The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 188

· llll\nifold uphea.vinge in different lands and ages is evident, not only from the oonsidera- . tions specified in preceding homilies, but also from the fa-0t that those who are seen by the apostle as "coming" out of it are from all nations, and kindreds, Blld people, and tongues. Again and again wars, famine, pestilences, persecutions, :revolutions, will desolate the earth, recurring again and again, ere the end shall come, at divers places and.at divers times. There is, moreover, some great mystery of lawlessness which is yet to break forth. And again and again may the Church have to recall her Saviour's words, " Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." No judgment from the hand of God is or can be so perilous fur the world as these outbreaks of human sin. We know. how they will end. The Lord will " consume them by the Spirit. of his mouth, ·and destroy them with the brightness of his coming." But meanwhile, many will depart from the faith, but not all. For- H. AllID THE .SEVEREST iTRIBULA'l'IONS THERE WILL· BE SOME WHO ARB THB BEBVAN'l'S Ol!' .Go»: It seems to us unquestionable that we are to regard the" Israei" here, not. as the Jewish, but the Christian commonwealth, although here, as so often throughout the book, Jewish imagery is employed. But according to the text. it is •:not the:w/wle of: each tribe that a.re marked as the servants of God, only- a number out of them, "They are not all Israel that are of Israel." "He is not a Jew which. is one outwardly." "Not every. one that 81\ith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the ·, kingdom of heaven." They who are really with Christ are "called, and choseil, and · faitnful.'' They "follow the Lamb whither80ever he goeth." And when the sorest .and severest trials come, there will certainly be msny who are the true Israel of God • . . III. ON EVERY SERVANT oir Go» THERE. IS A GRACIOUS EYE. In the midst ,0f a world's sin.and unbelief they are recognized individually as bearing a distinct. and separate charnoter. Each one is known. No one is confounded with another. "'l'he eye of the Lord is on them that fear him." Every one is known who sighs and cries . over the abominations of Jerusalem. "They that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it." Every infant voice that prays is heard amid the roa.r of the elements and the crash of worlds. Every household altar, every family circle bending before. the throne, every group of friends holding converse on the things of God,-all, all are known on high. Each one is the object of loving and of infinite regard. Not one is left outside the holy thought and care of our redeeming God. He watches over all He singles out ea.eh. IV. CoNSEQUENTLY, ON EVERY SEBVA.NT OF GoD THERE 18 A Sl'EOIAL SEAL. When the Israeli,es were to be marked off from the Egyptians, there was the sign on their door- . post.s--the blood of the slain lamb, When, in Ezekiel's vision, the a.a gel of destruction goes forth, the cry is heard," Go not near the men on whom is my mark." A.gain and again in the New Testament is there mention of a Divine "seal" on believers. The symbol is reproduced here. The seal is (1) a token of redemption; (2) a mark of pos- r.ession; (3) an indication of resemblance; (4) a badge of service; (5) a pledge of security. 'rhe mark is, indeed, visible to no human eye. It is graven by no human hand. The writing is by the finger of God, and it cannot be obliterated. Whatever the trouble may be that sweeps over the world, the sealed one will never be lost in the crowd. V. ON ALL WHO BEAR 'l'HI8 BBAL, DIVINl!I PROTECTION SHALL BEST. So runa the text. "Hurt not ••• until., Divine judgments are represented as actually bemg kept back for their sakes. We get the same thought in the Book of Genesis; " I cannot do anything till thou be come thither." We have its equivalent in the Lord's own words, " But there shall not a hair of your head perish." And if it were n80elllll,f)' for the safety of one servant of God, the lightning should be held in check, aud,the thunders forbear to roll, till that one had escaped out of danger. Nor must we Mlle sight of the Divine purpose in this. It is that there may be a living seed of '.Vinue and piety left on earth whatever judgments may befall How that may.yet be secured we cannot say. We can but gather from what God has already done. We know: 1. That God has wondrously guarded the life of believers in times of peril : Daniel; Slui.drach, Mcshach, and Abeanego; Ezra; Rafara.vavy; Luther. 2. .That,they ha.'t'e been kept .alive in fu.mine: Elijah. A.gain and again is it proved here, "They bt seek the Lord,shall not want any good thing." A.mid tl\e darkest and the hardes~ times, when Jl8rils have abounded, when doctrine has been corrupted and even disOWll89, then 212 THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. [ea. vtr. 1-17.