The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-11
THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN.
NOTES ON THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON BY DR.. JOHN HALL

Lesson XI of the international Series
for Sunday, Dec. I2-Golden Text, Eeve-
lations vii, I5-Lesson Text, Revela-
lions vii, 0-17.
The opening of this chapter, whatever diff
| ferences of view may exist as To its interpre-
tation land on these teachers will not be ex-
pected to enter, suggests one great truth,
namely, that the world will stand and the hu-
man race go forward till all Gods people are
safe. The angels having the winds in their
hands are to keep them from their work of
destruction till the servants Of God are sealed
! in their foreheads' and secured as the Lords.
Eek tx, 4, probably is the Old Testament
basis for this figure of sealing. Of the New
Testament Israel the Hebrew tribes were the
type, hence the list. PaulspcakS of "the cleo
| ton Of grace" from. Xi, ~. OF course no
| literal view of this can stand. But it is not
Hebrews only who are saved. Here the wide
! view which the apostle was TO unfold is pre-
sented in the great multitude outside the
| tribes The believers of other than the He
brew nation were deSpised by none more than
by Hebrews Here is a lesson for all, Jews
and Gentiles.
V.9. After the sealing of the 600 from
the tribes, the apostle had vision of great
multitudc-not Hebrews, but of "all nations"
etc. The several words are employed to make
the idea vivid and impressive The attitude
of this multitude is standing, in reverence and
alteration. The position is before the throne
and before the Lamb The garb is white
robes" of purity Csee v. ~, not triumph See
Zech iii, S-5, for the Old Testament prescnta-
ton of this idea, which is also in lisa. i, IS.
| They have "palms in their hands" Here the
idea is probably of rejoicing and triumph,
possibly of honor to the Saviour, as He was
honored in His approach to Jerusalem John
xii, 1918. See for the Old Testament prece-
dent Lev XIII, 40
V. TO- salvation to our God" the burden
| of their cry, means that the honor of it be-
longs to Him, as in rs. iii, s. and in lisa. xiii,
| II. Notice that the Father and the Son are
joined together, God gave the Son. Jesus
did not die to win over the Father or to rescue
us from His hands He satisfied justice, but
divine love provided Him rs a Saviour. In
this He and His Father are one.
V. IL. We are told that the angels desire
to "look into" the things of salvation Il Pet.
|, 9-12). Gods grace is more wonderful to
them than creation or providence. This APP
pears in the next feature III this wonderful
picture. "All the angels stood round about"
and in view Of the redeemed throng of men
| they, according to the eastern idea of hom-
age to king, "fell before the throne on their
| faces" and renewed their worship and adora-
| ton The substance of their praise is in
V. II. They were not redeemed, but they
cry "amen" to the song of redeemed mems
praise They have seen their God in n new
light, as never before, They recognize the
| glory of His grace and His justice. Seven ele-
ments enter perhaps there is no design of
representing pcrfectionl their Inscription of
praise And they say cur GuJ'-alWays
| theirs or theirs in common with men now re-
stored Think of angels rejoicing over not
one sinner saved but n great, iuuumcrable
throngl Think of this gooIiy fellowship for
ever! Here we sing prai> toghyani poorly,
but what joint song this viii be before the
! thronel
V. Is. 1t is the way when intending to
bring out n thing prominently to put Il ques-
ton, rs here 10y one of the elders, what are
these, etc. There had been glimpse of the
party to which they belonged i'm Rev, vi, 9
! II, where they are told that they are to wait
| till the number is completed. 1t is so now.
The question is not put, as it is intimatcd in
the apostles reply
". 40, for information, but to prepare for
| giving and receiving 1t. So the angel an
| swers. "TheSe are they which came out of
great tribulation,' who fought, ran with pa
| thence. endured to the end, who were scoired
at, despised, counted ignorant fanatics, often
sacrificed by violence and persecution, and
who are now before the throne. But it was
not the tribulaton that saved them, not suf-
| fering or heroism of theirs. No. They
washed their robes, etc. This was the ground
of their escape-the way of their salvation.
The Lamb was slain; the marks of it remain
on Him. They believed Him, or, in other
words, came to His cross; or, in other words,
washed their robes in His blood. No courage,
self denial sacrifice Of ours saves. Christ
saves, as the agent of salvation. Faith saves.
as the means of joining us to Him and giving
us the benefit of His work See | Pet /,
1919.
V. Is therefore are they" because He
saved, and they trusted Him, and were faith
full even unto death, before the throne of
Cod They are dwelling with Him and He
with them. They are in the real Eden, and
God is in fellowship with Him, and they are
not iipi, puI MN uuy
and night" The place is temple OF which
that at Jerusalem was type and they arc
kings and priests unto God. This language
has its precedent in Eek. xxxvii, 26-27. Let
the mind dwell on this. Believers serve God
now, but only with many faults and sins.
But it is the beginning Of their eternal life
work. This fact joins earth and heaven to-
! gsther-ons service IN both. This Q good