The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1909-09-08

NuS SOiuSH CduulSSllChS WHICH 81 SHO
seven church and holds in his hand
the seven stars which are the messen-
gers of the seven church.
In the second and third chapters,
we see this ever-present Christ in the
midst of his churches, and we see the
relations that they bear to him. 1t is
very imperfect state of affairs and
in some respects grows worse and
worse to the end.
In the fourth and fifth chapters, we
get a glimpse into heaven and behold
ideal conditions such as will exist in
heaven and on earth during the mil
lennial reign. We see the Christ that
is to come, the same yesterday, to-
day and forever" but revealing him
self more fully as the ages go by.
John says "a door was opened in
heaven" and he was invited to enter.
There he heard and saw things which
shall be hereafter.
First of all, he saw a throne and on
1t a being whose glorious appearance
was like jasper and sardine stone.
The jasper, as we know it in geology
to-day, is of an Opaque green color,
but we are told in another chapter
that what is meant by the jasper in
Revelation was clear as crystal" The
sardine stone is of fiery red color.
The two together give US a symbol of
Gods holiness and righteousness.
Holiness means what he is and right
eousness means what he does. In
character he is clear as crystal and in
his dealings with all beings in heaven,
earth and hell, his Righteousness is
like the red sardine stone which glows
in its fiery purity against all sin. But
round about the throne is a rainbow
of emeral green. The rainbow is the
symbol of promise. After the food
it was a token that God would no
more destroy the world with a flood.
And here it is a token that the crys-
tai clearness of Gods holiness and the
fiery splendor Of his righteousness are
encircled by his benevolence. Emer-
aid green is the mild, soft, restful,
kind color OF nature. A gentlemen
told me last week that since his eyes
became weak and irritated he had
many times thanked God that he made
so many things green, for he could
scarcely bear any other color.
We have here the picture Of God
enthroned as creator in the material
world. as is plain from the last verse
in the chapter: For thou hast
created all things, and for thy pleas
ure they are and were created" God
in nature is holy in himself and right
eous in his dealings, while he is also
benevolent and gracious. His laws are
memorable, but his heart is loving and
kind. Sin has come into this natural
world and brought with it disorder,
suffering and death. Sin is rebellion
and anarchy. But God is benevolent,
loving and kind in the midst of all the
wrecks sin has made; and in the ideal
coming age he will destroy or suhdue
all sin, so that the glory of his Holt
ness and Righteousness encircled by
his love will fill us with praise and
never with dread.
In this coming ideal age those who
worship the enthroned God will be
crowned. Round about the throne
were four and twenty thrones and
upon the thrones I saw four and TWEEN
ty elders sitting, clothed in white raj
ment and they had on their heads
crowns of gold" It is thought that
the four and twenty elders are the ~
patriarchs of the old dispensation and
the II apostles of the new who really
represent all the glorified saints. They
are reigning with God All defeats are
in the past. Perpetual victory is their
experience now. They kneel upon their
thrones and worship God enthroned
upon his throne. Indeed, all who truly
worship God enthroned will be them
selves enthroned. God gives power to
those who worship him. Men become
like the object of their worship, and
in all pagen lands their idols are only
the projection of their own evil selves.
Their worship is largely seif-worship
and, therefore, develops their self
hood, which is essentially selfish.
But those who worship God enthroned
in holiness and beneyolence will be-
come klngly IN their holiness and be-
neVolence.
1t is the divine way to rule with the
human. THE powers that be are or
dained of God" and, when govern
ment becomes unjust and oppressive,
it is in revolt against God. He would
rule the world through righteous
rulers. In the world of literature,
God rules through the men who sub
ject their thrones to his throne In
the world of art, be it lusic, poetry,
painting, architecture or statuary, God
has made kings out of the men who
were willing to kneel upon their
thrones and worship him. In the
world of science, some who ignored
God have held sway for a while, but
their usurpation was short