The Expositor's Bible: The Book of RevelationMilligan, William
Philosophy
The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Revelation
Milligan, William
Bible. Revelation -- Commentaries
Calling to mind the symmetrical structure of the Apocalypse, it seems
natural to expect that the relation to one another of the two
consolatory visions falling between the Trumpets and the Bowls will
correspond to that of the two between the Seals and the Trumpets. The
two companies, however, spoken of in these two latter visions, are the
same, the hundred and forty and four thousand "out of every tribe of the
children of Israel" being identical with the great multitude "out of
every nation;" while the contents of the second vision are substantially
the same as those of the first, though repeated on a fuller and more
perfect scale. Now we shall shortly see that the second of our present
consolatory visions--that in chap. xi.--brings out the victory and
triumph of _a faithful remnant_ of believers within a degenerate, though
professing, Church. How probable does it become that the first
consolatory vision--that in chap. x.--will relate to the same remnant,
though on a lower plane alike of battle and of conquest!
Thus looked at, we have good ground for the supposition that the
little book-roll contained indications of judgment about to descend on
a Church which had fallen from her high position and practically
disowned her Divine Master; while at the same time it assured the
faithful remnant within her that they would be preserved, and in due
season glorified. The little book thus spoke of the hardest of all the
struggles through which believers have to pass: that with foes of
their own household; but, so speaking, it told also of judgment upon
these foes, and of a glorious issue for the true members of Christ's
Body out of toil and suffering.
With this view of the contents of the little book-roll everything that
is said of it appears to be in harmony.
1. We thus at once understand why it is named by a diminutive form of
the word used for the book-roll in chap. v. The latter contained the
whole counsel of God for the execution of His plans both in the world
and in the Church. The former has reference to the Church alone. A
smaller roll therefore would naturally be sufficient for its tidings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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