INTRODUCTION.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."-Isaiah lv. 8-11.

By the preamble to this interesting book of Revelation the inspired writer seems to imply that the subject matter of it should remain as sealed until God in his own time, and for his own purpose, should develop the same for the guidance of the church. See ch. i. ver. 3.

There are two distinct visions: one an interview with our blessed Lord-the other a detail of the circumstances attending the old and new covenants. In the first vision, "being in the spirit on the Lord's day," John saw Jesus in glory, and fell at his feet as if dead. But he laid his right hand on him, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive in ages of ages, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be on account of these things." Jesus then gave instructions for the seven churches in Asia which required the observations they contained, lest the errors which they had fallen into should be transmitted to the future ages of the church. John having been

aroused from this vision, and pondering on the subject of the communication he had received, "looked, and behold a door opened in heaven;" and a voice, talking with him, said, Come up hither, and I will show you things which it behoveth to have been on account of these things, ch. iv. ver. 1. And immediately he was again in the spirit, and saw the second vision.

The fourth chapter contains an account of the ark of the covenant, which, having been lost by the misconduct of Saul, was restored to David through the Lamb, and recorded in heaven, till it should appear in the world in the blessed Redeemer, who was himself the Temple and the Ark, of which that now given to David was the earthly type and exact foreshadow. And, as by this chapter we are informed that a counterpart of the ark is registered in heaven, so we are also shown that the character and conduct of the kings who presided at the ceremonial worship thereof, as well as those of the twentyfour elders and people, were also marked; but particularly the conduct of the kings who are represented as beasts having wings, under which they gathered their congregations, and with eyes within and without, or spiritual and fleshly eyes, they watched and fostered according to their individual dispositions. Thus, the lion is remarkable for its strength of vision (denoting prophecy), activity, boldness, generosity, gratitude, and strength, as was David. The calf, in the Greek word Móσxos, here used for calf, also signifies a tender branch. (Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is yet YOUNG AND TENDER, 1 Chron. xxix. 1.) It is distinguished for sweetness of breath (the savour of the wisdom of holiness), docility, and meekness, as was Solomon. The beast like a man is emblematical of frailty, and represents Rehoboam. The flying eagle is notorious for rapacity, and is continually hovering in search of prey, figuring Jeroboam. Those beasts therefore appear at the same time round the altar, to exhibit the righteousness and power of David, the wisdom and strength of Solomon, the indifference and frailty of Rehoboam, and the rapacity and blasphemy of Jeroboam, who had also covenanted with God, but by his apostasy had laid the foundation of the destruction of Israel, or that portion of the twelve tribes which was taken from the house of David, because of the sinful conduct of Solomon in his latter days. The chapter concludes with remarking that, whensoever they (the beasts) SHALL GIVE GLORY to God, the twenty-four elders SHALL PROSTRATE themselves in prayer; thus signifying at once the condition of the covenant made with each, and that their precept, and example, and prayers, would not only be accepted before the altar of

God, but also implying that, when kings shall humble themselves, the people shall do so likewise. It is to be remarked that this vision of the ark and those who worshipped there is not limited to a moment of time, but to the whole period from David to the end of the reign of Jeroboam: for, although John saw them at one view as beasts worshipping, and likewise the various persons around, yet it was as the record of their conduct, which he did not perceive until the seals were opened, when each beast was seen to usher in the soul of the person whose character and conduct it represented.

This description of the ark and acceptable mode of worship being concluded, the 5th chapter details the grant of the ark and covenant to the Lamb, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David; for it appears that, as Saul had not kept the commandments of the Lord, it had been declared that "his kingdom should not continue;" therefore, an angel proclaimed with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book (covenant) and loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven or earth was found worthy to open the covenant, neither to look thereon" (ver. 2, 3), on which account John wept, but was consoled by an elder, who informed him that the Root of David had prevailed, and accordingly he beheld a Lamb (ver. 6) placed as it had been slain [emblematical of the crucifixion], "which came [figurative of the resurrection], and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne" [Jesus sitteth at the right hand of God]. This appears to be the act and deed recorded in heaven corresponding with that on earth; for God at the same time made a covenant with David, to whom he declared, "thy throne shall be established for ever."-2 Sam. vii. 16. David, therefore, with all Israel, removed the ark to Jerusalem (ver. 8), and they sung a new song, prepared for the occasion by David, who delivered it into the hand of Asaph (one of the principal singers) and his brethren, in which they gave glory to the Lamb for having redeemed them by his blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and nation (ver. 9); and for having made them kings and priests unto God (ver. 10); in which all Israel, both saints and sinners, attracted by the influence and presence of David, gave glory to God and the Lamb in ages of ages.— ver. 11---14.

The 6th chapter commences a detail of the consequences of the conduct of David and of the kings and chiefs to whom this covenant descended. Four of these are personally identified, and the mass of the righteous seen by the apostle. It is to be observed, before entering on the detail, that the seals represent the record of the ACTS OF MEN, and the trumpets

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THE DECREES OF GOD connected with those acts; and also that the seal was opened by the Lamb, and the corresponding trumpets sounded at the end of each reign or period to which they refer (at least in vision to John, although their substance, matter, or content, was in continual progress during each period); so that the Lamb having received the covenant, when he had opened six seals, at length unfolds the seventh, when he himself appears—the Redeemer of past and future offences, to those who by faith had depended, or may depend, on his ONE AND ETERNAL SACRIFICE.

When the Lamb opened THE FIRST SEAL, the beast like a Lion said, Come and see. And John looked, and beheld David resting on a pure faith (ch. vi. 2), *with the crown, or emblem of the eternal kingdom promised to him, on his head, and the bow in his hand, emblematical of the blood he shed, and for which he was not permitted to build the house of the Lord; thus showing that "none are righteous, no not one." The corresponding TRUMPET SOUNDED, and proclaimed the record of the effect which David's righteousness by faith produced on the people.

When the Lamb had opened the SECOND SEAL (ch. vi. 4) the beast like a calf said, Come and see. And John beheld Solomon resting on a sin-dyed faith, with a great sword [the emblem of wisdom] in his hand, and the consequences and effects of his conduct were recorded. In his days righteousness flourished; and, through his instrumentality, many were saved. But the trumpet sounding this shows that he continued not to fight the good fight of faith; for in consequence of the sins of his latter days, when he turned from following the Lord, one-third of those abiding in sin perished. The SECOND TRUMPET sounded (ch. viii. 18), and proclaimed that a great king, burning with holy zeal (Solomon), was cast amidst sin; referring to the answer of God to Solomon's prayer: "I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually."1 Kings ix. 1-3. And "the third part of sin became life;" referring to the chiefs and people of pagan nations who were converted by his wisdom, as follows:-QUEEN SHEBA, having heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, and his acts, went to Jerusalem, and, finding that the reality far exceeded her expectations, she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thine acts and of thy wisdom. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, who stand continually before thee, and who hear thy wisdom. BLESSED BE THE LORD thy God, who delighted in

thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel. And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and precious stones.-1 Kings x. 6-10. ALSO PHARAOH, king of Egypt, gave the city of Gaza to Solomon's wife.-1 Kings ix. 16. Also HIRAM, king of TYRE, sent to the king six-score talents of gold.-1 Kings ix. 14. And ALL THE EARTH sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. And they brought EVERY MAN his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses and mules, a rate year by year. Notwithstanding this, the trumpet concludes by publishing that "a third part of those abiding in sin were destroyed" (ch. viii. 9), which no doubt refers to the sinful conduct of his latter days. When the Lamb had opened the THIRD SEAL (ch. vi. 5), the beast having the appearance of a man said, Come and see. And John looked, and beheld (Rehoboam) resting on a dead faith, and holding in his hand a yoke, emblematical of the yoke he imposed on the people, when he said, " I will add to your YOKE; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions;" for which cause Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day, and made Jeroboam king over them, and none followed the house of David but the tribe of Judah only."-1 Kings xii. THE THIRD TRUMPET sounded (ch. viii. 10), and there "fell from heaven a great angel burning as it were a lamp" (figuring that Rehoboam, one of the great lamps of Israel, had departed from his trust), and his name was Wormwood;" referring to the bitterness of Rehoboam's oppression, which was so great that the altar whereat he might have presided in peace was deserted, and idolatry of every kind was substituted for the worship of the true God. When the Lamb had opened THE FOURTH SEAL the beast like unto a flying eagle said, Come and see. Accordingly John looked, and beheld Jeroboam "hovering over the shadow of faith; his name was Death, and Hell followed with him, and he assumed an influence which produced discord and hunger, death and idolatry."-ch. vi. 8. The FOURTH TRUMPET Sounded (ch. viii. 12), and it was recorded that the righteous were smitten, the altars of God profaned, and the third part of the holy prophets were darkened [Jeroboam removed the priests the Levites, and filled their office from the lowest classes], and the extent of mischief done was incalculable by human understanding. In consequence of this an angel is seen, with a loud voice proclaiming, Woe, woe, woe, to those abiding in the flesh by reason of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels, which are yet to sound! thus with a plaintive and threatening tone foretelling the trials that the human race should