In the first three chapters we find Christ dealing with the Church in the world ; with the fourth we pass into the region of visions and .symbolism ; and the words Father and Son, as already noticed, are of rare occurrence. But the theologj- is the same, in spite of ditlerenee of language. Sovereign over all things is 'he that sitteth on the throne.' By His right hand is the Book written within and with ■ out.sealed withsevenseals(5'). Theseeris told that the Lion of the tribe of Judah, tlie root of David (cf. 22'", where Jesus assumes this latter title to Himself), has overcome, so as to open the Book and its seven seals (5'). "Then ' in the midst of the Throne of the Four Beasts and in the midst of tlie Elders ' he sees a Lamb standing as it had been slain (5'). The Lamb came and took the Book from the right hand of Him that sitteth on the Throne (5'). 'And when ho received the Book, the four Beasts and the four-and-twenty Elders fell before the Lamb, liaA-ing each a harp, and polilen bowls full of incense, wliich are the prayers of the saints. And they sin" a new song, saying, Thou art wortlij' to receive the Book, and to open its seals ; because thou wast slain, and didst buy for God with thy blood out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, and iiiadest them to our God a kingilom and priests ; and they reign upon tlie earth ' (o""'"). The angels then respond to this new song with a doxology to the Lamb parallel in character to those addressed to the Father (5'-). And, lastly, the whole creation responds with a similar doxology, combining in it lK)tli the Lamb and Him that sitteth on the tiirone (5"). It is obvious that this is a highly significant pa.ssage. The Lamb receives the Book from the Supreme ; but He is treated with worship similar to that [laid to the Supreme. (Contra-st the scene in which John falls down to worship the angel, 19'° and 22"-"). Moreover, through the language used by the Khlcrs (S'-'"), the Lamb is identified with .lesus Christ : 'To him that loved us and loo.sed us from our sins with his blood, and made us a king- dom and priests to tiod and hi.. Father — to him be glory and might for ever' (I'-', cf. 7'"). The s<virie position is maintained throughout the bock. Thi
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JOHN, APOSTLE
JOHN, APOSTLE
Lamb is mentioned in connexion ■nnth the Sunrume (7*- '" etc.), and He performs work in whieii His honour is of the same sort with that of God. The redeemed are they ' who follow the Lamb whither- soever he goeth : these were bought from among men a first-fruits to God and the Lamb' (14'). He appears in the judf^ment, and >vitne.'<.se8 the min of the Beast and his worshippers (14'°). He wars with the Beast, and overcomes ; because He is ICing of kings and Lord of lords (17"), cf. 'the wrath of the Lamb ' (6"). The Churcli, the new Jerusalem, is the Bride of the Lamb (21'' '"), and ' the Lord the God, all-Sovereign, is the temple of it, and the Lamb' (21"). There also stands the throne of God and the Lamb (22'). Similar teach- ing is found in connexion with the name of Christ (much more rare than the symbolic title ' the Lamb '). ' The kingdom of the world is become (the kingdom) of our Lord and of his Christ' (11"). ' Now is come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Chnst' (12"). The whole scheme is bound up with the order of the world : the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world (13*); and yet those whose names are among the redeemed are naid to have their names in the Lamb's book of life (13* 21"). It is difficult to draw any conclusion from this bat that St. John regarded the Lamb as a Divine Being, to whom Divine honour was paid, and who was associated in His sovereignty by God. At the same time. He takes from God the commis-sion to perform His functions : He is not independent. Little is said of human nature in regard to Him : twice only He is described as Snoiov vliv (var. lee. vlif) di>6piiirov{l^ 14^*), But the sacrifice and the blood of the Lamb are the means by which men are redeemed from their sins ; and there is one definite allusion to the crucifixion (11* 'the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Ej.T'pt where also their Lord was crucified'). W itri this may be compared the prophecy in l' ' Every eye shall see him, and they who pierced him ' {iieKhTijaav), and Jn 19" t'j/oirrai ris if iicxd'- Trjaav. The profession of those who follow Christ is called (from the point of view of its manifesta- tion in the world) ' the witness of Jesus.' St. John claims to be giving this himself (l*", cf. 19'°). It is, as it were, a message the contents of which are obnoxious to the world (1') and to the powers of darkness (II' 12" 17'); it involves persecution even to death (6' 17" 20<) ; it is the cause of the triumph of those who have it (12") ; and it is the ful- filment, the significance, Wxespirit of prophecy ( 19'°). (6) AVe may speak here of the doctrine of the Spirit, so far as it is contained in this book. It is somewhat involved in symbolism. Thus we read of the seven spirits which are before His throne (1*) : the seven \a/iriSct (4') before the throne are identified with the seven spirits, and so al.so the seven eyes of the Lamb (5') are the seven spirits of God, sent (direoroX^i'oi) into all the earth. The number seven probably stands for completeness, and the phrase ' the seven spirits ' probably means the Spirit in the full variety of His manifestation. It is noticeable that the salutation to the seven Churches comes from the Eternal, and from the seven spirits, and from Jesus Christ (I*) in that order : the seven spirits, in this case only, standing between the Father and the Son. In the Epistles themselves a peculiar use is to be obsen-ed. Each Epistle begins with an announcement from Christ, made with some symbol indicative of His author- ity, or His intention to exercise judgment ; and each ends with the same fonuula : ' He that h.ath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to tlie Churches ' (2"- " etc.). Also in 3' the En. to Sardis begins : ' These things saith he tliat hath the seven spirits, and the seven stars' (i.e. the angels of the