THE APOSTASY
We have a further allusion to this covenant in Isaiah 28:14-21: “Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves.... And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.”
It is called a covenant with death, and an agreement with hell, because the Roman empire, with the head of which the covenant is made, is, in its last revived phase, energized by Satanic power, the dragon giving him his power, and his seat (or throne), and great authority (Rev. 13:2). But the unholy compact is broken; the temple of God at Jerusalem, rebuilt in unbelief, is defiled by idolatry; and the execution of the wrath of God comes upon the Jews to the uttermost. Jacob’s trouble is there, (the remnant shall be saved out of it, Jer. 30:7) the great tribulation. The overflowing scourge, another term for the Assyrian, passes through the land, and the Jews are trodden down by it. Jerusalem will undergo a terrible siege, and shall be taken, “the houses rifled, and the woman ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives (Zech. 14:2).
Thus far as to the leading features connected with Daniel’s remarkable prophecy of the seventy weeks. Let us now look at a further description of judgments and events that will take place at this terrible crisis in the world’s history, as detailed in the central chapters of the book of the Revelation.
This wonderful book, the church’s prophecy, so little appreciated or understood by many of the children of God; so sadly neglected, notwithstanding the special blessings attached in Revelation 1:3 and 22:7; discloses to us the great effort of the dragon, Satan, to resist the power and authority of God and the rights of His Son in this scene.
In Revelation 4 and 5, as we have already seen, the saints are viewed in heaven in their glorified state around the throne of God, and then the Lamb breaking the seals of the book of God’s counsels and judgments.
Revelation 6 commences the details of these.
Four seals. Various providential judgments.
The first — A great conqueror, overcoming without bloodshed.
The second — Peace taken from the earth, and fearful carnage.
The third — Great scarcity; famine often follows upon warfare.
The fourth — Four sore judgments upon the fourth part of the Roman earth, similar to those of Ezekiel 14:21, which come upon Jerusalem.
The fifth — vision of souls of martyrs slain for their testimony. They cry for vengeance, which shows their Jewish character, and are told to wait for others, who would also be slain during the last half-week.
The sixth — terrible convulsion of authorities and powers, so that men prematurely think that the great day of the wrath of the Lamb is come.
Compare Matthew 24:6-10, the beginning of sorrows. The first six seals will probably be fulfilled before the last half-week.
(Continued and to be Continued)