An Exposition of Revelation .pdf

desolate and down-trodden by the Gentiles. "And the moon under her feet" intimates that the condition
of legal ordinances (or, as some would regard it, derivative rule), instead of governing her as of old,
shall be under her feet. How aptly the moon sets forth the reflected light of the Mosaic system to any
thoughtful mind! What are feasts, new moons, or sabbaths to the Christian? In the millennium this will
not be out of sight, as now under Christianity, but reappear: only when Jehovah is truly honoured as
her husband, there will be manifest subordination, as may be seen in Ezekiel's prophecy.
More than this appears. "And on her head a crown of twelve stars." There will be the fullest
administrative authority in man, not only for use but to adorn her. In short, whether it be supreme,
derivative, or subordinate authority, all is now assured to her. Israel is therefore to be the manifest
vessel of God's mighty purposes for the earth; and God here so looks at her and presents her to the
prophet's eye. But this is not all. Another glory is here, greater than all; for "unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given." What could Israel do without Jehovah's Anointed, the Messiah? "She was with
child, and crieth, travailing in birth, in pain to be delivered." It is not yet the day for joyous and
triumphant accomplishment of the divine purpose, when before Zion travails she is to bring forth, and
before her pain come, she is to be delivered of a man-child; as Isaiah proclaims to Israel in his last
chapter. There is weakness and suffering yet, but all is secured, and the end pledged on high. Compare
Micah 5: 2, 3, where, as here, the birth of Messiah (for the woman is the mother, not the bride) is
connected with the future day of Israel's deliverance. Only in the Revelation is the man-child caught
up meanwhile to God and to His throne, of which we have more to say in its place.
"And there appeared another sign in the heaven, and, behold, a great red dragon having seven
heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads." It is Satan, but here invested with the form
of the most determined and successful enemy that Israel ever had. For crushing as was the overthrow
under Nebuchadnezzar, the Roman power trod down Jerusalem with a more tremendous and
permanent tyranny. Besides, as the Roman Beast collided with Christ once, so must it be destroyed at
His appearing. This therefore makes the unfolding of the double sign so much the more striking. Not
that the deliverance is yet come; but Israel and the enemy are confronted before the prophet according
to God's mind. What a mighty encouragement before Israel passes through the worst trouble!
The dragon has seven heads, as it is here said, or the completeness of ruling authority; and ten
horns, not twelve, but at any rate an approach to it, in the instruments of the power wielded in the
west. Man is never truly complete. God gave the woman twelve stars. The dragon has but ten horns.
And this appears to look on to the last days; for the empire, whilst it possessed imperial unity, never
had ten co-ordinate and subordinate kings, as the Beast will surely have before its judgment (Rev. 17:
12, 17). It is the dragon too we may say in purpose. But God would not allow that completeness of
administrative power even in form which belonged to the woman. All will be in due order when the
Lord Jesus takes the government of the earth into His hands in the age to come. "Verily I say to you,
That ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his
glory, ye also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." The twelve apostles of
the Lamb are destined to a special place of honourable trust.
"And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth." Does not this
imply that the third part is the distinctively Roman side of the empire? It was "the third part" we saw
in the Trumpets, both in the four earlier ones and also in the sixth. This seems to set forth the western
empire, or what was properly Roman. The Romans actually possessed, because they conquered, a
great deal that belonged to Greece for instance, and Medo-Persia and Babylon. This last was far east;
but the properly Roman part was western Europe. There the dragon's malignant influence was to be
particularly felt, at least in those that filled the place of rulers. It "drew the third part of the stars of
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