Revelation 15:1-4 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues… What has one to do with the other? Here are the oldest of recorded events and words joined with the farthest and latest possible events and words. Here is the beginning of earth's human history united with its Divine consummation. Here are the words of earth and heaven coupled together. The song of Moses, and the song of the Lord Christ — the song of Israelitish victory and of Christian victory, in one breath of thanksgiving. And as we look more carefully we see it is all very full of parallels. The singers in both cases stand by a sea — the Red Sea of Egypt, and heaven's sea of fire, — and they are each singing in an attitude and strain of deliverance and freedom from enemies and of victory. And the sentiments of the two songs are the same. God's great power and display of judgment, and the acknowledgment of all nations. I. When I find an event like the old Israelitish victory, or a song like that of Moses, carried forward and appearing in the future heavenly history and combined with Christ's victory and song, IT LIGHTS UP HUMAN LIFE WITH A NEW MEANING AND RADIANCE. 1. It has, in the first place, this value: it connects the end with the beginning. How early that old victory and song of Moses were — one of the very first human victories under God's guidance! How far away seems that first victory from the heavenly end, when there shall be no more struggle or pain! How since Moses multitudes and generations and companies of men have all had their contests again and again! How, with every day, it comes to each one of us! How premature seems the old song of victory when a new enemy is to come immediately! How ceaseless seems the struggle to us! And so God puts into one phrase for us the earliest and last song of victory, the beginning and the end, the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb, the victory of Moses over Pharaoh and one evil, and Christ's victory over all evil and all enemies. No matter how early in the struggle you may be, the end is shown, and Christ's victory is coupled with it, and you are to think of them together. Do not say, discouragingly, "The contest will be renewed again in another way to-morrow"; but say, "The contest will end surely, and ritually victoriously in the Lamb's triumph." 1. But there is a better, deeper thought of encouragement than this, which comes out of that connection — "the song of Moses and of the Lamb." 2. It is that all righteous issues, and all struggles of men, are parts of Christ's issue and struggle and victory; and so each man's song is sung with and in the new song of the Lamb. We need to think of this. Christ's contest and death and victory were not all a history alongside of ours, to which we can look up from our own and take courage; but they contain ours and all the struggles and victories of the servants of God everywhere. See how close and dear that makes Christ's life to you. Oh, as I am led through a life's discipline, am told to do without this or that, am bid to contend with this or that selfishness, am pressed hard by this or that sorrow, am tempted to give up my trust in God's care and to be sour or reckless, how it helps me to go and put all this experience into the gospel story, to translate it into the struggle of the Lamb of God, to think of it all as a part of His issue. My struggle and victory to-day is no mere disjointed, separated thing, done alone and without lasting effect, but it is a part of a great victory of the Lamb already won. This little song, which I sing through my tears, as I conquer a hard temptation and struggle through a sea of evil, is a part of Christ's song. It does not lose itself in earth's air and die, but it shall live in Christ's song to the end of eternity, when tears are all wiped away. 3. And so that brings me to a third thing which the phrase teaches us about our life on earth — it is that God would have it happy. Earth's song He continues into heaven, not its tears: Moses' song of victory, not of his troubles. Are you singing any hymn of victory to-day? Are you joyful over a dead sin, or are you merely merry in slavery or sad in defeat? II. WHAT WE LEARN OF HEAVEN AND OF ITS LIFE FROM THE TEXT. 1. First, it gives us this thought of heaven: as a place in which each one of us has a marked individuality and history, even in Christ's presence. Heaven would be an unbearable place unless we lived ourselves individually — enjoyed and felt ourselves. And this thought is given us in the fact that the song sung by Moses the servant of God is remembered and repeated there. Human names and experiences and victories are mentioned there in the very company of the name and experience and victory of the Lamb. A city of kings will heaven be; all natures marked and distinct; all with a history and a claim to distinct remark and notice. 2. Then there is this further thought — the communion of saints. They not only all join in the song of the Lamb, but in the song of Moses the servant of God. They use the words which commemorate not only Christ's victory, but the victory of Moses too. Think of it: the voices that all go up to Christ, all also using Moses' experience and Moses' song words! It is that Christian truth: Your experience is mine, and mine is yours. Every man's victory I sing, and every man sings mine, as part of that same salvation of the Lamb which has rescued and sanctified you or me or the man who sings. Oh, get some of this heavenly power of communion of saints now! Do not let anything cut you off from a life that is showing God's victory. Sing its song; put yourself into its experience and place, and you will sing your own song and fill your own place all the better and more fully. 3. Then, lastly, this text tells me of the thoughts which are the atmosphere of heaven. Often we wonder — "What is the new song? What will be my state of mind — what my sentiments?" This passage tells us. The song of the Lamb is the song of Moses, the servant of God. The words of the song of heaven. They are but the nobler, fuller use of Moses' lyric words. Heaven's song is a new setting to God's harp of any song we have sung on gaining a spiritual victory over enemies by God's power here and now and in this earthly life. Let a man triumphantly resist a temptation, conquer a passion, win a new grade of character by God's power, and he has the very sentiments exalting and moving his heart and life which the new song will have in richest and completest harmony. (Fred. Brooks.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. |
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