Part 22 (1/2)

24. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Following the moral fall of Babylon and the call of G.o.d's people out of her, a mighty angel predicts her eternal doom. ”With violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and _shall be found no more at all_.”

This doubtless has reference to the entire city of Babylon in all her divisions brought to view in this series of prophecy and shows her final destruction at the coming of Christ, when she shall suddenly be thrown with terrific force, like a great millstone descending into the sea, and ”shall be found no more at all.” According to the symbols here given she will be like a city completely destroyed, not one inhabitant or living creature remaining. Thus her eternal doom is pictured and remains to be yet fulfilled.

”And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.” We have already shown that Protestantism, as well as her mother Romanism, has been guilty of shedding innocent blood; and as the term Babylon includes both these divisions, when the great city is thrown down with violence, Romanism and Protestantism will sink together, and then this awful treasure--the blood of prophets and of saints--shall be brought to light in that last great day of G.o.d Almighty.

CHAPTER XIX.

And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our G.o.d:

2. For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great wh.o.r.e, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

3. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

4. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and wors.h.i.+pped G.o.d that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

5. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our G.o.d, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

6. And I heard as it were the voice of a great mult.i.tude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord G.o.d omnipotent reigneth.

7. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

9. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of G.o.d.

10. And I fell at his feet to wors.h.i.+p him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: wors.h.i.+p G.o.d: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The scene of this vision is laid in heaven. John heard a great voice of much people saying, ”Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our G.o.d.” This great song of praise doubtless came from the lips of the angelic throng; for immediately the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders reechoed the same shout of praise, saying, ”Amen; Alleluia.” Then came a voice from the throne calling upon the servants of G.o.d, both small and great, to unite on this occasion in one grand and sacred song of praise; and this sublime chorus fell upon the ear of the enraptured apostle ”as it were the voice of a great mult.i.tude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord G.o.d omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife [or bride] hath made herself ready.” Was not here a hearty response to that call, ”Rejoice over her thou heaven”? While this scene shows the interest all heaven takes in these wondrous scenes of earth, it is doubtless intended especially to represent the joy and thanksgiving of G.o.d's people who have ”gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.”

The marriage of the Lamb which was about to take place was a special theme of joy on this occasion. In the Scripture the term _marriage_ is frequently used to represent a special union between Christ and his people. Thus, the early church was represented as being free because of the death of the law, that they ”should be _married_ to another, even to him who is raised from the dead.” Rom. 7:4. So, also, the eternal union of Christ with his people is here described under the figure of marriage. In one sense they have been married to Christ all through this dispensation; in another sense they have not. The church has had the promise of this eternal union, hence she has been betrothed to Christ; but left in the world, she has been driven into the wilderness, while a corrupt and drunken prost.i.tute and her harlot daughters have been in the public view. Now, however, the judgments of G.o.d have descended upon Babylon, and the bride of Christ appears in all her beauty again, ”arrayed in fine linen, clean and white”; and the next great event is her public marriage to Christ when he comes to claim her as his own.

The marriage scene is one of the most joyful that we witness on earth, and among Eastern nations especially was celebrated with great pomp and magnificence, the joy and splendor of the occasion being enhanced according to the rank and wealth of the parties. But earth has never witnessed such an event as this special _marriage of the Lamb_. Well may the inhabitants of heaven and earth, in view of this sublime spectacle, swell the song of praise--”Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” The special preparations that the bride is making represents the glorious holiness reformation that is now sweeping over the world, gathering G.o.d's people together for the splendid event.

”Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

”These are the true sayings of G.o.d.” They are almost too glorious to be believed; still, they are no idle dreams of fancy: they are true, yea ”the true sayings of G.o.d.” In the contemplation of such a wonderful event, the beloved apostle was carried away, as it were, with holy enthusiasm, and he fell at the feet of the angel to wors.h.i.+p. We do not know just what the motives or impressions were that caused him to do this. But his soul was full, full to overflowing, and he could not but adore and wors.h.i.+p. The angel, however, refused the homage thus offered, by the declaration that he himself, also, was the servant of Christ and one of the brethren that had the testimony of Jesus; ”for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” The idea is: ”I am a fellowservant with you, and we both have his testimony. You bear witness to him now in this present generation; I bear witness to those who are to come. You witness now of his death and resurrection; I tell of his future glory and triumphs. We are both, therefore, engaged in the same good work. The testimony of Jesus and the spirit of prophecy are the same. To G.o.d, therefore, we must both bow.” See remarks on chap. 1:1.

11. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

12. His eyes were as a flame _of_ fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of G.o.d.

14. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty G.o.d.