tions in regard to these two events, there is not
the slightest reference to either of them, as I have
before remarked, in all that the Apostle has
written.



30 THE APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED:



CHAPTER III.

THE FIRST THREE CHiVPTERS COXSn)ERED.

REVELATION, CHAPS I., n., III.

PATMOS, the place of Jolm's baiiisliment, is a
desolate island in the iEgean sea, lying be-
tween Icaria and the promontory of Miletus. It is
some six or eight miles in length, but its average
breadth is scarcely more than one mile. It has no
trees or rivers, and very little land that is capable
of cultivation. Owing to its isolated and desolate
character, it was frequently used by the Romans as
a place of banishment for criminals.

During his exile on this dreaiy spot, the vener-
able Apostle was not entirely deserted. In the
absence of earthly friends and comforts, he seems
to have enjoyed the most precious communion with
Christ, and the most glorious manifestations or
visions of His presence. We have a glowing ac-
count of one of these visions, — perliaps the first of
them, — in the first chapter of the Revelation. It
occurred, like the Pentecost, on the first day of the
w^eek — ' the Lord's day,' thus putting a new honom-
upon what was to be the Sabbath of the Christian
dispensation. 'I was in the Spirit on the Lord's



REVELATION, CHAPS. /., //., III. 31

day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a
trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the
first and the last : and. What thou seest, write in a
book, and send it unto the seven Churches which are
in Asia . . . And I turned to see the voice that spake
with me. And, being turned, I saw seven golden
candlesticks ; and in the midst of the seven candle-
sticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a
garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps
with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were
white like wool, as white as snow ; and his eyes
wxre as a flame of fire ; and his feet like unto fine
brass, as if they burned in a furnace ; and his voice
as the sound of many waters. And he had in his
right hand seven stars ; and out his mouth went a
sharp two-edged sword ; and his countenance was
as the sun shineth in his strength.' Such was the
appearance of the glorified Son of God, manifesting
himself to His suffering disciple on this memorable
occasion.

After the first surprise of His appearance had
passed away, Christ proceeds to give to John His
commission to ivrite the book of Revelation, the very
book on which we are commenting. And in the
commission itself, a threefold division of the book
is indicated. 'Write,' says He, ''the things which thou
hast seen ; and the things which are, and the things ivhich
shall he hereafter.^

^ P^"* Of THK

/^ M out ^ V •



32 THE APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED:

According to the division here indicated, the
first part of tlie book is comprised in the first chap-
ter. For here is the record which John made of
the resplendent and glorious vision which he had
witnessed. I have no occasion to remark par-
ticularly on this part of the book.

The second part of the book, — ' the things whicli
ar^,' — ^is comprised in the second and third chapters.
Here we have the messages of instruction and
warning wliich were to be sent to the seven
Churches in Asia. This part of the book is not
prophetical at all. It is simply a record of the
things which are.

My plan does not require me to go into a par-
ticular explanation of this second part of the book.
And yet, considering the interest and importance
of these messages of love — addressed primarily to
the Churches of Asia, but recorded for the benefit of
all the Cliurches, — I cannot consent to pass from
them without a few general remarks.

1. Though intended for the Churches to which
they were addressed, they are all directed to the
angels of these Churches. By these angels of the
Churches, we are to understand, I think, their prin-
cipal pastors. In all the large Churches planted by
the apostles, there were, at the first, several pres-
byters or elders. Such were the elders of the
Church at Jerusalem, and of the Church at Ephesus.



REVELATION, CHAPS. /., //., ///. 33

When these elders met together for business or
devotion, they would need some one to be their
moderator or president. By the close of the first
century, the presiding elder had come to be re-
garded as a standing officer, and in process of time
appropriated to himself the name of bishop. It was
in this way that the distinction between bishop and
presbyter crept into the Church, — a distinction en-
tirely unknown in the days of the apostles. These
presiding elders were, I suppose, the angels of the
Churches in Asia, to whom the messages of the
Saviour were primarily directed.

2. These messages were all prefaced by men-
tioning some of the appearances, doings, or attri-
butes of the glorified Saviour — those which, in the
first chapter, had been ascribed to Him. Thus, in
the epistle to the Church at Ephesus, He is said to
hold ' the stars in His right hand,' and to walk ' in
the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;' in the
epistle to the Church at Smyrna, He is 'the first
and the last, which was dead and is alive ; ' in the
epistle to the Church at Pergamos, He 'hath the
sharp sword with two edges;' in the epistle to the
Church at Thyatira, He ' hath his eyes like a flame
of fire, and his feet like fine brass;' in the epistle to
the Church at Sardis, He ' hath the seven Spirits of
God, and the seven stars;' in the epistle to the
Church at Philadelphia, He is ' He that is holy, He



34: THE APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED:

tliat is true, He that hath the key of David, He that
openeth, and no man shutteth, and shutteth, and no
man openeth ; ' in the epistle to the Church at Lao-
dicea, He ' is the Amen, the faithful and true
witness, the beginning of the creation of God.'^
These several prefaces are all adapted to arrest
attention, and make an impression ; and it may be
that each was selected with special reference to the
state of the particular Church.

3. These introductions are followed, in every
instance, with the startling announcement, ^ I know
thy works.'' Yes ! whether faithful or unfaithful, warm
or lukewarm, heretical or otherwise, true or false,
your case is all open to Him with whom you have
to do : ^ I know thy works J

4. These epistles are messages of mingled com-
mendation and reproof, in bestowing which the
speaker is eminently pungent, direct, and faithful,
— ^like one speaking with authority from heaven. In
the Churches at Sardis and Laodicea, the Saviour
finds little or nothing to commend ; in the Churches
at Smyrna and Philadelphia, He finds little to re-
prove ; while, in the remaining three, there are
some things to be commended, and others to be
censured.

5. In administering reproof, these epistles are

^ ApxTj, the head, the governor of tlie creation, the prime efficient
of it.



REVELATION, CHAPS. /., i/., HI. 35

patterns of heavenly wisdom, tenderness, and fidelity,
which, cannot be too closely studied and imitated
by all who are called to the discharge of this
painful duty. Take, for example, the Church at
Ephesus. The Saviour commences by praising this
Church; and He continues His commendations as
though He could never stop, 'I know thy works,
and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou
canst not bear them that are evil, and thou hast
tried them which say they are apostles, and are
not, and hast found them liars; and hast borne, and
hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured,
and hast not fainted.* Having said as much as this,
the speaker can now proceed and say anything.
He cannot possibly give offence by anything which
will be likely to follow. 'Nevertheless, I have
somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy
first love.' When will reprovers and reformers
learn to deal with delinquents after this manner?
How much reproof is worse than wasted, by the in-
dulgence of a different spirit, and by pursuing a
difierent course ?

6. These epistles are filled up with earnest ex-
hortations to repentance and reformation, with the
richest promises in case of amendment, and with the
most terrific denimciations upon those who persist
in evil. '■ Eemember, therefore, from whence thou
art fallen, and repent, and do the first works.' ' Re-



36 THE APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED:

pent, or else I will come unto thee qiilcldy, and will
figlit against tliee with the sword of my mouth.*
* Be watchful, and strengthen the things which
remain, that are ready to die.' ' To him that over-
cometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne,
even as I also overcame, and am set down with my
Father in His throne.*

7. Considering the Author of these warnings,
exhortations, and promises, and the circumstances
under which they were uttered, we are not sur-
prised to hear each message close with the declara-
tion : * He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith imto the Chiu'ches.*

May each one of us regard this solemn declara-
tion as addressed particularly to ourselves. God
has given us not only ears to hear, but means and
advantages for understanding and improvement.
Let us then hear these words of the Spirit to the
Churches, and heed and obey them, that we may
be heirs of the precious promises contained in them,
and be prepared for the blessings which Christ has
in store for all His people.



REVELATION, CHAPTERS IV., V. 37



CHAPTER IV.

INTRODUCTION TO TIIE PROPHETICAL PORTION.
REVELATION CHAPS. IV'., V.

IN my last chapter, I reviewed the first three chap-
ters of the Revelation, containing an account
of the writer's first vision on Patmos, — a vision of
the glorified Son of God ; together with His mes-
sages to the seven Churches of Asia. In the com-
mission to John to write this book, I have said that
a threefold division of it was indicated by the Sa-
viour. John was to write the things which he had
seen, the things which are, and those which shall he
hereafter. The two first of these divisions are in-
cluded in the chapters already considered. The
third part of the book — the prophetical part — com-
mences properly Avith the sixth chapter. The fourth
and fifth chapters — in w^hich is presented a bright
vision of heaven — may be regarded as introductory
to the third or prophetical part. To these two
chapters I shall now call attention.

In the commencement of the fourth chapter,
John tells us that he ' looked, and, behold, a door
was opened in heaven : and the first voice which I
heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me ;



38 THE APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED:

which said, Come up hither, and I will show the
things which must be hereafter. And immediately
I was in the Spirit ; and, behold, a throne was set
in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And His
appearance was like to that of a jasper, or a sardine
stone ; and there was a rainbow round about the
throne, in sight like unto an emerald.'

The personage whom John saw sitting on the
throne was, undoubtedly, the eternal Father, — the
grand executive head of the Divine administration, —
whose office-work it is to guard the honours of the
eternal throne. The rainbow round about the throne
was a bow of promise, indicating that the throne of
the Eternal is One, not only of judgment, but of grace.
John ' saw seven lamps of fire burning before the
throne, which are the seven spirits of God.' This I
understand to be a symbolic representation of the
Holy Spirit. The Hebrews regarded seven as a
perfect number. Hence the seven lamps, or seven
spirits, denote God's Holy Spirit.

John also saw * round about the throne four and
twenty seats, and upon the seats four and twenty
elders sitting, clothed in white raiment, and having
on their heads crowns of gold.' He saw, also, four
living creatures — improperly translated in our Bibles
* beasts ' — ' full of eyes before and behind ' (chap. iv.
4-9).

It is generally understood that the four and



UEVELATION, CHAPTERS IV., V. 39

twenty elders are representatives of the redeemed
Church in heaven. But ' the living creatures,' who
are they, and what do they represent? In ap-
pearance, they are like ' the living creatures ' which
Ezekiel and Isaiah saw in the commencement of
their prophetic visions, and w^hich are called cheru-
bim and seraphim. I have no doubt that •' the living
creatures ' of the Apocalypse may properly be called
cherubim. But what are cherubim? We have fre-
quent mention of them and their doings in the Old
Testament. Thus, when our first parents were ex-
pelled from the garden of Eden, there were * placed,
on the east of it, cherubim and a flaming sword,
which turned every way to keep the way of the
tree of life' (Gen. iii. 24). The cherubim that Eze-
kiel saw are represented as bearing up the throne of
God, and as constituting, by their wings and wheels,
the chariot of His glory (Ezek. i. 2Q ; x. 1). It is
said of the God of Israel, in the eighteenth Psalm :
' He rode upon a cherub, and did fly ; he did fly
upon the wings of the wind.'

Of the symbolical import of the cherubim,
various opinions have been entertained. By Mr
Hutchinson and his followers, they were regarded
as emblematical of the Trinity. But this idea is
too absurd to require consideration. The God of
Israel is always represented as distinct from the
cherubim. He is served and worshipped by them.



40 THE APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED:

He dwelt * between tlie clierubim/ and could not
liave been represented by these symbols.

Some have tliouglit that the cherubim were
symbolical representations oi\\\Q powers and processes
of nature, — those through w^hich God is carrying
into effect His providential designs. But I cannot
be of this opinion. They are not personifications,
but personal beings. Personal offices and acts are
ascribed to them. They unite wdth other personal
beings in singing praises to God and the Lamb
(See Isa. vi. 3; Kev. v. 8-11).

And not only are they personal beings, but
heavenly beings. Then* home is in heaven. Their
work and Avorship are near the eternal throne.

Are they, then, a distinct class of heavenly
beings ; or are they a superior order of existing
classes — ^lioly angels and redeemed souls ? I in-
cline to the latter opinion. We know of but two
distinct classes of heavenly beings, — angels and
glorified men. Yet among these, we read of differ-
ent orders, — some higher and some lower ; some
near the throne, and others at a greater distance
from it. There are ' ^principalities and powers in
heavenly places.' There are angels and archangels,
cherubim and seraphim. And of those who have
gone from earth to heaven, some are farther ad-
vanced than others ; since every one is to be re-
warded according to his works.



REVELATION, CHAPTERS IV., V. 41

The cherubim and seraphim, I think, are among
the highest order of celestial beings — perhaps the
very highest — who stand nearest the Eternal, and
are specially the servants of His throne.

All the holy angels are, indeed, the servants of
God. They fly on His errands of mercy and of
judgment. They ' do His commandments, hearken-
ing unto the voice of His word.' Yet some may be
more specially so than others, standing nearer to
God, and engaged more directly in His service ;
and this, as it seems to me, is true of the cherubim.
They are emphatically the servants of God\s throne.

And this agrees with all that we hear of them
in the Scriptures. In the Jewish tabernacle and
temple, where were figures of cherubim, their place
was close by the glorious Shekinah — the visible
manifestation of the presence of the Most High.
And when Isaiah ' saw the Lord sitting upon His
throne, high and lifted up, above it stood the sera-
phim, crying one to another. Holy, holy, holy is the
Lord God of hosts.' The cherubim which Ezekiel
saw were in a still more obvious attitude of service.
As I just now said, they are represented as bearing
up the throne of God, and as constituting the
chariot of His glory. The Psalmist represents the
Almighty as riding upon a cherub —

' On church and on cherubim.
Full royally He rode.'
F



42 THE APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED:

In the Revelation, too, tlie living creatures, the
cherubim, are represented as having their places
' in the midst of the throne^ and round about it.'

That this place of honour is occupied, and has
been from the beginning, by a superior order of
angels, is indubitable. But is it occupied by the
angels only ? Or do a portion of the ransomed
ones share with them in this service and honour ?
But for a single passage, — and that one in the
chapters we are considering, — we might feel con-
strained to answer this question in the negative.
In the vision before us, ' the living creatures,' the
cherubim, who are * in the midst of the throne, and
round about,' unite with the four and twenty elders
in singing the new song of redeeming mercy (chap,
iv. 10, 11). And when the Lamb had taken the book
out of the hands of Him that sat upon the throne,
' the four li^dng creatures, and the four and twenty
elders, fell down before the Lamb, . . . and they
sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take
the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou
wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy
blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people,
and nation ' (chap. v. 9).

There is no evading the force of this passage.
The living creatures, the cherubim, do here unite
with the other representatives of the ransomed
Church, in singing the song of redeeming mercy —



REVELATION, CHAPTERS IV., V. 43

a song which none can ever learn but those who
have been redeemed from among men. (See Rev.
xiv. 3.) This passage, therefore, which has long
been a puzzle to commentators, and which many
have tried to explain away, I regard as a glorious
revelation. It assures us of the high honour which
is put upon the saints, or upon a portion of them,
in the heavenly world. Our Saviour tells us that
* they shall be as the angels,' and ^ equal to the
angels ; ' but we are here informed that they are to
be numbered with cherubim and seraphim, — among
the highest order of celestial spirits, who stand
nearest the Eternal, and are em]Dhatically the ser-
vants of His throne.

The faces and forms of these cherubim have
commonly been considered, — and, I think, justly, —
as indicative of their characters, their properties,
their powers. The first was like a lion, to indicate
their courage and power; the second was like a
calf, or young ox, to indicate their patience of
labour ; the third had the face of a man, to indicate
their intelligence ; and the fourth was like a flying
eagle, to indicate the rapidity of their motions in
accomplishing the service of God. They were also
furnished with wings, and ' were full of eyes before
and behind, — still further to indicate the properties
we have ascribed to them.

But without dwelling longer on the living crea-



44 THE APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED:

tures, the cherubim, let us proceed to the re-
mainmg parts of the vision under consideration.

John saw ' in the right hand of Him that sat
upon the throne a book written witliin and on the
back side, sealed with seven seals.' And he saw ' a
strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is
worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals
thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth,
neither under the earth, was able to open the book,
neither to look thereon' (chap. v. 1—3).

This book which John saw was not enclosed in
covers, like our books. It was a great roll of parch-
ment, closely rolled up, and sealed with seven seals ;
so that when one seal was broken, it could be un-
rolled a certain way, to disclose what was behind it;
and when another seal was broken, it could be un-
rolled fiirther, to disclose more. This was the book
of prophecy — the book of God's inscrutable pur-
poses — into which no created being in heaven, or
on earth, or anywhere else, was able to look.

And John says, * I wept much, because no one
was found able to open the book, neither to look
thereon. And one of the elders said unto me. Weep
not ; for, behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah,
and the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the
book, and to loose the seven seals thereof (chap. v.
4,5).

Here the Lord Jesus Christ, 'the lion of the



REVELATION, CHAPTERS IF., V. 45

tribe of Juclah, and the root of David/ is first
brought upon the heavenly scene. He comes for-
ward in appearance as a lamb that had been slain,
and takes the book out of the hands of Him that
sat upon the throne. He breaks the stubborn seals,
unrols the mystic scroll, and shows the prophetic
symbols that are concealed behind it (chap. v» 6, 7).

We have here, I must say in passing, one of the
most conclusive proofs in the Bible of the proper
divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. No created
being in heaven, or on earth, or anywhere else,
could break one of these seals, or disclose what
was concealed under it. In other words, no created
being in the universe can look out into the distant,
contingent future, and tell us what shall be here-
after. But Christ can do this infallibly ; thus prov-
ing His claim to a proper divinity.

And when the Lamb had taken the book, ' the
four living creatures, and the four and twenty
elders fell down before Him, having every one of
them harps, and golden vials full of odours,' or in-
cense, • which are the prayers of saints,' — or which
represent the prayers of saints. * And they sung
a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the
book and to open the seals thereof, for Thou wast
slain, and hast redeemed us unto God by Thy blood,
out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and
nation, and hast made us kings and priests unto



46 THE APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED:

God, and we shall reign upon the earth ' (chap. v.
8-10).

This song, as I said before, was sung by the
representatives of the redeemed Church in heaven.
It could be sung by no one else. The great choir
of angels stood silently by, while this part of the
heavenly service was performed.

But when the new song had been sung by the
Tansomed ones, a grand chorus was introduced, in
which saints and angels — the entire host of heaven
— could all unite. 'I beheld,* says John, 'and I
heard the voice of many angels round about the
throne, and the living creatures and the elders, and
the number of them was ten thousand times ten
thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying, with
XI loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power, and riches, and Avisdom, and
strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And
every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth,
and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and
all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and
honour, and gloiy, and power be unto Him that
sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever
and ever. And the four living creatm^es said. Amen.
And the four and twenty elders fell down and wor-
shipped Him that liveth for ever and ever ' (chap.
V. 11-14).

We here see with what intense fervour and de-



REVELATION, CHAPTERS IV., V. 47

Yotion the Lamb, tlie Lord Jesus Christ, is wor-
shipped in heaven. Would heavenly beings offer
such worship — the same that is offered to Him upon
the throne — to any other than a Divine person-
age ? Would they be guilty of the idolatry of wor-
shipping, after this manner, a creature like them-
selves ?

Before dismissing these two chapters (iv.— v.),
and entering on the prophetical part of the Eevela-
tion, it may be well to notice a few passages more
particularly —

1. What are we to understand by 'the sea of
glass, like unto crystal,' which John saw before the
throne? (chap. iv. 6). Most commentators have sup-
posed a reference here to 'the molten sea' which
Solomon placed in the temple, intended for ablutions
and purifications, which 'was ten cubits from one
brim to the other.' But I doubt the fact of such a
reference. The scenery in this vision is not that of
the Jewish temple, but rather that of heaven itself,
where was the throne of God, and the living crea-
tures with the elders, and the countless myriads
of angelic worshippers. I think that what seemed
to the eye of the Apostle like a sea of polished
crystal, w^as rather the pavement round about the
throne, where the worshippers presented themselves.
And this accords with another vision in this wonder-
ful book, chap, xv., ' I saw as it were a sea of glass



48 THE APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED:

mingled -witli fire ; and tliey that have gotten the