The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 153

God, wbo was with God and was God, that he should· have been content to come hither to this thom-strewn earth of ours, and to live here the life of a poor, meek man, and then to die upon the erosa for us-" herein w love;" and herein is also hls npteme qualification to reveal and admin,ister t):ie will of God. V. T11iB111·oitE I& TBB ADORATION OF TBB LAIIB. Let us join inn.· We shall do ao lf '11N remember what he has revealed, and that he ia the A.dminiatrator of all our .affain.-S. a. Ver. 6.-ffie maliatorial pottJe'I' of Ohri#. "And one of the eldera saith," etc. St. John is first shown Christ as Head of his Church, ruling here on earth. This his first \'iaion. Then he is transported to heaven, and sees the throne set there, and its attendants and their worship. Then the coming forth of the Son of God, and the representation of his mediatorial sovereignty. But first there is the vision of the throne Qf God, for he is the Source and End of all authority. God was and shall be " all in all." Bnt' his power is seen in this vision as delegated to Christ as.Mediator. For this vision- I. Sn1BOl,1z:ss THE llEDIATOBIAL POWER OP CaBIST, It does this by representing: 1. .Tht, -LuAnb in- the act of taking tha book out of the hand of him that ,al Oft- tha fArolte. Note the book in God's hand; the oli.allenge of the angel, unanswered; and & John's distress thereat. But now the Lamb prevails, etc. The meaning of the book, or roll, is the plan or policy of a state, the will and purpose of a ruler. God _ Bpe&ks of his book; of blotting out names therefrQm. Scribes were important per• sonages because of their agency in preparing such decrees. The taking of the book, therefore, i■ as when a minister of state in our days receives his portfolio; it signifi~ his commission to know, comprehend_, and execute the counsels and decrees therein contained. Thus, as receiving his commission, the vision represents our Lord. 2. The origin of hil mediatorial powtr, It was derived from the Father. Christ ever affirmed that he "received of the Father," that he came "not to do his own will, but the will of him that sent him;" Christ was "the Man whom he had ordaioed;" "God hath fll)Oken unto us by his Son;" "All things are committed unto me of my Father," etc. '!he mystery of the Trinity is perhaps insoluble by us, but as to the truth of the doctrine, it pervades, not this vision only, but the whole Bihle. 3, Th8 11ature of ii, The vision repreaents Christ as One that was capable of, and bad sufferecl, death. Jle W&II, therefore, human as well as Divine. His human origin as well as his Divine glory are both shown, and because· he was the God-Man he became Mediator -between God and man. 4. The eztrcise of his mediatorial powtn', This by his taking the book and loosing the seals thereof, whereupon, as each seal is opened, that which he .thus discloses is at once begun to be accomplished. 'l'he Apocalypse discloses the fate and fortunes of the Church, and of the world as related to it; Information and reserve eharactorize these disclosures. They tell of • great struggle, in which all c~tures engage; that it is for moral ends, and centres ro~nd ma11. Hell and its plans and apparent triumphs are shown ; also her overthrow, and at last the full redemption of tho Church and the. establishment of the kingdom of God. Now, all this Christ not only reveals, but execnus. For this he has the seven horns of omnipotent might, and the seven eyes of omniscient wisdom. But it is in their execution that the Divine purposes are fully revealed. As yet we know but parts of them, The apostles only knew the Scriptures when, not before, they were fulfllled. And how vast is: 6. .f'M e:ctent of his power/ It ia over all physical and all moral natures; over the present and the future; over the grave and death ; over angels and devils; over every 10111 in every land, age, and condition. All are subject nnto him. God" left nothing ·that is not put under him" (1 Cor, xv.). And: 6, Its final end and completion. It has 911ch an end. 'l'he very idea of a " book" is that of _something which comes to an end,. which is for a definite and limited purrose, Christ must reign, not for ever, but "till he bath put all things under his feet. Then cometh the end (cf. 1 Cor. xv. 24-28). The book, is a d1ifinito thing. The existing systems of grace and providence are not -evor!Mting; they subsorve ends beyond and higher than them!elves; they are but preliminary and initintive; their completion is yet hidden, and will fill and brighten eternity. Further, the vision- - II. Exmum TBB BAIUS Oli WBillB BIS DDIATOIUAL POWER_ RESTS. He "prevailed," ~ t by- right, :not by force; in virtue oi his being: 1. TA£ Lion qf tlN lribe ef Judah. cm. T.1-U.] THE .REVELATION OF BT. .TORN THB DIVIlt& 111