The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 215

L TUE AFFAIBS OJ' TIIB KmGDOH Oll' GoD TOUCH THIS EABTB A.T EVERY PODIT 01' 1'1'11 OOWCEJllilB, !!'here are two common defects among Christian people in reflecting on the things of Qod. Some concern themselves almost exclusively with the outward develop- ment of God's kingdom in national life. Others, again, are almost equally absorbed with the aspect of God's work which concerns the salvation of the individual Doth ahould he.included in one view. Each one may begin with himself in hie religious concern, but no one may end there. We may, indeed, he thankfurthat, in the great affairs of worlds, God does not forget our small concerns; at the same time, we should often lose the thought of oq.r own interests in our anxiollll care for the honour and glory · of our Lord and for the growth of.his kingdom. The pith of all the concentrated prayers of the saints is, "Thy kingdom come." Earthly thrones, political parties, Church politics, are only of service as they are helping to fulfil the will of God. And never will Christian people attain to t.he glory of their grand confessiun till they have public spirit enough to lead them to "seek flrllt the kingdom of God and his righteousness." II. hr THE DEVELOPHENTII 01' GoD'B KINGDOM'. THE 'UNFOLDINGS 01' EARTH ARB .AJ'J'BCT&D BY. AGENCIES ABOVE AND BEYOND IT. 'l'he main theme of our text presents us with the glorious and inspiring truth of•IUI angelic ministry. 'l'hat there should be ooe bond of moral sympathy uniling holy men and angels is not surprising wheu both are creatures of God. God uses us. He U:Ses them. They are all ministering spirits.. . Among ~hem there is no discord. They ID!)V8 in perfect acrord with the will of him who sitteth upon the throne, wondering oft, perchance, as they look down upon earth, that it should harbo&r any treasonable revolt against the throne of God I IIL UroN THIS BARTH A OLAIH HAS BEEN llADB BY ONE nr BUMAN Fonv, ro IJVPBKJ(JI llOVEREIGNTY OVER rr-a claim that, as things are, produces violent disturb- ance. It is true he came "not to judge the world but to save the world ; " yet,irom the nature of the case, even that ~~ing process involves "sending fire on the earth." S.,.n is wrought up to fury when his subjects leave his bondage to serve freely t.heir rightful Lord. " When a strong man armed keepeth his palace. his goods are in peace, but when," etc. Kings ha\-e risen in revolt against the doctrine that there is another King, one Jesus. Priests are indignant when told that the priesthood of believera renders official priests a sham. Mammon's worshippers are wroth against. the claims of JeiUll. And, as the result of long, long ages of sin, huge ecclesiastical et1tablishmente, despotisms, international confederacies, vast hierar~hies, great commercial concerns based on selfishness rather than righteousness, have taken usurped posse.•sion. Ana Utey maat all be overthrown before perfect peace can he brought in. But how it is all to be done the great Lord alone can tell. IV, THEBE ABE TWO POTENT l'ORCES AT WORlt WHICH ABB TO THE PEOPLE OF Go» TUB l'LKDGE THAT ALL THESE CONFEDERACIES OP EVIL WU,L SOONER OR LATER BB BBOKE!l l]l'. One of these is the work of ihe Lord Jesus Christ, followed as it is by his reigning power. In thinking of all these forces which are set forth in the chapter before us, it would he strange indeed if we lost sight of "him who is in the midst of the throne " to direct and inspire the whole. Our Lord's baptism of blood was but the earnest of his after-administrative sway. At his death the prince of this world was (potentially) ea.at out. "He must reign till he hath put alJ enemies beneath his feet." And while there is this n>gal force working earthward from heaven, there is another furce working heavenward from earth-ven the prayers of the saints, Our Lord him- lelf has revealed the law thd p~yer is one of the hinges on which the wo:-ld's move- ments tum. "Ask, and it shall be given you." And, more than all, he has not only &cad 118 .to pray, but he has set us a-praying by the energies of his Spirit. Pray we must; pray we will. We cannot help it. Nor will the prayer be lost. God has not .Te.inly said to the seed of Jacob," Seek ye me." V. IT 18 THE DIVINE APl'OINTHENT THAT, AB THE OUTCOJa OF THIS DOUBLE FORCK, l'BBRB SHOULD BE A DOUBLE SET OP RESPONSIVE PHENOMENA. 1. There is a new- creating force of the Holy Spirit, slowly it may be, but surely, buildiag up the new only through judgment that true Loving-kindness can make her way" (Carpenter). "The prayers are that God will vindicatii his own ca.use,.and they are answered by him who, when hill people ory to him. will arise to judgment" (Milligan). For a very widely different con, ,ceptioo of tho meaning of this p111111age, see Garratt's' Commentary,' 2nd edit., p. 88.  os. vm.1-13.] THE REVELATION OF .ST. JbBN THE DmNE. t39