(Revelation, chapters 4 and 5)

These two chapters present a most glorious scene in heaven. In vision, the rapture of the saints at the Lord's coming will have taken place. And chapter 4 begins:"After these things"-it does not say, immediately after-"I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice which I heard as of a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show thee the things which must take place after these things" (Darby translation). After what things? The things recorded in the preceding chapters, evidently; the things pertaining to the Church during her testimony here on earth.

Now, in verse 2, John continues:"Immediately I became in the Spirit; and behold, a throne stood in the heaven.. . And round the throne twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments; and on their heads golden crowns." Those elders clothed in garments of white, with crowns of gold on their heads are most significant in view of 2 Cor. 5:10 and 2 Tim. 4:8-"For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ, that each may receive the things done in the body, according to those he has done, whether good or evil." And then, "Henceforth the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, WHICH THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, WILL RENDER TO ME IN THAT DAY; but not only to me, but also to all who love His appearing" (Darby translation).

Clearly, that scene in heaven-looking on to its future accomplishment-portrays the judgment-seat of Christ as an event already past. The righteous Judge will have awarded the golden crowns and the white garments to those elders SITTING upon thrones. They do not "stand" any longer before that righteous tribunal (Rom. 14:10 with 1 Cor. 3:9-15). Many other things are of record in those two marvelous chapters, the 4th and 5th of Revelation, following "the first resurrection" and rapture of the saints; which also must take place before the opening of the seven-sealed book at the time appointed.

There must be, then, a period of time necessary for those manifestations in heaven-heaven in preparation for the coming judgments upon the earth. Consequently a corresponding period of time there must be on the earth to prepare things here also. The Jews will have much to accomplish in "the land" ere things are ready there when "he shall confirm a covenant with the many for one week" (Dan. 9:27). In truth, there is nothing to show that the seventieth "week" of Daniel's prophecy will begin its fulfilment IMMEDIATELY upon the rapture of the saints, but rather a respite intervening would better accord with those movements in heaven and with God's ways upon earth.

The hand of God moves slowly as He approaches "His work, His strange work" (Isa. 28:21), and His grace will not cease in the earth with the close of this day of grace. God must prepare a people, subjects, for Christ's Millennial kingdom from both Jew and Gentile. Indeed, the Holy Spirit will continue to convict of sin even as He had been doing in Old Testament days; although His indwelling presence in the glorified Church will not be here (2 Thess. 2:5-8). How like our God it will be to hold the winds of judgment for a brief season after that whirlwind of glory has translated the Church to her home above – an event that will shake "this present evil age" to its very foundation!
What an opportunity that forbearance of God will be to preach the gospel of the kingdom through His Jewish "remnant"-to the young especially, to the ignorant, and to all who have not hardened their hearts and consciences beyond conviction! (2 Thess. 2:12,13). The 7th chapter of Revelation is conclusive of this; although God's grace will be expressed finally in an evangel of judgment-until the "wheat," in unnumbered multitudes, shall be beaten from the "chaff" by the flail of judgment; the effect of those vials of wrath (Rev., chapter 16) indicates that nothing remains but "chaff."

The duration of this probable "interlude" is not given; it may be months or years; but Oh, how imminent it makes the coming of our blessed Lord! Should He come today, the events leading up to the hour of His judgments may easily transpire AFTER He comes into the air to receive His waiting people unto Himself. Nothing hinders our Lord's return save the longsuffering of God "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Then will God begin anew His dealings with Israel, and through them to the nations, just where He had broken it off at their rejection of Messiah (Dan. 9:26).

Then will the Spirit of God begin to move upon "the dry bones" in the valley of desolation (Ezek. 37:14). Then God will begin to graft into their own olive-tree the broken-off branches, and the blindness in part begin to disappear (Rom., chapter 11). Then the "beginning of sorrows" (Matt. 24:8; Mk. 13:8) will come both for the Jew and the world at large. Indeed, many Jews are turning to the Lord even in our day; will they not harken to "the gospel of the kingdom"-which is but one phase of the gospel of grace-in far greater numbers after such an event as the translation of the Church? Yet ft will require "the time of Jacob's trouble" to bring in a national repentance-when "a nation shall be born in a day." Herbert Cowell Plainsfield, Illinois

The publishers regret that the signature (George Mackenzie) to the article in the July number, "Some Remarks on Daniel's Prophecy" was omitted.