Reigneth

Rev. xix. 6.

WHAT a mirror of human life and history is the Book of the Revelation! One seems to be standing in a great battlefield 3 all around armed legions break in battle-shock; shining legions locked in deadly conflict with the dark hosts of hell; the cries of the down-trodden, the dying, and the martyred victims wail aloud upon the breeze: but amid all the din and

tumult, ever and again rise up the sweet, clear-voiced choruses of redeemed and victorious ones, who cheer the fainting and rally the desponding, and hail the growing symptoms of Heaven’s ultimate victory. Such a chorus rings out upon our ear and heart in the words before us (Rev. xix. 6).

The previous chapters are full of agony and conflict; the ploughshare of war is driven through the world; and the Apostate Church meets her doom. As a millstone might be dashed by a strong angel into the ocean, so is Babylon thrown down, never to be found any more. And as she sinks down to her doom, there is heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, “Alleluia!” And again they say, “Alleluia!” And yet again the four-and-twenty elders and the four living creatures say, “Amen, Alleluia!” And then there issues once more a solitary voice from out of the throne, calling for yet further praise; and in response, the Apostle John tells us, “I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia; for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth 1”

Yes, there is always a HalJelujah Chorus, whenever the Lord reigns.

We shall join in that song of victory and triumph ere long. Every sunrise brings it nearer. But we need not wait for the establishment of the millennial kingdom, ere we hear or raise the ringing cry of “Hallelujah!” We may catch it ringing even now around the earth; we may hear it breaking gladly from redeemed heart, and surrendered lives, which have learnt that the reign of Jesus is always associated with the Hallelujah Chorus.

Even the Old Testament teaches this, in three memorable Psalms, lying almost on the same page — xciii., xcvii., xcix. The first teaches His Kingdom over Nature. We hear the break of the waves, the mighty waves of the sea, lifting up their voices. But the Lord on high is mightier than the mightiest. “The Lord reigneth; Hallelujah!”

tlbe tEjiuinpbant fdng. 73

The second teaches His kingdom over men. His enemies, and Judah’s daughters, alike own His sway. The most careless and rebellious are subservient to His designs. “He doeth according to His will in the army of Heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.” Men plot and scheme as they will; but they only do what His hand, or His counsel, determined before to be done. And as we consider the reality of the glory of His sway — not less a fact because unreal - izied by its subjects — we again cry: “The Lord reigneth; Hallelujah!”

The third teaches us that His kingdom is over saints. “The Lord is great in Zion.” The saints recognize but one supreme headship of the Church; and as they look up to Him who is guiding her course, and governing her politics, unaffected by the apparent contrarieties and disunion amongst us, again they cry, “The Lord reigneth; Hallelujah!”

But surely all this applies most closely to our own individual experience. We never knew what true joy was until the meek and lowly Saviour rode in triumph as King over our hearts. But before that moment we had been distracted with riot and revolt; with bitter experiences of failure and disappointment; with a weary sense of an anarchy, which we could not put down. But when He entered to set up His reign, the cry of “Hosannah!” rang through the citadel of our inner being; and it seemed as if angel -voices sang to us, “Rejoice greatly! fear not, for thy King cometh!”

Ah! the devil’s lie has been but too successful in leading men to think that Christ’s reign means misery and privation. It is because they have believed it that so many have excluded themselves from it altogether; or have submitted only a part of their be-Dallelujab! ing to his blessed empire, giving Him the environs, whilst they reserve the citadel, the Zion, for themselves. But those who know what it is to yield their whole being to His government, know that where there is the increase of His government, there is also the increase of peace, and of. each there need be no end (Isaiah ix. 7.)

Would that some who have been living a sad and bitter life, might haul down the flag of revolt, and welcome the King whose reign is founded on His priesthood, the true Melchizedek, the Priest-king; and as the King of Glory passes the uplifted gates, and His standard flies from the citadel of the will, there shall ring out the cry, “Hallelujah! the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”

You have only to open the gates to Him, and He will subdue all authority and power; He will bring every

7 6 thought into captivity; He will keep down the rebellious nature.

Remember He is omnipotent — omnipotent to conquer; omnipotent to keep; omnipotent to reign. Life then shall become one long Hallelujah, growing deeper and sweeter as the years roll on. No event will disturb or perplex, because in each incident we shall see the result of our king’s appointment; and whether we like it or not, whether it causes us pain or joy, whether it shine or showers, we shall be able to cry,

“Hallelujah!

for the Lord God omnipotent

REIGNETH.”