The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-04


"sat ON the throne is described in Rev. ",
2-3, and the book" is also found in Eek. IL,
$40. When il is said TO be written within
and on the back side it reveals the fact that
"bools" 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 j. Z. SO Daniel is
told 10 shut mp the words and seal the book
DAN xii, 4. This is the meaningof sealed"
Who can unseal, open and carry out the mind
of Godf
V. 2 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
hepleSsness is set out in lSa. xiii, .. For
saving man there was none; so Gods right
eous servant" his Son, brought salvation
and his zeal ("fury') upheld him.
V. 4. The apostle wept much. A spiritual
instinct in HIM led to this sense Of helpless
ness. The case seemed desperate. So Daniel
was "grieved" DAN. wi, 10 lO)
V. 5 One of the elders named in Rev.
", 4, answered. There were twenty four of
these, probably from the divisions of the
sons of Aaron" in Chror. xiv, |, 40, where
sixteen and eight are named as governors of
the sanctuary and of the house" The con-
ceptions of heaven to n Hebrew mind come
from the Old Testament. perhaps the tenn
Pile 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 a.
"Lion of Judan Gen. xix, $40 compared
with Heb vii, IA, and C2 1.-The root of
David" as Isa. xi, 10, He prevails, as in
Jer |, 81. On the propriety OF this descrlp-
ton we have only to recall Christs words,
"All power is given unto me" etc.
" o. The apostle now sees more than he
noticed before. On the same level, i'll the
same place of dignity with him who sat
upon the throne and who held the book ''in
the midst of the throne" etc, stood n Lamb
see the Baptists words, behold the Lamb
of God" John i, POI J, with the mark. of hav-
ing been slain (See John Xxx, 25.) The
Staying submitted to, the dying, made the
Lamb worthy" fit to open the book. y See
for full and plain statement of this truth
Phil ii, 90, ending--after the statement of
his humi.iation-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
Al N,,.,t.. % NN.lO
Jesus had all knowledge when on earth (see
John ii, 24-25), and sin him are hid all the
treasures of wisdom"
V. z 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, /. G., as we see by
vs.. 8, O. 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
Aaron's sons represented the people (see |
Chron. xiv, l)-represent the church, the
true Israel of God, the incense representing
"the PRAYERS of saints mot in heaven, but on
the earth, SAYS the apostle. From this rep
resentative body goes up a song of praise to
the Lamb, and it is to he noted rs confirming
the view given above that they say, "re-
deemed us Angels could not say this. Note
also that it is not by holy example or match
less teaching or noble life, but 10y his Gown
blood" the redemption is effected See ON this
vital matter Eph. i, Z; ! Pet. i, li-lS. 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 il
Rev. vii, $40, II. Notice also the strong
statement, "W orthy to y for thou vast
slain" The kingNhip of Christ is made fitting
by his work rs priest.
V. 10. Here we have in another form the
prophecy of Dan vii, IL, y. 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 Elk. xix, q: "Ye shall be
! unto me a kingdom of priests and a holy ma
ton" What Israel was in type we have in
reality in the glorified church of Christ.
| They "reign ON tho earth" Blessed are the
meek, for they shall inherit the earth"
Matt ". So it is also in Ps. xxxvi, 0.
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 ".
8, "redeemcd us. They did not iced 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"
". ~, worthy is the Lamb" etc. Men
may reject Him and His redemption; angels
| adore Him in view of it
". ~, nor they only, for "every creature,
etc, joins in the praise. 1t is the setting
| forth of the truth in Phil. ii, II. In the same
| book, Chron xxx, 11-l3, where the flour
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"
(V ii) say "Amen," and the elders fall
| down and worship as we are called to do In
Ps. 81, Is, which has here its complete and
| glorious fultillment
| The following points deserve emphasis q
/ va I'm RI from this clorious lesson