The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 137

tlmm,- This i11 the emblelJl (cf. Gen. ix. 12-16) of God's gracious covenant which be bath esta.blisbed for evermore. And it told to St. John and to Christ's Churcn everywhere that, awful, glorious, and te1Tible as our God is, all that he does, of what- aoe..-er kind, is embraced within the mighty span of his all-o'erarching grace. The Obureh of Christ was to pass through some dreadful experiences, to endure fearful trial.a, &Dd they are not ceased yet; but she was to look up and see that all God'a nys, work ■ , and will were within not without, beneath not beyond, becau1e and not in spite of, his all-embracing love. All were to find ■helter, expanse, and 11xplanation there. It was a blessed vision, and, unlike the ordinary rainbow, may it ever be seen by ua, and its teaching believed. 4,, The/our and twenty eldBr,. These n,present the whole Church of the Firstbom, the blessed and holy ones whom God bath made kings and priests unto himself. Their white robes tell of their purity, their victory, their joy, as white robes ever do; and their golden crowns (cf. Exod. :um. 30), the peculiar possession of the priest of God, tell of their high and holy functions in the presence of God. The priest's office was to intercede with· .God for man and with man for God, to be-as was he, the great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ-in sympathy alike with man and God, seekin~ to unite man to God, even a ■ God was willing to unite himself with man. nut seerng them there, associated with God, does it not tell that .the holiest and most bleseed of the saints know and approve of oil he does? This is why the saints are so blessed, because they do so know God. They understand what he does, and why ; and hence those dark facts of human life which so bewilder and distress us cause no distress to them; for they, whilst in deep love and sympathy with us who are left sorrowing here below, have come to know, as here they could not, and as we cannot, the- loving and holy wi■dom and the omnipot.ent grace w]l-ich are working in and through all these things. If, then, those who know are of on13 mind with God in regard to them, surely we may learn there,. from to "trust and not be afraid." 5. The t01'Chee of fire. These are said to be "the BeVen Spirits of God "-the holy and perfect Spirit of God in the varied diversity of his operations (1 Cor. xii. 4). The witness of the Spirit as well as of the Church to the ways of God is shown. He too, as well as they, testify that God is holy in airhis mya .and righteous in all his works. 6. The sea of glass. If it were merely the sea that was seen here, we shoulrl reganl it, as many do, as the symbol of the depth and extent of the judgments of God (cf. P~. lxxvii. 19). But it is a sea of glass, like crystal, and its cleac calmness, its firm strength, its perfect stillness-for we are told {eh. xv. 2) that the redeemed "stand upon" it-all· this reminds us of the results of God's holy rule. •• Thou rulest the raging of the sea, the noise of their waves, and the tumults of the people" (Pa. lxu:ix. 9; !xv. 7). Here, then, is another witness for God and his ways-the progress of peace on earth, concord amongst men; the orderly, ~uiet, and undisturbed life ; the security and peace which are amongst the marked -nsulte of the progress of the kingdom of God in the world. Let the results of miasioury ent.erpriae amid •nge peoples now civilized and at peace attest this. 7. 2lt four liwng onea. The me&ning of thia .pa.i:t of the v.iBion is not clear or certain, All Illanner of opinions have been held. We regard tMm aa llllftrering to the cherubim of the Old Testament, and they are apparently the representatives of thOll8 who sta.nd nearest to God, and by whom he mainly carries on his work. Hence the chief ministers of the Church of God-prophets, priests, evangelists, and apostles. The ancient Church very generally re.,irarded these "four hving ones" as the repre- senta.tivee of the four evangelists, and in many a picture, poem, and sculpture this idea is portrayed. But we prefer to regard them &!1 part of the symbol, and not the whole. And the different creatures which are selected .for these four are the chref• of their several kinds : the lion amongst beasts, the OX amongst cattle, the eagle amongst birds, and man amongst all. .And these several creatures tell of the main qualifications for the ministry of God: cournge and strength, as of the lion; patient perseverance in toil, as of the ox; soaring aspiration, "·to mount up on wings as ~les," heaviinly mindedness ; and intelligence and sympathy, as of the man. Ministers so qualified God chiefly uses in his great work. 'fheir wings tell of inces- ant activity; their being "full of eyes,'' of their continual vigilance and eager outlook 111 all sides, their careful watch and ward in the Divine service. Such are his ministers. _It is said they represent the whole eentient creathn of God. But •e iiDd them told .GIL tv.,1-11.) THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVnm. 155 ·