Revelation 12:10-17 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ… I. LET US CONSIDER MISSIONS UNDER THE ASPECT OF A VICTORY GAINED. 1. Of course the word implies conflict. The Revelation, resonant with sounds of battle, exhibits the King of Heaven upon earth as engaged in a, struggle. This mode of representation only displays in pictures ideas common to the whole of the New Testament. The Church under the present dispensation is church militant. Let us not despise or underestimate our foe. To follow Christ and to take up His cause anywhere is to challenge the world, the flesh, and the devil. 2. But the point now is that a victory has been won, and this victory is distinguished by two features, celebrated in the song heard by John, which render it extremely interesting and important for those on the threshold of life, whose privilege it is to look forward to service. (1) The accuser has been cast down, and in his casting down certain practical problems have been solved and doubts swept out of the way. No great and good movement has ever been inaugurated that did not stir up an accuser. He was maliciously busy at the outset of the missionary enterprise, and tried to raise obstacles to harass the timid. (2) Then, too, in the gospel victories is to be included a beautiful, delightful social revolution, for "now is come the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ." II. THE PRINCIPLES AND INSTRUMENTALITIES WHEREBY THIS VICTORY WAS GAINED. 1. We would not lose sight of the fact that "there was war in heaven." We have always had the supernatural support of a leader of invisible legions, whose name, "Michael," suggests the question, "Who is like unto God? " and whose guarantee, conveyed along with the marching orders, is, "Lo! I am with you alway unto the consummation of the age." 2. Looking at these words as a whole, we say they intimate conquests gained through dependence on spiritual forces. It was so, we may remind ourselves, in the conflict with the paganism of the ancient Roman world. It would be a mistake to suppose that the triumph of Christianity followed the so-called conversion of Constantine. On the contrary, he gave in his adhesion because Christianity was already on the march, firm and triumphant. The victory had been won, and it was won with the weapons of faith, hope, love, patience, forgiveness, and prayer. So also has it been in the conflict with the paganism of the modern world. God in nature, God in history, and God in grace is one God, and we may expect Him to be making each department of His rule dovetail in some way into the other, in order to the accomplishment of His purposes. 3. Three things are, we take it, specially necessary to meet the fundamental spiritual requirements of the human heart — viz., redemption; revelation; and these mediated and ministered by messengers of intense self-sacrificing sympathies. These are the very elements which are here displayed aa grounds of success. (1) "They overcame because of the blood of the Lamb." Readers must note that in this book, in which the general outlines of Church history are exhibited in symbolic pictures, the blood of the Lamb holds a most prominent place. It precisely forecasts what has happened in the actual event. By the atoning sacrifice of Calvary were the missionaries' hearts first set on fire. The provision made in the death of God's dear Son for meeting their condition as sinners was what deeply agitated, and, like the touch of the "live coal from off the altar," flamed through them into the offer and entreaty, "Here are we, send us." By the same sacrifice they were sustained in their surrender. The Saviour's blood was their life. His dying wounds were not only fountains of expiation and cleansing, but also springs out of which pulsated the streams of life through the lips of faith into their thrilled hearts. Advancing with this experience, it turned out that the "story of redemption through His blood" was just the good news the heathen needed, and leaped excitedly to welcome. (2) To meet the cry for light, the ministers of grace delivered "the word of their testimony." Observe, "testimony." Not an argument, but a testimony; not a denunciation, but a testimony; not a destructive attack, but a testimony; not a "peradventure," but a testimony. This testimony, originally received by apostles from Christ and His Spirit, was by them embodied in "a word." This "word," again tasted and tested through the Spirit of Christ by believers, became in their lips and lives a "testimony." They marched to the field with this testimony, a Pentecostal glory mitring their brows and firing their tongues, and breaking out in "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." They knew whom they believed, and, Philip-like, joining themselves unto the chariot of heathendom, they just preached and explained Him of whom every voice of truth in the Vedas also spoke to those in the darkness feeling after "an unknown God" to be their Shepherd and King. (3) The third reason does not occupy precisely the same level as the other two. It is not joined to them with "because." The proposal to surrender life, standing by itself, would be impotent and fruitless. It is when united with "the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony" that it is energised into an important factor in the product. The mode of expression seems based upon a common course in human affairs. A man takes a stand from which it is sought to divert him by threats of poverty, want, and hardship. There are some in whom the love of life is so near the surface, and so sensitive and ready to take alarm, that the above threat would be enough to make it leap to its feet instantly and shriek out, "You shall not." Others, however, are not conscious of this love at that point, and the threat does not move them. Then it is represented they will lose caste, be boycotted in society, be shut out of the road which leads to applause and power, and condemned to calumny, reprobation, scorn — or, what is worse, neglect. Some who resisted in the first stage would be sifted out here, whilst a remnant would continue yet untouched and resolute. But now I imagine the ghastly king of terrors drawing nigh to these and compelling them at close quarters to look into his cavernous, cruel face. Proud is this grisly monarch, and omnipotent in his own conceit. But many think that Death's bark is worse than his bite. I know the prospect is under some conditions appalling, and yet I can fancy those who had stood the first two tests contemplating this almost with contempt. There is, however, another deeper, darker possibility suggested. It is not merely hardship; it is not merely shame; it is not merely physical extinction; it is the sacrifice of the opportunity of self-cultivation for what seems a grander destiny in this world, and even a better, higher standing in the world to come. Many missionaries, like, e.g., Carey and Livingstone, possessed surpassing powers. They would succeed splendidly anywhere. Had they stayed in this country no one can predict the distinction to which they might have risen. To go away, say into the wilds of Africa, as evangelists is to renounce magnificent chances. Nay more. They who feel the loss most will leave the stimulus of Christian society; the bracing impulse of Christian atmosphere; the sweet help of the first day of the week, with its sacred hush and uplifting worship; the very continuance of the life of piety will be imperilled. That education and development of the faculties and qualities of mind and spirit which in itself is so delightful must be relinquished, and, so far as this world is concerned, relinquished for ever. They must cease to love their own soul, and that unto death. I believe that scores of witnesses in all ages, and, thank God, in ours also, have risen to this height; and it is in this way and by this means they have gained the victory. If you want to capture others, you must abandon self. (R. H. Roberts, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. |
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