The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 189

has God kept for himself" a holy seed," and bas enabled his witnenes to put on an "armour of light," from which foul error glanced off in the twinkling of an eye I This is the history of the past. 'l'his is the fact of the present. This is the forecast for the future, The same faithful care of which many can even now bear witness shall be continued till the last believer is safely gathered home. VL THE DOCTRINES TAUGHT IN THIS SECTION ABE l'ULL OF BLEIIBED TEACHING. 1. The/act that there is a Divine recognition of every true and pure.on6,evenin the worst of time.s, rhould inspire every struggler f<>r the right with a holy «JUrage. Some may, in severe struggles, be so disheartened that they are ready to say," It is of no use. I cannot breast the storm. I'll give up. The conflict is too severe." No, no. Let them pause ere coming to such a conclusion, "The eyes of the Lord run to a.n,i fro through the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of those whose heart is perfect towards him." If .they are clinging to the Lord, his seal is on them. He sees them. He cares for them, and he will bring them through. 2. This fact should lead to the fresh 1JU:ercil6 of holy trust. 'l'he representation of our text is a revelation to faith, ,It would be valuable, even though it were but the reasonable tenet of a philosopher; but it is priceless as the revelation of our God. In the former light it would- be attain- able by the few; in the latter it is addresseq to all. It is a Divine assurance in wbieh faith may find infinite repose. "God is my Salvation: I will trust,and not be afraid." 3. This fact is also qf great service as an illustration of the DivintJ method of securing Iha triumph of righteousness and truth, viz. by preserving in the world men who ru-e right and true. '!'here is no other way. But there is this. It is God's way, and it is one the carrying out of which he alone can ensure. God will shake the heavens and the earth, bnt only with the view of ensuring that "things which cannot be shaken may remain." God will let nothing be lost which is worth keeping. "Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted· shall be rooted up." But all that is good and pure and God-like will live through every storm. 4. This fact shows m what infinite joy and wisdom attach to the service of God. "In peaceful times, when matters go well," says one, "and there is a fair wind, one is not so deeply sensible of this.•.• But when times of tribulation and chastisement arise, then does the Divine election form a blessed feature in the condition of those who are under the protection· of the Almighty." Whatever the storm carries off, that which belongs to God must remain unharmed. 'l'hen it is no vain thing to serve tl,e Lord. It is worth while to be faith- ful even in the most troublous times. 5. This fact shows up most striki'fl.gly the old truth that" the Lord doth put a difference" between those who are his and those who are not. Always the difference is infinite. But it is not always manifest. It will be some day. " Behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven. •.• Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth (l-od and him that serveth him not." When "every mountain and island are moved out of their places," and every refuge of liea. shames those who have hidden therein, all who are on the " Rock of ages " shall be eternally secure l Vers. 9-17.-Tlie Church above, caught up out ef the g,'e,(J,t tribulation, We have before called attention to the fact that in this chapter we have, first, a part of the Church on earth, sealed in the tribulation; second, a part of the Church in heaven-caught np out of it,1 The :first and most natural inquiry concerning the second part of this chapter is," .At what point of time are we to fix the occurring of the glorious-realities set forth in this vision?" .And from the structure of the chapter the reply which is necessitated thereby is as obvious as the question itself is natural. It is evidently while the tribulation, the great one, is raging below that the blessed ones are seen in perfect calm. For this part of the vision comes, like the former part, not at the close of all things, but between the sixth and the seventh seals. Nor is this the only clue we have. In ver. 14 we read," These are they which are coming out of the tribulation, the great one;" not, "These are they which came," as if all were past; nor yet," These are they which will oome," as if all were future; but," These are they which are coming." -.Tbere is a continuous pouring in of them from the. world of care to the realm of peace ; and this will go on till all be gathered home. .At the same time, it will be well for u~ 1 "The sealing aSBl11'8d us that God's hidden ones would be saf'e in trouble; this tells us ,Chat the7 have come safe out of it" (Bishop Boyd Carpenter, {n loo.). OB. VIL 1-17.] THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. ms