The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-12-04
TIE SCENE.

The SCENE.
The Lesson il contained in the scene of the
vision which describes the opening of the
seven sealed book which the Lamb, as the
symbol of the glorified CHRIST, took from
hand of Him who sat upon the throne. The
book contained a revelation of things shortly
to occur. 1t was the book of the destiny of
the Church and of COPS providential dealings
with its oppressors. Its unfolding was the
fulflment of predictions made by JESUS and
the Messianic prophets. JESUS, in the SYM
bolic language of the Hebrew prophets, had,
when on earth, declared the signs that should
precede the overthrow of organized Judaism
and the destruction of its hollow and hypo-
critical ceremonial religion, and the estab-
lishment. by the power and providence of
COP, of his own spiritual kingdom of right
eousness and truth. The opening of the
seals of the book disclosed these signs. Be-
fore the scene comprising our Lesson SIX
seals had been opened, disclosing evangel-
ism, war, famine, pestilence, martyrdom and
political revolutions, particularly the over
throw of the Jews. Immediately after the
disclosures of the sixth seal, which, in figures
of destructive and alarming physical phe-
nomena, described the coming of the great
and terrible day of divine wrath,-the time
of national Judgment and retribution, -four
angels appeared, standing upon the four cor
ners of the earth, restraining the four winds
of heayen,-a symbolic representation of the
supreme Divine control of the agencies of
the material world, making them the minis
ters of the Divine will and purpose.
s'He maketh His angels winds,
Flames of fire His ministers.
Whoever, or whatever, reveals a divine
truth or accomplishes divine purpose IS an
angel, probably in the Hebrew sense, though
personality rather than personitication may
have been the Hebrew idea. Another angel
appears ascending from sunrising, having
the Divine seal, and commands that the work
of destruction be delayed until he had sealed
the foreheads of the servants of GoD. Twelve
thousand of each of the twelve tribes OF lsra-
ell are described as having been sealed. Ihis
ia a scenic representation of the preserva-
ton of the Jewish Christians from the
destruction that overwhelmed their coun-
trymen. The scene is evidently drawn from
Ezekiel tx. ALL. 1t suggests also the IN
cident in the ancient history of Israel when
the homes of the Israelites were marked for
preservation when the first born of the
Egyptians were slain. The sealed ones rep
resented those of the Jewish people who &C
cepted CHRIST and obeyed the exhortation to
save themselves from the impending doom
of that perverse generation. GoD will find
way to preserve and bless those who put their
trust in Him, and are faithful to his truth
and righteousness, is the revelation of this
part of the vision to the distressed and dis
couraged churches. The scene was fulfilled
in history when the Christians, needing the
signs of the Master. fled the country when
finally besieged by the Roman armies that
accomplished its ruin.
After this an innumerable company, gath
cred from all nations, were seen standing
before the throne, arrayed in white gar
ments, and with palms in their hands, ascrib-
ing their salvation to GOD who sits on the
throne, and the Lamb. scene OF worship
follows, similar to that described in the last
Lesson, in which the CANCELS" and the 'liv-
inc creatures" and the "elders" all engage.
This scene represents the fulfilment of the
Masters declaration, "They shall come from
the east and west, and from the north and
south, and shall sit down with Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of COP"
Huke xiii. 29),-the contamination OF that
event described as the coming of the Son OF
man in the clouds of heaven, with power and
great glory, and when he shall send forth his
angels and with great sound OF trumpet,
gather together his elect from the four winds,
from one end of heaven to the other MAT
thew xiv. 81. Gentle Christians may be
represented by the innumerable company
worshiping with the representatives of Israel,
rejoicing in the triumphs and blessings of the
kingdom ofthe Messiah. They are described
as those who have come out of the great
tribulation. Their white robes are emblems
of purity and holiness, and their holiness is
the fruit of their Christian faith and fidelity,
symbolized in the blood of CHRIST, who died
for all that he might bring them to GOD
These had suffered for their testimony of
CHRIST, probably during the Neronian perse-
cution. Because of their faithfulness and
the purity of their lives they are admitted to
the Israel of COP, and are permitted to wor-
ship Him uninterruptedly who will dwell
among them and make them His people as
He did with Israel of old. They shall be pro-
teeted and sustained, and the Good Shep-
herd, who gave his life for the sheep, and
who had other sheep to bring into his fold,
will lead them into green pastures and by
the fountains of waters, and God Himself
will comfort and caress them as tenderly az
a mother dries the tears of her weeping child.
Possibly those who suffered martyrdom
during the terrible and bloody persecution {