The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 289

- ~ bor,n of.that Church.which /Dr so long bef'on his coming endured the pmgii of w11il. Fl'Olll Uie.»Qsom of the. J>eople.of God, Obrist according to the flesh came. ~~,is he of whom.it isrleclared, "'.l')lou art my Son; this day have I begot.tell thee. Al!k ,<1f me • • • toou ahalt 'role them with a. rod of iron.'' . JlL,,:fHl'l TIORD 8YIIBOL•OR SIGN ts "A GREAT lUID ))JU.GOii', HAVING SBVEJII DADS Am> .:fflN BORN&, AND ON :ins l'IBA))B SE~N DJADBXS." The interpretation of this is given explicitly in ver. 9. The seven heads may fitly represent the multiplied worldl.y powers- which the evil one brings against Christ and his Church, and in the t.cm horns ma.y be hidden a referenee to that great world-power which, in.the dayaof St. John, SQ.Ught, as .th& agent of Sa.tan, to destroy the Church of Christ. The whole scene is Upressive of the great powers which from the. beginning wage war with the Lam b . . lV.:A :FOORTR SIGN IS FOUND IN TBB ATTlWDE OJ' THlli RED DRAGOS BD'ORE TJIB WOHAN, SJ!)Ji;lttNG TO 'DUTBOY HBB OJDLD. B11.t the Divine oare defends him, and the woman :flees into the wilderne~" ·a place prepared," &'lld that " they may nourish hei.'' . Ia:the whole fur our insmiction resolve itself into a teaching concerning: .L fi• ia.bilucll fMliagonvm of the gr«JI Jl(l'll1Sf"S of ml lo him who '8 the lll,,cwoh'• Lora ®d &m,..., · l'he whole book portrays the ~trife between the greatantagonistic.power,-,-light IWd darkness, sin. and holiness, Christ "1td Satan-" the-'-l_)roper factors of hiatory.'1 Thls,·:vision. is, for us; one of warning and admonition. We learn the condition11 on which:,we hold life. Oor: hearts are the battle-ground, and for dominion over them the twoforces contend. Our.duty is plain.. 2, 77'8 Dmne cars/or the OhurcA.. The "wilderness" is not a place of danger; but of safety.. The city,· with its corrupt.ion, is the deadJy,pl&ce. Trne, the wildern8SS ·afforda. not lux.ury; bnt luxury is da1;1ger. In tb. wilderness.the Church is fed and nourished. . God baa prepared the conditions of safety for his'.0burch.during the times ,of the great strife whiclt ill afterwards to be detailed. Then· let the lowly .disciple have both faith ancl hope. ·The Lord will defend him in the day of battle, and ,will nourish him unto eternal life.-,-R. G.