March 15

Revelation 6:1—Come!

The A.V. reads, Come and see. The R.V., with the majority of Greek MSS., drops the last two words, and puts the simple word come into the lips of the four living creatures. Indeed, that word rings through the corridors of this book like a clarion. Come, Son of God! Come, according to thy plighted word! Come, for creation travails in pain together until now! Come restore thine ancient people, and bring in the golden age! Come! Take to Thyself thy great power, and reign! The time is rife! Midnight has faded into dawn, and dawn is lightening fast to day!

The ages which are characterised by the bloodless victories of civilisation and peace are incomplete without Thee; and as the white horse issues forth, men are not satisfied with the abundance of this world’s goods, there is still an unsatisfied yearning which says, Come.

The ages most saturated with blood—the blood of men, shed by the hands of men, where harvests grow rank because the soil has been so richly fertilised by blood and tears—need Thee sorely; and as the red horse comes forth, sad Mother Earth, who has received so many mangled bodies to her bosom, bids Thee come.

The ages, filled with plague, pestilence, and famine, wherein beasts multiply about the homes of men, because there is no hand to keep them back, since men have perished from the earth, as the livid horses go forth, cry, Come.

And listen to the cry of thy martyrs, from beneath the altar. Is it not time to arrest the heavy hand of the persecutor, and avenge their blood? Then come, and add to all thy other crowns, the crown of all the earth!