Revelation 7:9

LESSON XI.--D ECEMBER 12.

THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN.-- Revelation 7:9-17.

GOLDEN TEXT. -- Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple. -- Revelation 7:15. TIME and PLACE. --Patmos, on the Lord's day as in preceding lessons. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Revelation 7:1-8; Revelation 14:1-5; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 3:18-19; Revelation 6:9-11. LESSON ANALYSIS. --1. The White-Robed Singers; 2. The Great Tribulation; 3. The Eternal Joy.

INTRODUCTION.

I will endeavor, in. few words, to indicate the place of this lesson in the grand prophetic panorama that began to unroll with the opening of the first of the Seven Seals: The fifth Seal is the Seal of persecution. It describes, chapter 6:9-11,. period of tribulation to the church. This was fulfilled in the reign of Diocletian, about the close of the third century, when an effort was made by the Roman emperor to "abolish the Christian name from the face of the earth." The sixth Seal described, chapter 6:12-17, portrays. mighty cataclysm,. period of political and social revolution, fulfilled in the overthrow of the old Pagan civilization and order, and the establishment of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire;. change as great as it would be now to extirpate Christianity and to establish paganism as the religion of the civilized world. This occurred in the first part of the fourth century. "After these things" John sees four angels holding back four stormy winds to prevent them from rushing upon the earth until the "servants of God were sealed." Chapter 7:1-3. It is as though four dark storm clouds, charged with fury, were about to rush upon. land, and then some mighty hand was reached forth to stay them in their career, and to hold them suspended in the heavens, until another work was done. These four angels represent four hurtful agencies which are to do. work of destruction. This impending ruin is arrested until some work of God is accomplished, which is described as the sealing of his servants-- Vision of the Ages. Without here entering into details, it is sufficient to state that this "sealing" describes. mighty triumph of the church, which took place after "the great tribulation" of the fifth seal, and the establishment of Christianity as the religion of the civilized world which was accomplished in the fourth century. Until this was done, the "four winds," four invasions which were to destroy the Roman Empire, the mistress of the world, after an existence of over 1,200 years, were held back. These invasions take place when the seventh Seal is opened, one as each trumpet blows the blast of battle. The first, resulting in the capture of Rome, for the first time for 800 years, occurred in A. D. 409; the second, in 422, again captured and pillaged the city; third, in which 800,000 fierce warriors scathed and blackened: all Gaul and Italy ended about 440; and the last, which trampled down the empire to rise no more, occurred in 476.

9. After this. beheld, and, lo,. great multitude, etc.

First, after the four winds were held back, John saw 144,000 of the tribes of Israel sealed,. portrayal of the fact that. part of the Jews out of every tribe had professed the Christian faith.

Then he saw. countless multitude of all nations, the mighty host of Gentiles now gathered into the family of the children of God, all standing before the throne and engaged in praise. These are the victorious saints, now by the triumph of the Church (in the fourth century) countless in numbers. We note: 1.. countless multitude of saints; 2. They are of all nations; 3. They are clothed in white robes. White robes are not only. symbol of purity, but of victory; 4. They have palms in their hands. Palms belong to victors; 5. They sing. song of praise for their salvation. The whole picture evidently symbolizes. period of triumph in the Church; the period when after the long and bloody struggle with paganism it won the victory.