An Exposition of Revelation .pdf

ut lie." Is not this the revival of that dreadful scourge that had afflicted the early church (as in
Smyrna)? Have we not heard of it? And have we not seen it ourselves? How comes it, that for so
many hundreds of years only a part of what the Fathers had laboured at sank into the minds of men, a
considerable portion being rejected by Protestantism; but now, when God brings out this fresh
witnessing, there rises a counter-testimony? Satan revives the old Judaising spirit, at the very time that
God reasserts the true principle of Christian brotherhood, and, above all, makes Christ Himself to be
all to His own. Here we have for our instruction the fact, that the synagogue of Satan, those who say
they are Jews, and are not, revives. How stand the facts, How are they even in this country? What is
commonly called Puseyism has this character; and the system is in no way confined to this country but
holds equally abroad, as in Germany, America, and elsewhere. In fact it is a fair show in the flesh
wherever Protestantism is found; and, above all, wherever this is provoked either by scepticism on the
one hand, or on the other by truth that condemns both with any real measure of heavenly light. In
order to defend themselves on a religious footing, men fall back on a system of ordinances and of the
law. This seems meant by the synagogue of Satan here. They claim sacerdotalism and practise
ritualism, both irreconcilable with Christianity.
But the Lord will compel the recognition of His own testimony and witnesses. We do not say
when, where, or how; but as surely as He lives will the Lord vindicate the truth He has given as it
were back again for His name. Only let us bear in mind that the favour and power vanish when the
witnesses lose sight of Christ and preach themselves. May we have grace to merge ourselves truly in
Him! "Behold, I will cause them to come and do homage before thy feet, and to know that I loved
thee."
Nor is this all. As we know, there is a perilous time awaiting the world, the hour not exactly of
tribulation but "of temptation." This hour of trial, it seems, falls within the Apocalyptic future, or "the
things which are about to be after these things." It is not merely the time of horrors when Satan in a
rage is expelled from on high, and when the Beast, energised by him, rises to his full height of
persecuting power, but the previous period of trouble and seduction. "The hour of temptation" is a
term larger than the "great tribulation" of Revelation 7, and still more so than the unparalleled
tribulation which is to befall the land of Israel (Dan. 12, Matt. 24, Mark 13). If so, how rich and full is
the promise, "Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of
the trial (or, temptation) which is about to come on all the habitable world, to try them that dwell on
the earth"? In vain men try to escape. The hour of temptation must come on all the inhabited world.
Perhaps some remember when people used to flee to Canada, in order to escape "the great tribulation,"
which they expected to fall on the old empire of the Beast revived. But the scheme was a mistake,
their flight foolish. The hour of temptation will catch men, no matter where they may hide; for it is
about to come on the whole habitable world, "to try them that dwell on the earth." How blessed to be
here a sojourner, whose living associations are with Christ in heaven!
Who then can escape? Those who at Christ's call are to be caught up to heaven. They will not be
in that hour. It is not merely that they will not be in the mace but they will he kept "out of the hour," of
the coming temptation. What a full and bright exemption! Such is the strength of the promise and its
blessedness, that the Lord promises His own to be kept even out of its time. The simple and sure way
to keep any from the hour is to take them altogether out of the scene. The Irvingites used to talk about
the Lord having a little Zoar. How poor and earthly its comparison! It is not, however, a question of
geography, or of a distant and secret place of shelter, but of complete removal from the period filled
by the temptation coming on all the habitable world. This is worthily secured by translating them to
heaven before the time of the world-trial arrives; and this the promise before us imports. The godly
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