The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 389

Vera. 14-18.-~it great moral campaign. "These shall make war with the Lamb, and. the Lamb shall overcome them : for he ia Lord of lords, and King of kings : and they tha.t are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful," etc. '110 our mind these verses seem to adumbrate the greatest of all the campaigns this world has ever witnessed or ever wilL In every department of sentient being there seems to be an arena of conflict, a.nd physical wars in human 1ife have been rife in every part of the w-orld, ~ the first periods to the present hour.· But the great moral campaign 1s the most univel'll81, unremitting, and momentous. The words serve to bring to our notice two aubjects in relation to this campaign- L TBE CONTENDING FORCES. "These shall make war," etc. (ver. 14). What are these? Truth and falsehood, selfishness and benevolence, right and wrong,-theee are the battling poW1lrs. " We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principali• tie,s, against poweI')I, against the rulel"f! of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Each of these oontendfng forces has its own leader or general. 1. TM one is repre&e11tecl a3 a "beast."• The beast is the emblem of the mighty aggregate of wrong in all its elements and operations; wrong in theories and in institutions; wrong in Bentiments, ideas, and habits; wrong as imposing as seven mountains, as majestic as kings and empires; wrong sitting as empress over all "nations, and peoples, and tonguea,n Wrong is the greatest thing in this world at pr888nt; U is the mighty Colossus with the "head of gold, breast and arms of silver, his thighs of br888, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.'' 1 2. The other is repr11-- #nted a, a" Lamb." "'l'hese shall make war with [shall war against] ~he Lamb" (ver. U). The Latnb is the emblem of innocence, mildness, and purity. In Daniel's vision wrong was a colossal figure, snd right a little stone. Here wrong is a terrible .. beast," and right a tender "Lamb." Here are the two great generals in this mighty campaign. . IL THI!: JURVl!LLOUB CONQUEST. Observe: 1. The <Jonqueror. "The Lamb shall overcome them" (ver. 14). The Lamb, not the beast, is the Conqueror. Power is no6 to ,be estimated by size or form. The little stone sb,ivered the image; the Lamb smkes the beast into the dust. The Lamb, though not a bellicose eKistenoe; is: (1). Invested with the highest authority. "i,:e is Lord of lords, and King of kings" (ver. 14). The greatest sovereignty that man wields over his fellows ie lamb-like rather tha.n leonine. It ls not that of physical force and· gorgeous form, but of lowliness and silence. (2) Followed by a noble 11rmy. • "'l'hey that are with him are called, ~nd chosen, ~nd faithful" (ver. 14). Who are his fullowers? Whom does he lead into the battle? " T.be called, and chosen, and faithful." Soldiers in the physical battles of nations are men who have embarked in the campaign, not from disinterested love of their country or admiration for theit generals, bnt from motives sordid and sinister; they have~ t/umwlve, lo U,e ea;ecrable work. N-0t BO with the armies under the command-0f th• Lamb, who is "Lord of lords, and King of kings.n They are "ea.lied, and chosen, and faithful." Love to him and his grand cause fills and fires their l!Ouls. 2. Til6 con- guered. "These sh•ll hate th.e whore," etc. (vers. 16-18). (1) The conquered turn with indignation on themselves. 'l'he "beast" with the "~n horns,'' all his might:, armies, "hate the whore," the harlot whom they fondled. and adored, strip her of har grandeur, devour her, and "burn her with fire" (ver. 16). 'l'hus it has ever been. Thoae whom Christ conquers in his love and truth turn in devouring indignation against their old comrades. Thus Paul turned against the Hebrews, in whom at one time he gloried as a Hebrew of the Hebrews. (2) This wonderful change in them is the result of.the spiritual influences of God. "He bath [did] put in their hearts to fulfil his will, [to do his mind], and to agree [to come to one mind]" (ver. 17). The moral oonqueat of wrong is ever ascribable to him who is the Fountain of truth and righ~ "N01r tlluka be.unt.o God, which always oauaeth us to tri.umph," etc,-D, T. . .. : m. I Oa Daniel'!! vision, tee Hom.-U,t, vol. x. p. cnt, xvm. 1-24.] THE tl.EVELATION OF ST. JOHN TB'.E DlVTNE. aial