,the ,revelation ,explained ,an ,exposition1 ,text by ,text1 of the ,apocalypse of ,st4 ,john ,showing the ,marvelous ,development of the ,prophecies from the ,time of their ,delivery on the ,isle of ,patmos--,the ,establishment and ,growth of ,christianity--,rise of ,mohammedanism in the ,eastern ,empire--,of the ,papacy in the ,western ,division--,of ,protestantism--,the ,civil ,history of the ,territory ,comprising the ,ancient ,roman ,empire until the ,end of ,time--,together with the ,conflicts and ,triumphs of the ,redeemed until the ,final ,judgment1 and their ,eternal ,reward and ,home in the ,new ,heavens and ,new ,earth4 ,by ,f4,g4 ,,smith ,author of ,what the ,bible ,teaches and ,the ,last ,reformation1 etc4 99 99 99 99 99 ,behold the former things are come to pass1 and new things do ,i declare3 before they spring forth ,i tell you of them4 ,isa4 #db3i4 ,surely the ,lord ,god will do nothing1 but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets4 ,amos #c3g4 ,,preface4 ,the subject of prophecy should be of interest to every ,bible student4 ,its importance can not be overestimated4 ,by it we are enabled to ascertain our true position in this time-world4 ,from the early dawn of creation1 ,inspiration has foretold with certainty the great facts connected with the history of ,god's chosen people4 ,by this means alone1 the divinity of ,jesus ,christ and the truth of our holy religion has been established in many minds2 for it is not in the power of mortals thus to vaticinate future events4 ,with such surprising accuracy have these predictions been fulfilled that even infidels ofttimes bear witness to their truthfulness4 ,behold the former things are come to pass1 and new things do ,i declare3 before they spring forth ,i tell you of them4 ,isa4 #db3i4 ,for ,i am ,god1 and there is none else2 ,i am ,god1 and there is none like me1 declaring the end from the beginning1 and from ancient times the things that are not yet done4 ,isa4 #df3i1 #aj4 ,the ,revelation is a rich mine of prophetic truth4 ,the history of the current dispensation is there delineated in advance so perfectly that we can not but attribute its authorship to ,him who knoweth the end from the beginning1 and worketh all things after the counsel of his own will4 ,it was written for the special benefit of the people of ,god1 and we should give it prayerful consideration4 ,in the preparation for this work1 ,i have gleaned historical information from all the general and ecclesiastical histories1 encyclopedias1 etc41 within my reach1 and only regret that ,i had not access to a still greater number4 ,however1 knowing that large books are seldom read1 ,i determined in advance not to write an extensive work1 but to condense the subject matter as much as possible1 and1 therefore1 ,i have been obliged to omit much valuable material previously gathered4 ,for this reason many lines of prophetic truth penned by others of the sacred writers have been passed over in silence1 even though relating to the same events as certain symbolic visions in the ,revelation4 ,i have availed myself of all the helps and the commentaries within my reach in the study of this important subject4 ,however1 ,i have but seldom referred to the opinions of expositors4 ,in most cases their explanations are not based upon any established rule of interpretation1 and the definite laws of symbolic language are usually overlooked or disregarded4 ,ordinary readers of the ,revelation have always supposed that the only course for them was to take the opinion of some learned expositor and to believe on his authority2 and when they have found that equally learned and judicious men sustained the most opposite views1 they have been bewildered amid conflicting opinions and have decided that1 when such men were at issue1 it was useless for them to investigate4 ,while1 therefore1 ,i have made every available use of their opinions1 it was only for the purpose of forming my own and of enabling myself so to unfold the nature of the symbols that every one might see for himself the propriety of the interpretation given4 ,the present knowledge that has been attained of this prophetic book is largely the result of the combined efforts of all who have labored to unfold its meaning4 ,no one has had the honor of first understanding all its parts1 and very few have failed to contribute something1 more or less1 to its true interpretation4 ,therefore ,i have endeavored as much as possible to gather up the good from the labors of my predecessors and to combine it with the results of my own study and research4 ,the ,exposition of ,mr4 ,lord has had an important bearing on this work4 ,for many beautiful thoughts concerning the nature and the use of symbols1 in the chapter on the nature of symbolic language1 ,i must acknowledge special indebtedness to the ,lectures of ,thomas ,wickes on the ,apocalypse1 delivered many years ago1 although ,i have ofttimes arrived at quite different conclusions in their interpretation throughout the ,revelation4 ,much appreciated assistance has been derived from the works of other commentators as well4 ,there is considerable disagreement among historians themselves regarding certain historical points1 but their differences are of minor importance so far as the present work is concerned4 ,when such points were involved1 ,i have simply endeavored to follow the best authorities4 ,lengthy or important quotations from other writers have been duly credited where they appear1 hence no special mention is necessary in this place4 ,minor extracts are merely enclosed within quotation-marks4 ,the ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire1 #f ,vols41 ,philadelphia1 #ahgb1 is the edition of ,gibbon's ,rome from which quotations are made4 ,to assist in simplifying the subject and in placing it before the reader in a concise1 comprehensive manner1 a number of useful diagrams have been added2 for they serve about the same purpose in the study of a subject so complicated as do maps in the study of geography4 ,i would especially call attention to the large ,diagram of the ,revelation1 where the various lines of prophetic truth are outlined in parallel series1 enabling the reader to comprehend at once where the symbolic narrative returns to take up a new line of thought covering the same period of time4 ,in these diagrams1 however1 no attempt has been made to set forth every phase of thought connected with the subject2 only the main features have been outlined4 ,feeling directed by the ,lord to undertake this work and realizing the greatness of the task1 ,i have earnestly sought for divine wisdom and guidance1 and ,i humbly acknowledge his gracious assistance in its prosecution2 and while ,i can not indulge the hope that human fallibility has been overcome1 yet ,i firmly believe that a careful reliance upon the ,holy ,spirit has been an effectual means of avoiding error and unfolding many of the hitherto mysterious prophecies of this wonderful book4 ,to his worthy name ,i ascribe all praise and glory4 ,the future1 doubtless1 will witness a still greater development of this subject2 for men of ,god more worthy and possessing greater abilities will arise1 who1 beginning where we have left off1 will continue its investigation and throw upon it additional light as yet unrevealed4 ,that the ,lord will bless ,the ,revelation ,explained to the good of his church upon earth and grant it a place1 however small1 in the cause of present truth1 is my earnest prayer4 ,yours in ,christ1 ,f4,g4 ,smith4 ,grand ,junction1 ,mich41 ,june #bf1 #aijf4 ,,preface ,,to ,,fourth ,,edition ,the reception accorded this work when it was first submitted to the public was more than gratifying to the author4 ,the lapse of time has only tended to confirm still more strongly the fundamental nature of the principle of interpretation adopted4 ,in order to supply the constant demand1 the fourth edition is now issued4 ,i have taken advantage of this opportunity to make certain revisions necessitated by an increase of knowledge since the work was first written1 nearly twelve years ago4 ,this revision1 however1 did not require an entire re-writing and does not involve a change in fundamentals4 ,f4,g4 ,smith4 ,anderson1 ,ind41 ,mar4 #a1 #aiah4 ,,contents4 ,preface ,nature of ,symbolic ,language ,,chapter ,i4 ,introduction1 verses #a-aa ,vision of ,christ1 verses #ab-bj ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,message to ,ephesus1 verses #a-g ,message to ,smyrna1 verses #h-aa ,message to ,pergamus1 verses #ab-ag ,message to ,thyatira1 verses #ah-bi ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,message to ,sardis1 verses #a-f ,message to ,philadelphia1 verses #g-ac ,message to ,laodicea1 verses #ad-bb ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,vision of ,god's ,throne ,,chapter ,v4 ,the ,book with ,seven ,seals ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,first ,seal ,opened1 verses #a1 #b ,second ,seal ,opened1 verses #c1 #d ,third ,seal ,opened1 verses #e1 #f ,fourth ,seal ,opened1 verses #g1 #h ,fifth ,seal ,opened1 verses #i-aa ,sixth ,seal ,opened1 verses #ab-ag ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,god's ,servants ,sealed1 verses #a-h ,the ,white-,robed ,company1 verses #i-ag ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,seventh ,seal ,opened1 verses #a-e ,first ,trumpet ,sounded1 verses #f1 #g ,second ,trumpet ,sounded1 verses #h1 #i ,third ,trumpet ,sounded1 verses #aj1 #aa ,fourth ,trumpet ,sounded1 verses #ab1 #ac ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,fifth ,trumpet ,sounded1 verses #a-ab ,sixth ,trumpet ,sounded1 verses #ac-ba ,,chapter ,x4 ,the ,rainbow ,angel ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,temple and ,holy ,city1 verses #a1 #b ,the ,two ,witnesses1 verses #c-f ,the ,witnesses ,slain1 verses #g-aj ,the ,witnesses ,resurrected1 verses #aa-ad ,seventh ,trumpet ,sounded1 verses #ae-ai ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,woman and ,man-,child1 verses #a-f ,michael and the ,dragon1 verses #g-ab ,the ,woman's ,flight1 verses #ac-ag ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,the ,leopard ,beast1 verses #a-i ,the ,faith of the ,saints1 verse #aj ,the ,two-,horned ,beast1 verses #aa-ah ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,the #add1jjj on ,mount ,sion1 verses #a-e ,the ,three ,angels1 verses #f-aa ,the ,patience of the ,saints1 verses #ab1 #ac ,harvest of the ,world1 verses #ad-bj ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,seven ,last ,plagues ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,the ,first ,vial1 verses #a1 #b ,the ,second ,vial1 verse #c ,the ,third ,vial1 verses #d-g ,the ,fourth ,vial1 verses #h1 #i ,the ,fifth ,vial1 verses #aj1 #aa ,the ,sixth ,vial1 verses #ab-af ,the ,seventh ,vial1 verses #ag-ba ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,babylon the ,great1 verses #a-f ,beast and ,ten ,kingdoms1 verses #g-ah ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,fall of ,babylon ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,marriage of the ,lamb1 verses #a-aj ,coming of ,christ1 verses #aa-ba ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,the ,dragon ,bound1 verses #a-f ,the ,dragon ,released1 verses #g-aj ,the ,judgment ,scene1 verses #aa-ae ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,new ,heaven and ,earth1 verses #a-h ,the ,heavenly ,jerusalem1 verses #i-bg ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,river and ,tree of ,life1 verses #a-e ,christ's ,coming and ,eternity1 verses #f-ba ,nature of ,symbolic ,language4 ,before proceeding with the interpretation of this wonderful book1 it will be necessary for us to pause and make inquiry concerning the nature of the language employed in its prophecies and concerning the mode of its interpretation4 ,it will be seen at a glance that it is wholly unlike the common language of life2 and it will be useless for us to undertake to ascertain its signification unless we understand perfectly the principles upon which it is founded4 ,the question may be asked1 ,is the language intelligible at all8 ,considering the variety of interpretations placed upon it by expositors and the opinions generally held respecting it1 we might conclude that it is not4 ,the majority of the people look upon these prophecies as a mass of unintelligible enigmas1 and are ready to tell the student of ,revelation that this book either finds or leaves a man mad4 ,but are we to look upon its language as being applied at a venture1 without any definite rule1 capable of every variety of meaning1 so that we can never be quite sure that we have its correct interpretation8 ,commentators generally unite in attaching a definite meaning to certain symbols1 and they tell us that these can not be applied otherwise without violating their nature4 ,they may not give us their reasons for thus applying them 7in fact1 they generally do not71 yet it is evidently assumed that such reasons do exist4 ,now1 if reasons actually exist why a definite signification must be applied to the symbol in the one case1 why do they not exist in another case1 and in all cases8 ,if any law exists in the case at all1 it is a uniform one1 for a law that does not possess uniformity is no law2 otherwise1 it would be an unintelligible revelation1 and the only possible thing left for us to do would be to attempt to solve it like a riddle--guess it out4 ,it would be as if the writer were to use words with every variety of meaning peculiarly his own attached1 without informing the reader what signification to give them in a given instance4 ,no man has a right thus to abuse written or spoken language2 and we may take it for granted that the ,god of heaven would not make such an indiscriminate use of symbolical language when making a revelation to men4 ,there is no other book the wide world around in which language is as carefully employed as in the ,bible2 and we can rest assured that when ,god gave this ,revelation to ,jesus ,christ to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass1 he made choice of proper symbols whose meaning can be definitely evolved1 provided we can but ascertain the great underlying principles upon which their original selection was based4 ,in the ordinary communication of our thoughts we employ arbitrary signs and sounds to which we have universally agreed to fix a definite meaning4 ,thus1 our entire spoken language is made up of a great variety of sounds or words with which by long practise we have become familiar4 ,we call a certain object a horse1 not because there is any similarity between the sound and the animal designated1 but because we have agreed that that sound shall represent that object4 ,so1 also1 we have agreed that the characters h-o-r-s-e shall represent the same thing2 and by the use of twenty-six characters1 called the alphabet1 placed together in various combinations1 we are able to write our entire spoken language4 ,the incidents connected with the introduction of written language among a barbarous people are worthy of remark in this connection4 ,that thought can be conveyed to persons at a distance by the use of certain cabalistic characters seems to them incredible1 and when compelled to believe it1 they look upon the person that can accomplish such wonders as embodying something supernatural4 ,these things ,i mention merely to call attention to the fact that spoken and written language is a curious and wonderfully complicated affair4 ,this is brought forcibly to our minds when we hear persons conversing in a foreign tongue1 or when we pick up a book the characters of which are wholly unlike those of our own language4 ,to us an ,english book is full of instinctive beauty1 every letter or mark possessing a definite meaning that is instantly conveyed to our minds1 because we have become familiar with them by diligent study and practise4 ,there are other ways of transferring thought besides the complicated system just mentioned--ways which are much more natural and simple4 ,thus1 a simpler way to represent a certain object would be to draw a picture of it2 or1 better still1 to represent a certain character or quality by exhibiting1 not the object itself1 but an analagous one whose peculiar character that property is2 for examples3 the quiet1 peaceful1 gentle disposition of a child1 by a lamb2 a man of cunning1 artful1 deceptive disposition1 by a fox2 or a cruel1 bloodthirsty1 vindictive tyrant1 by a tiger1 etc4 ,this is hieroglyphical or symbolic language4 ,this language takes precedence over every other for naturalness and simplicity1 being common to a greater or less extent among all nations and intelligible to all4 ,spoken language was undoubtedly a gift from ,god originally1 while written language is probably a mere human invention4 ,we are not to suppose that the first attempts to convey thought in writing would be by an alphabetical system1 but by the symbolic1 it being1 as before stated1 the most natural and within reach of the ordinary ingenuity of man4 ,this is proved by the fact that the inscriptions on the ancient monuments of ,egypt and the inscriptions of other nations of antiquity are of this character4 ,it is also a fact worthy of notice that1 four thousand years later1 men of other countries and of other languages have1 by much study and a careful comparison of the symbols1 been able to decipher with accuracy those hierographical representations4#a ,this of itself is sufficient to establish the point that definiteness can be attached to the use and the interpretation of carefully-selected symbols1 when the principles that governed their original selection are discovered4 ,footnote #a3 ,the systems of hieroglyphical writing employed by various nations have1 for the most part1 remained unintelligible until a key of their interpretation was discovered4 ,in #agii ,m4 ,bouchard1 a ,french captain of engineers1 while digging intrenchments on the site of an old temple near the ,rosetta mouth of the ,nile1 unearthed a black stone containing a trilingual inscription in hieroglyphics1 demotic characters1 and ,greek4 ,the last paragraph of the ,greek inscription stated that two translations1 one in the sacred and the other in the popular ,egyptian language1 would be found adjacent2 hence this celebrated stone has afforded ,european scholars a key to the language and writing of the ancient ,egyptians4 ,the cuneiform writing of the ,babylonians and ,persians remained a mystery also until modern times1 but great progress has now been made in the deciphering of thousands of inscribed clay tablets1 cylinders1 prisms1 etc4 ,the key to its interpretation is the celebrated inscription at ,behistun1 cut upon the face of a high rock three hundred feet above its base1 and recording a portion of the history of ,darius4 ,it is written in the cuneiform characters1 in three languages--,median1 ,persian1 and ,assyrian4 ,i do not wish to be understood as implying that the symbolical language of ,scripture is identical with the hieroglyphics of ancient monuments4 ,there may be different kinds of symbolic representations2 but they are not arbitrary1 as is spoken language1 and can not be arbitrarily applied2 a fixed law governs them all4 ,now1 the book of ,revelation is made up of this symbolic language4 ,it is not1 however1 confined to this book alone4 ,there are many instances of it to be found elsewhere in the sacred volume1 and in many cases it is explained by inspiration itself1 thus giving us a reliable key to the whole4 ,joseph's dream of the eleven sheaves that made obeisance to his sheaf was of this description 7,gen4 #cg3g1 #h71 and his eleven brethren were angered1 because its meaning was apparent--that they should be humbled before him4 ,also1 his dream of the sun1 the moon1 and the eleven stars 7verses #i1 #aj7 was understood to signify the subjection of the entire family unto him1 which was actually fulfilled after ,joseph's exaltation in ,egypt4 ,the chief butler's dream of the vine with three branches bearing grapes1 which he took and pressed into the king's cup1 was interpretated by ,joseph as signifying the butler's restoration in three days to his former position of cup-bearer to the king2 while the chief baker's dream of the three baskets upon his head1 out of which the birds ate1 was interpretated as signifying his execution in the same length of time4 ,gen4 #dj4 ,pharaoh's dream of the seven fat kine and the seven lean kine1 also of the seven full ears and the seven thin ears1 signified seven years of plenty and seven years of famine4 ,gen4 #da4 ,again1 the four divisions of ,king ,nebuchadnezzar's wonderful image was explained by ,daniel as signifying four universal monarchies and the ten toes as signifying the ten minor kingdoms which grew out of the fourth2 while the stone that was cut out of the mountain without human intervention he interpreted as signifying the divine kingdom of ,god4 ,dan4 #b4 ,the two-horned ram of ,daniel's vision 7chap4 #h71 according to the explanation of the angel1 symbolized the ,medo-,persian empire1 its two horns signifying the two dynasties of allied kings that composed it4 ,the he-goat signified the ,greco-,macedonian empire2 his great horn1 its first mighty king2 and the four horns that replaced the great one when broken represented four kings under whom the empire would eventually be divided into as many parts4 ,in the ,apocalypse itself we have a number of symbols divinely interpreted1 ,the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches4 ,the seven candle-sticks which thou sawest are the seven churches4 ,the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings4 ,the waters which thou sawest 444 are peoples1 and multitudes1 and nations1 and tongues4 ,the woman which thou sawest is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth1 etc4 ,it will be seen that the great underlying principle or law upon which symbolic language is based is ,,analogy4 ,an object is chosen to represent not itself1 but something of analagous character4 ,webster defines symbol as follows3 ,the sign or representation of any moral thing by the images or properties of natural things4 ,thus1 a lion is the symbol of courage2 the lamb is the symbol of meekness or patience4 ,home1 in his ,introduction to the ,study of the ,bible1 says3 ,by symbols we mean certain representative marks1 rather than express pictures2 or1 if pictures1 such as were at the time characters1 and besides presenting to the eye the resemblance of a particular object1 suggested a general idea to the mind1 as when a horn was made to denote strength1 an eye and scepter1 majesty1 and in numberless such instances2 where the picture was not drawn to express merely the thing itself1 but something else1 which was1 or was conceived to be1 analagous to it4 ,the main idea1 then1 as expressed in the foregoing definitions1 is the representation of an object1 not by a picture of itself1 but by something analagous1 such as the exhibition of moral qualities by images drawn from nature4 ,but the use of symbols is not confined to the representation of moral subjects alone4 ,anything may be symbolized to which a corresponding analagous object can be found4 ,to establish the principle of analogy here laid down1 it will be necessary to refer only to a few of the numerous examples of divinely interpreted symbols in the ,scriptures4 ,any one can readily perceive the analogy between the seven fat kine of ,pharaoh's dream and as many years of plenty2 so1 also1 with the seven full1 healthy ears that grew up on seven stalks4 ,likewise1 the analogy between the seven thin kine and as many years of famine1 and the seven thin1 blasted ears that represented the same thing1 is apparent4 ,one fat kine or one full ear would symbolize one year of plenty1 when crops were abundant2 while seven would represent as many distinct seasons of prosperity1 etc4 ,kine do not represent kine1 but something analagous4 ,the beasts of ,daniel's visions do not represent animals like themselves1 or a multitude of such animals1 but something of analagous disposition4 ,the analogy between a wild1 ferocious beast1 stamping upon or devouring everything within its reach1 and a cruel1 persecuting1 tyrannical government is apparent4 ,a horn does not signify a horn1 but some great power1 such as a dynasty of kings or rulers2 and what the horn is to the animal in manifesting its desolating disposition1 kings and rulers are to an empire in executing the persecuting or oppressive principles of the body politic4 ,a pure1 chaste virgin is used to symbolize the true church of ,god2 whereas a corrupt harlot is chosen to represent an apostate church1 and fornication her idolatrous worship4 ,although this principle is worthy of further elucidation1 yet enough has been said to firmly establish the point that symbolic language is founded upon analogy4 ,it is also clear that1 whenever we attach a literal signification to a symbolic object1 we immediately destroy entirely its use as a symbol4 ,so we may accept it as one established landmark in the interpretation of the ,apocalypse1 that every symbol1 regardless of the department from which it is taken--whether from the material universe1 the animal kingdom1 human life or the heavenly realm--stands as the representative1 not of itself1 but of some other object of analagous character not found in the same department from which it is drawn4 ,this develops another important fact worthy of attention4 ,if the great law of symbolic language is based upon analogy1 it is clear to a demonstration that the symbols employed must be definitely applied4 ,they can not be arbitrary1 as the words composing our spoken language are4 ,there is nothing in the nature of the thing to prevent our calling a horse an elephant1 provided we had only agreed universally to adopt that designation of the animal referred to 7arbitrary sounds can be arbitrarily applied72 but we violate nature when we attempt to make a ferocious tiger the symbol of an innocent child1 or represent a blood-thirsty tyrant by the symbol of a lamb4 ,a disgusting1 polluted harlot may be the proper symbol of an apostate church1 but of the pure1 holy church of ,god--never4 ,a proper correspondence must be kept up4 ,we must follow nature strictly4 ,symbols are drawn from every department--from animate and inanimate creation1 from animal life and human life1 from the visible universe below and the heavenly world above1 and also from some objects of fancy to which there is no corresponding object in existence1 such as ,daniel's four-headed beast1 or the one in the ,revelator's vision with seven heads and ten horns2 but in the selection of the same a proper correspondence of quality is kept up4 ,the symbols that are chosen to set forth the great spiritual affairs of the church are such as are in themselves nobler than those selected to describe the political affairs of kings and empires1 because in the divine estimation the church is of infinitely greater importance and occupies a more honorable position than worldly kingdoms4 ,thus1 a beautiful virgin bride is chosen to represent the church of ,god2 whereas a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns is chosen to symbolize the ,pagan ,roman empire4 ,the glorious body of ,god's reformers is set forth under the symbol of an angel from heaven1 with his face as the sun1 his feet as pillars of fire1 and a rainbow upon his head2 whereas the ,saracen warriors of ,mahomet are locusts upon the earth1 with stings of scorpions4 ,the department of human and angelic life is chosen to set forth the spiritual affairs of the church1 while the department of nature and of animal life represents the political affairs of nations4 ,to this general rule1 there is at least one exception4 ,certain things connected with ,god's chosen people under the old dispensation are considered proper symbols to represent similar things or events in the ,new ,testament dispensation1 without special regard to the department from which they are drawn4 ,thus1 the temple1 altar1 incense1 candlesticks1 holy city1 etc41 of the former age1 though not taken from the department of human or angelic life1 are1 nevertheless1 clearly used to represent affairs of the church1 the analogy in the case being apparent because of their former prominence as connected with the ,lord's covenant people4 ,again1 when the symbol selected is that of a living1 active1 intelligent agent1 it represents an analagous intelligent agent4 ,likewise1 the actions of the former plainly denote analagous actions in the latter1 and the effects produced by the actions of the symbolic agent signify analagous effects produced by the actions of the agent symbolized4 ,to make it clearer3 agents symbolize agents1 actions symbolize actions1 and effects symbolize effects4 ,if this be not true--if agents can symbolize actions and effects as well as agents1 or if actions can symbolize agents and effects--then all is an inextricable maze of confusion1 and well may we repeat the words uttered by a certain minister to the writer1 ,the book should have been called ,mystification1 not ,revelation4 ,the same principle of analogy is carried out in another particular4 ,whenever the enemies of ,god or destructive agents are intended1 objects of a corresponding desolating character are chosen as their symbols2 whereas the peaceful triumphs of the cross1 as exhibited by ,god's chosen people1 are described under symbols of an equally benign and gentle character4 ,thus1 the anti-christian1 persecuting power of ,rome is described as a ferocious wild beast1 stamping everything beneath its feet and spreading desolation on every side4 ,the ,vandal hordes of ,northern barbarians1 who1 under ,genseric overran the ,western ,roman empire early in the fifth century1 are symbolized by a volcanic mountain cast into the sea and spreading its streams of molten lava in every direction4 ,the fearful pest of ,mohammedanism is a dense smoke issuing from the bottomless pit and darkening the heavens4 ,the ,saracens of ,mahomet are swarms of locusts appearing upon the earth1 with scorpion stings1 tormenting men five months1 or1 prophetically1 one hundred and fifty years4 ,on the other hand1 a church is a candle-stick2 its pastor1 a beautiful star2 the whole church1 a virgin bride2 the glorious assembly of ,god's reformers1 a rainbow angel1 etc4 ,from the foregoing it will be seen that symbols are not words1 but things1 chosen because of some analagous resemblance to represent other things2 and by a careful study of the nature of the symbols themselves we can ascertain where to look for their fulfilment4 ,in the present work no attempt has been made to prove the interpretations given merely by the authority of learned names 7for they can be arrayed on every side of a passage71 but the nature of the symbols themselves has been developed2 and the reader will be able to judge how nearly the known laws of symbolic language have been followed4 ,it will be necessary1 however1 to notice another exception to the rules given1 although it can scarcely be said to form an exception--it rather proves the very position taken4 ,undoubtedly1 there are some few objects whose nature forbids their symbolization1 there being no object in existence of analagous character that can be chosen as their representative4 ,god1 evidently1 can not be symbolized2 for where is the individual in heaven or on earth that can stand as his representative8 ,to whom then will ye liken ,god8 or what likeness will ye compare unto him8 ,isa4 #dj3ah4 ,man can not represent him1 angels can not2 for whenever they appear on the panoramic scene1 they denote distinguished agencies among men4 ,there may be certain symbols connected with his person1 setting forth his divine attributes and proclaiming the eternal majesty of his name2 but he himself is described as ,one sitting upon a throne1 before whom the created intelligences of earth and heaven fall down and worship unceasingly1 but no symbol of ,him is given4 ,the same exception also applies to the person of ,jesus1 our ,savior and ,redeemer4 ,while the human aspect of the ,savior1 as exhibited during the incarnation in his sacrificial death1 may be properly symbolized by a lamb1 as in chap4 ,v1 there is no created intelligence in ,god's great universe that can be chosen to represent1 in his true1 essential divinity1 ,him who does not deem it robbery to claim equality with ,god4 ,there may1 likewise1 be certain symbols connected with his person to give us at least a faint impression of his divine character and infinite majesty2 yet when he appears upon the symbolic scene1 he distinctly announces1 ,i am the first and the last3 ,i am he that liveth1 and was dead2 and1 behold1 ,i am alive forevermore4 ,he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written1 ,,king ,,of ,,kings1 ,,and ,,lord ,,of ,,lords4 ,so whenever the divine ,christ appears on the symbolic scene1 he comes in his own person1 proclaiming his own name1 and we need look for no symbol of him4 ,upon the opening of the fifth seal1 the souls of the martyrs are represented as crying unto ,god from the altar for the avenging of their blood on those who dwell on the earth4 ,where is there an object in all creation analagous to a disembodied spirit8 ,none can be found4 ,it is easy to give them an arbitrary name2 therefore they appear in the ,revelation under their own appropriate title1 as the souls of them that were slain4 ,chap4 #f3i1 #aj1 also #bj3d4 ,this exception applies to every case where no corresponding object can be selected as a symbol4 ,where the nature of the subject forbids its symbolization1 there the description must of necessity be literal1 and all such objects appear under their own appropriate titles4 ,otherwise1 we are to look upon the entire book of ,revelation as a vast collection of symbols whose interpretation is to be found1 not in the department from which they are taken1 but in another1 to which they bear a certain analagous resemblance4 ,although not pertaining strictly to the subject of symbolic language1 yet a word respecting the plan of the prophecy will be appropriate at this time4 ,the prophetic events are not arranged after the ordinary plan of histories1 narrating all the contemporaneous events in a given period1 whether civil1 religious1 literary1 scientific1 or biographical1 thus finishing up the history of that period2 but it consists of a number of distinct themes running over the same ground4 ,the proof of this assertion will appear as we proceed with the development of the prophecies4 ,may the wisdom of heaven direct us in the perusal of this wonderful book of ,revelation1 and may we at last be accounted worthy to obtain that world1 and the glorious privilege of rendering eternal praise to ,him that sitteth upon the throne1 upholding all things by the word of his power1 declaring the end from the beginning1 and revealing his mighty works unto the children of men4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,the ,revelation of ,jesus ,christ1 which ,god gave unto him1 to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass2 and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant ,john3 #b4 ,who bare record of the word of ,god1 and of the testimony of ,jesus ,christ1 and of all things that he saw4 #c4 ,blessed is he that readeth1 and they that hear the words of this prophecy1 and keep those things which are written therein3 for the time is at hand4 ,this book of the ,revelation is frequently styled the ,apocalypse1 derived from the word by which it is designated in ,greek4 ,jesus ,christ having received it from ,god1 its author1 designed it for the future benefit of his church1 and communicated it to his servants by the hand of the beloved apostle ,john4 ,its character is described by its title ,revelation1 which signifies something revealed or made known2 and its object was to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass4 ,this object of ,god's in delivering the ,revelation to his church should be a sufficient refutation of the popular theory that this book is unintelligible1 and its varied symbols wrapped in such deep mystery that their meaning can not be evolved2 for it is not consonant with the supreme power and wisdom of the ,god-head to suppose that1 in making a revelation to man1 he would make the fatal mistake of clothing his language with a mystery that defies the intellect of mortals to unveil4 ,it is said of the things herein revealed that they must shortly come to pass1 by which is meant not that they were all to be completely fulfilled within a short time1 but that the series of special events predicted were soon to begin4 ,thus1 we speak of a century or eternity as near at hand1 by which we mean that the events of the period spoken of are about to commence1 although the end of the series may be very far off4 ,but who are his servants8 ,for whose benefit was the ,revelation given8 ,surely it was for all those who become children of ,god by faith in ,christ ,jesus1 from the beginning of the gospel dispensation when it was given1 until the end of time2 for a benediction is pronounced upon all those who read and hear its prophecies and keep those things which are written therein4 ,it was this promised blessing unto the earnest inquirers into the truths of ,revelation that enabled the writer to decide to give these prophecies the consideration that is justly their due1 and to recognize their infinite importance to the present church2 for the time is at hand that will close the series of events herein predicted and usher in eternity4 ,every fulfilment of prophecy brings with it new duties1 and enjoins fresh responsibilities upon the people of ,god2 yea1 every revolving century1 every closing year1 adds to the urgency with which attention is challenged to the concluding portion of ,holy ,writ4 ,daniel prophetically described some of the events contained also in the ,apocalypse1 but he was told to shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end1 when many shall run to and fro1 and knowledge shall be increased4 ,it has been a matter of conjecture as to who the angel or messenger was that ,christ sent to deliver the prophecies to ,john4 ,some suppose it to have been ,gabriel1 because of his having been a chosen instrument to deliver similar prophecies to ,daniel4 ,some think it was ,elijah1 he having been translated that he should not see death1 and afterwards appearing on the mount of transfiguration4 ,others think it was one of the redeemed sons of earth2 because afterward1 when rejecting the worship ,john was about to tender him1 he says1 ,see thou do it not3 ,i am thy fellow-servant1 and of thy brethren that have the testimony of ,jesus3 worship ,god4 ,chaps4 #ai3aj2 #bb3i4 ,but we can not identify this messenger positively1 as no definite information is given4 ,to these revelations received ,john bore a faithful record of all things that he saw1 implying the fact that they passed in vision before him and he beheld them as in a picture4 #d4 ,,john to the seven churches which are in ,asia3 ,grace be unto you1 and peace1 from him which is1 and which was1 and which is to come2 and from the seven ,spirits which are before his throne2 #e4 ,and from ,jesus ,christ1 who is the faithful witness1 and the first begotten of the dead1 and the prince of the kings of the earth4 ,unto him that loved us1 and washed us from our sins in his own blood1 #f4 ,and hath made us kings and priests unto ,god and his ,father2 to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever4 ,amen4 #g4 ,behold1 he cometh with clouds2 and every eye shall see him1 and they also which pierced him3 and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him4 ,even so1 ,amen4 #h4 ,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and the ending1 saith the ,lord1 which is1 and which was1 and which is to come1 the ,almighty4 ,the ,apocalypse opens with the salutation of ,john to the seven churches in ,asia1 unto whom it was particularly addressed1 and for whom special messages were prepared4 ,there were other congregations of the church of ,god in ,asia1 or ,asia ,minor1 besides the seven to whom the ,revelation was sent1 such as ,colosse1 ,miletus1 ,troas1 etc4 ,why only seven were addressed1 we do not know1 unless it be that the number seven is used1 as elsewhere in the ,sacred ,volume1 to denote fulness or completeness1 being1 as has been said1 a kind of memorial of the great facts of the first seven days of time which have divided all ages into cycles of weeks4 ,so when we read of ,christ's walking in the midst of the seven churches1 we are to understand that he is in all the congregations of his people2 and the ministers of the seven churches who are upheld by the ,lord himself are representative1 in one important sense at least1 of the entire ,christian ministry2 for ,christ has promised to be with them alway even unto the end of the world4 ,mat4 #bh3bj4 ,this salutation of ,john's is one of great beauty and splendor1 setting forth1 as it does1 the divine attributes of the great ,jehovah in a striking manner as he which is1 and which was1 and which is to come1 an expression embracing eternity and designating the eternal1 unchangeable ,god4 ,the seven spirits before his throne describe the third person in the ,trinity1 as will appear clearer hereafter1 seven being used as a sacred or perfect number designating his dignity and excellence4 ,some have supposed that seven angelic spirits were here described2 but it is not consistent with the honor due the ,god-head to suppose that created intelligences should be exalted to a plane of equality with the supreme ,deity4 ,moreover1 they would probably have been described as seven angels1 and not as seven spirits4 ,jesus ,christ is mentioned next and more fully described1 he being the direct author of the ,revelation4 ,he is the first begotten of the dead1 the prince of the kings of the earth1 and the one that loved us1 and washed us from our sins in his own blood4 ,the statement that ,christ is the first-begotten of the dead1 is parallel to similar expressions in the ,bible1 where he is declared to be the first-fruits of them that slept1 and the first-born from the dead4 ,though others had been restored to life before the resurrection of ,christ1 yet he was the first to rise with an immortal1 glorified body4 ,these expressions may also denote that ,christ was the chief or central figure among all those who arose4 ,but it was by virtue of his coming and of his victory over death that any were enabled to rise before his resurrection1 as in the mind and purpose of ,god1 who calleth those things which be not as though they were 7,rom4 #d3ag71 ,christ was ordained to die and rise again1 from the foundation of the world4 ,he is the prince of the kings of the earth by virtue of his being exalted to the right hand of ,god1 with angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him4 #a ,pet4 #c3bb4 ,far above all principality1 and power1 and might1 and dominion1 and every name that is named1 not only in this world1 but also in that which is to come4 ,eph4 #a3ba4 ,unto him that loved us1 and washed us from our sins in his own blood1 describes the great atonement work of ,jesus ,christ1 by which we are cleansed from all sin and made a royal1 kingly priesthood unto ,god even in this world4 ,every soul that has received the blessed experience ,john here describes will be able to appreciate the unbounded rapture the beloved apostle felt in the contemplation of this wonderful theme of redemption that caused him to ascribe to ,god1 its author1 glory and dominion forever and ever4 ,this ,jesus is he who will come again1 not in humiliation and suffering1 but in glory and honor2 not as a ,lamb to shed his blood for the sins of the world1 but as the ,lion of the tribe of ,juda1 with infinite power and majesty1 causing all the kindreds of earth to wail because of him4 ,the blasphemous ,jews1 who clamored for his crucifixion2 ,pilate1 who delivered him up2 and the ,roman soldiery1 who drove the nails and pierced his side1 producing a death of greatest ignominy--all will see him when he comes4 ,but while the proud enemies of ,god and the cruel oppressors of his saints are overwhelmed with terror at the sight of ,his person1 the saints of all ages will shout for joy1 saying1 ,even so4 ,amen4 ,the judgments of the ,lord are true and righteous altogether4 ,in the face of this awful truth1 how dare men assert that the second advent will usher in a thousand years of peace and tranquility1 during which time the wicked will lie in their graves1 when ,god's word declares that every eye shall see him when he comes8 ,the present description of ,christ closes with the statement that he is the ,alpha and the ,omega1 which1 being the first and last letters of the ,greek alphabet1 mean the same as the beginning and the ending2 while the whole concludes with the statement that he is the one which is1 and which was1 and which is to come1 the ,almighty--which is the same as the description given of ,god in verse #d4 ,nothing in addition to this could be ascribed to ,christ4 ,every attribute with which the ,deity himself is invested is here ascribed to ,jesus ,christ4 ,if our ,savior is anything more than this description declares him to be1 it is beyond the reach of our finite minds to comprehend4 ,the sacred writers everywhere speak of him as a being worthy of worship and praise2 and this fact1 taken in connection with the universal proneness of men to take the honor from ,god and to give it to those who are no gods1 is a convincing proof that ,christ is ,god and1 as such1 is worthy of all honor and praise2 and nowhere is there given in regard to ,christ a warning caution such as ,john received from the angel at whose feet he fell to worship--,see thou do it not 444 worship ,god4 #i4 ,i ,john1 who also am your brother1 and companion in tribulation1 and in the kingdom and patience of ,jesus ,christ1 was in the isle that is called ,patmos1 for the word of ,god1 and for the testimony of ,jesus ,christ4 #aj4 ,i was in the ,spirit on the ,lord's day1 and heard behind me a great voice1 as of a trumpet1 #aa4 ,saying1 ,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 the first and the last3 and1 ,what thou seest1 write in a book1 and send it unto the seven churches which are in ,asia2 unto ,ephesus1 and unto ,smyrna1 and unto ,pergamos1 and unto ,thyatira1 and unto ,sardis1 and unto ,philadelphia1 and unto ,laodicea4 ,at the time the ,revelation was given1 ,john was a prisoner in the ,isle of ,patmos 7now called ,patmo or ,patino71 a small1 desolate1 rocky island in the ,aegean sea1 near the coast of ,asia ,minor1 its greatest length from north to south being about ten miles1 and its greatest breadth six4 ,to this lonely place1 according to ,jerome and others1 ,john was exiled during the reign of the tyrant ,domitian1 in ,a4,d4 #ie4 ,the reason of his banishment is given--,for the word of ,god1 and for the testimony of ,jesus ,christ4 ,having confined him to this barren spot1 the emperor no doubt thought he had effectually cleared the world of this preacher of righteousness4 ,doubtless the persecutors of ,john ,bunyan#b thought the same when they had him shut up in ,bedford jail4 ,but when men think the truth is dead and buried out of sight1 ,god suddenly gives it a resurrection with thirty-fold greater glory4 ,it was so in this case4 ,the giving of the book of ,revelation--the writing on this spot of the history of the church in advance--has changed the name of this rocky island from deepest infamy to one of sacred interest and holy recollections4 ,the death of ,domitian occurred in ,a4,d4 #if1 and his successor1 the humane ,nerva1 recalled those who had been exiled because of their faithfulness to ,christianity2 and ,john returned to ,ephesus1 where he spent the remainder of his days1 dying a natural death at the advanced age of about one hundred years4 ,footnote #b3 ,john ,bunyan 7#afbh-afhh7 was a ,puritan4 ,after the restoration of the ,stuarts to the throne1 at the close of the ,english ,revolution and the failure of the ,commonwealth1 he was imprisoned for twelve years on account of non-conformity to the established worship4 ,it was during this dreary confinement that he wrote his ,pilgrim's ,progress1 the most admirable allegory in ,english literature4 ,the humble manner in which ,john speaks of himself is affectionate4 ,he does not represent himself to the churches as some great apostle or prophet1 but as your brother and companion in tribulation1 a sharer with them in the trials and the persecutions that they were all called upon to endure4 ,he also testified that he was in the kingdom and patience of ,christ1 of which we will speak more hereafter4 ,it was on the first day of the week1 or the ,lord's day1 that the vision recorded in this chapter was given ,john1 while he was in the ,spirit1 or under the influence of the spirit of prophecy4 ,he was commanded to write in a book the things that he saw and to send it unto the seven churches of ,asia4 ,it is important to bear in mind the fact that these visions are things that ,john saw1 all the actors and events passing before him as a moving panorama--the most stupendous scene that human eyes have ever beheld1 containing the future political history of various nations and kingdoms and also the history of the church in her different phases from the beginning until the final consummation4 ,of the seven churches we will speak more particularly hereafter4 #ab4 ,and ,i turned to see the voice that spake with me4 ,and being turned1 ,i saw seven golden candlesticks2 #ac4 ,and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the ,son of man1 clothed with a garment down to the foot1 and girt about the paps with a golden girdle4 #ad4 ,his head and his hairs were white like wool1 as white as snow2 and his eyes were as a flame of fire2 #ae4 ,and his feet like unto fine brass1 as if they burned in a furnace2 and his voice as the sound of many waters4 #af4 ,and he had in his right hand seven stars3 and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword3 and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength4 #ag4 ,and when ,i saw him1 ,i fell at his feet as dead4 ,and he laid his right hand upon me1 saying unto me1 ,fear not2 ,i am the first and the last3 #ah4 ,i am he that liveth1 and was dead2 and1 behold1 ,i am alive for evermore1 ,amen2 and have the keys of hell and of death4 ,the hieroglyphic1 or symbolic1 characters now begin4 ,turning in the direction from which the voice came1 ,john saw seven beautiful candle-sticks and standing in their midst1 a personage whose appearance was inexpressibly glorious4 ,john had recognized the voice of ,christ announcing ,i am the first and the last1 but he was not prepared for the sight that met his gaze when he turned and found himself in the immediate presence of his ,august ,majesty1 the ,son of ,god4 ,a human form was there1 but clothed in such vestments as proclaimed ,god2 and no wonder mortality was overwhelmed when ushered into the presence of the uncreated ,deity--he whose feet glowed as brass in a furnace1 whose eyes were as a flame of fire1 and whose voice was as the sound of many waters4 ,any man would have fallen as dead before such a personage as is here described4 ,men may talk atheism1 but it is the atheism of the lips and of a coward heart1 an atheism that would flee appalled before the burning footsteps of the ,deity1 and the irresistible conclusion would be1 ,it is ,god himself4 ,john was not left in doubt regarding the identity of this personage2 for1 laying his hand upon the prostrate form of the apostle1 he said1 ,fear not2 ,i am the first and the last3 ,i am he that liveth1 and was dead2 and1 behold1 ,i am alive forevermore1 ,amen2 and have the keys of hell and of death4 ,the ever-living ,one entered death's domains and permitted himself to be bound with chains2 but at his pleasure he broke them asunder1 conquered death1 and rose triumphant1 carrying with him the keys of hell and of death2 and he has ascended on high1 alive forevermore2 and at his voice all the dead will arise at his appearing1 for the grave can no longer hold its victims4 ,this vision settles an important fact--that when ,christ appears upon the panoramic scene1 he comes in his own person1 and not in the character of a created substitute4 ,there may be symbols connected with his person--the sword of his mouth may signify vengeance upon his enemies2 his eyes as a flame of fire1 superior intelligence and penetrating vision1 etc4--but he distinctly announces himself to be the ,christ of ,god4 ,there is no creature in the universe that could personate him that liveth1 and was dead1 but is alive forevermore4 #ai4 ,write the things which thou hast seen1 and the things which are1 and the things which shall be hereafter2 #bj4 ,the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand1 and the seven golden candlesticks4 ,the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches3 and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches4 ,here ,john received a special commission to write the things of the future that were to be given1 the things that were then taking place1 and also certain events which had come under his personal observation during his life-time1 and which were also included in the symbolic visions1 thus covering the entire gospel dispensation4 ,the special symbols employed in this introductory vision are here explained by ,christ himself1 thus leaving us in no doubt whatever4 ,a star is a fit symbol of the position of a ,christian minister--set in the church to give the light of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ to the world2 while a candle-stick fitly represents the congregation working with him and sustaining him in his position4 ,the special power of ,christ--symbolized by his right hand--is manifested in upholding his ministers1 while he walks in the midst of his churches1 ready with the sword of his mouth to defend them from the attacks of their adversaries and to prove their constant ,guardian and ,protector4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,unto the angel of the church of ,ephesus write2 ,these things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand1 who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks2 #b4 ,i know thy works1 and thy labor1 and thy patience1 and how thou canst not bear them which are evil3 and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles1 and are not1 and hast found them liars3 #c4 ,and hast borne1 and hast patience1 and for my name's sake hast labored1 and hast not fainted4 #d4 ,nevertheless ,i have somewhat against thee1 because thou hast left thy first love4 #e4 ,remember therefore from whence thou art fallen1 and repent1 and do the first works2 or else ,i will come unto thee quickly1 and will remove thy candlestick out of his place1 except thou repent4 #f4 ,but this thou hast1 that thou hatest the deeds of the ,nicolaitanes1 which ,i also hate4 #g4 ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches2 ,to him that overcometh will ,i give to eat of the tree of life1 which is in the midst of the paradise of ,god4 ,the special messages to the seven churches of ,asia ,minor are not of such thrilling interest as are the symbolic visions of the remainder of the book1 yet we can learn many beneficial lessons from the various experiences of these congregations4 ,at the time the ,revelation was given1 ,ephesus was the chief capital of ,proconsular ,asia and its pride and glory4 ,it was also that country's chief mart of idolatry1 containing1 as it did1 the magnificent temple of ,diana1 which is reckoned as one of the seven wonders of the world4 ,this temple1 according to the disclosures of modern excavations1 was four hundred and eighteen feet in length1 and two hundred and thirty-nine in width1 with one hundred beautiful external pillars of ,parian marble1 each a single shaft about fifty-six feet high4 ,the city was proud of the title it had received1 ,servant of the ,goddess1 and even the ,roman emperors vied with wealthy natives in lavishing gifts to her4 ,one of the latter1 named ,vibius ,salutaris1 presented a large quantity of gold and silver images to be carried annually in procession4 ,in this proud1 wealthy1 idolatrous city the apostle ,paul planted a ,christian church1 and the great inroads the gospel made into the prevalent system of idolatry is shown by one circumstance mentioned in the ,book of ,acts4 ,and many that believed came1 and confessed1 and showed their deeds4 ,many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together1 and burned them before all men3 and they counted the price of them1 and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver4 ,so mightily grew the word of ,god and prevailed4 ,acts #ai3ah-bj4 ,fifty thousand pieces of silver would be equal to ten thousand dollars' worth1 or1 according to some estimates1 six times that amount4 ,but ten thousand dollars' worth of books on incantation and magic alone destroyed1 considering the scarcity of books in that day1 shows the wondrous extent to which the gospel had been accepted4 ,this was made the occasion of a great tumult in the city1 when one1 ,demetrius1 seeing that the prestige of ,diana was diminishing1 stirred up the people of the city against ,paul and his companions1 and cried vehemently1 ,great is ,diana of the ,ephesians6 ,the souvenir silver shrines and images of this goddess1 which had been in such demand by the multitudes of people constantly visiting the city1 were no longer sought for when the knowledge of the one true ,god was made known2 and well might ,demetrius and his fellow-craftsmen be alarmed as their means of wealth disappeared4 ,the spiritual condition of this church in ,paul's time is worthy of notice2 for it presents a striking contrast with its condition at the time when the special message of the ,revelation was addressed to it4 ,paul in his epistle to the ,ephesians taught them the glorious doctrine of entire sanctification 7chap4 #e3be-bg71 and they had received the experience2 for he gives them the express command1 ,grieve not the holy ,spirit of ,god1 whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption4 ,chap4 #d3cj4 ,and again1 ,after that ye believed1 ye were sealed with that holy ,spirit of promise4 ,chap4 #a3ac4 ,their ministers1 also1 had been placed in their position by authority of the ,holy ,ghost1 and were commanded to feed the flock4 ,see ,acts #bj3bh4 ,when this was their heavenly experience1 their first works of patience1 love1 and perseverance1 were acceptable unto ,christ2 but it was not their present condition4 ,a sad declension had taken place2 therefore the declaration1 ,i have somewhat against thee1 because thou hast left thy first love4 ,this was no mere human estimate placed upon their piety1 but it was their condition as ,christ himself knew it to be4 ,he who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks1 and knoweth the hearts of all men1 declared they had fallen1 and commanded them to repent and to do the first works4 ,how sad that a congregation which had one time enjoyed the fulness of ,god's favor should fall from grace and be threatened with destruction by the ,lord himself6 ,but there is one consolation to be obtained from the experience of this church1 and that is1 that even if persons have enjoyed an experience of pardon and of sanctification and have lost it1 there is a possibility of their recovering the favor of ,god1 provided they repent1 and do the first works4 ,but ,christ1 who in chapter #a3e is said to be the faithful witness1 will not overlook anything that is good1 nor censure a congregation unjustly4 ,he finds in this church one fact worthy of commendation--their abhorrence of the deeds of the ,nicolaitans4 ,the infamous practises attributed to this party are promiscuous sexual intercourse and the eating of things sacrificed to idols4 ,it is said to have derived its name from ,nicolas1 a proselyte of ,antioch1 who was one of the seven deacons appointed by the church at ,jerusalem1 ,acts #f3e4 ,but there is no satisfactory evidence that ,nicolas was its founder2 and it is the belief of many1 that the sect attributed their origin to him simply to gain the prestige of his name4 ,however1 its mention in this connection is sufficient proof that at this time those corrupt principles had been widely promulgated4 ,the letter closes with an admonition and a promise--an admonition to give heed to the things uttered by the ,spirit1 and a promise of everlasting life to the overcomer4 ,this shows that ,christ does not approve or condemn indiscriminately4 ,if the great mass of professors continue in their backslidden condition1 the individual that gives heed to ,god's ,word and is made an overcomer will have a right to the tree of life1 which is in the midst of the paradise of ,god4 ,what1 may we ask1 has been the fate of this church against which ,christ uttered the threat of removal8 ,there is no proof that they gave heed to the exhortation to repent1 and the candle-stick has long since been taken away4 ,not a vestige of a church remains to mark the site of this once important congregation2 nay1 the city itself is no more1 the stork1 the jackal1 and a few miserable ,turkish huts alone remaining on the site of this once proud metropolis where thousands congregated and cried1 ,great is ,diana of the ,ephesians6 #h4 ,and unto the angel of the church in ,smyrna write2 ,these things saith the first and the last which was dead1 and is alive2 #i4 ,i know thy works1 and tribulation1 and poverty1 7but thou art rich7 and ,i know the blasphemy of them which say they are ,jews1 and are not1 but are the synagogue of ,satan4 #aj4 ,fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer3 behold1 the devil shall cast some of you into prison1 that ye may be tried2 and ye shall have tribulation ten days3 be thou faithful unto death1 and ,i will give thee a crown of life4 #aa4 ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches2 ,he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death4 ,smyrna was situated on a bay of the ,aegean ,sea1 its beautiful harbor rendering it from time immemorial one of the most important commercial cities of ,asia ,minor4 ,history does not inform us when the gospel was first introduced in this city2 but at a very early date a large congregation existed there1 with the venerable ,polycarp as its pastor4 ,he suffered death by martyrdom under the reign of ,marcus ,aurelius about ,a4,d4 #afg4 ,in each of the seven letters to the churches ,christ introduces himself by some appellation significant of the character he assumes toward them4 ,in this he styles himself the first and the last1 which was dead1 and is alive1 a fact very important for that congregation to remember during the great seasons of persecution and oppression through which they were to be called to pass4 ,against this church ,christ has no words of condemnation to utter2 all is encouragement and promise4 ,their condition of poverty is mentioned4 ,it is probable that this very poverty arose because of their accepting ,christianity and taking joyfully the spoiling of their goods2 for it is a well-known fact that1 when individuals embrace ,christianity in an idolatrous land1 they are disinherited by parents1 cast out by relatives1 and denied public employment4 ,even the community refuses to associate with them or to render them assistance in any form4 ,their means of subsistence is thus cut off1 and they are harassed in every possible manner4 ,perhaps this is the very trial of poverty the church of ,smyrna passed through2 but ,christ declares that they are rich3 yea1 ,god hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith1 and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him4 ,jas4 #b3e4 ,their enemies may think that they have reduced them to a condition of wretchedness1 but in this the persecutors are mistaken4 ,god says the righteous are rich4 ,a certain writer has remarked1 ,there is many a rich poor man1 and many a poor rich man4 ,the blasphemy of opposing1 self-styled ,jews is next mentioned4 ,in all probability the term ,jew is applied in its spiritual sense4 ,paul declares that he is not a ,jew which is one outwardly 444 but he is a ,jew which is one inwardly 7,rom4 #b3bh1 #bi71 and that if ye be ,christ's1 then are ye ,abraham's seed1 and heirs according to the promise4 ,gal4 #c3bi4 ,these persons professed to belong to the true ,israel of ,god 7,gal4 #f3af71 but they were without salvation2 and the ,smyrnaen church would not recognize them as belonging to the congregation1 and therefore the only name that could be applied to them was the synagogue of ,satan4 ,had they been tolerated in the assembly of the righteous1 ,christ would have condemned or rebuked the church for not performing their duty1 the same as he did the churches of ,pergamos and ,thyatira4 ,great persecutions for the church of ,smyrna are predicted2 but he which was dead1 and is alive forevermore1 having passed through the ordeal of suffering and death himself1 stands in a position to speak words of comfort and consolation1 assuring them in the strongest terms that1 although wicked men and the devil may cast them into prison and persecute them unto the death1 yet he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death4 ,the overcomers are of the number of those who1 having had part in the first resurrection1 on such the second death hath no power4 ,chap4 #bj3f4 ,the ten days doubtless are prophetic time 7which will be explained later7 and signify ten years1 which was probably fulfilled in the terrible persecution that began under the reign of ,diocletian1 and continued ten years1 or from ,a4,d4 #cjb to #cab4 ,the subsequent history of ,smyrna has been different from that of ,ephesus1 in that it has retained its name and importance until the present day1 being the greatest commercial city in the ,levant4 ,it has a population of more than two hundred thousand1 several thousand of whom belong to the ,greek and ,armenian churches4 ,the light there has become dimmed1 but let us pray that ,god will soon remember the faith and perseverance of his ancient servants and again trim the lamps that once shone so brightly4 #ab4 ,and to the angel of the church in ,pergamos write2 ,these things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges2 #ac4 ,i know thy works1 and where thou dwellest1 even where ,satan's seat is3 and thou holdest fast my name1 and hast not denied my faith1 even in those days wherein ,antipas was my faithful martyr1 who was slain among you1 where ,satan dwelleth4 #ad4 ,but ,i have a few things against thee1 because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of ,balaam1 who taught ,balac to cast a stumbling-block before the children of ,israel1 to eat things sacrificed unto idols1 and to commit fornication4 #ae4 ,so hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the ,nicolaitanes1 which thing ,i hate4 #af4 ,repent2 or else ,i will come unto thee quickly1 and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth4 #ag4 ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches2 ,to him that overcometh will ,i give to eat of the hidden manna1 and will give him a white stone1 and in the stone a new name written1 which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it4 ,pergamos was a city of considerable importance1 the ancient metropolis of the province of ,mysia and the residence of the ,attalian kings4 ,the description here given of ,christ is in accordance with the character of the church addressed and the work he found necessary to perform in it4 ,they are said to be located where ,satan's seat is4 ,pergamos was a city reputed to be sacred to the gods and was one of the headquarters of idolatry4 ,there are numerous such cities now among the ,hindoos and other idolatrous nations4 ,these cities are regarded with peculiar veneration and sanctity1 and they contain the most honored temples4 ,in the midst of such surroundings the influences against ,christianity would be very great4 ,the congregation is commended because of its loyalty and steadfastness during a period of persecution in which ,antipas was slain4 ,when this persecution occurred1 we are not informed2 and as to the identity of ,antipas1 we are also left in uncertainty4 ,some suppose him to have been the elder of the church4 ,christ censures them severely1 however1 for tolerating persons in their midst who held the doctrine of ,balaam and the pernicious sentiments of the ,nicolaitans1 and he threatens to fight against them with the sword of his mouth unless they repent4 ,the doctrine of ,balaam is partly explained--he taught ,balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of ,israel1 to eat things sacrificed unto idols1 and to commit fornication4 ,when ,balak desired ,balaam to pronounce a curse against ,israel1 ,god by various means miraculously prevented ,balaam's doing so2 but ,balaam craftily instructed ,balak to make use of the women of ,moab to seduce the men of ,israel to sacrifice to their idols and to indulge in the licentious accompaniments to such idolatry4 ,in many places in heathen countries to-day vile women are attached to the temples of the gods1 and at certain stated feasts licentiousness becomes a sanctioned part of the religious celebration4 ,balaam's plan was successful4 ,god was displeased with ,israel1 and because of this fornication there fell in one day twenty-four thousand4 ,for a full account see ,num4 #bb-be2 #ca3ac-ag4 ,it would appear that the doctrine of ,balaam and the doctrine of the ,nicolaitans were classed as two different heresies2 but the corrupt tenets of the latter were identical with those of the former1 and the probable meaning is1 ,as the ,hebrews had ,balaamites among them2 so1 likewise1 you have among you the ,nicolaitans teaching the same pernicious doctrines4 ,it is also a singular fact that the ,hebrew signification of ,balaam and the ,greek of ,nicolas is the same--subduer of the people4 ,thus the doctrine of ,balaam would stand as a representation of the principles taught by the ,nicolaitans4 ,the letter to this church also closes with an exhortation and a promise4 ,hidden manna and a white stone in which is inscribed a new name are rewarded the overcomer4 ,the interpretations of this white stone have been various1 but the difficulty seems to lie in determining which ancient custom is meant4 ,the most satisfactory to my mind is that contained in the following account by ,mr4 ,blunt3 ,in primitive times1 when traveling was rendered difficult from want of places of public entertainment1 hospitality was exercised by private individuals to a very great extent1 of which1 indeed1 we find frequent traces in all history1 and in none more than in the ,old ,testament4 ,persons who partook of this hospitality1 and those who practised it1 frequently contracted habits of friendship and regard for each other1 and it became a well-established custom among the ,greeks and ,romans to provide their guests with some particular mark1 which was handed down from father to son1 and insured hospitality and kind treatment whenever it was presented4 ,this mark was usually a small stone or pebble1 cut in halves1 upon each of which the host and the guest mutually inscribed their names1 and then interchanged with each other4 ,the production of these stones was quite sufficient to insure friendship for themselves or descendants whenever they traveled again in the same direction2 while it is evident that these stones required to be privately kept1 and the names written upon them carefully concealed1 lest others should obtain the privileges instead of the persons for whom they were intended4 ,so those who have obtained salvation and are overcomers through the blood have received the sure pledge of ,christ's eternal friendship 7which those who know not ,god can not receive7 and are invited to partake of all of his hospitalities1 even to eat of the hidden manna1 which is experienced by the truly sanctified4 #ah4 ,and unto the angel of the church in ,thyatira write2 ,these things saith the ,son of ,god1 who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire1 and his feet are like fine brass2 #ai4 ,i know thy works1 and charity1 and service1 and faith1 and thy patience1 and thy works2 and the last to be more than the first4 #bj4 ,notwithstanding ,i have a few things against thee1 because thou sufferest that woman ,jezebel1 which calleth herself a prophetess1 to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication1 and to eat things sacrificed unto idols4 #ba4 ,and ,i gave her space to repent of her fornication2 and she repented not4 #bb4 ,behold1 ,i will cast her into a bed1 and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation1 except they repent of their deeds4 #bc4 ,and ,i will kill her children with death2 and all the churches shall know that ,i am he which searcheth the reins and hearts3 and ,i will give unto every one of you according to your works4 #bd4 ,but unto you ,i say1 and unto the rest in ,thyatira1 as many as have not this doctrine1 and which have not known the depths of ,satan1 as they speak2 ,i will put upon you none other burden4 #be4 ,but that which ye have already hold fast till ,i come4 #bf4 ,and he that overcometh1 and keepeth my works unto the end1 to him will ,i give power over the nations3 #bg4 ,and he shall rule them with a rod of iron2 as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers3 even as ,i received of my ,father4 #bh4 ,and ,i will give him the morning star4 #bi4 ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches4 ,to this congregation ,christ manifests himself in the character of him who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire1 and his feet like fine brass1 denoting the fact that he is the great discerner of all hearts and that he is able to render unto every man according to his deeds4 ,whether the expression1 his feet like fine brass1 has any particular signification1 ,i am unable to say4 ,this letter opens with a commendation of the works1 the charity1 the service1 and the faith of this church4 ,in these things they had made considerable advancement4 ,nevertheless1 ,christ had something against them1 because they had suffered that woman ,jezebel to teach false doctrines and to seduce the servants of ,christ to compromise with idolatry and to commit fornication4 ,it is improbable that ,jezebel was her real name2 but she was a ,jezebel in character1 named in this letter after ,king ,ahab's wicked wife1 who killed the ,lord's prophets1 seduced her husband into idolatry1 and fed the priests of ,baal at her own table4 ,some have supposed that this appellation designated a number or class of people teaching these doctrines2 but the manner in which her children1 or disciples1 are spoken of would seem rather to point out a particular woman--one who was a leader and the chief instrument of mischief4 ,the long-suffering of ,christ had been manifested in this case4 ,he had given her an opportunity to repent of her evil deeds1 but she would not4 ,now he declares that he will cause his judgments to descend upon her and her followers4 ,by casting her into a bed is doubtless meant that he would bring her down upon a bed of sickness and pain and thus make her a most distressing object4 ,her partners in sin were to suffer great tribulation1 and her children1 or disciples1 he would kill with death1 or deadly pestilence4 ,thus would this whole corrupt party be visited with divine judgments according to their works2 while their great pretensions to wisdom and discernment1 as they speak1 or as they term it1 will be shown to be nothing but the depths of ,satan4 ,the frequent references to these gross sins in the letters to the churches may seem a little strange to us in the altered circumstances of society in which we live2 but when we consider the tone of public sentiment and the prevalence of idolatry at that time1 it will be seen that the lapse into these sins was very easy4 ,some compromised with the heathen by joining in their idolatrous feasts1 maintaining that the meat was not affected one way or the other1 and this proved but a stepping-stone to the licentious principles and the corrupt practises of those with whom they thus associated4 ,the remainder of this letter is full of encouragement to the faithful4 ,the only burden ,christ placed upon them was a severe censure because they tolerated that abominable party in their midst4 ,they were exhorted to continue faithful and were promised power over the nations4 ,these they should rule with a rod of iron1 the same as ,christ1 who received this power from his ,father4 ,the law1 or rod1 with which ,christ1 and his people with him1 as kings and priests1 rule the nations is the word of ,god1 the most unyielding law1 based upon the greatest authority1 ever written4 ,let the saints be joyful in glory 444 let the high praises of ,god be in their mouth1 and a two-edged sword in their hand2 to execute vengeance upon the heathen1 and punishments upon the people2 to bind their kings with chains1 and their nobles with fetters of iron2 to execute upon them the judgments written3 this honor have all his saints4 ,psa4 #adi3e-i4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,and unto the angel of the church in ,sardis write2 ,these things saith he that hath the seven ,spirits of ,god1 and the seven stars2 ,i know thy works1 that thou hast a name that thou livest1 and art dead4 #b4 ,be watchful1 and strengthen the things which remain1 that are ready to die3 for ,i have not found thy works perfect before ,god4 #c4 ,remember therefore how thou hast received and heard1 and hold fast1 and repent4 ,if therefore thou shalt not watch1 ,i will come on thee as a thief1 and thou shalt not know what hour ,i will come upon thee4 #d4 ,thou hast a few names even in ,sardis which have not defiled their garments2 and they shall walk with me in white3 for they are worthy4 #e4 ,he that overcometh1 the same shall be clothed in white raiment2 and ,i will not blot out his name out of the book of life1 but ,i will confess his name before my ,father1 and before his angels4 #f4 ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches4 ,sardis was one of the chief cities of western ,asia ,minor4 ,it was beautifully situated on the river ,pactolus1 in the middle ,hermus valley1 at the foot of ,mount ,tmolus1 and was once the capital of the kingdom of ,lydia1 the place of residence of ,croesus and other ,lydian kings4 ,it was a city of great opulence and splendor1 and distinguished for the voluptuous and debauched manners of its inhabitants4 ,to this church ,christ introduces himself as he that hath the seven ,spirits of ,god1 and the seven stars--that is1 he has control of the ,holy ,spirit's agency and of his ministers4 ,thus1 the great spiritual agencies of the church are in his keeping to bestow or to take away as he pleases4 ,considering the dead condition of this church of ,sardis1 it was very appropriate for ,christ thus to address himself to them4 ,he has no words of commendation to offer1 no works of charity1 service1 faith1 and patience of which to approve4 ,they had works1 but these were not perfect before ,god4 ,they were threatened with sudden visitation1 as unexpected as a thief breaking in unawares upon the slumbering inmates of a dwelling in the still hours of night4 ,their condition was different from that of any of the churches before mentioned4 ,they are not charged with such vile practises as prevailed at ,pergamus and ,thyatira1 the doctrine of the ,nicolaitans had gained no foothold among them1 yet their works were not perfect4 ,thou hast a name that thou livest1 and are dead4 ,they had maintained the external form of religion1 but the vital power of godliness was lacking4 ,although ,christ could not commend this church as a body1 on account of their lack of spirituality1 yet he testified1 ,thou hast a few names even in ,sardis which have not defiled their garments4 ,in the midst of all the cold formalism of professors and surrounded by worldliness and iniquity1 a few preserved their ,christian integrity and were approved by the ,lord4 ,pure religion and undefiled before ,god and the ,father is this 444 to keep himself unspotted from the world4 ,jas4 #a3bg4 ,all such overcomers have the promise of being clothed in white raiment 7the righteousness of saints --chap4 #ai3h7 and of having their names preserved in the book of life in heaven and confessed before the ,father and the holy angels4 ,wondrous admission into the heavenly realm6 ,presented to the ,father and the innumerable hosts of heaven by the ,lord1 himself1 there1 amid sacred environments1 to enjoy the transcendent felicity of eternal blessedness6 ,they are worthy1 saith ,christ4 ,although this church was threatened with sudden visitation1 there is no hint given of the manner in which this should be fulfilled1 for the reason1 perhaps1 that it might be all the more unexpected4 ,the church has long since passed out of existence4 ,the city itself has lain in ruins for centuries1 the modern village of ,sart composed of a few huts inhabited by semi-nomadic ,yuruks alone remaining near the ancient site4 ,cattle now graze on grassy plains once traversed by streets and thronged with the inhabitants of this superb metropolis4 #g4 ,and to the angel of the church in ,philadelphia write2 ,these things saith he that is holy1 he that is true1 he that hath the key of ,david1 he that openeth1 and no man shutteth2 and shutteth1 and no man openeth2 #h4 ,i know thy works3 behold1 ,i have set before thee an open door1 and no man can shut it3 for thou hast a little strength1 and hast kept my word1 and hast not denied my name4 #i4 ,behold1 ,i will make them of the synagogue of ,satan1 which say they are ,jews1 and are not1 but do lie2 behold1 ,i will make them to come and worship before thy feet1 and to know that ,i have loved thee4 #aj4 ,because thou hast kept the word of my patience1 ,i also will keep thee from the hour of temptation1 which shall come upon all the world1 to try them that dwell upon the earth4 #aa4 ,behold1 ,i come quickly3 hold that fast which thou hast1 that no man take thy crown4 #ab4 ,him that overcometh will ,i make a pillar in the temple of my ,god1 and he shall go no more out3 and ,i will write upon him the name of my ,god1 and the name of the city of my ,god1 which is new ,jerusalem1 which cometh down out of heaven from my ,god1 and ,i will write upon him my new name4 #ac4 ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches4 ,philadelphia was once a large and powerful city1 and it continued thus until later times4 ,prior to the time the ,revelation was written1 it had suffered severely from repeated earthquakes1 which caused it to be almost deserted by its inhabitants4 ,subsequently1 however1 it recovered and became a prosperous1 influential city4 ,the character ,christ assumes toward this church is that of the ,holy and ,true--one who will justly reward them for their patience and perseverance--and by virtue of his possessing the key of ,david 7a symbol of power and authority71 he is able to place before them an open door which no man can shut4 ,the character of this church is wholly unlike that of the preceding4 ,in that1 there was nothing to commend1 but much to condemn2 whereas to this1 all is admonition1 encouragement1 and promise1 because they had kept the word of his patience and had not denied his name4 ,christ knew their works and that they were worthy of approval4 ,they still possessed a little strength and had not denied his name4 ,christ1 who always upholds and rewards his faithful followers1 although they be few in number and constitute the despised of earth1 was not unrighteous that he should overlook this humble congregation of devoted disciples that had kept his word1 but he made them a number of special promises because of their faith and perseverance4 ,the first was the assurance that he had set before them an open door which no man could shut4 ,a door is a means either of entrance or of escape1 and signifies that ,god was going to open before them a greater field of enlargement and success1 or else would furnish them a sure means of escape and protection from their cruel and relentless persecutors4 ,it will be remembered that the church of ,smyrna also received nothing but commendation and encouragement2 but there was no promise of an open door to them4 ,on the contrary1 they were told that they should be tried1 cast into prison1 and suffer tribulation ten days4 ,they were comforted1 however1 with a certain assurance of future reward and a crown of everlasting life4 ,but before the church of ,philadelphia there was opened a scene of greater prosperity1 deliverance from enemies1 greater enlargement1 and the glorious prospect of seeing multitudes of souls brought under the influence of the saving gospel of ,christ4 ,the next promise was that of deliverance from opposing ,jews1 who were to be humbled before them4 ,this refers1 doubtless1 to persons who had a mere profession of ,christianity and who were not recognized by the congregation--the same as the blaspheming ,jews of ,smyrna4 ,the faithfulness of ,god's elect would eventually be the means of bringing them back to an experience of salvation1 so that they would worship in the midst of the church again4 ,another promise to this congregation was1 ,i also will keep thee from the hour of temptation1 which shall come upon all the world4 ,some dreadful calamity is here predicted1 during which the power of ,god would be mercifully manifested in granting this church a special preservation4 ,some suppose it to have reference to a great general persecution throughout the ,roman empire1 during which the ,christians of ,philadelphia would be spared4 ,this may have been the fact2 but whether it was or not1 we have no means of information4 ,when we come to consider the symbols of chapter #i1 in which the delusive error of ,mohammedanism is set forth1 we will see what a period of sore trial this delusion was to the ,eastern churches4 ,it is also a fact that1 in the midst of this abounding heresy1 the church of ,philadelphia was preserved as was no other church of ,asia4 ,when the followers of ,mohammed were sweeping like a whirlwind over the ,eastern empire1 ravaging everything before them1 ,philadelphia remained an independent ,christian city1 when all the other cities of ,asia ,minor were under the power of the ,saracen sword4 ,it held out against the ,ottoman power until the year #acij ,a4,d41 when it surrendered to ,sultan ,bayazid's mixed army of ,ottoman ,turks and ,byzantine ,christians 7874 ,this was six years after the death of ,wickliffe1 the morning star of the reformation1 who opposed the corruptions of the ,papacy1 gave the world the first ,english translation of the ,bible1 and sowed the seeds that soon grew and produced a ,huss1 a ,jerome1 and a ,luther4 ,so ,god preserved the ,christians of ,philadelphia in the ,east until he began raising up others to herald his truth in the ,west1 whose labors soon ripened into the glorious ,reformation of the ,sixteenth ,century4 ,his final promise to the overcomer is that he shall be made a pillar in the temple of ,god1 and receive the name of ,god1 of ,christ1 and of the ,new ,jerusalem1 or city of ,god4 ,in some manner the ,christian is labelled with the name of ,god1 whose property he is2 with the name of ,christ1 by whom he was purchased2 and with the name of the ,new ,jerusalem1 or city of ,god1 his inheritance and eternal abiding-place2 and he is made a pillar in the temple of ,god4 ,by turning to ,heb4 #ab3bb1 #bc1 we find that the general assembly and church of ,god in this dispensation constitutes1 in one important sense1 the ,new ,jerusalem1 or city of ,god1 in which the overcomers abide4 ,but ye are come unto ,mount ,sion1 and unto the city of the living ,god1 the heavenly ,jerusalem 444 to the general assembly and church of the first-born1 which are written in heaven4 ,the church is also styled the house or temple of ,god1 composed of people out of all nations who are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets1 ,jesus ,christ himself being the chief corner-stone2 in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the ,lord 444 for an habitation of ,god through the ,spirit4 ,eph4 #b3bj-bb4 ,see also #a ,cor4 #c3ag2 #a ,pet4 #b3e2 #a ,tim4 #c3ae4 ,to be a pillar in this temple of ,god means to occupy a conspicuous or useful position in supporting the truth1 examples of which are to be found in such characters as ,james1 ,cephas1 and ,john1 who seemed to be pillars in the church in apostolic times4 ,gal4 #b3i4 ,in the last prayer of ,christ to the ,father1 he says concerning his disciples1 ,while ,i was with them in the world1 ,i kept them in thy name 7,john #ag3ab72 and since the church promised by ,christ 7,mat4 #af3ah7 has been established1 we continually bear the name of the ,father1 its title being the church or city of ,god4 ,we also bear the new name of ,christ1 as explained in chapter #b3ag1 and we meet together and worship in that name 7,mat4 #ah3bj71 obeying the exhortation of the apostle ,paul--,whatsoever ye do in word or deed1 do all in the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 giving thanks to ,god and the ,father by him4 ,col4 #c3ag4 ,a better understanding of the manner in which we receive the name of ,god and of his city will be obtained when we come to the consideration of the followers of a false1 degenerate church represented as receiving the mark of the beast1 by which they are designated4 ,to inquire further into the history of this church1 ,philadelphia still remains with a population of about fifteen thousand4 ,it contains a number of places of public worship1 a resident 7,greek7 archbishop1 and several inferior clergy4 ,mr4 ,keith1 in his ,evidence of ,prophecy1 speaks of the then presiding bishop1 and says that he acknowledges the ,bible as the only foundation of all religious belief and admits that abuses have entered into the church1 which former ages might endure1 but the present must put down4 ,it is also a singular coincidence that the modern ,turkish name of the city1 ,ala-,shehr1 signifies city of ,god4 ,this description of the church of ,philadelphia ,i will bring to a close by adding the following extract from ,gibbon1 recorded in his noted history entitled ,the ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire4 ,it is of especial value since the writer1 being an avowed infidel1 can not be convicted of misconstruing historical facts in order to favor ,christianity4 ,the captivity or ruin of the seven churches of ,asia was consummated by the ,ottomans ,a4,d4 #acab1 and the barbarous lords of ,ionia and ,lydia still trample on the monuments of classic and ,christian antiquity4 ,in the loss of ,ephesus the ,christians deplore the fall of the first candle-stick of the ,revelation4 ,the desolation is complete2 and the temple of ,diana and the church of ,mary will equally elude the search of the curious traveler4 ,the circus and three stately theatres of ,laodicea are now peopled with wolves and foxes4 ,sardis is reduced to a miserable village4 ,the ,god of ,mohammed without a rival is invoked in the mosques of ,thyatira and ,pergamus2 and the populousness of ,smyrna is supported by the foreign trade of the ,franks and ,armenians4 ,philadelphia alone has been saved by prophecy or courage4 ,at a distance from the sea1 forgotten by the emperors1 encompassed on all sides by the ,turks1 her valiant sons defended their religion and freedom above fourscore years1 and at length capitulated with the proudest of the ,ottomans4 ,among the ,greek colonies of ,asia1 ,philadelphia is still erect--a column in a scene of ruins--a pleasing example that the path of honor and safety may sometimes be the same4 ,vol4 ,,vi41 p4 #bbi4 #ad4 ,and unto the angel of the church of the ,laodiceans write2 ,these things saith the ,amen1 the faithful and true witness1 the beginning of the creation of ,god2 #ae4 ,i know thy works1 that thou art neither cold nor hot3 ,i would thou wert cold or hot4 #af4 ,so then because thou art lukewarm1 and neither cold nor hot1 ,i will spue thee out of my mouth4 #ag4 ,because thou sayest1 ,i am rich1 and increased with goods1 and have need of nothing2 and knowest not that thou art wretched1 and miserable1 and poor1 and blind1 and naked3 #ah4 ,i counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire1 that thou mayest be rich2 and white raiment1 that thou mayest be clothed1 and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear2 and anoint thine eyes with eye salve1 that thou mayest see4 #ai4 ,as many as ,i love1 ,i rebuke and chasten3 be zealous therefore1 and repent4 #bj4 ,behold1 ,i stand at the door1 and knock3 if any man hear my voice1 and open the door1 ,i will come in to him1 and will sup with him1 and he with me4 #ba4 ,to him that overcometh will ,i grant to sit with me in my throne1 even as ,i also overcame1 and am set down with my ,father in his throne4 #bb4 ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches4 ,laodicea was one of the wealthiest cities of ,asia ,minor4 ,it was built upon some low hills1 and occupied an important situation in the center of a very fertile district4 ,it was famous for its money transactions and for the beautiful soft wool grown by the sheep of the country1 which facts are both alluded to in the message4 ,verses #ag1 #ah4 ,during the reign of ,tiberius ,csar it was entirely destroyed by an earthquake1 but its wealthy inhabitants rebuilt it immediately4 ,a ,christian church was soon planted there2 for ,paul makes the request that his epistle to the ,colossians be read in the church of ,laodicea and that his epistle to the church of ,laodicea 7which was not included in the ,new ,testament canon7 be read unto them4 ,col4 #d3af4 ,the condition of this church1 according to the burden of the message1 was worse than that of any of the others2 for there is not only no commendation of former faith and piety1 but it is not even said of them1 as of the church at ,sardis1 that a few names were left who had not defiled their garments4 ,christ1 who here represents himself in the character of the faithful and true ,witness1 testifies that they are neither cold nor hot4 ,they did not have enough piety nor zeal to cause them to do anything for the honor of ,christ and his cause1 neither were they open enemies4 ,they were merely lukewarm1 insincere friends1 and1 as such1 were in a position to do the greatest harm4 ,a certain writer has said1 ,we always dread a professed but insincere friend2 he is the least desirable of all relations4 ,they are further described as being satisfied to remain in their lukewarm condition1 indulging themselves in the riches and the pleasures of this life4 ,theirs was a rich1 prosperous1 influential church in their estimation1 and they were proud of it2 but the faithful and true ,witness declares that they were wretched1 and poor1 and blind1 and naked4 ,what a contrast this congregation presents with the churches of ,smyrna and ,philadelphia1 whose poverty and little strength are expressly mentioned1 but who were rich in spirituality1 and who received no reproof1 but words of comfort6 ,they of ,laodicea possessed no true gold from the mine of gospel truth1 no white raiment of righteousness to hide their spiritual nakedness1 no clear vision to enable them to discern the things of the ,spirit4 ,in fact1 they lacked everything necessary to constitute a church of which the ,lord could approve and which would be an honor to his cause4 ,but notwithstanding their sad condition1 ,christ still pleads with them to repent of their doings and to allow him to come in and sup with them1 promising the overcomer the privilege of sharing the throne of his ,redeemer4 ,on account of their lukewarmness a severe threat was uttered--,i will spue thee out of my mouth4 ,allusion is doubtless made to the former catastrophe that overthrew the city under ,tiberius1 thus giving them warning of the destruction that might come upon them in the future4 ,the result has been in accordance with the prediction4 ,god spued that church out of his mouth centuries ago1 and nothing remains of that proud1 wealthy city4 ,not even a ,turk has any fixed residence on the spot4 ,its ruins alone remain in their desolation1 rejected of ,god1 deserted of man1 its glory a ruin1 its name a reproach4 ,the ,encyclopdia ,britannica says1 ,its ruins are of wide extent4444 ,there is no doubt1 however1 that much has been buried beneath the surface by the frequent earthquakes to which the district is exposed4 ,the prophecies concerning these individual churches have been fulfilled2 so that even infidelity itself bears witness to the strange verification of ,apocalyptic promise and threatening4 ,two of the churches1 ,ephesus and ,laodicea1 where no spiritual souls remained1 were threatened with utter extinction4 ,they are now in utter ruins--forsaken1 desolate4 ,sardis1 too1 where only a few names were left1 is reduced to a small ,turkish village1 without a church or a ,christian4 ,pergamus and ,thyatira1 where much spirituality remained1 but where wickedness also was tolerated1 still survive1 though but mere remnants of their former greatness4 ,while ,smyrna and ,philadelphia1 where ,christ found nothing to condemn and to whose churches he uttered only words of comfort and promise1 remain until the present day and are the brightest spots on the whole scene1 standing like erect columns in the midst of the surrounding ruins4 ,i do not wish1 however1 to give too much prominence to the cities themselves in the fulfilment of these prophecies4 ,the churches located in these seven cities of ,asia were doubtless the main thing under consideration in the utterance of these promises and threatenings4 ,yet it is a singular fact that the subsequent history of the cities themselves has accorded in a remarkable degree with the nature of the prophecies uttered4 ,it may be that ,god has preserved ,smyrna and ,philadelphia because of the piety of their ancient inhabitants4 ,he who held the seven stars in his right hand and walked in the midst of the seven golden candle-sticks1 still possesses the control of his ministers and is present in the congregations of the righteous2 but let us all take warning from the example of the churches of ,asia1 and live such a life of devotion1 charity1 faith1 and patience as ,christ1 the faithful and true ,witness1 will approve of1 that we may walk with him in white and have right to the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of ,god4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,after this ,i looked1 and1 behold1 a door was opened in heaven3 and the first voice which ,i heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me2 which said1 ,come up hither1 and ,i will show thee things which must be hereafter4 #b4 ,and immediately ,i was in the spirit3 and1 behold1 a throne was set in heaven1 and one sat on the throne4 #c4 ,and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone3 and there was a rainbow round about the throne1 in sight like unto an emerald4 #d4 ,and round about the throne were four and twenty seats3 and upon the seats ,i saw four and twenty elders sitting1 clothed in white raiment2 and they had on their heads crowns of gold4 #e4 ,and out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices3 and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne1 which are the seven spirits of ,god4 #f4 ,and before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal3 and in the midst of the throne1 and round about the throne1 were four beasts full of eyes before and behind4 #g4 ,and the first beast was like a lion1 and the second beast like a calf1 and the third beast had a face as a man1 and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle4 #h4 ,and the four beasts had each of them six wings about him2 and they were full of eyes within3 and they rest not day and night1 saying1 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 ,lord ,god ,almighty1 which was1 and is1 and is to come4 #i4 ,and when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne1 who liveth for ever and ever1 #aj4 ,the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne1 and worship him that liveth for ever and ever1 and cast their crowns before the throne1 saying1 #aa4 ,thou art worthy1 ,o ,lord1 to receive glory and honor and power3 for thou hast created all things1 and for thy pleasure they are and were created4 ,it is probable that the ,apocalypse was communicated to ,john in parts1 or consisted of a series of symbolic visions4 ,this is indicated by the expression after this ,i looked1 and is also confirmed by the words following1 ,and immediately ,i was in the spirit1 implying that the vision recorded in chapter #a1 which was given on the ,lord's day1 had been interrupted and that a new one now began when the angel with trumpet voice gave summons for him to ascend to heaven in the spirit 7or under the influence of the spirit of prophecy7 to behold the events of the future1 passing before him as a vast moving picture4 ,this fact of ,john's ascension to heaven to behold certain visions of the future 7which begin properly with chapter #f7 will serve to explain many allusions to things said to occur in heaven1 merely signifying that ,john was in heaven when these things were revealed to him1 although their fulfilment was intimately connected with the affairs of the church on earth1 for whose benefit the ,revelation was given and unto whom it was sent4 ,when the apostle ascended through the door that had been opened unto him1 the first object that met his vision and absorbed his soul was a throne with the ,almighty seated upon it1 around whom all the inhabitants of heaven were assembled4 ,no symbol of ,god is given1 for the reason that there is no analagous object that can be chosen as his representative4 ,true1 ,john saw a throne1 but that is a symbol1 not of ,god himself1 but of his supreme power and authority4 ,one was seated upon the throne separate from the throne itself4 ,it is not said that a jasper or a sardine stone was seated thereon1 for that would be to make such an object the representative of ,god2 but he that sat on the throne was to look upon like a jasper or sardine stone4 ,the jasper mentioned was in all probability the diamond1 and is described in chapter #ba3aa as a stone most precious1 clear as crystal2 while the sardine stone was a brilliant gem of a red hue4 ,this description naturally suggests the vestments of a great monarch in a position of authority upon his throne4 ,the main idea1 then1 as here expressed1 is that the appearance of the ,almighty was so inexpressibly glorious that it could be likened to nothing except the beauty of the most resplendent gems4 ,but ,god himself appears in his own person1 unrepresented by another1 for the reason1 as above stated1 that no inferior intelligence of earth or heaven can analagously represent the uncreated ,deity4 ,the throne of the omnipotent ,one was surrounded by a beautiful rainbow of emerald clearness1 and was probably a perfect one1 or a complete circle1 such as ours would be could it come wholly into our sight4 ,the rainbow on the cloud1 to ,noah and his descendants1 constitutes the sure pledge of ,god's covenant promise not to destroy the earth with another deluge2 so1 also1 the bow surrounding the throne is a symbol of ,god's covenant favor with his people eternally4 ,there were lightnings and thunderings and voices proceeding from the throne--the same outward manifestations as heralded the ,godhead when he came down on ,sinai to declare his holy law4 ,the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne are said to signify the seven spirits of ,god4 ,these are not lamp-stands or candle-sticks1 such as the ones in the midst of which the ,son of ,god walked on earth1 but seven lights or flames of fire1 representing the operation of the ,holy ,spirit upon the hearts of men and women4 ,surrounding the throne also was a sea of glass like unto crystal4 ,in the ,greek it stands in a little different form--,and before the throne as it were a sea of glass4 ,describing the same object in chapter #ae3b1 the ,revelator says1 ,i saw as it were a sea of glass4 ,it was a broad expanse spread out before the throne with a glassy or transparent appearance like crystal4 ,its signification will be made clear hereafter4 ,in addition to this description of the throne and ,deity1 our attention is directed to certain objects before and surrounding the throne4 ,four beasts and four and twenty elders are brought to view4 ,the word beasts is a very unfortunate translation1 being necessarily associated in our minds with the brute creation4 ,it is not the word therion1 which in thirty-five instances in the ,apocalypse is translated beast1 denoting an animal of wild disposition1 but the word zoon1 which signifies a living creature1 and is thus rendered by many of the translators of the ,new ,testament4 ,their being full of eyes signifies sleepless vigilance and superior intelligence and discernment4 ,the chief description given of the first living creature is that it was like a lion4 ,it is stated1 not that the creature was a lion1 but that it was like a lion4 ,it possessed some peculiar quality characteristic of the lion2 namely1 strength and courage4 ,the second living creature1 like a calf1 or1 more properly1 the ox1 is symbolic of sacrifice or of patient labor4 ,the third1 with a face as a man1 denotes reason and intelligence4 ,while the fourth1 like a flying eagle1 is an emblem of swiftness and far-sighted vision4 ,but the peculiar qualities thus symbolized are possessed by the four living creatures themselves1 and what do they represent8 ,to whom are the four and twenty elders referred8 ,they are particularly distinguished from the angelic throng4 ,in the ninth verse of the following chapter the elders and the living creatures represent themselves as the host of people redeemed by the blood of ,christ out of every kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 and nation4 ,the above-mentioned characteristics1 then1 are the peculiar possession of ,god's people--power and courage to attack all enemies and to gain the victory2 a spirit of perseverance in patiently laboring for ,christ1 with a willingness to sacrifice their lives1 if necessary1 for the glory of ,god2 ability to receive a knowledge of the truth1 that they may understand the will of ,god in ,christ ,jesus concerning them2 and power and willingness to obey instantly when able to discern spiritual things1 rising above the things of earth and the trials and persecutions of life--soaring away to loftier heights1 there to bask continually in the blessed sunlight of ,god's eternal presence4 ,why was it necessary that the redeemed company of ,god's people should be represented by four living creatures8 ,doubtless because it would probably have been very difficult to select any one creature combining all the characteristics desired to represent all ,god's people of all ages4 ,it is also a significant fact that all the people of ,god on earth were included in four great dispensations--ante-deluvian1 post-deluvian1 ,mosaic1 and ,christian2 although it is not certain that four living creatures were selected for the special purpose of showing the number of dispensations4 ,however1 this division of time is well established in the ,bible4 ,peter reckons a new world beginning with ,noah 7#b ,pet4 #c3f1 #g71 stating that the old world had been destroyed4 #b ,pet4 #b3e4 ,god came down upon ,mount ,sinai and delivered the old covenant1 thus marking a distinct dispensation2 while ,jesus ,christ established the new covenant and ushered in the fourth and last dispensation4 ,see ,heb4 #ab3ah-bd4 ,under the first dispensation1 ,abel by faith offered unto ,god an excellent sacrifice2 men began to call upon the name of the ,lord 7,gen4 #d3bf72 ,enoch walked with ,god and was translated that he should not see death2 while ,noah1 a preacher of righteousness1 was perfect in his generation and condemned the world by his preaching and obedience4 ,the second dispensation was graced with a faithful ,abraham1 who staggered not at the promise of ,god through unbelief1 but was strong in faith1 from which circumstance he was called the friend of ,god and has justly received the title father of the faithful4 ,in his footsteps followed ,isaac1 ,jacob1 ,joseph1 and ,moses4 ,the law age contains the names of many illustrious prophets of ,god1 and the ,new ,testament era abounds with brilliant examples of faith and devotion4 ,the ministry of ,john the ,baptist can not be said to form another dispensation1 because of its short duration 7he preceding ,christ but six months71 and being at the time unknown outside of a very limited territory4 ,another dispensation could not be begun and completed while the old covenant dispensation was yet in force2 for that would make two dispensations in full force at the same time--a thing impossible4 ,also1 ,john's work1 according to the evangelist1 marks the beginning of the gospel dispensation 7,mark #a3a-d71 from which time the kingdom of ,god was preached and men pressed into it4 ,luke #af3af4 ,it was by virtue of the future atonement-work of ,christ that any were enabled to enjoy ,god's favor in ,old ,testament times4 ,even their sacrifices1 which originated in the family of ,adam and which were continued from generation to generation1 pointed forward to the sacrificial offering of the ,savior and by this means purchased covenant favors with ,heaven4 ,so1 after all1 the atonement was for their benefit as well as for ours4 ,paul expressly informs us that ,christ died for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament4 ,heb4 #i3ae4 ,abraham1 and ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 and all the prophets are in the kingdom of ,god 7,luke #ac3bh71 and constitute a part of this great redeemed host set forth under the symbol of the four living creatures4 ,the four and twenty elders1 although representing themselves as a part of this redeemed company1 evidently have some special signification2 for they are presented to us as separate characters from the four living creatures4 ,who are they8 ,undoubtedly they represent the ministers of ,god1 the number twenty-four also signifying perfection or completeness1 being drawn from certain facts connected with the two dispensations in which ,god has had a clerical ministry4 ,the natural heads of the tribes of ,israel were the twelve patriarchs2 while the spiritual heads of the ,christian church are the twelve apostles of the ,lamb1 they constituting a part of the foundation upon which it is built4 ,eph4 #b3bj4 ,in a subsequent chapter we have an account of the sealing of the twelve tribes1 by which is meant the sealing1 not of the literal ,israel1 but of the spiritual1 the twelve tribes being selected from the proper department to stand as a symbol of the true ,israel in this dispensation1 which is expressly said to consist of people of all nations4 ,natural ,israel and spiritual ,israel are frequently used to designate ,god's people2 so1 also1 in the case before us the twelve patriarchs as heads of the natural ,israel and the twelve disciples as heads 7in one important sense7 of the spiritual ,israel are taken to represent the entire ministry4 ,in the description of the ,new ,jerusalem we find conspicuously inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the children of ,israel and of the twelve apostles of the ,lamb1 thus making the number twenty-four4 ,chap4 #ba3ab1 #ad4 ,although the ministers seem to be a special class among those constituting the redeemed multitude1 yet their intimate connection with the remainder is set forth under another symbol--that of wings attached to the four living creatures4 ,each of the four living ones possessed six wings1 which1 taken numerically1 make up twenty-four again4 ,the wings of a living creature would signify its means of flight2 and it is by the action of the ministry1 who go into all the world as flying messengers to preach the everlasting gospel1 that the church of ,god is established among all nations4 ,thus1 under the symbol of living creatures with wings is set forth the glorious harmony and unity that exists in the body of ,christ between ministry and laity4 ,the elders are represented as being clothed in white raiment and as possessing golden crowns4 ,white raiment is a symbol of righteousness 7chap4 #ai3h71 while crowns represent special power and authority4 ,god's ministers possess both4 ,they are made righteous through the blood of the everlasting covenant and are given power over all the power of the enemy and authority to heal the sick and to cast out devils4 ,the entire company are engaged in worshiping ,god unceasingly1 the elders casting their crowns before the throne1 thus ascribing all praise1 honor1 and glory to ,him who has delegated to them the authority they possess4 ,and may we1 my brethren1 never grow weary in well-doing and conclude that the worship of ,god grows monotonous2 but let us1 with heart and soul1 join the universal chorus1 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 ,lord ,god ,almighty4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,and ,i saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside1 sealed with seven seals4 #b4 ,and ,i saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice1 ,who is worthy to open the book1 and to loose the seals thereof8 #c4 ,and no man in heaven1 nor in earth1 neither under the earth1 was able to open the book1 neither to look thereon4 #d4 ,and ,i wept much1 because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book1 neither to look thereon4 #e4 ,and one of the elders saith unto me1 ,weep not3 behold1 the ,lion of the tribe of ,juda1 the ,root of ,david1 hath prevailed to open the book1 and to loose the seven seals thereof4 #f4 ,and ,i beheld1 and1 lo1 in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts1 and in the midst of the elders1 stood a ,lamb as it had been slain1 having seven horns and seven eyes1 which are the seven spirits of ,god sent forth into all the earth4 #g4 ,and he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne4 #h4 ,and when he had taken the book1 the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the ,lamb1 having every one of them harps1 and golden vials full of odors1 which are the prayers of saints4 #i4 ,and they sung a new song1 saying1 ,thou art worthy to take the book1 and to open the seals thereof3 for thou wast slain1 and hast redeemed us to ,god by thy blood out of every kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 and nation2 #aj4 ,and hast made us unto our ,god kings and priests3 and we shall reign on the earth4 #aa4 ,and ,i beheld1 and ,i heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders3 and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand1 and thousands of thousands2 #ab4 ,saying with a loud voice1 ,worthy is the ,lamb that was slain to receive power1 and riches1 and wisdom1 and strength1 and honor1 and glory1 and blessing4 #ac4 ,and every creature which is in heaven1 and on the earth1 and under the earth1 and such as are in the sea1 and all that are in them1 heard it saying1 ,blessing1 and honor1 and glory1 and power1 be unto him that sitteth upon the throne1 and unto the ,lamb for ever and ever4 #ad4 ,and the four beasts said1 ,amen4 ,and the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever4 ,the vision of this chapter is but a continuation of the preceding one1 being a sublime description of the exaltation and office-work of ,christ in his two-fold character as the ,lion of the tribe of ,juda and as a sacrificial offering for the sins of the world4 ,the ,apocalypse opens with the words1 ,the ,revelation of ,jesus ,christ1 which ,god gave unto him1 and it is fitting that his special prerogatives and characteristics1 together with the true position he occupies1 should first be revealed4 ,this was especially necessary in view of the fact to be revealed1 that another would soon arise usurping the rights and prerogatives belonging to ,christ alone1 claiming to be supreme head of the church1 sitting as ,god in the temple of ,god1 and showing himself that he is ,god4 #b ,thes4 #b3d4 ,the attention of ,john was directed to an object in the right hand of ,him that sat on the throne--a book sealed with seven seals--and to a mighty angel calling with a loud voice for some one to come forward and loose the seals and open the book4 ,no created intelligence of earth or heaven dared to step forward and declare himself able to accomplish the result required1 and because of this ,john wept much4 ,the form of books in use when the ,revelation was given was unlike those used now4 ,they consisted of strips of parchment or other material1 longer or shorter1 rolled up4 ,the book in the symbolic vision before us consisted of a roll containing seven pieces each one rolled and sealed separately1 so that the outer seal could be broken and the contents of its strip read without disturbing the remaining ones4 ,had the seals all been on the outside1 nothing could have been read until they were all broken2 whereas the loosing of each seal was followed by some discovery of the contents of the roll4 ,this book in the hand of ,god is symbolical of something4 ,most of the commentators think it represents the book of ,revelation1 in which case1 of course1 it would not include the present description of the book itself1 but only of its contents as applied to subsequent chapters4 ,but this view1 of itself1 is unsatisfactory for many reasons4 ,the rules governing the use and the interpretation of symbolic language would forbid the thought of one book's symbolizing another book2 for the main idea conveyed by the term symbol is1 that the symbolic object stands as the representative1 not of itself1 but of something analagous4 ,reasoning by analogy1 what would the contents of a sealed book in the hand of ,god symbolize8 ,evidently1 the infinite counsels and purposes known only to ,jehovah4 ,its being written within and on the backside would indicate that those purposes were full and complete1 being all written out and understood by him who knoweth the end from the beginning and worketh all things after the counsel of his own will4 ,its being sealed denotes that the contents were unrevealed1 while its being in the right hand of ,god--the hand of his power--shows that he is able to carry into execution his divine purposes and that none shall be able to alter them or to wrest them from him4 ,while the events future of ,john's time form a part of the great plan and counsels of ,jehovah1 yet it is taking a very limited view of the subject to suppose that they alone constitute the sealed book of this vision2 for then would that greatest of all events1 the atonement of ,christ and the earliest triumphs of the gospel1 have no special part in the sealed1 mysterious counsels of the infinite ,one4 ,it is much more consistent with the characteristics and attributes of ,god to make this book a symbol1 not merely of a part1 but of all his divine plans and purposes in the entire gospel dispensation4 ,this position gains credence from the fact that the visions of the ,revelation cover many times the whole period from the incarnation to the end4 ,when the very first seal is broken1 the early success and triumphs of the gospel1 as experienced in ,john's lifetime1 are portrayed4 ,according to the vision before us1 it was by virtue of ,christ's death that he was able to open the book at all2 and the plan of redemption itself1 which is based upon his atonement1 is declared by the ,scriptures to be a mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in ,god4 ,eph4 #c3i4 ,this redemption scheme was the great center of attraction to the prophets of the old dispensation1 who inquired and searched diligently that they might comprehend its deep mysteries1 which things the angels desired to look into4 #a ,pet4 #a3aj-ab4 ,now1 if the contents of the sealed book were 7at the time of this vision7 only the history of events to be1 why was it that no man on earth or in heaven1 nor even an angel before the throne1 was found worthy to look into it or to communicate its secrets to the children of men4 ,gabriel was sent as a worthy messenger to communicate to ,daniel a long series of future events reaching even until the end of time4 ,but the contents of this roll were such that no created intelligence of earth or heaven was able to unfold them4 ,all remained unfathomable mystery--until ,christ stepped forward in his character as a sacrificial ,lamb and declared himself able to undertake the task of loosing the seals and of opening the book4 ,unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of ,god 7,mark #d3aa71 he said to his disciples1 even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations1 but now is made manifest to his saints4 ,col4 #a3bf4 ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see1 and have not seen them2 and to hear those things which ye hear1 and have not heard them4 ,blessed are your eyes1 for they see2 and your ears1 for they hear4 ,mat4 #ac3ag1 #af4 ,the fact that the suffering and death of ,christ was a past event at the time when the ,revelation was given does not constitute a valid objection to the position taken1 that the contents of the sealed book embrace the plan of redemption during the entire period of its operation2 for the reason that1 in order to form a complete and continuous narrative1 past events are frequently referred to in the ,apocalypse4 ,thus1 ,john saw a beast with seven heads signifying seven kings2 but he was expressly informed that five are fallen1 one is exists at present1 and the other is not yet come4 ,chap4 #ag3aj4 ,when ,christ appears on the symbolic stage1 he is introduced by the elder as the ,lion of the tribe of ,juda1 and the ,root of ,david4 ,the lion1 being the king of beasts and the monarch of the forest1 is indicative of power1 such as ,christ possesses4 ,christ is elsewhere denominated ,king of kings and ,lord of lords1 and he himself laid claim to all power in heaven and on earth1 it having pleased the ,father that in him should all fulness dwell4 ,why he is termed the ,lion of the tribe of ,juda1 ,i am unable to say1 unless the expression is borrowed from the prophecy recorded of him in ,gen4 #di3aj--,the sceptre shall not depart from ,judah1 nor a lawgiver from between his feet1 until ,shiloh come2 and unto him shall the gathering of the people be4 ,his being the ,root of ,david shows that he is the source and sustainer of ,david as to his position and power4 ,david was specially ordained of the ,lord and sustained by him4 ,of this there can be no doubt4 ,david was a type2 ,christ is the antitype4 ,david's position as ruler over natural ,israel constitutes a type of ,christ's position as ruler over the spiritual ,israel2 and it is in this sense that ,christ reigns upon the throne of his father ,david4 ,luke #a3cb1 #cc4 ,and since ,christ came in the line of ,david's descendants1 he is called the offspring of ,david and a rod out of the stem of ,jesse4 ,isa4 #aa3a1 #aj4 ,his connection with the throne of ,david being evident1 he is entitled to the right to reign over his people4 ,the appellation ,lamb is one of the peculiar titles by which the ,son of ,god is designated1 having reference to that part of his mission in which he constituted a sacrificial offering for sin4 ,his forerunner ,john was able to prophetically discern him in this character1 and pointed to him as the ,lamb of ,god1 which taketh away the sin of the world4 ,john #a3bi4 ,the ,lamb was said to have seven horns and seven eyes4 ,a horn is a symbol of power1 and seven1 being a sacred or perfect number1 denotes the fulness of power possessed by ,christ2 while the seven eyes signify the seven spirits of ,god1 or the ,holy ,spirit1 which1 being under the direct control of ,christ1 is sent forth into the world to effect the regeneration of men4 ,when the ,lion of the tribe of ,juda stepped forward and undertook the task of revealing the secret counsels and purposes of ,jehovah to the world1 immediately a song of praise ascended from the lips of the redeemed sons of earth4 ,the song was new1 adapted to a new theme1 and sung on a new occasion4 ,the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the ,lamb1 having every one of them harps1 and golden vials censers full of odors1 which are the prayers of saints4 ,and they sung a new song1 saying1 ,thou art worthy to take the book1 and to open the seals thereof3 for thou wast slain1 and hast redeemed us to ,god by thy blood out of every kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 and nation2 and hast made us unto our ,god kings and priests1 and we shall reign on the earth4 ,this song beautifully expresses the honor due to ,jesus ,christ in his office-work as ,redeemer of the world1 by virtue of which people out of every nation1 kindred1 tongue1 and people1 are saved unto ,god and made kings and priests on the earth4 ,the angel who appeared to the ,judean shepherds while they were watching their flocks by night1 comforted them with the welcome announcement3 ,fear not3 for1 behold1 ,i bring you good tidings of great joy1 which shall be to all people4 ,for unto you is born this day in the city of ,david a ,savior1 which is ,christ the ,lord4 ,luke #b3aj1 #aa4 ,since the preaching of the gospel began1 men are instructed to seek first the kingdom of ,god 7,mat4 #f3cc71 and they press into it 7,luke #af3af7 by the saving virtue of ,him who hath delivered us from the power of darkness1 and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear ,son4 ,col4 #a3ac4 ,taking our place by the side of the writer of the ,revelation1 we testify with him that we are already in the kingdom and patience of ,jesus ,christ 7,rev4 #a3i71 and that we receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness1 whereby we reign in life by one ,jesus ,christ4 ,rom4 #e3ag4 ,in this happy condition1 redeemed by the blood of ,jesus1 our ,savior1 made a royal kingly priesthood in the holy nation of peculiar people that have been gathered out of all nations of earth 7#a ,pet4 #b3e1 #i71 we feel like singing anew this glad song of redemption in honor of ,jesus1 our only ,lord and ,savior1 who is ,god over all1 blessed forever6 ,amen4 ,this new and rapturous song of the redeemed was immediately caught by a greater multitude of the angelic order1 an innumerable company1 even ten thousand times ten thousand1 and thousands of thousands1 and together1 with loud and united voices1 did they swell the mighty anthem1 ,worthy is the ,lamb that was slain to receive power1 and riches1 and wisdom1 and strength1 and honor1 and glory1 and blessing4 ,and again the heavenly strain was raised to loftier heights1 until the stupendous chorus rolled around the universe1 by every creature in heaven and on earth1 and under the earth1 and such as are in the sea1 saying1 ,blessing and honor1 and glory1 and power1 be unto him that sitteth upon the throne1 and unto the ,lamb forever and ever4 ,a few gifted voices of earth may possess such power and sweetness as almost to entrance us with their melody of song2 but what an oratorio will it be1 my brethren1 when1 released from the narrow limits of mortality1 that sublime strain sung by the redeemed of all ages and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of angels1 bursts in upon our ransomed souls6 ,did human thought ever reach the conception of music like this8 ,did the eyes of a mortal ever behold such rapturous scenes8 ,you may feast your eyes upon earth's greatest beauty--,yosemite ,valley1 ,yellowstone ,park1 ,niagara ,falls1 may pass before your vision2 you may climb the lofty ,alpine summit and behold the snow-streaked and snow-capped peaks towering to the heavens around you--or you may listen to the best music ever composed by a ,mozart1 a ,handel1 or a ,beethoven1 or the finest ever executed by a ,liszt1 a ,rubenstein1 or a ,paderewski2 yet ,i must tell you upon the authority of ,god's word that eye hath not seen1 nor ear heard1 neither have entered into the heart of man1 the things which ,god hath prepared for them that love him4 #a ,cor4 #b3i4 ,this vision shows very clearly the lofty position to which ,christ has been exalted1 possessing a name which is above every name2 for the entire company of angels and redeemed saints unite in extolling him with songs of praise1 and that1 too1 before the very throne of the ,deity and in the presence of his infinite ,majesty4 ,surely we can not doubt that ours is a divine ,savior1 and one worthy of all praise1 honor1 power and dominion both now and forever4 ,though ,john beheld this wonderful vision in heaven1 yet we must remember that it was given and recorded for the benefit of ,god's people upon earth4 ,the plan of redemption was not actually revealed in heaven1 for ,jesus ,christ came into the world to save sinners 7#a ,tim4 #a3ae71 and it was here that he was ordained to taste death for every man4 ,heb4 #b3i4 ,the ransomed company thus brought to view is intended to point out the redeemed of earth2 for there is no salvation to be obtained in heaven1 in which place no blood was shed--the blood is one of the agents that bears witness in the earth4 #a ,john #e3g1 #h4 ,the central figures of this vision were ,god1 the ,holy ,spirit1 and ,christ1 around whom the living creatures and elders were gathered1 and they1 in turn1 were surrounded by the angelic throng4 ,this entire scene was doubtless intended to represent the exalted character of spiritual things on earth1 where the plan of redemption was revealed and the redeemed host gathered out of all nations4 ,in a very important sense the ,father1 the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost all dwell in the spiritual church1 or new ,jerusalem1 and are thus in the midst of ,god's people1 surrounded by the redeemed host who unceasingly worship them1 and they1 in turn1 have the promise that the angel of the ,lord encampeth round about them 7,psa4 #cd3g72 yea1 an innumerable company of angels reside in this heavenly ,jerusalem1 or city of the living ,god1 unto which we1 as a part of the general assembly and church of the first-born1 are come in this dispensation4 ,heb4 #ab3bb1 #bc4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,and ,i saw when the ,lamb opened one of the seals1 and ,i heard1 as it were the noise of thunder1 one of the four beasts saying1 ,come and see4 #b4 ,and ,i saw1 and behold a white horse3 and he that sat on him had a bow2 and a crown was given unto him3 and he went forth conquering1 and to conquer4 ,we have now reached the point where the thrilling interest of this book commences4 ,with the opening of the seals of the book of ,god's purposes we have the prophecies of the future1 the unfolding of the events to be1 described under appropriate symbols4 ,the contents of six seals are contained in this and the following chapter1 while the seventh occupies the remainder of the volume4 ,a word relative to the plan of the prophecies will be appropriate at this time4 ,i will again state what will be made very clear hereafter--that the events are narrated by series1 and not by centuries4 ,a particular theme is taken up and carried through to its completion1 then the narrative returns and another subject is traced to its end4 ,thus1 the entire book consists of a number of distinct parallel series covering the same ground4 ,upon the opening of the first seal1 ,john is summoned as with a voice of thunder by one of the living creatures to draw near2 and the object that meets his vision is a white horse with its rider4 ,the symbol is that of a victorious warrior1 being drawn from the civil and military life of the ,romans4 ,the symbol is one of dignity4 ,it does not consist of some inanimate object such as a mountain1 a sea1 or a river1 neither is it a wild ferocious beast2 but it is that of a living1 active1 intelligent being1 and he1 as denoted by various insignia1 a conqueror4 ,he rides a white horse1 such as victors used in triumphal procession2 his bow and crown are also symbols of victory4 ,he goes forth conquering and to conquer1 or to make conquests4 ,this symbol is a faithful representation of the early triumphs of ,christianity in its aggressive conflict with the huge systems of error with which it had to contend4 ,some have supposed that the rider represented ,jesus ,christ2 but this can not be1 for many reasons1 two of which ,i will give4 ,first4 ,christ always appears on the symbolic stage in his own character1 unrepresented by another1 for the reason1 as before stated1 that there is no creature that can analagously represent ,him who claims equality with ,god4 ,not one name or attribute peculiar to him is mentioned in the description4 ,second4 ,there are four horsemen brought to view in this chapter1 and the symbols all being drawn from the same department1 must have the same general application4 ,if the first horseman symbolizes a definite personage1 so do the remaining three2 but we should have great difficulty in identifying the last three1 giving them an individual application4 ,others make the first horseman a symbol of the gospel itself1 but the gospel is not a living1 active1 intelligent agent1 such as the symbol evidently is1 but is only a system of the revealed truth4 ,all congruity and appropriateness in the comparison is lacking4 ,but let us give this symbol further consideration4 ,it is not enough that its interpretation alone be given1 but the reader is justly entitled to a knowledge of the process by which we arrive at the truth4 ,in the first place1 we have a symbol of great dignity and excellence1 and we must look for an object of corresponding character4 ,the symbol is that of a living agent1 and consequently1 we must look for its fulfillment in an active1 intelligent agent4 ,the purity1 or whiteness1 of the horse on which the rider was seated would indicate an agency of mild1 beneficent character4 ,finally1 the symbol is drawn1 as before stated1 from the civil and military life of the ,romans4 ,now1 according to the laws of symbolic language1 a symbol never represents an object like itself1 but an analagous one in another department4 ,a wild beast does not represent a wild beast1 but something of analagous character4 ,seven fat and seven lean kine do not represent kine like themselves1 but something analagous--seven years of plenty and as many of famine4 ,there are only two great series of events described in the ,revelation--the history of ecclesiastical events and the political history of certain nations4 ,the present symbol is drawn from one of these departments--the political or the civil life of the ,romans2 and leaving the latter department to find its signification in another department1 we have no place to go except into the department of ecclesiastical affairs4 ,entering1 therefore1 the spiritual realm1 and looking about us for an object that perfectly meets every requirement of the symbol1 we find it in the humble ministers of ,christ1 who boldly went forth in obedience to the divine command to extend the peaceful triumphs of the cross and to carry the gospel of the kingdom of ,god into all the world4 ,mark #af3ae-ah2 ,mat4 #bh3ai1 #bj4 ,this succession of faithful1 holy1 devoted men is worthy of a place in ,apocalyptic vision4 ,they went forth conquering and to conquer2 and the victories they gained were such as the world never witnessed before4 ,worthy are they to wear a victor's crown1 for they have fought a good fight4 ,because of its connection with events following1 it is necessary for us to consider the divine position of these first ministers of the church4 ,their equality is clearly taught in the ,new ,testament4 ,christ gave them the express command1 ,be not ye called ,rabbi3 for one is your ,master1 even ,christ2 and all ye are brethren4 ,mat4 #bc3h4 ,when two of the disciples manifested a desire to gain preeminence over their brethren and their aspirations displeased the ten1 ,christ said to them all1 ,ye know that the princes of the ,gentiles exercise dominion over them1 and they that are great exercise authority upon them4 ,but it shall not be so among you4 ,mat4 #bj3be1 #bf4 ,thus a perfect standard of equality in the ministry is lifted up4 ,the beloved apostle1 the writer of the ,revelation1 when addressing the elders of the seven churches of ,asia in particular1 humbly and affectionately represented himself as their brother and companion in tribulation4 ,rev4 #a3i4 ,i will now adduce the testimony of several creditable historians1 who are compelled to admit the humble equality of the ,new ,testament ministry1 notwithstanding the fact that some of them belonged to churches containing a very unequal ministry4 ,mosheim says3 ,the rulers of the church were called their presbyters or bishops1 which two titles are1 in the ,new ,testament1 undoubtedly applied to the same order of men4444 ,let no one confound the bishops of this primitive and golden period of the church1 with those of whom we read in the following ages4 ,for1 though they were both distinguished by the same name1 yet they differed extremely1 and that in many respects4 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #ii4 ,this fact is now admitted by nearly all denominations1 even ,episcopalians4 ,in the work entitled ,episcopacy ,tested by ,scripture1 published by the ,protestant ,episcopal ,tract ,society1 ,new ,york1 the author1 one of their able advocates1 makes the following admission concerning the title bishop in the ,new ,testament1 that the name is there given to the middle order or presbyters2 and all that we read in the ,new ,testament concerning bishops1 including of course the words overseer and oversight1 which have the same derivation1 is to be regarded as pertaining to that middle grade--the presbyters or elders4 ,page #ab4 ,the noted historian ,waddington1 also an ,episcopalian1 makes the same admission in the following words3 ,it is also true that in the earliest government of the first ,christian society1 that of ,jerusalem1 not the elders only1 but the 'whole church' were associated with the apostles2 and it is even certain that the terms bishop and elder or presbyter were1 in the first instances1 and for a short period1 sometimes used synomously1 and indiscriminately applied to the same order in the ministry4 ,church ,history1 ,part ,i1 p4 #da4 ,the italicizing is mine4 ,the well-known historian ,milman1 also an ,episcopalian1 in his ,history of ,christianity1 says1 ,the earliest ,christian communities appear to have been ruled and represented1 in the absence of the apostle who was their first founder1 by their elders1 who are likewise called bishops1 or overseers of the church4 ,page #aid4 ,kurtz1 in his ,church ,history1 says3 ,to aid them in their work1 or to supply their places in their absence 7,acts #ad3bc71 the apostles ordained rulers in every church1 who bore the common name of elders from their dignity1 and of bishops from the nature of their office4 ,that originally the elders were the same as the bishops1 we gather with absolute certainty from the statements of the ,new ,testament and of ,clement of ,rome1 a disciple of the apostles4 7,see his first epistle to the ,corinthians1 ,chaps4 #db1 #dd3eb47 #a4 ,the presbyters are expressly called bishops--compare the ,greek especially ,acts #bj3ag with verse #bh1 and ,titus #a3e with verse #g4 #b4 ,the office of presbyter is described as next to and highest after that of apostle 7,acts #ae3f1 #bb74 ,similarly1 the elders are represented as those to whom alone the rule1 the teaching and the care of the church is entrusted 7#a ,tim4 #e3ag2 #a ,pet4 #e3a1 etc474444 ,in several passages of the ,new ,testament and of ,clement we read of many bishops in one and the same church4 ,in the face of such indubitable evidence1 it is difficult to account for the pertinacity with which ,romish and ,anglican theologians insist that these two offices had from the first been different in name and functions4444 ,even ,jerome1 ,augustine1 ,urban ,,ii4 7#ajia7 and ,petrus ,lombardus admit that originally the two had been identical4 ,it was reserved for the ,council of ,trent to convert this truth into a heresy4 ,pages #fg1 #fh4 ,chrysostom1 ,theodoret1 and others also admitted the same4 ,many similar historical testimonies now lying before me to the humble equality of the ,new ,testament ministry could be added2 but lest the reader become weary1 ,i will conclude with the following beautiful description from ,d',aubigne in his noted ,history of the ,reformation3 ,the church was in the beginning a community of brethren1 guided by a few of the brethren4 ,again1 ,all ,christians were priests of the living ,god1 with humble pastors as their guides4 ,vol4 ,i1 pp4 #ce1 #ej4 ,with this description of the early ministers of ,christ1 who went forth under the symbol of the first horseman to disciple all nations1 we have the events pertaining to the early history of the church1 laid before us2 until the opening of the second seal brings us to another important phase of its history4 #c4 ,and when he had opened the second seal1 ,i heard the second beast say1 ,come and see4 #d4 ,and there went out another horse that was red3 and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth1 and that they should kill one another3 and there was given unto him a great sword4 ,the symbol of this seal is that of a rider going forth on a red horse armed with a great sword with which to take peace from the earth and to kill4 ,it is drawn from the same source as that of the preceding one1 but differing greatly in the character of the horseman and the object of his mission4 ,the symbol is one of great dignity--a living1 intelligent agent--drawn from civil and military life4 ,for the same reason as given before1 we must go out of the department of civil life into the history of religious affairs to find its fulfilment4 ,notice1 also1 the peculiar characteristics of this horseman and wherein he differs from that of the first seal4 ,the color of the horse is red1 denoting something very different from the peace1 purity1 and benignity of the white4 ,instead of gaining glorious spiritual conquests and triumphs1 like him of the first seal1 he was to take peace from the earth4 ,in the place of a victor's crown1 he possesses a great sword with which to kill1 denoting an agent of great destruction4 ,where shall we look in the history of religious affairs to find the object that meets the requirements of this symbol8 ,who were the active1 intelligent agents that appeared as the great opposers of the establishment of ,christianity by the rider of the white horse8 ,we find the answer undoubtedly in the propagators of the ,pagan religions4 ,as soon as ,christianity began to gain a foothold in the ,roman ,empire1 the priests and supporters of ,paganism were exasperated to the last degree1 and they determined to crush out the ,christian religion4 ,an example of ,pagan opposition is found in the nineteenth chapter of ,acts1 where it is recorded that the preaching of the gospel so stirred the people of ,ephesus that they were filled with wrath and for the space of about two hours cried out1 saying1 ,great is ,diana of the ,ephesians6 ,this great conflict between ,christianity and ,paganism will be more fully described under other symbols in a subsequent chapter1 therefore ,i will make this description brief4 ,the destruction of life brought about by this rider of the red horse doubtless signifies the great slaughter of the ,christians at the hands of the ,pagans4 ,during ten seasons of severe persecution1 which occurred under the reigns of the emperors ,nero1 ,domitian1 ,trajan1 ,marcus ,aurelius1 ,septimus ,severus1 ,maximus1 ,decius1 ,gallus1 ,valerian1 and ,diocletian1 the ,christians suffered every indignity that their relentless persecutors could heap upon them4 ,they had their eyes burned out with red-hot irons2 they were dragged about with ropes until life was extinct2 they were beheaded1 stoned to death1 crucified1 thrown to wild beasts1 burned at the stake2 yet they overcame by the blood of the ,lamb1 and by the word of their testimony2 and they loved not their lives unto the death4 ,chap4 #ab3aa4 ,it may appear at first that taking the rider of the horse as a symbolic agent but the killing which he effected as literal1 is an inconsistency and a variation from the laws of symbolic language2 but such is not necessarily the case4 ,one principle laid down in the beginning was1 that the description of an object or event must necessarily be literal when no symbolic object could be found to analagously represent it4 ,the destruction of human life could not well be represented symbolically1 there being no destruction analagous to it whose meaning would be obvious2 hence it must appear as a literal description4 ,this is proved by many texts in the ,revelation that will admit of no other application2 such as verses #i-aa of this chapter2 chapter #ac3aj2 #ag3f2 etc4 ,but the literal destruction of life may be chosen as a symbol to represent a destruction to which it is plainly analagous2 such as the destruction of spiritual life1 the overthrow of the civil or ecclesiastical institutions of society1 etc4 ,that it is sometimes employed thus as a symbol will be shown clearly in subsequent chapters4 ,hence1 in every instance where killing men is the work of a symbolic agent1 the context1 or general series of events with which it is connected1 must determine whether the literal or symbolical signification is intended4 ,in the present prophecy under consideration it is much more consistent to give it the literal application2 for the devotees of ,paganism did not destroy the spiritual life of the church1 which would be an analagous killing2 neither did they succeed in overthrowing the structure of ,christianity4 #e4 ,and when he had opened the third seal1 ,i heard the third beast say1 ,come and see4 ,and ,i beheld1 and lo a black horse2 and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand4 #f4 ,and ,i heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say1 ,a measure of wheat for a penny1 and three measures of barley for a penny2 and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine4 ,this symbol is also that of a horseman1 differing from the preceding ones only in his characteristics4 ,he is seated upon a black horse1 denoting something dark or appalling in its nature1 the very opposite of that of the first seal4 ,he possesses no bow nor crown1 but instead he has a pair of balances in his hand for weighing food4 ,this he deals out only at exorbitant prices--a measure of wheat for a penny1 and three measures of barley for a penny4 ,the penny1 or denarius1 is equal to about fifteen cents of our money1 and was the ordinary wages of a day laborer4 ,in the parable of our ,lord recorded in ,mat4 #bj1 the householder is represented as hiring laborers for a penny a day to labor in his vineyard4 ,the measure1 or choenix1 of wheat was the usual daily allowance of food for a man4 ,so according to the rate given1 it would require a day's labor to supply food sufficient for one man1 which shows an enormous price placed upon these necessaries of life4 ,in ordinary times the penny would procure about twenty measures of wheat instead of one1 and fifty or sixty measures of barley instead of three4 ,surely this represents famine prices4 ,the expression see thou hurt not the oil and the wine seems to have some direct connection with the exorbitant schedule of food rates4 ,the following facts of history1 as recorded by ,lord1 will serve to make the matter clear3 ,the taxes required in the ,roman empire1 to sustain the court and civil service1 the army and desolating wars1 and the hungry brood of office-holders1 as well as to provide largesses to the soldiers1 were excessive in the extreme1 so as to prove an almost insupportable burden to the people4 ,the ordinary and economical expenses of the government were great2 but when we take into view that during a period of seventy-two years previous to ,diocletian1 there were twenty-six individuals who held the imperial crown1 besides a great number of unsuccessful aspirants1 and that each of these must secure the favor of the army and the people by large donations of money1 we may well conceive that the taxes and exactions laid to raise the needed amount must have proved a crushing burden4 ,they were so great as sometimes to strip men of their wealth and reduce them to poverty4 ,these were laid upon everything that could be brought into service4 ,nothing was too insignificant to escape4444 ,the taxes might be paid in money1 or in produce1 grain1 fruit1 oil1 or whatever else it might be2444 ,the exactions were so excessive that the people were led to avoid them in every possible mode1 as men always will under such circumstances4 ,once in fifteen years1 a ,roman indiction1 an assessor would go round to levy upon the products of the soil1 and the assessment was made according to the amount of the yield4 ,one method adopted to secure a lower assessment at this time was that of mutilating their fruit trees and vines4 ,we find among the ,roman laws severe enactments against such as feign poverty1 or cut a vine1 or stint the fruit of a tree in order to avoid a fair valuation1 and the penalty attached was the death of the offender and the confiscation of all his property4 ,the fact that this law existed shows that the offense was committed and also that the exactions of the government must have been of the most oppressive kind4 ,with these facts before us it is easy to discern the nature of the symbol1 being that of a ,roman magistrate prepared to enforce his severe exactions upon the people at the exorbitant rate of three measures of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley for a penny1 accompanied by the solemn injunction1 ,see thou hurt not the oil and the wine1 that is1 the olive-trees and the vines4 ,it is evident that we must1 as before1 go out of the department of civil and military life into the realm of ecclesiastical history to find the true fulfilment of this symbol4 ,the black color of the horse would denote something directly opposite to that of the first seal2 and since the symbol of the first seal represented the establishment of the pure gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 this symbol must represent the great apostasy and spiritual darkness that covered the world at a later period4 ,and if the horseman of the first seal represented the chosen ministry who went forth in a glorious mission to win trophies of grace1 the horseman of this seal must represent an apostate ministry1 possessing power and authority to enforce the severest exactions upon the bread of life1 thus producing a desolating spiritual famine4 ,this marvelous change from the humble apostolic ministry to an apostate one did not occur suddenly1 but by degrees2 and as it has a great bearing upon other lines of truth to be brought out in subsequent chapters1 it will be profitable to consider the most important steps by which this transformation was effected4 ,when the desire for precedence or superiority first manifested itself among the disciples1 ,christ repressed it 7,mat4 #bj3be1 #bf71 and it appeared no more in their midst2 but before the close of the first century it is evident that a thirst for preeminence existed in the hearts of some who had been the servants of the church4 ,an example of this is to be found in ,diotrephes1 who exalted himself above his ministerial associates4 ,the ,apostle ,john says concerning him3 ,i wrote unto the church3 but ,diotrephes1 who loveth to have the preeminence among them1 receiveth us not4 ,wherefore if ,i come1 ,i will remember his deeds which he doeth1 prating against us with malicious words3 and not content therewith1 neither doth he himself receive the brethren1 and forbiddeth them that would1 and casteth them out of the church4 #c ,john #i1 #aj4 ,in the historical extracts given in the explanation of the first horseman1 it is clear that the first ministers were all equal2 but a time came about the close of the first century when the most influential among the clergy grasped the power and exalted themselves to a position of authority over the rest4 ,the manner in which this transformation was effected is explained by the learned ,gieseler as follows3 ,after the death of the apostles1 and the pupils of the apostles1 to whom the general direction of the churches had always been conceded1 some one amongst the presbyters of each church was suffered gradually to take the lead in its affairs4 ,in the same irregular way the title of bishop was appropriated to the first presbyter4 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #fe4 ,in the days when the apostles were active in the affairs of the church there were but two classes in the ministry--elders1 or bishops1 and deacons2 but when one of the presbyters was exalted to a higher position than the rest and assumed to himself the exclusive use of the word bishop1 there were three classes4 ,to quote the words of ,geo4 ,p4 ,fisher3 ,after we cross the limit of the first century we find that with each board of elders there is a person to whom the name of bishop is specially applied1 although1 for a long time1 he is likewise often called a presbyter4 ,in other words1 in the room of a two-fold1 we have a three-fold ministry4 ,hist4 of the ,christian ,church1 p4 #ea4 ,the height to which the single bishop of authority in a church had been exalted is well illustrated in the ,ignatian ,epistles4 ,ignatius was bishop of ,antioch and was condemned by the emperor ,trajan to suffer death by being thrown to the wild beasts in the amphitheatre in ,rome4 ,his execution in this manner took place ,dec4 #bj1 ,a4,d4 #ajg4 ,he wrote a number of epistles1 a few extracts from which ,i will give4 ,wherefore it is fitting that ye should run together in accordance with the will of your bishop1 which thing also ye do4 ,for your justly renowned presbytery1 worthy of ,god1 is fitted as exactly to the bishop as the strings are to the harp4 ,to the ,ephesians1 ,chap4 #d4 ,see that ye all follow the bishop1 even as ,jesus ,christ does the ,father4444 ,let no man do anything connected with the church without the bishop4 ,to the ,smyrnaean's1 ,chap4 #h4 ,it is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast2 but whatsoever he shall approve of1 that is also pleasing to ,god4 ,smyrnaean's1 ,chap4 #h4 ,it is well to reverence both ,god and the bishop4 ,he who honors the bishop has been honored of ,god2 but he who does anything without the knowledge of the bishop1 does in reality serve the devil4 ,smyrnaean's1 ,chap4 #i4 ,the power of these bishops advanced steadily during the second century4 ,the churches of the cities where they were located extended themselves into the surrounding country and smaller towns1 and the presbyters or elders of these inferior churches were presided over by the bishop of their mother church1 and in this manner the great system of diocesan episcopacy was developed4#c ,footnote #c3 ,the ancient signification of the term diocese must not be confounded with the modern usage of the term4 ,it then designated a territory or district1 usually containing a number of minor churches1 presided over by one bishop4 ,in the latter part of the second century when the disputes concerning ,easter and ,montanism arose1 the custom of diocesan bishops consulting with each other on important doctrines began1 and this developed in the third century into regular provincial synods1 or councils4 ,on account of the ecclesiastical or political importance of the cities in which they were located1 certain bishops had a special deference given them1 and they were not slow to take advantage of the opportunity to exalt themselves to the presidency of these councils2 and in a very short time they possessed immense power and constituted entirely a separate order1 designated by the term metropolitan4 ,the manner in which this important step in the great apostasy was taken and the effects produced thereby is well described in the words of the historian ,mosheim 7referring to events of the third century71 from whom ,i quote3 ,in process of time1 all the ,christian churches of a province were formed into one large ecclesiastical body1 which1 like confederate states1 assembled at certain times1 in order to deliberate about the common interests of the whole4444 ,these councils 444 changed the whole face of the church1 and gave it a new form2 for by them the ancient privileges of the people were considerably diminished1 and the power and authority of the bishops greatly augmented4444 ,at their first appearance in these general councils1 they acknowledged that they were no more than the delegates of their respective churches1 and that they acted in the name1 and by the appointment of their people4 ,but they soon changed this humble tone1 imperceptibly extended the limits of their authority1 turned their influence into dominion1 and their councils into laws2 and openly asserted1 at length1 that ,christ had empowered them to prescribe to his people1 authoritative rules of faith and manners4444 ,the order and decency of these assemblies required that some one of the provincial bishops met in council1 should be invested with a superior degree of power and authority2 and hence the rights of metropolitans derive their origin4--,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,ii1 ,part #b4 ,when a usurping clergy grasps the power to prescribe authoritative rules of faith and manners1 to employ the words of ,mosheim1 we may well conceive that the true amount of pure spiritual food was exceedingly small and could be procured only at starvation rates4 ,he who reads the ecclesiastical events of the third century will find it only too true that many of the cardinal virtues of apostolic ,christianity were almost lost sight of and that a great spiritual famine existed in the earth over which this dark horseman of the third seal careered4 ,instead of salvation through the ,spirit of ,god being carefully taught1 baptismal regeneration was exalted1 and the people were instructed in the saving virtues of the eucharist4 ,the ,platonic idea concerning sin having its seat in the flesh was adopted1 and therefore perfect victory or sanctification was made to consist in the mortification of the natural appetites and desires of the body1 with the result that a life of fasting1 celibacy1 or self-inflicted torture was looked upon as the surest means of obtaining the favor of ,heaven4 ,the writings of such eminent church ,fathers as ,tertullian1 ,origen1 ,cyprian and others now lying before me1 contain the surest evidences of the woeful extent to which this dark cloud of superstition and error had settled down over the world during the period of which ,i write4 #g4 ,and when he had opened the fourth seal1 ,i heard the voice of the fourth beast say1 ,come and see4 #h4 ,and ,i looked1 and behold a pale horse3 and his name that sat on him was ,death1 and ,hell followed with him4 ,and power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth1 to kill with sword1 and with hunger1 and with death1 and with the beasts of the earth4 ,the usual interpretation given this horse and its rider is to apply it to the desolating wars and famines that occurred in the ,roman ,empire4 ,this view is embodied in the celebrated painting ,death on the ,pale ,horse1 in which death is represented as going forth with war1 pestilence1 famine1 and wild beasts1 to ravage the ,roman empire4 ,we are informed by historians that dreadful pestilences and famines did prevail and in some places nearly depopulated the country1 and that the remaining inhabitants could not make head against the beasts that multiplied in the land4 ,but the fact that such events occurred is not sufficient proof that this symbol has reference to such4 ,famines and pestilences may have occurred many times without forming a part of the ,apocalyptic vision4 ,the greatest objection to giving this part of the vision such a literal interpretation is1 that it fails to bring out its symbolic character4 ,to what1 then1 does it refer8 ,we have1 as before1 a horseman1 indicating that the agent is one of the same general character1 differing mainly in his features and mission4 ,this horse was of a livid1 cadaverous hue1 denoting an agent of ghastly1 terrible nature4 ,the living rider bore the awful name of ,death1 or as in the original1 ,the ,death1 by way of emphasis4 ,death literally was not the agent--it is not so stated--but the rider was termed ,the ,death1 or ,the ,destroyer1 because of his terrible mission2 and ,hell followed with him4 ,applying the laws of symbolic language as heretofore1 it is evident that this symbol represents a great persecuting ecclesiastical power4 ,and with this thought before us1 we can scarcely fail to recognize it as a true description of the ,papacy4 ,the great apostasy1 described under the preceding seal1 prepared the way for the final and complete establishment of the man of sin2 but during the period there brought to view the ministers of religion1 power-seeking and apostate as they were1 were unable to enforce their claims by the power of persecution4 ,under the present seal1 however1 is represented a later stage of their corruption1 when a great hierarchal system1 sustained and upheld by the arm of civil power1 was able to bear tyrannical rule over a great portion of the earth4 ,during this period clerical ambition and usurpation reached its greatest height4 ,after speaking of the power possessed by the metropolitans1 ,mosheim says3 ,the universal church had now the appearance of one vast republic1 formed by a combination of a great number of little states4 ,this occasioned the creation of a new order of ecclesiastics1 who were appointed in different parts of the world1 as heads of the church1 and whose office it was to preserve the consistence and union of that immense body1 whose members were so widely dispersed throughout the nations4 ,such was the nature and office of the ,patriarchs4 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,ii1 part #b4 ,thus1 the bishops1 or metropolitans1 of certain of the most important cities were exalted to a still higher position as special heads of the church4 ,they were termed ,exarchs at first1 after the title of the provincial governors1 but afterwards received the more ecclesiastical appellation ,patriarchs4 ,the term ,patriarch had been in use for a long time in the church signifying merely a bishop1 irrespective of the dignity he possessed1 but it was finally limited to this higher class of the clergy1 in which sense ,i now employ it4 ,the cities that first enjoyed this chief distinction were ,alexandria1 ,rome1 and ,antioch4 ,the general council of ,nice 7,a4,d4 #cbe7 in its sixth canon recognized the superior authority already possessed by these cities4 ,see ,d',aubigne's ,hist1 of ,reformation1 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #da4 ,the general council of ,constantinople in its third canon placed the bishop of ,constantinople in the same rank with the other three ,patriarchs2 and the general council of ,calcedon exalted the ,see of ,jerusalem to a similar dignity1 doubtless because of its ancient importance as the birthplace of ,christianity4 ,thus1 ,patriarchs were established in the five political capitals of the ,roman empire2 and they were considered the heads of the church1 having spiritual authority over the whole empire4 ,these were the only ,patriarchates of importance4 ,certain ecclesiastics of the ,church of ,rome even at the present time bear the honorary title ,patriarch2 but1 to quote the words of the ,encyclopdia ,britannica1 ,in a strictly technical sense1 however1 that church recognizes only five ,patriarchates1 those of ,constantinople1 ,alexandria1 ,jerusalem1 ,antioch1 and ,rome4 ,art4 ,patriarch4 ,in the years #fcg to #fdj ,jerusalem1 ,alexandria1 and ,antioch fell into the hands of the ,saracen followers of ,mohammed1 which terminated their importance1 and later the ,greek schism separated the ,patriarch of ,constantinople from ,rome2 and thus the ,patriarch of ,rome was left in undisputed possession of the field and was soon recognized as universal head of the church4 ,so under the symbol of this dread rider on a pale horse is portrayed the great hierarchal system by which the ,papacy was fully developed in the ,west4 ,it is fitting that we notice particularly the agents of destruction employed by this rider4 ,he possesses a sword with which to kill--the same instrument wielded by the rider of the red horse--but it is evident that he uses it with more terrific energy1 by reason of which he receives the name ,death1 or ,the ,destroyer4 ,it is possible1 also1 that in this case a sword1 wielded by the hand of an ecclesiastical power1 may be used as a symbol of a spiritual cutting off1 or excommunication4 ,the sword of excommunication has been the most terrible ever wielded by human hand4 ,when this pale horseman was careering over the world in the zenith of his power1 excommunication and interdiction were the terror of individuals and the scourge of nations4 ,at his word the rights of an individual as king1 ruler1 husband or father1 nay1 even as a man1 were forfeited1 and he was shunned like one infected with the leprosy4 ,at his command the offices of religion were suspended in a nation1 and its dead lay unburied1 until its proud ruler humbled himself at the feet of the ecclesiastical tyrant who bore rule over the fourth part of the earth4#d ,footnote #d3 ,this tyranny of the ,popes is well illustrated by the quarrel that took place between ,hildebrand 7,pope ,gregory ,,vii47 and ,henry ,,iv4 of ,germany4 ,gregory attempted to make certain reforms1 but ,henry refused to recognize those innovations4 ,gregory excommunicated the emperor1 with the result that he was shunned as a man accursed by ,heaven4 ,his authority lost and his kingdom on the point of going to pieces1 ,henry had but one thing to do--seek the pardon of the ,pope4 ,he found the ,pontiff at ,canoosa1 but ,gregory refused to admit the penitent to his presence4 ,it was winter1 and for three successive days the king1 clothed in sackcloth1 stood with bare feet in the snow of the court-yard of the palace1 waiting for permission to kneel at the feet of the ,pontiff and to receive forgiveness4 ,on the fourth day he was granted admittance to the presence of the ,pope4 ,during the ,pontificate of ,innocent ,,iii4 ,philip ,augustus1 king of ,france1 put away his wife4 ,innocent commanded him to take her back and forced submission by means of an interdict4 ,this submission of a brave1 firm1 and victorious prince shows the tremendous power wielded by the ,popes in that period4 ,the manner1 also1 in which ,innocent ,,iii4 humbled ,king ,john of ,england affords another illustration of the power of the ,popes4 ,john caused the vacant ,see of ,canterbury to be filled1 in accordance with the regular manner of election1 by one of his favorites4 ,innocent declared the appointment void1 as he desired that the place should be filled by one of his friends4 ,john refused to allow the ,pope's archbishop to enter ,england as ,primate4 ,innocent then excommunicated ,john1 laid all ,england under an interdict1 and incited ,philip1 king of ,france1 to war1 offering him ,john's kingdom upon the very liberal condition that he go over and take it4 ,the outcome of the matter was that ,john was compelled to yield to the power of the ,pope4 ,he even gave him ,england as a perpetual fief1 and agreed to pay the ,papal ,see the annual sum of one thousand marks4 ,the loss of life by spiritual famine was extreme4 ,the ,word of ,god1 which is spirit and life to ,god's people 7,jno4 #f3fc71 was laid under interdict and the common people deprived of its benefits4 ,at the time the black horse appeared1 a little food could be obtained at famine prices2 but when the fourth arrived1 he was empowered to kill with hunger4 ,also1 one of his agents of destruction was death1 or pestilence1 a fit symbol of false and blasphemous doctrines breathed forth like a deadly pestilence blasting everything within its reach4 ,invocation of saints1 worship of images1 relics1 celibacy1 works of supererogation1 indulgences1 and purgatory--these were the enforced principles of religion1 and like a pest they settled down upon the people everywhere4 ,this rider also brought into operation the beasts of the earth to aid him in his destructive work4 ,to kill with sword or hunger shows that such work of destruction is performed solely by him who has it in his power2 but to kill with beasts indicates that they perform the deadly work according to their own natures4 ,nothing is clearer than the fact that wild beasts stand as a symbol of persecuting tyrannical governments2 hence we are to understand that this rider was to employ also the arm of civil power to aid him in the deadly work4 ,how strikingly this represents the historical facts of the case6 ,in all truly ,roman ,catholic countries the civil governments were only a cipher or tool in the hands of the church1 and the ecclesiastics were the real rulers of the kingdom4 ,but whenever any dark work of persecution was to be performed1 the wild beast was let loose to accomplish the result4 ,when charged1 however1 with the bloody work1 the ,catholics always answer1 ,oh1 we never persecute--don't you see1 it is the wild beasts that are covered with gore--our hands are clean1 yet they themselves held the chain that bound the savage monsters4 ,we shall have occasion in a subsequent chapter to trace further the pathway of this dread rider as he reels onward in the career of ages1 drunken with the blood of the saints4 ,this work of destruction performed by the dread rider on the pale horse is considered by many as a literal description of the persecutions of the ,papacy4 ,while ,catholics usually charge the civil powers with this bloody work1 it is an undeniable fact of history that the ,popes often ordered or sanctioned crusades against the ,waldenses1 ,albigenses1 and other peoples 7see remarks on verses #i-aa1 chap4 #ag3f71 in which the sword1 starvation1 and every other means of cruelty imaginable were brought into use to exterminate the so-called heresy4 ,and in view of the fact explained in the comments on verses #c and #d of this chapter1 that killing is sometimes to be understood in a literal sense on account of there being nothing to analagously represent such destruction of life1 it is not a violation of the laws of symbolic language thus to interpret it4 ,it might be consistent in this case to give it a twofold application2 the agreeing facts of history regarding the ,papacy strongly suggest it4 ,thus1 the sword could signify a literal destruction of life1 as in verse #d1 and also1 in the present case1 an ecclesiastical cutting off by the ,papacy1 or excommunication2 and hunger could signify literal death by starvation1 and also1 as in verses #e and #f1 a destruction of spiritual life1 etc4 ,where1 let me ask1 in the whole compass of human writings can be found a series of events of such thrilling interest1 so great in magnitude1 as is contained in these eight verses8 ,who but the ,omnipotent could have conceived such a wonderful development of the power of iniquity and with such master-strokes of power compressed them into so small a scene of symbolic imagery8 ,the impress of divinity is here speaking from every line4 #i4 ,and when he had opened the fifth seal1 ,i saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of ,god1 and for the testimony which they held3 #aj4 ,and they cried with a loud voice1 saying1 ,how long1 ,o ,lord1 holy and true1 dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth8 #aa4 ,and white robes were given unto every one of them2 and it was said unto them1 that they should rest yet for a little season1 until their fellowservants also and their brethren1 that should be killed as they were1 should be fulfilled4 ,upon the opening of this seal the scene changes entirely4 ,no more horsemen appear1 but instead the souls of the martyrs are seen at the altar crying for vindication of their blood upon the cruel oppressors of earth4 ,the question arises1 ,are these souls symbols of something else1 or are they what they are here stated to be1 the souls of them that were slain8 ,evidently1 the latter1 appearing under their own name and character1 because they can not properly be symbolized4 ,they were disembodied spirits1 and where is there anything of analagous character to represent such8 ,angels can not2 for whenever they are employed as symbols1 it is to designate distinguished agencies among men4 ,they therefore appear under their own appropriate title as the souls of them that were slain4 ,these souls appeared under the altar1 that is1 at the foot of the altar1 being the same as that described in chap4 #h3c--;,and another angel came and stood at the altar1 having a golden censer1 and there was given unto him much incense1 that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne4 ,thus1 the heavenly world1 as opened up before ,john1 appeared symbolized after the sanctuary of the temple in which stood the golden altar1 or altar of incense4 ,some have supposed that the brazen altar was the one referred to1 signifying the living sacrifice these souls made of themselves to ,god4 ,but there is no altar mentioned in the symbols except the golden altar4 ,besides1 these were not sacrificial victims2 for ,christ was made a complete sacrifice for sin1 while these only suffered martyrdom because of their faithfulness to the cause of ,christ4 ,it is much more reasonable to suppose that their interceding cries went up from the golden altar1 where the prayers of all saints ascended with much incense4 ,their prayers to ,god for the avenging of their blood shows the expectation on their part that the judgments of ,heaven would descend upon the cruel and haughty persecutors and oppressors of earth1 and their surprise was that the day of retribution had been so long delayed4 ,the history of the church as developed under the preceding seals gives particular force to this cry of the martyrs4 ,for nearly three centuries the civil power of ,pagan ,rome had been employed to crush the cause of ,god4 ,during ten terrible seasons of persecution they had been crucified1 slain with the sword1 sawn asunder1 devoured by beasts in the arena1 and given to the flames4 ,when ,constantine1 a nominal ,christian emperor1 ascended the throne and protected religion by law1 it was believed that persecutions must cease2 but soon the discovery was made that the sword had only changed hands1 there having risen an ecclesiastical hierarchy destined to glut itself upon the blood of which heathen ,rome had only tasted4 ,the world was now made the arena for the terrible coursings of the pale horseman1 and the beasts of the earth were let loose to fall with savage fury upon their helpless victims1 until millions lost their lives at the instigation of the apostate ,church of ,rome4 ,is it any wonder that the souls of these martyrs should cry unto ,god for the vindication of their righteous blood8 ,it is said that white robes were given unto every one of them4 ,by referring to chap4 #c3d2 #g3i1 #ac1 #ad1 it will be seen that white garments and white robes are sometimes used as a symbol to describe a part of the heavenly inheritance4 ,the martyr-spirits1 although impatient at the delay of avenging judgment1 received a righteous reward4 ,but the period of tribulation to the church was not yet over4 ,the cup of iniquity in the hands of her enemies was not yet full1 and they were told to rest for a little season1 until their fellowservants also1 and their brethren1 that should be killed as they were1 should be fulfilled4 ,the account given seems to indicate an important epoch1 a period in which the martyrs had reason to expect the vindication of their righteous blood1 but which1 instead1 was to be followed by another great period of persecution4 ,considering the time of the events already described in this series of prophecy1 we have no difficulty in fixing the chronology of this event at the dividing-point between the era of ,papal supremacy and the age of ,protestantism--or at the ,reformation of the ,sixteenth ,century4 ,did severe slaughter and persecution follow the ,reformation8 ,witness the reign of ,mary ,tudor1 frequently styled ,bloody ,mary4 ,during three years of her reign1 #aeee to #aeeh1 two hundred and eighty-eight were burnt alive in ,england6 ,think of the inhuman massacre of the innocent ,waldenses of southern ,france by the violent bigot ,oppede 7#aede71 who slew eight hundred men in one town1 and thrust the women into a barn filled with straw and reduced the whole to ashes--only a sample of his barbarity2 or of their oppression in southern ,italy by ,pope ,pius ,,iv4 7#aefj71 at whose command they were slain by thousands1 the throats of eighty-eight men being cut on one occasion by a single executioner6 ,witness the horrible massacre of ,st4 ,bartholomew in ,paris 7,aug4 #ba1 #aegb71 when the ,queen dowager1 the infamous ,catherine de ,medici1 lured immense numbers of the innocent ,hugenots into the city under the pretext of witnessing a marriage between the ,hugenot ,henry1 king of ,navarre1 and the sister of ,charles ,,ix41 king of ,france--when the gates were closed and the work of wholesale slaughter began at a given signal and raged for three days1 during which time from six to ten thousand were butchered in ,paris alone6 ,think of the rivers of blood in the ,netherlands1 where the ,duke of ,alva boasted that in the short space of six weeks he had put eighteen thousand to death6 ,witness the dragoonading methods and other inhuman persecutions to wear out the saints of the ,most ,high1 that followed the revocation of the ,edict of ,nantes 7#afhe7 by ,louis ,,xiv41 king of ,france1 during whose reign three hundred thousand were brutally butchered--while ,pope ,innocent ,,xi4 extolled the king by special letter as follows3 ,the ,catholic church shall most assuredly record in her sacred annals a work of such devotion toward her1 and ,,celebrate ,,your ,,name ,,with ,,never-,,dying ,,praises 444 for this most excellent undertaking66 ,my heart sickens with horror in the contemplation of such events4 ,eternal ,god6 can thy righteous eye behold such heart-rending scenes of earth1 and thy hand of power not be extended to humble to the dust these cruel1 haughty oppressors of thy people8 #ab4 ,and ,i beheld when he had opened the sixth seal1 and1 lo1 there was a great earthquake2 and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair1 and the moon became as blood2 #ac4 ,and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth1 even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs1 when she is shaken of a mighty wind4 #ad4 ,and the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together2 and every mountain and island were moved out of their places4 #ae4 ,and the kings of the earth1 and the great men1 and the rich men1 and the chief captains1 and the mighty men1 and every bondman1 and every free man1 hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains2 #af4 ,and said to the mountains and rocks1 ,fall on us1 and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne1 and from the wrath of the ,lamb2 #ag4 ,for the great day of his wrath is come2 and who shall be able to stand8 ,upon the opening of this seal the scene changes again4 ,the symbols are all drawn from an entirely different source4 ,we are taken out of the department of civil life into the scenes of nature1 which is a clear evidence that the history of the church is no longer under consideration4 ,had ,god intended to here continue her history1 he would no doubt have employed symbols derived from the same source as those preceding1 so as to prevent our being led astray4 ,no more horsemen or living characters appear1 but we behold the most terrific convulsions of nature--a mighty earthquake1 the darkening of the sun and the moon1 the falling of the stars1 and finally the dissolution of the heavens1 together with the mountains and the islands being removed4 ,if the history of the church is no longer under consideration1 this great change of symbols directs us with absolute certainty into the political and civil world for their fulfilment4 ,of course1 we are not to suppose that this is a literal description4 ,in this manner the dignity and the excellence in the use and the interpretation of symbols is preserved4 ,to describe the religious history of the church1 noble symbols chosen from the department of human life are selected2 while symbols drawn from an inferior department--that of nature--are chosen to represent political affairs4 ,this point will appear very clear as we proceed in the interpretation of the ,apocalypse4 ,it is just what we might naturally expect4 ,the question may be asked1 ,if these symbols from nature represent political affairs1 where in the events of civil history shall we look for their fulfilment8 ,every one will readily perceive the analogy between an earthquake and a political revolution1 when all society is in a state of agitation as when the solid earth trembles4 ,it is also evident that the sun1 moon1 and stars bear the same analagous relationship to the earth that kings1 rulers1 and princes do to the body politic2 while the firmament of heaven is analagous to the entire fabric of civil government1 the symbolic heaven in which the symbolic orbs are set to give light4 ,the symbols1 then1 point us to the most terrible revolutions--when society is in a state of agitation1 when kingdoms are overthrown and their rulers and princes thrown from their positions or made objects of the most gloomy terror2 yea1 when the entire fabric of civil government is finally overthrown and all the institutions and organizations of society are swept away as with a tornado4 ,this is the time of consternation to the great men of earth1 when they shall hide themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains1 and say to the mountains and rocks1 ,fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne1 and from the wrath of the ,lamb3 for the great day of his wrath is come2 and who shall be able to stand8 ,this is the time that the martyrs looked forward to when they cried1 ,how long1 ,o ,lord1 holy and true1 dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth8 ,a large portion of the ,apocalypse is occupied with the history of these persecuting powers1 civil and ecclesiastical4 ,it is their dominacy that constitutes the long period of tribulation to the church1 when the witnesses prophesy in sackcloth and the faithful are ground into the dust by the feet of these proud oppressors as they stand in the high places of the earth4 ,but the cries of the slaughtered saints have ascended to the throne as incense2 ,god speaks2 the judgments of ,heaven descend upon these lofty ones2 and a voice from heaven declares1 ,they have shed the blood of saints and prophets1 and thou hast given them blood to drink2 for they are worthy4 ,this is surely a striking combination of symbols1 and the way they are arranged would indicate that their fulfilment occupied a considerable period of time4 ,first we have a great earthquake1 afterwards the darkening of the sun and the moon1 with the falling of the stars1 and finally the dissolution of the heavens themselves1 with the sweeping away of mountains and islands4 ,this description covers the same period as that described under the seven last plagues1 beginning with certain fearful revolutions in which the nations that had slaughtered the millions of ,god's people were given blood to drink1 and ending finally in the great day of his wrath that shall sweep them from their positions eternally4 ,the full explanation of these events can not at present be appreciated by the reader1 therefore ,i reserve it for the future1 to be more fully developed under other symbols4 ,in these six seals we have a vivid outline of mighty events1 political and ecclesiastical1 extending from the earliest stage of ,christianity to the end of time4 ,this description in advance was no mere human production4 ,no human foresight would have detected1 and no mortal mind would have conceived1 events so wonderful and so farreaching in their character4 ,any other history would sooner have been imagined4 ,it takes divine wisdom to understand the true position of the church in the present1 and she can scarcely read her past history by natural wisdom alone1 much less outline the future4 ,first the establishment of ,christianity is symbolized1 then the violence of the ,pagan party1 the apostasy1 and final establishment of the man of sin1 until the millions of earth are crushed by the spiritual tyranny or by the arm of civil power1 and the cry of the martyrs goes up ,how long1 ,o ,lord8 ,but they are told to rest a little season1 when they shall witness the hand of ,god laid upon these persecuting nations of earth1 convulsing them in the most fearful revolutions1 and ending finally in their complete overthrow in that last great day of ,god ,almighty4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,and after these things ,i saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth1 holding the four winds of the earth1 that the wind should not blow on the earth1 nor on the sea1 nor on any tree4 #b4 ,and ,i saw another angel ascending from the east1 having the seal of the living ,god3 and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels1 to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea4 #c4 ,saying1 ,hurt not the earth1 neither the sea1 nor the trees1 till we have sealed the servants of our ,god in their foreheads4 #d4 ,and ,i heard the number of them which were sealed3 and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of ,israel4 #e4 ,of the tribe of ,juda were sealed twelve thousand4 ,of the tribe of ,reuben were sealed twelve thousand4 ,of the tribe of ,gad were sealed twelve thousand4 #f4 ,of the tribe of ,aser were sealed twelve thousand4 ,of the tribe of ,nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand4 ,of the tribe of ,manasses were sealed twelve thousand4 #g4 ,of the tribe of ,simeon were sealed twelve thousand4 ,of the tribe of ,levi were sealed twelve thousand4 ,of the tribe of ,issachar were sealed twelve thousand4 #h4 ,of the tribe of ,zabulon were sealed twelve thousand4 ,of the tribe of ,joseph were sealed twelve thousand4 ,of the tribe of ,benjamin were sealed twelve thousand4 ,a clear understanding of the two visions in the chapter before us can be obtained only by considering the plan of the prophecy already referred to4 ,the events are narrated by series4 ,a particular theme is taken up and followed through to its completion2 then the narrative returns and another theme is introduced4 ,but this is not all4 ,whenever the history of abounding error or iniquity is set forth1 we have in immediate connection and in perfect contrast therewith a history of the true people of ,god2 thus1 the contemporaneous history of righteousness and iniquity1 truth and error1 a true church and a false one4 ,the visions of this chapter cover the same period of time as the events described in the preceding chapter1 but form the most perfect contrast4 ,the student of ,revelation who unfolds the dark history of apostasy and iniquity contained in the preceding seals might naturally be led to ask1 ,is this the melancholy end of ,god's church8 ,does it deteriorate rapidly and turn out so badly1 after all8 ,as an answer to these questions1 ,god gives us next a history of his own people1 showing that he preserved his own church complete1 although ,antichrist reigned in power4 ,the principal points in the vision before us are the tempestuous winds about to descend upon the earth1 and the sealing of ,god's servants4 ,the first of these1 being drawn from nature1 would lead us to look for its fulfilment in political events2 while the latter1 derived from human life1 directs us into the affairs of the church4 ,the four winds of the earth from the four corners of the earth signify all the winds from every direction--the cardinal points of the compass2 while the four angels signify all the agencies that have control of these winds1 which for the present are held in restraint in order to give opportunity for the sealing of the ,lord's servants4 ,angels in the ,scripture is frequently used to denote evil agencies as well as good1 the context determining which is meant4 ,see ,chap4 #ab3g4 ,the design of the winds was to hurt the earth1 the sea1 and the trees4 ,what1 let me ask1 in the political world is analagous to tempestuous storms sweeping over the earth8 ,what but huge masses of men1 excited by fierce passions1 precipitating themselves upon the inhabitants of an empire1 sweeping everything before them in the fury of their march and spreading desolation on every side8 ,in the symbols of the next chapter we find that just such hordes of men--barbarians--under their angels1 or leaders1 precipitated themselves upon the ,roman empire2 and the fearful effects upon the earth1 the sea1 and the green trees produced thereby1 is particularly detailed4 ,for the present1 however1 they are held under restraint until the sealing of the servants of ,god should be accomplished1 then they were to go forward in their work of destruction4 ,the sealing of the servants is not making them the people of ,god1 but rather marking or designating them as such1 just as later we find the devotees of a corrupt apostate church specified as having the mark of the beast4 ,considerable light can be thrown upon the subject of the sealing of ,god's servants and of the mark of the beast by consulting ,roman history for the origin of such expressions4 ,the many conquests of the ,roman arms furnished so many prisoners that they became a drug in the slave-markets of the world1 and were so numerous that in many places they outnumbered the ,roman citizens ten to one4 ,in the first century before ,christ it is said that some ,sicilian estates were worked by as many as twenty thousand slaves4 ,that each owner might know his own1 the poor creatures were branded like cattle4 ,the mark of the beast possessed by the followers of a false communion will be found to consist of an ,antichristian spirit by which they are filled with doctrines of devils4 ,so1 also1 the seal of the living ,god consists of the giving of the ,holy ,spirit1 by which his people are led into all truth4 ,see ,john #ad3bf4 ,while ,sabbatarians vainly try to prove that keeping the seventh day is the seal of ,god in this dispensation1 yet there is not one text of ,scripture that hints such a thing1 but1 on the contrary1 the ,scriptures are against them4 ,grieve not the ,holy ,spirit of ,god whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption4 ,eph4 #d3cj4 ,again1 the ,word of ,god says1 ,now he which stablished us with you in ,christ1 and hath anointed us is ,god2 who hath also sealed us1 and given the earnest of the ,spirit in our hearts4 #b ,cor4 #a3ba1 #bb4 ,the time this sealing of the people of ,god takes place is thus described3 ,after that ye believed1 ye were sealed with that ,holy ,spirit of promise4 ,eph4 #a3ac4 ,the winds of heaven were restrained until the work of full salvation could be firmly established in the earth4 ,when ,christ appeared1 the ,roman empire was in a state of comparative quiet1 and the immense hosts of foreign invaders did not appear until the firm establishment of ,christianity1 being held back by the power of ,god until his work should be accomplished4 ,in the description of the sealing given1 twelve thousand were selected from each of the twelve tribes4 ,some have supposed this to have reference solely to salvation work among the ,jewish nation2 but that would be adopting the literal mode of interpretation1 thus destroying its symbolic character4 ,the twelve tribes are chosen from the proper department to represent the church or ,israel of ,god in this dispensation1 irrespective of nationality4 ,the twelve gates in the wall of the heavenly city are named after the twelve tribes of the children of ,israel 7chap4 #ba3ab71 showing that it is only through ,israel that any one can enter the ,new ,jerusalem4 ,since the gospel is given to all nations1 this can not signify literal ,israel4 ,the children of the promise are counted for the seed4 ,rom4 #i3h4 ,if ye be ,christ's1 then are ye ,abraham's seed1 and heirs according to the promise4 ,gal4 #c3bi4 ,since the vision is symbolical1 we are to consider the numbers given as symbolical also1 the definite number of twelve thousand from each of the tribes showing that the church of ,god was complete and perfect1 no part being omitted4 #i4 ,after this ,i beheld1 and1 lo1 a great multitude1 which no man could number1 of all nations1 and kindreds1 and people1 and tongues1 stood before the throne1 and before the ,lamb1 clothed with white robes1 and palms in their hands2 #aj4 ,and cried with a loud voice1 saying1 ,salvation to our ,god which sitteth upon the throne1 and unto the ,lamb4 #aa4 ,and all the angels stood round about the throne1 and about the elders and the four beasts1 and fell before the throne on their faces1 and worshipped ,god1 #ab4 ,saying1 ,amen3 ,blessing1 and glory1 and wisdom1 and thanksgiving1 and honor1 and power1 and might1 be unto our ,god for ever and ever4 ,amen4 #ac4 ,and one of the elders answered1 saying unto me1 ,what are these which are arrayed in white robes8 and whence came they8 #ad4 ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 thou knowest4 ,and he said to me1 ,these are they which came out of great tribulation1 and have washed their robes1 and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb4 #ae4 ,therefore are they before the throne of ,god1 and serve him day and night in his temple3 and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them4 #af4 ,they shall hunger no more1 neither thirst any more2 neither shall the sun light on them1 nor any heat4 #ag4 ,for the ,lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them1 and shall lead them unto living mountains of waters3 and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes4 ,in this scene the vision is carried forward to the close of the long period of tribulation and persecution to the church of ,god1 when all her enemies are finally overthrown2 and here are the glorious results1 the harvest gathered3 a great multitude whom no man can number1 gathered out of all nations1 and kindreds1 and peoples1 and tongues1 standing before the throne and before the ,lamb1 clothed with white robes1 and palms in their hands1 the symbols of their victory4 ,the scene is laid in heaven1 and refers undoubtedly to the end of time when the heavenly world will be opened up to all the faithful who have suffered for ,christ amid the trials and the oppositions through which his church is called to pass in this present world4 ,we are expressly informed by one of the elders who these are in white robes and whence they came1 so there can be no question respecting them4 ,this is the glorious company of the redeemed of all ages who came out of great tribulation1 and have washed their robes1 and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb4 ,therefore they are before the throne of ,god1 and serve him day and night in his temple2 and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them4 ,they shall hunger no more1 neither thirst any more2 neither shall the sun light on them1 nor any heat4 ,what a contrast with the scenes of earth1 when oppressed by famine1 and cold1 and nakedness1 and peril1 and sword1 they were killed all the day long6 ,but their sufferings are over2 for the ,lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them1 and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes4 ,this redeemed company is represented as uniting in a song of praise and thanksgiving to ,god for bringing them through their long period of trial1 saying ,salvation to our ,god which sitteth upon the throne1 and unto the ,lamb2 while heaven resounds with universal praise as the angels and all the redeemed host take up the chorus and swell the mighty anthem saying1 ,amen2 blessing1 and glory1 and wisdom and thanksgiving1 and honor1 and power1 and might be unto our ,god forever and ever4 ,amen4 ,it is clear that1 in this chapter and the one preceding1 we have two grand parallel and comprehensive histories--in one1 the process of corruption in the so-called church and the final judgments that overtook these cruel persecutors of the ,lord's people2 in the other1 the setting apart and sealing of ,god's servants1 their preservation from the contaminations of an apostate church1 and the final glorious triumph of all who endure unto the end4 ,this vision has often been applied in a figurative manner to the spiritual reign of ,god's people on earth before the end of time--that they are overcomers through the blood of ,christ1 that ,god dwells with them in his church1 that their spiritual needs are all supplied so they hunger and thirst no more--but a careful study of the plan of the prophecy will show that its real signification is the heavenly state at the end4 ,as the sixth seal describes the final overthrow of all the antichristian powers that have oppressed ,god's people on earth2 so this vision describes the great white-robed company gathered out of every nation1 kindred1 tongue1 and people1 who have been preserved faithful through all these trials and tribulations1 and who receive at last the crown of everlasting life4 ,this last vision will be more fully described under certain symbols contained in the last two chapters of this book2 while the earthquake1 the falling of the stars1 etc41 of the sixth seal will be more perfectly detailed in chapters #ae and #af4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,and when he had opened the seventh seal1 there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour4 #b4 ,and ,i saw the seven angels which stood before ,god2 and to them were given seven trumpets4 #c4 ,and another angel came and stood at the altar1 having a golden censer2 and there was given unto him much incense1 that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne4 #d4 ,and the smoke of the incense1 which came with the prayers of the saints1 ascended up before ,god out of the angel's hand4 #e4 ,and the angel took the censer1 and filled it with fire of the altar1 and cast it into the earth3 and there were voices1 and thunderings1 and lightnings1 and an earthquake4 ,the remainder of the book is embraced in the contents of the seventh seal4 ,this may appear a little singular at first1 being so much larger than the preceding ones4 ,but it is easily understood when we consider the six as being a synopsis of the whole book1 containing a history of the church apostate to the final consummation1 and also the contemporaneous history of the truth church of ,god2 while the seventh gives in detail the account of these great persecuting powers1 civil and ecclesiastical1 and the trials and triumphs of the saints in the ,new ,jerusalem--developing more fully the events described under the six4 ,upon the opening of the seventh seal1 there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour4 ,whether this interval of silence is intended to be symbolical of any event on earth ,i do not know2 neither have ,i seen any solution of the matter that is consistent or satisfactory4 ,some have supposed that it denoted a cessation of persecution among the ,christians of earth4 ,but if that were the case1 then its opposite1 voices in heaven1 would indicate seasons of persecution4 ,there were several seasons of rest from persecution enjoyed by the early saints1 and why should one period be singled out more than the rest and be thus described8 ,besides1 a half hour1 according to prophetic time would signify only about one week1 a period too short certainly to take account of4 ,others have supposed that it signified the end of the world1 and that heaven would then be deserted for a short time while the judgment was taking place4 ,but the events following show that the end of the world is not here described1 therefore it can not have reference to such4 ,moreover1 it is extremely doubtful whether silence in heaven would be a proper symbol of such an event4 ,i do not perceive the analogy4 ,in fact1 such an interpretation of silence would be literal and not symbolic4 ,its explanation would seem to be found in connection with certain facts stated respecting the opening of the preceding seals--that voices followed them4 ,when the first four seals were opened1 ,john heard the voices of the four beasts1 as it were a voice of thunder2 and on the opening of the fifth1 he heard the souls of the martyrs crying unto ,god2 but when the seventh was opened1 there was silence for a time4 ,the contrast is noticeable2 but whether it has any special signification1 ,i am unable to say2 perhaps not4 ,before the sounding of the seven trumpets1 the acceptableness of the prayers of the saints is represented by an angel offering incense upon the golden altar which was before the throne4 ,this scene was doubtless introduced to lend encouragement to ,god's children--that1 although iniquity abounded on every side and the judgments of ,god were poured out upon the people1 still the prayers of the faithful few were acceptable in his sight1 ascending before the throne like sweet incense from off the golden altar4 ,after offering up the incense with the prayers of all saints1 the same angel took his censer and filled it with fire from off the altar and cast it 7the fire7 upon the earth--a token of ,god's avenging judgments--and there were voices1 and thunderings1 and lightnings1 and an earthquake4 ,these1 of course1 were on earth1 and symbolized the revolutions and convulsions now about to take place in the empire4 #f4 ,and the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound4 #g4 ,the first angel sounded1 and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood1 and they were cast upon the earth3 and the third part of trees was burnt up1 and all green grass was burnt up4 ,we here enter upon a series of prophecies developing fully the successive steps in the decline of the ,western ,roman empire1 by which it finally tottered to its fall4 ,it was necessary that this persecuting1 tyrannical government should be subverted in order to give opportunity for the establishment of apostate ,christianity in the form of the ,papacy1 as it constituted the let or hindrance to the full development of the man of sin mentioned by the apostle in #b ,thes4 #b4 ,that persecuting1 ,pagan ,rome was a serious obstacle confronting the development of apostasy was recognized even by the early ,christians4 ,thus1 ,tertullian1 in his notable ,apology1 chapter #cb1 says3 ,christians are under a particular necessity of praying for the emperors1 and for the continued state of the empire2 because we know that dreadful power which hangs over the world1 and the conclusion of the age1 which threatens the most horrible evils1 is restrained by the continuance of the time appointed for the ,roman empire4 ,this is what we would not experience2 and while we pray that it may be deferred1 we hereby show our good-will to the perpetuity of the ,roman state4 ,in a subsequent chapter it will be seen that ,pagan ,rome1 broken up into minor divisions and no longer able to maintain her position in the political world1 resigns her power and authority into the hands of the rising ,papacy4 ,therefore it is not surprising that the means by which this great change is effected should be made the subject of prophetic revelation4 ,besides1 we have other things to guide us in the interpretation4 ,we can readily identify the symbols under the fifth trumpet with the curse of ,mohammedanism in the ,eastern empire1 and we would naturally suppose that the first four precede those4 ,again1 the symbols are all drawn from the natural world1 which leads us assuredly into the political affairs of the empire for their fulfilment4 ,they are also of the most destructive nature1 therefore we look for objects of a corresponding desolating character4 ,finally1 the vision of the preceding chapter represents fierce1 destructive winds as about to descend upon the earth1 being temporarily held in check to give opportunity for the primitive establishment of ,christianity1 implying that they would afterwards be let loose to burst like a tornado upon the empire4 ,it is said positively that power was given to hurt the earth and the sea 7chap4 #g3b71 and in the vision before us the effects produced upon the earth and the trees are particularly detailed4 ,the earth signifies the ,roman empire1 or that portion of the earth made the subject of apocalyptic vision4 ,that this application of the word earth is correct1 is shown by various ,scriptures4 ,and it came to pass in those days1 that there went out a decree from ,csar ,augustus that all the world should be taxed4 ,luke #b3a4 ,the queen of the ,south 444 came from the uttermost parts of the earth southern ,arabia to hear the wisdom of ,solomon4 ,mat4 #ab3db4 ,ye shall be witnesses 444 unto the uttermost part of the earth4 ,acts #a3h4 ,the apostles carried the gospel personally1 only throughout the territory of the then-known civilized world--the ,roman empire4 ,upon this earth there descended in the vision before us a fierce storm of hail and fire1 mingled with blood4 ,its being mingled with blood would indicate its destructive effects4 ,one characteristic of this symbol particularly is worthy of notice4 ,hail and fire cast upon the earth would become absorbed speedily or pass into new combinations with the surrounding elements1 thus not remaining in any permanent form except in its effects4 ,in this particular it is wholly unlike the symbol of the next trumpet1 which is that of a burning mountain cast into the sea1 for such a body would naturally remain permanently where it fell2 whereas a storm of hail and fire would soon disappear4 ,also1 the statement that this storm was cast upon the earth would indicate that it was a calamity descending from without upon the empire4 ,where1 now1 do we find the object that fully meets the requirements of this symbol--destructive agents descending upon the ,roman empire like a furious storm of hail and fire1 accomplishing the first important step toward the subverting of the empire8 ,we find it in the irruption of the fierce ,gothic tribes of the ,north1 who1 under ,alaric1 burst like a tornado upon the empire about the beginning of the fifth century1 spreading destruction and desolation upon every side4 ,the following quotations and facts from the highest authority on the subject1 ,gibbon's ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire 7,vol4 ,,iii1 pp4 #aij-bid71 will give the reader an idea of the awful effects produced by the invasions of these barbarous tribes4 ,the great ,theodosius1 emperor of the ,western ,roman empire1 had supported the frail and mouldering edifice of the republic1 but upon his death he was succeeded by the weak ,honorious4 ,in a few months the ,gothic barbarians were in arms4 ,the barriers of the ,danube were thrown down1 the savage warriors of ,scythia issued from their forests 444 and the various tribes of barbarians1 who glory in the ,gothic name1 were irregularly spread over the woody shores of ,dalmatia to the walls of ,constantinople4 ,they were directed by the bold and artful genius of ,alaric1 who soon concluded that the conquest of ,constantinople was an impracticable enterprise4 ,he disdained to trample any longer on the prostrate and ruined countries of ,thrace and ,dacia1 and he resolved to seek a plentiful harvest of fame and riches in a province which had hitherto escaped the ravages of war4444 ,the troops which had been posted to defend the straits of ,thermopyl retired 444 without attempting to disturb the secure and rapid passage of ,alaric2 and the fertile fields of ,phocis and ,botia were instantly covered by a deluge of barbarians1 who massacred the males of an age to bear arms1 and drove away the beautiful females1 with the spoil and cattle of the flaming villages4 ,the travelers who visited ,greece several years afterwards1 could easily discover the deep and bloody traces of the march of the ,goths4444 ,the whole territory of ,attica1 from the promontory of ,sunium to the town of ,megara1 was blasted by his baleful presence2 and1 if we may use the comparison of a contemporary philosopher1 ,athens itself resembled the bleeding and empty skin of a slaughtered victim4444 ,corinth1 ,argos1 ,sparta1 yielded without resistance to the arms of the ,goths2 and the most fortunate of the inhabitants were saved1 by death1 from beholding the slavery of their families and the conflagration of their cities4 ,arcadius1 the emperor of the ,east1 wishing to dissuade ,alaric from further conquests and such wholesale massacres1 promoted him to the rank of ,master-general of the eastern ,illyricum1 but it had an opposite effect4 ,the birth of ,alaric1 the glory of his past exploits1 and the confidence in his future designs1 insensibly united the body of the ,gothic nation under his victorious standard2 and1 with the unanimous consent of the barbarian chieftains1 the ,master-general of ,illyricum was elevated1 according to the ancient custom1 on a shield1 and solemnly proclaimed king of the ,visigoths4 ,armed with this double power1 situated on the verge of the two empires1 he alternately sold his deceitful promises to the courts of ,arcadius and ,honorious2 until he declared and executed his resolution of invading the dominions of the ,west4444 ,he was tempted by the fame1 the beauty1 the wealth of ,italy1 which he had twice visited2 and he secretly aspired to plant the ,gothic standard on the walls of ,rome1 and to enrich his army with the accumulated spoils of three hundred triumphs4 ,he marched into ,italy1 and the emperor fled before him4 ,a temporary respite was finally procured by the promise of a payment of four thousand pounds of gold4 ,alaric soon appeared1 however1 before the very walls of ,rome1 and that splendid city1 surrounded by hordes of barbarians1 was soon reduced to a wretched condition by famine4 ,two representatives of the ,romans waited upon ,alaric for terms of peace1 stating that if such could not be arranged the inhabitants of the city1 animated by despair1 would fight to the bitter end4 ,to this the haughty conqueror made this famous reply3 ,the thicker the grass1 the easier it is mowed4 ,with an insulting laugh1 he named the ransom required--all the gold and silver contained in the city1 all the rich and precious movables1 together with all the slaves4 ,then the ministers humbly asked1 ,what do you intend to leave us8 ,your lives1 the haughty king replied1 and retired4 ,he finally relaxed a little and fixed other terms1 which included the immediate payment of the enormous sum of five thousand pounds of gold1 thirty thousand pounds of silver1 besides other treasure4 ,the victorious leader1 who united the daring spirit of a barbarian with the art and discipline of a ,roman general1 was at the head of a hundred thousand fighting men2 and ,italy pronounced1 with terror and respect1 the formidable name of ,alaric4 ,a second time ,rome was besieged by ,alaric and taken4 ,honorious was deposed and ,attalus made emperor2 but ,honorious was afterwards restored4 ,in ,a4,d4 #daj he again marched upon the city1 captured and entered it4 ,eleven hundred and sixty-three years after the foundation of ,rome1 the imperial city1 which had subdued and civilized so considerable a part of mankind1 was delivered to the licentious fury of the tribes of ,germania and ,scythia4 ,for six days the city was sacked by the barbarous soldiery1 and the horrible scenes of robbery1 murder1 and rapine that ensued can not be described4 ,it has been said that civilized warfare is sufficiently terrible1 but that would be almost a blessing compared with such scenes as these4 ,for a space of four years ,alaric ravaged ,italy almost without opposition4 ,the slaughter and devastation that followed this storm of hail and fire is thus described3 ,the banks of the ,rhine were crowned like those of the ,tiber1 with houses and well-cultivated farms2 and if a poet descended the river1 he might express his doubts on which side was situated the territory of the ,romans4 ,this scene of peace and plenty was suddenly changed into a desert1 and the prospect of the smoking ruins could alone distinguish the solitude of nature from the desolation of man4 ,the flourishing city of ,mentz was surprised and destroyed1 and many thousand ,christians inhumanly massacred in the church4 ,wurms perished after a long and obstinate siege4 ,strasburg1 ,spires1 ,rheims1 ,tournay1 ,arras1 ,amiens1 experienced the cruel oppression of the ,german yoke1 and the consuming flames of war spread from the banks of the ,rhine over the greatest part of the seventeen provinces of ,gaul4 ,that rich and extensive country1 as far as the ocean1 the ,alps and the ,pyrenees1 was delivered to the barbarians1 who drove before them1 in a promiscuous crowd1 the bishop1 the senator and the virgin1 laden with the spoils of their houses and altars4 ,another historian describing the same1 a few years after the event1 says3 ,the barbarians meeting with little resistance1 indulged in the utmost cruelty4 ,the cities which they captured1 they so utterly destroyed that no traces of them now remain1 except in ,thrace and ,greece1 except here and there a tower or a gate4 ,all the men who opposed them they slew1 young and old1 and indeed spared not women1 nor even children4 ,whence there is still but a sparse population in ,italy4 ,the plunder which they seized in every part of ,europe was immense1 and especially at ,rome1 where they left nothing1 either public or private4 ,in this latter description reference is also made to some later invasions1 but they were all of the same desolating character4 ,these historical facts show how the green grass1 or the feebler portion of society--the tender sex1 the young1 and the aged--were consumed before this fearful storm of hail and fire2 and also how the trees1 or the stronger portion--those better able to make resistance--suffered greatly4 ,it is also a fact to be observed that these fierce tribes which overran ,italy1 harassed or captured ,rome repeatedly1 and threatened the overthrow of the empire1 made no permanent settlement in that territory4 ,under ,alaric the ,goths make no lasting settlement4 ,in the long tale of intrigue and warfare between the ,goths and the two ,imperial courts which fills up this whole time1 cessions of territory are offered to the ,goths1 provinces are occupied by them1 but as yet they do not take root anywhere2 no ,western land as yet becomes ,gothia1--,encyclopdia ,britannica1 ,art4 ,goths4 ,after the death of ,alaric 7,a4,d4 #dab71 however1 they settled in the southern part of ,spain and ,gaul#e--part of the territory of the ,west--but they no longer threatened the life of the empire2 but1 on the contrary1 they became allies of the ,romans in opposing the dreadful incursions of the ,huns and other barbarians4 ,thus their invasion of the ,west was at first terribly destructive--like a storm of hail and fire--but their ravages soon ceased1 except in their disastrous and weakening effects4 ,footnote #e3 ,this division of the ,gothic tribes is commonly called the ,visigoths 7,western ,goths71 as distinguished from the ,ostrogoths1 or ,eastern ,goths4 #h4 ,and the second angel sounded1 and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea3 and the third part of the sea became blood2 #i4 ,and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea1 and had life1 died2 and the third part of the ships were destroyed4 ,the symbol of this trumpet is that of a volcanic mountain cast into the sea1 whence it sends forth its streams of lava in every direction until a third of the creatures in the sea are destroyed1 thus spreading desolation on every side4 ,it would naturally remain where it fell1 a permanent instrument of destruction4 ,we have here a description of the next step of importance in the downfall of the ,western empire4 ,the second great invasion was that of the terrible ,genseric with his ,vandal hordes1 who pushed southward through ,gaul and ,spain1 conquered the ,carthaginian territory of northern ,africa1 and there formed a permanent independent government in ,a4,d4 #dci4 ,from this fixed place1 he continued for years to make incursions upon the bordering cities and islands1 burning the cities1 murdering the inhabitants1 and intercepting the commerce of the ,mediterranean4 ,during his military career1 #dbi-dfh1 he became the terror of the inhabitants of the empire1 insomuch that historians designate him the terrible ,genseric4 ,the depredations committed by his followers were but a repetition of such scenes of barbarity as have already been described in the invasions of ,alaric under the first trumpet1 therefore ,i will not devote much space to the historical facts in the case4 ,their deeds1 however1 were such that the very term ,vandal has come to be used as a designation of any man of ferocious character4 ,concerning the important part that this chieftain acted in the downfall of the ,western empire1 ,gibbon uses this significant language3 ,genseric1 a name which1 in the destruction of the ,roman empire1 has deserved an equal rank with the names of ,alaric and ,attila4 ,vol4 ,,iii1 p4 #cgj4 ,in the year #ded the empress ,eudoxia wished to be revenged on ,maximus1 who had murdered her husband ,valentinian and had grasped the throne1 and she secretly invited ,genseric to attack ,rome4 ,that fierce general1 who is described by the ,encyclopdia ,britannica as cruel to blood-thirstiness1 cunning1 unscrupulous1 and grasping1 was glad to undertake the task1 and he soon landed an army of ,vandals and ,african ,moors at the gates of the city4 ,it was soon taken and for fifteen days given over to be sacked by the barbarous soldiery4 ,when they had glutted their savage instincts with the horrible deeds of murder and rapine1 loaded with the spoils of the imperial city1 they returned to ,africa1 taking with them an immense number of captives1 including ,eudoxia and her two daughters4 ,this desolating incursion left the empire weak and tottering to its fall4 ,genseric became the tyrant of the sea2 the coasts of ,italy1 ,greece1 and ,asia1 were again exposed to his revenge and avarice4 ,tripoli and ,sardinia returned to his obedience2 he added ,sicily to the number of his provinces2 and before he died1 in the fulness of years and glory1 he beheld the ,,final ,,extinction of the empire of the ,west4 ,gibbon1 ,vol4 ,,iii1 pp4 #dig1 #dih4 ,by the sea into which this burning mountain was cast is meant1 not the ,mediterranean nor any other literal sea1 but the heart of the empire1 and that in a state of agitation4 ,the empire was in a state of comparative quiet when ,alaric appeared2 therefore the storm of hail and fire is represented as falling upon the earth1 as a result of which society was thrown into a state of great agitation1 and moved to its depths1 like an ocean in a storm4 ,this was its condition when ,genseric1 from his fixed position in ,africa1 began his desolating incursions2 therefore the next symbol is that of a mountain cast into the sea4 ,by the sea becoming blood is doubtless meant the destruction of life in the empire1 and the third part denotes the vast extent of the destruction4 ,i must speak with hesitation on what is signified by the creatures which were in the sea and the ships4 ,by analogy ,i would be led to refer the former to the rulers and the dignitaries in the empire1 they bearing an analagous position to the empire that fishes do to the waters of the sea2 while the latter may refer to public monuments and structures4 #aj4 ,and the third angel sounded1 and there fell a great star from heaven1 burning as it were a lamp1 and it fell upon the third part of the rivers1 and upon the fountains of waters2 #aa4 ,and the name of the star is called ,wormwood3 and the third part of the waters became wormwood2 and many men died of the waters1 because they were made bitter4 ,the description given of this star is similar to that of a large burning meteor1 such as we frequently see shooting athwart the heavens4 ,it fell rapidly to earth1 as such meteors often do1 and struck the fountain-heads of the rivers1 imparting to them such a poisonous quality as caused the death of those who drank the waters4 ,this symbol is also drawn from the natural world1 and hence we must look for its fulfilment in political events4 ,the rapidity of its fall and disappearance in the waters would direct us to an agent who would appear suddenly and soon disappear1 and whose career would leave bitter results4 ,the direct effects of this meteor were experienced by the rivers and the fountains of waters1 which bear an analagous relation to the sea that bordering tribes and nations do to an empire4 ,the heart of the empire1 or the sea1 was directly affected by the burning mountain1 under the preceding trumpet2 while the tributaries of the sea1 or the bordering tribes1 are made the subject of direct attack under this symbol and the poisonous qualities of their waters carried to far distant points4 ,under this striking symbol we have a description of the third important step in the downward course of ,rome--the short but eventful career of ,attila1 with his terrible ,scythians1 or ,huns4 ,singularly1 ,attila was said to possess the iron sword of the war-god ,mars1 and he claimed for himself the designation or title ,the ,scourge of ,god2 while his followers were even more cruel and barbarous1 if possible1 than the ,goths and the ,vandals4 ,coming from the remote solitudes of ,asia under the leadership of their fierce king1 they poured like a tornado1 first upon the inhabitants of the ,eastern empire 7in #ddb1 #dde7 and then turned their attention westward4 ,attila ruled over nearly all the tribes north of the ,danube and the ,black sea1 and under his banner fought ,ostrogoths1 ,gepid1 ,alani1 ,heruli1 and many other ,teutonic peoples4 ,says ,gibbon3 ,the whole breadth of ,europe1 as it extends above five hundred miles from the ,euxine to the ,adriatic1 was at once invaded1 and occupied1 and desolated by the myriads of barbarians whom ,attila led into the field4 ,it was the boast of ,attila that the grass never grew on the spot which his horse had trod4 ,in #dea he led his forces1 seven hundred thousand strong1 through the center of ,germany into the heart of ,gaul1 where he was met at ,chalons by the combined forces of the ,visigoths1 ,alans1 ,franks and ,romans1 and was defeated1 with the loss of one hundred and seventy thousand of his men4 ,this was one of the most gigantic as well as one of the most important battles of history4 ,a rivulet flowing through the field of battle is said to have been colored and swollen by the blood of the slain4 ,the next year1 however1 with a greater force at his command1 he fell with headlong fury upon northern ,italy2 but he did not attack ,rome4 ,suddenly and seemingly without cause1 he withdrew his army2 and this peculiar action of his has been the wonder of historians ever since4 ,says the ,encyclopdia ,britannica3 ,attila at once withdrew from ,italy1 but the motive which led him to act thus is not known4 ,according to the prophecy1 he was to fall upon the rivers and fountains of waters only4 ,a short time later1 in #dec1 he died1 and the vast empire over which he had ruled broke up immediately after his death1 no one chief being powerful enough to seize the supremacy4 ,thus his short but wonderful career of about twelve years ended suddenly1 like a meteor falling into a river4 ,but the effects of this invasion were farreaching4 ,rome in her declining strength1 being unable to cope with these immense hordes of barbarians1 was forced to call to her assistance the half-civilized tribes of ,gothic barbarians against a more dreaded foe4 ,the success that attended these conflicts of the combined forces were the means of giving greater political importance to these ,gothic tribes and securing their independence4 ,but while they rose1 ,rome fell4 ,by the very act of employing such weapons in defense1 ,rome robbed herself of the little political strength remaining1 and she was obliged to accept the bitter consequences4 ,under each of these first three trumpets the extent of destruction is indicated by the expression the third part4 ,since the successive steps in the downfall of the empire is the subject under consideration1 this expression as here applied doubtless has particular reference to the loss of political power and life1 rather than referring directly to the loss of human life sustained4 ,with this thought in view1 it is evident that the political importance of the empire was entirely destroyed by these desolating incursions4 ,of the truth of this fact all historians agree4 ,nothing of ,rome remained1 except the semblance of a government1 when the time arrived for the sounding of the next trumpet4 #ab4 ,and the fourth angel sounded1 and the third part of the sun was smitten1 and the third part of the moon1 and the third part of the stars2 so as the third part of them was darkened1 and the day shone not for a third part of it1 and the night likewise4 ,the symbol of this trumpet is that of an eclipse of sun1 moon1 and stars1 so that they shone not for a third part of the day and night4 ,under the sixth seal we showed that these luminaries of heaven are taken as symbols of rulers and princes2 for the latter bear an analagous relation to the empire that the former do to the earth4 ,in the darkening1 then1 of the sun1 moon1 and stars1 we are to look for some disastrous change or overthrow in the imperial government4 ,such an event occurred only a few years after the events described under the preceding trumpets4 ,with her political strength and resources exhausted1 ,rome could no longer maintain a separate existence1 and ,odoacer1 king of the ,heruli1 overthrew ,momyllus ,augustulus1 the last of the ,roman line of emperors1 and caused himself to be proclaimed king of ,italy in ,a4,d4 #dgf4 ,this terminated the ,western empire2 and thus was the ,roman sun eclipsed in darkness4 ,in a subsequent chapter1 however1 we will find the eclipse lifted at a later period and ,new ,rome enjoying all the power and authority lost in her predecessors of the old ,augustin line4 ,odoacer continued in possession of his kingdom seventeen years4 ,then he was defeated and slain by ,theodoric1 and by him the kingdom of the ,ostrogoths was established in ,italy4 ,sixty years later this kingdom was subverted by ,belisarius1 the general of ,justinian1 emperor of the ,east1 to whom it became a tributary province4 ,in each of the principal cities of ,italy ,justinian appointed a governor with the title of ,duke1 in subordination to another with the title of ,exarch1 whose residence was at ,ravenna4 ,thus1 at last1 was ,rome1 once the proud mistress of the world1 reduced to a poor dukedom1 made tributary to the ,exarch of ,ravenna1 and he holding his authority at the will of the emperor of ,constantinople1 the seat of the ,eastern empire4 ,thus1 under the symbols of these four trumpets we have developed the wondrous history of the downfall of imperial ,rome1 in order to give opportunity for the scenes of the drama yet to follow4 ,the man of sin could not be fully revealed in all his terrible features until this hindrance was removed out of the way4 ,imperial ,rome for three centuries stood as the great opposer of ,god's people and slaughtered thousands1 perhaps millions1 of the ,lord's innocent servants1 and the hand of retributive ,justice was finally extended to humble her to the dust4 ,singularly1 the persons whom ,god made choice of to effect her downfall have either regarded themselves as special instruments whose mission it was to punish the world or else have received such designations by historians because of their awful work4 ,contemporary historians distinguish ,alaric by the epithets ,the ,scourge of ,god1 ,the ,destroyer of ,nations2 while the great ,vandal leader is designated ,the ,terrible ,genseric4 ,attila claimed the title ,the ,scourge of ,god4 #ac4 ,and ,i beheld1 and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven1 saying with a loud voice1 ,woe1 woe1 woe1 to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels1 which are yet to sound6 ,the later editions of the ,greek ,new ,testament give the word eagle instead of angel--denoting a messenger or angel flying with the swiftness of an eagle4 ,this messenger doubtless is not intended to be symbolic2 for it is not one of the seven angels1 but a messenger possessing a warning1 and that warning is given to the inhabitants of the earth1 as if they were addressed directly4 ,it simply announces that the three trumpets yet to sound will possess greater calamities to the people of earth than those that have preceded1 by reason of which they are called woes4 ,the manner1 also1 in which the woe trumpets are spoken of afterwards confirm the statement that the announcement is literal and not symbolical4 ,one woe is past1 and1 behold1 there come two more woes hereafter4 ,chap4 #i3ab4 ,the second woe it past3 and1 behold1 the third woe cometh quickly4 ,chap4 #aa3ad4 ,these announcements are evidently literal1 and serve to explain the passage before us4 ,accordingly1 the last three trumpets are generally referred to as the woe trumpets4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,and the fifth angel sounded1 and ,i saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth3 and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit4 #b4 ,and he opened the bottomless pit2 and there arose a smoke out of the pit1 as the smoke of a great furnace2 and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit4 #c4 ,and there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth3 and unto them was given power1 as the scorpions of the earth have power4 #d4 ,and it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth1 neither any green thing1 neither any tree2 but only those men which have not the seal of ,god in their foreheads4 #e4 ,and to them it was given that they should not kill them1 but that they should be tormented five months3 and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion1 when he striketh a man4 #f4 ,and in those days shall men seek death1 and shall not find it2 and shall desire to die1 and death shall flee from them4 #g4 ,and the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle2 and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold1 and their faces were as the faces of men4 #h4 ,and they had hair as the hair of women1 and their teeth were as the teeth of lions4 #i4 ,and they had breastplates1 as it were breastplates of iron2 and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle4 #aj4 ,and they had tails like unto scorpions1 and there were stings in their tails3 and their power was to hurt men five months4 #aa4 ,and they had a king over them1 which is the angel of the bottomless pit1 whose name in the ,hebrew tongue is ,abaddon1 but in the ,greek tongue hath his name ,apollyon4 ,the symbols of this trumpet are of a very peculiar character and peculiarly combined4 ,they are not drawn entirely from the natural world1 showing that we are not to look for their fulfilment in political events alone2 neither are they drawn from human life in any such way as to indicate events in the religious history of the church4 ,the leading characters in it1 however1 are living1 active agents of such a destructive nature as to entitle them to the designation of a woe4 ,the first object presented in the vision is a star fallen to the earth4 ,our translation conveys the idea that this star was in the act of falling2 but in the original it is different1 being there represented as having fallen1 its dejection from heaven to earth being complete4 ,the only place that it appeared in view was on the earth1 and there it is described as fallen4 ,a star is a symbol either of a civil ruler or of a religious teacher1 the symbols in connection deciding whether it is set in the political or the ecclesiastical firmament4 ,but this was not such a star as ,he who walketh in the midst of the golden candle-sticks holdeth in his right hand1 but it was a fallen star1 indicating that it was the propagator of a false faith4 ,to this star was given a key4 ,in the ,gospels the same figure is employed1 where the ministers of ,christ are represented as possessing the keys of the kingdom of heaven1 showing that they acted in his name and by his authority4 ,how appropriate1 then1 is this symbol as applied to a false teacher1 who possesses1 not the keys of the kingdom of heaven1 but1 instead1 the key of the bottomless pit6 ,thus1 under the symbol of the star and the key1 we have the teacher and his authority set forth4 ,armed with this authority1 this false teacher opened the bottomless pit2 and there rose a smoke out of the pit1 as the smoke of a great furnace2 and the sun and air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit4 ,in the ,scriptures ,jesus is represented as the ,sun of righteousness1 while the light of the glorious gospel of ,christ illuminates the world4 ,but here we have something of the opposite character--a dense smoke eclipsing the sun and darkening the heavens4 ,have we not here a fit representation of a delusive faith proceeding from its true source1 the bottomless pit8 ,and is not a fallen star an appropriate symbol of its propagator8 ,in representing a system of religion by these objects from nature we depart from the general rule first laid down--that objects of nature symbolize political affairs1 while the department of human and angelic life is chosen to represent religious affairs4 ,but the reader should bear in mind one important exception to this rule--that things prominently connected with the history of the people of ,god in former ages are frequently employed 7regardless of the department to which they belong7 to represent spiritual things1 their interpretation being easily seen2 such as candle-sticks1 altar1 temple1 incense1 etc4 ,when the plague of thick darkness covered the land of ,egypt for three days1 the children of ,israel had light in their dwellings4 ,in the exodus the ,lord went before them by night in a pillar of fire1 to give them light4 ,after the erection of the tabernacle the holy place was constantly illuminated4 ,this natural light in the ,jewish age constitutes a beautiful type of the spiritual light of the glorious gospel of ,christ that has shined in our hearts in the ,christian dispensation4 ,this spiritual light comes from ,christ1 the ,sun of righteousness1 the true ,light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world2 and proceeds1 also1 from his people1 who shine as lights in the world4 ,but it is the light of the gospel4 ,this light proceeds in a special sense from ,god's ministers1 who are represented as stars 7chap4 #a3bj7 and who possess the keys of the kingdom of heaven4 ,mat4 #af3ai2 #ah3ah4 ,how appropriate1 then1 that a fallen star1 possessing the key of the bottomless pit1 should be a symbol of a religious impostor1 and that the smoke which darkened the heavens1 eclipsing the sun1 the source of light1 should represent a prominent delusive faith6 ,i have already mentioned the fact that the symbols of this vision lead to a series of events entirely separate in their nature from the spiritual history of the church as developed under other symbols4 ,we find its fulfilment in ,mohammed and the delusive system he promulgated4 ,in the year #fjf ,mahomet retired to a cave in ,hera1 near ,mecca1 and there received his pretended revelations1 although it was not until six years later that he began to teach his doctrines publicly and to gain followers outside of the circle of his own family and personal friends4 ,gibbon1 ,vol4 ,v41 p4 #aba4 ,the next object in the vision is the locusts that came out of the smoke1 to which was given power like scorpions1 or power to inflict a deadly sting like scorpions4 ,to what living agents1 then1 did the delusion of ,mohammedanism give birth--agents of a destructive nature like scorpion locust8 ,evidently1 the ,saracens1#f those warrior followers of ,mohammed who flocked to his standard4 ,these locusts received the express command that they should not hurt the grass of the earth1 neither any green thing1 neither any tree2 but only those men which have not the seal of ,god in their foreheads4 ,the successor of ,mohammed1 ,abubeker1 gave the ,saracens a command that they should destroy no palm-trees1 nor burn any fields of grain2 cut down no fruit-trees1 nor do any mischief to cattle1 only such as you kill to eat4 ,this command was singular1 yet it doubtless is not the fulfilment of the command to the locusts2 for that would be adopting a literal meaning instead of a symbolic one1 and to complete the picture we should have had literal ,saracens instead of locusts4 ,we can not consistently make a part literal and the remainder symbolical4 ,in the explanation of the first trumpet 7chap4 #h3f1 #g71 we showed that grass and trees symbolized the inhabitants of a kingdom1 grass representing the feebler and trees the stronger portions of society4 ,the fact1 then1 that these locusts were not to destroy the green grass and trees show that they were not sent as a scourge upon the political empire only1 as was the storm of hail and fire under the first trumpet4 ,had their mission been like that of natural locusts1 to destroy every green thing1 we should then conclude that they were sent as a scourge upon the empire alone1 having nothing whatever to do with a system of religion4 ,these locusts1 however1 were commanded not to do what natural locusts always do--eat green grass and trees--and were commissioned to do what locusts never do--hurt men1 but only those who have not the seal of ,god in their foreheads2 that is1 the worshipers of a false1 idolatrous church1 who are not known unto ,god as his true people4 ,this is positive proof that the design of this vision is to set forth some awful religious imposture2 for the men that they were to hurt are found in the department which by analogy represents religious events4 ,footnote #f3 ,in earlier times the name of ,saraceni was applied by ,greeks and ,romans to the troublesome ,nomad ,arabs of the ,syro-,arabian desert4--,encyclopdia ,britannica4 ,in the ,middle ,ages1 however1 ,europeans began to call all their ,moslem enemies ,saracens4 ,it is in the limited sense that it is here applied1 designating the first followers of ,mohammed before the rise of the ,ottoman empire4 ,the fact that their commission was to torment those men which have not the seal of ,god in their foreheads1 is a proof also of the wide-spread apostasies that had already taken place4 ,this was the time when the pale horseman was careering over the world carrying desolation everywhere by his instruments of oppression--sword1 pestilences1 famine1 and the wild beasts of the earth4 ,the churches both in the ,western and ,eastern empire were in the most deplorable condition1 being corrupted with the grossest ignorance and idolatry2 the virgin ,mary1 the saints1 and miserable relics of every description being worshiped in the place of ,jehovah1 and superstition reigning with sovereign power over all minds4 ,the ,saracen warriors of ,mohammed were sent as a scourge upon apostate ,christendom1 overrunning the very territory where the gospel was first preached1 and were commissioned to torment the false professors of ,christianity4 ,in regard to the kind and the extent of the injury they were to inflict1 it is said that to them it was given that they should not kill them1 but that they should be tormented five months3 and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion1 when he striketh a man4 ,and in those days shall men seek death1 and shall not find it2 and shall desire to die1 and death shall flee from them4 ,the ,saracens1 as here described under the symbol of the locusts1 sustained a two-fold relation1 and the careful and perfect manner in which the symbols are selected to set it forth is worthy of particular notice4 ,in the first place1 the ,saracens were a political body4 ,as such1 locusts would fitly represent them4 ,but they were also a religious body1 and how could that fact be symbolically combined with the other8 ,it is done by the locusts' being forbidden to act out their own nature in eating grass and trees1 and their being commanded instead to hurt men1 thus changing the field of their operations into the department of human life--the department that is chosen to symbolically set forth religious events4 ,thus the politico-religious system of the ,saracens is accurately set forth4 ,this1 also1 is nearly as clear as a demonstration that the position already taken concerning the nature and the use of symbolic language is correct4 ,it was given that they should not kill men4 ,we have already shown that killing men when used symbolically signifies the destruction of the political or ecclesiastical organizations and institutions of society4 ,we could not consistently interpret it as literal slaughter1 but as some analagous destruction4 ,now1 the ,saracen power was1 as already stated1 a politico-religious system1 and its warriors were an infatuated set of religious fanatics1 described by historians as carrying the sword in one hand1 and the ,koran in the other4 ,thus1 they had it in their power to kill either religiously or politically--destroy either the church or the empire--but they did neither1 for their mission was not to kill1 but to torment4 ,they made extensive conquests and gained immense numbers of converts4 ,but they did not overthrow the ,eastern empire1 although they repeatedly attacked and besieged ,constantinople1 suffering1 however1 uniform defeat in the attempt4 ,neither did they destroy the church1 corrupt and apostate as it was4 ,to idolators and infidels they put the alternative of the ,koran or death2 but allowed the ,christians to retain their church organization1 laying them1 however1 under severe contributions1 and treating them to the ignominious appellation of ,christian dogs4 ,concerning the character of ,mohammed1 ,gibbon informs us that he seldom trampled on a prostrate enemy1 and he seems to promise1 that on the payment of a tribute1 the least guilty of his unbelieving subjects might be indulged in their worship1 or at least in their imperfect faith 7,vol4 ,v1 p4 #abi71 and this1 of course1 would be the natural tendency of his followers4 ,the ,armenian and the ,greek churches survived1 and still exist in that portion of the world1 but they have indeed been greviously tormented4 ,the proud ,moslem1 glorying in his prophet and religion1 has heaped every possible insult and injury upon the ,christians1 yet he suffered them to live1 but live only for him to torment4 ,surely the oppressions thus experienced are appropriately described by the words1 as the torment of a scorpion1 when he striketh a man4 ,under such torments the professed ,christians might court death1 but such is not granted2 and still they survive1 but only to be tormented4 ,the ,moslem had the ,christian dog completely under his foot4 ,we now turn our attention to the period of time during which these ,saracen locusts were to continue their ravages4 ,it is given as five months1 or one hundred and fifty days4 ,as this description is entirely symbolic1 we must consider the time symbolic also1 for time certainly can be symbolized as well as anything else4 ,it is very appropriate for days to symbolize years1 for they are analagous periods of time2 the diurnal revolution of the earth being taken to represent the earth's annual movement4 ,such a system of reckoning time was known centuries ago4 ,when ,jacob complained to ,laban because he had been given ,leah instead of ,rachel1 ,laban said1 ,it must not be so done in our country1 to give the younger before the first-born4 ,fulfil her week1 and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve me yet seven other years4 ,and ,jacob did so1 and fulfilled her week 444 seven other years4 ,gen4 #bi3bf-cj4 ,in this case it will be seen that a day was used to represent a year1 since seven days1 or one week1 represented seven years4 ,when the law was given1 ,moses recognized the week of seven natural days1 the last day of which was constituted a ,sabbath of rest for ,israel2 but he also instituted a week of seven years1 the last year of which was a sabbatical year of rest unto the land4 ,this last fact will explain such expressions as forty days1 each day for a year 7,num4 #ad3cd71 and ,i have appointed thee each day for a year4 ,ezek4 #d3f4 ,this period1 then1 of five months1 or one hundred and fifty days1 would represent symbolically one hundred and fifty years4 ,as before stated1 it was in the year ,a4,d4 #fab that ,mohammed began to expound his doctrines publicly and to gather adherents around his standard1 from which point the locusts commenced1 although the smoke had been let out of the pit a little previously4 ,for a period of one hundred and fifty years from this date1 they continued their ravages1 until ,a4,d4 #gfb4 ,then they built ,bagdad1 which became their settled seat of empire2 and henceforth they became a settled nation1 making no further conquests4 ,from that date their power began to decline4 ,but during this one hundred and fifty years they spread over the country like swarms of devouring locusts4 ,according to the well-known facts of history1 they overran ,arabia1 ,palestine1 ,persia1 ,egypt1 and the northern shores of ,africa1 from which they passed to the conquest of ,portugal and ,spain4 ,these were the countries that had been the most oppressed by a priest-ridden church and where especially were to be found those men which have not the seal of ,god in their foreheads4 ,europe was trembling and filled with apprehension at what her fate might be at the hands of these fanatic warriors who fought with savage fury1 under the promise of their prophet that1 if slain in battle1 they should be immediately transported to ,paradise4 ,at the zenith of their power1 and confident of success1 they passed from ,spain into ,france four hundred thousand strong4 ,but here they exceeded their mission4 ,the southern provinces of ,france contained many ,christians who had the seal of ,god upon them1 and this country became the seat of the ,waldenses and ,albigenses1 of which interesting people we shall learn more hereafter4 ,the invading host was met at ,tours by ,charles1 grandfather of ,charlemagne1 who dealt them such a crushing blow that he was ever afterward designated by the surname ,martel--the ,hammer4 ,this battle was one of the fiercest recorded in history4 ,the ,saracens who had scarcely ever experienced defeat fought with the fury of despair1 until1 according to the accounts of that age1 three hundred and seventy-five thousand of their number lay upon the field of battle with their general4 ,this decisive victory saved ,europe from her threatened subjection to the ,mohammedan faith4 ,the next point in the vision to claim our attention is the particular description of these locusts4 ,some of the points mentioned might find a literal fulfilment in the personal appearance of the ,saracens--such as the crowns signifying the turbans they wore1 etc41 but we must adhere strictly to the symbolic mode of interpretation and look for their fulfilment in ,saracen character4 ,their being like war-horses denotes their warlike disposition4 ,the crowns on their heads signify their great success and triumphs4 ,their faces of men and hair like women doubtless signify their boldness on the one hand and their effeminateness on the other4 ,their teeth as the teeth of lions show their ferocity of character4 ,their breastplates of iron indicate their invincibility or else their insensibility to injuries inflicted upon them4 ,the sound of their wings like horses and chariots running to battle denotes the multitude and rapidity of their conquests4 ,their tails like scorpions1 containing stings with which to hurt men--operating in the religious world--symbolize their position as propagators of a false faith4 ,thus they are set forth in their two-fold character--as invincible warriors and as the zealous professors of a delusion1 whose sting was like that of a scorpion when he strikes a man4 ,and they had a king over them1 which is the angel of the bottomless pit1 whose name in the ,hebrew tongue is ,abaddon1 but in the ,greek tongue hath his name ,apollyon4 ,the following fact of history will explain this3 ,the ,saracens had their ,caliphs1 the successors of ,mohammed1 who united in themselves the supreme civil1 military and ecclesiastical powers4 ,they were the high-priests of their religion1 the commanders of their armies1 and the emperors of the nation4 ,this king over them signifies a succession of rulers1 and they are well described as the angel of the bottomless pit1 for that is the very place where the delusion is said to have originated4 ,mahomet1 as a fallen star1 opened the pit and let out the smoke1 and his successors1 who grasped his power and authority1 are fitly characterized as angels from the same place1 bearing the name ,abaddon or ,apollyon1 which terms both signify ,destroyer4 ,is not this a wonderful combination of symbols which can be carried out with surprising accuracy8 ,what human ingenuity could have ever contrived such a marvelous series of events1 and described them under such appropriate symbols8 ,finally1 let me ask1 ,where in the whole compass of universal history can be found another series of events so perfectly meeting every requirement of the symbols8 ,in this we must acknowledge the hand of ,god4 #ab4 ,one woe is past2 and1 behold1 there come two woes more hereafter4 ,this announcement1 that one woe is past1 meaning that the period of one hundred and fifty years during which the ,saracens were to continue their conquests has ended1 serves an important purpose in enabling us to fix the chronology of the events described4 ,it proves that they succeed each other4 #ac4 ,and the sixth angel sounded1 and ,i heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before ,god1 #ad4 ,saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet1 ,loose the four angels which are bound in the great river ,euphrates4 #ae4 ,and the four angels were loosed1 which were prepared for an hour1 and a day1 and a month1 and a year1 for to slay the third part of men4 #af4 ,and the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand3 and ,i heard the number of them4 #ag4 ,and thus ,i saw the horses in the vision1 and them that sat on them1 having breastplates of fire1 and of jacinth1 and brimstone3 and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions2 and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone4 #ah4 ,by these three was the third part of men killed1 by the fire1 and by the smoke1 and by the brimstone1 which issued out of their mouths4 #ai4 ,for their power is in their mouth1 and in their tails3 for their tails were like unto serpents1 and had heads1 and with them they do hurt4 #bj4 ,and the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands1 that they should not worship devils1 and idols of gold1 and silver1 and brass1 and stone1 and of wood3 which neither can see1 nor hear1 nor walk3 #ba4 ,neither repented they of their murders1 nor of their sorceries1 nor of their fornication1 nor of their thefts4 ,at the sounding of the sixth trumpet1 or the second woe trumpet1 a voice is heard from the four horns 7all the horns7 of the golden altar4 ,this probably denotes that the very same altar where incense was offered up to ,god with the prayers of all saints was now crying out to him for vengeance upon an apostate church4 ,that church had reached the summit of apostasy and iniquity1 the virgin ,mary1 the saints1 and thousands of idols in the form of miserable relics being worshiped more than ,god4 ,because of these abominable idolatries1 a voice is heard crying from the golden altar for the avenging judgments of ,heaven1 which were the loosing of the four angels bound in the river ,euphrates4 ,the symbols of this vision are also of peculiar character and drawn from different departments4 ,we have four angels bound in the ,euphrates1 an immense army of horsemen1 then a large number of horses with heads as of lions1 and fire1 smoke1 and brimstone issuing from their mouths4 ,the horses thus particularly described are evidently intended to have a definite symbolical signification1 and being objects of nature1 they would indicate a political or military power4 ,the horsemen1 being objects from human life1 would point us to some religious body2 while the angels signify the leaders that have control of these agencies4 ,their being commissioned to slay the third part of men show that they will overthrow some of the established institutions of society4 ,we are to look1 therefore1 for some politico-religious power that should invade and overthrow the empire4 ,we are1 of course1 directed to the ,eastern empire2 for the ,western division was subverted under the symbols of the first four trumpets4 ,with these specifications before us1 we shall have no difficulty in identifying the power intended--the ,turkish1 or ,ottoman1 empire4 ,its agreement with the symbolic representations of the vision will be manifest from a statement of the facts of history4 ,the ,turks were of ,tartar or ,scythian origin1 from the northern regions of ,asia1 whence also the ,huns hived upon ,europe during the fourth and fifth centuries4 ,the latter passed to the north of the ,black sea from ,russia1 and swept the regions of the ,danube and the ,rhine4 ,the ,turks1 passing to the east of the same1 fell upon the empire from that quarter4 ,they took possession of ,armenia ,major in the ninth century1 where they increased1 and in the space of two hundred years became a formidable power1 being at the end of this period combined into four ,sultanies1 the heads of which were at ,bagdad1 ,damascus1 ,aleppo1 and ,iconium4 ,the first of these was erected ,a4,d4 #ajee2 the two next ,a4,d4 #ajgi1 and the last ,a4,d4 #ajhj--;all of them within twenty-five years1 and the three last within two4 ,these four ,sultanies are doubtless signified by the four angels that were bound in the river ,euphrates4 ,the ,euphrates here is employed as a symbol1 not of the ,turks themselves--for the horsemen are their symbol1 as we shall see--but of the binding of the angels4 ,the use of this word as a symbol is derived from a fact of history1 being the object1 according to ,herodotus1 that kept ,cyrus back from entering the city of ,babylon4 ,while the ,persian monarch surrounded the walls of that ancient metropolis of the ,babylonian empire1 with his army1 he was held in restraint by the river ,euphrates2 and it was not until he had diverted its waters into an artificial channel that he gained an entrance4 ,so1 also1 these ,sultanies1 or leaders of the ,turks1 were held under restraint as if bound by the river ,euphrates1 until the time appointed for them to go forth on their mission of conquest4 ,different causes held them back4 ,for a long time they were involved in fierce and almost continuous wars with the neighboring ,tartar tribes on the east and the north1 and at the same time the ,crusaders of ,europe were carrying on a determined war with the ,saracens for the possession of the ,holy ,land4 ,for two centuries the armies of ,christendom poured into ,syria and ,palestine to recover from the hands of the infidels1 as they were called1 the holy sepulchre and the country that gave birth to ,christianity2 but when ,europe finally abandoned the project1 then went forth the command to loose the four angels1 which were prepared for an hour1 and a day1 and a month1 and a year1 for to slay the third part of man4 ,to kill men symbolically1 ,i have already shown1 signifies the destruction either of an empire as a political body or of the church 7that is1 the so-called church7 as a religious body4 ,the locusts under the fifth trumpet were to do neither2 but the symbolic characters of this vision are to slay the third part of men1 by which is set forth the fall and subjugation of the ,eastern empire and church2 just as1 under the fifth trumpet1 the fall of the ,western empire was described by the darkening of a third part of the sun1 moon1 and stars4 ,before considering the time-prophecy in this vision1 we will pass on to notice a few particulars respecting the horses and their riders4 ,the horsemen possessed breastplates of fire1 jacinth1 and brimstone2 while out of the mouths of the horses proceeded fire1 smoke1 and brimstone4 ,there is evidently a special design in distinguishing between the horses and their riders4 ,these symbols1 being drawn from different sources--the former from the natural world and the latter from human life--point out the two characteristics of the ,turks as a politico-religious power4 ,the symbolic description of the two is almost identical4 ,the horsemen had breastplates of fire1 jacinth 7purplish or reddish blue71 and brimstone4 ,this describes the character of the ,turks as a religious system4 ,out of the horses' mouths proceeded fire1 smoke1 and brimstone1 which represents the ,moslems as a political power4 ,the only difference is that the smoke is substituted for the jacinth1 but they very nearly agree in color4 ,we are thus brought to the conclusion that the political and the religious power of the ,turks is in harmony and agreement with each other--united in the closest manner possible1 like a horse and its rider1 and both animated by the same spirit4 ,that spirit is perhaps their fierce1 fanatical1 aggressive1 intolerant character4 ,the tails of the horses were like serpents with heads1 their power being in their mouth and in their tails--the one a lion1 the other a serpent4 ,it was by the fire1 the smoke1 and the brimstone that came from their lion-heads that the third part of men was killed1 or their conquests were made2 then with their serpent-like tails would they torment or hurt all those who would not adopt the ,moslem faith1 being in this respect like the scorpion locusts4 ,their lion-heads would denote their invincible strength and courage2 and their serpent-tails1 the tormenting sting inflicted upon those whom they subdued but who would not accept their religion4 ,it is not said that the riders were the direct agents of destruction--not the ,moslem faith as a religion--but it was the horses that accomplished the deadly work--the ,ottomans as a political body4 ,this was the power that extended conquests and established their empire1 although it was accompanied by the religious system1 working in perfect harmony4 ,it is said that the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues repented not4 ,this expression doubtless signifies the ,western1 or ,latin1 church4 ,they saw these judgments of the ,euphratean horsemen on the ,eastern empire1 and the triumph of the ,moslem sword and faith 7the woe fell as a judgment upon the ,eastern church72 still1 they continued as before in their abominable idolatries1 by which is probably meant their worship of the virgin ,mary1 saints1 relics1 and images4 ,there was no reformation4 ,error1 superstition1 and ecclesiastical usurpation prevailed as before4 ,the ,turks obtained their first victory over the ,christians of the ,eastern1 or ,greek1 empire in ,a4,d4 #abha4 ,within ten years the ,latins who inhabited ,palestine were entirely overthrown 7see ,gibbon1 ,vol4 ,,vi1 p4 #dg71 and the way was now clear for ,turkish aggression against the ,greek empire4 ,before the end of the century the four ,sultanies mentioned were combined into one consolidated empire under ,osman 7corrupted by ,europeans into ,ottoman7 and from him took the name which it still retains--the ,ottoman empire4 ,from the time they were let loose1 the ,turks continued their aggressions until ,a4,d4 #adec1 when ,constantinople fell before their victorious arms1 and the ,eastern empire1 with the last of the ,constantines1 sunk to rise no more4 ,the ,turkish sword and the religion of the ,koran were enthroned in the ,christian metropolis of the ,roman emperors2 and the proud ,moslem had the ,christian dog completely under his foot4 ,the ,ottoman power1 however1 continued to grow and make new conquests until the year ,a4,d4 #afgb1 when they conducted a successful campaign against ,poland1 in which forty-eight towns and villages were ceded to the ,sultan1 with promise of an annual tribute of two hundred and twenty thousand ducats4 ,see ,encyclopdia ,britannica1 ,art4 ,turkey4 ,this was the last victory they ever gained wherein the ,ottoman empire obtained any advantage4 ,a little later they marched against ,vienna1 but sustained a miserable defeat4 ,venice and ,russia now declared war against ,turkey2 misfortune followed misfortune2 city after city was rent away from the empire2 the ,austrians were in possession of almost the whole of ,hungary1 the ,italians of almost all the ,morea4 ,encyclopdia ,britannica1 ,art4 ,turkey4 ,so the power of the ,ottomans to extend their conquests and to add to their empire1 ended with the victory over the ,poles in ,a4,d4 #afgb4 ,this fact is even admitted by ,demetrius ,cantemir1 prince of ,moldavia1 one of their historians1 in the following language3 ,this was the last victory by which any advantage accrued to the ,othman state1 or any city or province was annexed to the ancient bounds of the empire4 ,in accordance with this statement1 the same historian entitles the first part of his history up to the victory over the ,poles in #afgb the ,history of the ,growth of the ,othman ,empire1 and the remaining portion1 ,the ,decay of the ,othman ,empire4 ,calculating now the time during which these horsemen were prepared to extend their conquests--an hour1 and a day1 and a month1 and a year--we find according to prophetic1 or symbolic1 time--thirty days in a month1 three hundred and sixty in a year--that it signifies three hundred and ninety-one years and fifteen days4 ,this is exactly the period of time that elapsed between their first victory in ,a4,d4 #abha and their last conquest in ,a4,d4 #afgb4 ,i can not verify the fifteen days1 because no history at my command states the exact days of the month on which these victories occurred4 ,one more point of importance must be considered before we conclude this chapter1 and that is the continuance of the ,ottoman power4 ,the first1 or ,saracen1 woe had power to torment men five months1 or one hundred and fifty years1 during which time they continued their ravages4 ,the second woe began when the command was given to loose the four angels1 or the beginning of the ,ottoman conquests4 ,an hour1 and a day1 and a month1 and a year1 or three hundred and ninety-one years1 marked the time during which they were prepared to extend their conquests4 ,but it is not stated that the woe itself1 or the ,ottoman power1 would then cease2 for it is not represented as ending until after the death and the resurrection of the witnesses 7chap4 #aa3ad71 immediately following which the coming of ,christ and the general judgment1 or the third woe1 is described4 ,verses #ae-ah4 ,the ,turkish power has made no advance for centuries1 but has been on the decline2 yet it will endure for its allotted time4 ,it furnishes us a way-mark by which we can determine our position along the pathway of time2 for when it falls1 we may rest assured that the coming of ,christ is imminent4 ,for nearly two centuries it has been the wonder of civilized nations how that corrupt1 tyrannical government1 which has been described as a despotism tempered by assassination1 could exist in the increased light and onward advance of modern civilization4 ,concerning its position in ,europe1 ,judson1 in his recent history of ,europe in the ,nineteenth ,century1 says3 ,the ,turkish empire has been an element of unrest in ,europe4 ,it has long been plain to all that it is not permanent4 ,it has taken no root4 ,the ,turks are merely encamped in ,europe2 and it is merely a question of time when the last of them must return across the ,bosphorus4 ,pp4 #bfi1 #bgj4 ,but ,turkey will continue to hold this territory of the old ,greek empire until the time appointed by the ,father for her overthrow4 ,the nations of ,europe have often conspired for her overthrow4 ,this is what is known as the great ,eastern ,question1 which has been described by one writer as the expulsion of the ,turk from ,europe1 and the scramble for his territory4 ,but it has not yet been accomplished1 for the very reason doubtless1 that it could not take place before the resurrection of the witnesses1 of which we will speak later4 ,judson thus continues his account of the matter3 ,as soon as this idea was realized that ,turkish power in ,europe must fall by the ,western nations1 in place of the dread of the ,turk which had so long been part and parcel of ,european thinking1 the question of the disposal to be made of the ,turkish possessions became matter of live interest4 ,and this is the ,eastern ,question4 ,the ,greek empire vanished forever when the last ,constantine fell in #adec4 ,the only problem is one of partition4 ,and the heart of it all is the disposal to be made of ,constantinople4 ,that imperial city is a site that1 in strong hands1 means power and wealth4 ,what shall become of it8 ,russia early formed designs of conquest4444 ,the empress ,catherine 444 had a grand scheme for a restoration of the ,greek empire under a ,russian prince4 ,alexander ,i41 at ,tilsit1 planned a partition of the ,ottoman empire with ,napoleon1 but the latter declined to see ,constantinople in ,russian hands4 ',constantinople1' said he1 'is the empire of the world4' ,in #ahdd ,nicholas visited ,england and made guarded suggestions to the prime-minister about the ,turkish lands4 ,the ,ottoman empire1 said he1 was a sick man1 nearly at the last extremity4444 ,england declined to plan for a share of the inheritance1 and nothing was done4 ,in #ahec ,nicholas resumed the subject with the ,british ambassador at ,st4 ,petersburg4 ,the sick man1 he now held1 was at the point of death4444 ,but again ,england declined and1 indeed1 the next year went to war with ,russia to save the sick man from a premature end at the hands of the would-be administrator of the estate4 ,another power doubly interested in the future of the ,turkish dominions is ,austria4 ,that empire has been the traditional enemy of the ,turk1 and at the end of the seventeenth century was the actual bulwark of ,europe against ,mohammedan conquest4 ,when the tide of war rolled the other way1 ,austria was ready to share in the spoils4 ,twice near the end of the eighteenth century1 was an alliance made between ,russia and ,austria for the partition of ,turkey1 etc4 ,pp4 #bgj1 #bga4 ,thus1 we find that these designs of nations for the overthrow of ,turkey have so far been overruled2 for ,god will not allow that power to come to a premature end4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,and ,i saw another mighty angel come down from heaven1 clothed with a cloud3 and a rainbow was upon his head1 and his face was as it were the sun1 and his feet as pillars of fire3 #b4 ,and he had in his hand a little book open3 and he set his right foot upon the sea1 and his left foot on the earth1 #c4 ,and cried with a loud voice1 as when a lion roareth3 and when he had cried1 seven thunders uttered their voices4 #d4 ,and when the seven thunders had uttered their voices1 ,i was about to write3 and ,i heard a voice from heaven saying unto me1 ,seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered1 and write them not4 #e4 ,and the angel which ,i saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven1 #f4 ,and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever1 who created heaven1 and the things that therein are1 and the earth1 and the things that therein are1 and the sea1 and the things which are therein1 that there should be time no longer3 #g4 ,but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel1 when he shall begin to sound1 the mystery of ,god should be finished1 as he hath declared to his servants the prophets4 #h4 ,and the voice which ,i heard from heaven spake unto me again1 and said1 ,go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth4 #i4 ,and ,i went unto the angel1 and said unto him1 ,give me the little book4 ,and he said unto me1 ,take it1 and eat it up2 and it shall make thy belly bitter1 but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey4 #aj4 ,and ,i took the little book out of the angel's hand1 and ate it up2 and it was in my mouth sweet as honey3 and as soon as ,i had eaten it1 my belly was bitter4 #aa4 ,and he said unto me1 ,thou must prophesy again before many peoples1 and nations1 and tongues1 and kings4 ,in the preceding chapter we had a history of the two great woes that befell apostate ,christendom4 ,in this chapter we have in contrast a portion of the history of ,god's true church1 to show us that all was not lost even though the ,eastern church was greviously tormented by the serpent-tails of the horses and the ,western church still continued as before in her sorceries1 fornications1 and abominable idolatries4 ,the symbol is that of an angel from heaven4 ,this is not the seventh1 or the third woe angel1 who ushers in the general judgment 7chap4 #aa3ae-ah71 but it is a special messenger appearing on earth with the awful message that the end of time is near and that when the seventh angel soon begins to sound the mystery of ,god shall be finished and there shall be time no longer4 ,this mighty angel is symbolical of some human agencies of distinguished character2 for it stands in striking contrast with the destructive powers described under the preceding trumpets4 ,when angels appear on the panoramic scene only in the temple above1 they themselves are not symbolic characters1 but only the conductors of the ,revelation2 but whenever they appear on earth1 they represent distinguished agencies among men4 ,in the present vision the symbol is drawn1 not from the natural world1 but from the heavenly1 and the scene is laid upon earth2 therefore we must look to the history of the church to find its fulfilment in some distinguished agencies appearing for the defence of ,christ and his truth4 ,the cloud1 rainbow1 face as the sun1 and feet as pillars of fire1 are doubtless intended to set forth their beautiful1 benignant character1 and to show that the angel is not such an one as those that were bound in the river ,euphrates4 ,this one has the bow of covenant promise upon his head1 and his face shines as the sun4 ,where1 then1 in the history of ,god's true church do we find the agencies corresponding to the symbol8 ,we find them in the holy ministry that he has raised up and is now sending forth to preach the pure gospel and to declare the speedy sounding of the seventh trumpet and the coming of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ to earth again4 ,lo1 the angel now is standing on the sea and on the land2 ,how his voice the air is rending as to ,god he lifts his hand6 ,what an awful1 awful message6 ,help us1 ,lord1 this truth to see3 ,when the seventh trumpet thunders1 then shall time no longer be4 ,one more trumpet yet to summon us before the judgment seat1 ,then the time of our frail planet will be said to be complete4 ,how the wicked will be wailing and the righteous overjoyed ,when with fire the heav'ns are burning and the earth shall be destroyed6 ,this angel set his right foot upon the sea1 and his left foot on the earth1 that his lion-like voice might be heard over all the world4 ,this shows that the earth 7the ,apocalyptic earth--the territory of the ,roman empire7 was not the only place where the message was to be borne2 it was to be sounded upon the sea1 which would indicate its promulgation among all nations4 ,when his mighty voice sounded1 seven thunders uttered their voices2 and when about to record what they said1 ,john was commanded to seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered1 and write them not4 ,the fact that they were not to be recorded shows that they were to constitute no part of this ,revelation4 ,john evidently thought so at first2 for they had the appearance of revelation1 something clothed with divine authority1 but they were not to be delivered to the church4 ,what1 then1 were they8 ,the most probable supposition is1 that they were things that ,god for some reason did not choose to have revealed4 ,their sayings may have described events just prior to the end so perfectly as to leave the world in no doubt respecting the nearness of ,christ's second coming2 whereas it appears in the ,scriptures that ,god has designed that it should be a matter of considerable uncertainty1 especially to the unsaved4 ,however1 we can obtain no satisfactory explanation of the things uttered by the seven thunders2 for we can not identify positively what ,john was commanded to seal up4 ,this angel had in his hand a little book that ,john was required to take and eat4 ,in advancing and taking the book1 ,john himself becomes an actor in the symbolic scene1 the same as was the book and the angel from whose hand he took it4 ,therefore we must now consider ,john a symbol of something in this vision4 ,some of the commentators have supposed that this book signified the remainder of the book of ,revelation4 ,but ,john was commanded to write the ,revelations1 not to eat them4 ,and if he ate them1 how1 then1 could they constitute the remainder of the book8 ,its true signification is undoubtedly the word of ,god4 ,in making such an application we do not necessarily make one book merely a symbol of a larger one1 as the ,bible is1 but of ,god's revealed will1 just the same as the sealed book of chapter ,v was the symbol of the divine purposes4 ,when we come to explain the resurrection of the witnesses in chapter ,,xi1 it will be found that this is the time when the word of ,god is again taught in all its purity1 being restored for the first time1 in its perfect sense1 since the morning time of this dispensation4 ,a great spiritual famine has for centuries overspread the earth4 ,since the time the black horse of the third seal entered on his career1 the people have been starving for spiritual food4 ,the few crumbs that have been dropped during the reign of ,protestantism have been eagerly gathered up by the spiritually-minded2 but1 thank ,god6 the time has now arrived when the messengers appear with food from heaven1 and the multitudes of earth's starving millions can eat in plenty1 and be satisfied1 and praise the name of the ,lord ,god4 ,joel #b3bf4 ,halleluiah6 ,in taking the book from the hand of the angel and eating it1 ,john became a symbol of the church1 or people of ,god1 who receive the ,word from the hand of his ministers4 ,the sweetness of its taste signifies the eagerness with which people receive it and the gladness experienced when they first partake of the heavenly manna2 while the bitterness resulting therefrom probably symbolizes the bitter persecutions and oppositions of which it is the occasion4 ,yea1 and all that will live godly in ,christ ,jesus shall suffer persecution4 #b ,tim4 #c3ab4 ,john was told to prophesy again before many peoples1 and nations1 and tongues1 and kings1 which signifies that the people of ,god must again be witnesses of his saving grace throughout all the world4 ,in the beginning of this dispensation all his people prophesied among the nations2 for ,christ had said unto them1 ,ye shall be witnesses unto me1 both in ,jerusalem1 and in ,judea1 and in ,samaria1 and unto the uttermost parts of the earth4 ,acts #a3h4 ,so1 also1 in this evening time we go forth again on the same mission1 inspired by the soon-coming of our ,savior4 ,even so come1 ,lord ,jesus4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,and there was given me a reed like unto a rod3 and the angel stood1 saying1 ,rise1 and measure the temple of ,god1 and the altar1 and them that worship therein4 #b4 ,but the court which is without the temple leave out1 and measure it not2 for it is given unto the ,gentiles3 and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months4 #c4 ,and ,i will give power unto my two witnesses1 and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days1 clothed in sackcloth4 #d4 ,these are the two olive-trees1 and the two candlesticks standing before the ,god of the earth4 #e4 ,and if any man will hurt them1 fire proceedeth out of their mouth1 and devoureth their enemies3 and if any man will hurt them1 he must in this manner be killed4 #f4 ,these have power to shut heaven1 that it rain not in the days of their prophecy3 and have power over waters to turn them to blood1 and to smite the earth with all plagues1 as often as they will4 ,the two principal objects of this vision is the city of ,jerusalem with its holy temple and worshipers1 and two witnesses prophesying for twelve hundred and sixty days4 ,these are not objects from the natural world2 therefore we may conclude that we have not here to do with political events1 while the character of the symbols point us with certainty to the history of the church4 ,there is a possibility that the speaker here is not the angel of the preceding chapter2 for the words in verse #a and the angel stood may be an interpolation1 they being found in very few manuscripts4 ,see the ,revised ,version and the ,emphatic ,diaglott1 ,greek and ,english4 ,if not1 then he must be the angel through whom the ,revelation was given4 ,chap4 #a3a2 #bb3h4 ,whether the angel is the same as the one in the preceding chapter or not1 it is evident that that series of prophecy ends with chapter #aj1 and that he here introduces a new line of events running over the entire gospel dispensation#g1 in which ,john as an active agent in the panoramic vision still stands as a symbol of the people of ,god1 who1 in striking contrast with the blind devotees of an apostate church1 are commanded to measure the temple of ,god1 and the altar1 and them that worship therein4 ,the temple with its altar and court and the holy city itself1 here used as symbols1 are representative of something analagous1 and refer to no other than the outward1 visible church of ,god with its doctrines and worshipers4 ,its measurement is designed to show how far it conforms to the true church2 while the rod is a symbol of the revealed will of ,god1 by which the measurement is brought as to a true standard4 ,footnote #g3 ,this statement may seem to conflict with the classification of events in the ,diagram of the ,revelation1 where this prophecy is treated1 not as an independent series1 but as part of a compound series beginning with chapter #h and ending with chapter #aa4 ,for thus classifying it my reason is1 that the line of prophecy beginning with chapter #h introduces the seven trumpets1 and therefore the series is not complete until the seventh trumpet is given1 which event concludes the line of truth given in the present chapter4 ,by noticing briefly the arrangement of the temple and the purposes to which the different apartments were put1 we shall be able to understand better the design of this vision4 ,the temple proper consisted of two apartments4 ,in the first stood the altar of incense and other things2 in the second1 the ark of the covenant1 etc4 ,the priests officiated in the first apartment regularly1 while into the second went the high-priest alone once every year4 ,this1 ,paul informs us1 was a shadow of a greater and more perfect tabernacle4 ,heb4 #i3a-aa2 #h3b4 ,the altar that is mentioned and that ,john was to measure is a symbol of the great cardinal doctrine of the church--the atonement and mediation of ,christ4 ,he was the sacrifice made for sin1 through whom we have redemption and access unto ,god4 ,john was also told to measure those who worshiped therein--the officiating ministers in the sanctuary--who were thus made symbols of the ministers and the teachers in the church4 ,to measure the temple of ,god1 then1 was to ascertain the great doctrines taught in the ,scriptures and symbolized by the sanctuary1 the altar1 and the priests2 namely1 the doctrines of the ,new ,testament concerning ,god as the supreme lawgiver1 the atonement of ,jesus ,christ as the only ground for justification1 and the ministers whom he appointed to officiate in his church4 ,these are the great principles corrupted by the ,papacy4 ,instead of the one supreme ,god1 we find another in the temple of ,god1 showing himself that he is ,god4 ,christ was not recognized as the supreme and only head of the church2 but instead the ,pope claimed the title of universal head and legislated supreme1 while his decrees and anathemas were accepted as from ,jehovah himself4 ,christ was not regarded as the only mediator between ,god and man1 but the virgin ,mary and the saints were exalted to share the mediatorial throne1 the mother being more honored than the ,son4 ,penance1 counting of beads1 works of supererogation1 were believed to be more effectual in obtaining forgiveness of sin than living faith in our only ,redeemer4 ,finally1 in place of the humble ministers of ,christ whom he appointed to officiate in his church1 there were haughty lords and rulers1 making the most extravagant claims to power and authority over the minds and consciences of men4 ,the court of the temple was the space outside of the sanctuary occupied by the congregation while the worship within was conducted by the priests4 ,john was told to leave this out and measure it not2 for it was given to the ,gentiles to tread under foot1 or profane1 for the space of forty and two months1 or twelve hundred and sixty days4 ,in the estimation of a ,jew1 the ,gentiles were all idolaters and outside of ,god's covenant favor4 ,as a symbol1 then1 we are to understand that the great body of worshipers thus brought to view are not the true children of ,god at all1 but are1 as it were1 uncircumcised1 idolatrous ,gentiles1 having no connection whatever with the great head of the church and no part in the covenant of his mercy4 ,the whole city of ,jerusalem was to be given over to this profane multitude and by them desecrated for forty-two months1 denoting that this great company of worshipers was to constitute the visible1 external church during the period specified4 ,it is as though the city of ,jerusalem were occupied by the idolatrous heathen1 and the ,jews driven out as aliens4 ,these ,gentiles1 then1 were to constitute the one great 7so-called7 universal church--the ,church of ,rome4 ,forty and two months1 or twelve hundred and sixty days1 are symbolic time1 signifying twelve hundred and sixty years1 during which time the power of apostasy was to reign supreme over the minds of men4 ,the same period is also referred to frequently in subsequent chapters4 ,it is necessary1 then1 for us to ascertain at what period of time the church was given over to a profane multitude that was not the true people of ,god4 ,some have supposed that this must refer to the time when ,popery became fully established4 ,such1 however1 could not be the case 7although the time-period includes that important event72 for the power of apostasy was greatly developed centuries before the final supremacy of the ,popes was established1 and was necessary in order to prepare the way for their exaltation4 ,the ,popes obtained their authority by degrees4 ,in ,a4,d4 #fjf the emperor ,phocas conferred the title ,universal ,bishop upon the ,pope of ,rome4 ,in ,a4,d4 #gef the ,pope became a temporal sovereign4 ,yet the power of ,papal usurpation did not reach the summit until the reign of the impious ,hildebrand1 who succeeded to the ,popedom in ,a4,d4 #ajgc1 under the title of ,gregory ,,vii4 ,but according to the symbols before us1 we must look for a period not so much when the ,popes were enabled to definitely enforce their arrogant claims1 as when the ministry became corrupted and when the inhabitants of the city1 or the devotees of the visible church1 became a profane multitude entirely estranged from the covenant of promise4 ,the usurpations of the ministry that accompanied this great change in the external church have been considered already under the symbols of chapter ,,vi4 ,this mighty transformation to a church containing nothing but uncircumcised ,gentiles was fully accomplished during the latter half of the third century1 from which date we must look for the true disciples of the ,lord as entirely separate from the hierarchy4 ,a few quotations from standard and ecclesiastical histories will show this important epoch in the rise of the ,papacy that plunged the world into almost universal apostasy4 ,the living church retiring gradually within the lonely sanctuary of a few solitary hearts1 an external church was substituted in its place1 and all its forms were declared to be of divine appointment4 ,salvation no longer flowing from the ,word1 which was henceforward put out of sight1 the priests affirmed that it was conveyed by means of the forms they had themselves invented1 and that no one could obtain it but by these channels4444 ,the doctrine of the church and the necessity of its visible unity1 which had begun to gain ground in the third century1 favored the pretensions of ,rome4 ,d',aubigne's ,history of the ,reformation1 ,book ,i1 ,chap4 #a4 ,at the end of the third century almost half the inhabitants of the ,roman empire1 and of several neighboring countries1 professed the faith of ,christ4 ,about this time endeavors to preserve a unity of belief1 and of church discipline1 occasioned numberless disputes among those of different opinions1 and led to the establishment of an ecclesiastical tyranny4 ,encyclopdia of ,religious ,knowledge4 ,concerning the ,roman diocese1 the ,encyclopdia ,britannica says1 ,before the termination of the third century the office was held to be of such importance that its succession was a matter of interest to ecclesiastics living in distant sees4 ,vol4 ,,xix1 p4 #dhh4 ,almost proportionate with the extension of ,christianity was the decrease in the church of vital piety4 ,a philosophizing spirit among the higher1 and a wild monkish superstition among the lower orders1 fast took the place in the third century of the faith and humility of the first ,christians4 ,many of the clergy became very corrupt1 and excessively ambitious4 ,in consequence of this there was an awful defection of ,christianity4 ,marsh's ,church ,history1 p4 #ahe4 ,we have found it almost necessary to separate1 and indeed widely to distinguish the events of the two first1 from those of the third century1 for nearly at this point we are disposed to place the ,,first ,,crisis in the internal history of the church4 ,waddington's ,church ,history4 ,this season of external prosperity was improved by the ministers of the church for the exertion of new claims1 and the assumption of powers with which they had not been previously invested4 ,at first these claims were modestly urged1 and gradually allowed2 but they laid a foundation for the encroachments which were afterwards made upon the rights of the whole ,christian community1 and for lofty pretensions to the right of supremacy and spiritual dominion4444 ,several alterations in the form of church government appear to have been introduced during the third century4 ,some degree of pomp was thought necessary4444 ,the external dignity of the ministers of religion was accompanied by a still greater change in its discipline4444 ,many of the ,jewish and ,pagan proselytes 444 languished in the absence of ceremonies which were naturally adapted to the taste of the unreflecting multitude1 while the insolent infidel haughtily insisted upon the inanity of a religion which was not manifested by an external symbol or decoration4 ,in order to accommodate ,christianity to these prejudices1 a number of rites were instituted2 and while the dignified titles of the ,jewish priesthood were through a compliance with the prejudices of that people1 conferred upon the ,christian teachers1 many ceremonies were introduced which coincided with the genius of ,paganism4 ,the true gospels were taught by sensible images1 and many of the ceremonies employed in celebrating the heathen mysteries were observed in the institutions of ,christ1 which soon in their turn obtained the name of mysteries1 and served as a melancholy precedent for future innovations1 and as a foundation for that structure of absurdity and superstition which deformed and disgraced the church4 ,rutter's ,history of the ,church1 pp4 #eb-ef4 ,this season of external prosperity mentioned by ,rutter began with the accession of ,gallienus to the imperial throne in ,a4,d4 #bfj4 ,up to this time the hand of persecution had been raised against the church almost incessantly2 but from #bfj until the reign of ,diocletian persecution almost ceased1 during this space of about forty years4 ,but this period also marked the greatest decline in spiritual things and a marvelous development of the hierarchy4 ,speaking of the bishop of ,rome in these times1 ,dowling says1 ,he far surpassed all his brethren in the magnificence and splendor of the church over which he presided2 in the riches of his revenues and possessions2 in the number and variety of his ministers2 in his credit with the people2 and in his sumptuous and splendid manner of living4 ,history of ,romanism1 p4 #cd4 ,ammianus ,marcellinus1 a ,roman historian1 who lived during these times1 adverting to this subject1 says3 ,it was no wonder to see those who were ambitious of human greatness1 contending with so much heat and animosity for that dignity1 because when they had obtained it1 they were sure to be enriched by the offerings of the matrons1 and of appearing abroad in great splendor1 of being admired for their costly coaches1 and sumptuous feasts1 outdoing sovereign princes in the expenses of their table4 ,this led ,proetextatus1 a heathen1 who was prfect of the city1 to say1 ,make me bishop of ,rome1 and ,i'll be a ,christian too6 ,speaking of the period now under consideration1 ,eusebius1 the father of church history1 mentions one ,paul1 who was at this time bishop of ,antioch2 who lived in luxury and licentiousness1 and who was a teacher of erroneous doctrines1 and usurped so great authority that the people feared to venture to accuse him4 ,in the conclusion of the same chapter in which this is found1 he shows that after a general council was held at ,antioch1 this ,paul was excommunicated and robbed of his bishopric by the bishops of ,rome and ,italy2 from this it appears that they possessed an authority still greater than that usurped by ,paul4 ,the following are his words3 ,paul1 therefore1 having thus fallen from the episcopate1 together with the true faith as already said1 ,domnus succeeded in administration of the church at ,antioch4 ,but ,paul being unwilling to leave the building of the church1 an appeal was made to the emperor ,aurelian1 who decided most equitably on the business1 ordering the building to be given up to those whom the ,christian bishops of ,italy and ,rome should write4 ,eccl4 ,history1 ,book ,,vii1 ,chap4 #cj4 ,the ,encyclopdia ,britannica says that this council at which ,paul was excommunicated was held probably in the year #bfh1 and that ,paul continued in his office until the year #bgb1 when the city was taken by the emperor ,aurelian1 who decided in person that the church-building belonged to the bishop who was in epistolary communication with the bishops of ,rome and ,italy4 ,vol4 ,,xviii1 p4 #dbi4 ,the above extracts show not only the development of error in the church1 but also the great power already obtained by the hierarchy4 ,geo4 ,fisher says1 ,the accession of ,constantine ,a4,d4 #cab found the church so firmly organized under the hierarchy that it could not lose its identity by being absolutely merged in the state4 ,history of the ,christian ,church1 p4 #ii4 ,in the year ,a4,d4 #bgj ,anthony1 an ,egyptian1 the founder of the monastic institution1 fixed his abode in the deserts of ,egypt and formed monks into organized bodies4 ,influenced by these eminent examples ,anthony1 ,hilarion1 et al4 immense multitudes betook themselves to the desert1 and innumerable monasteries were fixed in ,egypt1 ,ethiopia1 ,lybia and ,syria4 ,some of the ,egyptian abbots are spoken of as having had five1 seven1 or even ten thousand monks under their personal direction2 and the ,thebias1 as well as certain spots in ,arabia1 are reported to have been literally crowded with solitaries4 ,nearly a hundred thousand of all classes1 it is said1 were at one time to be found in ,egypt4444 ,although the enthusiasm might be at a lower ebb in one country than in another1 it actually affected the church universal1 so far as the extant materials of ecclesiastical history enables us to trace its rise and progress4444 ,the more rigid and heroic of the ,christian anchorets dispensed with all clothing except a rug1 or a few palm leaves round the loins4 ,most of them abstained from the use of water for ablution2 nor did they usually wash or change the garments they had once put on2 thus ,st4 ,anthony the founder of this order bequeathed to ,athanasius a skin in which his sacred person had been wrapped for half a century4 ,they also allowed their beards and nails to grow1 and sometimes became so hirsute1 as to be actually mistaken for hynas or bears4 ,hist4 of ,romanism1 pp4 #hh1 #hi4 ,reader1 what was the condition of the so-called church in ,a4,d4 #bgj that could make the introduction of such abominations possible8 ,although many more historical quotations on this point might be added1 ,i will conclude with the two following extracts from ,joseph ,milner4 ,we shall1 for the present1 leave ,anthony propagating the monastic dispositions1 and extending its influence not only into the next century1 but for many ages after1 and conclude this view of the state of the third century1 with expressing our regret that the faith and love of the gospel received toward the close of it a dreadful blow from the encouragement of this unchristian practise4 ,cen4 ,,iii1 ,chap4 #bj4 ,moral1 and philosophical1 and monastic instructions will not effect for men what is to be expected from evangelical doctrine4 ,and if the faith of ,christ was so much declined 7and its decayed state ought to be dated from about the year #bgj71 we need not wonder that such scenes as ,eusebius hints at without any circumstantial details took place in the ,christian world4 ,cent4 ,,iv1 ,chap4 #a4 ,after reading the foregoing statements of historians1 the reader will1 ,i believe1 agree with me that the year #bgj is a consistent date to mark the time when the visible external church was wholly given over to the profane multitude of uncircumcised1 idolatrous ,gentiles to tread under foot4 ,measuring forward the allotted period of twelve hundred and sixty years brings us to the exact date of the first ,protestant creed 7the ,augsburg ,confession7 in ,a4,d4 #aecj4 ,we must point to this date both for the end of ,rome's universal spiritual supremacy and for the rise of ,protestantism4 ,d',aubigne1 in his ,history of the ,reformation1 when he comes to this period1 says3 ,the conflicts hitherto described have been only partial2 we are entering upon a new period1 that of general battles4 ,spires 7#aebi7 and ,ausburg 7#aecj7 are names that shine forth with more immortal glory than ,marathon1 ,pavia1 or ,marengo4 ,forces that up to the present time were separate1 are now uniting into one energetic band4 ,book ,,xviii1 ,chap4 #a4 ,the first two books of this volume contain the most important epochs of the reformation--the ,protest of ,spires1 and the ,confession of ,augsburg4444 ,i determined on bringing the reformation of ,germany and ,german ,switzerland to the decisive epochs of #aecj and #aeca4 ,the history of the reformation1 properly so called1 is then in my opinion almost complete in those countries4 ,the work of faith has there attained its apogee3 that of conferences1 of interims1 of diplomacy begins4444 ,the movement of the sixteenth century has there made its effort4 ,i said from the very first1 ,it is the history of the reformation and not of ,protestantism that ,i am relating4 ,d',aubigne1 ,preface to ,vol4 ,v4 ,the next important object in the vision is the two witnesses that prophecied in sackcloth4 ,from the description given1 it would appear at first that these witnesses were active intelligent agents2 and as such1 belonging to the department of human life1 they would symbolize the church1 the number two denoting the ministry and the people of ,god4 ,but the church is already symbolized in this chapter1 the angel representing the ministry1 as in the preceding chapter1 and ,john1 who is clearly one of the symbolic agents in this vision1 representing the church2 therefore the two witnesses must be representative of something else4 ,since the actions ascribed to them are drawn from the department of human life1 it is evident that their interpretation is to be found in connection with the affairs of the church4 ,by way of explanation1 verse #d represents them to be the two olive-trees1 and the two candle-sticks standing before the ,god of the earth1 although it is not stated that any olive-trees and candle-sticks were shown in this prophetic vision4 ,in this reference is made to the fourth chapter of ,zechariah1 where two olive-trees are represented as standing one on each side of a golden candle-stick1 distilling into it their oil for light4 ,when asked for the signification of the two olive-trees and the candlestick1 the angel answered1 ,this is the ,word of the ,lord 444 by my ,spirit1 saith the ,lord4 ,ver4 #f4 ,that the ,word of ,god and the ,spirit of ,god are special witnesses is proved by many texts4 ,jesus said1 ,search the ,scriptures 444 they are they which testify of me4 ,john #f3ci4 ,this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations4 ,mat4 #bd3ad4 ,the ,holy ,ghost also is a witness4 ,heb4 #aj3ae4 ,the ,spirit itself beareth witness4 ,rom4 #h3af4 ,it is the ,spirit that beareth witness4 #a ,john #e3f4 ,it is the ,spirit acting in conjunction with the ,word of ,god that gives spiritual life1 through regeneration1 unto men1 and which opens their understanding that they may know the things of ,god4 #b ,cor4 #b3i-ae4 ,god may have given us the explanation that these two witnesses were the same as the olive-trees and the candle-sticks to prevent our being led astray with the supposition that they were actually intelligent agents4 7,i speak humanly47 ,accepting this statement1 the actions of these witnesses here described can be explained only by the figure of speech known as ,personification1 by which it is proper1 under certain conditions1 to attribute life1 action1 and intelligence to inanimate objects4 ,thus1 the blood of ,abel is said to have cried from the ground4 ,gen4 #d3i1 #aj4 ,the stone shall cry out of the wall1 and the beam out of the timber shall answer it4 ,hab4 #b3aa4 ,the hire of the laborers 444 which is of you kept back by fraud crieth3 and the cries 444 are entered into the ears of the ,lord of ,sabaoth4 ,jas4 #e3d4 ,the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing1 and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands4 ,isa4 #ee3ab4 ,i would not attempt to vary from the general order and explain these two witnesses by the figure of personification1 were it not for the fact that the two olive-trees and the two candle-sticks are here given as a means of explanation2 and trees and candle-sticks1 we know1 are not active1 intelligent agents1 and consequently do not necessarily symbolize such4 ,to hurt the ,word and ,spirit of ,god is to oppose1 corrupt1 or pervert their testimony and to turn people away from them2 and the judgments of ,heaven are pronounced in that ,word and by that ,spirit against such as turn away from the truth unto fables4 ,they shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone4 ,rev4 #bj3ae2 #bb3h4 ,it is also said of them3 ,these have power to shut heaven1 that it rain not in the days of their prophecy3 and have power over waters to turn them to blood1 and to smite the earth with all plagues1 as often as they will4 ,this indicates the fact that these were ,god's own special witnesses sent in his name and by his authority1 as were the prophets of old4 ,elijah shut up heaven by prayer2 ,moses called down the plagues upon ,egypt2 and these were ,god's attestations that they were his divinely commissioned servants4 ,so these two witnesses had power to shut heaven and to smite the earth with plagues1 not literally1 but herein is symbolically set forth the fact that they were ,god's appointed agents1 even though despised and rejected1 like ,elijah in the midst of apostate ,israel and ,moses amid idolatrous ,egypt1 yet1 like them1 with the seal of ,heaven upon their ministry4 ,in the beginning of this dispensation these two witnesses were the vicars of ,christ in his church upon earth4 ,the word of ,god and the ,spirit of ,god were the ,governors of his people4 ,at that time they had perfect freedom of action among the children of ,god2 but when the apostasy arose1 the governing power of the ,word and ,spirit of ,god in the church was gradually usurped by the rising hierarchy1 until1 finally1 men had entire authority in what was called the visible church4 ,this was brought about when1 to quote ,mosheim's words1 the bishops grasped the power and authority to prescribe authoritative rules of faith and manners4 ,d',aubigne explains it thus3 ,salvation no longer flowing from the ,word1 which was henceforward put out of sight1 the priests affirmed that it was conveyed by means of the forms they had themselves invented1 and that no one could attain it except by these channels4444 ,christ communicated to the apostles1 and these to the bishops1 the unction of the ,holy ,spirit2 and this ,spirit is to be procured only in that order of succession4444 ,faith in the heart no longer connected the members of the church1 and they were united by means of bishops1 archbishops1 popes1 mitres1 canons and ceremonies4 ,history of the ,reformation1 ,book ,i1 ,chap4 #a4 ,thus1 the ,word and ,spirit of ,god as the true vicars of ,christ in his church were finally expelled from what was looked upon as the one visible church1 and with them the true worshipers also were driven out2 and nothing remained in the public view except the great company of profane idolaters already referred to4 ,the same is referred to in a subsequent chapter as the flight of the true church into the wilderness1 where1 hidden from sight1 she had a place prepared of ,god for twelve hundred and sixty days4 ,so after all1 ,god had a true church during the ,dark ,ages--a people that stood in opposition to the abounding corruption and iniquity of the church of ,rome2 a people that rejected the established hierarchy and gave heed to the ,word and ,spirit of ,god4 ,but their numbers were so few1 comparatively1 that the operations of the two witnesses were greatly limited2 hence they are represented as being clothed in sackcloth1 a symbol of melancholy and mourning4 ,among those who opposed the teachings of that apostate church were the ,cathari1 ,poor ,men of ,lyons1 ,lombards1 ,albigenses1 ,waldenses1 ,vaudois1 etc4 ,the name ,waldenses and ,albigenses have frequently been loosely applied to all the bands of people that passed under various titles in different countries and that opposed the doctrines and ecclesiastical tyranny of ,rome4 ,speaking of the twelfth century1 ,bowling says3 ,there existed at that dark period1 when 'all the world wondered after the beast1' a numerous body of the disciples of ,christ1 who took the ,new ,testament for their guidance and direction in all the affairs of religion1 rejecting the doctrines and commandments of men4 ,their appeal was from the decisions of councils1 and the authority of popes1 cardinals1 and prelates1 to the law and the testimony--the words of ,christ and his holy apostles4 ,history of ,romanism1 p4 #bgb4 ,egbert1 a monkish writer of that age1 speaking of them1 says that he had often disputed with these heretics1 a sort of people1 he adds1 who are very pernicious to the ,catholic faith1 which1 like moths1 they corrupt and destroy4 ,they are armed1 says he1 with the words of ,scripture which in any way seem to favor their sentiments1 and with these they know how to defend their errors1 and to oppose the ,catholic truth4 ,they are increased to great multitudes throughout all countries1 to the great danger of the church of ,rome4 ,for lack of space1 an extensive history of these interesting people can not be given2 but a few references to them by their most inveterate enemies1 the ,papists themselves1 are of such importance that ,i can not pass them by unnoticed4 ,the testimony given by ,evervinus1 a zealous ,catholic1 in a letter he wrote to the celebrated ,bernard1 at the beginning of the twelfth century1 relative to the doctrine and manners of these so-called heretics1 is exceedingly valuable4 ,says he3 ,there have lately been some heretics discovered among us1 near ,colonge sic3 ,cologne1 of whom some have1 with satisfaction returned again to the church4 ,one that was a bishop among them1 and his companions1 openly opposed us1 in the assembly of the clergy and laity1 the lord-archbishop himself being present1 with many of the nobility1 maintaining their heresy from the words of ,christ and his apostles4 ,but1 finding that they made no impression1 they desired that a day might be fixed1 upon which they might bring along with them men skilful in their faith1 promising to return to the church1 provided their teachers were unable to answer their opponents2 but that otherwise1 they would rather die than depart from their judgment4 ,upon this declaration1 having been admonished to repent1 and three days allowed them for that purpose1 they were seized by the people1 in their excess of zeal1 and committed to the flames6 and1 what is most astonishing1 they came to the stake and endured the torment not only with patience1 but even with joy4 ,in this case1 ,o holy father1 were ,i present with you1 ,i should be glad to ask you1 how these members of ,satan could persist in their heresy with such constancy and courage as is rarely to be found among the most religious in the faith of ,christ8 ,he then proceeds3 ,their heresy is this3 ,they say that the church 7of ,christ7 is only among themselves1 because they alone follow the ways of ,christ1 and imitate the apostles1 not seeking secular gains4444 ,whereas they say to us1 ',ye join house to house1 and field to field1 seeking the things of this world4'444 ,they represent themselves as the poor of ,christ's flock1 who have no certain abode1 fleeing from one city to another1 like sheep in the midst of wolves1 enduring persecution with the apostles and martyrs3 though strict in their manner of life--abstemious1 laborious1 devoted1 and holy 444 living as men who are not of the world4 ,but you1 say they1 lovers of the world1 have peace with the world1 because ye are in it4 ,false apostles1 who adulterate the word of ,god1 seeking their own things1 have misled you and your ancestors4 ,whereas1 we and our fathers1 having been born and brought up in the apostolic doctrine1 have continued in the grace of ,christ1 and shall continue so to the end4444 ,they affirm that the apostolic dignity is corrupted by indulging itself in secular affairs1 while it sits professedly in ,st ,peter's chair4 ,they do not hold with the baptism of infants1 alleging that passage of the gospel1 ',he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved4' ,they place no confidence in the intercession of saints and all things observed in the church1 which have not been established by ,christ himself1 or his apostles1 they pronounce to be superstitious4 ,they do not admit of any purgatory fire after death1 contending1 that the souls of men1 as soon as they depart out of the bodies1 do enter into rest or punishment 444 by which means they make void all the prayers and oblations of the faithful for the deceased4444 ,i must inform you also1 that those of them who have returned to our church1 tell us that they had great numbers of their persuasion1 scattered almost everywhere4444 ,and as for those who were burnt1 they1 in defense they made of themselves1 told us that this heresy had been concealed from the time of the martyrs by which is meant the early period of ,christianity and that it had existed in ,greece and other countries4 ,although ,bernard began a strenuous opposition to these people1 still he testifies3 ,if you ask them of their faith1 nothing can be more ,christian-like2 and if you observe their conversation1 nothing can be more blameless1 and what they speak they make good by their actions4444 ,as to life and manners1 he circumvents no man1 overreaches no man1 does violence to no man4 ,he fasts much and eats not the bread of idleness2 but works with his hands for his support4 ,claudius1 archbishop of ,turin1 who joined in hunting and persecuting them to the death1 writes1 ,their heresy excepted1 they generally live a purer life than other ,christians4 ,again1 ,in their lives they are perfect1 irreproachable1 and without reproach among men1 addicting themselves with all their might to the service of ,god4 ,the sum and substance of their offense is mentioned by ,cassini1 a ,franciscan friar1 where he says1 ,that ,,all ,,the ,,errors of these ,waldenses consisted in this1 that they denied the church of ,rome to be the holy mother church1 and would not obey her traditions4 ,in conclusion ,i quote from the celebrated ,roman ,catholic historian ,thuanus4 ,he states their tenets as follows3 ,that the church of ,rome1 because it renounced the true faith of ,christ1 ,,was ,,the ,,whore ,,of ,,babylon 444 that consequently no obedience was to be paid to the ,pope1 or to the bishops who maintain her errors2 that a monastic life was the sink and dungeon of the church1 the vows of which relating to celibacy were vain 444 that the orders of the priesthood were marks of the great beast mentioned in the ,apocalypse2 that the fire of purgatory1 the solemn mass1 the consecration days of churches1 the worship of saints1 and propitiations for the dead1 were the devices of ,satan4 ,lib4 ,,vi1 ,sec4 #af1 ,lib4 ,,xxvii4 ,the chief offense of these so-called heretics seems to have been that they denounced the ,pope as ,antichrist and the apostate church of ,rome as the ,babylonish harlot4 #g4 ,and when they shall have finished their testimony1 the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them1 and shall overcome them1 and kill them4 #h4 ,and their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city1 which spiritually is called ,sodom and ,egypt1 where also our ,lord was crucified4 #i4 ,and they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half1 and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves4 #aj4 ,and they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them1 and make merry1 and shall send gifts one to another2 because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth4 #aa4 ,and after three days and an half the ,spirit of life from ,god entered into them1 and they stood upon their feet2 and great fear fell upon them which saw them4 #ab4 ,and they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them1 ,come up hither4 ,and they ascended up to heaven in a cloud2 and their enemies beheld them4 ,at the expiration of the twelve hundred and sixty years the scene changes4 ,the prophecy of the witnesses in their sackcloth state1 hidden away from sight in the wilderness1 ends1 and they are now brought out into public view--but only to be killed4 ,their slaughter takes place at the hands of the beast4 ,when we come to consider chapter ,,xiii1 we shall see that the ,papacy is described as a beast reigning for forty-two months1 or twelve hundred and sixty years1 after which time another beast possessing great power and authority appears on the scene4 ,this second beast is ,protestantism1 and through it the murder of the two witnesses at the close of the ,papal supremacy in the vision before us was effected4 ,it would seem1 by the similarity of statement that the beast ascendeth out of the bottomless pit1 that the slaughter of the witnesses was effected by the ,papal beast 7chap4 #ag3g1 #h72 but the ,mohammedan delusion also is said to have proceeded from the bottomless pit4 ,chap4 #i3a1 #b4 ,the expression bottomless pit is doubtless used merely to signify the source of certain powers in contradistinction to the heavenly source from which others proceeded4 ,although the ,papal beast is said to have originated in the bottomless pit1 the second beast also doubtless proceeded from the same source1 for he possessed many of the characteristics of the former1 and caused the earth to worship the first beast1 as explained in chapter #ac4 ,that he was not of heavenly origin is shown by the statement that he came up out of the earth4 ,chap4 #ac3aa4 ,but the direct proof that it was the ,protestant beast1 and not the ,papal beast--although the same expression as to its origin is used concerning it--that slew the two witnesses1 is found in the fact that the reign of the first1 or ,papal1 beast was limited to forty two months 7chap4 #ac3e71 corresponding to the twelve hundred and sixty years in which the witnesses prophesied in the vision before us2 while it was after the close of this period1 at the time when the second1 or ,protestant1 beast arose 7chap4 #ac3aa71 that the witnesses were slain4 ,to many this may seem a hard saying2 but ,i request that the matter be given the most careful attention in the light of prophecy and divine truth4 ,it is true that the ,sixteenth ,century ,reformation at first brought the witnesses out of the wilderness of seclusion where they had remained during the long night of ,romanism and exhibited them to the public view2 but when thus placed upon exhibition1 they were soon robbed entirely of their position as the ,vicars1 or ,governors1 of ,god's church4 ,since creed and sect-making first began1 the ,word and ,spirit have not possesed governing power and authority in ,protestantism2 but men have usurped that place and prescribed authoritative rules of faith and practise for the people4 ,the principles of ,higher ,criticism have so far pervaded the realm of sectarian theology that a vast number of the clergy no longer regard the ,bible as the inspired word of ,god to man1 but simply as a remarkable piece of religious literature recording the natural development of the religious consciousness among a peculiarly sensitive race of people4 ,protestantism certainly has placed the ,bible on the dissecting table and dismembered it in a manner wholly unknown before4 ,while ,protestants will not for a moment allow the blessed ,book to be hidden out of sight--put into graves--still they will not grant it that place it should occupy as the sole discipline of faith1 so it is a dead letter to them4 ,that all-glorious doctrine of ,bible unity1 which fills the whole ,new ,testament1 strikes a deathblow to all the carnal divisions and institutions of sectarianism2 and so with one accord they unite in fighting it4 ,oh1 the good old blessed ,bible6 we could not do without it1 say they2 yet1 as everybody knows1 they are governed by the discipline and laws that they or their representatives have formulated4 ,thus1 the ,word and ,spirit of ,god are brought under the public gaze1 only to be treated with such indignity in ,god's sight1 and killed2 while infidels look on1 and tauntingly remark1 ,either the religion of to-day is no ,christianity1 or the ,word of ,god is a lie4 ,in the beginning of this dispensation the church of ,god not only consisted of all those who were spiritual1 but constituted a visible1 organic body as well1 made up of numerous local congregations that were separate in the management of their internal affairs1 yet interrelated with each other1 and were directed by humble pastors1 who were1 in reference to each other1 equal4 ,the ,word of ,god was their only discipline1 and the ,spirit of ,god1 their great ,teacher and ,guide4 ,thus1 the two witnesses were active in their official position1 in the public view1 as the ,vicars or ,governors of the church of ,god on earth4 ,when1 however1 men usurped the place of these ,vicars by ignoring the ,spirit and rejecting the ,word and making their own rules of faith1 the effect was a national hierarchy--the church of ,rome1 which for twelve hundred and sixty years stood in the public view4 ,yet the two witnesses were still alive1 though driven into obscurity and clothed in sackcloth2 for they still acted in their official position in the congregations of the medieval ,christians already referred to1 who resisted the doctrines of men and clung tenaciously to the simple1 primitive form of church government and allowed the ,spirit and ,word authority supreme4 ,but during the ,protestant era ,christians the world over became identified with the various sects1 hence were representing to the world the beast power instead of the true church4 ,thus1 during the ,protestant period1 the church of ,god1 in its organic form1 was not represented anywhere on earth2 for its members were scattered among those who were worshiping the beast and his image4 ,hence the two witnesses1 during this era1 had no place to operate in their official capacity as the ,governors of ,god's church and are therefore represented as slain4 ,the government of ,protestant sects is not effected by the ,word and ,spirit2 for the institutions themselves are of human origin1 and men are their law-makers and governors4 ,when the two witnesses are deprived of their governing power and the rules and disciplines of men substituted in their place1 a decline into worldliness is the invariable result4 ,this has been the case repeatedly in sectarianism4 ,in fact1 ,protestantism1 as a component part of that great city ,babylon1 has so given herself over to revellings1 banquetings1 and abominable idolatries1 that a voice from heaven has declared her to be the habitation of devils1 and the hold of every foul spirit1 and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird4 ,chap4 #ah3b4 ,witness the shows1 festivals1 frolics1 grab-bag parties1 kissing bees1 cake-walk lotteries1 and other abominations unnumbered1 that are carried on without shame1 under the guise of religion1 in the high places of this modern ,babylon6 ,if the ,word of ,god with the full power and authority of his ,spirit could be turned in upon them1 it would be like the torment of fire2 but no1 it is dead to them1 and they rejoice and make merry and continue in the same excess of riot4 ,in the description before us1 this city of sectarianism in which the two witnesses are slain is spiritually or mystically called ,sodom and ,egypt1 where also our ,lord was crucified4 ,it is a mystical ,sodom1 ,egypt and ,jerusalem--a ,sodom for wickedness and lewdness1 an ,egypt for the captivity and oppression of ,god's people1 and a ,jerusalem for the crucifying of the ,son of ,god afresh and putting him to an open shame4 ,thus1 this city mystically combines the wickedness of the three most wicked places on earth--,sodom1 ,egypt1 and ,jerusalem4 ,these facts we shall notice more particularly hereafter4 ,but these two witnesses were not always to remain trampled under foot in the streets of great ,babylon2 for a time came when the spirit of life from ,god entered into them1 and they stood upon their feet2 and great fear fell upon them which saw them4 ,in this is portrayed the reformation which is now taking place in the world4 ,about the year ,a4,d4 #ahhj ,god began to raise up holy men and women whom he commissioned to preach the everlasting gospel of the kingdom again2 and they went forth in his name calling upon ,god's people everywhere to come out of all places where they had been scattered in the cloudy and dark day 7,ezek4 #cd3ab7 and to take up their abode in the one true church of ,jesus ,christ1 his body1 independent of all sectarianism and the creeds and disciplines of men4 ,in this assembly of the faithful1 gathered out of all nations1 no man nor set of men attempts to form laws or regulations for the supervision of spiritual affairs2 but with one consent they humbly bow before the only true ,lawgiver 7,jas4 #d3ab71 and say1 ,the government shall be upon his shoulder 7,isa4 #i3f72 and the ,word and ,spirit of ,god have perfect control of his saints4 ,halleluiah6 ,they can preach1 teach1 and believe every word of truth placed in the ,sacred ,volume1 without a conference or discipline of men forbidding4 ,standing upon this apostolic platform of eternal truth1 they hurl the thunders of divine judgment against the hidden works of darkness1 causing the graceless devotees of fallen ,babylon to quake with fear and to gnaw their tongues for pain4 ,after the resurrection of these witnesses1 a voice from heaven is heard1 saying1 ,come up hither4 ,and they ascended up to heaven in a cloud2 and their enemies beheld them4 ,this ascension to heaven in the presence of their enemies1 which according to this chapter occurred before the end of time1 has reference undoubtedly to their great exaltation4 ,thy greatness is grown1 and reacheth unto heaven4 ,dan4 #d3bb4 ,we see that in this text a similar expression signifies great exaltation4 ,so this work is destined to assume such proportions that the people of earth may have the privilege of seeing the truth4 ,in the preceding chapter ,john1 as a symbol of the church at this time1 under the living ministry symbolized by the rain-bow angel1 was told that he must prophesy again before many peoples1 and nations1 and tongues1 and kings4 ,verse #aa4 ,the signification of the time-period of three days and a half claims our attention next4 ,according to the foregoing explanation1 it will be seen that the writer applies it as three centuries and a half1 or three hundred and fifty years--from ,a4,d4 #aecj to ,a4,d4 #ahhj4 ,it will be necessary to adduce strong reasons for thus applying it4 ,in the first place1 the time-prophecies of the ,bible are by no means confined to the year-day manner of interpretation4 ,many times in the ,old ,testament the expression occurs1 ,and it shall come to pass in that day1 which expression is admitted by all to have reference to the gospel day1 or the entire gospel dispensation4 ,when the church of ,philadelphia was promised deliverance from the hour of temptation which was to come upon all the world 7chap4 #c3aj71 no one supposes that a short period of only one week is specified4 ,the rulers of the ten kingdoms were to receive power as kings one hour with the beast 7chap4 #ag3ab71 which expression will be shown later to really cover many years4 ,we might point out many such exceptions were it necessary4 ,again1 it was the beast that came up at the expiration of the twelve hundred and sixty years1 or ,protestantism1 that slaughtered the witnesses1 and we could not expect their resurrection during the reign of ,protestantism1 which every one will admit was longer than three and one-half years1 according to the year-day application4 ,the events as they have developed prove that it was just three and one-half centuries before ,protestantism was entirely ignored and the ,spirit and ,word recognized as the sole ,governors in the church of ,god4 ,besides1 the general trend of events following the formation of ,protestantism naturally divide the succeeding centuries into separate periods4 ,the first 7sixteenth7 was a fierce conflict for the establishment of ,protestantism2 the second 7seventeenth7 was a violent reaction1 wherein the church of ,rome nearly triumphed over her hated opposers2 while the third 7eighteenth7 is specially noted in history as the period of infidelity or reason4 ,this division of time was so noticable that ,d',aubigne1 who wrote about ,a4,d4 #ahce1 in his famous ,history of the ,reformation1 refers to it in the following remarkable language3 ,it has been said that the three last centuries1 the sixteenth1 the seventeenth1 and the eighteenth1 may be conceived as an immense battle of three days' duration4 ,we willingly adopt this beautiful comparison4444 ,the first day was the battle of ,god1 the second the battle of the priest1 the third the battle of ,reason4 ,what will be the fourth8 #ahcj-aicj ,in our opinion1 the confused strife1 the deadly contest of all these powers together1 ,,to ,,end ,,in ,,the ,,victory ,,of ,,him ,,to ,,whom ,,triumph ,,belongs4 ,book ,,xi1 ,chap4 #i4 ,the writer is thankful to ,god that he is permitted to see the fourth day ending in the victory of ,him to whom triumph belongs4 ,and may we1 my brethren1 be grateful to our dear ,lord that it is our privilege to have part in this glorious reformation of divine truth that is now sweeping over the world and gathering the elect together for the soon-coming of the ,savior4 #ac4 ,and the same hour was there a great earthquake1 and the tenth part of the city fell1 and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand3 and the remnant were affrighted1 and gave glory to the ,god of heaven4 #ad4 ,the second woe is past2 and1 behold1 the third woe cometh quickly4 ,at the time the witnesses reach their greatest exaltation1 a great earthquake takes place upon earth1 and the tenth part of the city falls4 ,the nature of the symbol would point us to some political upheaval4 ,since the great city of ,babylon is composed of different divisions 7as will be seen hereafter71 it is a matter of doubt as to which part of the city is here referred to2 but most probably that of the hierarchy as embraced in one of the ten divisions or kingdoms4 ,since the fulfilment of this prediction is yet future1 ,i speak with hesitation and wait for the event to make all clear4 ,it is probable1 however1 that either in this political revolution1 or about that time1 the ,ottoman power will be overthrown2 for immediately the announcement is made1 ,the second woe is past2 and1 behold1 the third woe cometh quickly4 #ae4 ,and the seventh angel sounded2 and there were great voices in heaven1 saying1 ,the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our ,lord1 and of his ,christ2 and he shall reign for ever and ever4 #af4 ,and the four and twenty elders1 which sat before ,god on their seats1 fell upon their faces1 and worshipped ,god1 #ag4 ,saying1 ,we give thee thanks1 ,o ,lord ,god ,almighty1 which art1 and wast1 and art to come2 because thou hast taken to thee thy great power1 and hast reigned4 #ah4 ,and the nations were angry1 and thy wrath is come1 and the time of the dead1 that they should be judged1 and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets1 and to the saints1 and them that fear thy name1 small and great2 and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth4 #ai4 ,and the temple of ,god was opened in heaven1 and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament3 and there were lightnings1 and voices1 and thunderings1 and an earthquake1 and great hail4 ,the seventh angel that here sounded is the third woe-angel1 and according to the description before us1 ushers in the general judgment4 ,when the temple of ,god was opened that this mighty event might take place on earth1 there were lightnings1 and voices1 and thunderings1 and an earthquake1 and great hail4 ,wondrous commotions took place in the world1 for kingdoms and empires were all overthrown1 and ,jesus ,christ was the only king remaining1 and his mission was to raise the dead that they might be judged1 to give reward to the prophets and saints1 and to banish with everlasting destruction those that corrupted the earth4 ,the description itself is too plain to need further comment4 ,the temple of ,god that was opened in heaven is to be understood as symbolical 7as explained in chap4 #f3i71 and not literal4 ,in other words1 the heavenly world appeared to ,john symbolized after the sanctuary of the temple on earth4 ,chap4 #ae3e-h2 #af3a1 #g1 #ag1 etc4 ,this is proved clearly by the fact that1 when the real heaven1 the future home of the redeemed1 is described1 ,john says1 ,i saw no temple therein4 ,chap4 #ba3bb4 ,before dismissing the visions of this chapter1 ,i wish to call attention to one more point hitherto referred to--that of parallelism and contrast4 ,while we have the history of the church apostate described by the treading down of the holy city1 we have also1 in immediate contrast and running parallel therewith1 a history of the true church existing during the same period of twelve hundred and sixty years1 although it was in a sackcloth state4 ,and while the reign of ,protestantism is described as a period during which the two witnesses were in one sense dead1 we have in immediate contrast a history of the last great reformation1 in which the spirit of life from ,god again enters these same witnesses1 and they stand upright on their feet1 to the consternation of all their adversaries4 ,amen4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,and there appeared a great wonder in heaven2 a woman clothed with the sun1 and the moon under her feet1 and upon her head a crown of twelve stars3 #b4 ,and she being with child cried1 travailing in birth1 and pained to be delivered4 #c4 ,and there appeared another wonder in heaven2 and behold a great red dragon1 having seven heads and ten horns1 and seven crowns upon his heads4 #d4 ,and his tail drew the third part of the stars of ,heaven1 and did cast them to the earth3 and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered1 for to devour her child as soon as it was born4 #e4 ,and she brought forth a man child1 who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron3 and her child was caught up unto ,god1 and to his throne4 #f4 ,and the woman fled into the wilderness1 where she hath a place prepared of ,god1 that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days4 ,the three principal objects of this vision are the woman clothed with the sun1 the man-child born of her1 and a red dragon with seven heads and ten horns4 ,these1 being drawn from nature and human life1 would point us both to the church and to the state for their fulfilment4 ,the symbols1 also1 are living agents1 and we should expect the objects they represent to be such4 ,this woman is an appropriate symbol of the church of ,god1 which is composed of living1 intelligent beings2 and that it is the true and not an apostate one1 is shown by the fact that upon her flight into the wilderness she had a place prepared of ,god where she was nourished for twelve hundred and sixty days4 ,in a subsequent portion of the ,apocalypse a vile harlot is taken as the representative of the church apostate4 ,in this way a proper correspondence of character and quality is kept up4 ,this woman appeared1 not in the temple above1 but in the firmament of heaven1 where she was clothed with the sun1 the moon under her feet1 and upon her head a crown of twelve stars4 ,thus the brightest luminaries of heaven were gathered around her4 ,arrayed in this splendid manner1 she is easily distinguished from an apostate church1 which would not be so highly favored with such attire in this exalted position4 ,doubtless the objects with which she is adorned have some special signification4 ,the moon is a fit symbol of the old covenant1 above which the church had just risen1 only to be clothed in the superior brightness and glory of the new covenant4 ,and as the moon shines only with a borrowed light1 obtaining its illumination from the sun2 so1 also1 the old covenant was only a shadow of the good things to come and now stands eclipsed in the brightness and transcendant glory of that new and better dispensation4 ,according to the explanation given of the seven stars in the right hand of ,jesus 7chap4 #a3ai71 we are authorized to regard stars as a symbol of ,christian ministers1 and the twelve that appear most prominently in the first history of the church are the twelve apostles of the ,lamb4 ,the dragon1 a beast from the natural world1 would properly symbolize a tyrannical1 persecuting government4 ,this was a red dragon with seven heads and ten horns1 and seven crowns upon his heads4 ,in the following chapter we read that ,john saw a beast rising up out of the sea with the same number of heads and horns1 but ten crowns on his horns4 ,and the dragon gave him 7the beast7 his power1 and his seat1 and great authority4 ,verse #b4 ,so far as the heads and horns are concerned1 the only difference between the two is that the crowns--a symbol of supreme authority and power--have been transferred from the heads to the horns4 ,in chapter #ag ,john saw the same beast again and there received the following explanation of the seven heads3 ,and there are seven kings3 five are fallen1 and one is1 and the other is not yet come2 and when he cometh he must continue a short space4 ,verse #aj4 ,concerning the horns he was told1 ,the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings1 which have received no kingdom as yet4 ,verse #ab4 ,with this explanation before us it will be easy to identify the dragon of chapter #ab and the beast of chapters #ac and #ag as the ,roman empire1 the first under the ,pagan and the second under the ,papal form4 ,the seven heads signify the seven distinct forms of supreme government that ruled successively in the empire4 ,the five that had already fallen when ,john received the vision were the ,regal power1 the ,consular1 the ,decemvirate1 the ,military ,tribunes and the ,triumvirate4 ,one is--the ,imperial4#h ,the identification of its seventh and last head we shall leave until later4 ,the ten horns1 or kingdoms1 which had not yet arisen when the ,revelation was given1 were the ten minor kingdoms that grew out of the ,western ,roman empire during its decline and fall4 ,the historian ,machiard1 in giving an account of these nations1 and without any reference to the ,bible or its prophecies1 reckons ten kingdoms1 as follows3 #a4 ,the ,ostrogoths in ,maesia2 #b4 ,the ,visigoths in ,pannonia2 #c4 ,sueves and ,alans in ,gascoigne and ,spain2 #d4 ,vandals in ,africa2 #e4 ,franks in ,france2 #f4 ,burgundians in ,burgundy2 #g4 ,heruli and ,turings in ,italy2 #h4 ,saxons and ,anglis in ,britain2 #i4 ,huns in ,hungary2 #aj4 ,lombards1 at first on the ,danube1 and afterwards in ,italy4 ,footnote #h3 ,the fact that commentators and historians differ in their enumeration of the forms of government that ruled in ,rome is often a source of confusion to ordinary readers4 ,hence an explanation is necessary4 ,rome was first ruled by kings1 and therefore the first form of government is designated by either the term ,kings or the term ,regal ,power4 ,upon the expulsion of the kings and the formation of the republic1 the royal power was entrusted to two men who held it for a year1 and were called consuls4 ,in times of great public danger the consuls were superseded by a special officer called a dictator1 who had supreme power4 ,as the early life of the republic was often threatened with grave dangers1 ,rome was often governed by a dictator2 hence this form of government is sometimes called the ,dictatorship4 ,the third form was the ,decemviri1 a government by ten men1 who compiled the twelve famous ,tables of ,laws4 ,in #ddd ,b4,c4 another change was made by the appointment of ,military ,tribunes 7whose numbers varied7 with consular power4 ,these were frequently called ,consuls4 ,the fifth form was the ,triumvirate1 a government by three men4 ,the sixth was the ,imperial4 ,hence the different forms can be enumerated thus3 #a4 ,the ,regal ,power1 or ,kings4 #b4 ,consula or ,dictators4 #c4 ,decemvirate4 #d4 ,military ,tribunes1 ,tribunes1 or ,consuls4 #e4 ,triumvirate4 #f4 ,imperial4 ,the seventh form will be considered in another place4 ,see remarks on chap4 #ag3g-aa4 ,other historians agree substantially with this4 ,these kingdoms all arose within one hundred and seventy years4 ,the dragon is described with the horns1 although they were not now in existence and did not arise until nearly the time when the dragon became the beast2 likewise1 he is represented with seven heads1 although he really possessed only one head at a time1 and five had already fallen and one being yet to come4 ,he is described with all the heads and horns he ever had or was to have4 ,the tail of this dragon drew the third part of the stars of heaven1 and did cast them to the earth4 ,some people who have never learned the nature of symbolic language try to imagine such a literal creature as the one here described and picture in their minds what an awful thing it would be to see the third part of the stars falling to the earth4 ,but real stars that are fixed or planetary never fall1 and if they did1 they would be as apt to fall in an opposite direction as toward the earth4 ,besides1 if one should come tumbling down here1 it would knock this world into oblivion4 ,but with a knowledge of the proper use of symbols we can easily identify this dragon with the ,roman empire under its ,pagan form2 and the casting down of the stars1 which were doubtless used as symbols of ministers as in verse #a1 signifies the warfare which this awful beast power waged against the church of ,god1 in which her ministers were always a shining mark for the first persecution and suffered terribly for the cause they represented4 ,the man-child is the next object that claims our attention4 ,some have supposed that it represented ,jesus ,christ in his first advent to the world4 ,but this could not be2 for ,christ is never represented as being the offspring of the church1 but1 on the other hand1 is declared to be its originator4 ,some1 also1 have supposed that it represented the church bringing forth ,christ to the world in a spiritual sense4 ,this1 however1 would be in direct conflict with the known laws of symbolic language4 ,a visible1 living1 intelligent agent1 such as this man-child evidently was1 could not be the symbol of an invisible spiritual presence4 ,besides1 it has been clearly shown that ,christ always appears in his own person1 unrepresented by another1 from the fact that he can not be symbolized4 ,it is clear that this child can not signify a single definite personage2 for after he is caught up to ,god1 there is still a remnant of the woman's seed left upon earth4 ,see verse #ag4 ,what1 then1 does the man-child signify8 ,it symbolizes the mighty host of new converts or children that the early church by her earnest travail brought forth4 ,the seeming incongruity that the church1 or mother1 and her children are alike only serves to establish the point in question when rightly understood4 ,a child is of the same substance as its mother and is designed to perpetuate the race4 ,so1 also1 the new-born babes in the church are just the same spiritually as those who are older1 and are intended to perpetuate the church of ,god on earth4 ,but this explanation of itself is not sufficient to entirely satisfy an inquiring mind1 and the question is sure to be asked1 ,why was it necessary that the church of ,god in this dispensation should be represented by two individuals--a woman and her son8 ,i also will ask a question--,why1 on the other hand1 was it necessary that the great apostasy of this dispensation should be represented by the double-figure of a woman and her daughters8 ,the answer to the latter question would readily be given--to symbolize two distinct phases of apostasy4 ,so1 also1 it was necessary that a double-symbol1 such as a woman and her son1 should be chosen to set forth two phases of the church brought to view in this chapter4 ,if but a single symbol were used1 how could the church be thereby represented as continuing on earth and fleeing into the wilderness and at the same time be represented as overcome1 persecuted to the death1 and caught up unto ,god and to his throne8 ,this double-phase of the church--the experience of the saints on earth and the reign of the martyrs in ,paradise--will be made very clear to the reader hereafter4 ,but it would be impossible to set forth these two phases under one symbol1 and therefore two are chosen4 ,there is also direct ,scripture testimony on this point4 ,before she travailed1 she brought forth2 before her pain came1 she was delivered of a man-child4 ,who hath heard such a thing8 who hath seen such things8 ,shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day8 or shall a nation be born at once8 ,for as soon as ,zion travailed1 she brought forth her children4 ,isa4 #ff3g1 #h4 ,according to ,heb4 #ab3bb1 #bc1 this ,zion1 or ,sion1 referred to is the ,new ,testament church1 and the man-child that she is said to bring forth is interpreted by ,isaiah as a nation born at once4 ,such language perfectly describes the rapid increase in the ,christian church on ,pentecost and shortly afterward1 when thousands were added in one day4 ,according to the apostle ,paul1 the host of ,jews and ,gentiles reconciled unto ,god through ,jesus ,christ constituted one new man in ,christ4 ,eph4 #b3ae4 ,see also ,gal4 #c3bh4 ,r4,v4 ,this man-child was to rule all nations with a rod of iron4 ,for an explanation of this rule see remarks on chapter #b3bf1 #bg4 ,the twelve hundred and sixty days will be referred to later4 #g4 ,and there was war in heaven3 ,michael and his angels fought against the dragon2 and the dragon fought and his angels1 #h4 ,and prevailed not2 neither was their place found any more in heaven4 #i4 ,and the great dragon was cast out1 that old serpent1 called the ,devil1 and ,satan1 which deceiveth the whole world3 he was cast out into the earth1 and his angels were cast out with him4 #aj4 ,and ,i heard a loud voice saying in heaven1 ,now is come salvation1 and strength1 and the kingdom of our ,god1 and the power of his ,christ3 for the accuser of our brethren is cast down1 which accused them before our ,god day and night4 #aa4 ,and they overcame him by the blood of the ,lamb1 and by the word of their testimony2 and they loved not their lives unto the death4 #ab4 ,therefore rejoice1 ye heavens1 and ye that dwell in them4 ,woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea6 for the devil is come down unto you1 having great wrath1 because he knoweth that he hath but a short time4 #ac4 ,and when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth1 he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child4 #ad4 ,and to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle1 that she might fly into the wilderness1 into her place1 where she is nourished for a time1 and times1 and half a time1 from the face of the serpent4 #ae4 ,and the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman1 that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood4 #af4 ,and the earth helped the woman1 and the earth opened her mouth1 and swallowed up the flood which the dragon east out of his mouth4 #ag4 ,and the dragon was wroth with the woman1 and went to make war with the remnant of her seed1 which keep the commandments of ,god1 and have the testimony of ,jesus ,christ4 ,in this vision we have a series of events covering exactly the same period of time as that of the preceeding one2 namely1 a history of the church up to and including her flight into the wilderness1 and of the same opposing dragon4 ,in this description1 however1 the events are more perfectly detailed4 ,because this dragon was called the ,devil and ,satan1 many have been led into the idea that it signified the ,prince of darkness himself4 ,but surely we could not suppose that ,beelzebub has any such appearance as this dragon4 ,the foregoing explanation concerning his heads and horns shows conclusively that the ,pagan ,roman empire is meant1 and not ,beelzebub4 ,why1 then1 was it called the ,devil and ,satan8 ,among the ,hebrews the term ,satan was frequently used in a very liberal sense and applied to different objects1 signifying merely an adversary or opposer4 ,according to ,young's ,analytical ,concordance the ,hebrew word for ,satan is translated adversary in a number of texts1 a few of which ,i will refer to4 ,num4 #bb3bb3 ,and the angel of the ,lord stood in the way for an adversary ,satan1 ,heb4 against him4 ,here an angel of the ,lord is called a ,satan to ,balaam4 ,in #a ,sam4 #bi3d ,david is called an adversary 7,heb4 ,satan7 to the ,philistines4 ,in #b ,sam4 #ai3bb certain opposers are said to be adversaries 7,satans1 ,heb47 unto ,david2 while in #a ,kings #aa3be a certain man was said to be an adversary 7,satan7 to ,israel all the days of ,solomon4 ,a number of other instances could be given if necessary4 ,in the ,new ,testament1 also1 the term ,satan is sometimes used to signify merely an opposer4 ,but he turned1 and said unto ,peter1 ,get thee behind me1 ,satan4 ,mat4 #af3bc4 ,in #a ,cor4 #aj3bj ,paul declares that the things which the ,gentiles sacrifice1 they sacrifice to devils4 ,paganism stood as the great opposer of ,christianity1 hence was a ,satan 7adversary7 unto it2 while the apostle denominated its religious rites as devil-worship4 ,i do not question the fact that the spirit of ,beelzebub was manifested in the thing2 but the dragon itself was the empire1 as is proved by the heads and the horns4 ,however1 the ,devil and the agency through which he works are often used interchangeably4 ,satan and the serpent in ,eden stand in the same relation as do ,satan1 or ,beelzebub1 and ,paganism in the ,new ,testament2 hence to bind ,paganism was to bind the ,devil and ,satan in one important sense4 ,the dragon would be a beast from the natural world 7if such a creature actually existed7 and as such could represent nothing more than a civil empire2 but in the vision under consideration he is represented as accompanied by angels actuated by his spirit and defending his cause4 ,by this combination of symbols is set forth the politico-religious system of the empire--a religion that denied the doctrine of the one exclusive ,god and the divinity of ,jesus ,christ4 ,it was the religion of infidelity4 ,it was the dragon as a false religious system that ,christianity attacked1 and not the ,state itself4 ,the following quotation from ,butler's ,ecclesiastical ,history will show the relation of ,christians to the empire3 ,the ,romans were accustomed to tolerate all new religions if they took their place by the side of those already existing1 and if they did not cast reproach upon them4444 ,but ,christianity1 by its very nature exclusive in its claims 444 was offensive to the ,romans and to the ,state4 ,a religion which cast contempt upon the religions and rites sanctioned by the laws1 and endeavored to draw men away from them1 seemed to express thereby contempt and hostility for the ,state itself4 ,hence ,christianity was branded as a malignant superstition1 and ,christians spoken of as the enemies of the human race4444 ,from the letter of ,pliny to ,trajan1 it was evidently recorded as an religio illicita1 and the mere fact of being a ,christian was counted of itself a crime4444 ,the exclusiveness of ,christianity seemed also to place its disciples in a position of direct disloyalty to the emperors and the ,state4 ',the emperor was ex-officio ,pontifex ,maximus2 the gods were national4 ,cicero declares as a principle of legislation1 that no one should be allowed to worship foreign gods1 unless they were recognized by public statute4 ,maecenas thus counselled ,augustas3 ,honor the gods according to the customs of your ancestors1 and compel others to worship them4 ,hate and punish those who bring in strange gods4' ,as the ,roman empire was founded on the absolutism of the ,state1 and made nothing of personal rights1 ,christianity1 which first taught and acknowledged them1 would be peculiarly offensive to the ,state4 ,moreover1 the conscientious refusal of ,christians to pay divine honor to the emperor and his statutes1 and to take part in idolatrous ceremonies at public festivals 444 and their constant assembling themselves together1 brought them under the suspicion and obloquy of the emperors and the people4 ,pp4 #di1 #ej4 ,the dragon was stationed in the same heaven where the woman appeared4 ,this signifies his exalted position in the world4 ,while the dragon was in the height of his power and glory1 ,michael 7,jesus ,christ--,jude #i2 #a ,thes4 #d3af2 ,john #e3bh7 and his followers appeared on the scene1 and a fierce battle for supremacy ensued1 resulting in the final victory of the hosts of ,michael4 ,that it was against the dragon as a religious system that the ,christians fought is proved by the kind of weapons they employed4 ,and they overcame him by the blood of the ,lamb and by the word of their testimony2 and they loved not their lives unto the death4 ,christianity never sought to overturn the civil empire1 but did with all the power of truth oppose the huge system of error sustained by it and gained such decisive victories that the cry was heard1 ,now is come salvation1 and strength1 and the kingdom of our ,god1 and the power of his ,christ2 for the accuser of our brethren is cast down1 which accused them before our ,god day and night4 ,the ,devil himself suffered a severe defeat when his favorite agents1 the dragon and his followers1 were cast down from their lofty position and ,christianity was exalted instead4 ,says ,butler3 ,the final victory of ,christianity over heathenism and ,judaism1 and the mightiest empire of the ancient world1 a victory gained without physical force1 by the moral power of faith and perseverance1 of faith and love1 is one of the sublimest spectacles of history1 and one of the strongest evidences of the divinity and indestructible life of our holy religion4 ,p4 #dj4 ,but the fact that many ,christians lost their lives in this conflict 7verse #aa71 insomuch that the man-child is represented as being caught up unto ,god 7verse #e71 shows that the dragon employed also the arm of civil power in his opposition to the growing truth4 ,the rapid increase of ,christianity1 despite the violent opposition and persecution of the ,pagan party1 can be no better represented than by a quotation from the notable ,apology of ,tertullian1 who wrote during the persecution by ,septimus ,severus1 about the end of the second century4 ,rulers of the ,roman ,empire1 he begins1 you surely can not forbid the ,truth to reach you by the secret pathway of a noiseless book4 ,she knows that she is but a sojourner on the earth1 and as a stranger finds enemies2 and more1 her origin1 her dwelling-place1 her hope1 her rewards1 her honors1 are above4 ,one thing1 meanwhile1 she anxiously desires of earthly rulers--not to be condemned unknown4 ,what harm can it do to give her a hearing8444 ,the outcry is that the ,state is filled with ,christians2 that they are in the fields1 in the citadels1 in the islands4 ,the lament is1 as for some calamity1 that both sexes1 every age and condition1 even high rank1 are passing over to the ,christian faith4 ,the outcry is a confession and an argument for our cause2 for we are a people of yesterday1 and yet we have filled every place belonging to you--cities1 islands1 castles1 towns1 assemblies1 your very camp1 your tribes1 companies1 palace1 senate1 forum4 ,we leave to you your temples alone4 ,we can count your armies3 our numbers in a single province will be greater4 ,we have it in our power1 without arms and without rebellion1 to fight against you with the weapon of a simple divorce4 ,we can leave you to wage your wars alone4 ,if such a multitude should withdraw into some remote corner of the world you would doubtless tremble at your own solitude1 and ask1 ',of whom are we the governors8' ,it is a human right that every man should worship according to his own convictions 444 a forced religion is no religion at all4444 ,men say that the ,christians are the cause of every public disaster4 ,if the ,tiber rises as high as the city walls1 if the ,nile does not rise over the fields1 if the heavens give no rain1 if there be an earthquake1 if a famine or pestilence1 straightway they cry1 ,away with the ,christians to the lion4444 ,but go zealously on1 ye good governors1 you will stand higher with the people if you kill us1 torture us1 condemn us1 grind us to the dust2 your injustice is the proof that we are innocent4 ,god permits us to suffer4 ,your cruelty avails you nothing4444 ,the oftener you mow us down the more in number we grow2 the blood of ,christians is seed4 ,what you call our obstinacy is an instructor4 ,for who that sees it does not inquire for what we suffer8 ,who that inquires does not embrace our doctrines8 ,who that embraces them is not ready to give his blood for the fulness of ,god's grace8 ,another writer has said3 ,the church in this period appears poor in earthly possessions and honors1 but rich in heavenly grace1 in world-conquering faith and love and hope2 unpopular1 even outlawed1 hated and persecuted1 yet far more vigorous and expansive than the philosophies of ,greece1 or the empire of ,rome2 composed chiefly of persons of the lower social ranks1 yet attracting the noblest and deepest minds of the age1 and bearing in her bosom the hope of the world2 conquering by apparent defeat and growing on the blood of her martyrs2 great in deeds1 greater in sufferings1 greatest in death for the honor of ,christ and the benefit of generations to come4 ,this triumph of early ,christianity over ,paganism was a theme worthy of the song4 ,now is come salvation1 and strength1 and the kingdom of our ,god1 and the power of his ,christ4 ,even before the death of the apostles1 according to the younger ,pliny1 the temples of the gods in ,asia ,minor were almost forsaken4 ,no wonder1 then1 that even the inhabitants of heaven were called upon to rejoice at so great a victory attained by the followers of the ,lamb4 ,but the same voice also says1 ,woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea6 for the devil is come down unto you1 having great wrath1 because he knoweth that he hath but a short time4 ,this represents the violence of the ,pagan party upon its defeat1 being exasperated to the exercise of greater opposition and cruelty wherever the means and the power were still in their hands4 ,cast down from his exalted position in the heavens--the religious sphere--his ecclesiastical prestige lost1 he had no place to abide but in the earth--the political kingdom--whence he took up arms1 and woe to the inhabitants of the earth4 ,but the days of ,paganism in the empire were numbered4 ,the ,devil knew that he had but a short time1 therefore he came down in great wrath4 ,this is in accordance with the facts of history4 ,paganism did not die an easy death1 but struggled hard and long4 ,when cast from his high position1 however1 the dragon persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child4 ,the true idea expressed in the original is that he pursued the woman1 and this signification is indicated by what follows--,to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle1 that she might fly into the wilderness1 into her place1 where she is nourished for a time1 and times1 and half a time1 from the face of the serpent4 ,the time as a definite period signifies one year2 hence a time1 times1 and half a time would be three and one-half years1 or twelve hundred and sixty days1 as before explained4 ,there is an apparent incongruity or contradiction of statement in reference to the symbols here2 but it is a contradiction that when rightly understood throws light upon the whole subject4 ,it will be noticed that the woman and ,michael with his angels symbolize the same object--the people of ,god4 ,under the latter figure they were triumphant and the dragon was defeated4 ,yet after he was cast down1 he turned upon the woman and pursued her1 and thus1 the church appeared to be the defeated party4 ,according to this1 then1 the ,pagan party is represented as prevailing soon after he met defeat and the church apparently defeated soon after her period of triumph4 ,here again we have two separate symbols of the same object in order to represent two of its different phases4 ,this is explained satisfactorily by noticing carefully the facts4 ,the woman1 who is always the true church composed of holy people1 was at first identical with the visible church1 or the great body of ,christians1 and in this condition was successful in spreading the pure gospel and casting down the powers of iniquity symbolized by the dragon4 ,but the dragon politically1 as symbolized by his being a beast from the natural world1 with heads and horns1 remained in power for some time1 his religious prestige only being lost4 ,christianity did not attempt to cast down the dragon in the sense of destroying the civil empire4 ,as is well known1 a great spiritual declension followed the period of the church's greatest triumph1 which decline drove the woman1 or the true church1 into the wilderness2 hence to all appearances the church became a defeated party4 ,about this same time1 the dying cause of ,paganism revived for a season in terrible severity in the latter part of the third century2 hence to all appearances the dragon was triumphant4 ,this supreme effort of ,paganism's to regain its former position will be better understood in connection with what follows regarding the flood which he cast out of his mouth4 ,but that the dragon was not permanently triumphant is shown by the fact that he afterwards resigned his power and position unto the beast4 ,chap4 #ac3b4 ,as to the meaning of the two wings of a great eagle given the woman to aid her in her flight1 ,i am not able to say positively4 ,some apply them to the grace and providence of ,god which watched over the church2 others to the spiritual gifts of faith1 love1 etc41 which1 like supporting wings1 bore the church above her enemies4 ,but ,i can not see how the wings of a great eagle can properly symbolize such things4 ,they are not drawn from the right source4 ,perhaps nothing more is intended by the wings than to denote the fact of her successful flight4 ,that this idea is the correct one seems quite clear when we consider the fact that the remarkable deliverance of the ,israelites from ,egyptian bondage is set forth under the same figure1 that of eagles' wings4 ,ye have seen what ,i did unto the ,egyptians1 and how ,i bare you on eagles' wings1 and brought you unto myself4 ,ex4 #ai3d4 ,with the wings of such a powerful bird she was able to escape1 so that the dragon could not overtake her4 ,and the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman1 that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood4 ,and the earth helped the woman1 and the earth opened her mouth1 and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth4 ,here is a peculiar combination of symbols from different departments--the serpent1 a flood of water1 the woman1 and the earth4 ,the last two as allies is a very unusual circumstance4 ,some refer the flood of waters to heresies that arose in1 or was connected with1 the hierarchy about this time2 but in that case how could it be said that it was the serpent that cast it out8 ,others apply it to errors that the ,pagan party introduced baptized with the name of ,christianity1 when they professed to become converts at a later period4 ,it is certainly an appropriate figure of speech to say a flood of error or of false doctrine2 but whether a flood of water is a proper symbol of the same is another question4 ,i do not think it is4 ,water1 being an object of nature1 would point us to something political4 ,false doctrines are usually symbolized by something different from objects in nature4 ,there is considerable difficulty in verifying the symbol1 but ,i will submit what up to the present has seemed to me as the most satisfactory explanation4 ,it appears from the description that this was about the last great public effort the dragon made to overwhelm the church and that he was exasperated to this supreme effort by the humiliating defeat he had suffered4 ,the means he employed was water1 an object of nature2 hence we are to look for some great political event by which the dragon made his master-effort to destroy the woman shortly after her flight into the wilderness4 ,in ,a4,d4 #bhd ,diocletian1 a ,pagan1 succeeded to the imperial throne4 ,before the close of his reign 7#cje71 the ,christians suffered the most terrible persecution ever received at the hands of ,pagan ,rome4 ,it continued ten years--,a4,d4 #cjb-cab4 ,it was the design of this emperor to completely extirpate the very name of ,christianity1 and his unfortunate victims were slain by the thousands throughout the empire4 ,but the master-piece of his heathen policy was the order to seek and burn all copies of the ,word of ,god4 ,hitherto the enemy had been lopping off the branches of the tree whose leaves were for the healing of the nations2 now the blow was made at the root4 ,it had once been the policy of ,antiochus ,epiphanes1 when he madly sought to destroy the ,jewish ,scriptures4 ,it was both wise and wicked4 ,it had but one defect1 it could not be carried into complete execution4 ,the sacred treasure was in too many hands1 and too many of its guardians were brave and prudent1 to make extermination possible4 ,an ,african bishop said1 ',here is my body1 take it1 burn it2 but ,i will not deliver up the ,word of ,god4' ,a deacon said1 ',never1 sir1 never6 ,had ,i children ,i would sooner deliver them to you than the divine word4' ,he and his wife were burnt together4 ,butler's ,eccl4 ,history1 p4 #ff4 ,but the earth helped the woman--another unlooked-for political event4 ,worn out with the cares of ,state1 boasting that the very name of ,christ was abolished1 and dying with a loathsome disease1 the tyrant abdicated his throne4 ,a number of individuals claimed imperial honors2 but ,constantine1 the ruler of ,gaul1 ,spain1 and ,britain1 fought his way against contending rivals and finally entered ,rome1 the capital1 in triumph4 ,enthroned as emperor of the ,west1 he immediately issued an edict of toleration favorable to the ,christians 7,a4,d4 #cac7 and soon became a professed ,christian himself and by law made ,christianity the established religion of the empire4 ,in #cbd1 having crushed all rivals1 he became sole emperor of the ,roman world1 and with a view of promoting ,christianity convened what is known as the ,first ,general ,council of the ,church1 at ,nicaea in ,asia ,minor1 ,a4,d4 #cbe4 ,the prestige of ,paganism as a religious power had been overthrown long before by the followers of ,christ1 but now its political importance received a death-blow1 only a few expiring struggles appearing subsequently before the final downfall of ,western ,rome4 ,thus1 the earth helped the woman and swallowed up the flood of persecution which the dragon cast out4 ,and the dragon was wroth with the woman1 and went to make war with the remnant of her seed1 which keep the commandments of ,god1 and have the testimony of ,jesus4 ,finding that he could not destroy or exterminate the church of ,god1 he determined to make war upon its individual members4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,and ,i stood upon the sand of the sea1 and saw a beast rise up out of the sea1 having seven heads and ten horns1 and upon his horns ten crowns1 and upon his heads the name of blasphemy4 #b4 ,and the beast which ,i saw was like unto a leopard1 and his feet were as the feet of a bear1 and his mouth as the mouth of a lion3 and the dragon gave him his power1 and his seat1 and great authority4 #c4 ,and ,i saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death2 and his deadly wound was healed3 and all the world wondered after the beast4 #d4 ,and they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast3 and they worshipped the beast1 saying1 ,who is like unto the beast8 who is able to make war with him8 #e4 ,and there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies2 and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months4 #f4 ,and he opened his mouth in blasphemy against ,god1 to blaspheme his name1 and his tabernacle1 and them that dwell in heaven4 #g4 ,and it was given unto him to make war with the saints1 and to overcome them3 and power was given him over all kindreds1 and tongues1 and nations4 #h4 ,and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him1 whose names are not written in the book of life of the ,lamb slain from the foundation of the world4 #i4 ,if any man have an ear1 let him hear4 #aj4 ,he that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity3 he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword4 ,here is the patience and the faith of the saints4 ,in this vision ,john beheld a beast rise out of the sea4 ,his appearance--like that of a leopard with the feet of a bear and a mouth like a lion--indicated that he was some terrible creature4 ,he was also a persecutor of the saints1 the same as the dragon that preceded him4 ,as before explained1 this beast1 also1 symbolizes the ,roman empire2 for he possesses the same heads and horns as the dragon1 the only difference being that the supreme power and authority1 as indicated by the crowns1 is now vested in the ten horns1 or minor kingdoms1 instead of in the seven heads4 ,the dragon as a political power represented ,rome before her overthrow by the barbarians2 the beast as a political power represents new ,rome4 ,a careful study of the characteristics of this beast1 however1 will show that he represents more than a civil power4 ,as a mere beast from the natural world he could symbolize nothing more than some political power2 but it will be noticed that1 combined with his beastly nature1 there are also certain characteristics that belong exclusively to the department of human life--a mouth speaking great things2 power to magnify himself against the ,god of heaven2 the ability to single out the saints of ,god and kill them1 and to set himself up as an object to be worshiped1 etc4 ,this combination of symbols from the two departments--those of animal and of human life--points us with absolute certainty to ,rome as a politico-religious system4 ,ask any historian what world-wide power succeeded ,rome ,pagan1 and he will answer at once1 ,rome ,papal4 ,while it is not my general design to explain the many lines of prophetic truth described under similar symbols in other parts of the ,bible1 yet ,i will ask the reader here to pardon the slight digression while ,i call attention briefly to a few thoughts in the seventh chapter of ,daniel regarding this same ,papal power4 ,daniel received a vision of four great beasts1 which were interpreted to symbolize four universal monarchies4 ,verse #ag4 ,these were the ,babylonian1 the ,medo-,persian1 the ,greco-,macedonian1 and the ,roman4 ,the fourth beast possessed ten horns1 which were explained to signify ten kingdoms to arise out of the fourth empire4 ,this is identical with the dragon of ,rev4 #ab1 except the latter possessed seven heads not mentioned by ,daniel4 ,in the midst of the ten horns 7ten minor kingdoms7 grew up a little horn1 which soon assumed greater proportions than his fellows1 taking the place of three of the original horns1 and into his hand the saints of the ,most ,high were given for a time and times and the dividing of time1 or twelve hundred and sixty years4 ,this eleventh horn differed from the ten in that it possessed a mouth speaking great things1 and the eyes of a man4 ,a horn with eyes and mouth in it is a very unusual thing1 yet it is just such a combination as we might expect when we possess a correct knowledge of symbols4 ,being drawn from two departments--human life and animal life--this double-symbol directs us to a politico-religious system that came up among the ten horns that grew out of the old ,roman empire4 ,we instantly identify it with the growing ,papacy1 which arose to a position of great authority in conjunction with the new ,roman empire4 ,three of the horns1 or temporal kingdoms1 were overthrown in order to give room for the complete development of this politico-religious power4 ,since great changes have frequently occurred among the nations of ,europe originally embraced in the ten minor kingdoms1 different powers have been referred to as the three described in ,daniel's prophecy2 but the most satisfactory explanation to my mind is that of the three kingdoms in ,italy that were overthrown as if to give the hierarchy room for development1 and that gave the ,papacy its first temporal sovereignty1 thus completing the symbol by constituting her a civil as well as an ecclesiastical horn4 ,odoacer1 in ,a4,d4 #dgf1 overthrew the old empire of the ,west and established the kingdom of the ,heruli in ,italy4 ,seventeen years later it was subverted by ,theodoric1 who established the kingdom of the ,ostrogoths1 which continued sixty years2 then it1 in turn1 was overthrown by ,belisarius1 but was soon succeeded by the ,lombards4 ,the ,lombard kingdom was subverted by ,pepin and ,charlemagne1 who1 as champions of the church1 gave a large part of their dominions to the ,see of ,rome and thus favored the ,papacy with her first temporal power4 ,thus were the kingdoms of the ,heruli1 ,ostrogoths1 and ,lombards plucked up by the roots upon the very territory occupied first by the ,papacy as a temporal power1 and as if to give it room4 ,the careful student of ,daniel #g will notice immediately the striking similarity between the politico-religious system symbolized by the little horn and the leopard beast of ,revelation #ac under consideration4 ,the following parallels between them prove their identity3 #a4 ,the little horn was a blasphemous power3 ',he shall speak great words against the ,most ,high4' ,dan4 #g3be4 ,the leopard beast of ,rev4 #ac3f does the same3 ',he opened his mouth in blasphemy against ,god4' #b4 ,the little horn made war with the saints1 and prevailed against them4 ,dan4 #g3ba4 ,this beast also1 ,rev4 #ac3g1 makes war with the saints1 and overcomes them4 #c4 ,the little horn had a mouth speaking great things4 ,dan4 #g3h1 #bj4 ,and of this beast we read1 ,rev4 #ac3e3 ',and there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies4' #d4 ,the little horn rose on the cessation of the ,pagan form of the ,roman empire4 ,this beast rises at the same time2 for the dragon1 ,pagan ,rome1 gives him his power1 his seat1 and great authority4 #e4 ,power was given to the little horn to continue for a time1 times1 and the dividing of time1 or twelve hundred and sixty years4 ,dan4 #g3be4 ,to this beast also power was given for forty and two months1 or twelve hundred and sixty years4 ,rev4 #ac3e4 #f4 ,at the end of the twelve hundred and sixty years the universal dominion of the little horn was to begin to decline1 being consumed and destroyed unto the end4 ,dan4 #g3bf4 ,this beast1 also1 ,rev4 #ac3aj1 was to be led into captivity and 'killed with the sword4' ,these points prove identity4 ,to quote the words of a certain expositor3 ,when we have in prophecy two symbols 444 representing powers that come upon the stage of action at the same time1 occupy the same territory1 maintain the same character1 do the same work1 exist the same length of time1 and meet the same fate1 those symbols represent the same identical power4 ,to this all must agree4 ,hence we have in the vision before us a description of ,papal ,rome in her two-fold character as a temporal and a religious power4 ,the wounding and healing of the head of the beast will be explained in chapter ,,xvii4 ,how the same heads and horns can serve both the dragon and the leopard beast will be better understood later4 ,for the present it will be sufficient to state that it is because they are the same beast in reality1 being clothed1 in its later form1 in a ,christian garb1 instead of the worn-out garments of infidelity or heathenism possessed by the former4 ,this transfer is expressed in the following words3 ,and the dragon gave him his power1 and his seat1 and great authority4 ,verse #b4 ,this beast1 then1 succeeded to the dominion held by the dragon4 ,it was like an old1 established firm retiring and giving its standing and credit and well-earned reputation to a new partnership1 to conduct a similar business4 ,while this beast1 as before observed1 represents the developed religious and political power of the ,papacy combined1 still the actions ascribed to it show plainly that it is in its character as an ecclesiastical beast that its terrible features are here delineated4 ,no one would suppose that a mere political power would set itself up as an object to be worshiped1 exalting itself above the ,god of heaven1 and then single out and slaughter the saints for not complying therewith4 ,as far as rendering obedience to civil governments is concerned1 the ,christians of all ages have been the most peaceful and obedient servants of all4 ,so we shall hereafter refer always to the beast as an ecclesiastical power1 unless otherwise stated4 ,this beast all the world admired4 ,and they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast3 and they worshiped the beast1 saying1 ,who is like unto the beast8 who is able to make war with him8 ,the people worshiped the established hierarchy1 and they also worshiped the dragon from which the beast obtained so much of his power4 ,the expression worshiped the dragon shows plainly that it is the dragon as a religious system that is referred to1 and not the old civil empire4 ,how1 then1 could the old heathen worship be perpetuated in the church of ,rome and form a part of her religious services8 ,by adopting rites and ceremonies purely ,pagan in their origin4 ,since ,i have already stated that the beast and the dragon as temporal powers were about the same in reality1 except the change of sovereignty from the heads to the horns1 it will now be necessary to show the remarkable similarity in spirit that existed between them as religious powers1 the one being the successor of the other4 #a4 ,the high-priest of the ,pagan religions was called ,pontifex ,maximus1 and he claimed spiritual and temporal authority over the affairs of men4 ,the ,pope of ,rome possesses the same title and makes the same claims1 and he is clad in the same attire as the ,pagan ,pontiff4 #b4 ,the heathen were accustomed to wear scapulars1 medals1 and images to shield them from the common ills and dangers of life4 ,romanists wear the same and for the same purpose4 #c4 ,the ,pagans1 by an official process called deification1 frequently exalted men who had lived among them to a position worthy of special honor and worship4 ,papists1 by a similar process called canonisation1 raise their former men of prominence to the dignity of saints and then offer up prayers to them4 ,the foregoing practises are derived from ,paganism2 also from ,judaism or ,paganism came their practise of burning incense in public worship1 the use of holy water1 burning wax candles in the daytime1 and votive gifts and offerings4 ,other heathen principles are3 #d4 ,adoration of idols and images1 a practise expressly forbidden by the ,mosaic law and unsanctioned by primitive ,christianity2 #e4 ,road gods and saints 7in ,catholic countries72 #f4 ,processions of worshipers and self-whippers 7especially in ,catholic countries72 #g4 ,religious orders of monks and nuns4 ,one who has read of the vestal virgins of old will recognize at once where monkery originated4 ,in the city of ,rome there still stands an old heathen temple built by ,marcus ,agrippa and dedicated in the year ,b4,c4 #bg to all the gods4 ,in the year ,a4,d4 #faj it was reconsecrated by ,pope ,boniface ,,iv4 to the blessed ,virgin and all the saints4 ,from that time until the present day ,romanists in the same temple have prostrated themselves before the very same images and have devoutly emplored them by the same forms of prayer and for the very same purposes as did the heathen of old4 ,the only difference is1 that instead of calling this idol ,jupiter1 they call it ,paul2 instead of denominating that one ,venus1 they call it ,mary1 etc4 ,well has ,bowling said3 ,the scholar1 familiar as he is with the classic descriptions of ancient mythology1 when he directs his attention to the ceremonies of ,papal worship1 can not avoid recognizing their close resemblance1 if not their absolute identity4 ,the temples of ,jupiter1 ,diana1 ,venus or ,apollo1 their 'altars smoking with incense1' their boys in sacred habits1 holding the incense box1 and attending upon the priests1 their holy water at the entrance of the temples1 with their aspergilla1 or sprinkling-brushes1 their thuribula1 or vessels of incense1 their ever-burning lamps before the statues of their deities1 are irresistibly brought before his mind1 whenever he visits a ,roman ,catholic place of worship1 and witnesses precisely the same things4 ,history of ,romanism1 pp4 #aji1 #aaj4 ,having failed in his direct attacks against the ,christian church1 with the accession of ,constantine1 who established ,christianity as the ,state religion1 the dragon soon clothed his pernicious principles in a ,christian garb and made war against the remnant of the woman's seed that kept the commandments of ,god1 through the rising hierarchy1 under the name of ,christianity2 but his heads and horns being visible1 and he being unable to control his tongue1 his real sentiments crop out1 and he is easily identified4 ,it is not to be supposed1 however1 that the beast would appear suddenly in full possession of the immense power ascribed to him in this chapter4 ,on the contrary1 ,daniel represents it as a little horn at first1 whose look finally became more stout than his fellows4 ,dan4 #g3h1 #bj4 ,such ecclesiastical power was attained only by the process of gradual development4 ,according to the vision his universal power was limited to forty and two months1 or twelve hundred and sixty years4 ,since this has reference to the beast as an ecclesiastal power1 which according to ,daniel grew up by degrees1 the time should be calculated the same as in chapter #aa3b1 #c--;dated from the time when the external1 visible church was wholly in the hands of the profane multitude of ,gentiles and the true church crowded into the wilderness4 ,the nationalized hierarchy1 however1 continued to advance to greater degrees of power over the nations1 until it reached its zenith under the pontificate of ,gregory ,,vii41 ,a4,d4 #ajgc-ajhj4 ,the great things and blasphemies spoken by this beast are doubtless fulfilled by the prerogatives and rights belonging to ,god alone which this apostate church1 especially through her regularly constituted head1 claims4 ,in fact1 the ,pope is the real mouth of this beast1 the one who dictates her laws with great authority4 ,he claims to be the vicar of ,christ on earth and supreme head of the church1 even1 as in the case of ,pope ,innocent1 denominating himself the one before whom every knee must bow1 of things in heaven1 and things on earth1 and things under the earth4 ,he claims power over the souls of all men on earth and even after their departure from earth4 ,if this is not blasphemy against ,god1 his tabernacle1 or church1 and them that dwell in heaven1 then ,i am wholly unable to imagine what would fulfil the prediction4 ,among the blasphemous titles assumed are these3 ,lord ,god the ,pope1 ,king of the ,world1 ,holy ,father1 ,king of kings1 and ,lord of lords1 ,vicegerent of the ,son of ,god4 ,he claims infallibility 7which was backed up by the ,ecumenical council of #ahgj7 and has for ages4 ,further1 he claims power to dispense with ,god's laws1 to forgive sins1 to release from purgatory1 to damn1 and to save4 ,all the inhabitants of the earth were to worship him1 except those whose names were in the book of life4 ,thank ,god that even during the dark age of ,romanism a people existed who were owned by the ,lord and who refused to render idolatrous worship to this tyrannical beast4 ,for further information regarding these medieval ,christians1 see remarks on chapter #aa3c4 ,but these saints who opposed the ,papal assumptions were made the object of fearful persecutions1 until ,rome glutted herself upon the blood of millions of ,god's holy saints4 ,this will be more fully described in chapter #ag1 where this apostate church appears under another symbol1 drunken with the blood of the saints1 and with the blood of the martyrs of ,jesus4 ,in all their severe trials1 however1 they were comforted with the knowledge that ,justice would not always sleep1 but that a time would come when her retributive hand would be stretched forth to lead into captivity their persecuting enemies and break their world-wide reign of tyranny and usurpation4 ,here is the patience and the faith of the saints4 ,to a number of people ,god gave special foresight of the coming reformation of the sixteenth century1 in which the universal spiritual supremacy of the ,papacy ended4 ,a few of the many examples will be profitable4 ,says ,d',aubigne3 ,john ,huss preached in ,bohemia a century before ,luther preached in ,saxony4 ,he seems to have penetrated deeper than his predecessors into the essence of ,christian truth4 ,he prayed to ,christ for grace to glory only in his cross1 and in the inestimable humiliation of his sufferings4444 ,he was1 if we may be allowed the expression1 the ,john ,baptist of the reformation4 ,the flames of his pile kindled a fire in the church that cast a brilliant light into the surrounding darkness1 and whose glimmerings were not to be so readily extinguished4 ,john ,huss did more3 prophetic words issued from the depths of his dungeon4 ,he foresaw that a real reformation of the church was at hand4 ,when driven out of ,prague and compelled to wander through the fields of ,bohemia1 where an immense crowd followed his steps and hung upon his words1 he had cried out3 ',the wicked have begun by preparing a treacherous snare for a goose4 ,but if even the goose1 which is only a domestic bird1 a peaceful animal1 and whose flight is not very far in the air1 has nevertheless broken through their toils1 other birds1 soaring more boldly towards the sky1 will break through them with still greater force4 ,instead of a feeble goose1 the truth will send forth eagles and keen-eyed vultures4' ,this prediction was fulfilled by the reformers4 ,when the venerable priest had been summoned by ,sigismund's order before the ,council of ,constance1 and had been thrown into prison1 the chapel of ,bethlehem1 in which he had proclaimed the gospel and the future triumphs of ,christ1 occupied his mind much more than his own defence4 ,one night the holy martyr saw in imagination1 from the depths of his dungeon1 the pictures of ,christ which he had painted on the walls of his oratory1 effaced by the ,pope and his bishops4 ,this vision distressed him2 but on the next day he saw many painters occupied in restoring these figures in greater number and in brighter colors4 ,as soon as the task was ended1 the painters1 who were surrounded by an immense crowd1 exclaimed1 ',now let the popes and bishops come6 they shall never efface them more6' ,and many people rejoiced in ,bethlehem1 and ,i with them1 adds ,john ,huss4 ',busy yourself with your defence rather than with your dreams1' said his faithful friend1 the ,knight of ,chlum1 to whom he had communicated this vision4 ',i am no dreamer1' replied ,huss1 'but ,i maintain this for certain1 that the image of ,christ will never be effaced4 ,they have wished to destroy it1 but it shall be painted afresh in all hearts by much better preachers than myself4 ,the nation that loves ,christ will rejoice at this4 ,and ,i1 awaking from the dead1 and rising so to speak1 from my grave1 shall leap with great joy4' ,history of the ,reformation1 ,book ,i1 ,chap4 #f4 ,this bold witness for ,christ was burned at the stake ,july #f1 #adae1 by order of the ,general ,council of ,constance4 ,when the fagots were piled up around him ready for the torch1 he said to the executioner1 ,you are now going to burn a goose ,huss signifying goose in the ,bohemian language2 but in a century you will have a swan whom you can neither roast nor boil4 ,fox's ,book of ,martyrs4 ,this was fulfilled in ,martin ,luther4 ,henry ,institorus1 an inquisitor1 uttered these remarkable words3 ',all the world cries out and demands a council1 but there is no human power that can reform the church by a council4 ,the ,most ,high will find other means1 which are at present unknown to us1 although they may be at our very doors1 to bring back the church to its pristine condition4' ,this remarkable prophecy1 delivered by an inquisitor at the very period of ,luther's birth1 is the best apology for the reformation4 ,andrew ,proles1 provincial of the ,augustines1 used often to say3 ,whence1 then1 proceeds so much darkness and such horrible superstitions8 ,o my brethren6 ,christianity needs a bold and a great reform1 and methinks ,i see it already approaching4444 ,i am bent with the weight of years1 and weak in body1 and ,i have not the learning1 the ability1 and eloquence1 that so great an undertaking requires4 ,but ,god will raise up a hero1 who by his age1 strength1 talents1 learning1 genius and eloquence1 shall hold the foremost place4 ,he will begin the reformation2 he will oppose error1 and ,god will give him boldness to resist the mighty ones of the earth4 ,john ,hilten censured the most flagrant abuses of the monastic life1 and the exasperated monks threw him into prison and treated him shamefully4 ,the ,franciscan1 forgetting his malady and groaning heavily1 replied3 ',i bear your insults calmly for the love of ,christ2 for ,i have said nothing that can injure the monastic state3 ,i have only censured its most crying abuses4' ',but1' continued he 7according to what ,melancthon records in his ,apology for the ,augsburg ,confession of ,faith71 'another man will rise in the year of our ,lord #aeaf3 he will destroy you1 and you shall not be able to resist him4' ,in #aeaf ,luther held a public discussion with ,feld-kirchen1 in which he upheld certain doctrines of truth that made a great stir among the ,romanists4 ,says ,d',aubigne3 ,the disputation took place in #aeaf4 ,this was ,luther's first attack upon the dominion of the sophists and upon the ,papacy1 as he himself characterizes it4 ,and again1 ,this disputation made a great noise1 and it has been considered as the beginning of the reformation4 ,book ,i1 ,chap4 #i4 ,the next year1 however1 he entered publicly upon the actual work of reformation4 ,frederick of ,saxony1 surnamed the ,wise1 was the most powerful elector of the ,german empire at the period of the reformation4 ,a dream he had and related just before the world was startled by the first great act of reformation is so striking that ,i feel justified in repeating it in this connection4 ,it was as follows3 ,having gone to bed last night1 tired and dispirited1 ,i soon fell asleep after saying my prayers1 and slept calmly for about two hours and a half4 ,i then awoke1 and all kinds of thoughts occupied me until midnight4444 ,i then fell asleep again1 and dreamed the ,almighty sent me a monk1 who was a true son of ,paul the apostle4 ,he was accompanied by all the saints1 in obedience to ,god's command1 to bear him testimony1 and to assure me that he did not come with any fraudulent design1 but that all he should do was conformable to the will of ,god4 ,they asked my gracious permission to let him write something on the doors of the palace-chapel at ,wittemberg1 which ,i conceded through my chancellor4 ,upon this1 the monk retired thither and began to write2 so large were the characters that ,i could read from ,schweinitz what he was writing about #ah miles4 ,the pen he used was so long that its extremity reached as far as ,rome1 where it pierced the ears of a lion which lay there1 and shook the triple crown on the ,pope's head4 ,all the cardinals and princes ran up hastily and endeavored to support it4444 ,i stretched out my arm3 that moment ,i awoke with my arm extended1 in great alarm and very angry with this monk1 who could not guide his pen better4 ,i recovered myself a little4444 ,it was only a dream4 ,i was still half asleep1 and once more closed my eyes4 ,the dream came again4 ,the lion1 still disturbed by the pen1 began to roar with all his might1 until the whole city of ,rome1 and all the ,states of the holy empire1 ran up to know what was the matter4 ,the ,pope called upon us to oppose this monk1 and addressed himself particularly to me1 because the friar was living in my dominions4 ,i again awoke1 repeated the ,lord's prayer1 entreated ,god to preserve his ,holiness1 and fell asleep4444 ,i then dreamt that all the princes of the empire1 and we along with them1 hastened to ,rome1 and endeavored one after another to break this pen2 but the greater our exertions the stronger it became3 it crackled as if it had been made of iron3 we gave it up as hopeless4 ,i then asked the monk 7for ,i was now at ,rome1 now at ,wittemberg7 where he had got that pen1 and how it came to be so strong4 ,in those days they used goosequills for pens4 ',this pen1' replied he1 'belonged to a ,bohemian goose ,huss a hundred years old4 ,i had it from one of my old schoolmasters4 ,it is so strong because no one can take the pith out of it1 and ,i am myself quite astonished at it4' ,on a sudden ,i heard a loud cry2 from the monk's long pen had issued a host of other pens4 ,i awoke a third time2 it was day light4 ,history of the ,reformation1 ,book ,,iii1 ,chap4 #d4 ,frederick related the foregoing to his brother ,john1 the ,duke of ,york1 on the morning of ,oct4 #ca1 #aeag1 stating that he had dreamed it during the previous night4 ,the same day at noon ,martin ,luther advanced boldly to the chapel at ,wittemberg and posted upon the door ninety-five theses1 or propositions1 against the ,papal doctrine of indulgences4 ,this was his public entrance upon the great work of reformation4 ,the importance of the ,reformation of the ,sixteenth ,century is incalculable4 ,it gave the deathblow to the universal spiritual supremacy of ,rome4 ,as we have already seen1 the ,papacy had for centuries held despotic sway over the minds and the consciences of men4 ,one potent cause of the ,reformation was the great ,revival of ,learning that marked the close of the medieval and the beginning of the modern period of history4 ,this great mental awakening contrasted sharply with the blind ignorance and superstition of the ,middle ,ages1 and caused many men to doubt the ,scriptural authority of many of the doctrines and ceremonies of the ,church of ,rome2 such as invocation of saints1 auricular confession1 use of images1 worship of the ,virgin ,mary1 etc4 ,scandals and abuses in the ,church of ,rome also hastened the ,reformation4 ,during the fifteenth century the morals of that church had sunk to the greatest depths of iniquity4 ,the ,popes themselves were1 in some cases1 monsters of impurity and iniquity1 insomuch that historians are obliged to draw the vail over many of their dark deeds4 ,but the real occasion of the revolt of the northern nations of ,europe against the jurisdiction of ,rome was the controversy regarding indulgences4 ,these in the ,catholic church1 are remissions1 to penitents of punishment due for sin1 upon the performances of some work of mercy or piety1 or the payment of a sum of money4 ,when ,leo ,x4 was elected to the ,papal dignity 7#aeac71 he found the church in great need of money for the building of ,saint ,peter's and other undertakings1 and he had recourse to a grant of indulgences to fill the coffers of the church4 ,the power of dispensing these indulgences in ,saxony in ,germany was given to a ,dominican friar named ,tetzel4 ,this fanatic enthusiast entertained the most exaggerated opinion of the efficacy of indulgences4 ,in his harrangues he uttered such expressions as the following3 ,indulgences are the most precious and the most noble of ,god's gifts4 ,there is no sin so great that an indulgence can not remit2 444 only let him pay well1 and all will be forgiven him4 ,come1 and ,i will give you letters1 all properly sealed1 by which even the sins that you intend to commit may be pardoned4 ,i would not change my privileges for those of ,st4 ,peter in heaven2 for ,i have saved more souls by my indulgences than the apostle by his sermons4 ,the ,lord ,omnipotent hath ceased to reign2 he has resigned all power to the ,pope4 ,see ,d',aubigne's ,history of the ,reformation1 ,book ,,iii1 ,chap4 #a4 ,martin ,luther was an ,augustine monk and a teacher of theology in the ,university of ,wittemberg4 ,before ,tetzel appeared in ,germany1 ,luther possessed a wide reputation for learning and piety1 and he had also entertained doubts respecting many of the doctrines of the church4 ,during an official visit to ,rome in #aeaj he was almost overwhelmed with sorrow because of the moral corruption there2 but while penitentially ascending on his knees the sacred stairs of the ,lateran1 he seemed to hear a voice thundering in his soul1 ,the just shall live by faith6 ,this marked an important epoch in his career4 ,when ,tetzel appeared in ,saxony with his indulgences1 ,luther fearlessly opposed him4 ,he drew up ninety-five theses against the infamous traffic and nailed them to the door of the church at ,wittemberg1 and invited all scholars to criticise them and point out if they were opposed to the doctrine of the ,word of ,god or of the early church ,fathers4 ,here the invention of printing proved to be a powerful agency in advancing the cause of reformation by scattering copies of these theses everywhere2 and soon the continent of ,europe was in a perfect turmoil of controversy4 ,the ,pope excommunicated ,luther as a heretic4 ,in reply ,luther burned the ,papal bull publicly at ,wittemberg4 ,shortly afterward ,luther produced his celebrated translation of the ,bible in the ,german language4 ,even a brief history of the entire ,reformation would be too large for the limits of the present volume1 therefore with a few words respecting the nature of the work of the ,reformation we will pass on to another prophetic vision4 ,the great secret of the early success of the reformers was their appeal from the decisions of councils and regulations of men to the ,word of ,god4 ,so long as the ,word and ,spirit of ,god were allowed their proper place as the ,governors of ,god's people1 the work was a spiritual blessing4 ,but this happy state of affairs did not long continue4 ,within a few years the followers of the reformers were divided into hostile sects and began to oppose and persecute each other4 ,luther denounced ,zwingle as a heretic1 and the ,calvinists would have no dealings with the ,lutherans4 ,the first ,protestant creed was the ,augsburg ,confession 7#aecj74 ,this date marks an important epoch4 ,from this time the people began to lose sight of the ,word and ,spirit of ,god as their ,governors and to turn to the disciplines of their sects1 which they upheld by every means possible4 ,thus we find ,calvin at ,geneva consenting to the burning of ,servetus1 because of a difference of religious views2 and in ,england the ,anglican ,protestants waged the most bitter1 cruel1 and relentless war not only against ,catholics1 but against all ,protestants who refused to conform to the ,established ,church4 ,the ,protestants placed armies in the field and fought for their creeds1 as during the ,thirty ,years' ,war in ,germany and the long period of the ,hugenot wars in ,france4 ,the real work of the ,reformation1 the promulgation of so much of the truth of the ,bible1 was an inestimable blessing to the world2 but the rise of ,protestantism 7organized sectism7 in #aecj introduced another period of apostasy as distinct in many of its features as was that of ,romanism before it4 ,the historian ,d',aubigne recognizes an important change at this period4 ,he says3 ,the first two books of this volume contain the most important epochs of the ,reformation--the ,protest of ,spires1 and the ,confession of ,augsburg4444 ,i determined on bringing the reformation of ,germany and ,german ,switzerland to the decisive epochs of #aecj and #aeca4 ,the history of the ,reformation1 properly so-called1 is then in my opinion almost complete in those countries4 ,the work of faith has there attained its apogee3 that of conferences1 of interims1 of diplomacy begins4444 ,the movement of the ,sixteenth ,century has there made its effort4 ,i said from the very first1 ,it is the history of the ,reformation and not of ,protestantism that ,i am relating4 ,preface to ,vol4 ,v4 #aa4 ,and ,i beheld another beast coming up out of the earth2 and he had two horns like a lamb1 and he spake as a dragon4 #ab4 ,and he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him1 and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast1 whose deadly wound was healed4 #ac4 ,and he doeth great wonders1 so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men1 #ad4 ,and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast2 saying to them that dwell on the earth1 that they should make an image to the beast1 which had the wound by a sword1 and did live4 #ae4 ,and he had power to give life unto the image of the beast1 that the image of the beast should both speak1 and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed4 #af4 ,and he causeth all1 both small and great1 rich and poor1 free and bond1 to receive a mark in their right hand1 or in their foreheads3 #ag4 ,and that no man might buy or sell1 save he that had the mark1 or the name of the beast1 or the number of his name4 #ah4 ,here is wisdom4 ,let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast3 for it is the number of a man2 and his number is ,six hundred threescore and six4 ,the symbolic description of this beast directs us also to a political and a religious system rising at the expiration of the twelve hundred and sixty years' reign of the first beast1 but that he was no such terrible beast politically as the one before him is proved by the fact that he had but two horns and they like a lamb4 ,this beast rose out of the earth--the ,apocalyptic earth1 or the territory of the ,roman empire4 ,the first beast rose out of the sea1 which1 as before shown1 signifies the heart of the empire in an agitated state2 for the ten horns came up through the greatest political convulsions that the page of history records4 ,when ,john beheld the second beast coming up1 however1 the empire was in a state of comparative quiet1 although fierce wars followed afterward4 ,he stands as a symbol of ,protestantism in ,europe2 although his power and influence afterwards extended beyond the earth--the ,apocalyptic earth--into the whole world4 ,chap4 #af3ad4 ,that this beast came up upon the same territory occupied by the ,papacy is proved also by the statement that he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him4 ,it was predicted in a subsequent chapter 7#ag3af7 that the ten horns1 or kingdoms of ,europe1 after supporting the ,papacy during the ,dark ,ages1 would later turn against her4 ,this has met a remarkable fulfilment under the reign of ,protestantism4 ,the first two nations to turn violently against ,popery were ,england and ,germany4 ,they have ever since been the chief supporters and defenders of ,protestantism1 and they are doubtless the two kingdoms symbolized by the two horns of the beast4 ,while at one time the ,pope was a temporal sovereign and could1 by his political and ecclesiastical power1 humble with ease the mightiest nations of ,europe before him1 his authority has been wrested from him by degrees1 so that to-day not a vestige of his temporal power remains1 and his anathemas fall harmlessly4 ,the nations have asserted their rights as kings4 ,when ,king ,victor ,emmanuel entered ,rome on the twentieth day of ,september1 #ahgj1 the ,pope's temporal sun set forever1 and he does not control even the city in which he lives--,rome4 ,he is often referred to as the prisoner of the ,vatican4 ,he that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity1 said the prophecy2 he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword4 ,it was by force of arms that the ,popes obtained and maintained their temporal power over the nations1 and by the force of arms they have had their authority torn from them4 ,religion has been referred to as the basis of government2 for the legislators of any country are to a great degree influenced in their deliberations by religious sentiments4 ,in all ,protestant countries that greatest of ,protestant principles1 religious liberty1 is as truly recognized by statute as was that infernal principle of the ,papacy1 religious intolerance1 when formerly enforced by law4 ,protestant principles have so far permeated the nations of ,europe formerly controlled by the ,papacy that religious toleration is generally granted4 ,in ,italy1 the headquarters of ,popedom1 where the ,catholics are greatly in the majority1 religious liberty is granted by law4 ,and even ,spain1 denominated by the ,encyclopdia ,britannica the most ,catholic country in the world1 exhibits a general indifferentism to religion1 meaning that the fanaticism and intolerance of former ages that caused thousands1 and perhaps millions1 to be slain1 is rapidly dying out4 ,in the vision before us1 however1 the special actions ascribed to this beast--speaking1 working miracles1 deceiving1 making an image and imparting life to it1 etc41 which all belong properly to the department of human life--show conclusively that it is the character of this beast as an ecclesiastical power that is the chief point under consideration4 ,he was not to become such a terrible beast politically 7for his horns were only like a lamb71 but he spake as a dragon4 ,as soon as we enter the department to which speaking by analogy refers us1 we find this beast to be a great religious power2 and it is in this character alone that he is dilineated in the remainder of the chapter4 ,that the description of a religious system is the main burden of this symbol1 is shown also by the fact that it is in every case referred to in subsequent chapters as the false prophet4 ,chap4 #af3ac2 #ai3bj2 #bj3aj4 ,therefore every reference ,i make to this second beast hereafter should be understood as signifying the religious system of ,protestantism1 unless otherwise stated4 ,that ,protestantism in its many forms can be properly represented by a single symbol--a beast or false prophet--may seem a little strange at first2 but when we come to consider next the making of an image to the beast1 it will be seen that the ,protestant sects1 from ,god's standpoint of viewing1 are all alike in character1 as were the multitudinous forms of heathen worship represented under the single symbol of the dragon4 ,hence only one beast1 or the making of one image1 was necessary to stand as representative of the entire number4 ,it will be noticed by the reader that from verse #ab to the close of the chapter the term beast signifies the first beast1 or the ,papacy1 and that the second beast1 or ,protestantism1 is designated by the pronoun he4 ,image is defined to be an imitation1 representation1 similitude of any person or thing2 a copy1 a likeness1 an effigy4 ,the second beast1 then1 is to manufacture something in imitation of the first beast4 ,if any doubt exists as to which phase of the first beast1 political or ecclesiastical1 is copied1 it can be settled by considering what is said of the image made from the original4 ,the image of the beast should--speak4 ,this directs us by analogy1 as heretofore explained1 to the department of religious affairs2 hence the second beast forms an ecclesiastical organization in imitation of the hierarchy of ,rome4 ,at this juncture the ,protestant will doubtless exclaim1 ,oh1 our churches are nothing like the church of ,rome6 ,but consider a little in the light of truth4 ,god's ,word teaches that they bear the close relationship of mother and her daughters 7,rev4 #ag3e71 and by the help of the ,lord we shall point out a similarity of character in this and subsequent chapters4 ,the symbol of the church of ,rome in chapter #ag is that of a corrupt prostitute1 while the symbol of ,protestantism is that of her harlot daughters4 ,the ,roman church is a humanly organized institution governed by a set of fallible men1 their claims of infallibility to the contrary notwithstanding4 ,protestant sects1 likewise1 are all human organizations 7even though they may sometimes deny it71 and are governed by a man or a conference of men4 ,the ,roman ,catholic church makes and prescribes the theology that her members believe4 ,protestant churches1 also1 make their own disciplines and prescribe rules of faith and practise4 ,the ,word of ,god1 inspired by his ,spirit1 could not be enforced in ,romanism without destroying it2 for its main spirit is ,antichrist4 ,so1 too1 the whole ,word in ,protestantism would soon annihilate her ,god-dishonoring sects2 for they are all contrary to its plain teachings1 which condemn divisions and enjoin perfect unity and oneness upon the redeemed of the ,lord4 ,what is said concerning the image of the beast applies to sectarianism as a whole and the human organization of all her so-called churches1 regardless of the differences that exist between them as individual institutions2 for they may differ as widely as the various systems of heathen religions symbolized by the dragon1 yet they can be represented by the single symbol of an image to the first beast1 because they are built upon the same general principles--are but human organizations1 falsely called churches of ,christ1 and are all contrary to the ,scriptures4 ,imparting life to the image of the beast simply signifies the complete organization of the ecclesiastical institutions so that they are capable of self-government and their decrees possess authority4 ,every living body is animated by a spirit4 ,the sectarian spirit that animates the ,methodist body will lead people into that body1 etc42 but the one ,spirit of ,god will1 if permitted1 baptize us all into the one body of ,christ1 where we can all drink into one ,spirit4 #a ,cor4 #ab3ac4 ,and he spake as a dragon signifies the great authority by which his laws are enacted and enforced upon the people4 ,and he doeth great wonders1 so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men1 and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast2 saying to them that dwell on the earth1 that they should make an image to the beast4 ,fire from heaven upon ,elijah's sacrifice was the attestation of ,god to his divine mission4 ,bringing down fire from heaven1 then1 symbolically describes the claims of this beast to being a true prophet of the ,lord4 ,at this point we must make a distinction which1 being true in the facts of history1 must necessarily be intended in the symbolic representation4 ,according to the symbols of the preceding chapter the woman1 or true church1 fled into the wilderness1 where she hath a place prepared of ,god1 that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days4 ,the time-prophecy is the same and covers the same period as the reign of the ,papal beast2 therefore just as an important change in the ,papacy occured at the expiration of the prophetic period1 so also we must expect a radical change with respect to the true church3 it must no longer be completely obscured in the wilderness4 ,as the ,reformation1 and ,protestantism as a religion1 was the means of ending ,rome's universal spiritual supremacy1 so also the same movement must be regarded as possessing sufficient light and truth to again bring into prominence the work of the ,spirit and the true people of ,god4 ,fire from heaven may therefore be regarded as describing the divine work of reformation1 the unfolding of truth accompanied by the saving power of ,god4 ,such spiritual work has accompanied the origin of various religious movements during the ,protestant era4 ,the general description of the two-horned beast1 however1 brings into prominence an evil characteristic--the disposition to lead people into deception by making an image to the beast and then worshiping it4 ,the evil does not inhere in the work of bringing down fire from heaven1 but in image-making and image-worship1 for which the ,spiritual work simply furnished an occasion4 ,the ,spiritual work of reformation is therefore to be distinguished from the later work of creed- and sect-making4 ,and since the beast takes advantage of ,spirit manifestations1 in order to deceive men1 he becomes a sort of apostate and is denominated the false prophet4 ,see ,chap4 #af3ad2 #ai3bj4 ,ecclesiastically considered1 the two-horned beast stands as the symbol of the religious system of ,protestantism as a whole--a peculiar combination of truth and error1 of good and bad1 of fire from heaven and false1 miracle-working power 7chap4 #af3ad72 while the image to the beast signifies the sectarian institution--the man-made1 man-controlled1 unscriptural sect machinery manufactured in imitation of the ,papal original4 ,to exalt such earth-born churches and lead people to adore and worship them is but a species of idolatry and the rankest deception4 ,it is a sad fact that multitudes of people in ,protestantism are more devoted to their particular church than they are to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,they can witness the open rejection of ,god's precious ,word and the vilest profanation of his holy name1 without uttering a word of protest2 but let anyone say a word against their church1 and instantly they are aroused to the highest pitch of excitement--beast-worshipers6 ,the ,protestant era has witnessed many wonderful reformations in which the true fire of ,god fell upon waiting souls1 but this initial work of the ,spirit has in each case been employed as an excuse for taking the next step--making an image4 ,thousands of honest souls1 lacking better light1 have been induced to submit to such human organization4 ,but the truly saved have always loved and adored their ,lord more than the human church to which they were attached1 therefore they should not be regarded as beast-worshipers4 ,they are the ones whom the ,lord denominates his people when the voice is heard calling them out of ,babylon4 ,chap4 #ah3d4 ,the mark of the beast next claims our attention4 ,the beast referred to is the ,papacy4 ,how did the ,papacy mark its subjects8 ,undoubtedly1 by the false spirit which animated that organization1 branding them all with its delusive doctrines and errors4 ,in a previous chapter the servants of ,god were represented as receiving the seal of ,god in their foreheads4 ,this was shown to signify the pure ,word and doctrines of the ,bible being planted within them by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in making the sect image in imitation of the ,papal original1 then1 the principle of marking subjects has also been copied4 ,the members of every sect organization are indelibly marked4 ,you can not become one of them without solemnly agreeing to believe the doctrines taught in their discipline and accepting the government of their man-made institutions4 ,subscribing to the rules of faith and practise that originated with the sect shows how its members worship the image4 ,they are also said to worship the first beast1 the original of the image4 ,how is this fulfilled8 ,in the same manner that the worshipers of the first beast worshiped the dragon that preceded it2 namely1 by accepting and believing false principles of faith that originated in the system immediately preceding4 ,protestant sects have transferred many of the false doctrines of ,romanism to their own creeds1 hence they worship the first beast just as truly as the ,papists worshiped the dragon by accepting heathenish principles4 ,the greatest principle of false doctrine that originated with ,catholicism1 and one that has been transferred to every ,protestant sect1 is1 that a human organization is necessary to complete the church of ,christ on earth4 ,the church of ,rome has an earthly head and a human government2 and ,protestants1 also1 firmly believe the unscriptural doctrine that they must bow to an organization of men and thus be under a visible headship3 they receive the mark of the beast4 ,many sects have also copied other ,popish doctrines1 such as infant baptism1 the destruction of all outside of the pales of the church 7871 infantile damnation1 sprinkling1 and other things too numerous to mention4 ,thus1 they worship the first beast as well as his image4 ,they also receive the name of the beast4 ,here again beast refers to the ,papacy4 ,the ,papal beast was represented as being full of the names of blasphemy1 which blasphemy was shown to signify the usurpation of prerogatives and rights belonging to ,god alone4 ,the greatest ecclesiastical usurpation reached by the ,romish hierarchy was that of claiming to be the head of the church and the right to prescribe and enforce their doctrines1 naming their organization the ,holy ,catholic ,church4 ,in making their sect organizations in imitation1 ,protestants1 as above stated1 have transferred the same principle and make the same blasphemous claim of a right to make disciplines to govern ,god's people1 and then name their sect machinery a church of ,god4 ,the name may be ,methodist1 ,baptist1 ,mennonite1 ,episcopalian1 or what not1 it is only a beast name1 yet a name that you must accept if you desire to become one of them4 ,they not only receive the name of the beast1 but also receive the number of his name4 ,it will be necessary first to explain what is meant by the number of a name4 ,the modern system of notation by the nine digits and the cipher1 was not introduced until the tenth century1 but on account of its superior excellence1 has since superseded every other4 ,previous to this great discovery1 the letters of the alphabet were used to denote numbers1 each letter having the power of a number as well as a sound4 ,the same system is still retained among us for certain purposes4 ,the ,roman letters ,i4 ,v4 ,x4 ,l4 ,c4 ,d4 ,m41 have each the power of expressing a number4 ,this1 however1 was the common and the best mode of notation that the ancients possessed4 ,the number of a name1 therefore1 was merely the number denoted by the several letters of that name4 ,the number of the name of the beast--the first beast--is said to be the number of a man4 ,when we enter the ,romish hierarchy and search for a man the number of whose name will be six hundred and sixty-six1 where could we go more appropriately than to the ,pope himself1 its authorized head8 ,the ,scriptures point him out particularly as the man of sin1 the son of perdition4 #b ,thes4 #b3c1 #d4 ,has the ,pope of ,rome a name the letters of which1 used as numerals1 make six hundred and sixty-six8 ,yes4 ,he wears in jeweled letters upon his miter the following blasphemous inscription3 ,vicarius ,filii ,dei--,vicar of the ,son of ,god4 ,taking out of this name all the letters that the ,latins used as numerals1 we have just six hundred and sixty-six4 ,u and ,v were both formerly used to denote five4 ,v 44444 #e ,f 44444 #j ,i 44444 #a ,i 44444 #a ,c 444 #ajj ,l 4444 #ej ,a 44444 #j ,i 44444 #a ,r 44444 #j ,i 44444 #a ,i 44444 #a ,d 444 #ejj ,u 44444 #e ,e 44444 #j ,s 44444 #j ,i 44444 #a --- #fff ,in some manner the worshipers of ,protestant images also receive the number of this name--six hundred and sixty-six4 ,the name is that of ,vicar of the ,son of ,god4 ,in all ,protestantism 7see remarks on chapter #aa3g1 #h7 the true ,vicars of ,christ on earth--the ,word and ,spirit of ,god--have been set aside1 and conferences of men have taken their places in all the official acts relative to spiritual affairs4 ,hence the number of the name applies to them as well4 ,what that number specially symbolizes ,i do not know1 unless it is1 as has been explained by others--division4 ,while the policy of ,romanism has been that of unity1 still the false claims made by one individual can be as well made by another1 and by many1 which has been the case1 as just explained2 therefore it would not be improper at all to make the ,pope's number a symbol of the whole1 since his system has been so largely copied by the rest4 ,the whole structure of sectarianism is built on the principle of division1 and it so happens that there is always enough left to divide again4 ,so this special number is perhaps the symbol of endless division1 signifying the great number of human organizations claiming to be churches of ,christ4 ,the church of ,god1 however1 is built on the principal of unity2 division is destruction to its true nature and life1 for it is ,christ's body4 ,it is further said that no man might buy or sell1 save he that had the mark1 or the name of the beast1 or the number of his name4 ,to buy or sell is to engage in the ordinary pursuits of life and have intercourse with human society4 ,applying this as a symbol to the analagous department of the church1 we have the fact set forth that those without the special mark have no more recognized standing in the so-called churches than men that are not allowed to buy or sell have in a community4 ,but selling1 as a symbol1 would specially indicate the dealing out of truth1 or the preaching of the gospel4 ,a ,holy ,ghost minister in the clear light of heaven's truth1 independent of all the creeds of ,babylon1 will not be allowed the privilege of laboring freely among sectarians1 after the truth for which he stands becomes well known4 ,and if he holds meetings in the community1 the members of the sects are often warned by their leaders against buying--receiving--it from the ,holy ,ghost minister1 because of his not having the mark or name of the beast4 ,their ministers are specially marked1 for they come out of their colleges and theological seminaries with the stamp of their respective doctrines upon them and a license from the sect to enter its ministry2 and those not thus marked or designated have no place among them4 ,this may also explain the manner in which the beast causes those who will not worship the image to be killed--an analagous killing2 namely1 an ecclesiastical cutting-off1 or excommunication1 as explained in previous chapters4#i ,footnote #i3 ,the early history of ,protestantism shows that at that time the principle of religious intolerance brought over from ,romanism manifested itself in the actual putting to death of numerous dissenters4 ,for example see pp4 #beb1 #bia-bid of the present work4 ,it is possible that the persecuting principle ascribed to the two-horned beast may include both the literal and the ecclesiastical cutting-off1 reference being made directly to the intolerant spirit4 ,the facts just stated are well illustrated by the following circumstances4 ,a few years ago a brother in the ministry went into a certain town to find a place to conduct a series of holiness meetings4 ,he was directed by a ,presbyterian lady to their pastor1 who1 she said1 was a believer in the doctrine of holiness4 ,when he called on the minister and made known his errand1 the first question asked him was this1 ,are you a member of the ,presbyterian church8 ,the brother answered in the negative4 ,he did not have the name of the beast4 ,the next question that greeted him was this1 ,do you believe the ,westminster ,confession of ,faith to be orthodox8 ,he answered1 ,no1 sir4 ,he did not have the mark of the beast4 ,the last question asked was1 ,do you belong to any of the various orthodox ,protestant denominations8 ,the brother said1 ,no4 ,he did not have the number of his name4 ,the answer was1 ,you can not have our house4 ,while on a missionary trip in the ,near ,east1 the writer1 in company with another brother1 attended a ,seventh-,day ,adventist service in ,bucharest1 ,roumania4 ,after the sermon another brother requested that we be given the opportunity to speak a little1 but the request was absolutely refused4 ,it was explained that we would say nothing against them or their work but only speak about salvation2 but we were not permitted even to testify in a few words4 ,the difficulty was that we did not have either the mark of the beast or its name4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,and ,i looked1 and1 lo1 a ,lamb stood on the mount ,sion1 and with him an hundred forty and four thousand1 having his ,father's name written in their foreheads4 #b4 ,and ,i heard a voice from heaven1 as the voice of many waters1 and as the voice of a great thunder3 and ,i heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps3 #c4 ,and they sung as it were a new song before the throne1 and before the four beasts1 and the elders3 and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand1 which were redeemed from the earth4 #d4 ,these are they which were not defiled with women2 for they are virgins4 ,these are they which follow the ,lamb whithersoever he goeth4 ,these were redeemed from among men1 being the firstfruits unto ,god and to the ,lamb4 #e4 ,and in their mouth was found no guile3 for they are without fault before the throne of ,god4 ,there is no difficulty in identifying this company on ,mount ,sion as the true people of ,god in marked contrast with the worshipers of all corrupt and false religion4 ,as to the chronology of the event1 it is evident that we have here a continuation of the same series of prophecy beginning with the apostolic period in chapter ,,xii1 describing alternately the true church and the false church4 ,at the beginning of this series the true church1 symbolized by the star-crowned woman1 fled into the wilderness and was there lost to view2 while the leopard beast and the two-horned beast of chapter ,,xiii1 symbolizing the two leading forms of organized ,christianity1 were brought into prominent view4 ,it is therefore fitting that the true church should again appear and be given her proper position and work in the world before the end of all earthly things4 ,that the company here brought to view represents the true church is shown by its agreement with the church of ,god before the apostasy began4 ,in the seventh chapter we have seen that before the political calamities befell the ,western ,roman ,empire the work of sealing ,god's servants was accomplished1 twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of ,israel being sealed1 thus representing symbolically the fact that ,god's church1 comprising the true ,israel1 was perfect and complete1 no part being omitted4 ,in the chapter under consideration we have this divine sealing process again after the apostasy1 and once more the definite number #add1jjj occurs1 showing that the church before the end is to be perfect and complete4 ,the contrast of this company with the ecclesiastical powers in the preceding chapter proclaims in an unmistakeable manner the fact that we have here described a true reformation and work of ,god before the end of time4 ,in the morning-time of the dispensation the redeemed of earth were represented as singing praises to ,christ2 so also the company here brought to view unite in singing a song which only the redeemed can know4 ,this company is on ,mount ,sion1 not in the darkness of the wilderness1 they are with the ,lamb1 not wandering after the beast2 they are not even following the beast that was like a lamb1 but they are with the true ,lamb1 the ,savior of the world2 they have the ,father's name written in their foreheads1 not the mark or the name of the beast4 ,it is said of them that these are they which were not defiled with women1 for they are virgins4 ,fornication and adultery1 as will be explained later1 is a symbol of spiritual idolatry2 and the chastity of this redeemed company shows that they were free from the abominations of the apostasy4 ,they follow the ,lamb whithersoever he goeth4 ,their names are in the book of life1 and they do not worship the beast4 ,chap4 #ac3h4 ,here1 then1 we have a symbol of the church of ,god in the latter days standing distinct from the great apostasy4 #f4 ,and ,i saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven1 having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth1 and to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 #g4 ,saying with a loud voice1 ,fear ,god1 and give glory to him2 for the hour of his judgment is come3 and worship him that made heaven1 and earth1 and the sea1 and the fountains of waters4 #h4 ,and there followed another angel1 saying1 ,babylon is fallen1 is fallen1 that great city1 because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication4 #i4 ,and the third angel followed them1 saying with a loud voice1 ,if any man worship the beast and his image1 and receive his mark in his forehead1 or in his hand1 #aj4 ,the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of ,god1 which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation2 and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels1 and in the presence of the ,lamb3 #aa4 ,and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever3 and they have no rest day nor night1 who worship the beast and his image1 and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name4 #ab4 ,here is the patience of the saints3 here are they that keep the commandments of ,god1 and the faith of ,jesus4 #ac4 ,and ,i heard a voice from heaven saying unto me1 ,write1 ,blessed are the dead which die in the ,lord from henceforth3 ,yea1 saith the ,spirit1 that they may rest from their labors2 and their works do follow them4 ,another phase of the last reformation is here brought to view--its communicative genius4 ,it not only stands clear from the apostasy1 but it sounds the warnings of ,god and proclaims his message4 ,the first messenger had a very important message to deliver1 even the everlasting gospel4 ,his message was not limited to the inhabitants of the earth--the ,apocalyptic earth--only1 but included every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 showing that it was of universal importance4 ,it was not a new gospel1 but the everlasting gospel1 the same gospel preached before the long period of apostasy4 ,there is one phase different1 however1 and that is that the nearness of the second coming of ,christ is a leading feature2 the messenger with loud voice warns the people to prepare for the awful judgment just at hand by turning to worship him that made heaven1 and earth1 and the sea1 and the fountains of waters4 ,the apostle ,paul cautioned the ,thessalonian brethren not to entertain the idea that the advent of ,christ was then near at hand1 for it could not come until after the great period of apostasy that he predicted2 but here is a messenger now claiming that the hour of his judgment is come--an event just at hand4 ,he carries his special message to all people2 for ,jesus declared1 ,this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations2 and then shall the end come4 ,matt4 #bd3ad4 ,this represents the restoration of gospel truth in the reformation that was begun about the year ,a4,d4 #ahhj and that is now being carried to all nations by a holy ministry4 ,the nature of this restoration work is clearly shown4 ,its leading feature is its missionary character1 the proclamation of the pure gospel to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people4 ,since the days of the apostles the whole gospel has not been boldly declared and carried forward with burning missionary zeal4 ,romanism and ,protestantism have conducted their missionary work and1 according to chap4 #af3ad1 their sphere of influence will extend throughout the whole world2 but here is clearly set forth the fact that ,god has authorized another universal message and world-wide work wholly distinguished from all others4 ,the contrast between the worshipers of the beast and his image and those composing the redeemed company on ,mount ,sion is so clear1 also the nature of the work done by each1 that we can not possibly identify them as being one4 ,this work of conducting a world-wide missionary enterprise may appear to be a gigantic task1 but the seeming impossibility vanishes when we consider the fact 7to be more fully developed hereafter7 that ,god calls into this service all his people who are yet under the sectarian yoke4 ,with this great host already dispersed over the world1 the work of making known this last message can and will be accomplished4 ,the positive statement that the hour of his judgment is come shows that the end is exceedingly near2 hence the second and third angels must follow the first in the closest proximity possible in order to introduce their messages before the wrath of ,god is poured out upon apostate ,christendom4 ,the time is so short that these three messengers can not possibly refer to three distinct reformations in the world2 hence they must signify three important phases in the one last reformation that carries the gospel to all nations in the short period of an hour1 which time also includes the final judgment4 ,a careful study of these three messages will show that they are inseparably connected4 ,the second cry was against ,babylon1 that she had fallen4 ,rev4 #ah3a1 #b proves this fall of ,babylon to be a moral one--a giving away to ungodliness1 iniquity and all manner of deception4 ,according to chapter #af3ai the great city of ,babylon is composed of three parts1 being a confederation of the dragon#aj 7heathenism71 the beast 7,catholicism71 and the false prophet 7,protestantism74 ,chap4 #af3ac1 #ad4 ,it is evidently to this latter division of ,babylon that this second message applies2 for ,paganism was always a false religion1 and ,catholicism was always a corrupt one1 during whose reign the church of ,god1 as already shown1 was separate4 ,protestantism1 then1 was the only part of the great city that could fall morally or spiritually4 ,during the space of three hundred and fifty years1 from the formation of the first ,protestant creed1 she held reign and authority over the people of ,god1 who were scattered among her hundreds of opposing sects4 ,footnote #aj3 ,that the dragon should be a part of great ,babylon seems at first improbable2 but in this statement reference is made1 not to the dragon in his original1 or ,pagan1 state1 but to the form in which he is manifesting himself in these last days to deceive the nations1 working in conjunction with apostate ,christendom4 ,this phase of the dragon power which brings him into harmony with1 and1 in reality1 a part of1 modern ,babylon1 will be more clearly understood when we come to consider the three unclean spirits that come out of the mouth of the dragon1 the beast1 and the false prophet 7chap4 #af3ac1 #ad71 and the release of the dragon in chapter #bj3g-i4 ,in this condition the faithful children of ,god1 although bearing the mark and name of the beast1 longed for restoration of the divine1 primitive standard2 but in the cloudy atmosphere of that period they could not clearly discern the whole truth4 ,later1 when the full tidings of the everlasting gospel came1 there came also a revelation that ,babylon is fallen and that ,god is calling his people out of confusion just before the end of time4 ,i call to witness every child of ,god who has been with the present reformation from its beginning1 if there were not three special phases of the development of the truth1 as follows3 #a4 ,a wonderful revival of spirituality among a few of ,god's chosen ones1 caused by the everlasting gospel being revealed to them as never before4 #b4 ,the knowledge of the truth and deep experience thus obtained prepared the way for the next step1 which was the discovery that the churches were a part of the great ,babylon of ,revelation and were in a fallen condition1 a hold of every foul spirit1 and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird4 ,chap4 #ah3b1 #c4 ,hence the cry went up1 ,babylon is fallen1 is fallen4 #c4 ,then followed immediately the message to ,god's people to flee out of the midst of ,babylon and deliver every man his soul1 warning them that no one could any longer bear the mark of the beast or worship his image without forfeiting eternal salvation and that the fearful judgments of heaven would soon descend upon every one who refused to obey the message and to walk in the light4 ,the last two phases1 which apply to ,babylon1 are the same and in the same order as the description given in chapter #ah3a-d4 ,first1 an angel from heaven cries mightily with a strong voice1 ,babylon the great is fallen1 is fallen2 and then another voice from heaven says1 ,,come ,,out ,,of ,,her1 ,,my ,,people4 ,the three successive phases of the message are now all combined in one1 and ,god is gathering his holy remnant out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day 7,ezek4 #cd3ab7 into the one body of ,jesus ,christ4 ,halleluiah6 ,john1 also1 saw this glorious result of the three messages--,and ,i saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire3 and them that had gotten the victory over the beast1 and over his image1 and over his mark1 and over the number of his name1 stand on the sea of glass1 having the harps of ,god4 ,and they sung the song of ,moses the servant of ,god a song of deliverance1 and the song of the ,lamb the song of redemption1 saying1 ,great and marvelous are thy works1 ,lord ,god ,almighty2 just and true are thy ways1 thou king of saints4 ,chap4 #ae3b1 #c4 ,let all the people of ,god rejoice6 ,hail the day so long expected1 ,hail the year of full release2 ,zion's walls are now erected1 ,and the watchmen publish peace4 ,now on ,shiloh's wide dominion1 ,hear the trumpets loudly roar3 ,babylon's fallen1 is fallen1 is fallen1 ,babylon's fallen to rise no more4 ,those of the ,lord's people who through lack of sufficient light were yoked up with unbelievers in ,protestantism1 labored faithfully to upbuild the very sectarian institutions that ,god was against and that were destined to be destroyed1 though they themselves were saved as by fire2 but from the time this reformation began the redeemed die in the triumphs of a living faith1 and their labors in upbuilding the true cause and kingdom of ,god are still blessed and fruitful1 being perpetuated in the works that follow them4 ,here is the patience of the saints2 here are they that keep the commandments of ,god1 and the faith of ,jesus4 ,as before mentioned1 ,god's people during the reign of ,romanism expected her universal supremacy to come to an end1 and their patience was greatly exercised in waiting for the appointed time to arrive4 ,it came with a great spiritual reformation4 ,then followed another period of apostasy1 during which time ,god's people again looked forward to something better in the future4 ,many remarkable predictions of this present holiness reformation were uttered by some of the most spiritual saints during the ,protestant era1 and ,i can not refrain from mentioning a few of them in this connection4 ,d',aubigne3 ,the nineteenth century is called to resume the work which the sixteenth century was unable to accomplish4 ,history of the ,reformation1 ,book ,,xv1 ,chap4 #a4 ,fletcher3 ,only ,he will come with more mercy1 and will increase the light that shall be at eventide1 according to his promise in ,zech4 #ad3g4 ,i should rather think that the visions are not yet plainly disclosed2 and that the day and hour in which the ,lord will begin to make bare his arm openly are still concealed from us4 ,oh1 when will the communion of saints be complete8 ,lord1 hasten the time2 and let me have a place among them that love thee1 and love one another in sincerity4 ,this is an extract from a letter written by ,john ,fletcher to ,mr4 ,wesley1 dated ,london1 ,may #bf1 #ageg1 as given in ,joseph ,benson's life of ,fletcher1 pp4 #ci1 #dj4 ,d',aubigne again3 ,in every age it has been seen how great is the strength of an idea to penetrate the masses1 to stir nations1 and to hurry them1 if required1 by thousands to the battle-field and to death4 ,but if so great be the strength of a human idea1 what power must not a heaven-descended idea possess1 when ,god opens to it the gates of the heart6 ,the world has not often seen so much power at work2 it was seen1 however1 in the early days of ,christianity1 and in the time of the ,reformation2 and it will be seen in future ages4 ,book ,,vi1 ,chap4 #ab4 ,it has been said that the three last centuries1 the sixteenth1 the seventeenth1 and the eighteenth1 may be conceived as an immense battle of three days' duration4 ,we willingly adopt this beautiful comparison4444 ,the first day was the battle of ,god1 the second the battle of the priest1 the third the battle of reason4 ,what will be the fourth8 ,in our opinion1 the confused strife1 the deadly contest of all these powers together1 to end in the victory of ,him to whom triumph belongs4 ,book ,,xi1 ,chap4 #i4 ,lorenzo ,dow1 comment on ,rev4 #ad3f-aa2 #ah3a-e3 ,the angel1 or extraordinary messenger1 with his assistants1 proclaiming the fall of ,babylon will be known in his time4 ,also the one warning the people of ,god to come out of ,babylon literally1 spiritually1 and practically1 will be known also1 and such other threatening for the omission of compliance is not to be found in all the ,bible4 ,dow's ,works1 p4 #ecc4 ,the following extracts are from an old book written about #ahab by ,theophilus ,r4 ,gates and entitled ,truth ,advocated4 ,through the kindness of a sister living in ,allegan ,county1 ,michigan1 the writer was enabled to secure the following from the only copy of this book known to be in existence--she having borrowed it of her neighbor1 a relative of its author4 ,on ,rev4 #ad3aa3 ,i would here gladly drop the subject1 lest ,i give offense2 but duty compels me to remark1 what can not be denied1 that an inordinate attachment to certain systems and forms of religion1 has occasioned all the strifes1 animosities1 and persecutions1 that have so long agitated the ,christian world2 and if ,god be just1 every one must drink of the cup of his indignation1 according to his offense4 ,the beast and his image1 as it exists in ,protestant countries1 seems in this place particularly meant2 and our own land is full of the number of his name4 ,that such a testimony will one day go forth we must believe1 or else ,st4 ,john saw that which will never be3 and the testimony will as certainly be received2 for a company in the next chapter are to be seen that had gotten the victory over the beast1 his image1 his mark1 and the number of his name4 ,it is also equally true that as yet it has never gone forth2 and that at the time1 great afflictions or suffering of some kind will be undergone to exercise the patience of the saints4444 ,it is at this very time1 no doubt1 that the three unclean spirits1 like frogs1 come out of the mouth of the dragon1 the beast1 and the false prophet2 spirits of devils working miracles1 which go forth unto the kings of the earth1 and of the whole world1 to gather them to the great battle of the great day of ,god ,almighty4 ,the greatest possible efforts1 indeed will now be made by all the sectarians to keep up their existence 444 nor is it any wonder that hireling ministers and system worshipers1 ,demetrius like1 should be stirred up and raise no small stir about the way2 for it is evident1 not only their craft is in danger of being set at naught by this testimony1 but also the great ,diana of systems and forms of religion to be despised1 and their magnificence destroyed1 whom now almost the whole ,christian world worshipeth4 ,pp4 #bha-bhc4 ,and now commences an era of light and suffering1 when the corrupt churches 7with the kings of the earth and great men united with them7 being about to be wholly brought down1 make one general muster against ,christ and his true worshipers4 ,these things are clear to me as a ray of light2 and whoever lives at this time will see as great opposition and spite to the true way of righteousness then set forth from sectarians and professors generally1 as there was from the ,jews towards ,christ and his testimony3 and also1 like the ,jews1 at the very time they oppose the true way of the ,lord with all their might1 they will no doubt make the greatest possible show of religion1 will think they are the true church1 yea will have a zeal for ,god1 carrying on religion with great success1 forming societies1 sending missionaries among the heathen1 etc41 etc4 ,that such an event will take place is very clear4 ,pp4 #bhf-bhh4 ,this happy period ,i never expect to see3 but known unto the ,lord only are all things4 ,i know that such a time will be2 for we are assured by the angel1 these are the true sayings of ,god3 and ,i also believe that it will take place within two centuries from this time4 ,but oh6 how corrupt doth the world now appear to me4444 ,help me1 ,o ,lord1 ,i pray thee1 to do thy will4 ,whenever any body of people come into notice1 establish their rules and institutions1 and become a respectable sect1 they are the people of ,god then only in name2 they cease to have the nature any longer2 and whoever unites himself to the same1 constitutes himself one of the beast's party1 and so far as his influence extends1 he helps to establish the kingdom of ,antichrist in the earth4 ,this is clear from the prophecies of the ,revelation1 and it will answer no purpose to take offense when the truth is spoken4 ,these things will1 moreover1 sooner or later be declared with great plainness by some one2 and then will the man of sin put forth all his strength2 then will persecution come1 and the beast muster his armies to defend himself and to destroy the assailants1 but in vain2 for however few their number may be at first1 and however furious the battle may rage against them1 they are destined to conquer4 ,and herein the words of ,christ will fitly apply1 ',fear not1 little flock2 for it is your ,father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom4' ,p4 #cac4 ,speaking of sectarianism1 he says further3 ,the same round of things will continue until the evil is remedied4444 ,when this shall take place1 time only can determine with certainty4 ,it will probably commence slowly1 and not come with any great outward observation4 ,few will at first see or embrace the way1 being strange to them1 and appearing on account of their prejudices1 and the way they have been taught by the false prophet1 to be wrong and improper3 moreover1 being opposed to all others1 they will have all others to oppose them4 ,but though they are despised and hated1 and few in number1 the ,lord is with them4 ,pp4 #cbb1 #cbc4 ,on ,rev4 #af3ac1 #ad3 ,i have already delivered my views with respect to these unclean spirits 444 and it is not necessary to say much here upon the subject2 only ,i would just observe1 that this will be a time of greater trial to ,christians in general1 and in a time in which more will be deprived of every particle of true religion through the influence of false ministers belonging to the different societies in ,christendom1 than any that has ever yet been in the world4 ,but while they are making these great exertions1 they are only preparing themselves and their deluded votaries for a more awful and complete destruction4 ,for ,god ,almighty is against them1 and they against ,him2 though they will know it not1 but think perhaps all the while they are his peculiar favorites1 and that they are employed in maintaining his cause1 like the ,jews before them1 when it is only their own cause and men's traditions4 ,p4 #cch4 ,i am but as the voice of one crying in the wilderness of error and of sin1 of wickedness and delusion1 testifying according to the best light given me2 and any light that ,i can possibly communicate will in a little time become as the feeble shining of the sun1 by reason of the greatness of the light that shall be hereafter4 ,p4 #ced4 ,a true and living testimony will go forth before this last period of the awful judgments of ,god comes to a close1 and in consequence of rejecting it1 like the ,jews of old1 the wrath of ,god will come upon them to the uttermost4 ,the testimony against the worshipers of the beast1 by the third angel1 ,rev4 #ad3i1 is the testimony that effectually overthrows the kingdom of darkness and establishes the truth as it is in ,jesus1 pure and undefiled4444 ,the authors of this testimony will 444 unlike to all who go before them1 attack the evil at its root1 and expose the deceit1 hypocrisy and wickedness of the different sects in a way that has never before been done2 for which they will suffer the greatest persecution4 ,you may look upon these things as the reveries of my own fancy2 but some day or other1 people will witness to the truth of what ,i now write4 ,pp4 #dba1 #dbb4 ,all the reformations which go before this last great reform will only be partial and temporary4 ,they will only lop off the branches1 or at the most1 only strike at the body of the corrupt tree1 while the roots remain untouched and uninjured4 ,but when this last testimony goes forth1 the very roots of the corrupt tree will be attacked4 ,p4 #dbf4 ,every sect is under an idea that whenever the ,lord comes to establish truth in the earth1 it will be to establish their creed1 raise up their sect1 and bring the whole world into their way4 ,and when the faithful witnesses whom ,god will raise up shall openly declare that they have all gone out of the way1 that the greatest professors have so much of guile1 selfishness and party spirit about them as to be nothing but hypocrites1 and that a person must be better than they are or be lost forever2 that sects are an abomination to the ,lord2 denounce eternal death upon every advocate and adherent of men-made establishments2 444 ,i say when such a testimony as this goes forth1 as it sooner or later will1 no wonder that the sects1 all with one accord1 should set themselves against it--should call it heresy--declare it will ruin the churches if it is not suppressed4444 ,although1 as ,i have before testified1 ,i am only as the voice of one crying in the wilderness--a mere babe in the knowledge of these things which are to be revealed hereafter1 yet ,i expect to raise a host of bigots and hypocrites against me4444 ,nor can it be very long before the true light1 in a very especial manner1 will shine4444 ,if these things do not come to pass1 then let me be called an enthusiast or a deceiver4 ,pp4 #ddd-ddf4 #ad4 ,and ,i looked1 and behold a white cloud1 and upon the cloud one sat like unto the ,son of man1 having on his head a golden crown1 and in his hand a sharp sickle4 #ae4 ,and another angel came out of the temple1 crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud1 ,thrust in thy sickle1 and reap3 for the time has come for thee to reap2 for the harvest of the earth is ripe4 #af4 ,and he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth2 and the earth was reaped4 #ag4 ,and another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven1 he also having a sharp sickle4 #ah4 ,and another angel came out from the altar1 which had power over fire2 and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle1 saying1 ,thrust in thy sharp sickle1 and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth2 for her grapes are fully ripe4 #ai4 ,and the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth1 and gathered the vine of the earth1 and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of ,god4 #bj4 ,and the winepress was trodden without the city1 and blood came out of the winepress1 even unto the horse bridles1 by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs4 ,the special characters of this vision and their work have been very difficult for me to identify positively4 ,until clearer light on the matter is received1 ,i choose to withhold an explanation rather than to indulge in speculation4 ,its usual explanation is to apply the gathering of the harvest of the earth to the work of the reformation now taking place and the vintage scene to the final destruction of the wicked1 their punishment being symbolized by the treading of the winepress of the wrath of ,god4 ,this may be its signification4 ,it is certain1 however1 that in a subsequent chapter1 the final judgment of the wicked is symbolized by the treading of the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of ,almighty ,god4 ,beyond this ,i can not now speak with certainty4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,and ,i saw another sign in heaven1 great and marvelous1 seven angels having the seven last plagues2 for in them is filled up the wrath of ,god4 #b4 ,and ,i saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire3 and them that had gotten the victory over the beast1 and over his image1 and over his mark1 and over the number of his name1 stand on the sea of glass1 having the harps of ,god4 #c4 ,and they sing the song of ,moses the servant of ,god1 and the song of the ,lamb1 saying1 ,great and marvellous are thy works1 ,lord ,god ,almighty2 just and true are thy ways1 thou ,king of saints4 #d4 ,who shall not fear thee1 ,o ,lord1 and glorify thy name8 for thou only art holy3 for all nations shall come and worship before thee2 for thy judgments are made manifest3 #e4 ,and after that ,i looked1 and1 behold1 the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened3 #f4 ,and the seven angels came out of the temple1 having the seven plagues1 clothed in pure and white linen1 and having their breasts girded with golden girdles4 #g4 ,and one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of ,god1 who liveth for ever and ever4 #h4 ,and the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of ,god1 and from his power2 and no man was able to enter into the temple1 till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled4 ,the scene presented to us in this vision is but an introduction to the solemn scenes of awful judgment immediately following4 ,the first thing that attracted ,john's attention was a sign1 great and marvelous1 seven angels having the seven last plagues4 ,the reason why these are denominated the last plagues is because that in them is filled up the wrath of ,god4 ,these are the completion1 then1 the finishing up of the work of divine judgment against the persecutors of the church4 ,when the last one is poured out the work is done1 the time of judgment is over4 ,these angels are not designed to symbolize any agencies on earth1 for they do not appear on earth2 they are simply the conductors of the ,revelation4 ,god never commissions his people on earth to perform such great judgments upon their persecutors as the temporal judgments of the seven last plagues will be shown to be2 but1 on the contrary1 he has given them the express command not to avenge themselves1 but to suffer wrong4 ,he himself lays exclusive claim to this prerogative1 saying1 ,vengeance is mine2 ,i will repay1 saith the ,lord4 ,rom4 #ab3ai4 ,as soon as the subject of the plagues is introduced and before they are poured out1 the narrative suddenly changes and a short history of ,god's redeemed saints is given4 ,this1 perhaps1 thus occurs for two reasons--to assist us in fixing the chronology of the events described and to encourage us with the thought that1 even while the awful judgments of ,god are being made manifest upon the haughty oppressors of earth1 ,god has a chosen people who have gotten the victory over the beast1 and over his image1 and over his mark1 and over the number of his name4 ,they stand upon the sea of glass1 having the harps of ,god--a symbol of melody and praise--and sing the song of ,moses and the song of the ,lamb4 ,the song of ,moses was that sung by the ,israelites when they had escaped to the further side of the ,red ,sea1 thus securing perfect deliverance from their enemies4 ,so1 also1 this company of worshipers sing a great song of deliverance--deliverance from the beast and his image4 ,in chapters #d and #e ,john saw the great host redeemed before the apostasy standing on this sea of glass1 singing the song of redemption--the song of the ,lamb--but this company are enabled to sing another song as well--the song of deliverance--for they have gotten the victory over the beast1 and over his image1 and over his mark1 and over the number of his name4 ,halleluiah6 ,great and marvelous are thy works1 ,lord ,god ,almighty2 just and true are thy ways1 thou ,king of saints4 ,as before stated 7chap4 #h3c71 the heavenly world as opened up to ,john appeared symbolized after the sanctuary of the temple4 ,by the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony1 out of which the seven angels came fully prepared for their work1 is meant the most holy place of the sanctuary1 called the tabernacle of the testimony because there was deposited in it1 beneath the wings of the cherubim1 the ark of the testimony1 or ,god's covenant4 ,it was therefore as from the most holy place of the sanctuary--from the very presence of the ,deity--that these angels went forth commissioned to execute the seven last plagues4 ,this shows that they went by the divine command as ministers of vengeance4 ,the purity and beauty of their attire denoted both the spotless excellency of their characters and the justice of the work in which they were to engage4 ,although theirs was a work of awful avenging judgment1 still the garments they wore would not be soiled thereby2 and their flowing robes of white were girded up with a beautiful golden girdle4 ,therefore there is no inconsistency between the purity and love of ,god and the work of his vengeance4 ,it would seem to human reasoning that the two are irreconcilable1 but these symbols teach differently4 ,these angels received their vials 7goblets7 of wrath at the hands of one of the four living creatures1 who are symbols of the redeemed sons of earth4 ,their deliverance by one of these doubtless denotes that these judgments were to be executed in their behalf and in answer to their prayers4 ,for centuries the wrath of deadly persecutors had been poured out upon ,god's people1 until the cry ascended from the lips of the martyrs1 ,how long1 ,o ,lord1 holy and true1 dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth8 ,chap4 #f3aj4 ,now their prayer is answered1 and by their hand1 as it were1 the vials of wrath are delivered with the divine sanction unto the seven angels to be poured out upon these proud oppressors of the ,lord's people4 ,these vials1 too1 were full of wrath4 ,what a fearful expression6 ,full of wrath1 even the wrath of ,god1 who liveth forever and ever4 ,there was nothing in them but wrath and that to the very brim4 ,as soon as the vials were delivered1 the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of ,god4 ,this symbol is taken from the ,shekinah which filled the ancient tabernacle4 ,we read that when the tabernacle was finished1 a cloud covered the tent of the congregation1 and the glory of the ,lord filled the tabernacle4 ,and ,moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation1 because the cloud abode thereon1 and the glory of the ,lord filled the tabernacle4 ,ex4 #dj3cd1 #ce4 ,the same thing occurred at the dedication of ,solomon's temple4 ,the cloud filled the house of the ,lord1 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud3 for the glory of the ,lord had filled the house of the ,lord4 #a ,kings #h3aj1 #aa4 ,so1 also1 in the symbol before us the glory of ,god filled the temple so that no man was able to enter4 ,this is intended to set forth the fact that these avenging judgments were for the manifestation of the divine glory and that there was no access to the throne of ,god nor to his mercy-seat to alter them or to stay their execution4 ,such is the sublime scene presented to our view preparatory to the pouring out of the seven last great plagues4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,and ,i heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels1 ,go your ways1 and pour out the vials of the wrath of ,god upon the earth4 #b4 ,and the first went1 and poured out his vial upon the earth2 and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast1 and upon them which worshipped his image4 ,a great voice out of the temple1 now filled with the glory of the divine presence1 commanded the seven angels to enter upon their mission4 ,it came1 therefore1 from ,god1 who alone fixed the time for these judgments to begin4 ,before an intelligent explanation of these plagues can be given1 however1 the following points must be made clear3 #a4 ,where the vials were poured out4 #b4 ,upon whom they were emptied4 #c4 ,why they were thus poured out4 #d4 ,when they were fulfilled1 or1 rather1 at what time they began to be fulfilled4 ,these points we will first briefly consider in the order named1 after which we will discuss the nature of the plagues and their individual application4 #a4 ,the place where these vials of wrath were poured out was upon the earth2 that is1 the ,apocalyptic earth1 or that portion of the earth made the special subject of ,apocalyptic vision2 namely1 the territory of the ten kingdoms4 ,the last two vials1 however1 will be found to embrace a larger territory4 #b4 ,they were poured out upon those which had the mark of the beast1 and upon them which worshiped his image4 ,it has already been shown that the image made by the second beast of chapter #ac was the ,protestant ecclesiastical organizations2 hence the beast here referred to1 to which the image was made1 must signify the ecclesiastical hierarchy of ,rome1 the original4 ,so the plagues fell upon the adherents of both organized ,romanism and ,protestantism in ,europe4 #c4 ,the reason why the judgments of the first three vials especially descended upon them was because they had shed the blood of saints and prophets4 ,verse #f4 ,that ,romanism was a fierce oppressor of ,god's people has already been noticed3 ,protestantism as their persecutor1 also1 must now be considered further4 ,protestant sects after they first became established and got power in their own hands1 acted much in the same manner as the church of ,rome did before them1 persecuting1 banishing1 imprisoning1 and even putting to death those who refused to receive their tenets or to conform to the system of religion they had adopted4 ,the ,lutherans1 at first a pious1 persecuted people1 on becoming numerous and exalted by the favor of the great1 established a certain system of religion and then1 when it was in their power1 persecuted1 imprisoned1 banished1 or put to death all that dissented4 ,as early after the ,reformation as #aegd1 in a convention at ,torgaw1 they established the real presence in the eucharist and instigated the ,elector of ,saxony to seize1 imprison1 and banish all the secret ,calvinists that differed from them in sentiment1 and to reduce their followers by every act of violence1 to renounce their sentiments and to confess the ubiquity4 ,peucer1 for his opinions1 suffered ten years of imprisonment in the severest manner4 ,in #aegg a form of concord was produced in which the real manducation of ,christ's body and blood in the eucharist was established and heresy and excommunication laid on all that refused this as an article of faith1 with pains and penalties to be enforced by the secular arm4 ,crellius1 in #afja1 was put to death4 ,in ,switzerland1 before the city of ,zurich was entirely safe itself from the encroachments of ,romanism1 its ,protestant council condemned a young man named ,felix ,mantz to be drowned because he insisted that the baby-sprinkling of ,romanism was not baptism and that all who had received the rite ought to be immersed4 ,this sentence was carried into effect4 ,the severest laws were passed in different countries of ,europe against the ,anabaptists1 and large numbers were banished or burnt at the stake4 ,see ,encyclopdia ,britannica1 ,art4 ,anabaptists4 ,protestants may claim this was because of their fanaticism on other lines2 but it remains a fact1 nevertheless1 that the chief sentiment at the base of these laws was religious persecution and that ,protestants sanctioned and carried them into execution4 ,king ,henry ,,viii41 the founder of the ,established ,church in ,england1 adopted the most stringent laws to enforce its doctrines4 ,certain articles of religion were drawn up1 known in history as the ,bloody ,six ,articles4 ,concerning these the ,people's ,cyclopdia says3 ,the doctrines were substantially those of the ,roman ,catholic ,church4 ,whoever denied the first articles 7that embodying the doctrine of transubstantiation7 was to be declared a heretic1 and burnt without opportunity of abjuration2 whoso spoke against the other five articles should1 for the first offense1 forfeit his property2 and whosoever refused to abjure his first offense1 or committed a second1 was to die like a felon4 ,art4 ,henry ,,viii4 ,the royal reformer persecuted alike ,catholics and ,protestants4 ,thus1 on one occasion1 three ,catholics who denied that the king was the rightful head of the church1 and three ,protestants who disputed the doctrine of the real presence in the sacrament1444 were dragged on the same sled to the place of execution4 ,in speaking of that period of history and of the religious persecutions of the times1 ,myers says3 ,punishment of heresy was then regarded1 by both ,catholics and ,protestants alike1 as a duty which could be neglected by those in authority only at the peril of ,heaven's displeasure4 ,believing this1 those of that age could consistently do nothing less than labor to exterminate heresy with axe1 sword and fagot4 ,general ,history1 p4 #eec4 ,that religious intolerance even at a later date was practised in ,england1 witness the twelve years' imprisonment of ,john ,bunyan and the hundreds confined in jails throughout that country for not conforming to the established religion4 ,it was such severe persecution by that early ,protestant sect that drove the ,puritans from ,england's fair country to the then inhospitable shores of ,america1 that they might have an opportunity to worship ,god according to the dictates of their own conscience4 ,in ,scotland the ,covenanters insisted on their right to worship ,god in their own way4 ,they were therefore subjected to most cruel and unrelenting persecution4 ,they were hunted by ,english troopers over their native moors and among the wild recesses of their mountains1 whither they secretly retired for prayer and worship4 ,the tales of the suffering of the ,scotch ,covenanters at the hands of the ,english ,protestants form a most harrowing chapter of the records of the ages of religious persecution4 ,this list might be considerably augmented1 but it is unnecessary4 ,however1 that ,protestant persecution and tyranny should never reach the enormous extent of the ,romanists before them is proved by the fact that her horns were like a lamb4 ,chap4 #ac3aa4 #d4 ,it is very important for us to ascertain the time for the beginning of these plagues2 for they can not be identified unless we understand the chronology of the events described4 ,it is a fact no one can question that the seventh plague is the judgment of the last day1 for in the seven is filled up the wrath of ,god2 hence they are denominated the last plagues4 ,it is also a fact1 well-known to all who are spiritual and who understand the truth in the present reformation1 that certain events said to occur under the period of the sixth plague are now taking place2 namely1 the confederation of all false religions to oppose the people of ,god1 led on by the unclean spirits that come out of the mouth of the dragon1 and out of the mouth of the beast1 and out of the mouth of the false prophet4 ,verses #ac1 #ad4 ,therefore five of the plagues precede the time in which we are now living4 ,it is evident that the plagues could not begin before the reformation2 for the vials were poured out upon the image of the beast--,protestantism--also4 ,hence we are directed to some period between the sixteenth century and the present day for their commencement4 ,the reason why the first judgments especially were poured out will assist us in determining the starting-point--,they have shed the blood of saints and prophets4 ,this expression seems to indicate that the time for the plagues to begin was after ,romanism and ,protestantism ceased putting people to death because of their religious sentiments4 ,that this is the correct idea is clearly proved by what was said to the martyrs when they cried unto ,god for the avenging of their blood on them that dwell on the earth4 ,and it was said unto them1 that they should rest yet for a little season1 until their fellow-servants also and their brethren1 that should be killed as they were1 should be fulfilled4 ,chap4 #f3aj1 #aa4 ,for additional information concerning the terrible persecutions that followed the ,sixteenth ,century ,reformation1 see remarks on chapter #f3aj1 #aa4 ,we must now determine about what time the great persecutions referred to ceased1 or nearly ceased1 and that will give us the right starting-point from which to reckon the pouring out of the first vial4 ,in ,a4,d4 #afhe the revocation of the ,edict of ,nantes1 by ,louis ,,xiv4 of ,france1 took place1 and in the terrible persecutions that occurred during his reign three hundred thousand are said to have lost their lives4 ,the time that we are endeavoring to establish1 then1 must be later than the seventeenth century4 ,louis died in #agad4 ,persecutions continued from time to time in ,france1 with considerable severity1 until about the middle of the century4 ,soon after this 444 the flowing of heretic blood ceased1 though an effort was made in #agfe by the ,popish clergy to resist the tendency to toleration by a remonstrance to the king4 ,history of ,romanism1 p4 #fjh4 ,a few individual cases of persecution may have occurred later in other countries2 but in the main we are safe in pointing to about the middle of the eighteenth century for the general cessation of these religious murders4 ,we will now consider the nature of the first plague4 ,the pouring out of this vial produced the most painful malignant ulcers upon the human body4 ,such ulcers are evidently not political calamities2 for the symbol is drawn1 not from nature1 but from human life4 ,still1 it is not drawn from a human being as a whole 7in which case religious events would be symbolized71 but only from his body4 ,what1 then1 is the analagous object of which the human body may stand as a proper representative8 ,evidently1 the mind4 ,we would naturally pass from the bodily to the mental2 and what painful ulcers are to the one1 marring its beauty and filling it with burning anguish1 such are blasphemous opinions and malignant principles to the other4 ,considering the time for this plague pointed out above1 the student of ,revelation who is acquainted with the history of the past will scarcely fail to discern at once1 in the striking points of this symbol1 those horrible principles of infidelity1 atheism1 and licentiousness1 which were spread so extensively over ,europe during the latter half of the eighteenth century1 and which were the most efficient causes in bringing about the fearful convulsions which followed in the ,french ,revolution4 ,that all may understand this matter in its proper light1 however1 it will be necessary to state some of the facts respecting this noisome and grievous sore that fell at that time upon the inhabitants of ,europe4 ,in writing upon the causes that led up to the ,french ,revolution1 ,mr4 ,wickes gathered the following facts of history mainly from the ,encyclopdia of ,religious ,knowledge1 under the articles headed ,philosophists and ,illuminati4 ,i will quote his own language1 as it is very pointed4 ,philosophists was a name given to several persons in ,france1 who entered into a combination to overthrow the religion of ,jesus1 and eradicate from the human heart every religious sentiment4 ,the man more particularly to whom this idea first occurred1 was ,voltaire1 who being weary 7as he said himself7 of hearing it repeated that twelve men were sufficient to establish ,christianity1 resolved to prove that one might be sufficient to overturn it4 ,full of this project1 he swore1 before the year #agcj1 to devote his life to its accomplishment1 and for some time he flattered himself that he should enjoy alone the glory of destroying the ,christian religion4 ,he found1 however1 that associates would be necessary2 and from the numerous tribe of his admirers and disciples1 he chose ,d',alembert and ,diderot1 as the most proper persons to co-operate with him in his designs4 ,he contrived also to enlist ,frederick ,,ii41 king of ,prussia1 who became one of his most zealous coadjutors1 until he found that ,voltaire was waging war with the throne as well as the altar4 ,this1 indeed1 was not originally ,voltaire's intention4 ,he was vain2 from natural disposition an aristocrat1 and an admirer of royalty4 ,but when he found that almost every sovereign but ,frederick disapproved of his ambitious designs1 as soon as he perceived their issue1 he determined to oppose all the governments on earth rather than forfeit the glory with which he flattered himself1 of vanquishing ,christ and his apostles in the field of controversy4 ,he now set himself1 with his associates1 ,d',alembert and ,diderot1 to excite universal discontent with the established order of things4 ,for this purpose1 they formed secret societies1 assumed new names1 and employed an enigmatical language4 ,in their secret meetings they professed to celebrate the mysteries of ,mythra2 and their great object1 as they professed to one another1 was to confound the wretch1 meaning ,jesus ,christ4 ,hence their secret watchword was ',crush the wretch4' ,the following are some of their doctrines1 as found in their books expressly designed for general circulation4 ,sometimes standing out in their naked horror1 at other times enveloped in sophistry and disguise4 ,the ,universal ,cause1 that ,god of the philosophers1 of the ,jews1 and of the ,christians1 is but a chimera and a phantom--,the phenomena of nature only prove the existence of ,god to a few prepossessed men--,it is more reasonable to admit1 with ,manes1 of a two-fold ,god1 than of the ,god of ,christianity--,we can not know whether a ,god really exists1 or whether there is any difference between good and evil1 or vice and virtue--,nothing can be more absurd than to believe the soul a spiritual being--,the immortality of the soul1 so far from stimulating men to the practise of virtue1 is nothing but a barbarous1 desperate1 fatal tenet1 and contrary to all legislation--,all ideas of justice and injustice1 of virtue and vice1 of glory and infamy1 are purely arbitrary1 and dependent on custom--,conscience and remorse are nothing but the foresight of those physical penalties to which crimes expose us--,the man who is above the law1 can commit1 without remorse1 the dishonest act that may serve his purpose--,the fear of ,god1 so far from being the beginning of wisdom1 should be the beginning of folly--,the command to love one's parents is more the work of education than of nature--,modesty is only an invention of refined voluptuousness--,the law which condemns married people to live together1 becomes barbarous and cruel on the day they cease to love one another4 ,such were the atrocious sentiments1 though sometimes artfully veiled1 which were disseminated in their books1 and which1 spreading all over ,europe1 imperceptibly took possession of the public mind1 and prepared the way for the subversion of religion1 morals1 and government4 ,as soon as the sale of the works was sufficient to pay expenses1 inferior editions were printed and given away1 or sold at a very low price2 circulating libraries of them were formed1 and reading societies instituted4 ,while they constantly denied these productions to the world1 they contrived to give them a false celebrity through their confidential agents and correspondents1 who were not themselves always trusted with the entire secret4 ,by degrees they got possession nearly of all the reviews and periodical publications2 established a general intercourse1 by means of hawkers and pedlars1 with the distant provinces2 and instituted an office to supply all schools with teachers2 and thus did they acquire unprecedented dominion over every species of literature1 over the minds of all ranks of people1 and the education of the youth1 without giving any alarm to the world4 ,the lovers of wit and polite literature were caught by ,voltaire2 the men of science were perverted1 and children corrupted in the first rudiments of learning1 by ,d',alembert and ,diderot2 stronger appetites were fed by the secret club of ,baron ,holbach2 the imaginations of the higher orders were set dangerously afloat by ,montesquieu2 and the multitude of all ranks was surprised1 confounded1 and hurried away by ,rousseau4 ,thus was the public mind in ,france completely corrupted1 and the way prepared for the dreadful scenes that followed4 ,but there is also another chapter to the dark history of this noisome and grievous sore4 ,the same author says again3 ,after ,voltaire had broached his system of infidel philosophy1 and brought it unto perfection1 it was taken up by the celebrated ,dr4 ,adam ,weishaupt1 professor of canon law in the ,university of ,ingolstadt1 and by him perfected as a system of light or illuminism4 ,on the #ast of ,may1 #aggf1 he founded1 among the students of the above-named ,university1 a secret society under the name of the ,illuminati1 whose avowed object was to diffuse the light of science1 these secret societies being so many radiating centers of light4 ,but the science taught was the most atrocious infidelity1 and its object the overturning of all government and religion4 ,free masonry1 being in high repute all over ,europe when ,weishaupt first formed the plan of his society1 he availed himself of its secrecy to introduce his new order1 which rapidly spread1 by the efforts of its founders and disciples1 through all those countries1 and found its way even to the ,united ,states4 ,it would not be possible here to give even an outline of the nature and constitution of this extraordinary society--of its secrets and mysteries--of the deep dissimulation1 consummate hypocrisy1 and shocking impiety of its founder and his associates--of their ,jesuitical arts in concealing their real objects1 and their incredible industry and astonishing exertions in making converts--of the absolute despotism and complete system of espionage established throughout the order--of the blind obedience exacted of the novices1 and the absolute power of life and death assumed by the order and conceded by the novices--of the pretended morality1 real blasphemies1 and absolute atheism of the founder and his tried friends4 ,reference can only be made to these things as well-established facts4 ,it is important here to bear in mind one or two facts1 in order to realize what an engine of corruption this secret organization of the ,illuminati was4 ,one fact is1 the high popularity which these secret societies at that period enjoyed4 ,it was unbounded4 ,there is something which commends such secret organizations most powerfully to the depraved human nature4 ,men love them because they are secret1 and because they can wield such tremendous power4 ,the other fact to be considered1 is the absence1 to a such vast extent1 of the controlling elements of true religion in the ,european mind1 and its predisposition to skepticism4 ,the ,reformation of the ,sixteenth ,century had broken the shackles of priestly ,papal superstition over the human mind2 and true evangelical doctrine not being introduced to supply the vacuum1 the mass swung readily over from the regions of dark superstition to blank atheism4 ,thus were the elements ready prepared to hand for such spirits as ,voltaire1 ,d',alembert1 ,diderot1 ,weishaupt1 and others1 to work upon1 and by reason of their secret powerful agencies1 to mould to their own liking4 ,it was now this damning system of infidelity1 under the specious name of philosophy1 light1 and science1 spread with such untiring industry over the ,european mind1 that unhinged the whole framework of society1 and prepared it1 like a vast magazine1 for an awful explosion4 ,all the principles that held society together in the fear of ,god and future retribution--regard for human law--respect for magistrates1 parents1 and the marriage-tie--yea1 in the very distinctions of virtue and vice1 had been unsettled or taken away4 ,they had been reasoned down and laughed out of the world2 and when these only restraints1 which ,god has imposed upon human selfishness and passion were removed1 what was then to hold back those fierce passions and that deep selfishness from the most unbounded excesses8 ,god was no more feared--government was no more sacred--religion was a delusion--immorality was a lie--virtue was a name--the marriage-tie was a farce--modesty was refined voluptuousness3 and when men were persuaded of these things1 society began to roll and heave under the long swells of that portentous storm of wrath which was soon to break1 in all its desolating fury1 over the earth4 ,in the facts here presented it may be seen how far we are justified in applying to them this first vial of wrath4 ,the vial was poured out upon the earth--on the inhabitants of the ten kingdoms when in a state of tranquility4 ,this was their condition1 unsuspicious of danger1 when the dread infection was spread through society4 ,according to the testimony of ,pres4 ,dwight1 within ten years from the first establishment of the ,illuminati1 in #aggf1 they were established in great numbers through ,germany1 ,sweden1 ,prussia1 ,poland1 ,austria1 ,holland1 ,france1 ,switzerland1 ,italy1 ,england1 ,scotland1 and ,america4 ,they spread with a rapidity which nothing but fact could have induced any sober mind to believe4 ,this system of infidelity is well symbolized by a noisome1 grevious ulcer1 which is loathsome to the sight1 offensive to the smell1 corrupting to the body1 and productive of awful pain4 ,that it appeared so to others besides the author of the ,revelation is shown by the following epithets which ,burke1 the celebrated ,english orator1 applied to the spirit of the ,french ,revolution1 which was only the discharged virus of these ulcers4 ,he styled it the fever of ,jacobinism2 the epidemic of atheistical fanaticism2 an evil lying deep in the corruptions of human nature2 such a plague1 that the precaution of the most severe quarantine ought to be established against it4 ,the result1 he says1 was the corruption of all morals1 the decomposition of all society4 ,what greater plague could fall upon ,romanism and ,protestantism than this fearful scourge of infidelity8 ,i have dwelt for a considerable length of time upon this subject1 because of its deep interest1 and also because ,i desired to verify the application of the symbol as much as possible1 on account of its close connection with the pouring out of the vials which follow4 #c4 ,and the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea2 and it became as the blood of a dead man3 and every living soul died in the sea4 ,this vial was poured out upon the sea4 ,the sea is a large body of water within the earth1 subject to violent storms and agitations4 ,as a symbol it would denote some central power or kingdom within the symbolic earth in a state of revolution4 ,the effects produced by this vial were two-fold--the waters were changed into blood as of a dead man1 and all the living creatures in the sea died4 ,the waters of the sea represent the inhabitants of this kingdom 7see a similar explanation of water in chap4 #ag3ae7 as the earth does the inhabitants of the empire1 or the ten kingdoms4 ,the living creatures in the sea1 therefore1 could signify the rulers and princes of the kingdom1 as they bear an analagous relation to the people that fishes do to the waters4 ,the statement that the waters of the sea became as the blood of a dead man is doubtless intended to signify a much more dreadful state of things than if they had simply been changed to blood4 ,they were converted into black and poisonous1 or corrupt1 blood4 ,this denotes the vast slaughter and massacre of the inhabitants of this kingdom2 while the death of the living creatures denotes the extinction of those in power4 ,it may appear at first that making the conversion of water into blood a symbol of bloodshed is adopting the literal method of interpretation2 but not so1 and for the following reason3 ,the symbol is taken from nature1 the waters of the sea representing the inhabitants of the kingdom4 ,the waters are changed into an unnatural state or element1 that of blood1 and this change denotes an analagous one passing upon the inhabitants4 ,their continuing in life would be their remaining as waters3 their massacre and destruction would be the waters changed to blood--a horrible and unnatural element4 ,likewise1 the death of the living things in the sea is a similar destruction overtaking the kings1 rulers1 and princes4 ,with our understanding of the nature of the first vial1 which prepared the way for the pouring out of this one1 we shall have no difficulty whatever in identifying this symbol with the terrible convulsions of the ,french ,revolution4 ,it followed as a necessary consequence of the first4 ,voltaire and his coadjutors had insulted and trampled in the dust everything held sacred in human eyes1 and this fully prepared the way for the scenes of terror that followed4 ,in studying these vials the reader should bear in mind constantly the reason why they were sent as judgments upon the nations of ,europe--because of their former oppression of ,god's people4 ,from the days when the ,popes received their first temporal authority at the hands of the ,carlovingian king1 ,pepin and ,charlemagne1 ,france#aa constituted the real backbone of the ,papacy1 the very center of her power and authority1 as all history will show4 ,in the fourteenth century the ,papal seat was removed from ,rome to ,avignon1 in ,france1 where it remained for about seventy years4 ,during this period all the ,popes were ,french1 and all their policies were shaped and controlled by the ,french kings4 ,to write a history of the ,papacy during the ,dark ,ages is to outline the history of ,france1 so closely are their affairs interwoven4 ,hence it is only natural that she should be symbolized as the sea in this part of the ,apocalypse1 with the other nations as tributaries4 ,ver4 #d-f4 ,that the ,french ,revolution was in its effects a terrible blow to the thrones of despotism throughout ,europe is shown by the following quotation from the ,encyclopdia ,britannica3 ,we are coming to the verge of the ,french ,revolution1 which surpasses all other revolutions the world has seen in its completeness1 the largeness of its theatre1 the long preparation for it 444 its influence on the modern history of ,europe4 ,art4 ,france4 ,footnote #aa3 ,pepin and ,charlemagne were1 properly speaking1 simply ,german princes reigning in ,gaul4 ,the kingdom of ,france is usually dated from the accession of the first of the ,capetian kings1 late in the tenth century1 #ihg4 ,however1 the ,frankish nation1 of whom the ,carlovingian kings were leaders1 laid the foundation of the ,french kingdom and gave a new name to ,gaul--,france4 ,this revolution commenced on the fifth of ,may1 #aghi1 in the ,convocation of the ,states ,general1 for the redress of grievances and the extrication of the government and nation from the difficulties under which they were laboring4 ,a conflict had been going on between despotism and popular rights1 the throne and nobility contending for absolute power1 and the people1 for freedom4 ,but when in this encounter the popular party triumphed1 there was no fear of ,god before the eyes of those who seized the reins of government4 ,the infidelity of ,voltaire and his associates had removed the last restraint upon human passion1 and the scenes of terror that followed are without a parallel in history4 ,the king was condemned to death and executed4 ,the barbarous execution of the queen1 ,marie ,antoinette1 followed in about six months1 and this was immediately succeeded by the decree of the ,national ,convention1 of the most infamous character1 that of the violation of the tombs of ,st4 ,dennis and the profanation of the sepulchres of the kings of ,france4 ,i will quote from ,sir ,a4 ,alison's noted ,history of ,europe3 ,by a decree of the ,convention1 these venerable asylums of departed greatness were ordered to be destroyed4444 ,a furious multitude precipitated itself out of ,paris2 the tombs of ,henry ,,iv41 of ,francis ,i41 and of ,louis ,,xii41 were ransacked1 and their bones scattered in the air4 ,even the glorious name of ,turenne could not protect his grave from spoilation4 ,his remains were almost undecayed1 as when he received the fatal wound on the banks of the ,lech4 ,the bones of ,charles ,v41 the savior of his country1 were dispersed4 ,at his feet was found the coffin of the faithful ,du ,gueselin1 and the ,french hands profaned the skeleton before which ,english invasion had rolled back4 ,most of these tombs were found to be strongly secured4 ,much time1 and no small exertion of skill and labor1 were required to burst their barriers4 ,they would have resisted forever the decay of time or the violence of enemies2 they yielded to the fury of domestic dissension4 ,this was followed immediately by a general attack upon the monuments and remains of antiquity throughout all ,france4 ,the sepulchres of the great of past ages1 of the barons and generals of the feudal ages1 of the paladins1 and of the crusaders1 were involved in one undistinguished ruin4 ,it seemed as if the glories of antiquity were forgotten1 or sought to be buried in oblivion4 ,the tomb of ,du ,gueselin shared the same fate as that of ,louis ,,xiv4 ,the skulls of monarchs and heroes were tossed about like foot balls by the profane multitude2 like the grave-diggers in ,hamlet1 they made a jest of the lips before which the nations had trembled4 ,having begun by waging this profane warfare upon their own glorious dead1 another scene of the fatal drama immediately succeeded4 ,the same author continues3 ,having massacred the great of the present and insulted the illustrious of former ages1 nothing remained to the revolutionists but to direct their vengeance against heaven itself4 ,pache1 ,hebert1 and ,chaumette1 the leaders of the municipality publicly expressed their determination 'to dethrone the ,god of heaven1 as well as the monarchs of earth4' ,to accomplish this design1 they prevailed on ,gobet1 the apostate constitutional bishop of ,paris1 to appear at the bar of the ,assembly1 accompanied by some of the clergy of his diocese1 and there abjure the ,christian faith4 ,he declared 'that no other national religion was now required but that of ,liberty1 equality1 and morality4' ,many of the constitutional bishops and clergy in the ,convention joined in the proposition4 ,crowds of drunken artisans and shameless prostitutes crowded to the bar1 and trampled under their feet the sacred vases1 consecrated for ages to the holiest purposes of religion4 ,the churches were stripped of all their ornaments2 their plate and valuable contents brought in heaps to the municipality and the ,convention1 from whence they were sent to the mint to be melted down4 ,trampling under foot the images of our ,savior and the ,virgin1 they elevated1 amid shouts of applause1 the busts of ,marat and ,lepelletier1 and danced around them1 singing parodies on the ,halleluiah1 and dancing the ,carmagnole4 ,shortly after a still more indecent exhibition took place before the assembly4444 ,hebert and ,chaumette1 and their associates1 appeared at the bar and declared 'that ,god did not exist1 and that the worship of ,reason was to be substituted in his stead4' ,a veiled female1 arrayed in blue drapery1 was brought into the ,assembly2 and ,chaumette1 taking her by the hand1 ',mortals1' said he1 'cease to tremble before the powerless thunders of a ,god whom your fears have created4 ,henceforth acknowledge no divinity but ,reason4 ,i offer you its noblest and purest image2 if you must have idols1 sacrifice only to this4' ,when1 letting fall the veil1 he exclaimed1 ',fall before the august ,senate of ,freedom1 ,o ,veil of ,reason6' ,at the same time1 the goddess appeared personified by a celebrated beauty1 the wife of ,momoro1 a printer1 known in more than one character to most of the ,convention4 ,the goddess after being embraced by the president1 was mounted on a magnificent car1 and conducted1 amid an immense crowd1 to the cathedral of ,notre ,dame1 to take the place of the ,deity4 ,there she was elevated on a high altar1 and received the adoration of all present1 while the young women1 her attendants1 whose alluring looks already sufficiently indicated their profession1 retired into the chapels around the choir1 where every species of licentiousness and obscenity was indulged in without control1 with hardly any veil from the public gaze4 ,to such a length was this carried1 that ,robespierre afterward declared that ,chaumette deserved death for the abominations he had permitted on that occasion4 ,thenceforward that ancient edifice was called the ,temple of ,reason4 ,such horrible events are sickening to relate2 but as ,i started out to describe the condition of this sea when it became as the blood of a dead man1 ,i must be faithful to the task4 ,god was now dethroned2 the services of religion abandoned2 every tenth day set apart for the hellish orgies of atheism and ,reason2 ,marat was deified2 the instrument of death sanctified by the name the holy ,guillotine2 on the public cemeteries was inscribed1 ,death is an ,eternal ,sleep2 marriage was a civil contract1 binding only during the pleasure of the contracting parties4 ,mademoiselle ,arnout1 a celebrated comedian1 expressed the public feeling when she said1 ,marriage the sacrament of adultery4 ,what an awful harvest would be expected of such seed6 ,alison continues3 ,a ,revolutionary ,tribunal was formed at ,nantes1 under the direction of ,carrier1 and it soon outstripped even the rapid march of ,danton and ,robespierre4 ,their principle was that it was necessary to destroy en masse1 all the prisoners4 ,at their command was formed a corps1 called the ,legion of ,marat1 composed of the most determined and bloodthirsty of the revolutionists1 the members of which were entitled1 on their own authority1 to incarcerate any person whom they chose4 ,the number of their prisoners was soon between three and four thousand1 and they divided among themselves all their property4 ,whenever a further supply of captives was wanted1 the alarm was spread of a counter-revolution1 the generale beat1 the cannon planted2 and this was followed immediately by innumerable arrests4 ,nor were they long in disposing of their captives4 ,the miserable wretches were either slain with poinards in prison1 or carried out in a vessel and drowned by wholesale in the ,loire4 ,on one occasion a hundred 'fanatical priests1' as they were termed1 were taken out together1 striped of their clothes1 and precipitated into the waters4444 ,women big with child1 infants eight1 nine1 and ten years of age1 were thrown together into the stream1 on the sides of which men1 armed with sabres1 were placed to cut off their heads if the waves should throw them undrowned on the shore4 ,on one occasion1 by orders of ,carrier1 twenty-three of the revolutionists1 on another twenty-four1 were guillotined without any trial4 ,the executioner remonstrated1 but in vain4 ,among them were many children of seven or eight years of age1 and seven women2 the executioner died two or three days after1 with horror at what he himself had done4 ,so great was the multitude of captives who were brought in on all sides1 that the executioners1 as well as the company of ,marat1 declared themselves exhausted with fatigue2 and a new method of disposing of them was adopted1 borrowed from ,nero1 but improved on the plan of that tyrant4 ,a hundred or a hundred and fifty victims1 for the most part women and children1 were crowded together in a boat1 with a concealed trap-door in the bottom1 which was conducted into the middle of the ,loire2 at a signal given1 the crew leaped into another boast1 the bolts were withdrawn1 and the shrieking victims precipitated into the waters1 amid the laughter of the company of ,marat1 who stood on the banks to cut down any who approached the shore4 ,this was what ,carrier called his ,republican ,baptisms4 ,the ,republican ,marriages were1 if possible1 a still greater refinement of cruelty4 ,two persons of different sexes1 bereft of every species of dress1 were bound together1 and after being left in torture in that situation for half an hour1 thrown into the river4 ,such was the quantity of corpses accumulated in the ,loire1 that the water of that river was affected1 so as to render a public ordinance necessary1 forbidding the use of it to the inhabitants2 and the mariners1 when they heaved their anchors1 frequently brought up boats charged with corpses4 ,birds of prey flocked to the shores and fed on human flesh2 while the very fish became so poisonous1 as to induce an order of the municipality of ,nantes1 prohibiting them to be taken by the fishermen4 ,the scenes in the prisons which preceded these horrible executions exceeded all that romance had figured of the terrible4 ,many women died of terror the moment a man entered their cells1 conceiving that they were about to be led out to the noyades2 the floors were covered with the bodies of their infants1 numbers of whom were yet quivering in the agonies of death4 ,on one occasion1 the inspector entered the prison to seek for a child1 where1 the evening before1 he had left above three hundred infants2 they were all gone in the morning1 having been drowned the preceding night4 ,fifteen thousand persons perished either under the hands of the executioner1 or of disease in prison1 in one month3 the total victims of the ,reign of ,terror at that place exceeded thirty thousand4 ,after narrating scenes of terror in ,paris1 ,alison says again3 ,such accumulated horrors annihilated all the charities and intercourse of life4 ,before daybreak the shops of the provision merchants were besieged by crowds of women and children1 clamoring for the food which the law of the maximum in general prevented them from obtaining4 ,the farmers trembled to bring their fruits to the market1 the shop-keepers to expose them to sale4 ,the richest quarters of the town were deserted2 no equipages of crowds of passengers were to be seen on the streets2 the sinister words1 ,propriete ,nationale1 imprinted in large characters on the walls1 everywhere showed how far the work of confiscation had proceeded4 ,passengers hesitated to address their most intimate friends on meeting2 the extent of calamity had rendered men suspicious even of those they loved most4 ,every one assumed the coarsest dress1 and the most squalid appearance2 an elegant exterior would have been the certain forerunner of destruction4 ,at one hour only were any symptoms of animation seen3 it was when the victims were conveyed to execution2 the humane fled with horror from the sight1 the infuriated rushed in crowds to satiate their eyes with the sight of human agony4 ,night came1 but with it no diminution of the anxiety of the people4 ,every family early assembled its members2 with trembling looks they gazed around the room1 fearful that the very walls might harbor traitors4 ,the sound of a foot1 the stroke of a hammer1 a voice in the streets1 froze all hearts with horror4 ,if a knock was heard at the door1 every one1 in agonized suspense1 expected his fate4 ,unable to endure such protracted misery1 numbers committed suicide4 ',had the reign of ,robespierre1' said ,freron1 'continued longer1 multitudes would have thrown themselves under the guillotine2 the first of social affections1 the love of life1 was already extinguished in almost every heart4' ,with one more quotation from this historian ,i will dismiss this horrible theme3 ,the combination of wicked men who thereafter governed ,france1 is without parallel in the history of the world4 ,their power1 based on the organized weight of the multitude1 and the ardent co-operation of the municipalities1 everywhere installed by them in the position of power1 was irresistible4 ,all bowed the neck before this gigantic assemblage of wickedness4 ,the revolutionary excesses daily increased1 in consequence of the union which the constant dread of retribution produced among their perpetrators4 ,there was no medium between taking part in these atrocities1 and falling a victim to them4 ,virtue seemed powerless2 energy appeared only in the extremity of resignation2 religion in the heroism of which death was endured4 ,there was not a hope left for ,france1 had it not been for the dissentions which1 as the natural result of their wickedness1 sprung up among the authors of the public calamities4 ,it is impossible not to be struck1 in looking back on the fate of these different parties1 with the singular and providential manner in which their crimes brought about their own punishment4 ,no foreign interposition was necessary1 no avenging angel was required to vindicate the justice of divine administration4 ,they fell the victims of their own atrocity1 of the passions which they themselves had let loose1 of the injustice of which they had given the first example to others ,the ,constitutionalists overthrew the ancient monarchy1 and formed a limited government2 but their imprudence in raising popular ambition paved the way for the tenth of ,august1 and speedily brought themselves to the scaffold2 the ,girondists established their favored dream of a republic1 and were the first victims of the fury which it excited2 the ,dantonists roused the populace against the ,gironde1 and soon fell under the axe which they had prepared for their rivals2 the anarchists defied the power of 'heaven itself1' but scarce were their blasphemies uttered1 when they were swept off by the partners of their bloody triumphs4 ,one only power remained1 alone1 terrible1 irresistible4 ,this was the power of ,death1 wielded by a faction steeled against every feeling of humanity1 dead to every principle of justice4 ,in their iron hands1 order resumed its sway from the influence of terror2 obedience became universal1 from the extinction of hope4 ,silent and unresisted1 they led their victims to the scaffold1 dreaded alike by the soldiers who crouched1 the people who trembled1 and the victims who suffered4 ,the history of the world has no parallel to that long night of suffering1 because it has none to the guilt which preceded it2 tyranny never assumed so hideous a form1 because licentiousness never required so severe a punishment4 ,prom this awful description1 which might be carried to almost any extent1 the reader will understand the force of the prophecy which declared that the sea became as the blood of a dead man1 and every living soul died in the sea4 #d4 ,and the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters2 and they became blood4 #e4 ,and ,i heard the angel of the waters say1 ,thou art righteous1 ,o ,lord1 which art1 and wast1 and shalt be1 because thou hast judged thus4 #f4 ,for they have shed the blood of saints and prophets1 and thou hast given them blood to drink2 for they are worthy4 #g4 ,and ,i heard another out of the altar say1 ,even so1 ,lord ,god ,almighty1 true and righteous are thy judgments4 ,fountains and rivers are tributaries to the sea1 and thus1 they symbolize the inferior communities and nations belonging to the ,apocalyptic earth4 ,france was the great central power and the sea of revolution upon which the second vial descended4 ,the surrounding nations were the rivers and fountains upon which the third was poured4 ,it is not said of them that they became as the blood of a dead man1 nor that every living thing in them died1 but only that they became blood4 ,this symbol denotes the insurrections and desolating wars in which the nations of ,europe were involved for a number of years1 growing out of the ,french ,revolution4 ,i shall not here take time nor space to enter into the historical details relating to this statement2 the facts are well known4 ,the blood-thirsty ,jacobinism of ,france waged war not only upon its own monarchy1 but sought to overturn all the thrones and fabrics of despotism in ,europe4 ,the same system of infidelity and atheism had been spread through the kingdoms there1 though not to so great an extent as in ,france1 and prepared the elements for revolution in them likewise4 ,the ,french republic encouraged these agitations and by a unanimous decree of the ,assembly1 in #agib1 set itself in open hostility with all the established governments of ,europe4 ,it was in these words3 ,the ,national ,convention declares in the name of the ,french nation1 that it will grant fraternity and assistance to all people who wish to recover their liberty2 and it charges the executive power to send the necessary orders to the generals1 to give succor to such people1 and to defend those citizens who have suffered1 or may suffer in the cause of liberty4 ,the ,revolution1 having accomplished its work in ,france1 having there destroyed royal despotism1 444 now set itself about fulfilling its early promise of giving liberty to all peoples4 ,in a word1 the revolutionists became propagandists4 ,france now exhibits what her historians call her social1 her communicative genius4 ,napoleon was right when he said that a revolution in ,france was sure to be followed by a revolution throughout ,europe4 ,france conceived the idea that she had a ,divine mission1 as the great apostle of liberty1 to propagate republicanism through all the kingdoms of ,europe4 ,in her madness of intoxication she undertook the work1 threw down the gauntlet1 and the fierce tocsin of war sounded from nation to nation1 until the continent was converted into one vast battle-field4 ,the angel of the waters signifies the angel that had charge of the vial of wrath poured out upon the rivers and fountains of waters4 ,in full view of the awful plagues sent upon the inhabitants of earth1 one grand thought seemed to occupy his mind--the righteousness of these judgments4 ,it is not such a thought as humanity would have in mind when reading the history of these fearful convulsions of society1 one scene of terror only preparing the way for another more horrible1 until they would feel like closing the book and asking1 ,when will this awful night of horror be over8 ,when will these avenging judgments cease8 ,these1 however1 were not the thoughts of this angel clothed in spotless garments2 for1 draining his vial to the dregs and forcing the nations to drink it1 he said3 ,thou art righteous1 ,o ,lord1 which art1 and wast1 and shalt be1 because thou hast judged thus4 ,for they have shed the blood of saints and prophets1 and thou hast given them blood to drink2 for they are worthy4 ,truly1 in this the ,word of ,god is fulfilled1 which says1 ,my thoughts are not your thoughts1 neither are your ways my ways4 ,isa4 #ee3h4 ,that class of people who represent ,god as a kind1 loving ,father only1 one who will not take vengeance upon the objects of his own creation--let them visit in the pages of history these nations of ,europe1 scathed and blasted with the hot thunderbolts of divine wrath1 until their minds sicken with horror at the sight of human agony and blood4 ,in full view of these horrifying scenes let them hear the angel of the waters saying1 ,thou art righteous1 ,o ,lord 444 because thou hast judged thus2 for they have shed the blood of saints and prophets1 and thou hast given them blood to drink1 for they are worthy2 while another voice from heaven1 even from the altar1 replies1 ,even so1 ,lord ,god ,almighty1 true and righteous are thy judgments--and their theology must here break down4 ,the thoughts just expressed confirm with certainty our interpretation of the sea and rivers and fountains of waters as signifying those nations which had been the persecutors of the saints1 and show1 also1 the character of the divine judgments as being the shedding of their blood4 ,they had shed the blood of saints and prophets1 and now the same cup of wrath was placed to their lips1 and they were forced to drink it to the dregs4 ,god remembered the sighs and groans of his faithful followers2 the cry of the martyrs for the avenging of their blood on them that dwell on the earth reached his ear2 and now the time of retribution began4 #h4 ,and the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun2 and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire4 #i4 ,and men were scorched with great heat1 and blasphemed the name of ,god1 which hath power over these plagues3 and they repented not to give him glory4 ,the sun is the great central luminary of the earth1 under whose genial light and warmth everything rejoices and develops in forms of beauty4 ,when1 however1 a scorching power is given to his rays1 the earth becomes as a furnace in which every green thing is burnt up4 ,what the sun is to this world1 such are the ruling powers to a kingdom2 and power being given them to scorch as with fire denotes that the government would be administered1 not for the good of the people1 but for the purpose of oppression4 ,a scorching sun1 therefore1 is a proper symbol of tyrant rulers4 ,still keeping in view the object of ,god in sending these first plagues--the punishment of the nations embraced within the territory of the ten former kingdoms of ,europe--we are directed with certainty to the next great scourge that followed as a result of those already developed--the almost universal military empire of ,napoleon4 ,the success of three of the four greatest military leaders the world has ever seen--,alexander1 ,csar1 and ,charlemagne--has been so clearly predicted by inspiration that no believer in the truth of ,revelation attempts to deny it2 therefore it is not surprising that the fourth--,napoleon-- should also be assigned a place in ,apocalyptic vision3 not so much because of his all-powerful military genius merely1 but because of his mighty influence and effects upon the very nations that were especially made the subject of prophecy1 as they stand connected with the history of ,god's people for centuries4 ,at the close of the ,revolution the ,french nation had not virtue nor religion necessary to remedy the evils under which they had long been suffering from the oppression of their monarchs2 for when they undertook the work and demolished the throne1 they let loose all the wildest elements of wrath to rage without restraint4 ,the nation rejected ,god1 and ,god rejected the nation4 ,he gave them up to their own madness1 to the fury of the most atrocious wickedness that was ever developed under heaven4 ,from the wild excesses and intolerable calamities of blood-red republicanism1 the people were rejoiced at length to find a refuge in a gigantic military despotism1 which became the terror and scourge of ,europe4 ,but the hand of ,god was in this thing1 also4 ,when the sun scorches the earth with burning heat1 it is ,god that gives it its power4 ,so ,napoleon with his iron will and towering genius was only an instrument in ,god's hand for scourging the guilty nations4 ,in the ordinary sense of the term ,napoleon was not a tyrant to his own nation4 ,still1 his government was a despotism to ,france2 while to the ,apocalyptic earth1 or the ten kingdoms1 he was a scorching sun1 for his empire extended over the whole4 ,it finally became a saying that if ,napoleon's cocked hat and gray coat should be raised on the cliffs of ,boulogne1 all ,europe would run to arms4 ,this agrees with the statement of the historian ,judson1 concerning the monarchs of ,europe1 that the mere name of ,napoleon was a dread to them4 ,none of them could stand before his terrible onset4 ,europe was shaken from end to end by such armies as the world had not seen since the days of ,xerxes4 ,napoleon1 whose hands were upheld by a score of distinguished marshals1 performed the miracles of genius4 ,his brilliant achievements still dazzle1 while they amaze1 the world4 ,the crowns and scepters of ,europe he held as play-things in his hand1 to dispose of at pleasure4 ,says ,wickes3 ,never in the history of ,christendom were ancient dynasties overthrown1 and new ones created1 kings made and unmade1 within so short a period1 as during the unparallelled career of this great conqueror4 ,he had the crowns and kingdoms of all ,europe in his gift1 to settle as he pleased1 or bestow as presents upon his relatives and friends4 ,to his brother ,jerome he gave the crown of ,westphalia2 to his brother ,louis1 the crown of ,holland2 to his brother ,joseph1 the kingdom of ,spain2 to his brother-in-law and general ,murat1 the kingdom of ,naples2 and others he conferred upon his favorite marshals4 ,when he invaded ,russia1 a territory outside of the ,apocalyptic earth1 he exceeded his mission1 and there met with the most terrible overthrow4 ,although he entered that kingdom with the most magnificent army that he had ever gathered together1 yet for suffering and disaster that famous retreat from burning ,moscow stands without a parallel in history4 ,it was not the ,russian armies that prevailed against him2 it was ,god that fought against him with the blasts of his north wind4 ,these speedily silenced those tremendous parks of artillery that had thundered upon the fields of ,jena1 ,friedland1 ,wagram1 ,marengo and ,austerlitz1 and scattered those invincible battalions that had marched triumphant over ,europe4 ,ney1 at the head of the ,national ,guards1 ever before victorious1 was compelled to beat a hasty retreat1 glad to escape with the smallest remnant of his host4 ,napoleon failed here because ,god had given him no mission to perform in that territory4 ,concerning his ambition1 the ,encyclopdia ,britannica says3 ,with a frame of iron1 ,napoleon could endure any hardships2 and in war1 in artillery especially and engineering1 he stands unrivalled in the world's history4444 ,he could not rest1 and knew not when he had achieved success4444 ,he succeeded in alienating the peoples of ,europe1 in whose behalf he pretended to be acting4 ,and when they learned by bitter experience that he had absolutely no love for liberty1 and encouraged equality only so long as it was an equality of subjects under his rule1 they soon began to war against what was in fact a world-destroying military despotism4 ,he was inspired with the most unbounded ambition1 which was nothing short of despotism over all ,europe1 if not the world4 ,universal empire was his grand object1 or1 as it has been expressed by historians1 a desire to concentrate the world in ,europe--,europe in ,france--,france in ,paris--,paris in himself4 ,says ,wickes3 ,the empire which he actually reared in ,europe was a vast1 oppressive1 centralized despotism4444 ,to build it up1 he desolated ,france through his terrible conscriptions1 requiring the whole strength and flower of the nation to supply his armies4 ,it is stated that after the wars of ,napoleon there were three times the number of women in ,france that there were of men4 ,the fathers1 the husbands1 the sons1 the brothers1 had fallen upon the battle-field1 and thus desolated almost every household in the kingdom4 ,similar desolation also he carried by his wars into the other kingdoms4 ,the dread of ,napoleon settled down upon all the nations of ,europe4 ,they could not cope with his mighty genius1 and therefore his presence was a terror to them4 ,when the allied powers secured his first abdication1 in #ahad1 and sent him to the island of ,elba1 the desolating results of his long career were shown in the work that the ,congress of ,vienna was called upon to perform when it assembled in the fall of #ahad4 ,while the representatives of the powers were laboring to repair the damage that had been wrought and to adjust the territorial limitations of the various nations that had been altered or entirely demolished1 the assemblage was suddenly surprised the following spring by the news that ,napoleon had escaped from ,elba and was enroute to ,paris4 ,the terror and consternation in ,europe then experienced is shown by the following quotation from ,sir ,james ,mackintosh1 a man of high reputation as a jurist1 as a historian1 and as a far-sighted and candid statesman3 ,was it in the power of language to describe the evil6 ,wars which had raged for more than twenty years throughout ,europe1 which had spread blood and desolation from ,cadiz to ,moscow1 and from ,naples to ,copenhagen2 which had wasted the means of human enjoyment1 and destroyed the instruments of social improvement2 which threatened to diffuse among the ,european nations the dissolute and ferocious habits of a predatory soldiery 444 had been brought to a close4444 ,europe seemed to breathe after her sufferings4 ,in the midst of this fair prospect and of these consolatory hopes1 ,napoleon ,bonaparte escaped from ,elba2 three small vessels reached the coast of ,provence2 their hopes are instantly dispelled2 the work of our toil and fortitude is undone3 the blood of ,europe is spilled in vain4 ,the bitterest ingredients in the cup of these nations was the humiliating overthrow of their own government and their subjection to the hated republican despotism of ,france4 ,it was a scorching sun that they could not endure4 ,still1 they repented not to give ,god glory2 they continued as before4 ,after ,napoleon had accomplished the purpose for which he was intended1 ,god permitted this stupendous genius to be subdued2 but it required the combined powers of ,europe to secure his downfall4 ,creasy1 in his ,fifteen ,decisive ,battles of the ,world1 says concerning the battle of ,waterloo1 ,the great battle which ended the twenty-three years' war of the first ,french revolution1 and which quelled the man whose genius and ambition had so long disturbed and desolated the world1 deserves to be regarded by us 444 with peculiar gratitude for the repose which it secured for us and for the greater part of the human race4 #aj4 ,and the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast2 and his kingdom was full of darkness2 and they gnawed their tongues for pain1 #aa4 ,and blasphemed the ,god of heaven because of their pains and their sores1 and repented not of their deeds4 ,under this vial the symbols differ somewhat4 ,the beast is evidently the one of whom the image was made1 referred to in verse #b--the ,papacy4 ,the seat that the ,papacy occupied from the time the dragon resigned in favor of the beast 7chap4 #ac3b7 was his position of temporal power and authority4 ,in the following chapter the ,papacy is described as seated upon a ten-horned beast1 the ten horns of which symbolized the kingdoms of ,europe4 ,in this position it was able to exercise a guiding influence over the ,european nations4 ,we have already seen what great power the ,popes exercised in this direction during the ,dark ,ages4 ,but the beast of chapter #ag himself1 as distinguished from his horns1 symbolizes the ,holy ,roman ,empire1 which was a revival of the old empire of the ,csars4 ,this revived world-empire was closely allied to the ,papacy4 ,when ,charlemagne1 the ,carlovingian king1 restored the empire of the ,west1 he was crowned ,emperor of the ,romans by ,pope ,leo ,,iii41 ,a4,d4 #hjj4 ,the ,popes made the descendants of ,charles ,martel kings and emperors2 the grateful ,frankish princes defended the ,popes against all their enemies1 imperial and barbarian1 and dowering them with cities and provinces1 laid the basis of their temporal sovereignty1 which continued for more than a thousand years4 ,after the decline of the ,carlovingian power the imperial authority was again revived by ,otto the ,great 7#ifb71 who was crowned ,emperor of the ,romans by the ,pope4 ,henceforth the empire of the ,west was termed the ,holy ,roman ,empire4 ,from this time on it was the rule that the ,german king who was crowned at ,aachen had a right to be crowned 444 emperor at ,rome4 ,so the general rule was that the ,popes upheld the emperors1 and the emperors sustained the ,popes in their position as the spiritual heads of the church and as temporal rulers over the ,papal states1 which were granted them originally by the donations of ,pepin and ,charlemagne4 ,in chapter #ac the civil powers of ,europe and the ecclesiastical power of ,rome are not shown by a double symbol--a woman and a beast--as in chapter #ag1 but are there represented by a combination of symbols drawn from the departments of human life and animal life1 which shows that a politico-religious system is intended1 as heretofore explained2 hence the term beast1 as there used1 signifies either the ,papacy or the civil power4 ,thus the term is used in the present chapter under consideration1 and has reference here to the beast as an ecclesiastical power--the ,papacy--and his seat refers to his temporal authority4 ,this vial1 then1 being poured out upon his seat1 with the result that his kingdom was filled with darkness--a symbol drawn from nature--points to the downfall of the ,pope as a temporal ruler4 ,thus he would be deprived of his seat4 ,we have already seen that each plague prepares the way for a succeeding one4 ,under the reign of ,napoleon the ,holy ,roman ,empire was dissolved 7#ahjf74 ,this was the beginning of the end of the ,pope's temporal authority2 for the two had in a great measure been for ages interdependent upon each other4 ,pius ,,vii4 was made a prisoner and the temporal sovereignty of the ,roman ,see declared to be at an end2 while the ,pope himself was forced to disown all claim to rank as a temporal ruler4 ,of course1 this was but a temporary overthrow2 for when the period of ,reaction came1 the ,pope recovered also temporal authority4 ,but the vast territories of ,avignon1 ,venaissin1 ,bologna1 ,ferrara1 and the ,romagna--representing fully a third of all the ,papal dominions--which had been forcibly ceded to ,france under ,napoleon1 was never restored to the ,roman ,see4 ,from that time the sun of the ,pope's temporal kingdom rapidly approached the horizon2 while the inhabitants of his dominions continued to blaspheme ,god through the atheistical ,jacobinism that infested to so great an extent the whole mass of society--symbolized by their sores--and the firm supporters of ,popery were filled with excessive chagrin and mortification of mind--symbolized by their pains--because the power of their leader1 who professed temporal sovereignty over the whole earth1 was being suddenly destroyed and his kingdom left in darkness4 ,concerning this matter the ,people's ,cyclopdia1 after speaking of the blow the ,pope's spiritual supremacy received at the ,reformation1 says3 ,but in her relations to the ,state the ,roman church has since passed through a long and critical struggle4 ,the new theories to which the ,french ,revolution gave currency have still further modified these relations4 ,in the second revolution of #ahdh the ,pope's temporal authority was about to be entirely destroyed by the attempted establishment of the republic of ,italy2 but at this juncture ,france1 who1 notwithstanding her plagues1 had not repented of her former deeds1 not willing to desert entirely the ,papal cause after upholding it faithfully for centuries1 interfered1 and the ,pope was sustained in his position by a ,french garrison until #ahgj 7except a short time in #ahfg71 at which time the success of ,king ,victor ,emmanuel and his capture of the ,eternal ,city established the free government of ,united ,italy4 ,the temporal sun of the ,pope set forever2 his kingdom was left in darkness4 #ab4 ,and the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river ,euphrates2 and the water thereof was dried up1 that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared4 #ac4 ,and ,i saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon1 and out of the mouth of the beast1 and out of the mouth of the false prophet4 #ad4 ,for they are the spirits of devils1 working miracles1 which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world1 to gather them to the battle of that great day of ,god ,almighty4 #ae4 ,behold1 ,i come as a thief4 ,blessed is he that watcheth1 and keepeth his garments1 lest he walk naked1 and they see his shame4 #af4 ,and he gathered them together into a place called in the ,hebrew tongue ,armageddon4 ,the symbols under this vial are so different that at first they scarcely look like anything constituting a plague4 ,by recalling a few circumstances of history we shall understand why the river ,euphrates was selected as a symbol1 and also1 its true signification in this connection4 ,this river was connected with ancient ,babylon1 and while running in its own channel was the protection of the city and an obstacle to its capture4 ,by turning the water of this river from its course1 ,king ,cyrus 7according to the account given by ,herodotus7 succeeded in overthrowing the city1 with the result that ,god's people who were at that time in captivity there received permission to return to their own land and to rebuild the house of ,god in ,jerusalem4 ,ezra #a3a-c4 ,under the sixth trumpet this symbol was applied to the four angels as a symbol of the restraint placed upon their operations1 they being bound in that river4 ,as there are no agents in this vision who are represented as bound1 we must apply it to the city itself1 the name of which is given in verse #ai--;,babylon--being a symbol of one of its defenses4 ,according to verse #ai this mystical ,babylon is composed of three parts1 being made up of the dragon 7in his modern form71 the beast1 and the false prophet mentioned in verse #ac4 ,and its location is not confined to the territory of the ten kingdoms2 for its field of operations is not only that of the earth--the ,apocalyptic earth--but of the whole world4 ,ver4 #ad4 ,in one division of this great city1 that of the false prophet1 ,god's people were long held in captivity2 but its spiritual overthrow was to be accomplished by the drying up of the ,euphrates of its defenses1 that the way of the kings of the ,east might be prepared4#ab ,footnote #ab3 ,applying the ,euphrates 7an object from nature7 as a symbol of ecclesiastical affairs in this manner appears to be in violation of the laws of symbolic language laid down2 but we should bear in mind the fact that events of whatever nature connected with the history of ,god's chosen people in the old dispensation are of themselves proper symbols of similar events in the ,new ,testament dispensation4 ,thus the temple1 altar1 candle-sticks1 incense1 holy city1 etc41 of the former dispensation1 although of themselves objects from nature1 are nevertheless clearly used to represent affairs of the church1 because of their former significance as connected with the people of ,god4 ,the fact that the great city of this chapter is spiritual ,babylon 7see verse #ai7 is positive proof that the river ,euphrates is here applied in the proper manner4 ,to the ,hebrews the term east had a much more extensive signification than with us1 to whom its only distinction is that it is the point of the sun's rising4 ,but beyond this1 it was to the ,jews the cardinal point of the compass to which they naturally looked first4 ,their temple was built toward the east1 its principal entrance being in that direction4 ,the most powerful and enlightened kingdoms of the world lay to the east of ,judea1 and they included them all under the general term1 sons or children of the ,east 7,orientals7 and kings of the ,east1 comprehending not only ,arabia and the lands of ,moab and ,ammon1 but also ,armenia1 ,assyria1 ,mesopotamia1 ,babylonia and ,chaldea4 ,travelers from these countries would all enter ,judea from the east1 and they were considered ,orientals4 ,these nations were also distinguished for their proficiency in science and learning4 ,the ,magi1 or wise men of the ,east1 came to worship the infant ,jesus at ,jerusalem4 ,they were eminent in the science of astrology1 which was considered the greatest science of that day4 ,the ,east1 therefore1 was looked to for wise men2 and it is a noticeable fact that the pathway of science1 of literature1 and of empire has ever been from that direction1 so as to have passed into a proverb1 westward the star of empire holds its way4 ,the kings of the ,east1 then1 employed as a symbol of this sixth vial1 is not intended to signify any persons literally from that quarter of the earth1 but represents the bringing in of knowledge and understanding4 ,thank ,god that we live in the time when the defenses of spiritual ,babylon have been broken through and when light and knowledge on the ,word of ,god has reached the hearts of many redeemed souls held in bondage there6 ,and like the ,israelites of old1 when ,cyrus1 entered the ancient ,babylon through the dry river-bed of the ,euphrates1 they have come out with rejoicing and made their way to ,zion again4 ,halleluiah6 ,that the spiritual downfall of ,babylon is a real plague to sectarians there can be no doubt1 and it is plainly declared to be such in chap4 #ah3h1 where the same event is described4 ,at the very time when the defenses of ,babylon are thrown down1 the three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon 7,paganism71 and out of the mouth of the beast 7,romanism71 and out of the mouth of the false prophet 7,protestantism71 to gather together all the wicked powers throughout the whole world for that last great day of ,god ,almighty4#ac ,there is no analagous object to which a spirit can be made a symbol2 therefore we must regard them as being literally spirits of devils1 here appearing under their own appropriate title4 ,their mission is to form a confederation of all the gigantic powers of wickedness1 slimy and loathsome as the animal to which they are likened1 and to array themselves against the cause of ,christ4 ,footnote #ac3 ,i do not suppose that these three unclean spirits should be limited in their operations to ,paganism1 ,romanism1 and ,protestantism2 for that leaves out ,mohammedanism1 which is neither ,pagan1 ,roman1 nor ,protestant1 yet is certainly false prophecy2 and the three spirits were to gather the whole world4 ,armageddon1 where the spirits gathered all the enemies of truth and righteousness together1 means the mountain of ,megiddo1 the memorable field of the overthrow of ,sisera's mighty host by ,barak4 ,it was also the place of great defeat to the ,israelites in the time of ,josiah and the scene of his death4 ,the name1 therefore1 stands as a symbol for a field of slaughter or defeat and denotes that when the confederation of wickedness is complete1 the united host of ,god's enemies will be utterly defeated1 as by the overthrow of ,megiddo4 ,this great conflict with powers of wickedness and spirits infernal will be further explained in chapter ,,xx4 ,simultaneous with the notable events of this vial1 the announcement is made of the near-coming of ,christ to the world--,behold ,i come as a thief4 ,blessed is he that watcheth1 and keepeth his garments1 lest he walk naked1 and they see his shame4 ,the children of ,god that have been gathered out of old ,babylon rejoice in the glad announcement and say1 ,even so come1 ,lord ,jesus4 #ag4 ,and the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air2 and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven1 from the throne1 saying1 ,it is done4 #ah4 ,and there were voices1 and thunders1 and lightnings2 and there was a great earthquake1 such as was not since men were upon the earth1 so mighty an earthquake1 and so great4 #ai4 ,and the great city was divided into three parts1 and the cities of the nations fell3 and great ,babylon came in remembrance before ,god1 to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath4 #bj4 ,and every island fled away1 and the mountains were not found4 #ba4 ,and there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven1 every stone about the weight of a talent3 and men blasphemed ,god because of the plague of the hail2 for the plague thereof was exceeding great4 ,the application of this vial to the judgments of the last great day is so plain that but little comment is here necessary4 ,it was poured into the air1 a region of vast extent1 not confined to a given locality1 but embracing the whole earth4 ,hence this plague is universal4 ,when the seventh angel emptied his vial1 ,there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven1 from the throne1 saying1 ,it is done4 ,all is now fulfilled4 ,the work of wrath is finished4 ,the description of the plague follows1 but it follows only as a description4 ,as actually accomplished1 it preceded that great voice1 which was uttered in view of the thing already brought to pass4 ,the dissolution of the earth itself upon which we live is not here described1 although according to the teaching of other scriptures it occurs at this time2 but the symbols1 being drawn from the department of the operations both of humanity and of nature1 show the complete and final overthrow of all the great powers civil and ecclesiastical4 ,the dominancy of these great powers has been the chief burden of ,apocalyptic vision1 and here their utter destruction at last is set forth under various symbols4 ,the weight of the ,jewish talent is said to have been one hundred and fourteen pounds4 ,such a mass of ice descending from heaven would beat down everything in its resistless1 desolating fury4 ,there is no intimation1 however1 of men being killed under this or the accompanying symbols2 therefore as individuals they survive1 while the storm of wrath falls upon the civil and ecclesiastical institutions of society1 resulting in their utter annihilation4 ,this is the great day of his wrath described under the sixth seal1 to the symbols of which this description bears a striking resemblance1 as any one can see at a glance4 ,well may the oppressors of earth say to the mountains and hills1 ,fall on us1 and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne1 and from the wrath of the ,lamb3 for the great day of his wrath is come2 and who shall be able to stand8 ,chap4 #f3af1 #ag4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,and there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials1 and talked with me1 saying unto me1 ,come hither2 ,i will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters3 #b4 ,with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication1 and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication4 #c4 ,so he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness3 and ,i saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast1 full of names of blasphemy1 having seven heads and ten horns4 #d4 ,and the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color1 and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls1 having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication3 #e4 ,and upon her forehead was a name written1 ,,mystery1 ,,babylon ,,the ,,great1 ,,the ,,mother ,,of ,,harlots ,,and ,,abominations ,,of ,,the ,,earth4 #f4 ,and ,i saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints1 and with the blood of the martyrs of ,jesus3 and when ,i saw her1 ,i wondered with great admiration4 ,here again the narrative returns to take up another series of the history4 ,a number of times we have been taken over the same ground4 ,it is this feature of the ,apocalypse more than any other that has misled and perplexed commentators4 ,attempting to explain it as one continuous narrative from beginning to end1 they have been compelled to consider numerous passages as digressions1 parentheses1 or episodes1 etc4 ,as already observed1 however1 the prophecy is not arranged after the ordinary plan of histories1 narrating all the contemporaneous events in a given period1 whether civil1 religious1 literary1 scientific1 or biographical1 thus finishing up the history of that period2 but it consists of a number of distinct themes running over the same ground4 ,in this chapter a more particular description of the church of ,rome1 that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth 7verse #ah71 is given under the symbol of a drunken harlot4 ,with this vile prostitute the kings of the earth have committed fornication--they have encouraged her in her corruption and idolatries--and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication4 ,this latter symbol is doubtless taken from the cup of drugged wine with which lewd women were accustomed to inflame their lovers4 ,so had this apostate church made the inhabitants of the earth--of the ten kingdoms--drunken with her wine-cup and thus rendered them willing partakers in her abominable idolatries4 ,she is described in two positions--first1 as sitting upon many waters1 which the angel informs us are peoples1 and multitudes1 and nations1 and tongues 7verse #ae72 and second1 upon a scarlet-colored beast1 full of names of blasphemy1 having seven heads and ten horns4 ,the first position denotes her wide supremacy in the world over distant peoples and nations2 the second1 the close relationship that she sustained to the civil power4 ,that beast carried her in royal state4 ,the civil powers of ,europe have usually lent themselves as a caparisoned hack for this great whore to ride upon and have considered themselves highly honored thereby4 ,this beast was full of the names of blasphemy1 which were the same as the blasphemous assumptions of the ,papacy1 as explained in chapter ,,xiii1 showing that he agreed perfectly with this apostate church in her impious claims and supported her in them1 making himself equally guilty and deserving of the same name4 ,what is intended exactly by his scarlet color ,i do not know4 ,the same power under its ,pagan form was represented as a red dragon4 ,the appearance of this woman was that of the most splendid character1 nor are we to suppose the contrary because she was such an infamous prostitute4 ,she may have been1 and according to the description was1 all that1 but still her appearance was such as to bewitch her admirers and votaries4 ,robes of purple and scarlet1 with the most costly profusion of gold and diamonds1 were superb adorning1 even regal splendor4 ,all that skill and wealth could do in magnificence of attire was bestowed upon her to set forth her charms4 ,the golden cup in her hand was as to richness in harmony with her dress1 while as to contents it set forth her character1 for it was full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication4 ,this cup was an appropriate symbol of her atrocious wickedness and idolatries4 ,this woman had also a name written on her forehead4 ,it was not1 indeed1 placed there by herself nor by her admirers2 but ,he who drew this symbolic picture placed it there that all might know her true character4 ,,mystery1 ,,babylon ,,the ,,great1 ,,the ,,mother ,,of ,,harlots ,,and ,,abominations ,,of ,,the ,,earth4 ,although this apostate church was only in embryo in the apostles' day1 yet the apostle who gave us a careful delineation of its terrible characteristics declared that it was then developing and denominated it a mystery4 ,the mystery of iniquity doth already work4 #b ,thes4 #b3g4 ,the same apostle regarded as an unquestionable fact that godliness was a mystery 7#a ,tim4 #c3af72 but he who peruses the history of the ,papacy will be forced to declare with emphasis1 ,without controversy great is the mystery of ,romanism4 ,she is also styled ,babylon the ,great4 ,this name is derived from ancient ,babylon4 ,this city was the center of the earth's idolatry and stood first of all as the direct enemy of ,god's people4 ,so1 likewise1 this church is the center of earth's spiritual idolatry4 ,there are other harlots1 or corrupt churches1 in the world beside her2 but she is the mother of them all4 ,they are all children by her side4 ,some of them greatly honor her and in deep veneration call her our holy mother church2 but ,god brands her as the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth4 ,but the statement that she was a harlot merely1 does not entirely describe her character4 ,she was a drunken harlot4 ,drunken with what--wine8 ,no indeed2 that were a very small sin for her4 ,she was drunken with the blood of the saints1 and with the blood of the martyrs of ,jesus4 ,romanists positively declare that their church never persecutes2 but with the picture of this drunken prostitute before our eyes1 we shall be hard to convince4 ,to illustrate this point fully would be to write a book of martyrs much larger than the present work2 so1 for lack of space only1 we shall have to content ourselves with merely bringing forward a few of many historical proofs showing that they themselves claim the right to exterminate heretics4 ,innumerable provincial and national councils have issued the most cruel and bloody laws for the extermination of the ,waldenses and other so-called heretics2 such as the ,councils of ,oxford1 ,toledo1 ,avignon1 ,tours1 ,lavaur1 ,albi1 ,narbonne1 ,beziers1 ,tolosa1 etc4 ,since ,papists will assert that these had no authority to establish a doctrine of the church 7although they clearly reflect its spirit71 ,i remind the reader that some of their ,general ,councils have by their decrees pronounced the punishment of death for heresy4 ,at least six of these highest judicial assemblies of the ,romish church1 with the ,pope at their head1 have authoritatively enjoined the persecution and extermination of heretics4 ,extracts from the ,acts of these ,councils could be given if space permitted4 #a4 ,the second ,general ,council of ,lateran 7#aaci71 in its twenty-third canon4 #b4 ,the third ,general ,council of ,lateran 7#aagi71 under ,pope ,alexander ,,iii4 #c4 ,the fourth ,general ,council of ,lateran 7#abae71 under the inhuman ,pope ,innocent ,,iii41 which exceeded in ferocity all similar decrees that had preceded it4 #d4 ,the sixteenth ,general ,council1 held at ,constance in #adad4 ,this ,council1 with ,pope ,martin present in person1 condemned the reformers ,huss and ,jerome to be burned at the stake and then prevailed on the emperor ,sigismund to violate the safe-conduct that he had given ,huss1 signed by his own hand1 in which he guaranteed the reformer a safe return to ,bohemia2 and the inhuman sentence was carried out1 with the haughty prelates standing by to satiate their eyes on the sight of human agony4 ,this council also condemned the writings of ,wickliffe and ordered his bones to be dug up and burnt1 which savage sentence was afterwards carried into effect2 and after lying in their grave for forty years1 the remains of this first translator of the ,english ,bible were reduced to ashes and thrown into the brook ,swift4 ,well has the historian ,fuller said1 in reference to this subject1 ,the brook ,swift did convey his ashes into ,avon1 the ,avon into ,severn1 the ,severn into the narrow seas1 and they into the main ocean4 ,and thus the ashes of ,wickliffe are the emblem of his doctrie1 which is now dispersed all over the world4 #e4 ,the ,council of ,sienna 7#adbc71 which was afterwards continued at ,basil4 #f4 ,the fifth ,general ,council of the ,lateran 7#aead74 ,the laws enacted in each succeeding ,council were generally marked1 if possible1 with augmented barbarity4 ,says the learned ,edgar1 in his ,variations of ,popery3 ,the principle of persecution1 being sanctioned not only by theologians1 ,popes and provincial synods but also by ,general ,councils1 is a necessary and integral part of ,romanism4 ,the ,romish communion has1 by its representatives1 declared its right to compel men to renounce heterodoxy and embrace ,catholicism1 and to consign the obstinate to the civil power to be banished1 tortured1 or killed4 ,st4 ,aquinas1 whom ,romanists call the angelic ,doctor1 says1 ,heretics are to be compelled by corporeal punishments1 that they may adhere to the faith4 ,again1 ,heretics may not only be excommunicated1 but justly killed4 ,he says that the church consigns such to the secular judges to be exterminated from the world by death4 ,cardinal ,bellarmine is the great champion of ,romanism and expounder of its doctrines4 ,he was the nephew of ,pope ,marcellus1 and he is acknowledged to be a standard writer with ,romanists4 ,in the twenty-first and twenty-second chapters of the third book of his work entitled ,de ,laicis1 he enters into a regular argument to prove that the church has the right1 and should exercise it1 of punishing heretics with death4 ,the heading is his1 together with what follows4 ,chapter ,,xxi4 ,that heretics1 condemned by the church1 may be punished with temporal penalties and even death4 ,we will briefly show that the church has the power and ought to cast off incorrigible heretics1 especially those who have elapsed1 and that the secular power ought to inflict on such temporal punishments and even death itself4 #a4 ,this may be proved from the ,scripture4 #b4 ,it is proved from the opinions and laws of the emperors1 which the church has always approved4 #c4 ,it is proved by the laws of the church 444 experience proves that there is no other remedy2 for the church has tried step by step all remedies--first excommunication alone2 then pecuniary penalties2 afterward banishment2 and lastly has been forced to put them to death2 to send them to their own place4444 ,there are three grounds on which reason shows that heretics should be put to death3 the first is1 ,lest the wicked should injure the righteous2 second1 ,that by the punishment of a few many may be reformed4 ,for many who were made torpid by impunity1 are roused by the fear of punishment2 ,,and ,,this ,,we ,,daily ,,see ,,is ,,the ,,result ,,where ,,the ,,inquisition ,,flourishes1 etc4 ,chapter ,,xxii4 ,objections answered4 ,it remains to answer the objections of ,luther and other heretics4 ,argument #a4 ,from the history of the church at large4 ',the church1' says ,luther1 'from the beginning even to this time1 has never burned a heretic4 ,therefore it does not seem to be the mind of the ,holy ,spirit that they should be burnt6' ,he surely misunderstood ,luther4 ,i reply that this argument proves not the sentiment1 but the ignorance1 or impudence of ,luther2 ,,for ,,as ,,almost ,,an ,,infinite ,,number ,,were ,,either ,,burned ,,or ,,otherwise ,,put ,,to ,,death1 ,luther either did not know it1 and was therefore ignorant2 or if he knew it1 he is convicted of impudence and falsehood1--for that heretics were often burnt ,,by ,,the ,,church may be proved by adducing a few from many examples4 ,argument #b4 ',experience shows that terror is not useful4' ,i reply ,,experience ,,proves ,,the ,,contrary--for the ,donatists1 ,manicheans1 and ,albigenses ,,were ,,routed ,,and ,,annihilated ,,by ,,arms1 etc4 ,so this high dignitary of the ,catholic church1 a cardinal1 a nephew of one ,pope and the special favorite of others1 freely admits the charge so often laid to ,popery by creditable historians--the butchering of an infinite number of people that differed from them--and here labors hard to uphold it as a principle of righteousness4 ,their bloody crusades against the innocent1 unoffending ,waldenses1 ,albigenses1 and other peoples1 in which thousands1 and in the aggregate millions1 were slaughtered like venomous reptiles1 stand out on the page of history with a prominence that can not be mistaken2 and they themselves can not deny it4 ,dowling has well said that their history is written in lines of blood4 ,compared with the butcheries of holy men and women by the ,papal ,antichrist1 the persecutions of the ,pagan emperors of the first three centuries sink into comparative insignificance4 ,for not a tithe of the blood of martyrs was shed by ,paganism1 that has been poured forth by ,popery2 and the persecutors of ,pagan ,rome never dreamed of the thousand ingenious contrivances of torture which the malignity of ,popish inquisitors succeeded in inventing4 ,p4 #eda4 ,if any of my readers suppose that the character of ,popery has changed with the lapse of ages1 ,i must tell you that such is not the ease4 ,popery is unchangeable and this her ablest advocates declare4 ,chas4 ,butler1 in the work he wrote in reply to ,southey's book of the church1 says1 ,it is most true that the ,roman ,catholics believe the doctrines of their church to be unchangeable2 and that it is a tenet of their creed1 that what their faith ever has been1 such it was from the beginning1 such it is now1 and ,,such ,,it ,,ever ,,will ,,be4 ,a copy of the eleventh edition of ,the ,faith of ,our ,fathers1 published in ,baltimore1 ,maryland1 in #ahhc1 lies before me4 ,it was written by ,archbishop 7now ,cardinal7 ,james ,gibbons1 the highest authority of the ,roman ,catholic church in this country4 ,in page #ie he says3 ,it is a marvelous fact1 worthy of record1 that in the whole history of the church1 from the nineteenth century to the first1 no solitary example can be adduced to show that any ,pope or ,general ,council ever revoked a decree of faith or morals enacted by any preceding pontiff or council4 ,her record in the past ought to be a sufficient warrant that she will tolerate no doctrinal variations in the future4 ,so the doctrine of her inherent right to persecute and slay every one who disagrees with her1 which has been enacted by ,pontiffs and ,general ,councils and so carried out in the past1 is still in vogue and would now be enforced were it in her power to do so4 ,while this statement of ,gibbons' shows the unchangeable spirit of ,popery1 still it is the basest presumption upon the historical knowledge of the reader4 ,the facts are that the official acts of some of their ,popes and ,general ,councils have been so far wrong that ,romanists themselves have been compelled to admit it4 ,thus the sixth ,general ,council1 which was held at ,constantinople in #fhj1 and which every ,catholic accepts as ,ecumenical1 condemned1 in the strongest terms1 ,pope ,honorius as a ,monothelite heretic4 ,let them attempt to deny it1 and we will bring forward our proof4 ,romish authors themselves admit it1 the well-known ,dupin with the rest1 as appears by the following extract from his writings3 ,the ,council had as much reason to censure him as ,sergius1 ,paulus1 ,peter1 and the other ,patriarchs o ,constantinople4 ,he adds in language yet more emphatic1 ,this will stand for certain1 then1 that ,honorius was condemned1 ,,and ,,justly ,,too1 ,,as ,a ,,heretic1 by the sixth ,general ,council4 ,dupin's ,eccl4 ,history1 ,vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #af4 ,the ,decretals of ,isodore furnish another example of ,papal infallibility 7874 ,for ages these documents were the chief instrument of the ,popes in extending their power and the proof of the righteousness of their assumptions to excessive temporal authority4 ,wickliffe declared them false and apocryphal4 ,for this he was condemned by the sixteenth ,general ,council1 held at ,constance in #adad1 and his bones ordered dug up and burnt because of his daring impudence4 ,the spurious character of these false decretals have since been proved beyond the shadow of a doubt2 and since it is impossible to deny it longer1 it is admitted even by ,romanists4 ,so1 after all1 this infallible ,council was wrong1 the ,papists themselves being the judges4 ,pope ,benedict ,,ix4 was guilty of such flagitious crimes that he became an object of public abhorrence1 and he finally sold the ,popedom4 ,one of his infallible 787 successors in the ,papal chair1 ,pope ,victor ,,iii41 pronounced this infallible 787 profligate a person abandoned to all manner of vice4 ,a successor of ,,simon ,,the ,,sorcerer1 and ,,not ,,of ,,simon ,,the ,,apostle4 ,i do not question the truth of this assertion1 but what becomes of their boasted uninterrupted apostolical succession8 ,baronius1 the ,popish annalist1 confesses that ,pope ,sergius ,,iii4 was the slave of every vice1 and the most wicked of men4 ,among other horrid acts ,platina relates that he rescinded the acts of ,pope ,formosus1 compelled those whom he had ordained to be re-ordained1 dragged his dead body from the sepulchre1 beheaded him as though he were alive1 and then threw him into the ,tiber6 ,this ,pope cohabited with an infamous prostitute named ,marozia and by her had a son named ,john1 who afterwards ascended the ,papal throne1 through the influence of his licentious mother1 under the name of ,john ,,xi4 ,so the unlawful amours of ,sergius produced this infallible1 necessary link in the holy chain of uninterrupted apostolical succession6 ,it must be remembered1 also1 that the ,popes have for ages laid claim themselves to infallibility2 and in the last ,general ,council of that body1 held at the ,vatican in #ahgj1 it was declared a dogma of the church4 ,romanists will tell us that this decree refers only to his official acts1 and not to his personal character2 but official acts have been the main thing under consideration in the case of ,sergius1 ,honorius1 and ,benedict4 ,but if such monsters of vice can produce good1 holy1 infallible acts1 as ,papists declare1 then ,jesus ,christ is mistaken2 for he declared positively that a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit 444 neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit4 ,mat4 #g3ag1 #ah4 ,god forbid3 yea1 let ,god be true1 but every man a liar4 ,rom4 #c3d4 ,during these dark ages thousands of priests1 who were by the laws of the church denied their ,scriptural right of possessing a wife 7#a ,cor4 #g3i1 etc471 lived openly with concubines2 and the ,council of ,toledo decreed that they should not be condemned therefor1 provided they were content with one4 ,but the devil produced his master-piece of iniquity in the person of ,roderic ,borgia1 who ascended the ,papal throne in #adib under the name of ,alexander ,,vi4 ,the utmost limits assigned to ,papal depravity were realized in him1 so that the very name ,borgia has come to be used as a designation of any person unusually wicked4 ,says ,waddington3 ,the ecclesiastical records of fifteen centuries 444 contain no name so loathsome1 no crimes so foul as his4444 ,not one among the many zealous annalists of the ,roman church has breathed a whisper in his praise4444 ,he publicly cohabited with a ,roman matron named ,vanozia1 by whom he had five acknowledged children4 ,neither in his manners nor in his language did he affect any regard for morality or decency2 and one of the earliest acts of his pontificate was1 to celebrate1 with scandalous magnificence1 in his own palace1 the marriage of his daughter ,lucretia4 ,on one occasion this prodigy of vice gave a splendid entertainment1 within the walls of the ,vatican1 to no less than fifty public prostitutes at once1 and that in the presence of his daughter ,lucretia1 at which entertainment deeds of darkness were done1 over which decency must throw a veil2 and yet this monster of vice was1 according to ,papist 444 the vicar of ,god upon earth1 and was addressed by the title of ,,his ,,holiness66 ,but why stir this cesspool of filth any longer8 ,is not that church of which ,alexander ,,vi4 was for eleven years the crowned and anointed head--a necessary link in the boasted chain of holy apostolical succession1 the pretended vicar of ,christ upon earth--is it not1 ,i ask1 fitly described by the pen of inspiration ,,mother ,,of ,,harlots ,,and ,,abominations ,,of ,,the ,,earth1 as she reeled onward in the career of ages1 drunken with the blood of the saints8 #g4 ,and the angel said unto me1 ,wherefore didst thou marvel8 ,i will tell thee the mystery of the woman1 and of the beast that carriest her1 which hath the seven heads and ten horns4 #h4 ,the beast that thou sawest was1 and is not2 and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit1 and go into perdition3 and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder1 whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world1 when they behold the beast that was1 and is not1 and yet is4 #i4 ,and here is the mind which hath wisdom4 ,the seven heads are seven mountains1 on which the woman sitteth4 #aj4 ,and there are seven kings2 five are fallen1 and one is1 and the other is not yet come2 and when he cometh1 he must continue a short space4 #aa4 ,and the beast that was1 and is not1 even he is the eighth1 and is of the seven1 and goeth into perdition4 #ab4 ,and the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings1 which have received no kingdom as yet2 but receive power as kings one hour with the beast4 #ac4 ,these have one mind1 and shall give their power and strength unto the beast4 #ad4 ,these shall make war with the ,lamb1 and the ,lamb shall overcome them3 for he is ,lord of lords1 and ,king of kings3 and they that are with him are called1 and chosen1 and faithful4 ,the angel promises to explain the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carried her4 ,the beast is the same as the secular beast with seven heads and ten horns1 described in chapter #ac4 ,an explanation of its heads and horns has already been given4 ,the expression the seven heads are seven mountains1 on which the woman sitteth1 and there are seven kings1 requires further explanation4 ,many have understood the mountains to signify the seven mountains on which the city of ,rome is said to be built2 but that is adopting the literal mode of interpretation1 and is contrary to the laws of symbolic language4 ,the more obvious meaning is that the seven heads represent seven mountains and also seven kings2 but this probably is not the idea intended4 ,the heads of a beast are not the proper symbol of mountains4 ,the fact1 too1 that the woman is represented as sitting upon these mountains1 shows that they are to be taken as a symbol1 as well as the woman1 and not the object symbolized4 ,they are1 then1 the same as the heads and denote the seven kings or seven forms of government under which the ,roman empire subsisted4 ,the seventh and last head has not yet been identified4 ,before considering it1 however1 ,i wish to call attention to another point that has already been referred to4 ,the beast that ,john here saw1 with the seven heads and ten horns1 was ,rome under the ,papal power4 ,did new ,rome in reality have the seven heads8 ,no4 ,the dragon ,john saw in chapter #ab is represented as having seven heads and ten horns1 and signified ,rome under the ,pagan power4 ,did old ,rome really possess the ten horns8 ,no4 ,according to verse #ab in this chapter1 they were to arise future of ,john's time4 ,but notice carefully that the seven heads1 which according to this description1 belonged to the beast sustaining the ,papal power in after years1 are here explained by the angel as signifying the very forms of government by which ,pagan ,rome subsisted4 ,five are fallen a past event1 one is exists at this present time1 and the other is not yet come4 ,so according to divine interpretation1 the same heads and horns serve for both the dragon and the beast4 ,this could not possibly be a true representation unless they were both in reality the same beast1 they being represented as two only for the purpose of describing the two phases of ,roman history--,pagan and ,papal4 ,with this point established1 that these two forms of ,roman history are the same beast1 we are now prepared to understand the statement that the beast was and is not1 and yet is4 ,this is equivalent to saying that the beast existed1 it ceased to exist1 and then it came into existence again4 ,this was exactly the history of ,rome4 ,its downfall under the ,pagan form was described under the fourth trumpet as an eclipse of the sun1 moon and stars1 so that they shone not for a third part of the day and night4 ,for a time it seemed not to exist4 ,a little later the eclipse is lifted2 the beast exists again under the ,papal form4 ,in this is set forth clearly the wounding and the healing of the beast4 ,the wound was inflicted on its sixth1 or ,imperial1 head 7for the first five had already fallen1 according to the historical facts just related71 being accomplished by the hordes of ,northern barbarians overturning the empire of the ,west4 ,it appeared for a time that the beast was indeed wounded unto death2 but not so3 to the surprise of all1 he survived under the form of the seventh head4 ,at this point the question is sure to be asked1 ,how could the beast continue to live if its seventh head was to continue but a short space8 ,this is accounted for by the fact that there was what might be appropriately called an eighth head1 but which was in reality of the seven4 ,and the beast that was1 and is not1 even he is the eighth1 and is of the seven4 ,verse #aa4 ,the identification of the seventh head will now make the matter complete4 ,the facts all meet in the ,carlovingian empire1 or the empire of ,charlemagne4 ,in the year #ggd ,charlemagne completed the work begun by ,pepin twenty years before and overthrew the kingdom of the ,lombards in ,italy1 which was the last of the three horns plucked up before the little horn of ,daniel4 ,by this victory he became complete master of ,italy1 and he received the title ,patrician of ,rome4 ,this was not merely an honorary title1 such as had for ages been conferred upon certain individuals2 but it was a distinct form of civil government and supreme1 taking the same rank with that of the ,consular1 the ,decemvirate1 the ,triumvirate1 etc41 in the earlier history of the nation4 ,it lasted1 however1 only a short space1 or twenty-six years1 when ,charlemagne1 having extended his conquests over all the western part of ,europe1 assumed the ,imperial title and thus revived the empire of ,rome in the ,west under its ,gothic form4 ,in his ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire1 ,gibbon says3 ,in the twenty-six years that elapsed between the conquest of ,lombardy and his ,imperial coronation1 ,rome1 which had been delivered by the sword1 was subject1 as his own1 to the scepter1 of ,charlemagne4 ,the people swore allegiance to his person and family2 in his name1 money was coined1 and justice was administered1 and the election of ,popes was examined and confirmed by his authority--except an original and self-inherent claim of sovereignity1 there was not any prerogative remaining which the title of emperor could add to the ,patrician of ,rome4 ,this decisive testimony by the highest authority on the subject shows conclusively that all the power of sovereignty resided in ,charlemagne as the ,patrician of ,rome1 and that this1 therefore1 is a proper head to be ranked with the other six that preceded it4#ad ,footnote #ad3 ,commentators frequently identify the seventh head with the ,exarchate of ,ravenna4 ,after the overthrow of the kingdom of the ,ostrogoths in ,italy by ,belisarius1 the general of ,justinian1 about the middle of the sixth century1 the territory became subject to the emperor of the ,eastern empire and was ruled by him through an ,exarch whose place of residence was ,ravenna4 ,this ,exarchate 7sometimes called ,patriciate7 continued until about the middle of the eighth century1 when it was terminated by ,astolphus1 king of the ,lombards1 who made ,ravenna the capital of the ,lombardic kingdom in #geb4 ,three years later the ,lombards were defeated by ,pepin1 who made the ,holy ,see a present of the lands he conquered from them--the origin of the temporal power of the ,popes4 ,pepin was succeeded by his son ,charlemagne1 who was appointed ,patrician of ,rome1 by the ,pope1 in #ggd4 ,during the last half century that the ,exarchate of ,ravenna remained its existence was but little more than a name1 the real power of government being usurped by the ,papacy4 ,it could hardly be considered an inconsistency were we to interpret the seventh head as signifying both the ,patriciate of ,ravenna and the ,patriciate of ,charlemagne that closely followed it2 but in the present work ,i have restricted its application to the latter form because of its distinctive characteristic as constituting a supreme civil power entirely independent of the empire of the ,east1 and because of its importance in the revival of the empire of the ,west4 ,this head1 however1 continued only a short space2 and an eighth arose on ,christmas1 the first day of the year #hjj 7as time was then reckoned71 when ,charlemagne was crowned emperor of ,rome1 and thus revived the empire of the ,west4 ,this eighth head1 however1 was of the seven2 for it was the same as the sixth1 both being ,imperial--the first being in the ,augustan line1 and the other in the ,carlovingian1 and separated from each other by the seventh1 or ,patriciate4 ,considered one way1 there were eight heads1 but two of them were alike1 hence only seven2 for the eighth was of the seven4 ,according to verse #aa it was under the eighth head that the beast subsisted at the time he was carrying the woman of this chapter1 which exactly accords with the historical facts in the case2 and the same was continued in a line of emperors reaching down to the time of the ,french ,revolution4 ,the ten horns had received no kingdom as yet4 ,this signifies that at the time when the ,revelation was given they had not yet arisen4 ,when they did come into existence they were to receive power as kings with the beast and were to give to it their power and strength4 ,it is a singular fact that a distinct head should continue to exist after these horns had arisen and developed into powerful kingdoms2 but herein the remarkable accuracy of prophecy is clearly shown4 ,it is said that they should make war with the ,lamb and that the ,lamb should overcome them4 ,some think that this has reference to the persecution of the saints during the ,dark ,ages2 but it seems to me that it would have been stated differently if such were its meaning4 ,it may be a prophetical reference to the battle of ,armageddon1 which will be terminated by the coming of the ,son of ,god himself to overthrow completely all the powers of wickedness4 #ae4 ,and he saith unto me1 ,the waters which thou sawest1 where the whore sitteth1 are peoples1 and multitudes1 and nations1 and tongues4 #af4 ,and the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast1 these shall hate the whore1 and shall make her desolate and naked1 and shall eat her flesh1 and burn her with fire4 #ag4 ,for ,god hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will1 and to agree1 and give their kingdom unto the beast1 until the words of ,god shall be fulfilled4 #ah4 ,and the woman which thou sawest is that great city1 which reigneth over the kings of the earth4 ,the special thoughts contained in these verses have been so far explained already that it is unnecessary to go over the same ground again4 ,already the civil powers of ,europe are beginning to cast this woman aside as an old1 wrinkled1 haggard prostitute is cast off by her lovers4 ,already they have deprived her of all temporal authority such as she possessed in guiding this beast of chapter #ag1 as explained under the fifth plague in the preceding chapter4 ,whether they are destined to become a still greater enemy to her1 the future will determine4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,and after these things ,i saw another angel come down from heaven1 having great power2 and the earth was lightened with his glory4 #b4 ,and he cried mightily with a strong voice1 saying1 ,babylon the great is fallen1 is fallen1 and is become the habitation of devils1 and the hold of every foul spirit1 and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird4 #c4 ,for all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication1 and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her1 and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies4 ,a movement of mighty power is symbolized in these verses4 ,the chronology of the events described in the preceding chapter brings us down to the time when the ten horns turn against the ,papacy by depriving her of her temporal authority4 ,this1 as we have already seen1 was completely fulfilled in #ahgj and constituted the fifth plague4 ,in the description of the sixth plague which followed1 it was shown that the great city which was invaded was composed of three parts--,paganism 7the modern form of the dragon power71 ,catholicism1 and ,protestantism4 ,the same great city is here brought to view1 and the angel from heaven1 with a mighty voice1 cries1 ,babylon the ,great is fallen1 is fallen4 ,this fall of ,babylon can not signify a literal destruction2 for there are certain events to take place in ,babylon after her fall which entirely precludes that idea2 for instance1 the calling of ,god's people out of her1 in order that they may not receive of her plagues4 ,in these plagues is embraced her literal destruction1 or complete overthrow4 ,the fall is therefore a moral one2 for the result of it is that ,babylon becomes the habitation of devils1 and the hold of every foul spirit1 and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird4 ,protestants who make any attempt to interpret these prophecies usually limit the designation ,babylon the ,great in these verses to the church of ,rome1 because the woman symbolizing the apostate church in the preceding chapter is denominated ,babylon the ,great4 ,ver4 #e4 ,but the same verse also declares her to be the ,mother of harlots2 and if she as a degraded woman stands as the representative of a corrupt church1 her unchaste daughters1 also1 must symbolize churches that are her descendants2 and if the real name of the mother is ,babylon1 as stated1 the proper name of her harlot daughters must be ,babylon also4 ,whether1 therefore1 the mother or the daughters are referred to1 it is all ,babylon the ,great1 because it is all the same family and is a part of that ,,great ,,city which reigneth over the kings of the earth4 ,chap4 #ag3ah4 ,we must1 therefore1 have something besides the mere title ,babylon the ,great to determine which division of the great city is referred to in a given instance--whether ,pagan1 ,papal1 or ,protestant4 ,a careful study of the prophecy now under consideration will show that it has particular reference to the ,protestant division of ,babylon4 ,it contained many of ,god's children2 whereas ,paganism was always a false religion and never held any of ,god's saints4 ,under the reign of ,catholicism1 the people of ,god are represented in all the symbols of this book relating thereto as existing entirely separate from that communion4 ,the description of this apostate church given in the preceding chapter shows clearly that instead of being partly composed of ,god's saints1 she was their most bitter and relentless persecutor1 yea1 was drunken with the blood of the saints1 and with the blood of the martyrs of ,jesus4 ,this is definite proof that the present phase of ,babylon under consideration is the ,protestant division2 and her moral fall is the grand signal for the escape of ,god's people who have partly composed her number1 as the fall of ancient ,babylon was for the escape of the ,israelites4 ,in their younger days the ,protestant organizations 7symbolized by the daughters7 were of much better character than the mother church from whom they descended4 ,many of them started out on reform4 ,while a spiritual people1 ,god worked with them2 but when they made their image to the beast1 they suddenly declined1 and this voice from heaven finally declares them to be in a fallen condition--entirely void of salvation1 except a very few chosen saints that have not defiled their garments1 contained therein4 ,that this application of the term ,babylon is correct1 and also1 the fallen condition ascribed to her in accordance with the facts1 ,i will prove by the following testimonies of ,protestants themselves4 ,the first is from ,vision of the ,ages2 or1 ,lectures on the ,apocalypse1 by ,b4,w4 ,johnson1 member of the ,christian sect4 ,it is needful to inquire what the term ,babylon means4 ,it occurs several times in the ,new ,testament4 ,here 7in the ,apocalypse7 it is spoken of as 'that great city1' and her fall is doomed 'because she hath made all nations drunk with the wine of her fornication4' ,in ,rev4 #ag3e1 a scarlet harlot is seen sitting upon the seven-headed and ten-horned monster1 and upon her forehead is written1 ',mystery1 ,babylon the ,great4' ,with this woman the kings of the earth are said to have committed fornication4 ,in chapter #ah the fall of the great city1 ,babylon is detailed at length1 and it is again said that all the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her4 ,the harlot with ,babylon stamped on her brow1 and the great city of fornication styled ,babylon1 in chapters #ad and #ah1 are one and the same existence4 ,there is an ancient city of ,babylon often mentioned in the ,old ,testament1 but ages before ,john wrote1 it had ceased to be inhabited1 the only dwellers among its lonely ruins were howling beasts and hissing serpents4 ,it has never been rebuilt to this day and has passed away forever4 ,john refers therefore not to old ,babylon1 but to some power yet unseen 7when he was upon the earth71 that should be revealed in due time1 and of which old ,babylon was a symbol4 ,let us notice some of the features of ancient ,babylon4 #a4 ,on that site took place the confusion of tongues which divided those who before had been of one speech and one family1 into various tribes and schisms at variance with each other and of various tongues4 ,the word ,babylon1 a memorial of this event1 means confusion1 and is derived from ,babel4 #b4 ,old ,babylon persecuted the people of ,god and destroyed the temple in ,jerusalem4 #c4 ,it carried the people of ,god into captivity4 #d4 ,it was a mighty1 resistless universal empire4 ,the antitype1 the spiritual ,babylon1 must correspond4 ,there is a power that exhibits all these characteristics4 ,by apostasy from the truth it originated the schism which has divided the family of ,god into different sects and parties which speak a different spiritual language4 ,it has carried the church into a long captivity by binding upon it the thralldom of superstition4 ,it has been a constant persecutor of the saints1 and has enjoyed an almost universal dominion4 ,that power is the woman that sits upon the seven-headed beast 444 the false woman1 symbolical of a false church1 the great apostate spiritual dominion of ,rome4 ,and we may add1 out of which have come--directly or indirectly--all the religious sects of the present day4 ,dr4 ,barnes says3 ,the word ,babylon became the emblem of all that was haughty and oppressive1 and especially of all that persecuted the church of ,god4 ,the word here 7,rev4 #ah3d7 must be used to denote some power that resembled the ancient and literal ,babylon in these characteristics4 ,the literal ,babylon was no more2 but the name might be used properly to denote a similar power4 ,wm4 ,kinkade1 in ,bible ,doctrine1 page #bdi1 says1 ,i think ,christ has a true church on earth1 but its members are scattered among the various denominations1 and are more or less under the influence of mystery ,babylon and her daughters4 ,alexander ,campbell says3 ,a reformation of ,popery was attempted in ,europe full three centuries ago4 ,it ended in a ,protestant hierarchy1 and swarms of dissenters4 ,protestantism has been reformed into ,presbyterianism1 that into ,congregationalism1 and that into ,baptistism1 etc41 etc4 ,methodism has attempted to reform all1 but has reformed itself into many forms of ,wesleyanism4 ,all of them retain in their bosom--in their ecclesiastical organizations1 worship1 doctrines1 and observances--various relics of ,popery4 ,they are at best a reformation of ,popery1 and only reformations in part4 ,the doctrines and traditions of men yet impair the power and progress of the gospel in their hands4 ,on ,baptism1 p4#ae4 ,again1 he says3 ,the worshiping establishments now in operation throughout ,christendom1 increased and cemented by their respective voluminous confessions of faith1 and their ecclesiastical constitutions1 are not churches of ,jesus ,christ1 but the legitimate daughters of that mother of harlots1 the church of ,rome4 ,how any man could possess as much light on this subject as did ,mr4 ,campbell1 and then build a sect himself1 is more than ,i can understand4 ,lorenzo ,dow says of the ,romish ,church3 ,if she be the mother1 who are the daughters8 ,it must be the corrupt1 national1 established churches that came out of her4 ,dow's ,life1 p4 #edb4 ,in the ,religious ,encyclopaedia1 ,article ,antichrist1 we read3 ,the writer of the book of ,revelation tells us he heard a voice from heaven saying1 ',come out of her1 my people1 that ye partake not of her sins1 and receive not of her plagues4' ,if such persons are to be found in the 'mother of harlots1' with much less hesitation may it be inferred that they are connected with her unchaste daughters1 those national churches which are founded upon what are called ,protestant principles4 ,in the ,encyclopdia of ,religious ,knowledge we read3 ,an important question1 however1 says ,mr4 ,jones1 stills remains for inquiry3 ,is ,antichrist confined to the church of ,rome8 ,the answer is readily returned in the affirmative by ,protestants in general2 and happy had it been for the world had that been the case4 ,but although we are fully warranted to consider that church as 'the mother of harlots1' the truth is that by whatsoever arguments we succeed in fixing that odius charge upon her1 we shall1 by parity of reasoning1 be obliged to allow other national churches to be her unchaste daughters1 and for this plain reason1 among others1 because in their very constitution and tendency they are hostile to the nature of the kingdom of ,christ4 ,one of ,martin ,luther's guests remarked that the world might continue fifty years1 and he replied3 ,pray ,god that it may not exist so long2 matters would be even worse than they have been4 ,there would rise up infinite sects and schisms1 which are at present hidden in men's hearts and nature4 ,no2 may the ,lord come at once1 for there is no amendment to be expected4 ,mr4 ,hartly1 a learned churchman1 has remarked as follows3 ,there are many prophecies which declare the fall of the ecclesiastical powers of the ,christian world1 and though each church seems to flatter itself with the hope of being exempted1 yet it is very plain that the prophetical characters belong to all4 ,they all have left the true1 pure1 simple religion1 and teach for doctrines the commandments of men4 ,says ,mr4 ,simpson1 in ,plea for ,religion3 ,we ,protestants1 too1 read the declaration of the third angel against the worshipers of the beast and his image1 and make ourselves easy under the awful denunciation by applying it exclusively to the church of ,rome2 never dreaming that they are equally applicable not only to the ,english1 but to every church establishment in ,christendom1 which retains any of the marks of the beast4 ,for though the ,pope and the church of ,rome is at the head of the grand twelve hundred and sixty years' delusion1 yet all other churches1 of whatever denomination1 whether established or tolerated1 which partake of the same spirit1 or have instituted doctrines and ceremonies inimical to the pure and unadulterated gospel of ,christ1 shall sooner or later share in the fate of that immense fabric of human ordinances4 ,says ,mr4 ,hopkins3 ,there is no reason to consider the antichristian spirit and practices confined to that which is now called the church of ,rome4 ,the ,protestant churches have much of ,antichrist in them1 and are far from being wholly reformed from the corruptions and wickedness1 in doctrine and practice1 in it4 ,some churches may be more pure and may have proceeded farther in a reformation than others2 but where can the church be found which is thoroughly purged from her abominations8 ,none are wholly clear from an antichristian spirit and the fruits of it4444 ,and as the church of ,rome will have a large share in the cup of indignation and wrath which will be poured out1 so all the ,christian world will have a distinguished portion of it3 as the inhabitants of it are much more guilty than others4 ,there is great reason to conclude that the world1 particularly that part of it called ,christian and ,protestant1 will yet make greater and more rapid advances in all kinds of moral corruption and open wickedness1 till it will come to that state in which it will be fully ripe and prepared to be cut down by the sickle of divine justice and wrath4 ,mr4 ,o4 ,scott 7,wesleyan ,methodist7 says3 ,the church is as deeply infected with a desire for worldly gain as the world4 ,most of the denominations of the present day might be called churches of the world1 with more propriety than churches of ,christ4 ,the churches have so far gone from primitive ,christianity that they need a fresh regeneration--a new kind of religion4 ,said ,t4 ,de,witt ,talmage3 ,i simply state a fact when ,i say that in many places the church is surrendering1 and the world is conquering4444 ,there is a mighty host in the ,christian church1 positively professing ,christianity1 who do not believe the ,bible1 out and out and in and in4444 ,oh6 we have magnificient church machinery in this country2 we have sixty thousand ,american ministers2 we have costly music2 we have great ,sunday-schools2 and yet ,i give you the appalling statistics that in the last twenty-five years1 laying aside last year1 the statistics of which ,i have not yet seen1--within the last twenty-five years the churches of ,god in this country have averaged less than two conversions a year each6 ,there has been an average of four or five deaths in the churches4 ,how soon1 at that rate1 will this world be brought to ,god8 ,we gain two2 we lose four4 ,eternal ,god6 what will this come to8 ,bishop ,roberts said3 ,the popular religion of this country is not the religion of the ,new ,testament4 ,it has some of its features but not all4 ,it is lacking in grand fundamental elements4 ,it answers many good purposes--restrains1 refines1 elevates1 and gives to society a high grade of civilization2 but fails to secure the great end which ,christianity is designed to accomplish--the salvation of the soul4 ,it dazzles but to blind1 it promises but to deceive2 it allures by worldly considerations to a heaven of purity1 which no worldling can enter2 it gives to its votaries1 who long to eat of forbidden fruit1 the assurance of impunity from the threatened evils1 and leads them on by siren strains from the ,paradise of purity into the broad road which ends at last in the blackness of the darkness of an eternal night of despair6 ,says the ,golden ,rule3 ,the ,protestants are outdoing the ,popes in splendid1 extravagant folly in church building4 ,thousands on thousands are expended in gay and costly ornaments to gratify pride and a wicked ambition1 that might and should go to redeem the perishing millions6 ,does the evil1 the folly1 and the madness of these proud1 formal1 fashionable worshiper1 stop here8 ,these splendid monuments of ,popish pride1 upon which millions are squandered in our cities1 virtually exclude the poor for whom ,christ died1 and for whom he came especially to preach4 ,the report of the ,michigan ,yearly ,conference1 even as long ago as #ahea1 published in the ,true ,wesleyan of ,nov4 #ae1 says3 ,the world1 commercial1 political1 and ecclesiastical are alike1 and are together going in the broad way that leads to death4 ,politics1 commerce1 and nominal religion1 all connive at sin1 reciprocally aid each other1 and unite to crush the poor4 ,falsehood is unblushingly uttered in the forum and in the pulpit2 and sins that would shock the moral sensibilities of the heathen1 go unrebuked in all the great denominations of our land4 ,these churches are like the ,jewish church when the ,savior exclaimed1 ',woe unto you1 scribes and ,pharisees1 hypocrites4' ,robert ,atkins1 in a sermon preached in ,london1 says3 ,the truly righteous are diminished from the earth1 and no man layeth it to heart4 ,the professors of religion of the present day1 in every church1 are lovers of the world1 conformers to the world4 ,lovers of creature-comfort1 and aspirers after respectability4 ,they are called to suffer with ,christ1 but they shrink even from reproach4 ,apostasy1 apostasy1 ,,apostasy1 is engraven on the very front of every church2 and did they know it1 and did they feel it1 there might be hope2 but alas6 they cry ',we are rich1 and increased in goods1 and stand in need of nothing4' ,i have by no means exhausted the supply of similar testimonies of ,protestants now before me1 but for lack of space ,i must conclude4 ,in the face of these amazing facts can any one deny that ,protestantism is a part of great ,babylon and is in a fallen condition8 ,the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies4 ,a certain writer on this text has said3 ,who take the lead in all the extravagancies of the age8 ,church-members4 ,who load their tables with the richest and choicest viands8 ,church-members4 ,who are foremost in extravagance in dress1 and all costly attire8 ,church-members4 ,who are the very personification of pride and arrogance8 ,church-members4 ,where shall we look for the very highest exhibition of the luxury1 even show1 and pride of life1 resulting from the vanity and sin of the race8 ,answer1 ,to a modern church-assembly on a pleasant ,sunday4 ,though this writer interpreted the text literally1 yet he spoke a vast amount of truth1 as every one knows4 ,consider1 too1 the wickedness carried on everywhere in sect ,babylon unrebuked1 with the preachers ofttimes in the lead4 ,shows1 festivals1 frolics1 grab-bag parties1 cake-walk lotteries1 kissing-bees1 etc41 etc4 ,if the apostle were here to-day and we should inform him of a modern church entertainment where a bared female foot1 projecting from beneath a curtain1 was sold to the highest gentleman bidder1 who had the privilege of kissing its owner and taking her to supper1 he would probably answer1 ,have ,i not told you1 ',babylon is fallen'8 ,if his attention was called to the fact that the members of a prominent church1 in a novel entertainment1 displayed the likeness of a donkey1 minus the tail1 while the members one by one were blindfolded1 and1 amid the uproarous laughter of the crowd assembled1 were given the detached part to see who could place it the nearest where it belonged1 he would say with double emphasis1 ,have ,i not told you1 ',,babylon ,,the ,,great ,,is ,,fallen1 ,,is ,,fallen1 ,,and ,,is ,,become ,,the ,,habitation ,,of ,,devils1 ,,and ,,the ,,hold ,,of ,,every ,,foul ,,spirit1 ,,and ,a ,,cage ,,of ,,every ,,unclean ,,and ,,hateful ,,bird'8 ,the abominations are by no means confined to the mother in the ,revelation1 but are also to be found in abundance in connection with her harlot daughters4 #d4 ,and ,i heard another voice from heaven1 saying1 ,come out of her1 my people1 that ye be not partakers of her sins1 and that ye receive not of her plagues4 #e4 ,for her sins have reached unto heaven1 and ,god hath remembered her iniquities4 #f4 ,reward her even as she rewarded yon1 and double unto her double according to her works3 in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double4 #g4 ,how much she hath glorified herself1 and lived deliciously1 so much torment and sorrow give her3 for she saith in her heart1 ,i sit a queen1 and am no widow1 and shall see no sorrow4 #h4 ,therefore shall her plagues come in one day1 death1 and mourning1 and famine2 and she shall be utterly burned with fire3 for strong is the ,lord ,god who judgeth her4 ,here we have a number of important truths brought before us--first1 that ,god had a people in ,babylon who up to this time were free from her contaminations2 second1 that they received a positive call from heaven to come out2 third1 that all who refused to obey the heavenly command would become partakers of her sins and receive of her plagues2 fourth1 that those who came out were to pour the strongest judgments upon ,babylon--reward her even as she rewarded you1 and double unto her double according to her works3 in the cup which she hath filled1 fill to her double4 ,it is evident that the torment and sorrow which ,god's people give ,babylon after their departure is not a temporal retaliation--for they never indulge in such1 and the ,word of ,god forbids it--but is altogether of a spiritual nature2 hence the fierce judgment they inflict is executing the ,word of truth1 which brings to light all the wickedness and abominations contained therein4 ,death1 and mourning1 and famine only remain4 ,this symbolizes that all spiritual life has departed1 while famine and mourning are left4 ,that such is the actual fact is shown by the following lamentation of the late ,bishop ,r4,s4 ,foster concerning his own sect1 the ,methodist ,episcopal3 ,the ball1 the theatre1 nude and lewd art1 social luxuries1 with all their loose moralities1 are making inroads into the sacred enclosure of the church2 and as a satisfaction for all this worldliness1 ,christians are making a great deal of ,lent and ,easter and ,good ,friday1 and church ornamentations4 ,it is the old trick of ,satan4 ,the ,jewish church struck on that rock2 the ,romish church was wrecked on the same2 and the ,protestant church is fast reaching the same doom4 ,our great dangers as we see them1 are assimilation to the world1 neglect of the poor1 substitution of the form for the fact of godliness1 abandonment of discipline1 a hireling ministry1 an impure gospel1 which summed up is a fashionable church4 ,that ,methodists should be liable to such an outcome1 and that there should be signs of it in a hundred years from the 'sail-loft1' seems almost the miracle of history2 but who that looks about him to-day can fail to see the fact8 ,do not ,methodists1 in violation of ,god's ,word and their own discipline1 dress as extravagantly and as fashionably as any other class8 ,do not the ladies1 and even the wives and daughters of the ministry1 put on 'gold and pearls and costly array'8 ,would not the plain dress insisted upon by ,john ,wesley and ,bishop ,asbury1 and worn by ,hester ,ann ,rodgers1 ,lady ,huntington1 and many others equally distinguished1 be now regarded in ,methodist circles as fanaticism8 ,can any one going into the ,methodist church in any of our chief cities distinguish the attire of the communicants from that of the theater and ball-goers8 ,is not worldliness seen in the music8 ,elaborately dressed and ornamented choirs1 who in many cases make no profession of religion and are often sneering skeptics1 go through a cold artistic or operatic performance1 which is as much in harmony with spiritual worship as an opera or theater4 ,under such worldly performances spirituality is frozen to death4 ,formerly every ,methodist attended class and gave testimony of experimental religion4 ,now the class-meeting is attended by very few1 and in many churches abandoned4 ,seldom the stewards1 trustees and elders of the church attend class4 ,formerly nearly every ,methodist prayed1 testified or exhorted in prayer-meeting4 ,now but very few are heard4 ,formerly shouts and praises were heard2 now such demostrations of holy enthusiasm and joy are regarded as fanaticism4 ,worldly socials1 and fairs1 festivals1 concerts and such like have taken the place of religious gatherings1 revival meetings1 class and prayer meetings of earlier days4 ,how true that the ,methodist discipline is a dead letter6 ,its rules forbid the wearing of gold or pearls or costly array2 yet no one ever thinks of disciplining its members for violating them4 ,they forbid the reading of such books and the taking of such diversions as do not minister to godliness1 yet the church itself goes to frolics and festivals and fairs1 which destroy the spiritual life of the young1 as well as the old4 ,the extent to which this is now carried on is appalling4 ,the spiritual death it carries in its train will only be known when the millions it has swept into hell shall stand before the judgment4 ,the early ,methodist ministers went forth to sacrifice and to suffer for ,christ4 ,they sought not places of ease and affluence1 but of privation and suffering4 ,they gloried not in their big salaries1 fine parsonages1 and refined congregations1 but in the souls that had been won for ,jesus4 ,oh1 how changed6 ,a hireling ministry will be a feeble1 a timid1 a truckling1 a timeserving ministry1 without faith1 endurance1 and holy power4 ,methodism formerly dealt in the great central truth4 ,now the pulpits deal largely in the generalities and in popular lectures4 ,the glorious doctrine of entire sanctification is rarely heard and seldom witnessed in the pulpits4 ,this lengthy quotation shows clearly the spiritual condition of ,methodism1 and certainly she is no worse than the rest4 ,god is calling his people out of all the places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day4 ,ezek4 #cd3ab4 ,those who refuse to walk in the light will go into darkness4 ,god help people to flee out of the midst of ,babylon1 and deliver every man his soul4 #i4 ,and the kings of the earth1 who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her1 shall bewail her1 and lament for her1 when they shall see the smoke of her burning1 #aj4 ,standing afar off for the fear of her torment1 saying1 ,alas1 alas that great city ,babylon1 that mighty city6 for in one hour is thy judgment come4 #aa4 ,and the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her2 for no man buyeth their merchandise any more3 #ab4 ,the merchandise of gold1 and silver1 and precious stones1 and of pearls1 and fine linen1 and purple1 and silk1 and scarlet1 and all thyine wood1 and all manner vessels of ivory1 and all manner vessels of most precious wood1 and of brass1 and iron1 and marble1 #ac4 ,and cinnamon1 and odors1 and ointments1 and frankincense1 and wine1 and oil1 and fine flour1 and wheat1 and beasts1 and sheep1 and horses1 and chariots1 and slaves1 and souls of men4 #ad4 ,and the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee1 and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee1 and thou shalt find them no more at all4 #ae4 ,the merchants of these things1 which were made rich by her1 shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment1 weeping and wailing1 #af4 ,and saying1 ,alas1 alas that great city1 that was clothed in fine linen1 and purple1 and scarlet1 and decked with gold1 and precious stones1 and pearls6 #ag4 ,for in one hour so great riches is come to nought4 ,and every shipmaster1 and all the company in ships1 and sailors1 and as many as trade by sea1 stood afar off1 #ah4 ,and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning1 saying1 ,what city is like unto this great city6 #ai4 ,and they cast dust on their heads1 and cried1 weeping and wailing1 saying1 ,alas1 alas that great city1 wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness6 for in one hour is she made desolate4 ,in this description we have a continuation of the judgments of ,babylon already introduced4 ,it must be borne in mind1 however1 that this is the spiritual judgments following her moral fall1 and not her final and everlasting literal destruction4 ,the latter is described under another symbol a little further on in this series of prophecy4 ,the symbol here is that of a great city1 the grand metropolis of the world1 the mart of earth's commerce2 a superb city1 their sic being no end to its luxuries and magnificence4 ,in it everything that can minister to the appetite1 gratify the taste1 and feed the pride of the human soul is to be found in profusion1 being described at length4 ,this great city is suddenly afire1 and her merchants and the great men of the world who sustain her are overwhelmed with sorrow at the sight of all their wealth disappearing4 ,thus is great sect ,babylon represented4 ,she is a mighty city extending not only over the ,apocalyptic earth1 but1 as symbolized by the ship-masters1 sailors1 and foreign traders1 over the whole world4 ,suddenly she is set on fire by heaven's truth and her spiritual magnificence destroyed4 ,the apostle ,paul describes the great apostasy as a system that the ,lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth1 and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming4 #b ,thes4 #b3h4 ,that spiritual consumption is now taking place in accordance with the symbols of this chapter1 but the entire literal destruction of old ,babylon will take place coincident with the brightness of his coming1 as described in the following chapter4 ,that sectarians are greatly alarmed over the sad condition of their fallen churches is clearly shown by the many quotations already given from ,protestant writers4 ,they may not be aware that it is a judgment from heaven upon man-made organizations2 but such we know it to be in the light of eternal truth4 ,not only are they bewailing the loss of spiritual life and the desolating famine in sectdom1 as was ,bishop ,foster and others1 but they are beginning to tremble for their own safety and to wonder what the final outcome of it all will be4 ,wherever the gospel truth has been preached in all its purity1 the sectarian denominations have been left destitute of spiritual life2 for the children of ,god have heard his call1 ,come out of her1 my people1 and have made their escape to ,zion4 ,hence the ministers of ,babylon cry out continually1 ,stop6 you are tearing our churches down1 ,you are taking our best members away from us1 etc4 ,but we can not withhold the truth2 for the time has come when ,god is gathering his people together out of all the places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day 7,ezek4 #cd3ab7 into the one church that ,jesus built4 ,babylon is fallen1 is fallen4 #bj4 ,rejoice over her1 thou heaven1 and ye holy apostles and prophets2 for ,god hath avenged you on her4 ,this verse is so clear that it requires no special explanation4 ,god's people are delivered from sect ,babylon2 and while the judgments of eternal truth are being poured out upon her1 all heaven and earth is called upon to rejoice and to give glory to ,god4 ,we stand in the glory that ,jesus has given1 ,the moon as the day-spring doth shine2 ,the light of the sun is now equal to seven1 ,so bright is the glory divine4 ,now filled with the ,spirit and clad in the armor ,of light and omnipotent truth1 ,we'll testify ever and ,jesus we'll honor1 ,and stand from sin ,babel aloof4 ,the prophet's keen vision transpiercing the ages1 ,beheld us to ,zion return2 ,we'll sing of our freedom1 though ,babylon rages1 ,we'll shout as her city doth burn4 #ba4 ,and a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone1 and cast it into the sea1 saying1 ,thus with violence shall that great city ,babylon be thrown down1 and shall be found no more at all4 #bb4 ,and the voice of harpers1 and musicians1 and of pipers1 and trumpeters1 shall be heard no more at all in thee2 and no craftsman1 of whatsoever craft he be1 shall be found any more in thee2 and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee2 #bc4 ,and the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee2 and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee3 for thy merchants were the great men of the earth2 for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived4 #bd4 ,and in her was found the blood of prophets1 and of saints1 and of all that were slain upon the earth4 ,following the moral fall of ,babylon and the call of ,god's people out of her1 a mighty angel predicts her eternal doom4 ,with violence shall that great city ,babylon be thrown down1 and shall be found no more at all4 ,this doubtless has reference to the entire city of ,babylon in all her divisions brought to view in this series of prophecy and shows her final destruction at the coming of ,christ1 when she shall suddenly be thrown with terrific force1 like a great millstone descending into the sea1 and shall be found no more at all4 ,according to the symbols here given she will be like a city completely destroyed1 not one inhabitant or living creature remaining4 ,thus her eternal doom is pictured and remains to be yet fulfilled4 ,and in her was found the blood of prophets1 and of saints1 and of all that were slain upon the earth4 ,we have already shown that ,protestantism1 as well as her mother ,romanism1 has been guilty of shedding innocent blood2 and as the term ,babylon includes both these divisions1 when the great city is thrown down with violence1 ,romanism and ,protestantism will sink together1 and then this awful treasure--the blood of prophets and of saints--shall be brought to light in that last great day of ,god ,almighty4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,and after these things ,i heard a great voice of much people in heaven1 saying1 ,alleluia2 ,salvation1 and glory1 and honor1 and power1 unto the ,lord our ,god3 #b4 ,for true and righteous are his judgments3 for he hath judged the great whore1 which did corrupt the earth with her fornication1 and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand4 #c4 ,and again they said1 ,alleluia4 ,and her smoke rose up for ever and ever4 #d4 ,and the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped ,god that sat on the throne1 saying1 ,amen2 ,alleluia4 #e4 ,and a voice came out of the throne1 saying1 ,praise our ,god1 all ye his servants1 and ye that fear him1 both small and great4 #f4 ,and ,i heard as it were the voice of a great multitude1 and as the voice of many waters1 and as the voice of mighty thunderings1 saying1 ,alleluia3 for the ,lord ,god omnipotent reigneth4 #g4 ,let us be glad and rejoice1 and give honor to him3 for the marriage of the ,lamb is come1 and his wife hath made herself ready4 #h4 ,and to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen1 clean and white3 for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints4 #i4 ,and he saith unto me1 ,write1 ,blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the ,lamb4 ,and he saith unto me1 ,these are the true sayings of ,god4 #aj4 ,and ,i fell at his feet to worship him4 ,and he said unto me1 ,see thou do it not3 ,i am thy fellowservant1 and of thy brethren that have the testimony of ,jesus3 worship ,god3 for the testimony of ,jesus is the spirit of prophecy4 ,the scene of this vision is laid in heaven4 ,john heard a great voice of much people saying1 ,alleluia2 ,salvation1 and glory1 and honor1 and power1 unto the ,lord our ,god4 ,this great song of praise doubtless came from the lips of the angelic throng2 for immediately the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders reechoed the same shout of praise1 saying1 ,amen2 ,alleluia4 ,then came a voice from the throne calling upon the servants of ,god1 both small and great1 to unite on this occasion in one grand and sacred song of praise2 and this sublime chorus fell upon the ear of the enraptured apostle as it were the voice of a great multitude1 and as the voice of many waters1 and as the voice of mighty thunderings1 saying1 ,alleluia3 for the ,lord ,god omnipotent reigneth4 ,let us be glad and rejoice1 and give honor to him for the marriage of the ,lamb is come1 and his wife or bride hath made herself ready4 ,was not here a hearty response to that call1 ,rejoice over her thou heaven8 ,while this scene shows the interest all heaven takes in these wondrous scenes of earth1 it is doubtless intended especially to represent the joy and thanksgiving of ,god's people who have gotten the victory over the beast1 and over his image1 and over his mark1 and over the number of his name4 ,the marriage of the ,lamb which was about to take place was a special theme of joy on this occasion4 ,in the ,scripture the term marriage is frequently used to represent a special union between ,christ and his people4 ,thus1 the early church was represented as being free because of the death of the law1 that they should be married to another1 even to him who is raised from the dead4 ,rom4 #g3d4 ,so1 also1 the eternal union of ,christ with his people is here described under the figure of marriage4 ,in one sense they have been married to ,christ all through this dispensation2 in another sense they have not4 ,the church has had the promise of this eternal union1 hence she has been betrothed to ,christ2 but left in the world1 she has been driven into the wilderness1 while a corrupt and drunken prostitute and her harlot daughters have been in the public view4 ,now1 however1 the judgments of ,god have descended upon ,babylon1 and the bride of ,christ appears in all her beauty again1 arrayed in fine linen1 clean and white2 and the next great event is her public marriage to ,christ when he comes to claim her as his own4 ,the marriage scene is one of the most joyful that we witness on earth1 and among ,eastern nations especially was celebrated with great pomp and magnificence1 the joy and splendor of the occasion being enhanced according to the rank and wealth of the parties4 ,but earth has never witnessed such an event as this special marriage of the ,lamb4 ,well may the inhabitants of heaven and earth1 in view of this sublime spectacle1 swell the song of praise--,let us be glad and rejoice1 and give honor to him3 for the marriage of the ,lamb is come1 and his wife hath made herself ready4 ,the special preparations that the bride is making represents the glorious holiness reformation that is now sweeping over the world1 gathering ,god's people together for the splendid event4 ,blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the ,lamb4 ,these are the true sayings of ,god4 ,they are almost too glorious to be believed2 still1 they are no idle dreams of fancy3 they are true1 yea the true sayings of ,god4 ,in the contemplation of such a wonderful event1 the beloved apostle was carried away1 as it were1 with holy enthusiasm1 and he fell at the feet of the angel to worship4 ,we do not know just what the motives or impressions were that caused him to do this4 ,but his soul was full1 full to overflowing1 and he could not but adore and worship4 ,the angel1 however1 refused the homage thus offered1 by the declaration that he himself1 also1 was the servant of ,christ and one of the brethren that had the testimony of ,jesus2 for the testimony of ,jesus is the spirit of prophecy4 ,the idea is3 ,i am a fellowservant with you1 and we both have his testimony4 ,you bear witness to him now in this present generation2 ,i bear witness to those who are to come4 ,you witness now of his death and resurrection2 ,i tell of his future glory and triumphs4 ,we are both1 therefore1 engaged in the same good work4 ,the testimony of ,jesus and the spirit of prophecy are the same4 ,to ,god1 therefore1 we must both bow4 ,see remarks on chap4 #a3a4 #aa4 ,and ,i saw heaven opened1 and behold a white horse2 and he that sat upon him was called ,faithful and ,true1 and in righteousness he doth judge and make war4 #ab4 ,his eyes were as a flame of fire1 and on his head were many crowns2 and he had a name written1 that no man knew1 but he himself4 #ac4 ,and he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood3 and his name is called ,the ,word of ,god4 #ad4 ,and the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses1 clothed in fine linen1 white and clean4 #ae4 ,and out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword1 that with it he should smite the nations3 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron3 and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of ,almighty ,god4 #af4 ,and he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written1 ,,king ,,of ,,kings1 ,,and ,,lord ,,of ,,lords4 ,that the person described in this vision is ,christ is questioned by no one4 ,he is the same one who appeared to ,john in the beginning4 ,then he stood in the midst of the seven golden candle-sticks1 the sure defense of the churches1 holding the seven stars in his right hand4 ,now1 however1 he appears from the opened heavens on a white horse1 his mission to judge and make war4 ,the description of his person1 his names1 and his attributes1 unmistakably proclaim him the ,son of ,god4 ,he is the faithful and true1 the name by which he made himself known to the churches of ,philadelphia and ,laodicea4 ,his eyes as a flame of fire denotes omniscience2 and as a searcher of all hearts he made himself known to the church of ,thyatira4 ,many crowns are a symbol of supreme sovereignty and doubtless signify his many victories4 ,and he had a name written which no man knew but he himself4 ,he had names by which he might be known to mortals2 but he had one name that no created intelligence could understand3 it was known only to him4 ,what that name was1 of course1 is not given2 it could not be4 ,if the human mind could not conceive it1 human language could not convey it4 ,we can know him as the ,faithful and true ,witness1 as the ,word of ,god1 and as ,king of kings and ,lord of lords2 but there is one name that we can not know4 ,his vesture dipped in blood refers1 not to the blood of atonement1 but to the blood of his enemies sprinkled upon his raiment in treading the winepress of ,god's wrath1 and denotes that he was going forth to the dread work of vengeance4 ,to this ,i shall refer more fully hereafter4 ,his name is also called the ,word of ,god1 which1 when used as a personal appellation in the ,scriptures1 always signifies ,jesus ,christ4 ,before considering his mission further and the armies that accompanied him1 ,i wish to call special attention to the nature and the chronology of this event4 ,if the present series of prophetic symbols 7which begin with chap4 #ag7 is a narrative of continuous events reaching to the end1 then the vision before us is a description of the second coming of ,christ1 the event which was just previously announced and for which the bride had made herself ready4 ,the usual interpretation given it is1 that it is a sublime description of the servants of ,christ going forth under his direction to spread the truth everywhere among the nations--in short1 that it is the triumph of gospel truth over error under the providential government of ,christ4 ,that such a meaning can be derived from the vision by taking it in a figurative sense there can be no doubt1 and this is what commentators generally do4 ,they make the whole a figurative description of the triumph of the gospel1 ,christ being present only by his superintending providence4 ,it is made simply a highly poetic description of the victory of truth and righteousness4 ,in this case1 however1 the principles of symbolic language are clearly abandoned and a mere ordinary figurative meaning given4 ,if we follow strictly the laws of symbolic language1 as we manifestly ought1 we shall be compelled to take another view of it4 ,in the first place1 if this does not describe the actual coming of ,christ1 then his second coming is nowhere described in the ,revelation4 ,that so great an event should merely be alluded to in a few places and nowhere symbolically described seems incredible4 ,at the judgment scene brought to view in the following chapter the presence of ,christ is assumed1 but it is not stated4 ,again1 there are no victories of love and mercy described at all in the vision before us2 but1 on the contrary1 it is a scene of fearful judgment--a terrible treading of the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of ,almighty ,god1 the complete overthrow of every opposing power2 while the beast and the false prophet are represented as taken and cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone4 ,surely1 this is not the work of the church of ,god4 ,but let it be remembered especially that this last event takes place under the seventh plague1 which is the filling up of the wrath of ,god1 and that ,christ previously announced under the sixth vial1 ,behold1 ,i come as a thief4 ,christ comes in reality when this seventh plague occurs4 ,to represent the glorious triumphs of ,christianity by the mission of the church1 the gospel and the ,holy ,spirit1 under the symbol of ,christ1 going forth to judge1 to make war1 and to tread the winepress of ,god's wrath1 is at war with every principle of symbolic language4 ,but can this vision of ,christ upon a white horse denote a mere providential superintendence1 such as ,christ constantly exercises over the church and its spiritual affairs on earth8 ,certainly not by any principle of symbolic language4 ,throughout the whole prophecy thus far we have seen that whenever any symbolic agent is brought upon the panorama1 whether horseman1 or beasts1 or locusts1 or harlot1 or whatever else1 it always denotes some corresponding agents appearing on earth and beginning their appropriate work4 ,the symbolic agent is real4 ,but here is a symbolic appearance of ,christ4 ,by what law could such a symbolic appearance represent merely a providential superintendence8 ,and if his appearance was necessary in this case1 why was it not necessary in every event1 to show that it was done under his direction8 ,again1 if this symbolic appearance of ,christ is not his real appearance1 how can we tell that there is any reality in the appearance of the horsemen of the first four seals1 the ten-horned beast1 or the harlot woman8 ,what right have we to remove one agent from the panorama as an actual agent there any more than another8 ,and if this is not his real appearance1 upon what principle of interpretation can we ever establish the fact of his second coming8 ,it is evident to all that1 if we can turn this agent into a mere providential one1 we can do the same with another1 and thus set aside his second coming altogether4 ,then1 what shall we say in the next chapter when some one steals our weapons and declares that the great white throne before which all the dead1 small and great1 stand is nothing but that providential government of ,god under which all sinners pass condemnation upon themselves and their sins find them out8 ,if we can deal thus with symbols1 we can do anything with them and can make out any meaning we please4 ,the laws of symbolic language require us to take the appearance of ,christ in this vision just as we do the appearance of any other agent1 as a real event4 ,we can not consistently give it any other meaning4 ,his symbolic appearance must represent his real appearance2 otherwise1 it can never be represented by anything4 ,jesus appears in his own name and person because there is no other that can represent his infinite dignity and majesty4 ,and the symbols connected with him denote the object of his mission and the work which he performs4 ,his white horse shows him now a glorious conqueror2 his crowns denote his supreme dominion2 the sword of his mouth and his vesture dipped in blood denote the dread work of vengeance upon his enemies2 while the army following him doubtless denotes the ten thousands of his saints that accompany him when he comes4 ,jude #ad4 ,the bride has already prepared herself for his coming1 and now the eternal union takes place4 ,blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the ,lamb4 #ag4 ,and ,i saw an angel standing in the sun2 and he cried with a loud voice1 saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven1 ,come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great ,god2 #ah4 ,that ye may eat the flesh of kings1 and the flesh of captains1 and the flesh of mighty men1 and the flesh of horses2 and of them that sit on them1 and the flesh of all men1 both free and bond1 both small and great4 #ai4 ,and ,i saw the beast1 and the kings of the earth1 and their armies1 gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse1 and against his army4 #bj4 ,and the beast was taken1 and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him1 with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast1 and them that worshipped his image4 ,these both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone4 #ba4 ,and the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse1 which sword proceeded out of his mouth3 and all the fowls were filled with their flesh4 ,the foregoing explanation so nearly covers this ground that little remains to be said4 ,the symbol is that of vast slaughter on a battle-field1 which gathers all the birds of heaven and the beasts of the forest to the prey4 ,the enemies gathered for this battle were the beast1 and the kings of the earth1 and their armies1 together with the false prophet4 ,this is the grand confederacy of wickedness formed under the mission of the three unclean spirits that went forth1 not only unto the kings of the earth1 but also into the whole world4 ,this is not a literal collecting of armies1 hence not a literal slaughter upon a battlefield1 nor a literal assembling of carrion birds2 but it is a symbolic representation of the final and eternal destruction of the allied powers of sin4 ,as will be further described in the following chapter1 they were gathered together for the purpose of overthrowing the church of ,god and anticipated a complete victory in the battle of ,armageddon2 but the sudden appearance of ,jesus ,christ to rescue his bride results in their complete overthrow4 ,the special theme of this series of prophecy has been the history of apostate ,christendom2 hence the beast and the false prophet are represented as being taken and thrown into the lake of fire burning with brimstone4 ,the remnant that were slain refers to the other powers of wickedness not embraced in ,catholicism and ,protestantism ,this series being now traced to its close1 the narrative returns to take up another important theme of prophetic truth4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,and ,i saw an angel come down from heaven1 having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand4 #b4 ,and he laid hold on the dragon1 that old serpent1 which is the ,devil1 and ,satan1 and bound him a thousand years4 #c4 ,and cast him into the bottomless pit1 and shut him up1 and set a seal upon him1 that he should deceive the nations no more1 till the thousand years should be fulfilled3 and after that he must be loosed a little season4 ,it is commonly supposed that the events here described are to occur at the second advent2 but by considering carefully the different things enumerated in this chapter--the binding of the dragon2 then a thousand years2 after that the ,armageddon battle2 and last of all the judgment scene1 in which all the dead1 both small and great1 are rewarded1 and all the powers of wickedness cast into the lake of fire--it will be seen at once that this is not a continuation of the series of prophecy immediately preceding1 but an entirely new theme1 running partly parallel with that series1 and both ending at the same point--the second coming of ,christ and the general judgment1 in which the lake of fire is the final doom of the combined powers of wickedness4 ,in that series the beast and the false prophet--,romanism and ,protestantism--were the chief powers of evil under consideration2 in this series the dragon feature predominates4 ,if this be not true1 then there will be two judgment scenes and the wicked cast into the lake of fire twice4 ,positive proof of the position here taken will be given as we proceed4 ,the power here referred to as the ,devil and ,satan is also denominated the dragon4 ,this use of the definite article shows clearly that a particular character is designated--the dragon--and implies that the object has already been introduced4 ,in his first appearance upon the symbolic panorama 7chap4 #ab3c7 he is simply styled a dragon1 but in every subsequent instance he is called the dragon1 which proves that the same character is meant4 ,in addition to the former remarks on chapter #ab3i relative to the terms applied to this antichristian power1 the following quotation from the ,people's ,cyclopdia will throw some light on the subject3 ,in the mythical history and legendary poetry of almost every nation1 the dragon appears as the emblem of the destructive and anarchistic principle4444 ,like the serpent1 the dragon is always a minister of evil 444 the object of which is to fight order1 harmony1 and progress4 ,in ,christian art1 the dragon is the emblem of sin4444 ,it is often represented as crushed under the feet of saints and martyrs4444 ,sometimes its prostrate attitude signifies the triumph of ,christianity over ,paganism4 ,art4 ,dragon4 ,considering this usage of these terms for ages1 it is not strange that they were applied also to that great antichristian1 persecuting system of ,paganism1 which stood before ,christianity as its greatest barrier to order1 harmony1 and progress4 ,the angel that overthrew this public system of ,pagan infidelity symbolizes the primitive host of ,christians1 the ministers in particular4 ,some have supposed that he represented ,christ2 but1 as already shown conclusively1 ,christ can not be symbolized by an inferior intelligence1 hence always appears upon the scene in his own character1 proclaiming his own eternal name4 ,the fact that this angel possessed the key of the bottomless pit is no proof that he is ,christ1 even though in chapter #a3ah ,jesus is said to have certain keys2 for in chapter #i3a we find that a fallen star--the symbol of ,mohammed--is said to have the key of the bottomless pit also4 ,at the most1 this expression is only a symbol of power and authority1 be it good or bad4 ,in the gospel the same figure is applied to ,god's ministers1 where they are given authority to bind the powers of wickedness on earth4 ,mat4 #af3ai2 #ah3ah4 ,the chain is a symbol of the power to bind4 ,when ,christianity first commenced its warfare with this huge system of error1 almost the entire then-known world was under its deceptive influence2 but by a long conflict1 in which thousands of the noble followers of the ,lamb were slaughtered1 this antichristian public system of ,pagan infidelity was at last completely overthrown1 and the final result was1 that the civilized world became as completely ,christian 7nominally at least7 as it ever had been ,pagan4 ,this great transformation could never have been effected without the undying heroism and whole-hearted consecration of the first disciples of ,christ4 ,from this time the dragon as such--as a public deceiver of the nations throughout the ,apocalyptic earth--was overthrown4 ,this marks the beginning of the thousand years mentioned4 ,since many of the principles of heathenism were copied by the church of ,rome1 it may be difficult for some to understand at first why it is said that the dragon no longer deceived the nations after being cast down by primitive ,christianity2 but this becomes clear when we consider what the dragon really was and what the church of ,rome was understood to be4 ,a time came when the entire civilized world knew that heathenism as such was wrong and rejected the very idea of a plurality of gods2 but they were led to believe that they could adapt many of their former rites and ceremonies to the worship of the one true ,god in whom they believed and thereby render acceptable service to him1 and were sure that the ,romish church was the one true apostolic church4 ,it was not the dragon1 or heathenism1 that then deceived them2 it was ,christianity--a false ,christianity4 ,the manner in which the people were deceived during the time following the casting down of heathenism in the beginning has already been considered in chapters ,,xii1 ,,xiii1 ,,xvii1 ,,xviii1 etc41 covering the same period of time included in the one thousand years in the vision before us4 ,we can not apply this period specified as literally one thousand years without varying from every principle of time prophecy in the ,revelation1 for they are all symbolic2 neither can we apply it according to the usual year-day method1 which1 signifying three hundred and sixty thousand years1 would throw this series of events out of harmony with the time-periods allotted to the other themes of truth running over the same ground and terminating at the same point--the general judgment4 ,therefore1 to be consistent1 we shall have to apply it as 7so far as human knowledge of the exact dates is concerned7 an indefinite length of time1 on the same principle that the hour of temptation in chapter #c3aj1 the three and one-half days in chapter #aa3i1 and the hour in which the ten kingdoms receive power with the beast 7chap4 #ag3ab71 etc41 are applied4 #d4 ,and ,i saw thrones1 and they sat upon them1 and judgment was given unto them3 and ,i saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of ,jesus1 and for the word of ,god1 and which had not worshipped the beast1 neither his image1 neither had received his mark upon their foreheads1 or in their hands2 and they lived and reigned with ,christ a thousand years4 #e4 ,but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished4 ,this is the first resurrection4 #f4 ,blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection3 on such the second death hath no power1 but they shall be priests of ,god and of ,christ1 and shall reign with him a thousand years4 ,we have in this description another division of the subject introduced--a history of ,god's people1 or one phase of the church1 during the same thousand years following the casting down of the dragon4 ,they lived and reigned with ,christ4 ,it was those who had part in the first resurrection that were exalted to this honored position with ,christ4 ,millenarians always assume that this refers to a literal resurrection at the second coming of ,christ1 but no such thing is hinted at4 ,not one word is said about literally resurrected saints reigning4 ,john says1 ,i saw the souls of them which were beheaded for the witness of ,jesus 444 and they lived and reigned with ,christ a thousand years4 ,nothing whatever is said about any reign on earth at all2 but the description shows plainly that it was disembodied spirits that were reigning with ,christ in ,paradise during the period that followed the casting down of the dragon1 which was in reality one of long apostasy and darkness on earth4 ,before and during this conflict with ,paganism the church of ,god was publicly triumphant on earth4 ,afterward1 during the apostasy1 a false church was1 in the public view1 triumphant1 while the church of ,god was crowded out of sight into the wilderness4 ,however1 the reign of ,god's saints did not cease2 for when they were slaughtered by their relentless persecutors and deprived of their reign on earth1 they were1 as symbolized by the man-child1 caught up to ,god and to his throne and there lived and reigned with ,christ during the thousand years under consideration4 ,this same thought concerning the reign of the martyrs in ,paradise while the powers of evil triumphed on earth1 was brought to view on the opening of the fifth seal in chapter #f3i-aa4 ,and when he had opened the fifth seal1 ,i saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of ,god1 and for the testimony which they held3 and they cried with a loud voice1 saying1 ,how long1 ,o ,lord1 holy and true1 dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth8 ,and white robes were given unto every one of them2 and it was said unto them1 that they should rest yet for a little season1 until their fellowservants also and their brethren1 that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled4 ,this quotation will make clear one point concerning the refusal of the martyrs to worship the beast and his image4 ,we are not to understand that every soul of the martyrs ,john saw in these visions reigned during the entire period under consideration2 but he beheld the reign of the saints above during the one thousand years1 and he saw there the souls of all the martyrs--such as had been slain in the early days of ,christianity 7chap4 #ab3aa72 such as refused to worship the beast and were martyred therefor 7chap4 #ac3g72 and also1 such as should be killed as they were 7chap4 #f3aa7 and were put to death shortly after the formation of the image of the beast4 ,chap4 #ac3ae2 #af3f4 ,this company of souls that the apostle saw reigning with ,christ above were those who had had part in the first resurrection1 which had made them blessed and holy4 ,they were not on earth2 they were disembodied spirits above1 hence had not been literally resurrected4 ,the ,scriptures clearly teach that mankind in their ordinary condition are dead in trespasses and in sins1 and that through salvation1 which makes them blessed and holy1 they are quickened to a new life in ,christ4 ,eph4 #b3a4 ,that this is ,scripturally the first resurrection is proved most positively by the words of ,christ--,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 the hour is coming1 and now is1 when the dead shall hear the voice of the ,son of ,god3 and they that hear shall live4 ,he that heareth my word1 and believeth on him that sent me1 hath everlasting life1 and shall not come into condemnation1 but is passed from death unto life4 ,john #e3be1 #bd4 ,although many other proofs could easily be given1 this of itself is sufficient to establish the point that the host of early ,christians who had passed from death unto life in ,christ and who gave their lives gladly for the sake of ,christ1 constituted the ones referred to as having had part in the first resurrection4 ,according to verse #f it was only on those who had part in the first resurrection that the second death had no power4 ,the church at ,smyrna received the sure promise from ,christ himself that they should not be hurt of the second death 7chap4 #b3aa72 and this shows beyond all question that even at that early date they had had part in this first resurrection that makes men blessed and holy4 ,it is the trick of ,beelzebub to deceive souls by causing them to overlook the fact that this first resurrection that made men blessed and holy is of a spiritual nature and to fix their hopes in two literal resurrections at the end4 ,there will be but one literal resurrection then1 as is clearly shown by the account given of the judgment in this chapter1 verses #aa-ae4 ,the writer of the ,revelation declared positively1 ,behold1 he cometh with clouds3 and every eye shall see him1 and they also which pierced him3 and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him4 ,chap4 #a3g4 ,if this does not prove that there is but one literal resurrection when ,christ comes1 then ,i would not know how to state such a fact if ,i desired4 ,furthermore1 ,jesus himself1 in the same chapter in which he described the first resurrection1 says most positively that all the literal dead shall be resurrected at the same time4 ,marvel not at this1 he says3 the hour is coming1 in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice1 and shall come forth2 they that have done good1 unto the resurrection of life2 and they that have done evil1 unto the resurrection of damnation4 ,john #e3bh1 #bi4 ,this hour certainly can not signify more than a short period of time4 ,in their efforts to prove two literal resurrections1 millenarians always quote with emphasis1 ,the dead in ,christ shall rise first4 #a ,thes4 #d3af4 ,in doing so they1 either ignorantly or wilfully1 wrest the ,scriptures to their own destruction2 for any one can see at a glance that no such thing as two resurrections is even hinted at4 ,verses #ae-ag simply teach this1 that the righteous who are living on the earth at the time ,christ appears will not ascend to heaven before the righteous dead are resurrected1 but the dead will rise first1 then they will all be caught up together at one and the same time4 ,the wicked are not mentioned in this connection2 for1 as stated1 ,paul was writing this only for the comfort and the edification of the church4 ,in the following chapter1 however1 their sudden destruction at the second coming of ,christ is mentioned as a warning to the church4 ,it is evident that the first resurrection as applied in this connection specified particularly that phase of the church which1 as symbolized by the man-child1 was caught up to ,god through martyrdom and there lived and reigned with ,christ4 ,the other phase of the church1 symbolized by the woman1 is not said to reign with ,christ a thousand years1 but1 on the other hand1 is represented as driven into the wilderness1 her public reign on earth being ended by the holy city being trodden under foot of a profane multitude of apostate beast-worshipers2 and the two witnesses1 clothed in sackcloth1 were prophesying only in a few isolated1 individual hearts4 ,a careful study of this scripture1 taken in connection with others in the ,revelation applying to the same object1 will show that all ,god's people1 both those here brought to view during the thousand years and those following that period1 are spoken of as dead people resurrected and reigning4 ,they are considered under two phases--those who1 as symbolized by the man-child1 were caught up to ,god through martyrdom and there lived and reigned with ,christ2 and those who1 as symbolized by the woman1 were deprived of their public reign on earth and were driven into the wilderness during the same period4 ,the first phase were priests of ,god and of ,christ and reigned with him in ,paradise 7chap4 #f3i-aa72 but the rest1 the phase symbolized by the woman1 did not live and enjoy their public reign again1 as in the early days of ,christianity1 until the expiration of the thousand-year period4 ,it is true that individuals on earth received life from ,god and were thus spiritually resurrected during the thousand-year period2 but the dominant beast-power martyred them by thousands1 the two witnesses were then in their sack-cloth state1 and thus the public triumphal reign of the saints on earth ceased4 ,the statement of verse five that the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished should be applied not in an individual1 but in a general sense1 the same as the reign above during the same period is considered4 ,there is also some doubt as to the authenticity of this sentence4 ,it is not found in the ,vatican ,manuscript1 which is one of the oldest in existence2 and the ,syriac ,version1 which has come down to us from early days through an entirely separate channel1 does not contain it4 ,however1 it is evident that the phase of the church symbolized by the woman actually reigns triumphantly on earth after the thousand years is finished2 for verses #g-i of this chapter show that the dragon1 combined with ,gog and ,magog1 goes forth on the breadth of the earth to compass the camp of the saints just before the end of time4 ,the fact that the reign of ,god's people on earth is divided into two distinct periods is shown also by other prophecies4 ,in the seventh chapter of ,daniel is recorded a vision of four great beasts1 symbolizing the ,babylonian1 ,medo-,persian1 ,grecian1 and ,roman empires4 ,verse #ah1 connected with ,dan4 #b3ca-dd1 shows that the saints were to possess the kingdom of ,god before the overthrow of all these four kingdoms1 which was actually fulfilled by ,jesus ,christ appearing during the reign of the ,roman empire and planting the kingdom of ,god in the earth4 ,see ,mark #a3ae2 ,luke #ab3cb2 #af3af2 ,col4 #a3ac4 ,then follows a description of the rise of the ,papacy1 which was to wear out the saints of the most ,high for a time1 times1 and the dividing of times--three and one-half times1 or forty-two months1 or1 prophetically1 twelve hundred and sixty years4 ,this1 as before explained1 reaches to the year ,a4,d4 #aecj4 ,during this period the public reign of the saints on earth ceased4 ,then immediately following it is said1 ,the judgment shall sit1 and they shall take away his dominion1 to consume and to destroy it unto the end4 ,this does not refer to the final judgment2 it is a spiritual judgment that commences before that time and continues unto the end4 ,for example of a similar judgment see ,acts #g3g4 ,god had a people during the ,protestant era who walked in all the light they possessed and who were filled with judgment against the beast-power that had worn out the saints for ages4 ,and though in places some were put to death for refusing to worship the image of the beast that lifeless professors had set up1 yet there were from time to time reformations that resurrected many people to life in ,christ4 ,a little later1 however1 the real spiritual reign of the saints is perfectly restored in the pure gospel light of the evening time1 and now the next verse is fulfilled1 which says1 ,and the kingdom and dominion1 and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven1 shall be given to the people of the saints of the most ,high1 whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom4 ,it is only reasonable to suppose that the public reign on earth would commence gradually and would finally reach its perfect fulfilment1 just the same as it ceased gradually in the beginning4 ,therefore we can not point to a definite date exactly marking the end of the thousand years1 any more than we can locate exactly the time of its commencement2 but we must be satisfied just to consider this symbolic expression as covering a long period of time during which these important phases of deep truth are considered merely from a general standpoint4 ,this special reign of a thousand years above is doubtless brought to our view for the express purpose of making the history of the triumph of ,christianity continuous4 ,when interrupted on earth1 the scene is suddenly transferred to ,paradise2 then when the woman comes out of the wilderness and the public reign on earth begins again1 while the woman is being prepared as a bride for the coming of the ,lamb1 the scene1 as the following description in verse #i also will show1 is again transferred to earth4 ,the reign above does not in reality cease with the expiration of the thousand years1 but we are permitted to obtain a view of it only for that length of time during the down-trodden state of the church on earth4 ,this reign of the martyrs' above is placed in direct contrast with the public reign on earth during the same time1 which consisted of multitudes of people worshiping the beast1 recieving his image and his mark4 ,what the thrones on which they sat and the judgment given them signifies1 ,i do not know for certain1 but it is doubtless the same exalted privilege and authority which ,christ promised to all his over-comers--to sit with him on his throne4 ,chap4 #c3ba4 #g4 ,and when the thousand years are expired1 ,satan shall be loosed out of his prison1 #h4 ,and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth1 ,gog and ,magog1 to gather them together to battle3 the number of whom is as the sand of the sea4 #i4 ,and they went up on the breadth of the earth1 and compassed the camp of the saints about1 and the beloved city3 and fire came down from ,god out of heaven1 and devoured them4 #aj4 ,and the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone1 where the beast and the false prophet are1 and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever4 ,the loosing of ,satan1 or the dragon1 is the first important point to be considered4 ,before this matter can be rightly understood1 however1 we must take into account carefully certain facts regarding his binding4 ,it was not the dragon as a political power that ,christianity attacked 7it did not labor to that end71 but it was its huge public system of false belief that was overthrown4 ,this great system1 as opposed to ,christianity1 can all be summed up under the one word infidelity4 ,infidel signifies a heathen2 one who disbelieves in ,christ1 or the divine origin and authority of ,christianity4--,webster4 ,this system was positively an antichristian power that sought by every possible means to destroy the religion of ,jesus and to blot out his very name4 ,it failed in the attempt4 ,it was bound4 ,during the long reign of ,popery1 when the doctrine was be-a-,catholic-or-die1 infidelity could not publicly lift its head in the sense in which it was cast down by the early ,christians4 ,it had no power over the nations of the ,apocalyptic earth to then deceive them2 but they were greatly deceived by a false ,christianity until almost all the world wondered after the beast4 ,the release of the dragon1 then1 in order to be entirely satisfactory and consistent1 must embrace the following points3 ,first1 it must at least include the development of a great public antichristian power whose avowed object is to destroy the whole fabric of ,christianity4 ,second1 being bound by divine power1 his release must be the result of divine permission for a special purpose4 ,third1 the scene of his imprisonment must necessarily be the place of his release2 namely1 the earth--the ,apocalyptic earth--the territory of the ,roman empire4 ,we find all these requirements meeting a most perfect fulfilment in the events described under the pouring out of the first vial1 which was done by the direction of ,him that sat upon the throne4 ,a sufficient history of that fearful system of infidelity which1 through the labors of ,voltaire and his coadjutors1 spread throughout all ,europe has already been given4 ,the very object of the leaders of this movement was the extermination of the ,christian religion1 and their secret watchword was ,crush the wretch1 meaning ,jesus ,christ4 ,the dragon was loose in all his terrible features4 ,the ,pagans upheld a false belief2 these modern worshipers of the dragon did likewise and publicly exalted the ,goddess of ,reason as an object of devotion1 setting aside every tenth day for their hellish orgies in her honor4 ,the former endeavored to overthrow the ,christian religion2 the latter had for its special aim the utter destruction of everything ,christian either in name or in character4 ,this devilish system spread over all ,europe and almost undermined the whole fabric of society1 and threatened to convert the world from ,christianity to the worship of the ,goddess of ,reason4 ,its foothold gained was so extensive and its effects so far-reaching that prominent historians1 ,d',aubigne among the number1 have denominated the period of its greatest triumph the day of ,reason4 ,it is one of the three and one-half days covered by the prophecy in ,rev4 #aa3i4 ,i do not wish to be understood1 however1 as limiting the release of the dragon and his work to the system of infidelity that had its origin in ,france4 ,i merely refer to that unfortunate system as the beginning of the dragon's release and work--the re-introduction to the world of those principles of public hostility to ,christianity which had lain buried since the days of ,pagan ,rome4 ,the dragon in the beginning was a deceptive system1 one that deceived the whole world2 but its deceptions were uncovered by the light of ,christianity1 and then it became the bitter public opposer of the religion of ,christ4 ,in the release of the dragon the order is reversed4 ,he first appears as the public enemy of ,christianity in the form already mentioned1 but afterwards changes his tactics to milder methods in order the better to deceive the people1 as we shall see hereafter4 ,but there is another chapter in the history of the dragon's career that we must not overlook--his partnership with ,gog and ,magog4 ,the original signification of the terms ,gog and ,magog is difficult to ascertain1 as all known accounts are conflicting4 ,the terms occur in ,ezek4 #ch and #ci also4 ,in the ,revelation1 however1 it is clear that these terms are applied to ,romanism and ,protestantism1 and under the special leadership of this spirit of antichrist they are gathered together to battle against the saints of the most ,high4 ,i will again quote the description of this union as given under the sixth vial1 which refers to the present time3 ,and ,i saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon1 and out of the mouth of the beast1 and out of the mouth of the false prophet4 ,for they are the spirits of devils1 working miracles1 which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world1 to gather them to the battle of that great day of ,god ,almighty4444 ,and he gathered them into a place called in the ,hebrew tongue ,armageddon4 ,chap4 #af3ac-af4 ,it will be noticed that the field of operations under this grand confederation of the three unclean spirits is enlarged so that it includes not merely the ,apocalyptic earth1 but the whole world4 ,in order to form a confederation of powers each of which holds its own distinctive principles1 it is necessary that each make certain concessions1 in outward appearance at least1 so that they can work together in harmony against a common foe4 ,in this case it will be necessary that three points be conceded before the dragon1 the beast1 and the false prophet can agree4 ,first1 the dragon must not appear in his true character as antichristian2 he must be clothed in some different attire in order to deceive4 ,second1 ,catholicism must stop her work of slaying those who disagree with her and cover up her true principles4 ,third1 ,protestantism must cease protesting against the abominations of ,catholicism4 ,we are living in the time when this confederation of the powers of wickedness is being effected2 therefore we must not expect to see the dragon as a terrible creature with heads and horns standing as the open adversary of ,god1 but we must look for him dressed up in a garb to deceive4 ,if necessary he can place himself under a ,christian garb without violating his conscience--of which he has none4 ,it will perhaps be beneficial to give the reader a short account of some of the forms under which the dragon is manifesting himself at the present time in order to deceive the people4 ,it will be remembered that1 in the description of the first vial1 which represented the awful system of infidelity that was spread over ,europe1 ,dr4 ,adam ,weishaupt of the ,university of ,ingolstadt1 formed a secret society under the name of the ,illuminati in order the better to spread these wicked principles4 ,a quotation was also made showing that ,freemasonry being in high repute all over ,europe when ,weishaupt first formed the plan of his society1 he availed himself of its secrecy to introduce his new order1 which rapidly spread1 by the efforts of its founders and disciples1 through all those countries4 ,now1 if ,freemasonry was such an excellent channel for the dragon to begin his work through1 is it not reasonable to suppose that he would still retain his position in that order1 and especially since the very name of ,christ is barred from its rites1 rules1 and ceremonies8 ,and this thought is especially convincing when we consider the fact that ,freemasonry is in its very nature and constitution only a form of ,paganism4 ,this vast body is founded on what they call the ancient mysteries4 ,the following is taken from ,masonic ,salvation by ,fred ,husted3 ,warburton says3 ',each of the ,pagan gods had 7beside the public and open7 a secret worship paid unto him1 to which none were admitted but those who had been selected by preparatory ceremonies called initiation4 ,this secret worship was called the mysteries4' ,mackey1 another member of this order1 says3 ',these mysteries existed in every country of heathendom1 in each under a different name1 and to some extent under a different form1 but always and everywhere with the same design of inculcating 7teaching7 by allegorical and symbolical teachings the great ,masonic doctrines of the unity of ,god and the immortality of the soul4 ,this one important proposition and the fact which it enumerates 7states7 must never be lost sight of1 in any inquiry into the origin of ,freemasonry2 for the ,pagan mysteries were to the spurious ,freemasonry of antiquity precisely what the ,masters' lodges are to the ,freemasonry of the present day4' ,this is certainly a frank statement1 coming as it does from a man who is an acknowledged and highly esteemed authority in matters pertaining to the craft4 ,daniel ,sickles says1 ',in ,egypt1 ,greece1 and many other ancient nations ,freemasonry1 that is1 the ,mysteries1 was one of the earliest agencies employed to effect the improvement and enlightenment of man4' ,pierson says1 ',the identity of the ,masonic institutions with the ancient ,mysteries is obvious1' which means clearly to be seen1 manifest to any and all4 ,masons say that the order is founded on the ,bible--that is1 unlearned ,masons say so4 ,geo4 ,wingate ,chase1 in the ,digest of ,masonic ,law1 says3 ',the ,jews1 the ,turks1 each reject either the ,new ,testament or the ,old or both1 and yet we see no good reasons why they should not be made ,masons4 ,in fact1 ,blue ,lodge first three degrees ,masonry has nothing whatever to do with the ,bible4 ,it is not founded on the ,bible4 ,if it were1 it would not be ,masonry2 it would be something else4' ,sickles says in speaking of the third1 or ,master ,mason's degree1 ',there are characters impressed upon it which can not be mistaken4 ,it is thoroughly ,egyptian4' ,he further says that the tradition is older by a thousand years than ,solomon4 ',that our ,masonic rites embrace all the possible circumstances of man1 moral1 social1 and spiritual1 and have a meaning high as the heavens1 broad as the universe1 and profound as eternity4' ,sickles in ,gen4 ,chiman ,rezon4 ,the writer was informed when the charges were given him 'that our ancient brethren worshiped in high hills and in low vales1 and that guards were placed to keep off cowans or eves-droppers4' ,by referring to ,scripture we at once find the character of those who worshiped in high hills and low vales1 and why they needed a guard to keep off eves-droppers4 ',thou saidst1 ,i will not transgress2 when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest1 playing the harlot4' ,jer4 #b3bj2 #c3f4 ',ye shall utterly destroy all the places1 wherein the nations which ye shall possess served other gods1 upon the high mountains1 and upon the hills1 and under every green tree4' ,deut4 #ab3b4 ',enflaming themselves with idols under every green tree1 slaying the children in the vales under the clifts of the rocks4444 ,even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice4' ,isa4 #eg3e-g4 ,they were not afraid of ,ahab and ,jezebel 7#b ,kings #g3aj2 #a ,kings #ad3bc71 and they grew and multiplied in their reigns1 and in the reigns of all those of whom it is recorded that 'they did that which was evil in the sight of the ,lord4' ,some of the kings of ,israel and of ,judah destroyed their high places for them and were highly favored of ,god for so doing4 ,again1 ',the precepts of ,jesus could not have been made obligatory upon a ,jew4 ,a ,christian would have denied the sanction of the ,koran4 ,a ,mohammedan must have rejected the law of ,moses1 and a disciple of ,zoroaster would have turned from all1 to the teaching of his ,zend-,avesta4 ,the universal law of nature1 which the authors of the old charges have properly called the moral1 is therefore the only law suited in every respect to be adopted as the ,masonic code4' ,mackeys' ,textbook1 ,masonic ,jurisprudence4 ,if the statements just quoted do not place the secret society of ,masonry on a footing decidedly ,pagan1 it is difficult to say just where it does stand4444 ,tammuz1 or ,osiris of ,egypt1 who is declared to be the original of ,hiram ,abiff the temple-builder1 is still mourned for4 ,ezek4 #h3ad4 ,see ,young's ,analytical ,concordance or any standard ,greek ,mythology4 ,now see ,piersons' ,traditions of ,freemasonry4 ',the ,masonic legend stands by itself1 unsupported by history1 or other than its own traditions4 ,yet we readily recognize in ,hiram ,abiff the ,osiris of the ,egyptians1 the ,mithras of the ,persians1 the ,bacchus of the ,greeks god of drunkenness1 or feasts and the like1 the ,dionysis of the fraternity of artificers1 and the ,atys of the ,phrygians1 whose passions1 deaths1 and resurrections were celebrated by these people respectively4' ,thus it is clearly shown that each of these ancient nations had its counterfeit ,savior and ,redeemer1 and it is here proved by the words of ,masonic ,grand ,masters1 authors1 and authorities1 that ,masonry is of ,pagan origin4 ,when we think of the millions of devotees of this form of ,paganism1 multitudes of church-members and preachers1 surely it is not difficult to see that the dragon is loose in deceiving power again4 ,that he is meeting with great success in forming his confederation of all false religions1 is obvious4 ,the world's ,parliament of ,religions1 held in ,chicago in the year #ahic1 is an illustration of this statement4 ,the dragon1 the beast1 and the false prophet met in mutual confidence and respect1 a brotherhood of religions4 ,theism1 ,judaism1 ,mohammedanism1 ,hinduism1 ,buddhism1 ,taoism1 ,confucianism1 ,shintoism1 ,zoroastrianism1 ,catholicism1 the ,greek ,church1 and ,protestantism in many forms--all these were represented4 ,and the devotees of these religions met1 as they said1 ,to unite all religion against all irreligion2 to make the golden rule the basis of this union2 and to present to the world substantial unity of many religions4 ,the following are a few extracts from addresses made before the ,parliament4 ,president ,charles ,carroll ,bonney1 in the opening address1 said3 ,worshipers of ,god and lovers of man3 ,let us rejoice that we have lived to see this glorious day4444 ,that we are permitted to take part in this solemn and majestic event of a ,world's ,congress of ,religions4 ,the importance of this event can not be overestimated4 ,its influence on the future relations of the various races of men1 can not be too highly esteemed4 ,if this ,congress shall faithfully execute its duties with which it has been charged1 it shall become the joy of the whole earth1 and stand in human history like a new ,mount ,zion1 crowned with glory1 and marking the actual beginning of a new epoch of brotherhood and peace4 ,for when the religious faiths of the world recognize each other as brothers1 children of one ,father1 whom all profess to love and serve1 then1 and not until then1 will the nations of the earth yield to the spirit of concord and learn war no more4444 ,we meet on the mountain height of absolute respect for the religious convictions of each other4444 ,this day the sun of a new era of religious peace and progress arises over the world1 dispelling the dark clouds of sectarian strife4 ,it is the brotherhood of religions4 ,chairman ,john ,henry ,barrows1 in his address1 said3 ,we are here not as ,baptists and ,buddhists1 ,catholics and ,confucians1 ,parsees and ,presbyterians1 ,methodists and ,moslems2 we are here as members of a ,parliament of ,religions1 over which flies no sectarian flag1 444 but where for the first time in large council is lifted up the banner of love1 fellowship1 brotherhood4444 ,welcome1 one and all1 thrice welcome to the world's first ,parliament of ,religions6 ,welcome to the men and women of ,israel1 the standing miracle of nations and religions6 ,welcome to the disciples of ,prince ,siddartha1 the many millions who worship their lord ,buddha as the light of ,asia6 ,welcome to the high-priests of the national religion of ,japan6 ,this city has every reason to be grateful to the enlightened ruler of 'the sunrise kingdom4' ,welcome to the men of ,india1 and all faiths6 ,welcome to all the disciples of ,christ6 444 ,it seems to me that the spirits of just and good men hover over this assembly4 ,i believe the spirit of ,paul is here4 ,i believe the spirit of the wise and humane ,buddha is here1 and of ,socrates the searcher after truth4444 ,when a few days ago ,i met for the first time the delegates who have come to us from ,japan1 and shortly after the delegates who have come to us from ,india1 ,i felt that the arms of human brotherhood had reached almost around the globe4 ,world's ,parliament of ,religions1 ,chap4 ,,iii4 ,similar congresses have since been held4 ,while ,i never expect to see all these principles of evil under one organized form1 yet it is evident that the spirits of devils that have gone forth into all the world are uniting them all under one spirit--that of ,antichrist4 ,another form in which the old dragon is manifesting himself and uniting thousands of people against the truth1 and one in which the miracles ascribed to this latest confederation of ,satan are performed1 is that of ,christian ,science4 ,attracted by its healing doctrine1 multitudes are lured into this deceptive communion of ,mrs4 ,eddy's4 ,at the very best her system is1 as every historian knows1 only a slight revision of the ,oriental ,philosophy2 and notwithstanding its forged name ,christian1 it is truly subversive of the doctrine of ,christ4 ,her grand central doctrine of the allness of mind and the unreality of matter is a true copy of the fantastic idealism of the ,gnostics4 ,gnosticism was based on speculative knowledge4 ,so is ,mrs4 ,eddy's theory4 ,gnosticism denied the true humanity of the ,redeemer1 and made his person a mere phantom1 and his work a mere illusion4 ,so does ,christian ,science4 ,although ,mrs4 ,eddy clamours loudly that her work is ,christian and her multitude of followers believe her claim1 still a careful study of her work ,science and ,health will convince any unprejudiced person that she utterly repudiates the atonement-work of ,jesus ,christ by denying his person and the reality of sin and matter4 ,though the system may contain some good moral principles1 yet it has no power to save men from sin1 since it denies the existence of actual sin4 ,her denial of the one personal ,god--all is infinite mind1 and its infinite manifestations1-- is but a swing of the pendulum from the godless and graceless system of the materialistic philosophy propounded by ,darwin and ,haeckel and is as absurd and unscriptural 7although opposite7 as the rankest ,pantheism4 ,the salvation of the soul through faith in ,jesus ,christ has absolutely no place in the ,christian ,science creed4 ,it is nothing but a species of universalism4 ,individuals of every evil class and character-- self-lovers1 covetous1 boasters1 proud1 blasphemers1 disobedient to parents1 unthankful1 unholy1 without natural affection1 trucebreakers1 false accusers1 incontinent1 fierce1 despisers of those that are good1 traitors1 heady1 highminded1 lovers of pleasure more than lovers of ,god1 profane1 murderers of fathers and mothers1 man-slayers1 whoremongers1 liars1 drunkards1 sorcerers1 perjured persons1 backbiters1 haters of ,god1 despiteful1 inventors of evil things1 implacable1 unmerciful1 abominable1 and those unto every good work reprobate--any and all of these characters can and do come to the healers of ,christian ,science1 and not one word is said to them about getting salvation through repentance and living faith in the ,savior2 but1 on the other hand1 they are received as follows3 ,as children of ,god you have a right to the healing of your bodies6 ,the dragon is in it6 ,i warn people to beware4 ,they are the spirits of devils1 working miracles1 and form an important proof that we are near the end of time4 ,another form in which the dragon is manifesting his power on the deceptive and miracle-working line is modern ,spiritualism4 ,multitudes of people of all classes are believers in this soul-destroying doctrine4 ,the system is generally acknowledged to be but a modern form of what was anciently styled witchcraft1 necromancy1 magic1 etc41 while the mediums of to-day are of the same class as those formerly known as witches1 sorcerers1 magicians4 ,this they themselves often admit4 ,the system is so well known both in doctrine and in its pernicious effects that ,i will not devote further space to the matter4#ae ,in many other forms the dragon is working his deceptions upon the people4 ,footnote #ae3 ,for further consideration of this subject read the book ,modern ,spiritualism ,exposed1 by the publishers of this work4 ,millions of church-members and thousands of preachers are numbered among these antichristian organizations of ,freemasonry1 ,christian ,science1 ,spiritualism1 etc41 etc41 gathered together under the influence of the spirits of devils working miracles1 mighty signs1 and wonders4 ,on the other hand1 the churches are filled with persons who in spirit are nothing but skeptics and infidels4 ,said ,t4 ,de ,witt ,talmage on one occasion1 ,there is a mighty host in the ,christian church1 positively professing ,christianity1 who do not believe the ,bible1 out and out1 in and in1 from the first word of the first verse of the first chapter of the ,book of ,genesis1 down to the last word of the last verse of the last chapter of the ,book of ,revelation4 ,is it any wonder that such is the case when a large number of the preachers themselves are in reality skeptics8 ,a newspaper clipping before me contains the following1 uttered on ,march #bh1 #aije1 by the ,rev4 ,b4,a4 ,green1 pastor of the ,first ,baptist ,church1 of ,evanstown1 ,ill41 before about a hundred of his fellow ministers3 ,all the truth in the world is not contained in one book1 nor in books of theology1 ,god was too big for one temple and he is also too big for one book4 ,god is everywhere4 ,his truth is found in all good books4 ,the pastor of to-day should read the modern psychology and modern literature1 especially the works of fiction which deal with religious or social phases of modern life4 ,a large portion of the sectarian ministry reject entirely the ,mosaic account of the creation1 and accept instead the modern theory of evolution4 ,the following quotation is from the ,rev4 ,minton ,j4 ,savage1 pastor of the ,church of the ,messiah1 ,new ,york1 ,n4,y41 who is an acknowledged leader in the higher criticism4 ,this was in answer to an attack made on the higher critics by a convention of the ,american ,bible ,league4 ,the men who are leading in the higher criticism of the ,bible and who are now being assailed so bitterly by the ,american ,bible ,league1 are representative scholars of the world1 scientific thinkers1 leaders1 teachers1 who have given us a new universe1 a new conception of ,god1 a new idea concerning the origin and nature of man4 ,they are not seeking to support or to undermine anything4 ,they are seeking for the truth as the only sacred thing on earth4 ,i would like to consider what this book is about over which all this controversy is raging4 ,it is really not one book1 but sixty-six small volumes4 ,they were written during a period of nearly a thousand years1 in different countries1 by different people4 ,the first book was written about eight hundred years before ,christ4 ,the first five books of the ,bible were written between five and six hundred years before ,christ4 ,the historical books tell us about the day of ,judges1 then of ,kings1 the wars of ,israel1 until the time of captivity4 ,then the book of ,job1 purely anonymous1 and no one knows who wrote it4 ,then the book of the ,psalms1 the hymn-book of the people of ,israel1 and the books of the prophets4 ,it would be more proper to call them preachers1 for they make no effort to foretell anything1 but merely told the people that if they followed certain lines of conduct certain things would happen4 ,no book was placed in the ,bible by anything that claimed to be divine authority4 ,no law concerning the ,biblical canon was ever issued by the church earlier than the sixteenth century and that changed nothing2 it simply recognized what had come to be a fact4 ,these books drifted together and came to be bound as one1 by force of gravity1 by common consent1 and there are one or two books in the ,new ,testament which scholars could miss without feeling any the poorer4 ,nobody1 then1 is assaulting the ,bible1 for the simple reason that the ,bible as such has never made any claim4 ,the ,bible does not claim to be inspired2 it does not claim to be infallible4 ,no writer of one book is authorized to speak for the author of any other book4 ,one verse is sometimes referred to as meaning something4 ,the writer of the last book in the ,bible utters a curse against anybody who should presume to add to or take from the words of that book4 ,he does not say that the book is infallible2 he simple curses anybody that interferes with it1 as ,shakespeare uttered a curse against anybody who interfered with his bones4 ,i suppose that ,god might have given us an infallible book1 if he had chosen1 and if he had given us such a book he would have made us sure that it was infallible4 ,if ,i were compelled to believe that ,god holds me responsible for ,adam's sin and that the immense majority of the world is doomed to everlasting torment1 and that only a selected few here and there are to enter eternal felicity1 ,i might bow my head and accept it1 but ,i could not rejoice in it4 ,it is barbarous4 ,men who try to make us accept such dogmas are the real infidels of the world1 and it is infidelity which they are creating--infidelity a hundred times worse than that which they call by the name4 ,if you would blot out every ,bible in the world to-day you would not even endanger its life1 nor would you destroy religion4 ,from ,the ,toledo ,news-,bee1 ,may #ad1 #aijd4 ,all these allied powers of wickedness in conflict with the few of ,god's saints who serve him acceptably1 constitute the battle of ,armageddon--that battle of the last great day4 ,it is not a literal collecting of armies nor a literal conflict1 but a fierce battle between truth and error4 ,the outward indications are that the enemies of ,god will triumph2 but let us remember that it is destined to end in the victory of ,him unto whom triumph belongs4 ,fire will come down from ,god out of heaven and devour them4 ,this symbol is doubtless taken from the circumstance of ,elijah where he commanded fire to come down and destroy his enemies2 and it will be as with such an overthrow that the powers of wickedness shall meet their doom in that last great day of ,god ,almighty4 #aa4 ,and ,i saw a great white throne1 and him that sat on it1 from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away2 and there was found no place for them4 #ab4 ,and ,i saw the dead1 small and great1 stand before ,god2 and the books were opened2 and another book was opened1 which is the book of life3 and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books1 according to their works4 #ac4 ,and the sea gave up the dead which were in it2 and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them3 and they were judged every man according to their works4 #ad4 ,and death and hell were cast1 into the lake of fire4 ,this is the second death4 #ae4 ,and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire4 ,this series of events1 as far as it pertains to the doom of evil men1 ends properly with verse #aj1 where the combined powers of wickedness are represented as being cast into the lake of fire4 ,this last event1 however1 is in the present scene more fully described4 ,it is fitting that the judgment scene should be more fully described2 for with this chapter we have the last special history of the powers of evil given4 ,many times we have been led up to the time of the final overthrow of all the powers of wickedness1 but the manner in which that great event occurs has not been perfectly detailed4 ,here we have another illustration of that principle of symbolic language laid down in the beginning--that objects and events whose nature forbids their symbolization appear under their own names or titles and their description must of necessity be literal4 ,the appearance of the great ,god must be considered an actual event2 for1 as clearly shown1 he can not be symbolized1 neither can he appear as the symbol of some other object1 from the fact that there is no other object of analagous nature of which he could stand as the representative4 ,the resurrection of itself is an event of such a peculiar nature as to forbid its symbolization4 ,what is there analagous to it which could here be employed8 ,there are1 perhaps1 analagous changes in the vegetable and animal kingdoms2 but symbols drawn from that quarter would indicate some political change instead4 ,paul may1 indeed1 speak of the decay and the growth of seeds to illustrate the resurrection2 but the decay of a seed does not symbolize the death of a saint1 neither does its germination symbolize his resurrection4 ,nor is there any change that can do it4 ,there is the same necessity of speaking of the resurrection in its literal meaning as there was of representing the spirits of the martyrs under their own appropriate titles4 ,the earth and the heaven fleeing away from before ,god's presence so that no place is found for them1 must be understood as describing the literal dissolution of this world when ,christ comes2 for it is clear from the ,scriptures that such an event will occur at that time4 ,peter says that the day of the ,lord will come as a thief in the night2 in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise1 and the elements shall melt with fervent heat1 the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up4 #b ,pet4 #c3aj4 ,nothing can be found to symbolize perfectly such a mighty event2 hence it appears as a literal description of the final catastrophe of this old world4 ,it is evident that there are symbols connected with this appearance of ,god1 as truly as there were symbols connected with ,christ in his appearance in chap4 #ai4 ,the throne is a symbol of judgment and of supreme sovereignty1 its dazzling whiteness indicating the impartiality and justice of the proceedings4 ,the books1 likewise1 are symbols4 ,we are not to suppose that there are literal books in heaven1 in which ,christ or some angelic secretary notes down all the affairs of earth4 ,the language and the symbols of ,scripture are accommodated to the human understanding1 hence books are used as a symbol to denote that the character and the actions of men are all as perfectly known and remembered as if they had been recorded in the archives of heaven4 ,the book of life1 in which the names of the faithful are often said to be inscribed1 denotes that ,god knows all his chosen people4 ,in the following chapter it is called the ,lamb's book of life4 ,this scene1 then1 as a whole1 is a sublime description of the resurrection and the final judgment of all men and the dissolution of the earth on which we now live4 ,that the righteous will be judged at this time is shown by the fact that the book of life1 in which the names of the righteous only are recorded 7,chap4 #ba3bg2 ,exod4 #cb3cc71 will also be opened2 and verse fifteen implies that the names of some during this judgment scene were found recorded in that book4 ,the wicked receive their eternal portion by being cast into the lake of fire2 while the reward of the righteous is described in the remaining part of this series1 contained in the two following chapters4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,and ,i saw a new heaven and a new earth3 for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away2 and there was no more sea4 #b4 ,and ,i ,john saw the holy city1 new ,jerusalem1 coming down from ,god out of heaven1 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband4 #c4 ,and ,i heard a great voice out of heaven saying1 ,behold1 the tabernacle of ,god is with men1 and he will dwell with them1 and they shall be his people1 and ,god himself shall be with them1 and be their ,god4 #d4 ,and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes2 and there shall be no more death1 neither sorrow1 nor crying1 neither shall there be any more pain3 for the former things are passed away4 ,the events of this chapter are a continuation of the series of prophecy considered in the preceding one1 only describing an entirely different phase--the final reward and eternal home of ,god's people4 ,we have traced many series of prophecies through the long weary pathway of centuries1 only to find the termination of the powers of wickedness in the lake of fire at the end of time or their overthrow otherwise set forth under appropriate symbols2 but in no instance has the final reward of ,god's people after the judgment been fully described4 ,that glorious event of the future was referred to in chap4 #g as the final in-gathering of the redeemed of all nations1 and kindreds1 and people1 and tongues4 ,the description however1 was incomplete4 ,since the eternal abode of the wicked is referred to often1 the subject would seem incomplete without a description of the final glories and triumphs of the redeemed in their future and eternal home4 ,though their earthly pilgrimage is fraught with sorrow1 death1 pain1 wretchedness1 and misery1 by the hands of their violent oppressors1 yet they shall witness the complete overthrow of all their enemies in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone1 and they themselves shall be rewarded eternally2 for ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes2 and there shall be no more death1 neither sorrow1 neither crying1 neither shall there be any more pain2 for the former things are passed away4 ,it is fitting that such a sublime theme should be reserved as the grand climax of the book of ,revelation4 ,with the dissolution of the earth on which we live1 which event has just been described1 it is evident that the many lines of prophecy leading up to that great event are no longer under special consideration1 but that a new theme subsequent to the judgment scene is introduced with the words of the ,revelator immediately following--,i saw a new heaven and a new earth3 for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away2 and there was no more sea4 ,the heaven1 earth1 and sea that passed away certainly refers to the earth that now is and to the aerial heaven surrounding it2 therefore the new heaven and the new earth brought to view must signify the future and eternal home that ,jesus went to prepare4 ,we could not consistently make the one literal and the other symbolical4 ,this accords perfectly with the teaching of the apostle ,peter where he says3 ,the day of the ,lord will come as a thief in the night2 in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise1 and the elements shall melt with fervent heat1 the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up4444 ,nevertheless we1 according to his promise1 look for new heavens and a new earth1 wherein dwelleth righteousness4 #b ,pet4 #c3aj-ac4 ,the holy city of ,god1 the ,new ,jerusalem1 is next introduced4 ,since this meets its fulfilment in the new order of things subsequent to the judgment scene1 it must have special reference to the future abode of the saints in the new earth4 ,many of the symbols here describing the ,new ,jerusalem1 and even ,new ,jerusalem itself1 are often used to set forth the church of ,god in the ,new ,testament dispensation4 ,the church on earth and the church of ,god in heaven are in one important sense the same thing1 as they constitute but one family 7,eph4 #c3ae72 yet in another sense there is a difference1 and the proper distinction must be observed even when the same symbols or titles are used to describe or designate both phases4 ,a similar two-foldness is seen in many lines of truth4 ,in ,heb4 #ab3bb1 #bc1 we are represented as dwelling in the city of ,god in this dispensation2 yet verse #bg of this chapter and the fourteenth of the following chapter plainly show our entrance into the city at the end4 ,the ,scriptures represent ,god as dwelling on earth in his church1 which1 of course1 is considered in a spiritual sense2 but his actual throne and place of abode is in heaven4 ,a new creation brought about by ,christ in his first advent is set forth by various texts2 still1 it remains a fact that a new creation will actually be brought to view after the present world is no more and that the same will be our eternal home4 ,we obtain spiritual life through ,christ now1 hence have right to the tree of life2 yet in another sense our access to the tree of life is at the end and we then enter in through the gates into the city4 ,chap4 #bb3ad4 ,hence it is proper to speak of the city of ,god as both present and future1 by observing the proper distinction1 just as the ,scriptures speak of the church in a twofold sense as being both on earth and in heaven1 or of the spiritual kingdom in the present and the eternal kingdom in the end4 ,it is ,scriptural to speak of ,god's throne as being on earth in the midst of his saints in a spiritual sense and also of its being located in heaven4 ,the tree of life is a present realization spiritually and also a future reality4 ,we dwell in the city of ,god now--in the suburbs1 as it were--but we shall have a right to it in the future state when we are ushered into the very heart of the great metropolis and stand before the actual throne of the ,deity1 in the presence of his ,august ,majesty4 ,in the ,new ,testament dispensation the heavenly elements of the ,new ,jerusalem have descended to earth in the form of the new covenant1 and ,god's people obtain a foretaste of heaven's glory and are made pure even as ,christ is pure1 and are therefore represented as having come unto ,mount ,sion1 and unto the city of the living ,god1 the heavenly ,jerusalem 7,heb4 #ab3bb1 #bc72 and ,god dwells with them in a very important sense4 #b ,cor4 #f3af4 ,they are one with the redeemed above1 and together they constitute one family in heaven and earth1 all loving the same ,father1 adoring the same ,king1 drinking from the same fountain of life eternal1 and all basking in the same divine light that beams from the throne of ,god4 ,in another sense1 however1 there is a difference between them2 for they are separated by the line of mortality1 one phase being located on earth and the other in heaven4 ,but when at the last day the redeemed of earth have access to the tree of life in its perfect sense1 there will be henceforth only one phase to the ,new ,jerusalem1 or church of ,god1 which will be in its relation to the new earth1 as specially described in the prophecy under consideration1 when all things are made new and the former things are passed away4 #e4 ,and he that sat upon the throne said1 ,behold1 ,i make all things new4 ,and he said unto me1 ,write3 for these words are true and faithful4 #f4 ,and he said unto me1 ,it is done4 ,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and the end4 ,i will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely4 #g4 ,he that overcometh shall inherit all things2 and ,i will be his ,god1 and he shall be my son4 #h4 ,but the fearful1 and unbelieving1 and the abominable1 and murderers1 and whoremongers1 and sorcerers1 and idolaters1 and all liars1 shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone3 which is the second death4 ,the declarations contained in these verses proceed from ,god himself and announce the fact that he hath now fulfilled all that he designed4 ,his promises to his faithful children are brought to pass1 as well as his threatening to his foes4 ,all things are made new and the former things are passed away4 ,not only has the strife1 the commotion1 and the sin in the old order of things passed away1 but the new creation1 wherein dwelleth righteousness1 has been introduced1 the grand long-looked-for era of eternal blessedness to the saints4 ,oh1 halleluiah6 ,and he said unto me1 ,write3 for these words are true and faithful4 ,and he said unto me1 ,it is done4 ,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and the end4 ,when the seventh angel of chap4 #af3ag poured out his vial1 the voice of ,god from the throne said1 ,it is done1 signifying that the last judgments were complete4 ,here again the same voice is heard as before1 referring to the same thing--the accomplishment of ,god's great purposes4 ,the enemies of the church have been overthrown1 her long period of warfare has ended1 and the eternal day of ,zion's glory has come4 ,then follow his blessed promises held out to the faithful1 and also the reward to the wicked4 ,these are to be understood as referring to these classes1 not at the day of judgment1 but when the ,revelation was given to ,john and therefore to us4 ,i will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely4 ,he that overcometh shall inherit all things in the margin1 these things3 and ,i will be his ,god1 and he shall be my son4 ,this is the reward in reserve for those who endure through this period of trial and overcome at last4 ,they shall drink of living waters1 which will be sweet and refreshing indeed to those who have toiled through this fight2 and they shall inherit these things--these new heavens and earth4 ,god shall be their ,god1 and they his sons4 ,oh1 what an honor6 what a destiny in reserve for the faithful6 with what glorious anticipations may the believer look forward to the revelations of that day1 and with ,paul say1 ',if by any means ,i may attain unto the resurrection of the dead4' ,what warning also to the wicked6 ,the same voice that utters the promise1 pronounces also the threatening4 ',the fearful1 and unbelieving1 and the abominable1 and murderers1 and whoremongers1 and sorcerers1 and idolaters1 and all liars1 shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone3 which is the second death4' ,god says1 ',these words are true and faithful4' ,they came from him who sat upon the throne1 the ,alpha and ,omega4 ,he has put his everlasting seal to them1 and pledged his veracity to their truth4 ,dear reader1 will you accept the word of ,him who can not lie and choose to suffer affliction with the people of ,god until our ,lord shall come to call his ransomed home8 ,or will you decide to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season1 only to be resurrected at the last great day to shame and everlasting contempt8 ,there is no intimation of future salvation for the transgressor4 ,the lake of fire still stands as the symbol of eternal destruction1 and into it the fearful and unbelieving and wicked of every name are cast4 #i4 ,and there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues1 and talked with me1 saying1 ,come hither1 ,i will show thee the bride1 the ,lamb's wife4 #aj4 ,and he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain1 and showed me that great city1 the holy ,jerusalem1 descending out of heaven from ,god1 #aa4 ,having the glory of ,god3 and her light was like unto a stone most precious1 even like a jasper stone1 clear as crystal2 #ab4 ,and had a wall great and high1 and had twelve gates1 and at the gates twelve angels1 and names written thereon1 which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of ,israel3 #ac4 ,on the east three gates2 on the north three gates2 on the south three gates2 and on the west three gates4 #ad4 ,and the wall of the city had twelve foundations1 and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the ,lamb4 #ae4 ,and he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city1 and the gates thereof1 and the wall thereof4 #af4 ,and the city lieth foursquare1 and the length is as large as the breadth3 and he measured the city with the reed1 twelve thousand furlongs4 ,the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal4 #ag4 ,and he measured the wall thereof1 an hundred and forty and four cubits1 according to the measure of a man1 that is1 of the angel4 #ah4 ,and the building of the wall of it was of jasper3 and the city was pure gold1 like unto clear glass4 #ai4 ,and the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones4 ,the first foundation was jasper2 the second1 sapphire2 the third1 a chalcedony2 the fourth1 an emerald2 #bj4 ,the fifth1 sardonyx2 the sixth1 sardius2 the seventh1 chrysolyte2 the eighth1 beryl2 the ninth1 a topaz2 the tenth1 a chrysoprasus2 the eleventh1 a jacinth2 the twelfth1 an amethyst4 #ba4 ,and the twelve gates were twelve pearls2 every several gate was of one pearl3 and the street of the city was pure gold1 as it were transparent glass4 #bb4 ,and ,i saw no temple therein3 for the ,lord ,god ,almighty and the ,lamb are the temple of it4 #bc4 ,and the city had no need of the sun1 neither of the moon1 to shine in it3 for the glory of ,god did lighten it1 and the ,lamb is the light thereof4 #bd4 ,and the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it3 and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it4 #be4 ,and the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day3 for there shall be no night there4 #bf4 ,and they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it4 #bg4 ,and there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth1 neither whatsoever worketh abomination1 or maketh a lie3 but they which are written in the ,lamb's book of life4 ,we have here a magnificent description of the ,new ,jerusalem1 representing the home of the redeemed4 ,the various symbols employed in its description must of course he understood as symbolical4 ,we have no means of knowing just what our future home will be like2 but that it will be a place of wondrous beauty and transcendent glory is shown by the fact that everything which is considered grand and glorious in this world is here chosen to represent the home of the redeemed4 ,the symbols selected to describe it are objects of such priceless worth1 even exceeding royal splendor1 that we pause in astonishment and exclaim1 ,what must the reality be8 ,the conditions upon which entrance to this city may be obtained 7ver4 #bg2 chap4 #bb3ad7 show clearly that our future and eternal home is the chief burden of this vision and not merely our spiritual inheritance in this world4 ,in approaching ,jerusalem1 the traveller is not aware of its proximity1 until1 ascending an eminence1 the glorious city bursts upon his astonished vision1 when he is ready to exclaim with the ,psalmist--',beautiful for situation1 the joy of the whole earth is ,mount ,zion1 on the sides of the north1 the city of the great king4' ,psa4 #dh3b4 ,john was carried to a great and high mountain1 from which commanding point of view he was enabled to survey in all its boundless extent the surpassing glories of the ,new ,jerusalem4 ,never did imagination conceive anything approaching the sublimity and grandeur of the scene here described by the pen of inspiration4 ,it was a great city--how great we shall soon discover--the holy ,jerusalem1 descending out of heaven from ,god4 ,the ancient city of ,jerusalem was regarded as sacred because in it ,god had recorded his name1 and it contained his holy temple1 his place of residence on earth4 ,thither the tribes of ,israel went up to worship2 ,jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship4 ,so1 also1 this ,new ,jerusalem was the holy city1 an antitype of the former4 ,it is described as having the glory of ,god1 and her light was like unto a stone most precious1 even like a jasper stone1 clear as crystal4 ,the glory of ,god was that visible manifestation1 called the ,shekinah1 which ,jehovah made of himself in the tabernacle of his ancient people4 ,the following facts concerning it will give us an understanding of its signification as connected with the ,new ,jerusalem3 ,jehovah was the accepted ,king and ,lawgiver of his people ,israel1 and he had his tabernacle among them1 where he abode by his presence1 where he might be approached and consulted1 and make communications of his will4 ,that visible presence was 'the glory of ,god' or the ,shekinah2 and the ,jews regarded it with the highest possible veneration1 as the embodiment of the ,deity4 ,the sacred writers often speak of it in the same terms as of ,jehovah himself4 ,they refer to this when they speak of seeing ,god4 ',then went up ,moses and ,aaron1 ,nadab and ,abihu1 and seventy of the elders of ,israel1 and they saw the ,god of ,israel4' ,ex4 #bd3i1 #aj4 ',i saw also the ,lord sitting upon a throne1 high and lifted up1 and his train filled the temple4' ,isa4 #f3a4 ,and again in verse #e3 ',for mine eyes have seen the ,king1 the ,lord of hosts4' ,the spiritual essence of ,god can not1 of course1 be revealed to mortal vision1 yet there was a manifestation of the ,deity which was made visible to the eyes of men1 and which ,moses and ,isaiah speak of as seeing ,god4 ,it is spoken of as the presence and face of ,jehovah4 ',and he said1 ,my presence shall go with thee1 and ,i will give thee rest4' ,ex4 #cc3ad4 ',and the ,lord spake unto ,moses face to face1 as a man speaketh unto his friend4' ,ex4 #cc3aa4 ,the ,new ,jerusalem that ,john saw descending from ,god--which denotes its heavenly origin--had the glory of ,god3 and her light was like unto a stone most precious1 even like a jasper stone1 clear as crystal4 ,it dazzled as the purest diamond4 ,in verse #bc we are informed that it illuminated the whole city so that there was no need of the sun1 neither of the moon1 to shine in it3 for the glory of ,god did lighten it1 and the ,lamb is the light thereof4 ,in ancient times the glory of ,god filled the tabernacle1 the place of his abode2 but here it filled the whole city4 ,in that tabernacle the ,shekinah was the manifestation of the divine glory of ,jehovah4 ,in the ,new ,jerusalem ,jesus ,christ1 who is the brightness of his glory1 and the express image of his person1 illuminates the entire city of ,god4 ,oh1 halleluiah6 ,in olden times the cities were surrounded with walls1 designed as a defense against all enemies4 ,the more important the city1 the higher and stronger were the walls built4 ,having walls1 it was necessary also to have gates to furnish ingress and egress to the inhabitants4 ,these gates were in charge of faithful guardians1 who had authority to open and to close them according to the regulations of the city4 ,in accordance with this idea the city of ,god is represented as having a wall great and high4 ,this wall represents the security of ,zion1 whose inhabitants within can rest in peace and safety4 ,the three gates on each side represent the free and easy access into the city from every quarter4 ,anciently1 it was customary to give names to the gates of a city1 just as we now do to our streets4 ,the gates of this holy city were named after the twelve tribes of the children of ,israel1 which embraced all ,god's ancient covenant people1 and which denotes the perfection and completeness of our heavenly home as including all the spiritual ,israel4 ,and the wall of the city had twelve foundations1 and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the ,lamb4 ,the twelve foundations1 or rather the twelve courses of stone in the foundation1 are more fully described hereafter4 ,the names of the twelve tribes were on the gates to denote that the city was composed of ,god's true and complete ,israel1 and the names of the twelve apostles are on the foundation to denote that this contains the church which was built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets1 ,jesus ,christ himself being the chief cornerstone4 ,eph4 #b3bj4 ,the system of truth that they preached to the world forms the doctrinal basis of the church of ,god1 they having received it from heaven by inspiration of ,god1 and their names all appear2 and together they constitute one harmonious1 solid foundation upon which the church shall stand forever4 ,the dimensions of the city as measured by the angel are next given as twelve thousand furlongs1 or one thousand five hundred miles4 ,by the statement that the length1 the breadth and the height are equal1 some have supposed that the city was one thousand five hundred miles high4 ,to quote the words of a certain commentator3 ,the language1 however1 will bear another meaning1 which is far more natural4 ,it is not that the length and breadth and height were severally equal to each other1 but equal with themselves2 that is the length was everywhere the same1 the breadth everywhere the same1 and the height the same4 ,it was perfect and symmetrical in all its proportions4 ,this is confirmed by the fact distinctly stated1 that the wall was one hundred and forty and four cubits high1 or two hundred and sixteen feet1 a proper height for a wall2 while it is said only that 'the length is as large as the breadth4' ,this writer reckoned but eighteen inches for a cubit1 whereas some figure twenty-two4 ,a city one thousand and five hundred miles high with a wall only two hundred and sixteen or two hundred and sixty four feet high1 would be altogether out of proportion4 ,the wondrous dimensions of this city set forth the fact that our future home far exceeds in grandeur and extent everything that is looked upon as glorious upon earth4 ,who ever heard of a city one thousand and five hundred miles square8 ,we have had empires so large1 but no such cities4 ,in this representation the city does not encompass the entire earth as she in one sense really does1 because it would be impossible thus to represent her and at the same time she be represented as a city within the earth1 into which the nations bring their glory and honor4 ,the ancient city of ,babylon with its beautiful hanging-gardens1 the very triumph of human skill1 and the city itself lying in a foursquare1 being fifteen miles on each side1 was unsurpassed in human loveliness4 ,but the city of ,god is represented as fifteen hundred miles square1 which dimensions are out of all proportion with anything existing on earth2 hence its beauty and magnificence must be ascribed to ,god only4 ,and the building of the wall of it was of jasper3 and the city was pure gold like unto clear glass4 ,the jasper is the same crystal gem before mentioned4 ,what a wondrous wall it must have been6 ,it was not made of such common material as granite1 freestone1 or marble1 which can make the most imposing structures that human pride can rear1 and which are fit for the residence of lofty kings2 but it was of jasper1 clear as crystal4 ,think of the wall of this holy city being nearly three hundred feet high and stretching around the city six thousand miles1 all built of the purest diamond6 ,no stretch of the human imagination can properly compass such a vision4 ,in rearing earthly structures men seek such material as combine durability1 cheapness1 beauty1 and ease of being wrought4 ,look at this wall6 ,for durability1 it has the most indestructible material that can be found on earth4 ,for beauty1 the language of man can not even convey a meagre description of its amazing loveliness4 ,for cheapness--,god's riches were inexhaustible1 hence it was not necessary to take this into consideration4 ,for ease of being wrought--think of the vast amount of labor it requires to cut and shape even one large diamond1 it being said to require in some cases years of incessant toil2 yet ,god could afford to build the wall of this city of such material4 ,oh1 wonders of ,god's handiwork6 ,how inexpressibly glorious6 ,this1 my dear reader1 symbolizes the priceless worth of our eternal home1 secured through the atonement4 ,study the plan of redemption4 ,there is nothing equal to it in the universe4 ,what is a man profited1 if he gain the whole world1 and lose his own soul8 ,men become greatly agitated over the announcement of the discovery of gold in the ,klondyke1 in the ,australian continent1 in ,california1 and with feverish excitement they abandon their homes and rush headlong to the reputed ,el ,dorado1 fearing neither famine1 storms1 deserts1 nor the icy northern blasts4 ,but all the gold ever mined from the bowels of the earth is insignificant and forms no comparison with the representation of this city4 ,its streets and mansions were built1 not of common cement1 lumber1 nor even granite and marble1 but of pure gold4 ,the twelve courses of stone in the foundation of the wall have already been mentioned4 ,it is here particularly described4 ,one might suppose that1 according to human custom1 rougher material would be selected for the foundation4 ,not so1 however4 ,the most brilliant and costly gems were chosen to lay these courses4 ,nothing cheap nor common had anything to do in the construction of this marvelous city4 ,it was altogether beyond the reach of men to imitate3 it was ,god's own handiwork2 and we can not but admire its wondrous beauty4 ,it is unnecessary to give a minute description of the gems of which these foundation-courses were composed4 ,they were the most beautiful and costly of which men possess any knowledge4 ,in appearance they represent various colors of the most delicate shades4 ,royal persons wear even the smallest of these gems upon their persons and imagine themselves richly adorned2 but in this city of ,god they appear in such abundance that they are even selected to form the basis1 or foundation1 of the wall4 ,and the twelve gates were twelve pearls2 every several gate was of one pearl4 ,we have rich necklaces of pearl2 but where is the individual that was ever blessed with such a profusion of wealth that he could ornament the gates of a city with pearls8 ,the gates of the ,new ,jerusalem1 however1 were not merely ornamented or studded with pearls--that were a very small thing for her--but each gate was of one solid pearl4 ,to conceive the immensity of this representation we must consider the size of the gates required to accommodate the multitudes constantly entering and departing from a city4 ,to be in proportion to the wall they would have to be of immense size1 and also of prodigious strength in order to resist the assaults of enemies1 as they would be the first places attacked4 ,the gate of the temple called ,beautiful1 mentioned in the ,book of ,acts1 which was in the wall surrounding the temple1 is said to have been seventy-five feet high and sixty in width1 built of ,corinthian brass4 ,yet immense as they were1 those in the ,new ,jerusalem were each of one solid pearl4 ,oh1 beautiful city of ,god1 the home of the saints6 ,the most prominent object within the walls of the ancient ,jerusalem was the magnificent temple on ,mount ,zion4 ,it was the chief ornament and glory of the city4 ,in the ,new ,jerusalem1 however1 no temple is seen4 ,alas6 is not this a great defect8 ,what is ,jerusalem without a temple where the tribes may go up and worship before the ,lord8 ,oh1 they need no temple in this glorious city of ,god2 for there is one there greater than the temple3 the ,lord ,god ,almighty and the ,lamb are the temple of it4 ,this doubtless sets forth the fact that the worship of ,god is pure and spiritual and of free access to all4 ,under the old dispensation the high priest alone1 and he but once a year1 was permitted to enter the sacred precincts of the ,deity as limited to the inner sanctuary of the temple4 ,now ,god's people need no mediating priest to offer up a special sacrifice that the will of ,god might be known2 but all are kings and priests who offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to ,god by ,jesus ,christ 7#a ,pet4 #b3e72 yea1 as saith the prophet1 they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them1 saith the ,lord4 ,jer4 #ca3cd4 ,no temple is needed that the ,shekinah of the divine presence may take up its abode between the cherubim in the most holy place1 but the glory of the ,lord fills the entire city4 ,it can not be confined to a given locality4 ,the ,lord ,god ,almighty and the ,lamb are the temple of it1 and they constitute the glory of the ,new ,jerusalem as did the temple on ,mount ,zion that of the old4 ,the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it4 ,can any one conceive the grandeur and the sublimity of the scene when a light that eclipses the sun and the moon is reflected from streets and mansions of gold1 or comes streaming through a wall composed of the most brilliant gems of different hues1 with gates of solid pearl8 ,no wonder1 then1 that the poet has denominated it the beautiful light of ,god6 ,the gates are open continuously1 for they are not closed by day1 and there shall be no night there4 ,but there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth1 neither whatsoever worketh abomination1 or maketh a lie3 but they which are written in the ,lamb's book of ,life4 ,this1 my dear reader1 is the reward of the ,new ,testament church1 the church of ,god4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,and he showed me a pure river of water of life1 dear as crystal1 proceeding out of the throne of ,god and of the ,lamb4 #b4 ,in the midst of the street of it1 and on either side of the river1 was there the tree of life1 which bare twelve manner of fruits1 and yielded her fruit every month3 and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations4 #c4 ,and there shall be no more curse3 but the throne of ,god and of the ,lamb shall be in it2 and his servants shall serve him3 #d4 ,and they shall see his face2 and his name shall be in their foreheads4 #e4 ,and there shall be no night there2 and they need no candle1 neither light of the sun2 for the ,lord ,god giveth them light3 and they shall reign for ever and ever4 ,the description of the ,new ,jerusalem continues in the first five verses of this chapter4 ,by the river of the water of life is doubtless meant full salvation1 which as a mighty flowing stream issues out of the throne of ,god and of the ,lamb4 ,to this fountain of living waters an invitation is now given to all to come and partake to their satisfaction4 ,the ,spirit and the bride say1 ,come4 ,and let him that heareth say1 ,come4 ,and whosoever will1 let him take the water of life freely4 ,verse #ag4 ,as a defense to ,god's people in this world salvation is represented as a great wall surrounding them 7,isa4 #bf3ab72 but as a source of joy1 holiness and happiness1 it is a living stream whereof all may partake4 ,while this symbol meets an appropriate fulfilment in the present dispensation1 yet salvation will also be the eternal possession of the saints in the world to come1 when they shall hunger no more1 neither thirst any more2 neither shall the sun light on them1 nor any heat4 ,for the ,lamb1 which is in the midst thereof1 shall feed them1 and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters2 and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes4 ,chap4 #g3af1 #ag4 ,in a most appropriate place1 upon the banks of the river1 grew the tree of life1 which bare twelve manner of fruits1 and yielded her fruit every month3 and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations4 ,the tree of life in the garden of ,eden was a symbol of man's immortality or incorruption1 or rather the means of it2 for after his fall it was securely guarded and he driven from the garden1 lest he put forth his hand1 and take also of the tree of life1 and eat1 and live forever 7,gen4 #c3bb7 and thus frustrate the decree of ,god just uttered--that he should return unto dust and corruption4 ,in the ,new ,jerusalem1 however1 that tree of life blooms again and bears fruit abundantly1 yea continuously1 as symbolized by every month1 and no cherubim with flaming sword are placed to guard all approach to it4 ,the privilege is open2 for it is added immediately1 ,there shall be no more curse4 ,this1 then1 symbolizes the removal of spiritual death and the impartation of everlasting life in this world and immortality in the next4 ,the tree of life grew on both sides of the river4 ,on this side of the line of mortality we have access to it in one important sense1 while those in the future world are preserved also by its healing benefits4 ,the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,spirit abide in this city4 ,god reveals himself1 not to a few chosen priests only through the ,shekinah of his presence1 but to all his servants--they all see his face4 ,as in the ancient tabernacle he manifested himself by the glory of the ,lord1 or the ,shekinah1 which was represented as seeing his face2 so1 also1 the glory of the ,lord abides in the ,new ,jerusalem1 filling the entire city with the holy manifestation of the divine presence4 ,his people are sealed with that ,holy ,spirit of promise1 by which they possess the name of their ,father--not the name of the beast nor of his image1 but the name of the ,father4 ,and there shall be no night there2 and they need no candle1 neither light of the sun2 for the ,lord ,god giveth them light3 and they shall reign forever and ever4 ,this city has no need of natural or artificial light1 for the ,lamb is the light thereof4 ,chap4 #ba3bc4 ,the light of the sun stands connected with the light of a candle and both are represented as unnecessary1 which denotes that there shall be no night there1 but one clear eternal day4 #f4 ,and he said unto me1 ,these sayings are faithful and true3 and the ,lord ,god of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done4 #g4 ,behold1 ,i come quickly3 blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book4 ,the language of symbols is discontinued4 ,with the description of the ,new ,jerusalem closes the grand panoramic scene of this book4 ,wondrous indeed have been the events of earth prophetically outlined1 but we have the assurance that these things are faithful and true4 ,a continuous political and ecclesiastical history of that portion of the earth made the subject of ,apocalyptic vision1 from the dawn of ,christianity until the last day1 was here written down in advance4 ,after the permanent division of the empire1 which occurred under ,valens and ,valentinian#af in ,a4,d4 #cfd1 it was necessary that the political and the ecclesiastical history of the empire should be divided in the prophecy4 ,this inspiration has done4 ,the downfall of the ,western empire is clearly predicted in the symbols under the first four trumpets2 but the eclipse is afterwards lifted1 and the same ,western empire again appears in ,imperial form under the control of the ,papacy4 ,after giving their power and strength unto the beast during the ,dark ,ages1 the horns afterward turn against the ,papacy and rob her of all her temporal authority and power1 thus pointing us clearly to the history of modern ,europe1 in which the prophecy has been actually fulfilled4 ,they themselves end at the judgment of the last day4 ,thus1 the political history of the ,western empire is carried through to the end4 ,the ,eastern division of the empire is also made a subject of prophecy1 and its overthrow is described under the sixth trumpet4 ,this was effected by the second woe1 or the rise of the ,ottoman power1 and that woe is represented as continuing until after the death and the resurrection of the two witnesses and terminating shortly before the end of time4 ,therefore the political history of the ,eastern empire1 which has been under the power of the ,turks for centuries1 is outlined until the end4 ,the ecclesiastical history of the ,eastern empire is also given1 its most prominent feature being the rise and the development of that pest of ,mohammedanism1 which rests like a dark cloud over that fair country until this day4 ,in the ,western division the rise of the ,papacy1 its continuation1 the rise of ,protestantism and its duration1 are all clearly outlined1 reaching down to these last days4 ,then the scene is suddenly enlarged and is carried beyond the limits of the earth--the ,apocalyptic earth--into the whole world1 when the powers of wickedness are combined in spirit to antagonize the reformation of holiness and truth which ,god is using to gather his faithful ones together in preparation for the coming of the ,son of ,god to judgment4 ,in view of these wonderful events of the last days1 how comforting the words of the text before us--,behold1 ,i come quickly3 blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book6 ,footnote #af3 ,some historians give ,a4,d4 #cie as the date of the permanent division of the empire4 ,the government of the ,eastern and ,western divisions was separate from the accession of ,valens and ,valentinian1 in #cfd1 until during the reign of ,theodosius the ,great1 when the ,west1 through the jealous rivalries of different competitors for the throne1 had fallen into great disorder4 ,theodosius twice interposed to right matters and finally took the government into his own hands for the space of four months1 in #cie1 when he died1 after arranging for the division of the empire between his two sons ,arcadius and ,honorius4 #h4 ,and ,i ,john saw these things1 and heard them4 ,and when ,i had heard and seen1 ,i fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things4 #i4 ,then saith he unto me1 ,see thou do it not3 for ,i am thy fellowservant1 and of thy brethren the prophets1 and of them which keep the sayings of this book3 worship ,god4 ,the mind of the apostle was so enraptured with the visions he beheld that he could not but adore and worship2 but the angel that had been the chosen instrument to reveal these prophecies refused his act of homage and instructed him to worship ,god4 ,created intelligences are not worthy of such respect2 to ,god alone all honor and praise belongs4 ,jesus ,christ our ,redeemer is ,god--,god over all1 blessed forever4 ,as such he is worthy of the homage supreme of all our hearts1 the praises of all our lips4 #aj4 ,and he saith unto me1 ,seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book3 for the time is at hand4 #aa4 ,he that is unjust1 let him be unjust still3 and he which is filthy1 let him be filthy still3 and he that is righteous1 let him be righteous still3 and he that is holy1 let him be holy still4 #ab4 ,and1 behold1 ,i come quickly2 and my reward is with me1 to give every man according as his work shall be4 #ac4 ,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and the end1 the first and the last4 #ad4 ,blessed are they that do his commandments1 that they may have right to the tree of life1 and may enter in through the gates into the city4 #ae4 ,for without are dogs1 and sorcerers1 and whoremongers1 and murderers1 and idolaters1 and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie4 ,the popular opinion is that this book of the ,revelation is sealed2 but ,john received the direct command1 ,seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book4 ,the majority of the teachers of ,babylon to-day are fulfilling ,isaiah #bi3i-aa1 and that is the reason why it has become to them a sealed book4 ,god makes known the blessed truths of the prophecies of this book to his own beloved children1 who walk before him in sincerity and truth4 ,a blessing is pronounced upon us if we keep them4 ,his coming is near at hand1 and his reward is with him to render unto every man according as his work shall be4 ,no offers of salvation will be extended when ,christ appears to give us access to the tree of immortal life and an abundant entrance into the eternal city beyond2 but it will then be said1 ,he that is unjust1 let him be unjust still3 and he which is filthy1 let him be filthy still3 and he that is righteous1 let him be righteous still3 and he that is holy1 let him be holy still4 ,dogs are left without4 ,this term as applied to a person is one of great reproach4 ,it is so among us1 and much more so among the ,jews1 by whom that animal was regarded as unclean4 ,it signifies evil workers4 ,evil characters of every class will have no part in the heavenly realm1 but will be cast into the lake of fire4 ,it will be the perfection of misery to be banished forever from the presence of ,god and the companionship of all that is good and holy4 ,blessed are they that do his commandments1 that they may have right to the tree of ,life1 and may enter in through the gates into the city4 #af4 ,i ,jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches4 ,i am the root and the offspring of ,david1 and the bright and morning star4 #ag4 ,and the ,spirit and the bride say1 ,come4 ,and let him that heareth say1 ,come4 ,and let him that is athirst come4 ,and whosoever will1 let him take the water of life freely4 ,the statements of these verses have been considered heretofore1 hence there is no necessity of further comment on them in this connection4 #ah4 ,for ,i testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book1 ,if any man shall add unto these things1 ,god shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book3 #ai4 ,and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy1 ,god shall take away his part out of the book of life1 and out of the holy city1 and from the things which are written in this book4 ,here is the most solemn warning against any one who should presume to corrupt the prophecies of the ,revelation by adding to or taking away from them4 ,nor was such a warning needless4 ,this book contains the long history of ,god's church1 and also the history of all her persecutors1 painted in colors of deepest infamy1 and the final doom that awaits them4 ,these enemies were to ride in triumph over the earth during a long career of centuries1 when the children of ,god should be trodden down beneath their feet1 as it were1 while they boasted themselves as being the true church1 the anointed of heaven4 ,these ,revelations were to be handed down to succeeding generations through these very persecutors4 ,the great whore of ,babylon had her likeness taken and then committed to her for preservation4 ,would she not falsify them8 ,nearly all the early records of the church have been corrupted by the church of ,rome4 ,for ages it has been a doctrine of that institution that pious fraud was consistent and even commendable when practised to further the influence of that church4 ,yea1 she has proclaimed openly and unblushingly that if her cause could be promoted by deception and lies they were perfectly justifiable2 and her practise has been consistent with her teachings4 ,in view of the fact that ,god's ,word was to pass through the depths of this mystery of iniquity1 it is not surprising that we find annexed to this concluding portion of ,holy ,writ the awful anathema3 ,if any man shall add unto these things1 ,god shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book3 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy1 ,god shall take away his part out of the book of life1 and out of the holy city1 and from the things which are written in this book4 #bj4 ,he which testifieth these things saith1 ,surely ,i come quickly4 ,amen4 ,even so1 come1 ,lord ,jesus4 #ba4 ,the grace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ be with you all4 ,amen4 ,what importance is attached to the second coming of ,christ6 ,over and over again it is stated distinctly4 ,it is the grand climax unto which all the series of events in this book leads4 ,are you ready1 waiting for the ,lord8 ,see1 the signs proclaim him near2 ,in the awful thunders of his ,word1 ,now his coming steps we hear4 ,now are many running to and fro1 ,spreading holiness around2 ,and the evening light begins to glow1 ,soon we'll hear the trumpet's sound4 ,hark6 the solemn warning unto all1 ,judgment's coming1 oh1 how soon6 ,flee1 ,o man1 at ,mercy's final call1 ,heaven trembles at your doom4 ,christ is coming1 oh1 the heavenly sight6 ,our ,beloved can't delay1 ,for his bride is robed in snowy white1 ,ready for the marriage-day4 ,amen4 ,even so come1 ,lord ,jesus4 ,then will appear the great ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and the ending4 ,in the beginning he created the heaven and the earth4 ,in the end1 ,john said1 ,i saw a new heaven and a new earth3 for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away2 and there was no more sea4 ,in the beginning ,satan entered the domain of ,god's people to deceive and destroy4 ,in the end he is cast out1 and will deceive the nations no more4 ,in the beginning sickness1 pain1 sorrow1 and wretchedness found entrance to the world4 ,in the end ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes2 and there shall be no more sorrow1 nor crying1 neither shall there be any more pain3 for the former things are passed away4 ,in the beginning the people of earth were placed under the iron hand of death1 who has claimed his teeming millions4 ,in the end1 ,i saw the dead1 small and great1 stand before ,god4444 ,and the sea gave up the dead which were in it2 and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them 444 and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire4 ,in the beginning was a blooming garden containing the tree of immortal life4 ,in the end we find the tree of life again in the midst of the ,paradise of ,god4 ,in the beginning a curse was placed upon this earth4 ,in the world to come there shall be no more curse3 but the throne of ,god and of the ,lamb shall be in it4 ,in the beginning the first ,adam lost his universal dominion over the earth4 ,in the end we find ,jesus ,christ1 the second ,adam1 crowned ,king of kings and ,lord of lords1 and reigning in triumph and glory forever4 ,in the beginning man was barred from the tree of life and driven from the garden of ,eden4 ,in the end1 ,blessed are they that do his commandments1 that they may have right to the tree of life1 and may enter in through the gates into the city4 ,,index ,a ,aachen1 #cbf4 ,abaddon1 #afb4 ,abubekr1 first caliph1 #aee4 ,aegean ,sea1 #cf1 #df4 ,africa1 conquered by ,saracens1 #afj4 ,ahab1 #ec4 ,alani1 #ade4 ,alans1 #adf1 #bae4 ,alaric1 invades ,italy1 #acf-ada1 #adi4 ,ala-,shehr1 #fc4 ,albi1 council of1 #cci4 ,albigenses1 #aac1 #afa1 #aif1 #bgj1 #cdb4 ,aleppo1 #afe4 ,alexander ,i41 #agb4 ,alexander the ,great1 #cbj4 ,alexander ,,vi41 ,pope1 #cdf1 #cdg4 ,alexandria1 #aji1 #aaj4 ,alison1 ,a41 quoted1 #cjg-cae4 ,ammianus ,marcellinus1 quoted1 #ahh4 ,amiens1 #adj4 ,ammon1 #ccj4 ,anabaptists1 #bib4 ,anglo-,saxons1 #bae4 ,anthony1 founder of monasticism1 #ahi1 #aij4 ,antioch1 #ajd1 #aji1 #aaj4 ,antioch ,epiphanes1 #bcj4 ,antipas1 #di4 ,apollo1 #bda4 ,apollyon1 #afb4 ,aquinas1 ,thos41 #cdj1 #cda4 ,arabia1 #ccj2 conquered by ,saracens1 #afj4 ,arras1 #adj4 ,arcadius1 ,roman emp41 #acg1 #ach1 #ddj1 n4 ,argos1 #acg4 ,armageddon1 #ccb4 ,armenia1 #ccj2 conquered by ,turks1 #afe4 ,arnout1 ,mme41 quoted1 #caj4 ,asbury1 ,bishop1 #cfh4 ,assyria1 #ccj4 ,astolphus1 k4 of ,lombards1 #ceb1 n4 ,athanasius1 #aij4 ,athens1 #acg4 ,attalus1 #aci4 ,atkins1 ,robert1 quoted1 #cfe4 ,attica1 #acg4 ,attila1 #adb1 #ade1 #adf1 #adi4 ,atys1 #djg4 ,augsburg1 #aia4 ,augsburg ,confession 7,a4,d4 #aecj71 #aia1 #bdg1 #beb1 #bec4 ,augustine1 #if4 ,augustines1 ,order of1 #bdf1 #bea4 ,augustulus1 ,roman emp41 #adh4 ,augustus ,csar1 first ,roman emp41 #bbb4 ,aurelian1 ,roman emp41 #ahi4 ,aurelius1 ,marcus1 ,roman emp41 #df1 #ih4 ,austerlitz1 battle of1 #cbb4 ,avignon1 #cbg2 removal of ,papal chair to1 #cje1 #cjf2 council of1 #cci4 ,b ,babylon1 taken by ,cyrus1 #aff1 #cbi1 #cca2 great edifices of1 #dcb4 ,babylonian empire1 #ccj1 #cig4 ,bacchus1 #djg4 ,bagdad1 founded 7,a4,d4 #gfb71 #afj1 #afe4 ,balaam1 #di1 #ej4 ,balak1 #ej4 ,barak1 #ccb4 ,barnes1 ,dr41 quoted1 #cei4 ,baronius1 quoted1 #cde4 ,barrows1 ,john ,henry1 quoted1 #dji1 #daj4 ,basil1 council of1 #cdj4 ,bayazid1 ,sultan1 #fa4 ,bedford jail1 #cf ,beethoven1 #hh4 ,behiston rock1 noted inscription on1 #ah1 n4 ,belisarius1 general of ,justinian1 #adh1 #bcf1 #cea1 n4 ,bellarmine1 ,cardinal1 quoted1 #cda1 #cdb4 ,benedict ,,ix41 ,pope1 #cde1 #cdf4 ,bernard1 #aig2 quoted1 #aii4 ,beziers1 council of1 #cci4 ,boetia1 #acg4 ,bohemia1 #bdd1 #cci4 ,bologna1 #cbg4 ,bonaparte1 ,jerome1 #cba4 ,bonaparte1 ,louis1 #cba4 ,bonaparte1 ,joseph1 #cba4 ,bonaparte1 ,napoleon1 #agb1 #cag1 #cbj-cbe1 #cbg4 ,boniface ,,iv41 ,pope1 #bdj4 ,bonney1 ,chas4 ,carroll1 quoted1 #djh1 #dji4 ,borgia1 ,roderick1 #cdf1 #cdg4 ,bosphorus1 #aga4 ,bouchard1 ,m41 #ah1 n4 ,buddha1 #dji4 ,bunyan1 ,john1 his imprisonment1 #cf1 n41 #bic4 ,burgundians1 #bae4 ,burgundy1 #bae4 ,burke1 quoted1 #cjc4 ,butler1 quoted1 #bbb1 #bbc1 #bbd1 #bcj1 #bca4 ,c ,cadiz1 #cbd4 ,csar1 #cbj4 ,csar ,augustus1 ,roman emp41 #bbb4 ,calcedon1 council of1 #aaj4 ,calvin1 ,john1 reformer1 #beb ,calvinists1 #beb1 #bia4 ,campbell1 ,alexander1 quoted1 #cei1 #cfj4 ,canoosa1 #aaa4 ,canterbury1 ,see of1 #aab1 n4 ,carlovingian dynasty1 #cbe1 #cbf1 #cej-ceb4 ,carrier1 #caj1 #caa4 ,cassini1 quoted1 #bjj4 ,cathari1 #aif4 ,catherine de ,medici1 #aah4 ,catherine the ,great of ,russia1 #agb4 ,chaldea1 #ccj4 ,chalons1 #adf4 ,charlemagne1 #bcf1 #cje1 #cbj1 #cbe2 restores the ,western empire1 #cbe1 #cbf1 #cej-ceb2 patriciate of1 #cej1 #cea1 also n4 ,charles ,martel1 #afa1 #cbe4 ,charles ,v41 k4 of ,france1 #cjg4 ,charles ,,ix41 k4 of ,france1 #aah4 ,chase1 ,chas4 ,wingate1 quoted1 #dje4 ,chaumette1 #cjh1 #cji4 ,christians1 persecutions of1 #ig1 #bie2 by the ,roman emperors 7ten seasons of71 #ih1 #aaf1 #bcj1 #bca2 by the ,papacy1 #aac1 #aaf-aah1 #aif-bjj1 #bdc1 #bie1 #cch-cdd2 by ,protestants1 #beb1 #bia-bid4 ,christian ,science1 #daj1 #daa4 ,chrysostom1 #if4 ,cicero1 #bbb4 ,claudius1 quoted1 #aii4 ,clement of ,rome1 #ie4 ,cologne 7wrongly spelled ,colonge in text71 #aig4 ,constance1 council of1 #bdd1 #bde1 #cci1 #cde4 ,constantine the ,great1 #ahi1 #bca1 #bda4 ,constantinople1 #aeh2 captured by the ,turks 7,a4,d4 #adec71 #afi2 council of1 #aji1 #cdd4 ,constitutionalists1 #cad4 ,consular power1 #bad1 also n41 #cea4 ,copenhagen1 #cbd4 ,corinth1 #acg4 ,council1 first of church1 #bca4 ,councils1 general1 of church1 #aji1 #bca1 #cba1 #cci1 #cdj1 #cde1 #cdf4 ,covenanters1 ,scotch1 #bic1 #bid4 ,creasy1 quoted1 #cbd4 ,crellius1 #bib4 ,croesus1 k4 of ,lydia1 #ef4 ,crusades1 #aff4 ,cyprian1 #ajg4 ,cyrus the ,great1 his capture of ,babylon1 #aff1 #cbi1 #cca4 ,d ,dacia1 #acg4 ,d',alembert1 #big-cjc4 ,dalmatia1 #acf4 ,damascus1 #afe4 ,daniel1 prophecies of1 #bce-bch4 ,danton1 #caj4 ,dantonists1 #cae4 ,darwin1 #daa4 ,d',aubigne1 quoted1 #if1 #ahe1 #aia1 #aib1 #aie1 #bjh1 #bji1 #bdd1 #bde1 #bdg1 #bec1 #bgf1 #bgg4 ,decemvirate1 #bad1 also n41 #cea4 ,decius1 ,roman emp41 #ih4 ,decretals of ,isodore1 #cdd4 ,demetrius1 #dc4 ,demetrius ,cantemir1 quoted1 #agj4 ,diana1 #bda2 temple of at ,ephesus1 #db1 #fd4 ,diderot1 #big-hjh4 ,dictator1 office of1 at ,rome1 #bad1 n4 ,diocletian1 ,roman emp41 #dh1 #ih1 #bcj4 ,dionysis1 #djg4 ,diotrephes1 #ajb1 #ajc4 ,donatists1 #cdb4 ,domitian1 ,roman emp41 #cf1 #ih4 ,domnus1 #ahi4 ,dow1 ,lorenzo1 quoted1 #bgh1 #cfj4 ,dowling1 quoted1 #ahg1 #ahh1 #ahi1 #aij1 #aif1 #bda1 #bdc4 ,duke of ,alva1 #aah4 ,du ,guesclin1 #cjg4 ,dupin1 quoted1 #cdd4 ,dwight1 ,pres41 quoted1 #cjc4 ,e ,easter1 #aje4 ,eastern ,empire1 ,see ,roman ,empire4 ,eastern ,question1 #agb1 #agc4 ,edgar1 quoted1 #cdj4 ,edict of ,nantes1 #aah1 #bie4 ,egbert1 quoted1 #aif1 #aig4 ,egypt1 conquered by ,saracens1 #afj4 ,elba1 ,island of1 #cbc1 #cbd4 ,ephesus1 fate of1 #de1 #fd1 #fh2 temple at1 #db4 ,eudoxia1 #adc4 ,euphrates1 #afd1 #aff2 turned by ,cyrus1 #aff1 #cbi1 #cca4 ,eusebius1 quoted1 #ahh1 #ahi4 ,evervinus1 quoted4 #aig-aii4 ,f ,farrara1 #cbg4 ,feldkirchen1 #bdg4 ,fisher1 ,geo41 quoted1 #ajc1 #ahi4 ,fletcher1 ,john1 quoted1 #bgg4 ,formosus1 ,pope1 #cde4 ,foster1 ,bishop ,r4,s41 quoted1 #cfh-cgj4 ,france1 invaded by ,saracens1 #afa4 ,francis ,i41 of ,france1 #cjg4 ,franks1 #adf1 #bae4 ,frederick of ,saxony1 quoted1 #bdg-bdi4 ,frederick ,,ii41 k4 of ,prussia1 #big4 ,french ,revolution1 #cje-cae1 #cbd1 #ceb4 ,freron1 quoted1 #cac1 #cad4 ,friedland1 battle of1 #cbb4 ,fuller1 quoted1 #cdj4 ,g ,gallienus1 ,roman emp41 #ahg ,gallus1 ,roman emp41 #ih4 ,gascoigne1 #bae4 ,gates1 ,theophilus ,r41 quoted1 #bgh-bhc4 ,geneva1 #beb4 ,genseric1 k4 of ,vandals1 #be1 #adb1 #adc1 #adi4 ,germania1 #aci4 ,gepid1 #ade4 ,gibbon1 quoted1 #fd1 #acf-ach1 #adb1 #adc1 #ade1 #aeh1 #cea4 ,gibbons1 ,cardinal1 quoted #cdc1 #cdd4 ,gieseler1 quoted1 #ajc4 ,girondists1 #cae4 ,gnostics1 #daj4 ,gobet1 #cjh4 ,goddess of ,reason1 #bji1 #dja4 ,goths1 #acf1 #ada4 ,greek ,empire 7,eastern ,empire71 ,see ,roman ,empire4 ,green1 ,b4,a41 quoted1 #dab1 #dac4 ,gregory ,,vii41 ,pope1 #aaa1 #ahd1 #bdb4 ,h ,haeckel1 #daa4 ,hamlet1 #cjg4 ,handel1 #hh4 ,hartley1 quoted1 #cfa4 ,heads1 seven1 of dragon and ,papal beasts1 signifying seven forms of government1 #bad1 also n41 #bce1 #cdi1 #cej4 ,hebert1 #cjh1 #cji4 ,henry ,,viii41 k4 of ,england1 #bib4 ,henry ,,iv41 k4 of ,france1 #cjg4 ,henry ,,iv41 emperor of ,holy ,roman empire1 #aaa4 ,henry1 k4 of ,navarre1 #aah4 ,hera1 #aed4 ,hermus1 #ef4 ,herod ,agrippa1 #bdj4 ,herodotus1 #aff1 #cbi4 ,heruli1 #ade1 #adh1 #bae1 #bcf4 ,hieroglyphics1 #ah1 #ai1 n4 ,hilarion1 #ahi4 ,hildebrand1 ,see ,gregory ,,vii4 ,hilton1 ,john1 quoted1 #bdf1 #bdg4 ,hiram ,abiff1 #djg4 ,holbach1 ,baron1 #cjj4 ,holland1 #cba4 ,holy ,roman ,empire1 #cbe1 #cbf1 #cea2 dissolved 7,a4,d4 #ahjf71 #cbg4 ,honorius1 ,roman emp41 #acf1 #ach1 #aci1 #ddj1 n4 ,honorius1 ,pope1 #cdd1 #cdf4 ,hopkins1 quoted1 #cfb4 ,horn1 the little1 of ,daniel #g1 a symbol of the ,papacy1 #bce-bch1 #cej1 #ceg4 ,horn1 of the goat1 symbol of ,alexander1 #bj4 ,horns1 ten1 of the ,dragon and ,papal beast1 signifying ten kingdoms1 #ad1 #bae1 #bce1 #bcf1 #cdi4 ,horns1 three1 plucked up before the little horn1 #bcf1 #cej1 #cea4 ,horns1 four1 of the goat1 symbolizing four divisions of ,alexander's empire1 #bj4 ,hugenots1 #aah4 ,hugenot wars1 #beb4 ,hungary1 #afi1 #bae4 ,huns1 #ada1 #ade1 #adf1 #bae4 ,huntington1 ,lady1 #cfi4 ,huss1 ,john1 #fb1 #bdd1 #bde1 #bdi1 #cci4 ,i ,iconium1 #afe4 ,ignatius1 his epistles1 extracts from1 #ajd4 ,illuminati1 #big-cjc1 #djd4 ,illyricum1 #acg4 ,indulgences1 #bej1 #bea4 ,imperial power1 #bad1 also n4 ,innocent ,,iii41 ,pope1 #aaa1 n41 #cci4 ,innocent ,,xi41 ,pope1 #aah4 ,institorus1 ,henry1 quoted1 #bdf4 ,interdicts1 #aaa1 also n41 #aab1 also n4 ,ionia1 #fd4 ,isodore1 false ,decretals of1 #cdd1 #cde4 ,islam1 ,see ,mohammedanism4 ,j ,jena1 battle of1 #cbb4 ,jerome1 #cf1 #if4 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