Revelation 9:20 - Homilies By S. Conway

Man's stubborn will.

"And the rest … yet repented not." The fatal obstinacy of wicked men, the dreadful hardness of the human heart, sin's searing of the susceptibilities of the soul,—such is the mournful fact that the text, repeated again in the next verse, as if to summon our special attention, vividly reveals. Implied or stated in it are such truths as these—

I. ALL MEN NEED REPENTANCE . The judgment fell only on some, but all deserved it; all had sinned, and all should have repented. When we see God's judgment falling on any one, our reflection should be not, "How evil he must have been!" but "How merciful of God to spare me!"

II. GOD PLEADS WITH MEN TO BRING THEM TO REPENTANCE . These judgments of which we read are not God's primary dealings with men. He does not begin in this manner. There has been much that has preceded this. God has pleaded with men by his Spirit in their consciences. By his goodness, giving them all manner of providential mercies. Then, more especially by his Word, delivered by revelation, through his messengers, etc. And in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, in the message of the gospel. Men always knew that their deeds were evil; the sense of sin was everywhere; and they knew that God would have them repent. And there were some who did, and therefore held aloof from the abominations of the rest. And since Christ has come the Divine pleadings have been more than ever heard.

III. BUT THESE MILDER METHODS OFTEN FAIL . All history shows this, as well as the Bible, and our own experience confirms it. See our Saviour weeping over Jerusalem. That sorrow had been known before, and has been since.

IV. STERNER METHODS ARE THEN TRIED . In these Apocalyptic visions we have portrayed over and over again these more awful means which God employs to bring men to repentance. In Israel's history how often they were tried! and they often succeeded, as, blessed be God, they often succeed now. This is their purpose.

V. BUT EVEN THESE , AT TIMES , AND FOR LONG TIME , FAIL . This is the declaration of our text (cf. also Jeremiah 5:3 ; Jeremiah 8:6 ; Romans 2:4 , Romans 2:5 ). So was it with Pharaoh, when the plagues one after another, which in many respects resembled these trumpet plagues, came upon him. The invariable effects of the Divine law, which ordains that sin persisted in becomes fixed habit which cannot be shaken off, and of which, therefore, the writer of the Book of Exodus says, "The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart; "this Divine law was illustrated in him. So again and again in Israel's history, "until the wrath of the Lord arose against them, and there was no remedy." In men, too, like that wicked King Amon, of whom it is said, "But Amon sinned more and more." True, the psalmist says, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy Word." But though it might have been true of him, it is as often as not, if not more often, true that men go astray after affliction just as they did before. "Though thou bray a fool in a mortar, yet will not his folly depart from him." So, with equal, if not greater truth, does the proverb assert that opposite and most melancholy fact of which the Bible, all life, and our text here say so much. "God's visitations pass lightly over souls asleep in sin. Which of us has not lived through a thousand of them, and never seen, never noticed, never given heed to, one? Death, sudden death, coming into our street, or into our home,—which of us has not hardened his heart again, after a very brief pause, against lessons which this ought to teach, and sinned on as before? Oh the desperate hardness of the human heart! What can melt it save omnipotent grace?"

VI. WHAT IS THE REASON OF THIS ? The answer is manifold, as, for example:

1 . Those that are spared argue from that fact that they need not repent. The Jews thought that those on whom the tower of Siloam fell must indeed have been sinners. Our Lord told them that was not the case, and, said he, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." And no doubt "the rest of mankind" told of in our text congratulated themselves, not only that they were spared, but that they did not deserve what had befallen the others. There was, therefore, no need for them to repent—so would they argue, as do and have done their successors ever since.

2 . Sin deadens belief in God. It makes men practical atheists. God, therefore, is not recognized in aught that occurs.

3 . God's judgments are put down to secondary causes. Everything can be explained; they know how and why things fell out as they did. They look not beyond or above those causes which are close at hand and can be readily understood. Hence their own sin and God's displeasure thereat, being far too abstract and remote factors, are not even considered.

4 . " Perfect love casteth out fear." This is true in a sense the apostle never meant. Let the heart love sin, as it is so prone to do, and that love will utterly cast out the fear of God. And some sins, especially, will do this; those that are named in these verses will. Idolatry, which lulls the conscience whilst it gives free licence to sin. Gain gotten in ungodly ways—"thefts," as they are here called. Who does not know how the petty pilferer develops into the practised thief, embezzler, robber, and forger, until he has graduated in all such villainy? Lust— "fornications," as it is here termed. Let those who have known its hell and have told its dark dread secrets be believed, when they affirm that, indulged, it becomes ungovernable. Against it the fear of God has no chance. Cruelty —"murders" is the name given it here; that, too, grows with deadly speed and three. The Herods, Neros, and Henry the Eighths, Duke Alvas, and the entire spawn of the Inquisition,—they were once tender, humane, gentle hearted. But, like the tiger that has tasted blood, it will have blood whenever it can. And:

5 . The law of habit. We spoke of this just now. Character ever tends to become permanent. "He that is holy" to be "holy still"—blessed be God for this!—but "he that is unrighteous,… he that is filthy," to be "unrighteous," to be "filthy still." You may bend the sapling, but not the tree.

VII. HOW INTENSELY SERIOUS ARE THE TEACHINGS OF THIS FACT ! Is it true that, though God sends judgment after judgment upon men, they will yet not repent? Then:

1 . More judgments and worse will come. Assuredly it will be so. We cannot imagine God allowing himself to be for ever baffled by the unruly wills and affections of sinful men. "Our God is a consuming fire;" and until the dross be separated the fire will burn on. How awful, therefore, is the prospect for ungodly and impenitent men!

2 . How we need to watch and pray lest we be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin! Ah, what fools they are, "who make a mock at sin;" who dally with it, count it a trifle! Better play with vipers and scorpions.

3 . What imperative need there is of the power of the Holy Spirit! The disciples were in despair about their work. However should such as they persuade and convert men? The Lord promises to send the Holy Spirit, and "when he is come he shall convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment." The baptism of the Holy Ghost—that is the need of the Church if she is ever to win the world for Christ.

4 . Surrender to Christ, prompt, complete, abiding, that he, according to his Name, may save us from our sins,—this assuredly is our bounden duty, our true wisdom, because our sure safeguard, and our only one.—S.C.