[71] 1 Cor. xv. 3, 4. [72] James ii. 5. [73] 1 Pet. i. 6. [74] 2 Cor. xi. 2. [75] 1 Cor. v. 6. [76] Chap. x. 1. [77] 1 Cor. v. 1, 2. [78] Comp. chap. xviii. 4. [79] Ps. lv. 12-14. [80] Isa. xxiv. 23. [81] Chap. xxii. 16. [82] Isa. xvii. 6. [83] Isa. lxv. 8. [84] Isa. xxii. 21, 22. [85] Dods, _Introduction to New Testament_, p. 244. [86] Ps. xii. 5. CHAPTER III. _ANTICIPATIONS OF THE CHURCH'S VICTORY._ REV. iv., v. We have seen in considering the first chapter of the Apocalypse that the book as a whole is to be occupied with the Church's struggle in the world; and in the second and third chapters the Church herself has been placed before us as she occupies her position upon the field of history. But the struggle has not yet begun, nor will it begin until we reach the sixth chapter. Chaps. iv. and v. are therefore still to be regarded as in a certain measure introductory. They form a separate--the third--section of the book; and the first questions that meet us in connexion with them are, What is their relation to the main purpose of the author? What is their leading conception? and Why are they placed where they are? In answering these questions, we are aided by the strictly parallel structure of the fourth Gospel. The Prologue of that book, contained in chap. i. 1-18, suggests the object which the writer has in view. The next section--chap. i. 19-ii. 11--places before us the Redeemer whose glory he is to describe. The struggle of the Son of God with the world does not begin till we come to chap. v. Between chap. ii. 12 and chap. iv. 54 there is thus a considerable interval, in which we have the cleansing of the Temple and the victory of Jesus over the unbelief of the Jew Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, and the king's officer of Galilee, who was probably a Gentile. In this intervening space the leading thought seems to be that of victory, not indeed of victory _in_ the struggle, but of victory which prepares us _for_ it, and fills the mind with hope _before_ it begins. In like manner the two chapters upon which we are about to enter are occupied with songs of victory. Catching their spirit, we shall boldly accompany the Church into the struggle which follows, and shall be animated by a joyful confidence that, whatever her outward fortunes, He that is with her is more than they that be with her enemies.[87]