trial, word.a of Cflll!!Olation and assura.nee mingle. And out of the midst of the contem- plation of the most virulent opposition to the truth, the holy seer is called to lift up hit eyes on high, and behold the :lfount Zion and the host of the pure and faithful surround- ing the Lemb. The hundred and forty-four thousand-the Churoh'a symbol of twelve nprodueed and multiplied. It is the Church in her triumph. "The elec&." whom Satan has ,not been able to "deceive " are now in presence of the Redeemer-ever "the Lamb" in this book. Their "tribulation" ls over; their enemies 1ubdued. They have "kept the faith." Thus is fidelity through trial predicted; thus is it encouraged. There are who will "endure to the end• and "be saved." In viewing this triumphan, host we must take notice of- THB DISTINGUISIIlNG ll'BATUREB 01' THEffl O!UB,UlTBII Alm TUB Dl!l'1'ArtED BLJI• JONTII OJ' TREIB REWARD. 1, The88 anJ the pure, the v.ndefi,led. They are distin- guished as free from the prevalent sinfulness of the hour, Nor could aymbolism more 1trikiugly stand allied to realism than by describing the saintly ho&ts as" virgins.• 2, Th1111 qr11 tM ob«lient, "They follow the Lamb whitheraoever he g011th.,. Holinesa ot life ia the invariable adjunct of sanctity of spirit. These "take up the cross and follow him " whom they love, through evil report and good report. 3. They an the ,rothfu1,. No lie is found in their mouth-neither the lie of error nor of untrue profes- sion ; nor are they given to falsity and deceitfulness of life, 4:. TMy ar11 blameka,. "Without blemish." These are the redeemed : "the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb!' The great harvest lies beyond in the unnumbered host. Their reward is thu» det.ailed: (1) They are purchased: the Lamb's own property," whose own" these sheep are. (2) 'l'het are admitted and received within the heavenly courts: they stand on "Mount Zion. (3) They bear the symbols of their confession and of their recognition: the holy name is on their foreheads-signifying their devotion to Christ; as they who were the servants of the beast bore his name. (4) In eternal joyfulness they sing ever- new songs of rraise to God, their Creator e.nd Redeemer. A song unknown and unlearned by any but the faithful in Christ Jesus. Truly may we hear an und,rtone of exh~rtation : (a) "Wherefore comfort._yourselves with the1S0 word1;" and (b) •• Be thou faithful unto death,"-R. G.
Vera. 6, 7.-•• 'I'M everT!Uting gospel." The hee.rts of the faithful have been strength- ened and comforted by the vision of the pure heavenly community whose united voice was as the.t of "harpers harping with their harps." Now another vision brightens the eye of the holy seer. At present the idea of a gospel universally diffused has not been specially represented, Incidente.lly we have beard the voices of the elders prodaiming praise to him who had redeemed them from "every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation," And we have heard the word of the angel concerning the little book: "Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.• Now, in harmony with the prevalent hitbit of the book, the vision or teaching is repealed; but in another form. It is a definite assurance to the little Church, in its dispersion, and apparent conquest, when its voice is silenced by the severities of persecuting violence. Fear not ; the go11pel shall be proclaimed, and proclaimed to all; nor shall it be crushed; it is an everlasting gospel. Inasmuch as he who partakes of the gospel partakes of the spirit of the gospel, it would be his most fervent desire that all should participate in the blessedness and peace of that gospel, 'l'o him, therefore, the cheering news of its universal diffusion mnst. bring-what the whole book ii designed to bring-the utmost consolation. Of the gospel we learn- • L THAT IT IS A GOSPEL OP PERPETUAL BNDURANOE. . . An eternal i;cospeL• It is ever to be proclaimed as good news. It never ceases to be good news. ii may be hindered, and for a time even apparently destroyed ; but it still lives. It is eternal. II, IT IB FOB ALL. · The good news is not to be confined to a few, or to favoured races only. It is for "them (i.a. all them] that dwell on the earth," even for"every nation, and tribe, and tongue, and people." The universal dtifullion of t.he a;ospel i■ a pledge that persecution shall not " stamp it out." Ill hr l'1'll TEACHING IT URGES: 1. The fear of the Lord-" Fear God "-which ls the beginning of all wisdom ; and to heathen and idolatrous nations the first truth. 2. TM paying to him due honour. • Give him glory." 3, It declare& the appr()(l,Ch of M, /vd,iciaJ rule. " 'l'he hour of his judgment ii come." 4. It call, to Ai, worship 872 'l'BE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. [OB. uv. 1-21\
u the true Lord, who "made the heaven, and the earth, and sea. and fountaiIU1 ol waters."-R. G.
Ver. 8.t-.A/urlher «sion of triumph. Again "another angel "-a second-!ollowa the first, and with a separate message. It is brief, bnt pregnant. The earnest desire of the gQOd is satisfied.. That which shall sustain the " patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus," is here. It is an authori- tative declaration of the final fall of the antagonistic kingdom, be that whatever it may, " Babylon" ever symbolizes the oppressor of JeruS!l.lem-the antagonistic king- dom that opposes and oppresses the true Israel of God. Babylon is" great;" Babylon has power over" all nations," for she compels their aceptance of her corruption ; Babylon ma.kee all na.tions to join her in her degradation and impurity and unfaithfulnese. B~t she is "fallen"-" fallen is Babylon the great." Froni this prophetic word the Church, struggling against the oppression of a Babylonish yoke-struggling to free the nations from Babylonish corruption, deceit, and wrath, which ia ruin-cannot but derive the deepest conl!Olation. L IT IS A PLEDGE OF DIVINll CO-OPERATION. For the puny arm of the feeble &ck eannot grapple with the great and mighty nation that can compel obedience. But God is above all. II. IT IB THB SATISFACTION OF THE CHURCH'S UTMOST DESIRE CONCERNING EVIL, J'or it 1s its uttermost destruction. The Church is ever to be comforted by the usured hope of the conquest of'all evil Ill, IT IS TBB ASSURANCE OF THE CHURCH'S FINAL DELIVERANCE FROM ALL OPPOSING A;Ni> OPPRESSING POWER, And as such- • IV. IT l8 THE TRUEST llNCOTJBAGBMllNT OF THE Cmmcu TO" PATIENCE "-to "keep the commandments of God," and to the maintenance of" the faith of Jesus."-B. G.