1:19. Write THEREFORE the things which thou hast seen.—John was personally familiar with the first epoch, then already in the past. What he wrote of that epoch (Rev. 2:1‐7) serves as a guide to what follows. And the things which are.—John was writing in the second epoch, already in its persecution era.—Rev. 2:8‐11. And the things which [shall be] MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS hereafter.—The five remaining epochs of the Church, and the Kingdom to follow. 1:20. The mystery of the seven stars.—Every true reformer must go contrary to the current of his times; and, in proportion as he has the Master’s spirit, he cannot fail to be, like Him, a man of mystery to his own generation—“a Stone of Stumbling and a Rock of Offense”—to those who have not “ears to hear.” Which thou sawest in My right hand.—Small wonder that these great reformers seemed almost to have charmed lives! And the seven golden candlesticks.—“The Candlestick, or Lampstand, represents the nominal, rather than the true Church. This is shown by the fact that in addressing each of these churches the Lord finds fault with the many and approves the faithful few.”—Z. ’16‐344. The seven stars.—“The star‐light is the Heavenly light, the spiritual enlightenment or instruction. The lamp‐light is the earthly light, representing good works, obedience, etc., of those who are exhorted to let their light so shine that it will glorify their Father in Heaven.”—Z. ’16‐345. Are the angels of the seven churches.—“The title is borrowed from the Jewish Synagogue, in which the angel, or messenger of the assembly, was the person who presided over and arranged the meetings for worship.” (Cook.)—Mal. 2:7; Hag. 1:13. And the seven candlesticks [which thou sawest] are the seven churches.—“Alas! The Master evidently found but few good works, little glorifying light shining out from His earthly representatives in many of the seven epochs of the history of the Church.”—Z. ’16‐344; Rev. 1:12; Zech. 4:2. Revelation 2—St. Paul, St. John, Arius And Waldo