(Matt. xxv. 1, 4, 10; v. 8-10; John iii. 29; Rev. xix. 7; iii. 6, 5.) Rev. iv. 4, 6; v. 8-10; xiv. 1—5. Before the opening of the Seals, crowned elders worship The Lamb, singing a new song, ascribing glory, honour, power, wisdom, riches, and blessing, to Him Who has redeemed them by His Blood, and made them kings and priests. The 144,000 standing with The Lamb on Mount Zion (the heavenly Jerusalem, Heb. xii. 22), also sing a new song which no one could learn but these redeemed from among men, being the "firstfruits unto God and The Lamb," without fault before His Throne: and having The Father's Name written in their foreheads. (Rev. iii. 12.) (Matt. xxv. 1-3,8,11,12; Rev. xii. 9 -12; xiv. 15; vi. 9-11; iii. 21; xix.9; Matt. xxii. 9; xxiv. 29-31; iii. 12.) Rev. vii. 9-17; xv. These called "foolish Virgins" are ultimately gathered, being "loved, rebuked, and chastened," unto “zeal and repentance" (Rev. iii. 19; Phil. i. 6; John x. 28). In the main true Christians, but lacking the spirit of the "Bride" (Matt. xxv. 3, 4), as this He Who "has the Bride" (John iii. 29) "knows them not " (Matt. xxv. 12). Neither cold nor hot, their portion is appointed with the unbelievers or hypocrites (Luke xii. 46; Matt. xxiv. 51) during the 1260 days (Rev. xi. 3) of the Great Tribulation (Rev. vii. 14):-though not of these, and shut out (Matt. xxv. 10) from only the first Transla Before this Throne was a sea of tion, the gathering of the "Firstglass like unto crystal. fruits," they are apparently classed with those who are taken from the "highways" during the trials of Antichrist's reign. These saints have obtained the victory over the Beast and his image and his mark, and the number of his name. And they-a great multitude, which no man could number -have palms in their hands, in token of the victory; and stand before The Lamb, giving thanks and praises to their God. Coming after the 144,000, their song is that of "Moses and The Lamb " (Ex. xiv. 1-31; xv. 1-18; Heb. xiii. 12-14; 1 Pet. i. 18, 19; Deut. xxxii. 1—44), justifying the Judgments of The King of Nations, commemorating the great and marvellous works of The Lord God Almighty, saying, "Just and True are Thy ways, Thou King of saints [nations]! Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord! and glorify Thy Name: for Thou only art Holy! for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy Judgments are made manifest!" This is the "Harvest," now ripe [“ dried ”] (Rev. xiv. 15), the saints who are come out of the Great Tribulation (Rev. vii. 14), martyred for The Name and Testimony which they bore; overcoming by The Blood of The Lamb, and by the word of their Testimony, and loving not their lives unto the death (Matt. xvi. 24-27, 28;—xvii. 1–9;- 2 Tim. ii. 12); keeping the commandments of God and having the Testimony of Jesus Christ (Dan. vii. 25; Rev. xii. 11, 17). They shall hunger and thirst no more (Dan. xi. 33), nor be smitten with heat; and they are taken up to The Throne of The Lamb, when His 7 last plagues of the Vials (Rev. xvi.) are about to be poured upon the Desolator. These stand on a sea of glass mingled with fire. Both these companies,-the 144,000 sealed ones of the mystic Israel who are translated with the risen "dead in Christ," and the un-numbered multitude of martys and living saints, are of all nations, kindreds, people, and tongues (Rev. v. 9; vii. 9); therefore distinct from the 144,000 sealed children of Israel (Ezek. ix. 4; Rev. vii. 1-8). In the enumeration of the tribes of the literal Israel, Dan is supposed to be included with Naphtali; who was his own brother, the son of the same mother. Thus the tribes are mentioned in 6 pairs; Joseph, as the eldest son of the principal (Gen. xxix. 18) wife, inheriting a double blessing. (Rev. vii. 8, 6; Gen xxxvii. 3, 23.) 12,000 men (not souls) enumerated: perhaps heads or fathers with their posterity (as in Rom. xi. 4), like Abraham who "commanded his chil dren and household after him, and they kept the way of The Lord” (Gen. xviii. 19); or Noah who "prepared an ark to the saving of his house" (Heb. xi. 7); or the devout Cornelius who "feared God with all his house." Rev. xix. 1-9. 66 We observe that the song "Hallelujah" is for the first time heard in the Revelation, when the first and second Translations, or gathering of "Firstfruits" and of "Harvest," have both occurred,-when "The Lamb's Wife has prepared herself," and The Marriage is ready as an introduction to The Comimg forth to Battle and Victory of The Lamb, and the following of the armies in heaven (Song of Songs, vi. 13; Rev xix. 14) on "white" horses, in royal state and with conquering power. Only in Rev. xix., but there repeatedly, the word ("Hallelujah") occurs; and indicates the presence of the Jewish Church in heaven; the sealed 144,000 gathered at the "Harvest." This praise to The Lord in His Name -Jah-He Who is, implies a most present feeling of His most saving Divine work," a Name quoted, as Bengel says, "only in songs" (Ex. xv. 2; Isa. xii. 2; [Heb. x. 37, ix. 11] Ps. lxviii. 4): and “not derived from Jehovah, which includes "Who is to come,”an Object of trust for the future as well as of rejoicing in the present time, as in Isa. xii. 2; xxvi. 4; in which passages the Prophet employs both names '', Jehovah-Jah, and by this very circumstance teaches us the difference between the two Names." Kimchi observes that "Hallelujah resounds, in the place where it first occurs in the Psalms, upon the destruction of sinners and the ungodly." Ps. civ. 35 (lxviii. 4). "The Name Jehovah (He shall be-Being-He was,) was frequently used in the times of promises drawing towards their accomplishment: ', "He Who is," is adapted to all times which are gladdened with present aid, and therefore especially to the Last Times,"-when The Lord is become The Salvation of His people (Isa. xii. 2); when the Mystery of God is finished (Rev. x. 7; xvi. 17); and His Name is declared (John xvii. 6), The Consolation (Luke ii. 25; Gen. v. 29), The Salvation (Luke ii. 30; Ps. xiv. 7; liii. 6), Jesus-The Help of God. What is that "New Name" embodying the salvation ready to be revealed in the Last Time (1 Pet. i. 5—9), and which is written upon the Church which not having seen has yet believed and loved, is intimated, though not declared, in the Apocalypse? Rev. iii. 12; xix. 12, 13, 16; xxi. 7; xxii. 13-16. TWO IN-GATHERINGS TO THE MARRIAGE-SUPPER. Fear not, little flock! for it is your Father's good pleasure But that servant who knew his lord's will, and prepared not, many stripes. Luke xii. 31-48; Matt. xxiv. 42—51. FIRST TRANSLATION OF LIVING SAINTS, with the risen and glorified "dead in Christ" when the sudden lightning under the whole heavens announces The Lord's Descent "into the air." Matt. xxiv. 27. "A Sheaf-a handful." Lev. xxiii. 10, 11. "The Queen" ("The Lamb's Wife," Rev. xix. 7, 8), Ps. xlv. 9-11, 13, 14, 16, 17. "The Only One," "Undefiled." Song of Songs, vi. 3, 9. "Dove," SECOND TRANSLATION OF LIVING with the risen and glorified mar- "Two loaves of fine flour, baked with leaven. Lev. xxiii. 15—17. "The Honourable Women,"-" the As it were the company of two armies. Luke xxi. 34-36, Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For, as a snare Matt. xxiv. 29-31. Immediately after the Tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before The Son of Man. Matt. xxiv. 27. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of The Son of Man be. Rev. xii. 5. And the " woman (The Church) brought forth a Manchild, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron (1 Cor. vi. 2, 3): and her child was caught up unto God, and to His Throne. Rev. xiv. 1-3. And I looked, and, lo! a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion (Heb. xii. 22, 24), and with Him 144,000, having His Father's Name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven as the voice of many waters (Rev. i. 15), and as the voice of a great thunder (John xii. 28-31) and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps (Rev. v. 8.) And they sung as it were a New Song before The Throne, and before the 4 living creatures, and the elders [Are these the patriarchal church? who also hold harps instead of palms (Comp. Rev. vii. 9), and emblems of The Mediator Who makes His "sons (John i, 12) "kings and priests" (Rev. i. 5, 6); and who, having shaken: And then shall Appear The Sign of The Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see The Son of Man coming in the Clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His Angels with a trumpet and a great Voice, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. [John v. 25-28.] Rev. vii. 9-17. After this, I beheld, and, lo! a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before The Throne, and before The Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands: And cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God Who sitteth upon the Throne, and unto The Lamb!" And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?" And I said unto him, "Sir! thou knowest." And he said to me, "These are they which came out of Great Tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of The Lamb. Therefore are they before the Throne of God, and serve him day and night in His Temple And He Who sitteth on the Throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more (Rev. viii. |