The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 207

now arrived at the end; the fate of t.be in the vision of the -ls, the punishment of Church bad been in 110me measure fore- the wicked holds a 1111bsidiary place, being 1b1ulowed, and the final assurance is peal» only introduced for the purpose of demon- in heaven. That part; of the fale in 11tore for the Church cannot be expounded by the strating God's protection of the jllSt, in the seer•. He ia permitted. as it were, to visit vision of the trumpets the destruotion of the the threshold for au instant, and then he is ungodly iB the main theme, being i~tended, called away. His message is not yet com- like the denunciationa of the prophets of tilete; he is summoned to receive yet further old, for a wanting to those in sin, if haply revelations. But may not the half-hour sig- any may yet be 118Ved. It may, indeed, be nify "a long time"? The seer, in hill vision, after beholding a succeBSion of events, ex- St1,id to be an BllllWer to the ery in oh. vi 10, periences a paW!8-COmplete silence for the '' How long, 0 Lord, holy and true, dost thou space of half an hour. This time would not judge and avenge our blood on them 11ppear almost interminable in such circum• that dwell on the earth?" The mme long• ■tanoes; and the phrase may therefore be ■uffering delay of vengeance tempts the intended to express "an exceedingly length- ened period," such u a stillness of such a " foolish body" to BilY in his heart;, "There length in the midst of numben would appeaT is no God." While by the vision of the to tit. John. Here, then, closes the yision &88is God i■ CSl'llful not to break the bruised of the sea.la. The first four, prefaced by the reed, in the vision of the trumpets he vouch- usa.nmoe of final victory, deal with events safes a call to those who are less deserving more immediately connected with tlds life, and explain to the suffering Christian of all of his consideration and mercy. ages that it is pad of God'H eternal purpose (I) The trumpets then form a series of that he should be exposed to pel"l!OOution, ruions denouncing God's judgments againri trial, and temptation while in the wor:d, and the wicked. that such suffering is not the reeult of God's (2) They form an independent vision, and forgetfulness or heedlessneECs. Thtl la.t three ,ea!e refer to three 1MJts of events connected do not grow out of the seventh seal, in the with the life her1,after. The · fifth shows sense of P9rtraying what is intended to be the security of those who have departed thie disclosed under that sea]. The number life; the sixth P9rtrays the safe gathering seven, alike in the C8ll8 of the sea~ and in of God's own, and the fear and condemnation that of the trumpets, indicates the complete of the unjust at the judgment-day; the nature of each series, which i8 moreover 118Tenth affords a pro11poot rather ·than a aight of the eternal 118bbath of heaven, nu- demonstrated by their general character. described bt,cause indescribable. The whole (3) The incidents· depicted are synchro- is thUB completed; the aeer ia called away nous with those of the seals; that is to say, to review the ages once more-to behold new they relate to the history of mankind from 'YisiODB, which aball inipresa more fully, and the beginning to the end of iime and the •upplement, the truthe which the viaiona of the .-la have. in a measure, reWl&led. eommencement of eternity. (4) As in the eaae of the seals, they 1119 Ven. 2-6 form a prefaoe to the vision of general -indications of God's judgments; the. tram.pew, and 118f1'e boih to connect thia and though particular events may be partial Yision with what has gone bel'ore, and to fulfilments, the complete fulfilment is in all indicate the oouse of Ulia farther revelation. iime. The serlas of mysterie■ embra.eed under (5) In their general features there aie. the eeaJs ia oompleted, and has so far aooom- some points of reeemblau.ce and some of plilbed ita }lurpo8e, which iB to fort;ify the difference on a comparison with the 8fflla. patiaioe of the saints by the aasnranoe of (a) They may be divided into groups of God'• providenoe and their ultimate viotory four and three. In both viaiona the fiM and reward. But this is only one part of · group of four deals more Immediately with the seer's mission; there iB not only a mes- the natural world, the last group of three age pf encouragement to the faithful, but a has IUore connection with the splritual life. 1'W8Z'lling for the worldly and apostate. No (b) They te:rminate in a similar way, in doubt the saiµe ground is covered to some the viotory of the redeemed, who sing the extent by both announoements; sinoe what praises of God. is encouragement and hope for the righteous (o) In both,greater elaboration or epitode ill judgment for the wicked. But_ whereas, (JC()UD after the sixth revelation.  oa. vm.1-13.] THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN TIIE DIVINE. 231