Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-12-02
WORSHIPING GOD.
NOTES ON THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON BY DR.. JOHN HALL.

lowing facts must be recalled: John wrote
this book when persecution was employed to
put down Christianity. He was a victim him
self REV. i, 81 Others were in danger or in
actual suffering Christ's name was hated
by many. His cause was threatened. as it
of any use to hold out!" So men might be
tempted to think. The cause appeared hope
less No; this revelation shows chat the name
so hated and dishonored will yet be universally
praised. His is not "lost cause" but cause
which it is Gods will to make triumphant
and honored forever
V. l. The throne" has already been de-
scribed in Rev. iv, %. 1t is heaven.
1t represents supreme and sovereign
power-that power which Jesus In his
humiliation always acknowledged. GSee
for a parallel case Isa- vi, y. The
throne" and some Of its surroundings
we find in the first chapter of Ezekiel
There we have the "hving creatures" ". 81, a
happier rendering than "beasts." He who
"sat on the throne" is described in Rev. iv,
2-S, and the "book" is also found in Eek ii,
9-10 When it is said to be written within
and on the back side it reveals the fact that
'books" were not then bound, but consisted
of long rolls of parchment commonly written
on one side This was written on both sides.
The book represents the divine will, the de-
crees of God. They are not known to men;
see this illustrated in Acts i, Z. So Daniel is
told to shut up the words and seal the book"
dan. xii, A.. This is the meaning of sealed"
Who can unseal, open and carry out the mind
of Coda
We. This is the question which the strong
angel" puts, that the meaning may be clear
and emphatic. 1t is picture lesson for the
race and for angels "Who is worthy" 1t
is not question of power only, but of worth,
fitness, goodness.
V. 3. None can be found among the crea-
lures, angels or men. This idea of creature
helplessness is set out in Isa- xiii, s. For
saving man there was none; so Gods fright
eous servant" his Son, drought salvation"
and his zeal ("furyH) upheld him.
V. l. The apostle wept much A spiritual
instinct in hum led to this sense of helpless
ness. The case seemed desperate. So Daniel
was "grieved" dan. vii, 15-16.)
V. 5 One of the "elders," named in Rev.
iv, 4, answered. There were twenty-four of
these, probably from the divisions of the
sons of Aaron" in Chron xiv, /, As, where
sixteen and eight are named as governors Of
the sanctuary and of the house" The con-
ceptions of heaven to a Hebrew mind come
from the Old Testament. Perhaps the tenn
pie arrangements are images of the heavenly
He gave comfort by announcing that one
would open the book. The description is also
twofold, also from the Old Testament: D
"Lion of Juda" Gen. xix, 9-10 compared
with Heb. vii, 10, and q "the root Of
David" as Isa. xi, Ito He prevails, as in
Jer. l, "a. On the plopriety Of this descrip-
ton we have only to recall Christ's words,
"All power is given unto me, etc.
V. 6. The apostle now sees more than he
noticed before. On the same level, in the
same place of dignity with him who sat
upon the throne and who held the book 1in
the midst Of the throne" ETC., stood Lamb
(see the Baptist's words, behold the Lamb
Of God" John i, 2g }, with the marks of hav-
ing been Gslain." (See John Xxx, 25.) The
Staying submitted to, the dying, made the
Lamb worthy" fit to "open the book.'1 See
for full and plain statement of this truth
Phil ii, SO, ending-after The statement of
his humiliation-with wherefore God also
hath highly exalted him" 1t was never
meant that pictures should be made Of the
Lamb. The symbols are taken regardless of
art The "horn" represents power, the
"seven" the perfection of it; the "eyes" in
sight, wisdom and the perfection Of it is also
shown by the seven" So the explanation is
given, (which are the seven Spirits of God"
Jesus had all knowledge when on earth (see
John ii, A-29, and sin him are hid all the
treasures of wisdom"
V. needs no explanation. John sees the
Lamb in the vision coming and taking the
book out of the hand of him that sat on the
throne, l. q, as we see by
vs.. s, 9, undertaking to open it and loose
its seals, and unfold and carry out in the Gre
alton the will of God This is matter of
praise to God from the four living creatures
and the four and twenty elders, who-as
Aaronis sons represented the people Csee
Chron. XIV, D-represent the church, the
true Israel of God, the incense representing
Gthe prayers of saints" mot in heaven, but on
the earth), says the apostle. From this rep
resentative body goes up song Of praise to
the Lamb, and it is to be noted as confirming
the view given above that they say, "re-
deemed usn Angels could not say this. Note
also that it is not by holy example or match
less teaching or noble life, but by his "own
blood" the redemption is effected See on this
vital matter Eph. i, q; Pet. i, 17-18 The
wide range of the redemption is brought out
in the words, "out Of every kindred, ETC.
not from Jews only. This hymn is again
heard from the body itself represented in
Rev. vii, 9-10, IA. Notice also the strong
statement, "Worthy to for thou vast
slain" The kingship of Christ is made fitting
by his work as priest.
V. 10. Here we have in another form the
prophecy of Dan. vii, IS, 81. In Rev. iii, 81,
we see how saints are kings. The idea is Of
greatness, dignity, glory of surroundings.
The language probably comes from Gods
word to Israel in Ex. xix, 6: "Ye shall be
unto me kingdom of priests and holy ma
tion.D What Israel was in type we have in
reality in the glorified church of Christ.
They "reign on the earth" BLESSED are the
meek, for they shall inherit the earth"
Matt. v, 81 So it is also in Ps. xxxvii, 9.
V. II. The company of angels, numbered
as in Ps xviii, II, and in Dan. vii, 10, zap
prove the song" They do not say, as in V.
o, redeemed US" They did not need redemp-
ton. But they &loOk into" His work, mag
nifty Him on account of it, and say in full
view of His having been slain"
". 10, WORTHY is the Lamb, etc. Men
NAV reject Him and His redemption; angels
adore Him in view of it
V. 1S), nor they only, for Hsvery creature"
etc, joins in the praise. 1t Is the setting
forth of the truth in Phil ii, II. In the same
DOCK, enron. xxx, lilo, WHeIe bno AOuI
and twenty elders" are foreshadowed, we
have the substance and words Of this song Of
praise. God the Lord is not set aside by the
Lamb. but the Lamb is Joined with him. And
the "four living creatures"
". 14) say "Amen," and the elders fall
down and worship as we are called to do in
Ps. cl, 10, which has here its complete and
glorious fulfillment
The following points deserve emphasis as
we part from this glorious lesson.
~ me cnurcn below ana the cnurcn auuvo
make one complete whole. Here we are a
poor, imperfect part of what will be in
heaven complete and glorious Here or
there 1--WE are the Lords"
C9 Christ's atonement cannot be made too
much of in class and pulpit We see how it
is rated in heaven.
81 We see how Christ is head over all He
knows and does the Fathers will All power
is His for the carrying out of the divine
will He reigns as mediator because He died
for u.s.
~ No saint need despond over drawbacks
and discouragements in Christ's service. He
will triumph in the end
3 There is a real place for missions. Let
US teach men that Jesus, and not their idols,