third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas,
then of the Twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred
brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but
some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all
the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out
of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be
called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."[1441]

CLOSE OF THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY--THE REVELATION THROUGH JOHN.

The period of apostolic ministry continued until near the close of the
first century of our era, approximately sixty to seventy years from the
time of the Lord's ascension. In the course of that epoch the Church
experienced both prosperity and vicissitude. At first the organized body
increased in membership and influence in a manner regarded as
phenomenal, if not miraculous.[1442] The apostles and the many other
ministers who labored under their direction in graded positions of
authority strove so effectively to spread the word of God, that Paul
writing approximately thirty years after the ascension affirmed that the
gospel had already been carried to every nation, or, to use his words,
"preached to every creature under heaven."[1443] Through the agency of
the Holy Ghost Christ continued to direct the affairs of His Church on
the earth; and His mortal representatives, the apostles, traveled and
taught, healed the afflicted, rebuked evil spirits, and raised the dead
to a renewal of life.[1444]

We are without record of any direct or personal appearance of Christ to
mortals between the manifestations to Paul and the revelation to John on
the isle of Patmos. Tradition confirms John's implication that he had
been banished thither "for the word of God, and for the testimony of
Jesus Christ."[1445] He avers that what he wrote, now known as the book
of Revelation, is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto
him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass;
and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John."[1446]
The apostle gives a vivid description of the glorified Christ as seen by
him: and of the Lord's words he made record as follows: "Fear not; I am
the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold,
I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of
death."[1447] John was commanded to write to