it is equally distributed between both. Tliis book lays prominent stress on the saints' kingdom. They are kings beea.use they are priests: the priesliiood is the continuous ground and legiluiiizatiou of their kingship; they are kings in relaliou to man, priests in relation to God, serving Him day and night in ilis temple (ch. 7.1.5; 5. lOj. The priest-kings sliall rule, not in an external mechanical manner, but simply in virtue of what they are, b.v the power ol attraction and conviction overcoming tlie heart. [AuiitKLEX.J priesLs—who have pre-eminently the privilege of near acce.ss to the king. David's sons were priests (Hebrew), 'i Samuel 8. IS. The distinction of priests and people, nearer and more remote from God, shall cease; all shall have nearest access to Him. All persons and things shall be holy to the Lord. God and liis t'aUier— There is but one article to both in the Greek, therefore it means, " Utilo Him who is at once God and His Father." glory and dominion— GV-eeA, "the glory and tlie inig/tt." Tile iuller thretlold doxology occurs, ch. 4. 9, 11; fourlold, ch. 5. IS; Jude 25; sevenfold, ch. 7. 12; 1 (Jiiroiiicles 29. 11. Doxology occupies the prominent place above, which prayer does helow. If we thouglitof Gild's glory lirsl (as in thr Lord's Prayer), and gave tlie secondary place to our it. was Greek, "came to be. ' In . . . Patmos— now Patmo or Palniosa. See Introduction on tliis island, and John's exile to it under Domitian, from which he was released under Nerva. Restricted to a small spot on earth, he is permitted to penetrate the wide realms of heaven and its secrets. Thus Joliii drank of Christ's cup, and was baptized with His baptism (Matthew 20.22). for— Greek, " for the sake of," "on account of;" so, "because of lieeils, we sliould please God and gain our petitions better tllan we do. for ever and ever Greek, " mito tile ages.'' 9. %vitii clouds— 6')'<;(;/c, "/Ac clouds," viz., of lieaven. "A cloud received Him out of their sight" at His asci iisiou (Acs 1.9). His ascension corresponds to tlie manner of His coining again (Acts 1. II). CU)Uds are the symbols of ll;e word of God and . . . testimony." Two oldest MSS. omit the second "for," thus "the Word of God" and "testimony of Jesus' are the more closely joined. Two oldest MSS. omit "Christ." The Apocalypse has been always appreciated most by tiie Churcli in adversity. Thus the Asiatic Chureli from tlie flourishing times of Constantine less estimated it. The African Church being more exposed to tliecross always made much of it. [HknGEL.] 10. 1 wsi — Greek, " I cnnie to be;" "I became," in tlic Spirit— in a state of ecstasy ; the outer world being shut out, and the inner and higher life or spirit being taken lull possession of by God's Spirit, so tliat an immediate connection with tile invisible world is established. Whilst the prophet "speaks" in the Spirit, tlH; apocalyptic seer i.v in the Spirit in his whole person. The spirit only tvro'h to sinners, every eye—His coming shall therefore be a personal, visible ai)pearing. shall sec—It is because they do not now see Him, tliey will not believe. Contrast
Joliii 21). '^9. tliey (f/.vo— they in. particular ; " whosoever." Primaiiiy, at Ilis pie-millennial advent the Jews, wiio Khali "look upon Him whom they have pierced,'' and mourn in repentance, and say, "Blessed is lie lliat cometh in the name of the Ijord." Secondarily, and hevv chicjty, at the general judgment nil the ungodly, not only those who actually pierced Him, but those who did so by tlieir sins, sliall lo(jk with trembling upon Him. St. Jolin is the oHl.y one of the I'Jvungelists wln) records the piercing of C'luisi's side. X"'s allusion idc'iitilies liini as the autlmriif the Apocalypse. The reality of Christ's luiiuHnIty and Ilis death is proved by His liaving been ^i/erced
(tliat which connects us with God and the in visible world) atid the Kia/er and blood from His side Were the antitype to the Leviiical waters of cleansing and blood olleriiigs. all kln<lreds . . . sJiall wall—all the uneon verti <l at the geneial Jiidgnnnt; and especially at His pre-millelinial advent, till Anticliristlaii confederacy (Zecliariah 12. :>-(!, is active, or rather recipient, In the apocalyptic state. Willi Ciirist tliis being "in the Spirit" was not the exception, but His continual state, on the liord's day Though forcibly delaiiied from Church communion with tlie brethren in the sanctuary on the Lord's day, the weekly conimeniorntioii of the resurreciloii, John was holding spiritual comni nil ion with them. This Is tlie earli-
9; 11. 11; Matthew 21. :\0). Greek, "all the trihcs of the land," or "the earth." See the limitation to "all," ch. lA.K Kvcn tlie godly whilst rejoicing in Ills love shall est nient inn ol //ic /(;/«" I lie Lord's day." ilut tlicconsefeel iHriilh ntial .sorrow at their sins, which sliall all be maiiirested at the general Judgment. bceaiise tif— Oreek, "<tt," or "in regard to Him." liven so, Aiiieii — Ood's »eal of His own word; to which corresjionds the believer's prayer, ch. 22. 20. The "even so " is Oreek, "Amen" is Hebrew. To both Oi'ntlles and .lews His iiidiiiises and tlireals are unchangeable. 8. Greek, "I am tlie AI|iha and llic Omega." 'J'lu: llist ami hist eiatioii of the day to worship, almsgiving, and the Lord's .Supper, is implied Acts '20. 7 ; 1 Corinthians Hi. 2; cf. John
20. 19-21). The name corresiionds to "the Lord's Supper,"
1 Oirlntlitaiis U. '20. 1(;natius seems to allude to "the Lord's day"(a(< Magnrs. 9), and li!KN.*'.ua in t he Quawt. ad
OrWiof/. ll.')(in Ju.STiN .MAurvit). Justin M .\ irrv it, .IpoUtffy,
2. 9,s, A<'., " On Sunday we all hold our Joint meeting; lor llie first day Is that on wliicli God, having removed darkness and chaos, made tlie world, and Jissiis Christ our Sa viour ro.se from tlie dead. On the day. before Saturday they crucllled Him; and on the day after Sat urdiiy, wli Utli letters ol tlie alphabet. God In Christ comiirlses all that goes jjetweeii, as well as the first ami last, tlie beginning and (lie e>i<ling—Onilltod In llie oldest M.SS., thoegli found In I'lilgtit.e and Coptic. Tra nscrllx'is |iriil)-
Is Sunday, having appeal ed to II is apostles and disciplen. He tauglit these things." I'o tlio Lord's day I'l.iSY doubtless refers (/&. 97, U. 10), " The Christians on -.x fixed ttbly iiiHi rted the clause from ch.21.C. In Clirisl, (ieiu sis, the Aljilia of th«! Old Testament, ami Revelation, I hit Omega of the New Testamout, meet togeth<;r: tlie last 652
Christ the Alpha and Omega. REVELATION I. His Glorious rower and Majeitu day before dawn meet and sing a hymn to Christ as GoU," &c TERTULlilAN, De Coron. 3, "On the Lord's day we deem It wrong to fast." Melito, bishop of Sardis (second century), wrote a book on the Lord's ilai/ (EusEBirs 4. 26). Also, DiONYSius OF Corinth, in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, i. "2^, 8Clement of Alexandria, Btrmnata 5. and 7. 12; Origen, c. Cels. 8. 22. The theory that tin day of ClirisVs second coming is meant, is untenable. "The day of the Lord" is different in the Greek from " the Lord's (an adjective) day," which latter in the ancient Cliurch always designates our Sunday, though it is not Impossible that the two shall coincide (at least in Bome parts of the earth), whence a tradition is mentioned In Jerome, on Matthew 25., that the Lord's coming was expected especially on the Paschal Lord's day. The vis Ions of the Apocalypse, the seals, trumpets, and vials, Ac, are grouped in sevens, and naturally begin on the first day of the seven, thebirtli-day of the Church, whose future they set forth. [Wordsworth.] great voice—summontng solemn attention ; Ch-eek order, " 1 heard a voice benind me great (loud) as (that) of a trumpet." The trumpet Bummoned to religious feasts, and accompanies God's revelations of Himself. 11. I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last; and—The oldest MSS. omit all tliis clause, write tn a book—To this book, having such an origin, and to the other books of Holy Scripture, who is there that gives the weight which their importance demands, preferring them to the many books of the world? [Bengel.] seven churches—As there were many other Churches in Proconsular Asia (e. g., Miletus, Magnesia, Tralles), besides the seven specified, doubtless the number teven is fixed upon because of its mystical signification, expressing totality and universality. The words "which are in Asia " are rejected by the oldest MSS., A, B, C, Cyprian, Vt' If/ate, and Syriac ; Coptic alone supports them of old authorities. These seven are representative churches and transfiguration, so here in presenting Christ a.«( our High Priest, spake-The oldest MSS., versions, and Fathers read, "was speaking." being — "having turned." seven . . . candlesticks—" lamp-stands." [Kelly.] The stand holdiiig the lamp. In Exodus 25. .-SI,."2, the seven are united in one candlestick or lamp-stand, i. e., sis arms and a central shaft; so Zechariah 4. 2, 11. Here the seven are sejiarate candlesticks, typilying, as tliat one, the entire Church, but now no longer as the Jewish Church (represented by the one sevenfold candlestick) restricted to one outward unity and one phice ; the several churches are mutually Independent as to external ceremonies and government (provided all things are done to edificat ion, and schisms or needless separations are avoided), j-et one in the unity of the Spirit and the Headship of Christ. The candlestick is not light, but the bearer of light, holding It forth to give light around. The light is the Lord's, not the Church's; from Him she receives it. She is to be a lightbearer to His glory. The candlestick stood in the holy place, the type of the Church on earth, as the holiest place was type of the Church in heaven. The holy place's only light was derived from the candlestick, daylight being excluded; so the Lord God is the Church's only liglit; hers is the light of grace, not nature. "Golden" symbolizes at once the greatest precioiisness and sacredness : so that in the Zend Avesta " golden " is synonymous with heavenly or divine. [Trench.] 13. His glorified form as man could be recognized by John, who had seen it at the Transfiguration. In the midst—Implying Christ'a continual presence and ceaseless activity in the midst of His people on earth. In ch.4., when He appears in heaven. His insignia undergo a corresponding change; yet even there the rainbow reminds us of His everlasting covenant with them, seven—Omitted in two of the oldest MSS., but supported by one. Son of man—The form whicli John had seen enduring the agony of Gethsemane, and tho shame and anguish of Calvary, he now sees glorified. His glory (as iSono/jnan, not merely <S'on of God) is the resultof His humiliation sts Sonof man. dowie tuthc foot—A iiiark of high rank. The garment and girdle seem to be emblema of His priesthood. Cf. Exodus 28. 2, 4, 31 ; LXX. Aaron's robe and girdle were "for glory and beauty," and combined the insignia of royalty and priesthood, the characteristics of Christ's antitypical priesthood " alter the order of Melchisedec." His being in the midst of the candlesticks (only seen in the temple), shows that it is as a king-priest He is so attired. This priesthood He has exercised ever since His ascension; and, therefore, here wears its emblems. As Aaron wore these insignia when He came forth from the sanctuary to bless the people (Leviticus 16.
and, as a complex whole, ideally complete, embody the chief spiritual characteristics of the Church, whether as faithful or unfaithful, in all ages. The churches selected are not taken at random, but have a many-sided completeness. Thus, on one side we have Smyrna, a Church exposed to persecutions unto death; on the other Sardis, having a high name for spiritual life and yet dead. Again, Laodi<rea, in its own estimate rich and having need o/nolh-
with ample talents, yet lukevuarm in Christ's cause; on the other hand, Philadelphia, with but a little strength, yet keeping Christ's word and having an open door of usefulness set before it by Christ Himself. Again, Ephesus, Intolerant of evil and offalse apostles,yeth&\iiig left its first love; on the other hand, Thyatira, abounding in works,
4, 2.3, 24, the chetoneth, or holy linen coat), so when Christ shall come again. He shall appear in the similar attire of "beauty and glory" (Margin, Isaiah 4.2). The angels are attired somewhat like their Lord (ch. 15. G). The ordinary girding for oneactively engaged, was at the loitrs ; but JosEPHUS, Antiquities 3., 7. 2, expressly tells us tliat the Levitical priests were girt higher up, about the breasts or paps, appropriate to calm, majestic movement. The girdle bracing the frame together, symbolizes collected powers. Righteousness and faithfulness are Christ's girdle. The high priest's girdle was only interwoven with gold, but Cluist's love, service, and faith, yet suffering the false prophetess to seduce many. In another aspect, Ephesus in conflict with false freedom, i. e., fleshly licentiousness (the Nicolaitiins); so also Pergamos in conflict with Balaam-like tempters to fornication and idol-meats ; and on the other Bide, Philadelphia in conflict with the Jewish synagogue, i. e., legal bondage. Finally, Sardis and Laodicea without any active opposition to call forth their spiritual energies; a dangerous position, considering man's natural indolence. In the historic scheme of interpretation, which seems fanciful, Ephesus (meaning "the beloved" or "desired " [StierJ) represents the waning period of the apostolic age. Stnyrna (" myrrh"), bitter suS'ering, yet sweet and costly perfume, the martyr period of the Dccian and Diocletian age. Pergamos (a "castle" or "tower"), the Church possessing earthly power and decreasing spirituality from Constantine's time until the seventh century. Thyatira ("unwearied about sacrifices"), the Papal Church in the first half of the Middle Ages ; like "Jezoljel," keen about its so-called sacrifice of the mass, and slaying the prophets and witnesses of God. Sardis, from the close of the twelfth century to the Reformation. Philadelpliia (" brotherly love "), the first century of the Relorniatiou. Laodicea, the Reformed Church after its first zeal had become lukewarm. Vi. see the voice— i. e., ascertain whence the voice came; to see who was It from whom the voice proceeded, ttiat—dreek, "of what kind it was which.'' The voice Is that ol God the Father, as at Christ's baptism is all of gold ; the antitype exceeds the type. 14. Greek, "But," or " And." like wool— Greek, "like white wool." The cotowr is the point of comparison; signilying purity and glory. (So in Isaiah 1. 18.) Not age, for hoary hairs are the sign of decay, eyes . . . as . . . flame—ali-scai ching and penetrating like fire: at the same time, also, implying consuming Indignation against sin, especially at His coming "in flamingflre, taking vengeance" on all the ungodly, which is confirmed as the meaning here, by Revelation 19. 11, 12. 15. fine brass Greek, " chalco Ubanus," derived by some from two Greek words, brass i»ncl frankincense: derived l)y Bochaut from Greek chahon, brass, and Hebrew libbeen, to whiten ; hence, brass, wliich In the furnace has reached a white lieat. Thus it answers to "burnished (flashing, or glowing) brass," Ezekiel 1.7; Revelation 10. 1," His feet as pillars of fire." Translate, " Glowing brass, as if they had been inade fiery (red-hot)