(Revelation, Chapters iv. and v.)
"We are watching, we are waiting,
For the bright prophetic day;
When the shadows, weary shadows,
From the world shall roll away.
"We are watching, we are waiting,
For the star that brings the day;
When the night of sin shall vanish,
And the shadows melt away.
"We are watching, we are waiting,
For the beauteous King of day;
For the chiefest of ten thousand,
For the Light, the Truth, the Way.
"We are waiting for the morning,
When the beauteous day is dawning,
We are waiting for the morning,
For the golden spires of day."[83]
A Look into Heaven.
Heaven is a place of intensest and tenderest interest to every one. It
is true that there is less emphasis on getting to heaven as a result of
being saved than there was a generation ago. Indeed, no emphasis at all.
The whole thought now is about our life here on the earth. We think less
about dying and more about living.
This is true. Yet every one of us has loved ones who have slipped from
our grasp, and gone from our midst. We think of them. The tenderest
memories brood over us, and come like a flood sometimes.
We may have the sweet sense of assurance that these loved ones are
saved. But there is an intense longing at times to know more about them,
where they are, what they are doing, how much they know of things down
here. These thoughts _will_ come crowding in upon us.
Now here is some light. _All_ the questions are not answered. But there
comes clear, sweet light to comfort our hearts during the waiting time
until we shall be joined with them again. We are given here in John's
Revelation the first clear, definite glimpse into the upper world. It is
told us in the language of earth of course. It must be, else we would
not understand. But clearly there is a glory and happiness clear beyond
what earthly words can tell.
This is the first glimpse into heaven given us in this old Book of God.
Jacob wakes up in his dream and sees a ladder set up connecting earth
and heaven, and the angels going up and returning again while God talks
with him. It means much to him, but gives us no answer to our questions,
except to make plain that there is a very real and wondrous world up
there where our loved ones go.
Moses is up in the mount with God for six weeks nearly, twice over, but
there is no suggestion of what he may have seen; only the transfiguring
change in his face, and the strongly gentling change in his character.
Ezekiel finds the heavens opening and sees the vision, so like John's,
of the wondrous Man. Stephen looks up steadfastly into heaven and sees
the resplendent glory of God, and the crucified Jesus standing at the
right hand of God. Paul is caught up into heaven, not improbably at the
time that his body lay bruised and bleeding and apparently lifeless
outside Lystra. But the sights he sees and the over-awing glory are too
much to be told. But here John is taken up in vision into the heavens,
into the presence of God, and sees much, and tells us what he sees.
It was after the vision of the glorified Man and His message. John is
sitting thinking on all he has seen and heard, thinking back to Ephesus
and the other Churches he knew so well. He is wondering perhaps _how_ he
_can_ tell them what, whom, he has seen; and wondering too how he can
tell them this message entrusted to him.
The holy spell is still strong upon him, when all at once he noticed
what looks like a door, a door opened above him in the blue. And as he
is looking, astonished, that same voice that had been speaking with him
before speaks again. He is bidden to "come up hither," and he will be
shown the things that are to happen some time in the future. At once he
is conscious of that same gentle, enveloping presence of the Holy Spirit
as before. At once He is up in heaven. And he tells us the scene that
opens to his eyes.
There is a throne set. What a comfort! There is a _throne_. There is a
centre of authority and power to our world. This Revelation is
peculiarly the book of a _throne_. Up yonder above the moral tangle and
confusion of earth is a reigning throne.
There is One sitting on the throne. That throne is occupied. It has not
been vacated. Men down here may push God off the throne of their lives,
and try to push Him out of the affairs of the earth. But He sits on the
throne above. And that throne dominates the life of the earth. Nothing
can be done without permission.
John can't describe this one sitting on the throne. The sight is too
much for his eyes. When the seventy elders of Israel see God, all that
they can remember is the dazzle of glory in the wonderful pavement under
His feet. It seems like a pavement of precious stones of sapphire, but
as clear as crystal. So now all that John can see is some One who seems
to his eyes like transparent precious stones blazing with light. This is
the only thing he can think of to tell of what he sees.
Rest in the Midst of Unrest.
There is a rainbow around the throne. The radiance of light shining out
from this One on the throne makes a rainbow. If one wonders how God can
look down on the misery and sin, the rebellion and wretchedness that
dominate most of the earth, here is the answer. His finger is never off
the pulse. He knows all as we never can. And he feels as we never do the
pain of life, and the discord of earth. The unceasing cry of earth comes
up in his ears.
But He is controlled by a purpose. It is a purpose of strong patient
love. _He has made a promise_ that man shall have fullest opportunity
unchecked by the natural sweeping judgment, that invariable working out
of sin and wrong. That throne keeps the order of nature working smoothly
and faithfully for man's sake, holding in restraint the forces that
would hinder and destroy. The rainbow is the signature to His promise.
That rainbow is always before His face. That promise has never been
forgotten. This explains the quietness of the One on the throne, looking
down on the moral confusion of the race.
But this rainbow is not like the common rainbows that we know. It
completely encircles the throne. Our rainbows are broken up. They are
never seen in their completeness. Our lookout on things sees only a
part; it never sees all. It is never complete. The view of things up
there is complete. Everything is seen and is seen in its true relation
to everything else. The throne is the one place of perfect perspective
and poise.
And this rainbow is all of one colour, a clear, soft emerald-green. We
know that green is the most restful of all colours. Some colours are
irritating. Some persons of very sensitive, nervous temperament are even
made sick by certain colours. And we are all affected more than we know
in a hurtful way by certain colours. But green is the colour of rest. It
soothes the eyes and nerves and even the spirit. The rainbow round about
the throne looked like a quiet, quieting emerald-green. The One on the
throne is at perfect rest regarding things down here. He knows all. His
ears hear all, the cry of distress and despair, the defiance and
arrogance and blasphemy. His eyes see His children down here, creative
children all of them, prodigal children so many of them, and trusting
children walking in the shadows. He sees all. And He feels all with His
great feeling heart.
Yet He is at rest. Do you wonder how He can be? When Jesus saw the
multitudes He was moved with compassion; He suffered in heart with them,
for they were as shepherdless sheep, torn and distressed. And the heart
beating in rhythm with His has as hard a time as He. If He lead you in
service to some foreign mission land, you see and know and feel as no
tourist party hurried through the outer fringes ever does or can.
And in Christian lands of the West, and the homeland, in slum as in
polite circles, in commercial quarters as in the university world, the
heart that is in touch with Jesus' heart sees and hears and feels and
senses things as they are under the surface or sticking boldly out
through the surface. And feels at times as though it can never again be
at rest.
How can He, on the throne, be so quiet, and be at rest? And there is an
answer to our burning question, a simple, real answer. _He knows the
end._ He has a purpose and a plan. The present is only one stage in His
great plan. This is man's opportunity, and possibly some one's else
opportunity, too. It is to be followed by something else radically
different down on this earth.
He is held steady during this time by a great purpose. It is a purpose
of great, tender love. To His eye looking sleeplessly down there is rest
even as of emerald-green. And so there will be rest for him who looks
sleeplessly _up_ to the _throne_ of control, encircled in the emerald
rainbow of perfect peace. And we can be of best service to Him by
resting in our hearts, resting in Him, even while working in the thick
of things as they are down here.
They See His Face.
Then John sees twenty-four other thrones round about the central throne.
And on these there are twenty-four men sitting. These men are wearing
white garments, and have crowns of gold upon their heads. This is the
part of intense interest. Who are these? And what does this mean?
What has been said before about picture language, the language of the
Orient, of childhood, of the common crowd, the universal language, will
help us here. The Bible is an Oriental book. It talks in picture
language. This is humanly what gives it such freshness and peculiar
adaptation. The radical change of circumstances and speech and mode of
thought in different centuries makes all books antiquated after a
certain time. This book has the freshness of youth, for in its simple
picture language it deals in principles. But picture language must be
held to its simplicity. And something of familiarity with the whole
range of the Scripture is needful to use the key to the simple picture
language.
Let us look a bit at the simple scene here. These men are elders, that
is they are leaders. They represent multitudes of others. Throughout the
Bible twelve is the number of completeness, both in things and people. A
complete gathering or throng of people is represented by the number
twelve. There are twelve tribes of Israel, and so on. This is so
familiar that it need only be named without further illustration.
There are two great divisions of this Bible, the Old Testament and the
New. These stand naturally for the two great divisions of time, before
Christ and after. This division is strongly marked in the Bible, and
sharply marked in our Christian consciousness. It has been a common
thing to wonder about the salvation and spiritual knowledge and
privileges of people who lived before Christ came and died.
Twice twelve make twenty-four. These twenty-four elders represent the
redeemed ones from both of these great divisions of time. That is to
say, the picture tells us this. All the people from creation's earliest
morn up to the present, including the one who went out last from some
sorrowing family circle, all who have had the touch of heart with God,
are gathered in the presence of Him who sits on the throne. That is one
simple thing that stands out clear and sure.
These are represented as _sitting_. The slave or servant never sat in
his master's presence. Friends sit together. Angels are never spoken of
as sitting in the presence of God. When our Lord Jesus was received up
He sat down at the Father's right hand. We are spoken of as seated in
the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Sitting together means being on
terms of intimacy and fellowship. Through the precious blood of our
Lord Jesus we are all accepted in the Beloved and received and trusted
as He is.
These elders are clad in white garments. That is one of the familiar
things spoken of much in this end-book. Part of the promise to those of
overcoming faith is that they shall be arrayed in white garments, and
walk with Christ in white.[84] Those who are faulty in the Church are
urged to get white garments.[85] The martyrs waiting their
vindication,[86] and the great multitudes who come up out of the
tribulation are given white raiment.[87] The bride at the joyous
marriage supper, and the armies following the conquering Christ, are
clad in fine linen, bright and pure.[88]
We are told that this white linen means a pure life.[89] These garments
have been washed in the blood of the Lamb.[90] These multitudes have
been cleansed in the blood of Christ and purified by the Holy Spirit and
made perfect in purity and holiness as they came up into the presence of
the Father on the throne.
These elders are wearing golden crowns. This language, too, is familiar.
The acknowledgment and reward of faithfulness and of service is spoken
of commonly under this bit of picture talk.[91] The angels are never
spoken of as being crowned. Christ was crowned, that is received into
the presence of the Father, as the full recognition of His worthiness
and of what He had done, and in vindication after the shameful rejection
by men.
These men and women and children in the Father's presence have been
rewarded and are being rewarded for their faithfulness in obedience and
in life. All the struggles and difficulties, the hard road, the
endurance, the patient suffering for His name's sake, the faithfulness
in doing the allotted tasks, all these have been noted and acknowledged.
There is the sweet peace of the Father's approval in all of these before
the throne.
Going to School to God.
And these are sitting on _thrones_. When Jesus was teaching His
disciples, in the dark days of bitter opposition He wooed them with
this: "Ye shall sit upon twelve thrones."[92] And a bit later as they
sat round the supper table on the night of His betrayal, when things are
getting to the darkest, again He woos them: "Ye may eat and drink at my
table in my Kingdom; and ye shall sit on thrones."[93] He that
overcometh is assured of sitting with Christ on His throne.[94]
All the redeemed ones of earth are to have part with Christ in the
coming Kingdom time. They reign with Him.[95] During this present time
the countless hosts of angels have a part in ministering to man on the
earth.[96] Even so during the Kingdom time to come the countless hosts
of the redeemed will have the sweet privilege of service with Christ and
on behalf of those on the earth. And it is quite possible that they
already have a part in such a ministry.
A little farther in the description it is seen that these elders have
"each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the
prayers of the saints." Heaven is a place of wonderful music. Its very
atmosphere must be tuned to the rarest rhythmic harmonies. And each one
has part in the music being made.
And yet more, they are continuing the sweet ministry of intercession
learned down on earth. This means that they are in touch with earth.
They know the needs of loved ones and of all, and they have the
privilege of fellowship in this with Him who ever liveth to make
intercession.
And there is one other thing we know here at once without being told. If
a friend tells me that he has a rose garden under the care of a skilled
gardener, I know without being told that the roses are growing. I at
once look through my friend's words and see bushes full of roses of all
colours, some full blown, some half blown, some bursting buds, and some
just budding. For there is a garden, and a gardener, and sun and rain
and dew. I know there must be growth and beauty.
Even so we know that the loved ones who have parted from us, are
growing. They are in the Father's presence, in intimate fellowship. That
tells me of their growth. That little one who slipped away so young,
years ago, has been growing in mental powers, in character as well as in
what down here we call stature, and growing most of all in love. And so
at the meeting time, in the air or up there, there will be instant
recognition, as well as instant delight over the growth under such
wondrous tutorage.
This is the glimpse into the upper world which John sees and is allowed
to give us here. The redeemed ones of earth of all the ages are in the
presence of the Father and of the Lord Jesus and of the angels, on terms
of intimate fellowship, made pure and perfect in character, but always
growing from more to more, and having a share in blessed ministry. And
they listen to and have share in making music more exquisite than our
earthly language can describe.
They understand the wondrous plans for the earth, for now they see all
things through the Lord Jesus' eyes. They have some part without doubt
in welcoming those who come to join them, even as they will have part in
receiving those who are caught up at our Lord's return. And they look
forward eagerly to the glad time of righting that will come then.
But let us look a bit more at what John sees. Out of the throne are seen
proceeding lightnings and voices and thunders. Three other times in
this book it speaks of lightning and voices and thunder.[97] These
things of course are the familiar accompaniments of a storm. It is
noticeable that each other time they are named in the book it is in
connection with some direct action being taken by God in the affairs of
the earth. And each time there is some added item intensifying the
scene.
A physical storm is caused by two areas of unequal temperature coming
together. The storm is the process of coming together and equalizing of
the atmospheric conditions. The inference here would seem to be that the
time of action has come to straighten out matters on the earth. The two
moral atmospheres of heaven and earth seem to be coming into contact,
and a storm is resulting before clear weather comes. It suggests that
our Lord Jesus is taking the next direct step in His broader plan.
God's Ideal of Creation.
But let us look a little further. In the book's picture language there
are "seven lamps of fire burning before the throne." These we are
plainly told "are the seven spirits of God." That is a Hebrew way of
saying "the perfect spirit of God." This is of intense interest. The
Holy Spirit is represented as being before the throne.
In the confidential talk with the inner group of disciples on the
betrayal night, in John's Gospel,[98] Jesus promises that when He has
ascended up to the Father He will send down the Holy Spirit to them.
When the Spirit has come down to the disciples He will begin a new
ministry of witnessing to the world through them.
In the Book of Acts that promise is fulfilled. The Spirit comes down
with remarkable manifestations on the day of Pentecost. The distinctive
thing He does is to take possession of a group of men and form them into
a new witnessing body called the Church. He had dwelt in the nation of
Israel as a nation, and had been withdrawn from that nation when it
proved finally faithless to its mission. He had dwelt in individual men
before and during and after that time.
At Pentecost He is sent down on a new mission. He is to do in men all
that Jesus has done for them in His life and death and resurrection. But
the distinctive thing of Pentecost is His forming this new body called
the Church, through which He begins a new ministry of witnessing to the
world.
All through the Acts and Epistles He is constantly spoken of as here on
the earth working in the Church and through it. He in the Church is a
powerful restraint upon the powers of evil in the world. In
Thessalonians,[99] Paul has spoken of a day coming when that restraint
would be withdrawn. The Holy Spirit, the "One that restraineth now," is
to be taken away.
Now here the Holy Spirit is represented as being, not in the Church, as
always in the Acts and Epistles, but as being "before the throne." This
is the second significant thing to note in this scene. This also would
seem to suggest the beginning of a new order of things.
John goes quietly on with his description. Before the throne he sees a
great expanse that looks like a sea of clear, bright, beautiful crystal.
Before the throne and around about the throne are four living creatures
or creatures of life. These living creatures are of intensest interest.
They appear throughout the Scriptures from the Garden of Eden in Genesis
to the very close of this Book of Revelation.
They are also called cherubim and seraphim, that is, cherubs and
seraphs. They are always associated directly with the immediate presence
of God,[100] and with His presence-chamber, in the tabernacle,[101] in
the temple,[102] and in Ezekiel's vision of a new temple,[103] and in
the thought of the people.[104] There is one possible exception to this,
where they are seen at the entrance to the Garden of Eden.[105] The
description of them is most full in Ezekiel. It varies in details, but
with the essentials always the same.
The general appearance is that of a man, but there are four faces as of
a man, a lion, an ox or calf, a flying eagle, and sometimes a cherub
face. They are full of eyes everywhere, and they seem enveloped in the
pure fire which everywhere is associated with God's own presence. These
descriptions combined suggest perfection of purity, of intelligence, of
obedience, and of power.
In this book of the Revelation they are spoken of seven times,[106] that
is, more frequently than in any other book, though not so fully as in
Ezekiel. Five times they are leading or joining in the worship of God,
by men and angels, and twice they are cooeperating with the Lamb or the
angels in what is being done on the earth.
These beautiful, intelligent beings seem to represent the whole animate
creation, man, the animals intimately associated in service with man,
those that roam at will, and the birds, and the angels. It would seem as
though they stand for _God's ideal of creation_, as it was before the
hurt of sin came, as He holds it in His heart, and as it will be after
sin has gone. His ideal of a perfect and perfected creation is always in
His presence and before His face, intelligently and gladly carrying out
His will, reverently and joyously sounding His praise.
It suggests that He will not rest content until His ideal for the
creation shall be a sweet, full realization, all sin and rebellion
removed and all His works uniting in joyous, continuous worship, and
glad, harmonious obedience.
The Significant Book.
All this is interesting; some of it intense in interest. But it is only
a setting. It is incidental. The chief thing is yet to be told. John had
been told that he would be shown the things that would come to pass some
time in the future. We come now to the beginnings of these "things."
The One who is sitting on the throne has a carefully sealed book or
document in his hand. An angel calls out loudly for any one who is
qualified to do so to step forward and take the document and break its
seals. And as John watches intently no one comes forward. No one can be
found, either in the heaven, in earth, or in the region spoken of as
under the earth.
At this John is greatly distressed, and weeps much, so he must have
understood at once just what this meant. And one of the elders comforts
him with the assurance that there is One who has "_overcome_ to open the
book, and the seven seals thereof," "the lion of the tribe of Judah."
This word "overcome" suggests that this one has been in some great
conflict and has gotten the victory and overcome all opposition. And
this qualifies Him to take and open the document. He is the only one
among untold numbers so qualified.
And now John sees this One. He is standing in the very midst of the
throne surrounded by creatures and elders. We easily recognize this as
our Lord Jesus. He is a lion in leadership and strength. He is a lamb in
gentleness of character, and in the sacrificial experience He has been
through. The marks of death are plainly seen on His person.
As He comes forward He reaches and takes the book out of the hand of the
One on the throne. He is allowed to take it. His qualification to take
the document and break its seals is acceptable to the One on the throne.
And as He takes the book there is a remarkable burst of praise and
adoration that must have made all heaven ring. And those on earth in
touch of spirit with the scene and its purpose and the Chief Actor would
surely feel some thrill in the spirit currents of earth.
The outburst of worship is led by the four living creatures and the
twenty-four elders who fall down before the Lamb and sing a song. What
music that must be when the untold thousands sing as only redeemed ones
can sing. Then countless hosts of angels join in and lift the chorus.
And then there is the creation chorus, every created thing in heaven and
earth, under the earth, in the sea, absolutely everything seems to join
in this indescribable music. And the four living creatures say, "Amen."
And again the elders fall down and worship.
John's distress at the beginning, and now this indescribable outburst of
praise, tell us that this is something thrilling and significant beyond
expression. What does this mean, our Lord Jesus taking the sealed
document preparatory to breaking its seals?
It has been said in a previous talk that every thread woven into the
fabric of the Old Testament can be found in the fabric of this
Revelation book. So that if one goes to work patiently he can trace
every allusion here to something back in these older leaves. This gives
us the clue to the significance of this remarkable scene.
That clue seems in this case to be found in the book of Jeremiah,
chapter thirty-two. There is found an allusion to a simple primitive
custom of the Hebrew people in the exchange of real estate and in taking
possession of property to which one is entitled.
The old Hebrew custom seems to have been as follows: When property was
purchased the deed to the new owner was made out in duplicate, an open
copy and a sealed copy. The open copy was clearly for public
information, open to all. The sealed copy as clearly belonged only to
the owner of the property as his evidence of ownership. So it identified
him as the one named in the open copy.
If a new heir comes to take possession of an estate, or in case of a
dispute over ownership, the claimant who was adjudged the rightful heir
or owner would be given the possession of the sealed document or deed.
And as so attested by the judge or court, he only would be properly
qualified to "take" the sealed roll, break its seals, read its
contents, and so formally take possession of the estate, or property.
Now under the symbolism of this old bit of Hebrew custom, our Lord Jesus
is represented here as stepping forward to take possession of the earth,
and begin His reign over it. A Hebrew immersed in the old primitive
customs of his people in Palestine would understand this allusion at
once, however startled or sceptical he might be as to its significance
in this connection.
Taking Possession.
The language used in the song of praise when our Lord Jesus takes the
sealed book is significant. They say, "thou art _worthy_," that is, thou
art _qualified_; thou art the duly attested one with the right to take
possession. "For thou wast _slain_, and didst purchase unto God with thy
blood men of every tribe," and so on.
Man had been given the dominion of the earth. He had by obedience to the
evil one transferred his right to Him who is repeatedly called "the
prince of this world." Our Lord Jesus _purchased_ men out of their
slavery back to their original Lord,--with all that was rightfully
theirs. He has allowed fullest opportunity for all who will to accept
His Lordship. Now He is about to take possession of the earth on behalf
of men, and for them.
This is the tremendous significance of what John is shown here as
something that will take place hereafter. In the scene of the
candlesticks He is patiently waiting, holding Himself in restraint. Now
the waiting time is over. He is making the next move in His broader plan
for the earth.
There is no hint as to the length of interval between the two scenes,
how long He will wait. There is no suggestion as to when this next move
will be made. But we are here plainly told that at some time that
candlestick waiting time will end, and He will take a forward step in
connection with His plans for the earth. And it should be keenly noticed
that what follows now in this book of Revelation is the run of events
that will immediately follow that next step of His.
Yet this step is taken up _in heaven_. The first action of the new move
will be there. There will be nothing to be seen on the earth to indicate
the change. Things there will go on as before, eating and drinking,
buying and selling, marrying and giving in marriage, all unconscious of
the tremendous events being worked out.
But now the waiting time still waits. Our opportunity is still open. If
we might only be simple enough to be true to our absent Lord Jesus
during this waiting time.
A bishop of the American Episcopal Church, widely known for his saintly
character, his culture, and long years of tireless service, was visiting
in the South. In the town there lived a judge of wide repute for his
scholarly learning as well as for his culture and uprightness. Now he
was seriously ill, and had requested an interview with the bishop.
He asked the bishop to talk to him about personal religion. And the
clergyman talked to this thoughtful, scholarly judge in choice
philosophical language about the fatherhood of God, the character of
Christ, and the essential harmony of man's true nature with God. The
judge listened attentively for some time.
Then he apologetically interrupted his visitor, and said:
"Bishop, I'm dying. Won't you please talk to me just like you'd talk to
my black boy, Jim?"
And the bishop could, and did. He told him in simplest talk that he was
a sinner. Jesus died to save sinners. His blood washes away our sins. We
must take Christ as a Saviour, just trust Him, as simply as a child
trusts its mother.
So he talked. And the judge listened. And the tears came, and the peace.
He came as a child, and trusted, and he knew the peace that passeth
understanding. It was the simple telling of the simple story of the
Saviour who died, and the simple, child-like acceptance of that Saviour.
The scholarly bishop helped the learned judge best, in the crisis of his
life, by talking as simply as to a child.
If we might only be simple enough to be true to this Jesus who died,
during the remnant of waiting time that remains.