~ficefned. ·. In the revelation of the fate in · before. The preservation of the ,Olmrch :set; ~ • f ~ the Churth, aa as ;well· in that of forth in the visions bf the 8001s, ·and :the 'ttl~ doom"awlmled fu the ungodly, the punishment of the ungodly shown'under' the 'ffiions stop , il1ort of describing olrolim- trumpet-visions, are effected by means of this 'l!tarioes ootinooted• with the Ute after the J>OWer: but now that powerisvisiblyilxeroised. -'lbdginimt-day. · The ltingdo1111 of this world Ver.18.-And the nations wets angry (of. ·&re beeo:ine the kingdoms of oar Lord, and Ps. ii. I, which appears to be in the mind ·of his' Chrht ; and he ·shall reign for ever of the eeer, for ver. 9 of the same psalm ia ,.4., rter. 'E,,l11E'!'a ;, /3arr,11.,iit, in th·e referred to in ob. 'xii.-5}. "The nations" •ilrngufat,: is found in ~. A, B, C, P, and raged in the periorl of their persecution of 'tersions,''a.lld is adopted by the Revised thB Ghurch, ae eat forth unde:r tlwrvillions of Vel'l!ii!n. 'E;,;'JiavTa al' /3art1ll.,ia,, the plural, the seals. They were angry, says -Heng- ii! read in t~o cursives. We can 1rnder- stenberg, at the progress of the kingdom etilii!d"the first part of' this verse by refel'ring of God, after the Word was made fl.esh. to eh. ni. 10. God'it power and authority And thy wrath is come ; thy wrath· tatM. ill estajlllshed hy the final overthrow of This verse points conclusively to the judg- ·Satan; ''It naturally follows the account, in ment-day, the events of which, however, as ·vers.c 12; 18, of the vindication of God's wit- before remarked {see on ver. 15);are merely nel!i!es, and of the glory rendered by the indioa.ted, not fully deeoribed. This is the 'te8t of niankind. With God the Father· it! last final in:flietion upon the wicked, the ttssooiated Christ, by whoae means the over~ seventh of the trumpet-plagues. And the throw of the devil is e:fl'ected, and by whom time of the dead; that the:, should be judged ; his servants overcome ( ef. eh. i. 6; v. 9 ; vii. to be judged. Vitringa and· others llnde'l'- H; xii.11}." This is the final.victory; hence- stand this jutlgment to refer to th8' dead forth "he shall reign for ever and ever:" martyrs who are now vindicated; but the , Ver. 16.-And the four and twenty elders. meaning probably extends to all the d.!a.d, '' The eljlerii" represent the Ohnroh (see on both classes of whom 111·0 referred to in the :eh. iv. 4); they are those who were made following pa.rt of the verse. Awl that thou ""'a kingdom" (oh. i. 6); · they therefore •houldeat give reward unto thy servants the fitly take up the burden of praise to hiin prophet,, and to the ninta, and them that who has now established his universal and fear thy Na.me, small aud great ; BDd ffiirlasting kingdom. Which aa.t before God ahouldest destroy them whieh · cleatroy the on their seats; wkicl, sit before God on their earth ; and to gwe t'heir 1'6Ward • • • and thrones (Revised Vel'l,ion). Thus they a.re to dutroy, etc. · Though µ11cpoh 1tal -rolis described in oh. iT. 4. J!'ell upon their taoes, µry,Ll\av~, '' the small and the great," ill hi and worshipped God. · (Bo also in oh. iv; 10; the aoousa.tive case, it is in &ppolll'tio,n with ·v.14; :rix.4.) ,, ' · the preceding datives, '1I'pa,pt,.ra<t, · &,,ta,1, Ver. '17.-Sa.ying, We gjve thee thanks. ,Po/Jovµi11ou, " prophets, saint&, those that The only inmi.ncie in the" AJ)()Oalypse of the fear." The wickeil are th.otie who "destl'Oy nse of this verb. It is fortnil iu John -vi. J 1, the earth," since it is on their account that 23, and xi. U, but in none· of the other the world ie destroyed ; they "destroy the Gospels, thou5h frequently in the Epistles. earth " aleo by corrupting it, which· is the "The elders a.re peculiarly indebted to foroeof 7hcufnl•ipa.i. In whatwaythiedestruo- God, since the establishment of his kingdom tion of the wicked is accomplished we are is the victory of the Church. O Lord God not told. Almighty, whioh art, and wast, and art Ver. 19.-And the temple of God' wu to eome; the .Almighty. Omit "and art to opened in heaven; and there was op,med eome" (Revised Vel'llion), witl1 ~ 18, A, B, the temple of God that is in M«tlffl (Revised 0, P, Andreas> Arethas, Primasius, Syria.c, Version). " The temple" (va&,), the dwell- Armenian, ew. (of. eh. i. 4; iv. 8). Perhaps ing-pla.ce of God (cf. ver. 1: <lh. iii. 12; the future is purposely omitted, since God's vii. 15}, Again, but a glimpse is aft'onled; "coming" .is now an accomplished fll.Ot ( cf. and yet more is revealed than at the con- also eh.:xn. 5)." · ':Beoause thou hut iaken to clusion of the former series of visions; while thee thy great power, and hast reigned ; the chief description is :reserved to a later becaue· thou hast taken thy great power, and part of the Revelation. And there was seen didst reign (Revised Version). _God never in his temple the ark of his testament ; or, ceased to reign, though for a time he abro- ark of his covenant. This eeems to be intro- gated his powll'I'. This power he has now duced in order t.o render more emphatio the reassumed, and the elders thank him for steadfastness and unchangeablenei!8 of God• it, for -it is the assurance of the end of the .As in the case of the witnesSBllj the Agure is llll1fering of the Church of God. So in oh. ta.ken from the Old Testament; and the t,,. H fiie &Iden declare that he is· worthy sym!x>l would be pregnant with meaning to to' receive the 'ptnMr whieh he now visibly J ew1Sh Ohristia.ns and others who had-learnt ~ B bu. indeed, been exercised to think of ihe ark· as the aaer&m61lt of cm. xx. ·1-19.] THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVIN&• 295
Goc1'irabiding prel!elloe and oontinual help. evoked by the ory for vengeanee in eh. TI. He who JI.OW promises aid to his. people, and 10; have demonstrated the need for patience threatens jw}gment upon the wioked, is the and endUl'EIIloe on the pan of Ohristiaus; aame God who formerly had displayed his by indicating the punishments meted but; to power on behalf of his people Israel. And there . 'fere lightnings, and voleee, a.n4 the wicked on this earth e.nd at· the final thllllderingf, a.nd an earthquake, and gi:ea\ judgment, together with the final triumph hail• there followed, (Revised Version). Th!t of the faithfnt The seer next p:i:ooee~ to usuai token of any special manifestation of elaborate a fact alluded to in the measuring God's presence, or direci dea.ling with men of the temple in oh. x. 2, and to ·point the ( see on oh. vL 1). moral that it is possible for Christi.ans within .Thia, •hen, forms the oonolusion to the the Church to loae their :6nal ;e'Q,rd· by aerie& of .trumpet-viaiom. Theae visions, their apostasy.