By REV. D. J. MACASKILL, M.A., N. Uist.
THE Book of Revelation has been attacked, in common with other books of the Bible, by rationalists and pseudo-Christians, but it has had great defenders, such as Sir Isaac Newton. It is good that all scientists are not proud infidels, but that there are some humble followers of Jesus of Nazareth among them. Sir Ambrose Fleming and Michael Faraday did not find that science and religion opposed each other. We know from the last book of the Bible that goodness is to overcome evil on this planet. Anti-Christ and the false prophet are to be destroyed, although their devotees are numbered by millions of the human race. However few and obscure the followers of true religion are, the victory is to be theirs.
“The meek shall inherit the earth.” The Apostle John was one of the meek, who are blessed. When the Saviour was on the earth in our nature, John lay on His bosom, the bosom of Eternal Love. He was the disciple that Jesus loved. He was changed from a state of nature to be a beautiful character. He was eminently the servant of God. It was not only in one office that he served Him, but in three—as apostle, evangelist and prophet. As Daniel was in the Old Testament, John is in the New. They saw great visions of events yet to be fulfilled in the course of the world’s history. The apostle was the last of the original disciples. The others had gone to eternity. He was privileged with as great a manifestation of the Divine glory as was ever seen on the earth.
Ezekiel and Isaiah had seen the Divine glory at the beginning of their prophecies. They had seen the Throne, and angels around it; as a prelude to the subsequent revelations of the mind and will of the Most High. John was a prisoner for the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ in the isle called Patmos. It is not many that can be happy in prison, but some very valuable books were written in a prison, e.g., John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and Samuel Rutherford’s Letters. The apostle had known and loved the Lord in His state of humiliation. He had enjoyed a vision of His Divine glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. Subsequently he had seen Him being crucified in weakness.
Now he saw Him in His might in His state of exaltation, no longer as a man of sorrows or as a “worm and no man,” but as the exalted and glorified Redeemer, and Head of the Church, not only Head of the Churches in Asia, but of all the Churches among Jews and Gentiles. He was both King and High Priest. One of the Roman kings was a high priest. Melchisedec also combined the two offices in one person. When the Roman emperors died they were deified and worshipped, and a portion of the heavens was assigned to them. This adorable Person was the King of Kings, so it is no wonder His disciple fell in a dead faint at His feet. His voice was like the sound of many waters, which is very majestic and awe-inspiring. Those who live in the Highlands are accustomed to seeing torrents coming down from the mountains.
Christ had the human nature still, but now He was glorified. Here was the Creator, who had formed the waters and had created the sun, by whom the worlds were and by whom they are still maintained. The beloved disciple saw his own unworthiness and insignificance as Isaiah saw on a similar occasion, when he cried out, “Woe is me. I am undone, for mine eyes have seen the King.’ When any soul sees by faith the King of Kings the effect is the same, humbling and sanctifying. Christ uses the same words in regard to Himself as are applied to the Father, “Which was and is and is to come, the Almighty.” He was from everlasting and is to everlasting, without change, or variableness, or shadow of turning. We see many changes taking place, some for better, some for worse; but the Lord Jesus Christ will never change, neither will His truth. All His names are holy and reverend, to be honoured and feared, yet we hear often these very names taken in vain, even by children, regardless of the third commandment, and its warning that God will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. However much Christ may be despised and rejected, His enemies will yet be terrified at the sight of Him.
Out of His face shone uncreated glory. He was Himself the Sun of righteousness, with healing in His wings. The rays of the sun appear to dart out on either side, so that the sun seems to have wings. The natural sun is supposed to be a healer for tuberculosis and kindred diseases. Christ has healing for all the spiritual diseases of the human race. Before the face of this Lawgiver and Judge the heavens and the earth will flee away, and there will be found no place for them. Every eye shall see Him, however much men refuse to believe in Him now. His hair was white, for He was the Ancient of Days, without beginning of days nor end of life. Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, with which He will defend His people and destroy His enemies. He was clothed with a robe, to show He was a King and High Priest. A golden girdle was round his paps, on which were the names of His people. His feet were as if they burned in a furnace. His members on the earth burn many a time in the furnace of affliction, but He as the Divine Head sympathises with them and supports them. His eyes were as a flame of fire against iniquity and injustice.
He, the Son of God, walked amidst the seven golden candlesticks, and had seven stars in His right hand. There was light and life in the Churches of Asia then. It is to be feared that there is no light there now, but the darkness of Mohammedanism. Christ removed His candlestick, as He said He would. He removed it to Europe and Britain, where our ancestors roamed the primeval forests as savages. He is now removing it again to Darkest Africa, and the heathen are rejoicing in its light. The ministers were the stars in His right hand. The poor, despised ministers are looked on by Christ as stars. They have no light in themselves, but as they receive from the Sun of righteousness. They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever. One star differs from another star in glory. Some give more light than others, but it is true of them all that God shone in their hearts with the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. This was the “Light of the world,” and those who hate Him love darkness.
Sinners are called on to believe, but to believe after the order of free grace, that is, that they be first self-lost and sick, and then be saved by the Physician.—Rutherford.