[134] Ezek. vi. 11; Matt. xxiv. 6-8. [135] Isa. xxxii. 18. [136] Lev. xxvi. 26. [137] Ezek. iv. 16, 17. [138] Comp. Matt. xx. 2. [139] Ps. xxiii. 5. [140] John x. 10. [141] Ps. civ. 15. [142] Ps. ix. 15. [143] Lev. iv. 7. [144] Comp. chaps. i. 2, 9; xi. 7; xii. 11, 17; xix. 10. [145] Margin of Revised Version. [146] Chap. iii. 4. [147] Chap. iii. 5. [148] Chap. iii. 18. [149] Chap. xix. 8. [150] Acts xiii. 39. [151] Ps. li. 7. [152] Isa. lxi. 10. [153] Ezek. xxxvi. 25-29. [154] Matt. xi. 11. [155] Heb. xi. 39, 40. [156] John viii. 56. [157] 1 Pet. i. 8 (R.V., margin). [158] Joel ii. 30, 31; iii. 15. [159] Acts ii. 16-21. [160] Haggai ii. 6, 7. [161] Heb. xii. 25-29. [162] Mal. iv. 1, 5; Mark ix. 11-13. [163] Isa. ii. 19. [164] Isa. xiii. 9, 10. [165] Isa. xxxiv. 2, 4. [166] Matt. xxiv. 29. [167] _Lectures on the Revelation_, p. 170. CHAPTER V. _CONSOLATORY VISIONS._ REV. vii. Six of the seven Seals have been opened by the "Lamb," who is likewise the "Lion of the tribe of Judah." They have dealt, in brief but pregnant sentences, with the whole history of the Church and of the world throughout the Christian age. No details of history have indeed been spoken of, no particular wars, or famines, or pestilences, or slaughters, or preservations of the saints. Everything has been described in the most general terms. We have been invited to think only of the principles of the Divine government, but of these as the most sublime and, according to our own state of mind, the most alarming or the most consolatory principles that can engage the attention of men. God, has been the burden of the six Seals, is King over all the earth. Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? Why do they exalt themselves against the sovereign Ruler of the universe, who said to the Son of His love, when He made Him Head over all things for His Church, "Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee;" "Rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies"?[168] Listening to the voice of these Seals, we know that the world, with all its might, shall prevail neither against the Head nor against the members of the Body. Even when apparently successful it shall fight a losing battle. Even when apparently defeated Christ and they who are one with Him shall march to victory.