The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 152

make this clear to our minds? We wait to undentMid. 2. I,d,i, IfJCGfflGtioltl. We trace him from t.he manger at Bethlehem, all through his 88il'thly life and ministry, to Gethsemane, Calvary, and the toir\b, And we see him rising from the dead and after,, wards ascending .to the right h!!,nd of Goo. But we are permitted also to 188 him~ IL THE CENTBB OJ' HEAVENLY ADORATION, See where he is--"in the midst. of the throne," standing on that central space immediately in front of t.he tbrone, the Cent~ of all that holy throng, on whom all eyes rest, to whom every knee 'bow1; anti every tongue confesses. And what a circle that is I See its members. But be is the Centre; to him their adoring worship is given. Are we. in sympathy with-this-?:· Is be the Centre of our heart's worship and love? · . III. THE REVEALER AND ADMINISTRATOR 01" TltE. PURPOSES M' Go». 1. Goil .w, .mch pitrp,o,u. The book held in his right kand is the symbol thereof. It contains his mind, his will, bis decrees. Nothing is left to chance. All .is ordered and .sett.led, 2. But that book is sealed. Completely, absolutely; this is the meaning of the seven seals. If one seal were removed, which by man it can never be, but a portion of thoe purposes would be disclosed. "His w-ays _are past finding out." 3. Bui it is ~lial Chat that book should be taken and ope,ied. Hence the angelic challenge, and St. John•a tears when none was found to accept ·that challenge. What would the world ·be without the revelation of God? We know; for "the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of crnelty." Would that we thought more of our own obliga- tion to the revelation of God's will, that we might, as we ought t-0, be more eager that others should possess it who now have it not I 4. The Lord Jelttl8 <Jhrial eomea forward. There can be no manner of doubt that he is meant. '!'hough described as "the Lion of the tribe_ of Judah,"_yet·he is seen as a Lamb-a 'litUe Lamb (Ap,11/ov), and 'with the marks of its slaughter yet upon it, the scars. and wounds of his sacrifice yet visible. He advances and takes the book. And so.we learn that he is the Trustee, the Depositary, the· alone Revealer of the Divine will. All truth is in hie keeping. (1) or prophecy. It was he who opcneil, and yet opens, tbe minds of his di.scipli:11, that they should understand what was foretold concerning him. (2) Of the gospeL It is he who shines in our heuts to give the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ, But especially is meant here: (3) Of providenct,-how God would deal with the Church, the world, with individual souls. '!'his book discloses all this; he shows to us what God has done and will do. 5. But he u not only the Bevealel', but the .Administrator of the Dim"ne purposes. As he opens each seal that which he tii~closes is at on_ce accomplished. He i.is sten conirolling and ruling all. What joy to think of this I For he is- IV. PERFECTLY QUALIFIED TO BE ALL THIB. Obsenre in the vision his seven horns. This means: 1. He /w,11fulness of power. 'l'he born is the symbol of strength. Henoe "seven horns" mean fulness of strength. Christ is "mighty to save." The gates of hell shall not prevail against him. They '!ill, they do try, as they have long tried, but ia vain. For: 2. He has also th:efulness of the Spirit. The Lamb was seen with "seven eyes," and these are explained as denoting the same as the seven torches (eh. iv. 5), the seven, that is, the perfect, full, complete power, though divene in working, of .the Spirit of God. For Christ's victory is to he achieved, not over human bodies, buL over human spirits, and his_ wwer must &nil does correspond to the opposition he has 1o meet. And o,·er all the earth his Spirit goes: has not that Spirit come to wi, ·aud when he comes the human spirit ceases to resist, and is blessed in yielding? 3. _4nd II# has all right. "Thou art worthy : " so sing all the heavenly choirs. (1) The Lamb is seen "as it had been slain," 'l'he sacrillce of the Lord Jesus is represented perpetually in Holy Scripture as the righteous ground of our redemption. 'l'he forgive- ·ness of man's sin was to he by no m~re gracious letting the guilty go free, let what will come of the J,aw which he bas violated. Not so, but in and by the sacrifice of Christ, the Law was magnified and made honourable; by no meam "made void," but established. We linger not now to explain thi~if, indeed, any one can fully explain it -but we simply assert what Scripture everywhere affirms. Moreover: (2) Be is com- .missioned by God. He receives the book from him. ·God "sent forth his Son," "gave hls only begotten Son." . 4. And his is fm-net111 of lolJll. "For thou wast slain, and bast re1I-eemed us by thy blpod "~this is the overwhelming thought which prostrates the souls of all his redee_med ones in an agony of insolvent gratitude; ·that hi, Son-,  171 TBB REVELATJAN OJ!' ST. JOHN TBB DI\f'INB. [cm v. 1-u.-