5 golden crowns; and from the throne were issuing lightnings and voices and thunderings; and seven lamps of fire were burning before his throne, which 6 represent the seven spirits of God; and in front of the throne was as it were a glassy sea like crystal. And in the midst of the throne and round about the throne were four living creatures,1 full of eyes in front and be7 hind; and the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature was like an ox, and the third creature had the face as of a man, and the fourth creature was 8 like a flying eagle. And these four living creatures had each six wings about them, and they are full of eyes within, and they have no rest day or night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, who 9 was, and is, and is to come. And when these creatures give glory and honour and thanksgiving to him that sitteth upon the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sitteth upon the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the 11 throne saying, Thou art worthy, O our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive glory and honour and power, for thou hast created all things, and through thy will they exist, and have been created. For the ancient interpretation of these living creatures, see Practical Interpretation &c., p. 18, and Appendix A. CHAPTER V. 1-14 The vision of the sealed roll, to be opened only by Christ. 1 AND I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a roll (so full of writing that it was) written (but also) on the back, one of its seven portions (not only) on the inside sealed down (having each 1-14. Hitherto the roll of the future has been a volume sealed with seven seals, that is to say, perfectly hidden from the wisest and most far-seeing of men. Not even the prophet Daniel could understand the meaning of the symbolic pictures which he saw, and of the words which he heard. "I heard, but I understood not... Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.' But the time of the end is now come. The Church of the latter days, the last dispensation, the kingdom of the Christ has been established. And so Jesus sent His angel' to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass.' And therefore to the Christian seer it is said: 'Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand.' 3 1 '2 The same truth is expressed under a figure in this chapter. The Son of man takes the sealed roll of prophecy out of the right hand of God, and breaks the seals, and discloses to His disciple the future fortunes of His Church. It is specially to be observed that verses 9, 10, fix for us the symbolic meaning of the four and twenty elders and of the four living creatures. They cannot possibly be intended to represent anything except the whole Church and the whole animate creation of God, for they speak thus of the elect: Thou hast purchased men for God by thy blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.' Could symbols of the four Gospels and of the books of the Old Testament, or any symbols except those of the redeemed out of the 1 Dan. xii. 8, 9. 2 Rev. i. 1. 3 Rev. xxii. 10. 2 securely fastened down) with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice : Who is worthy to open the roll, and to loose its seals? 3 And no one, in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the roll or to look 4 upon it. And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the roll or to look upon it. 5 And one of the elders saith to me: Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Scion of David, hath prevailed to open the roll and its seven 6 seals. And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb, standing as though one that had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God ever being sent 7 forth into all the earth. And he came and took the roll out of the right hand of him who sat upon the throne. 8 And when he took the roll, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one of them a harp, and golden censers full of incense, which represent (the offering 9 of) the prayers of the saints; and they sing a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the roll, and to open its seals; for thou wast slain, and hast bought men for God by thy blood out of every tribe 10 and language and people and nation, and hast made whole creation, use such language as this? But even if this language did not apply to themselves personally, the personal acts ascribed to them throughout the prophecy, acts of worship and adoration, exclude altogether the idea of their representing the Gospels or books of Scripture ; or anything else except the Church of the redeemed and the creation of God. them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they are 11 reigning upon the earth.1 And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels round the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and 13 strength and honour and glory and blessing. And every creature which was in heaven and upon the earth and under the earth, and those which were on the sea and all that were in them, heard I saying: Blessing and honour and glory and strength be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb 14 for ever and ever; Amen and the four living creatures said, Amen, and the elders fell down and worshipped. 'The Greek text used by the Revisers is adopted here. The reader will observe how Christians are described as now 'reigning upon the earth.' CHAPTER VI. 1-2 Christ and His Church going forth to victory. 3-4 The Church still conquering, but by the carnal sword. 5-6 The Church selling her spiritual wares at a famine price. 7-8 The Church dominant over a fourth part of the earth, and persecuting. 9-11 The resting souls of the martyrs. 1217 The eve of final judgment, the convulsions which precede the Second Advent of Christ. 1 AND I looked when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as though with a voice of thunder, 2 Come and see. And I looked, and, behold, a white horse and One that sat upon it, holding a bow; and a wreath (of victory) was given to him, and he went forth conquering and in order that he might conquer. 1, 2. The great Hero of the Drama rides forth to victory. A wreath of thorns is the emblem of His suffering strength, and encircles the brow soon to be crowned with many diadems, as King of kings and Lord of lords. He will wear it until the mystery of God is finished until the sufferings of His redeemed are over; until death, the last enemy, shall be destroyed by the resurrection of the dead; until the warfare of Jerusalem is accomplished; until the kingdoms of 1 Zech. x. 3. this world have become the king- 2 Zech. ix. 13, 14, 2 |