The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 186

Testament only in this plaoo and m John and power, and might, be unto our God fol ltii. 18. Trench states the.t no symbol of ever and ever. Amen. •TM bkuiag. eto.: heathen origin is useil in the Apooe.lYJ198; tha.t is, "all blessing," etc. ('8e on..c,h. k and he conneets the pe.lm•bearing multitude 11). The terms of the aacription are the with the celebration of the Jewiah Feast of same as those in eh. v. 12, exlltpt, that we Taberna.cle,ii. Wo~worth and He~gsten• have here •ii,cmpurrlu, "thaokaginng," mb- lierg take (he same VIeW : a.nd there 1s much stituted for r.\oirros, "riches" (see, on eh. v. to be said in favour of it, though Alford and 12). The sevenfold character of the aaorip- others connect the image rather with the tion of praise denotes its universal and all• Greek and Roman sign of victory. In the embracing character (110e on oh. i. 4; v.1). first place, the word is nsed by St. John in Ver. 13.-And one of the elden auwered. John xii. 18, where doubtless it is eon- The elder sp,iaks because he is typica.l of nect.ed with the celebration of the Feast of the Church, ooncerning which the expoai- Tabeniaoles. Seoondly, the use of such an tion which he delivers is to be made (see on image would more naturally ocour to one so eh. iv. 4). Where an explanation is made familiar with Jewish customs and ritual as of visions which refer to the Church, the , the writer of the Apocalypse; a.nd, more- active part is taken by the. elders, while over, the idea commemorated by this felll!t- angels introduce visions of which the ~ - that of the enjnyment of rest and plenty, fica.tion is unexplained ( cf. eh. v. 2; vii. 1, the possession of the promised Canaan after 2; viii.; x. 1, S, et.e.; and v. 5). Baying toil a.nd delay-is peculiarly applicable uuto me, What are these whill}l are ana,e4 to the oondition of those here deecribed. in white robe■ ! and whenoe ~e ih8J'! Thirdly, the idea 11881llS oa.rried on in the The elder questions that he may teaob. mind of the writer, and referred to in ver. (Bede). 15 in _the worda, " aball spread his taber- Ver. 14.-And I aaid unto him, !Ji?, thou nacle over them" (eee Revised Version). knoweat; and I eay unto h.im, M11 wnl Ver. 10.....:And cried with a loud voice; (Revised Version). The expression denote. and tJiey Cf'fJ, etc. The pr011ent tense ex- the utmost respect a.nd reverence, which pN!Ssell the unceasing nature of their ocou- afterwards induce the Beer to worship the pation (Alford). Baymg, Salvation to. our angel (see eh. xix. 10; xxii. 8). The strno- God ; that is, "The praise and honour due tnre of this part of the vision rooalls 1i!zek. for our salvation belongs to God, since he xxxvii. S, .. Aud he said unto me, Bon of is the Ca.use of our salvation." Note the man, ca.n these bones live? And I an• similarity to the "Hosanna- " of the palm- swered, 0 Lord God, thou knowest" (of. bearing multitude of the Jj·east of Taber- Zech, iv. 2, 4, 5; John xii. 21). And he ■aid na.clee (see John xiL 13; 2 Ma.oo. x. 6, 7; to me, These are they which Game out of •Ps. cxviii. 25). Which sitteth upon the great tribula.tion; vihich; came.. out af tM thnme, and .uuto tbf Lamb. To the Triune great tribulation (Revised Version). The God, and to the La.mb (see on eh. iv. 2;' of. repeated article is especially emphatic. The oh, v. 13; xii. 10). guestion arises-Wlia.t is "the great tribu- Ver. 11.-And all the angela atood round lation" referred to? Probably all the tribu- about the throne, and about the elders a.nd lation which has been pa.esed through by the tour beasts; u,ere standing • • ;·· the four the redeemed, all that which pertained t.o li~ beings. (For a consideration of the the life through which they ha.ve pa8ll8d. ~uons here indicated, see on oh, v. 11.) This tribulation is now completed· and past, The throne in the centre with the four and is therefore referred to as "the great living beings was surrounded by the elders, tribulation." "These are they which have haling the Lamb in the midst, between the passed through the great tribulation of their throne and the elders. Forming a circle life on earth." This is the view ta.ken by round the whole were the angels. (On the . Alford. Diisterdieck refers the expreasicn elder, 1111 representing the Church, a.nd the to the last great trial of the saints before four living creatures as symbolical of creation, the ooming of the Lord. Some point to see on eh. iv. 4, 6.) And fell before the particular persecutions as the reference throne on their faces, and worshipped God. intended, and others oonsider that " the . Al in eh. v. 14 a.nd xi I 6, 17, praise is a.ocom• last great trial to be expected under the panied by adoration a.nd worship. seventh seal•• is meant. And have wuhed Ver. 12.-Sa:,ing, Amen. In eh. v. H their robea, and made them white in the the four living creaturea respond "Amen " blood of the Lamb; and they 'IIHWled, eto. to the praises uttered by the 11.ngele; here, Tha.t is, during their past .life, while they in response to the praise· oft'8l'ed by the were experiencing the great tribula.tion, redeemed in ver. 10, the angela utter they we.shed their robes (cf. eh. iii. .4, 5, "Amen," preparatory to joining in the where those who ha.ve "not defiled their universal adorati.on. BleuiDg, and glory, garments" and those "tha.t overcome" 8.19 JlEVELATIOlll, . ·, IID4 wisdom, and thauksKivinf, and honour, to be clothed in white). Those that ovet-  210 THE REVEt.A.TlON or ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. ·(OH.VII. i-11.