thing not so open in the world, the church—dwellers in heaven—the brethren. This was the way heaven was specially affected by this event. Salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ were now come,[1] not till then in power: for, though hidden to the world and not understood, no more than Christ was, the heavenly-minded Church understands God’s leading and most important meaning in these things (what was next himself, if I may so speak). There was a witness to all Christ’s glory on the terms and grounds of God’s holiness in heaven, as walking in the light as He is in the light, having fellowship one with another, the blood of Jesus cleansing them from all sin all the time that Satan was in the heavens, drawing the third part of the stars—the ruler of the darkness of this world—a people who walked indeed on earth, but in spirit and title and nature, as given, dwelt in heaven; their Head being exalted above Satan even before God, and who had suffered and shed his blood for them, though now, as yet, he had not taken his power (“all things were not yet put under him”), wherefore Satan could torment. This people Satan had
- ↑ Should not this be, ‘Now is come the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ’?
