Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-26
UNDER THE ALTAR"

AilhhN lOl III lllE 'lANllNVAn biAAANf' -
this part OF the Scriptures, that II con-
tains prayer for revenge The Apos-
tie, in his wonderful vision, saw the
martyrs under the altar" and heard
them crying with a loud voice, say
ing, How long . Lord, holy and
true, dost thou not Judge and ayenge
our blood on them that dwell on the
EARTH" The Christian doctrine Is
cmphatically to love even the enemies;
to bless those that curse; 20 do good
to those that hate, and to pray for
those that prosecute. There might
seem to be contradiction between the
teachings Of Jesus and tho prayer Of
the martyrs, but we may be sure there
Is not The Apocalypse OF John was
written at time when the church
OF Christ needed comfort and con-
ISOLATION. Persecution ragged. The
apostles and leaders were slain, or dis
persed The faithful were compare.
lively few and weak, and their enemies
were fierce and strong. Therefore, the
Lord, through His beloved disciple,
presented to them such views Of the
future as were best calculated to
strengthen their faith and arm them
with a firm resolution to endure all
trials. Among those visions were the
final vlndication Of the martyrs, and
the triumph of the Kingdom" Of Go:
everywhere on earth.
II may be Of some interest to notice
what the commentators have TO say
upon this passage, They do not un-
derstand 1t MS "A prayer for vengeance
upon anyone. Rev. s. T. Bloomfield,
d. D.. in his critical notes on the
Greek Testament says:
Here we have not a prophecy con-
corning new events, but this Is meant
to minister consolation under the scam
dal OF the cross, and has reference to
the preceding prosecutions, which
were OF long continuance. Hardy
These 1.-The martyrsl APP
peared observes Scott as sacrifices
newly offered. To show their fellow
ship with Christ In His sufferings, and
the acceptableness OF their faithfulness
unto death, through his propitlatory
oblation. :. Hardy tafter the
older commentators) remarks, that
this is an impatient outcry to a strong
er arm, desiring vengeance But II Is
well remarked by Iaspis; "These mar
tyrs do not PROFOUND this question be-
cause lnflamed by a desire for yen-
geance, but they only ask when they
,tnItafaA ~
The context shows that this UNDER
standing is correct For they were
told to wait "untll the number ordain-
ed by God be completed, by their Eel.
low servants being also added to the
list Of martyrs" The verses under
consideration should, as Dr. Bloom
field also suggests, be read together
with Gen. Q; 5; And surely your
blood OF your lives Will require nj
the hand OF every beast will | require
II, and at the hand OF man. at the
hand OF every mans brother will re-
qulre the life OF man"
The martyrs under the a'tar," In the
NlSlbll VI JoilHf hoh tue b"ib Nirh 'h'9
IL to be fulfilled, and since then every
true disciple OF the Master has, long
ingly looked forward to the day Of
judgment, for that means the estab-
lishment OF truth and righteousness
among the children OF men everywhere.
That Is the day upon which the re-
deemed will sing in Joyful chorus; AL
lelula, salvation, and glory, and honor
and power, unto the Lord, our God, for
true and righteous are his Judgments
The prayer Of the martyrs is not a de-
mand for revenge but an humble petit
ton for the establishment OF the king
dom Of God.
In Henry and SCOTS Commentary
upon Rev 6; ell We read, In part:
"The sight the apostle Witnessed at
the opening OF the nth seal was very
affecting He saw the souls Of the mar
tyrs under the altar; at the foot Of the
altar I'm heaven, at the foot Of Christ.
Prosecutors can only XIII the body, af-
ter that there is no more they can do,
The cry heard was a loud cry
and contains an humble eypostuatiOn
Even the spirit OF just men made per-
feet. though they die IN charity, pray
ing. az Christ did, that God would for
give their enemies. yet desire that for
the honor OF God, and Christ, and the
Gospel and for the conviction OF 9th
ers God will take just vengeance upon
the sin OF persecution, even while lie
pardons aud saves the prosecutor. They
commit their cause to Him to whom
vengeance belongeth. Yet there will be
Joy I'm heaven at the destruction OF the
implacable enemies OF Christ, as well
az at the conversion of other sinners,
On. IS. 20. There seems no rea-
son why this seal should be restricted
20 any particular body Of martyrs OF
any particular period. All are to be
avenged; and It may, perhaps, be most
fully understood 10 comprehend all the
martyrs 70 the Christian cause, from
the apostolic age to the happy time
when such sufforlngs shall finally
cease"
Such are the views OF ORTHODOX"
commentators upon the vision Of John
In which martyrs are represented as
appealing to the Almighty for vlndlca-
ton OF their cause. II is strange, but
1t seems TO be the fate Of the Latter
day Saints 20 he hated, reviled, ana
prosecuted for believing in the Scrip
lures, and even for believing what rep
utable Bible commentators declare to
he the truth So dense Is the ignor-
- 81 a.