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Studies in the Book of the Revelation.
#8.
The Great Deliverance (1: 5, 6).
(See member B | b of Structure, Volume IV & V, page 107).
pp. 33 - 36
The threefold titles of the Lord Jesus--Faithful Witness, the First-born of the dead, the
Prince of the kings of the earth--are followed by a threefold ascription. He is said to be
one who loves, who loosed from sins, and who made them a kingdom of priests.
TO HIM THAT LOVETH US.--Of all the manifestations of the attributes of God as
revealed by the Lord Jesus Christ, love is singled out for first mention. The first words
recorded as coming from the heart of redeemed man in this book direct us to the fountain
head. Our A.V. tells us He loved, but the R.V., following all the critical Greek texts, tells
us He loveth.
The love of God in Christ lies at the foundation of His mighty purpose. How
prominent is the love of God to Israel. In the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God
blessed the children of Israel before he died we read, "Yea, He loved the people."
Deut. 7: 7, 8 we read, speaking of Israel:--
"The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in
number than any people . . . . . but because the Lord loved you."
The prophet Hosea speaks of the same period:--
"When Israel was a child, then I loved him . . . . . I drew them . . . . . with bands of
love" (Hosea 11: 1-4).
In Jer. 31: 3 we read:--
"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an
eonian (Heb. olam) love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."
The words "of old" (me-rachog) have reference rather to distance than time, and
might be rendered "from afar" (see R.V. margin). To Jeremiah the Lord appeared "from
afar." To the prophet's eyes appeared the long looked-for day when "He the scattered
Israel, will gather him," when the Lord makes a new covenant with the house of Israel
(see the whole chapter). Jeremiah looked down the ages, and his eye prophetically
looked upon Rev. 1: 5, and read the words, "Him Who LOVETH us." This age-enduring
love remains true and unshaken, even though it is sadly true that Israel has forgotten "the
love of her espousals" (Jer. 2: 2), and "the time of love" (Ezek. 16: 8). The recognition
of this point shows the tender grief which is behind the first charge of Rev. 2:, "Thou
hast left thy first love."
The love of God is pre-eminently linked with redemption. We often use the love of
God when we speak of His watchful care, His faithfulness, His guiding hand, His