Thy power and glory great, But yet, without the word By inspiration given, The wisest men could not have known Now at thy feet, our God, THE THRONE AND THE WITNESSES. consequence of pre-occupied space last month, we were unable INomy that we wished respecting General Goodwyn's remark able book.* We again call attention to the work which this devoted servant of the Lord has laid at his Master's feet,-see the touching Preface, and we do so, not in our own words, but by two very valuable passages from the volume, the first on the "Throne of the Millennial Kingdom," and the second on the "Two Witnesses." THE THRONE OF THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM. In most of the commentaries that I have met with the Authors have contributed to the opinion that chap. iii. concludes the Revelation of Jesus Christ by His servant John to the Seven Churches, that it is the close of the prophetic history concerning the Church. The consequence has been that chap. iv. has, not without difficulty, been adapted to fill a void and to have little affinity for either the Seven Churches that precede or with the Seven Seals that follow it. This is greatly owing to the mistaken view that has been taken of the events recorded under the symbols. (Chap. 2.) 2. The voice that spoke the words, "Come up hither, and I will show thee things that must be hereafter (ver. 1), was that of the Lord Jesus, the same "voice as of a trumpet of Rev. i. 10. After having heard the seven epistles dictated to him with the command to "write," the Seer is called up to see the "Throne that was set in Heaven." It is not, as some have assumed, that the words "after this" mean a dividing interval, or "after a certain time," but are to be regarded as intimating the vision of chap. iv. to be in direct succession to chap. iii. It is not to be supposed that John, in order to write down the epistles at once, lapsed back in the interval to his ordinary consciousness-which * The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, elucidated on the principle of permitting the prominent symbols to become the exponents of the events and phenomena with which they are associated. By General H. Goodwyn. London: Elliot Stock, Paternoster Row. must have been the case if the above assumption is entertained-for the seeing and hearing of ver. 1, chap. iv. declare him still to be "in the Spirit" as before. The same Spirit who elevated the Seer to sec, gave him the power of remembering what he saw in order to write down all after the conclusion of the series. (Rev. xxii. 8.) Moreover, in order to harmonise the visions of this Book with the entire canon of Scripture in relation to the eternal purpose of God, Rev. iv. must be considered in strict sequence to chap. iii. 21, revealing the character of the Throne, on which the entire body of Overcomers, members of Christ,* are promised their seats. This Throne therefore, in its position in our Book, is as much presented to the present faith of the children of God as the revelation of their approaching translation into the firmament to meet the Lord. It is, in other words, the announcement of the fact that God's adopted sons in Christ are Now "blessed with all spiritual blessings in Heaven in Him, raised together with Him, and (are now) seated together with Him in the Heavens." "Those whom God has justified He has glorified" according to His eternal purpose in Christ, now made known by His Apostles. There can be little question but that the Seer John was in the same circumstances as Paul the Apostle is recorded to have been in 2 Cor. xii., to whom in the third heaven must have been shown the glorified Christ and His Body, a vision that alone could have enabled him to chronicle the Mystery of Ephes. i. 3; ii. 6, and iii., though the fulness of the glory "it was not possible to utter." Paul's glad tidings of salvation were "received by the Revelation (Apocalypse) of Jesus Christ."S 3. The words of the promise in Rev. iii. 21 are very precise. "I will grant to sit with Me on My THRONE;" and as distinguished from His Father's Throne, on which He now sits. His Throne therefore is immediately presented, and, from the description of its Occupant and surroundings, we perceive how faithfully all the promises concerning the future glory of the Body of Christ are fulfilled. The Throne of course takes its character from the offices and dignities of Him whose it is. The official title by which the Lord Jesus Christ is more particularly known in this Book is that of Judge in connection with his sovereignty over creation. Moreover, He is Creator. The Throne is therefore seen about to be "established in righteousness and judgment," when" He shall have dominion over all people, nations, and languages,' when "all kings shall bow down before Him." || The power of this Throne is not yet wielded, for the times of the Gentiles are not yet fulfilled, and this is an age of long-suffering Grace. Creation is stated to be in a condition of affliction and oppression now, whose groans bear witness to the corrupt administration of human governments, though retribution lingers till "the manifestation of the sons of God" on the Throne of the Creator and Judge of all the earth.¶ 4. The Lord Jesus is now seated on His Father's Throne, whence He dispenses Grace and mercy, for He is the Mercy-seat thereof;** but, when all that shall have "done iniquity" during the period of the * Cor. xii. 12. Ephes. i. 3, 4; ii. 6, 7; Rom. viii. 30. Psa. xcvii. 2; lxxii. 8-11; Dan. vii. 14. ** Heb. iv. 14-16. † 1 Thess. iv. 14-18. world's great apostasy shall be "purged out" by the bowls of wrath. and the Advent in glory and power of the "King of kings and the Lord of lords," then this Throne of the Kingdom shall be established, and the "four-and-twenty thrones," of ver. 4, Rev. iv. will be set up "round about" the Central Sent, and "judgment shall be given" to the Elders who shall sit upon them, and the promise to the Overcomers of Thyatira and Laodicea shall be performed. 5. There are Seven features of the Millennial Throne, declaring its perfection as instrumental in the execution of the governmental ways of God on earth. (1.) The Person whom John saw sitting on the Throne needed not to be mentioned; it was ONE whose glory is alluded to as that of Light capable of being endured by the creature; hence the mention of "a jasper and sardine stone," the former of which is mentioned in Rev. xxi. 11, and both adorned the breastplate of Israel's High Priest. He is nevertheless "the Express Image of God, and the brightness of His glory, whose Throne is for ever and the Sceptre of His Kingdom a Sceptre of Righteousness." 2. The Throne is encircled by the Rainbow, the token of God's covenant with the earth. No longer however "the bow in the cloud" (Gen. ix. 13), with its prismatic colours, thrown on to a background of darkness, but green only, "like unto an emerald," reflecting the beautiful verdure of earth that will have been purged by the storms of Judgment; for the Throne belongs to the Day of the Lord on which the Sun of Righteousness will shine, "when the earth shall yield her fulness," "the field shall be joyful and all that is therein, and the trees of the wood shall rejoice;" when "instead of the thorn shall come up the firtree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree,"§ eternal evergreens, a praise to Him who shall sit upon the Throne. 3. Round about the Throne were four-and-twenty other Thronesnot seats, as crowned heads are upon them. Much uncertainty has been shown regarding these Elders; but the Scripture itself will supply their meaning, for, as we are now on Israelitish ground in immediate connection with the restoration of the Kingdom of David (Rev. iii. 7), in the Day of the Lord, Old Testament symbols and events are throughout the Book employed to give purpose to the phenomena recorded. So let Exodus xviii. 21-27 with Numbers xi. 16, 17 be consulted, where Moses the delegated Ruler of Israel is seen, by Divine appointment, to be assisted in the onerous duties of judicial administration by certain "Elders," who with himself were endowed with the Spirit of Jehovah for that purpose. See also Deut. xxvii. 1, where Moses and the Elders are in joint action. Again, in order to show that these Elders of our chapter are representatives of a perfected priestly body, the number "Twenty-four" is used, being the number of the twenty-four courses of the Priesthood established by David the King || for the affairs of the Kingdom. These "Elders," then, " clothed in white raiment, and on their heads crowns of gold," can scarcely be any other than those who, having been "washed from their sins in the blood" of Christ have been "made Kings and Priests unto God," as declared in Rev. i. 6. They * Rev. xx. 4. † Exod. xxvii. 17, 20. § Psa. xcvi. 12; lxvii, 4-7; Isa. lv. 13. Heb. i. 3, 8. are the Priestly Body of Christ, Saints in their symbolic raiment of Righteousness (Rev. iii. 5; xix. 8); crowned Kings foreseen in their joint possession of the Throne of the Lord (Rev. iii. 21), and foreprepared for the joint exercise of their judicial functions. (4.) Lightnings, Thundering, and Voices are Sinaitic symbols that display the purpose of God in judicial action against the despisers of His Law. This Law will again be in activity during the Day of the Lord, for long-suffering of rebellion and despite done to the Majesty of the Throne of the Lord will interfere with the maintenance of Peace, and cannot be tolerated. "Out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem."† Psa. ii.; cxlix. 6-9; Ezek. xxxviii., xxxix; and Rev. xx. 7-9, are awful instances of this Truth. (5.) "Seven Lamps of fire burning before the Throne, which are the Seven Spirits of God." In the opening chapter of this Book "Grace" is sent to the churches from "the Seven Spirits of God," perfected Grace. This was in harmony with the existence of a testimony of Grace by the Church. Here, however, Church testimony is passed, and Lamps of fire" disclose the office and action of the Holy Spirit in the searching exposure of subsequent evil and lawlessness in the Kingdom, which must surely be visited by the Judgment of the Throne, as the fourth feature has just proved. 66 A comparison of Rev. v. 6 with Zech. iv. 6-10 will reveal another, though similar action of the Seven Spirits of God from the Throne"they are the eyes of the Lord (Rev. i. 14) that run to and fro through the whole earth" in order to the establishment of the glory of the Lord's House in Zion, and the fulfilment of the ministry of Israel to the nations. (6.) It has been supposed that "the sea of glass like unto crystal" of ver. 6 is an allusion to the "molten sea "made by Solomon for the Temple; but the water in that "sea," like that in the laver of the Tabernacle, signified "the washing of water by the Word," an indispensable cleanliness declared necessary for the Priests preparatory to their ministry in the holy place.‡ That Word could never be crystallised into immobility, for it is ever a Word of life, "quick" and active in power. I would rather apply it in contrast with the Ocean Sea, which in its present turbulent and restless state is used in Scripture to signify the unsettled condition of nations, ever clashing one with another in ceaseless discord, scarcely to be quenched without war and its attendant horrors.§ But, before this Throne shall have finished its work, all that will have ceased. Jesus Christ "must reign till He has put all enemies under his feet." (1 Cor. xv. 25.) The thunderings, lightnings, and voices will have crushed all defiance of authority, weapons of war will be converted into implements of agriculture, and peace will be preserved. The once boisterous sea will have become smooth and motionless "like unto crystal." "In His days shall the righteous flourish, and abundance of Peace so long as + Isa. ii. 3, 4. the moon * 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3 ; Dan. vii. 22. For the spiritual significance of the wonderfully mysterious vessels of the Tabernacle, as of the entire Structure, and symbolic vestments of the Priesthood, see the Author's work "Antitypical Parallels." Part III. chap. i. pp. 147-224. Isa. lvii. 20; Jer. vi. 23; Ezek. xxvi. 3. || Isa. ii. 4. endureth. All men shall be blessed in Him and all nations shall call Him blessed."* (7.) "In the midst and round about the Throne were four living creatures" (zon), not "beasts"-the lion, the representative head of wild beasts; the calf (ox), of the domestic animals; the eagle, of the birds; and man, the head of the intelligent Creation. Thus the entire Creation is represented. But it is this Creation that an Apostle informs us is now writhing under the oppression of the evil administration of man. It is "travailing in pain." Nevertheless, in that it "travaileth," the hour of deliverance is at hand; for it has been subjected to the consequences of sin "in hope."† There was fore-declared mercy for Creation in the very position assigned to the Cherubim on the Mercyseat of the Ark of Israel (Exod. xxv. 18, 19); this mercy in deliverance is here expressed by four Living Creatures in the midst and round about the Throne, a Throne that guarantees "the restitution of all things" from the original curse, owing to "THE PRESENCE of the Lord."+ It must be evident that these "Living Creatures" are identical with the Cherubim of Ezekiel i. 10, which, as just stated, were supporters of the Throne of Israel as long as the Ark-the symbol of the Throne of Jehovah in their midst-dwelt in the Temple. But, when the glory of the Presence of God in the Person of His Son was extinguished on earth at Calvary, it retired to the Heavens, only to return when the Son of God and of David shall occupy the Throne, and the Temple yet to be built shall throw its rays over the whole Millennial earth.§ Ezekiel saw the glory depart from Israel, borne aloft by the cherubic representatives of living creatures of earth (chap. x. 4, 18, 19). saw also the vision of its return to the House of the Lord, which he says shall be "the place of the Throne of the Lord, where He will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever." (Chap. xliii. 1-7.)|| He It is remarkable that in these Angelic likenesses as described by Ezekiel (chap. i. 10), the domestic natures Man and Ox, should be found in union with the wild natures of the Lion and the Eagle. Yet, though remarkable, it is in harmony with the prophetic word concerning the Day of the Lord, when it announces the return of the wild natures to their original state before Sin came in to destroy the peace of Creation. When the Rod out of the Stem of Jesse "-i.e. when David's sonshall be on David's throne wielding the Sceptre of Righteousness, the lawless natures of both man and beast shall be subdued before Him. "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together: they shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy Mountain, saith the Lord."¶ 6. Men, children, and living creatures of the hand of the Creator * Psa. lxxii. 7, 8, 17. Acts iii. 19-21. † Rom. viii. 20-22. I stop not here to refute the ideas that the Living Creatures represent the Church, or that they are the judicial executives of the Throne: their description in the text harmonising them with the other features, and the Scriptures adduced I think sufficiently declare what they are. Isa. xi. 1-9. N |